Abstract: The subject invention concerns compositions and methods for blocking cancer cell growth or proliferation and/or inducing cancer cell death. Compositions of the present invention are peptidomimetics that inhibit STAT function. Peptidomimetics of the invention display selective inhibition of specific STAT isoform homo-dimerization. The peptidomimetic probes of STAT1 function, described herein, provide the means to preferentially inhibit STAT1 over STAT3 through the exploration of the C-terminus.

Abstract: Methods for secure OFDM communications include changing the length of OFDM symbols in a pseudo-random fashion by appending a totally random signal to some of the OFDM symbols. An adaptive cyclic prefix is provided for covert and spectrally efficient communication. A developed PN based random data addition provides further security by removing the chance of combining synchronization information over several OFDM symbols.

Abstract: Bartonella species are facultative intracellular pathogens responsible for a range of diseases in animals and in humans. A selection of N-acyl ciprofloxacin analogues, chemically synthesized from ciprofloxacin, have been tested in vitro for activity against Bartonella species as models for therapeutic development. Nine Bartonella strains, including five of B. henselae, two of B. quintana, and one each of B. elizabethae and B. vinsonii, have been tested for susceptibility to different N-acyl ciprofloxacin derivatives. Several techniques have been used to test the in vitro antibacterial activity of the derivatives. Seven of them, labeled RC4-125, RC4-143, RC4-147, RC5-28, RC5-29, RC5-32 and RC5-69 showed significant intracellular anti-Bartonella activity. These synthetically derived N-acyl ciprofloxacin derivatives may be useful in the therapeutic treatment of infections caused by Bartonella.

Abstract: Provided is an emergency locator system adapted for GPS-enabled wireless devices. Global Positioning System (GPS) technology is and Location Based Services (LBS) are used to determine the exact location of a user and communicate information relating to the emergency status of that location. The user initiates the locator application via a wireless device and their physical location information is automatically transferred to a server. The server then compares the user's location with Geographic Information System (GIS) maps to identify the emergency status associated with their location. Once the server has calculated the current emergency status, the information is automatically returned to the user, along with emergency instructions.

Abstract: A fish measuring device includes a flat, flexible base and an elongate, flexible tape measure secured to the base. A fish is positioned atop the base and the base is wrapped around the fish to inhibit its movement. Releasable fasteners maintain the base in the wrapped configuration during the measurement. The tape measure is extended into parallel, overlying relation to the fish so that the length of the fish may be measured. At least one stiffener is disposed in sliding engagement to the tape measure and is held in a vertical plane near the head of the fish. The tape measure is held taut from an exit point of the stiffener in parallel relation to the fish so that the measurement can be made. At least one suction cup is formed in a reverse side of the base so that the base is releasably secured to a flat support surface.

Abstract: A travel assistant device to help individuals use transit systems. The device is particularly suited to help individuals with special needs (i.e. physical or mental disabilities) successfully navigate the transit system through cues that are delivered through the device. In certain embodiments the device utilizes a global positioning system (GPS)-enabled cell phone. The GPS features of the cell phone enable the location of a transit rider to be identified. The wireless communication features of the device allow positional data to be transmitted from the device to a geographic information system and to one or more interested parties to track the location of the transit rider. The device can be integrated with vehicle location systems of a transit system to coordinate the transit of the transit rider.

Abstract: A ride matching method is disclosed herein. The ride matching method addresses many of the limitations associated with traditional dynamic ride matching applications. The method is unique in its ability to accept trips with schedules that cannot be expressed in terms of a simple recurrence pattern (e.g. Monday thru Friday work schedule). It can handle one-time and occasional trips. It is also distinct in its use of spatial analysis techniques to locate matches. Specifically, the use of a shortest path solver enables the ride matching method to perform a search along the path of a user's trip, in addition to the customary radial search around the endpoints. The shortest path solver is also used to calculate the driving distance between the user and a match. This provides a more accurate measurement than the straight-line distance used by other methods, especially in the presence of barriers.

Abstract: A system and method for dynamically adjusting capacitance added in parallel to an electrical line input for improving efficiency of an electrical system. A microprocessor monitors in real time the current and voltage wave forms of a system and selects the optimum amount of capacitance from a bank of capacitors of different values. The system is implemented at the watt-hour meter to encourage adoption of the device by utility companies and customers.

Abstract: A multi-port circuit and corresponding method for simultaneous shaping of sub-nanosecond pulses (MCS3P). The MCS3P includes a coupled-line coupler, a Schottky detector diode, and circuitry for compressing the rising and falling edges of a waveform. The MCS3P simultaneously produces square wave, Gaussian, and monocycle waveforms by differentiating a sinusoidal source. The method includes the steps of compressing the rising edge of a sinusoidal source waveform, differentiating the resulting waveform to form a square waveform and a Gaussian waveform, filtering out the positive going Gaussian to produce a negative going Gaussian, differentiating the Gaussian waveform to form a monocycle waveform, and compressing the falling edge of the square waveform to produce a square wave form with both edges compressed.

Abstract: An attachment for an electric wheelchair that enables the electric wheelchair to be used in areas that would not otherwise be possible, e.g., beaches, mud, and tall grass. The attachment is powered off of the wheelchair's motor and allows the user to explore terrain that would not be possible in conventional wheelchair designs.

Abstract: A method of detecting a cancer, such as ovarian cancer, in a test subject including (a) determining the amount of a lysophosphatidyl ethanolamine in a sample of a bodily fluid taken from the test subject, and (b) comparing the amount of the lysophosphatidyl ethanolamine in the sample of the bodily fluid taken from the test subject to a range of amounts of the lysophosphatidyl ethanolamine found in samples of the bodily fluid taken from a group of normal subjects of the same species as the test subject and lacking the cancer, such as ovarian cancer, whereby a change in the amount of the lysophosphatidyl ethanolamine in the sample of the bodily fluid from the test subject indicates the presence of the cancer, such as ovarian cancer.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for dispensing fluid in preselected volumetric quantities.

Abstract: A method of controlling access to electronic information is provided. The method requires the use of a portable token adapted to read and verify a user's biometric data in order to view encrypted files or data fields. If the proper biometric data is entered into the token, the user is presented with a unique and dynamic password for logon. The unique password is displayed on a small LCD screen on the token. Access to the protected information is allowed once the unique password is verified by the enterprise system containing the encrypted.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes at least one LED and a chromaticity tuning cavity adapted to capture light from the LED. The chromaticity tuning cavity is defined by a light translucent window and a plurality of backscattering light recycling surfaces. The light translucent window is adapted to backscatter at least a portion of the LED light. A preselected chromaticity tuning member is positioned within the chromaticity tuning cavity. It is selected from a group of chromaticity tuning members adapted to tune the chromaticity of various lighting apparatuses within one quadrangle on a chromaticity diagram. At least a portion of the LED light, having been backscattered and tuned by the preselected tuning member, passes through the light translucent window as warm white extraction light.

Abstract: A rectenna is a combination of an antenna and a rectifier (diode). Because of limitations in nanotechnology fabrication, it has not been possible to develop rectennas that can operate in the visible frequency range. Current work has gone to producing rectennas that operate in the far infrared (thermal emission) frequency range. To harvest solar energy with rectennas to produce electric power and since rectennas cannot operate at such high frequencies, the present invention provides rectenna configurations to overcome this problem.

Abstract: This invention is the design and synthesis of a caprolactone monomer which bears a pendant protected carboxyl group. This monomer has been copolymerized with caprolactone in varying ratios. After polymerization, the protecting group can be removed and an antibiotic can be attached as a new pendant group. The bioactivity of the antibiotic-bound poly(caprolactone) polymer is described.

Abstract: The present invention provides both a device and a method. The device is a human made replacement for the soft discs in the spine. A fabric pouch encloses a central hydraulic element made up of small soft beads. Two pouches with beads are implanted into a prepared disc space to function as an intervertebral disc. The method is conversion of the device into a fusion element.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for the laparoscopic deployment and positioning of surgical materials, such as mesh. The mesh is applied by at least one extension arm which radiates from a central shaft. Alternate embodiments employ simultaneously and/or individually extended rigid arms, and simultaneously deployed resilient arms. Various methods are also disclosed for attaching the mesh to the abdominal wall once it is deployed by the extension arms. Illustrative attaching methods include staples, low viscosity adhesives, and electro-cauterization.

Abstract: A solar panel includes an inlet manifold, an outlet manifold spaced apart from the inlet manifold, and a plurality of pipes having a first end in open fluid communication with the inlet manifold and a second end in open fluid communication with the outlet manifold. A box-shaped cover formed of a polycarbonate material is disposed in ensleeving relation to the plurality of pipes. The box-shaped cover has a length at least slightly less than the distance between the inlet and outlet manifolds so that opposite ends of pipes in the plurality of pipes are exposed to ambient. The cover substantially prevents ventilation of the plurality of pipes and thus allows water temperatures in the panel to rise higher than possible in the absence of such cover. The exposure of the opposite ends of the pipes to ambient prevents water temperatures in the panel from exceeding a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A speech-generating product for controlling the output of tabular or other composite data in a computer having a screen reader function. The product provides a customized control presentation tool that configures a screen reader to present tabular or other composite data to a user in the order most useful to the user. The tool includes the ability to configure the screen reader independently for both speech and Braille output on a control by control basis. This customized control presentation is saved in permanent storage. Consequently, each time the screen reader is presented with this instance of the control, the screen reader immediately knows how to present it to the user. The software product allows a user to modify the output by the screen reader of the data according to preferences configurable by the user.