Abstract: A dietary supplement composition is provided for enhancing the expression of a sirtuin gene or protein. An inventive supplement composition includes at least one cinnamon extract containing at least 0.5% doubly linked Type-A polymers by dry weight. The cinnamon extract is derived from the Cinnamonum aromaticum, Cinnamonum verum or Cinnamonum burmannii plant. In some embodiments, the cinnamon extract is present at approximately 20%-50% of the dry weight of the composition. A vitamin, weight loss agent, or antioxidant is optionally provided in the composition. The dietary supplement composition is administered orally to promote expression or enhanced expression of a sirtuin gene or protein.

Abstract: Materials derived from cinnamon can be administered orally to humans or animals for the purpose of controlling blood glucose as well improving glucose tolerance. Controlling glucose metabolism is essential for those with impaired glucose metabolism as is the case for those with Type II diabetes where insulin function is not properly functioning. Such administration can also be used for the purpose of enhancing nutrient transport for purposes of athletic performance and controlling bodyweight and body fat levels. Similarly related, such administration can also be used for the purpose of enhancing creatine transport into excitable tissues such as skeletal muscle. The material can be administered as extracts of cinnamon and can be administered in a variety of ways including capsules, tablets, powdered beverages, bars, gels or drinks.

Abstract: A dietary supplement composition comprising aronia extract containing at least 20% anthocyanins by dry weight. The aronia extract is derived from the aronia melanocarpa plant. The aronia extract comprises approximately 10%-30% of the dry weight of the composition. A vitamin, weight loss agent, or antioxidant is provided in the composition. The dietary supplement composition is administered orally to promote weight loss.

Abstract: A dietary supplement composition comprising aronia extract containing at least 20% anthocyanins by dry weight. The aronia extract is derived from the aronia melanocarpa plant. The aronia extract comprises approximately 10%-30% of the dry weight of the composition. A vitamin, weight loss agent, or antioxidant is provided in the composition. The dietary supplement composition is administered orally to promote weight loss.

Abstract: Disclosed methods include: acquiring a first sequence of multiple images of a sample, with each image in the first sequence corresponding to a different spectral weighting function; unmixing the first sequence of images into data corresponding to a first set of unmixed images, where each unmixed image in the first set corresponds to a spatial distribution in the sample of a different one of multiple components at a first time; acquiring one or more additional images of the sample and combining the additional images with one or more of the images in the first sequence to form a second sequence of images; unmixing the second sequence of images into data corresponding to a second set of unmixed images; and displaying information about the sample as a function of time based on the data corresponding to the first and second sets of unmixed images.

Abstract: Further improvements have been made in processes for controlled polymerization of free radically (co)polymerizable monomers mediated by a transition metal complex participating in a redox reaction which involves transfer of a radically transferable atom or group to and from an initiator or dormant polymer and the growing active polymer chain ends. Two improvements involve the choice of counterion in the transition metal complex. In one improvement the transition metal is held in close conjunction with a solid support through interaction with a counterion directly attached to the support. This cognition also allows for improvements in catalyst utilization including catalyst recovery and recycle. In another improvement, particularly suitable for controlled polymerization of certain monomers with an expanded range of transition metals, the function of counterion and ligand in the development of the transition metal based catalyst is superseded by use of salt containing a soluble organic counterion.

Abstract: A dietary supplement composition comprising aronia extract containing at least 20% anthocyanins by dry weight. The aronia extract is derived from the aronia melanocarpa plant. The aronia extract comprises approximately 10%-30% of the dry weight of the composition. A vitamin, weight loss agent, or antioxidant is provided in the composition. The dietary supplement composition is administered orally to promote weight loss.

Abstract: A method for producing a liquid crystal device, the method including: assembling two substrates to form at least one liquid crystal cell; and removing material from a first one of the assembled substrates to produce a first region of the first substrate that is thinner than a second region of the first substrate.

Abstract: The invention provides a highly sensitive measurement of retardance and slow axis orientation, accurately and instantaneously, across a full two-dimensional image. There are no moving parts and there need not be any electro-optic tuning as part of the measurement. It is ideally adapted to real-time imaging and is well-suited to use with biological and medical samples, including visualizing structures in oocytes. The invention splits a light beam into several beams, which are analyzed using elliptical polarizers and the resultant intensity is measured. It can be constructed using a single pixilated detector, or several detectors, to achieve high spatial resolution when this is desired.

Abstract: A variable optical attenuator including: a birefringent element positioned to separate an input optical signal into two spatially separated, orthogonally polarized beams; a LC modulator positioned to receive the orthogonally polarized beams and selectively alter their polarizations; a reflective element positioned to reflect the beams back through the LC modulator and the birefringent element, wherein the birefringent element recombines orthogonally polarized components of the reflected beams to produce an output optical signal; and a controller coupled to the LC modulator to selectively cause the LC modulator to alter the polarizations of the orthogonally polarized beams, wherein during operation the controller is responsive to a request to variably attenuate the intensity of the output optical signal relative to the intensity of the input optical signal to one of multiple non-zero attenuation settings.

Abstract: A method is described that includes measuring, at each of a set of W wavelength bins, a spectral response of at least one region of a sample stained with multiple stains, and determining the concentration of at least one of the stains in the region of the sample based in part on the spectral responses, the wavelength bins being chosen so that a matrix of elements that represent the responses of the stains at the wavelength bin has an inverse for which a mathematical stability is maximum relative to the inverses of other matrices of elements that represent the responses of the stains for other possible sets of wavelength bins.

Abstract: A method for producing a liquid crystal device, the method including: assembling two substrates to form at least one liquid crystal cell; and removing material from a first one of the assembled substrates to produce a first region of the first substrate that is thinner than a second region of the first substrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dietary or food supplement for healthy humans that includes a combination of 4-hydroxyisoleucine and creatine, or nutraceutically acceptable derivatives of these two compounds. The supplement may include additives such as carbohydrates or amino acids. The invention further includes a regimen for supplementing a healthy athlete's diet by administering on a regular basis to the athlete 4-hydroxyisoleucine and creatine, or nutraceutically acceptable derivatives of these two compounds. The invention also provides a method for enhancing the body's absorption and utilization of a nutrient, comprising administering 4-hydroxyisoleucine or a nutraceutically acceptable derivative thereof in combination with the nutrient.

Abstract: Fabry-Perot etalons including a layer of liquid crystal between the reflective surfaces are disclosed. Application of an electric field to the liquid crystal layer changes the effective refractive index of the liquid crystal layer, making the device tunable.

Abstract: A variable optical attenuator including: a birefringent element positioned to separate an input optical signal into two spatially separated, orthogonally polarized beams; a LC modulator positioned to receive the orthogonally polarized beams and selectively alter their polarizations; a reflective element positioned to reflect the beams back through the LC modulator and the birefringent element, wherein the birefringent element recombines orthogonally polarized components of the reflected beams to produce an output optical signal; and a controller coupled to the LC modulator to selectively cause the LC modulator to alter the polarizations of the orthogonally polarized beams, wherein during operation the controller is responsive to a request to variably attenuate the intensity of the output optical signal relative to the intensity of the input optical signal to one of multiple non-zero attenuation settings.

Abstract: The invention features a multi-spectral microscopy system for illuminating a sample with light of a selectable spectral content and generating an image of the sample in response to the illumination. The multi-spectral microscopy system includes a multispectral illuminator that provides output radiation having the selectable spectral content. A preferred set of optical arrangements for the multispectral illuminator generates the output radiation so that the spectral content of the output radiation is substantially uniform across its transverse profile. Furthermore, the multispectral illuminator can include monitoring optics and a corresponding detector array that independently monitors the output in each spectral band of the radiation produced by the multispectral illuminator. The monitoring provides calibration, feedback, and/or source aging information to insure robust and reliable performance for the multispectral illuminator.

Abstract: Further improvements have been made in processes for controlled polymerization of free radically (co)polymerizable monomers mediated by a transition metal complex participating in a redox reaction which involves transfer of a radically transferable atom or group to and from an initiator or dormant polymer and the growing active polymer chain ends. Two improvements involve the choice of counterion in the transition metal complex. In one improvement the transition metal is held in close conjunction with a solid support through interaction with a counterion directly attached to the support. This cognition also allows for improvements in catalyst utilization including catalyst recovery and recycle. In another improvement, particularly suitable for controlled polymerization of certain monomers with an expanded range of transition metals, the function of counterion and ligand in the development of the transition metal based catalyst is superseded by use of salt containing a soluble organic counterion.

Abstract: A variable optical attenuator including: a birefringent element positioned to separate an input optical signal into two spatially separated, orthogonally polarized beams; a LC modulator positioned to receive the orthogonally polarized beams and selectively alter their polarizations; a reflective element positioned to reflect the beams back through the LC modulator and the birefringent element, wherein the birefringent element recombines orthogonally polarized components of the reflected beams to produce an output optical signal; and a controller coupled to the LC modulator to selectively cause the LC modulator to alter the polarizations of the orthogonally polarized beams, wherein during operation the controller is responsive to a request to variably attenuate the intensity of the output optical signal relative to the intensity of the input optical signal to one of multiple non-zero attenuation settings.

Abstract: The present invention provides for an imaging system that obtains, as well as a method for obtaining, the colorimetric value of a plurality of points in a scene when the scene is lit by a source of illumination. The system comprises an imaging detector, imaging optics that receive light from the scene and direct it to the detector, a tunable filter responsive to applied electrical signals that filters the spectrum of light passing therethrough, and a control circuit for acquiring and storing a plurality of images from the detector while the tunable filter expresses a plurality of predetermined filter response functions in response to applied electrical signals, and for determining the colorimetric values from the stored images, wherein each of the filter response functions has substantial transmission at a plurality of wavelengths.

Abstract: A imaging method is described that includes: obtaining a spectral weighting function indicative of an attribute of the reference sample; illuminating a target sample with light whose spectral flux distribution corresponds to the spectral weighting function to produce a corresponding target image, wherein the target image is indicative of a response of the target sample to the corresponding illumination at multiple spatial locations of the target sample; and identifying one or more target features in the target sample based on the target image.