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There is provided a bioreactor device having cells, including human primary proximal tubule cells (HPTCs) or HPTC-like cells on the exterior surface of hollow fiber membranes included within the device. Also provided are bioartificial kidney devices incorporate the bioreactor device and methods of using such devices.

There is provided a conjugate of a delivery agent containing a chemical moiety and at least one flavonoid. The flavonoid exists in a monomeric form or dimeric form before conjugation and remains in the monomeric form or dimeric form after conjugation. Preferably, the conjugate comprises two flavonoids. The delivery agent is conjugated at the C6 and/or the C8 position of the A ring of the flavonoid. An anti-cancer agent delivery vehicle comprising an anti-cancer agent and the conjugate is also provided.

A computing system utilizing three-dimensional manipulation command gestures. An embodiment of an apparatus includes a sensing element to sense a presence or movement of a user of the apparatus, a processor, wherein operation of the processor includes interpretation of command gestures of the user to provide input to the apparatus, and a display screen to provide a display. The command gestures include one or more command gestures to manipulate at least a portion of the display, the one or more command gestures being gestures including motion along an axis between the display screen and the user.

According to embodiments of the present invention, a photodetector arrangement is provided. The photodetector arrangement includes a plurality of germanium-based photodetectors, each germanium-based photodetector configured to receive an optical signal and to generate an electrical signal in response to the received optical signal, and an electrode arrangement arranged to conduct the electrical signals.

Embodiments provide a mobile data offload method for associating a mobile client device with a wireless access point. The method may include transmitting a first authentication request from the mobile client device to the wireless access point via a first network being a Cellular Wide Area radio communication network; transmitting a second authentication request from the mobile client device to the wireless access point via a second network being a Short Range radio communication network or a Metropolitan Area System radio communication network; transmitting an authentication response from the wireless access point to the mobile client device via the second network upon receiving at least one of the first authentication request and the second authentication request at the wireless access point, and associating the mobile client device with the wireless access point upon receiving the authentication response at the mobile client device.

According to embodiments of the present invention, a zone plate is provided. The zone plate includes a mask layer that is at least substantially non-transmissive to an electromagnetic radiation impinging on the zone plate, and a plurality of apertures defined through the mask layer, the plurality of apertures being at least substantially transmissive to the electromagnetic radiation, wherein the plurality of apertures are distributed in at least one concentric pattern so as to diffract the electromagnetic radiation and focus the diffracted electromagnetic radiation to a desired focal plane. According to further embodiments of the present invention, a microscope and an imaging device are also provided.

A biologic-adsorbent, e.g., protein-adsorbent, material is prepared by forming a polymeric substrate into structures having high surface area topography whose biologic adsorbing properties can be controlled. Biologic adsorption by these structures of optimized high surface area topography is increased by mild treating of the surfaces, e.g., by oxygen plasma, without substantially altering topography. Structures can have tailored geometric features including microstructures, e.g., pillars, with a diameter from 100 nm-50 ?m and height greater than 1 ?m.

Various embodiments provide a method for indexing a document for document retrieval. The document may include: generating a document vector indicating if each of a plurality of terms are present in the document; calculating a document semantic inference vector for each of the plurality of terms present in the document using the document vector and a semantic relation matrix, the semantic relation matrix identifying semantic relationships between different terms of the plurality of terms; and, indexing the document using a document semantic context inference vector calculated based on the document semantic inference vectors. Various embodiments provide a corresponding apparatus and computer readable medium.

An electromechanical device and method of fabrication thereof comprising: providing a first wafer with a circuit arrangement on a first surface thereof and a first electrode on a second surface thereof; forming first and second via structures from the first surface to the second surface of the first wafer, said first via electrically connecting the first electrode with the circuit arrangement; providing a second wafer with a suspended structure on a first surface thereof; forming a second electrode on the suspended structure; forming an interconnect structure on the first surface of the second wafer that electrically connects with the second electrode; bonding the first wafer to the second wafer with the second surface of the first wafer facing the first surface of the second wafer, with the second via structure electrically connecting the circuit arrangement to the interconnect structure, and the first and second electrodes forming a capacitive structure.

There is provided an in vitro assay for screening a test compound for toxicity in renal proximal tubular cells. The method comprises contacting a test compound with a test population of renal proximal tubular cells; and determining the expression level of an interleukin in the test population, the interleukin being interleukin-6 (IL-6) or interleukin-8 (IL-8), or both. Expression levels of the interleukin in the test population being greater than expression levels in a control population of renal proximal tubular cells not contacted with the test compound is indicative that the test compound is toxic for renal proximal tubular cells.