Abstract: The present invention discloses a replication-deficient pseudoinfective virus belonging to the Flaviviridae family that lack the capsid gene, where the replication-deficient pseudoinfective virus propagates only in cells expressing the capsid or capsid, prM and envelope protein of the flavivirus. The present also discloses the method of producing such viruses on a large scale and the use of these pseudoinfective viruses as vaccines for preventing diseases caused by infections of humans or animals by the viruses belonging to this family.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds and methods for the treatment of bacterial infections. Because their mechanism of action does not involve killing of bacteria or inhibiting their growth, the potential for these compounds to induce drug resistance in bacteria is minimized. Through inhibiting bacterial virulence, the present invention provides a novel means of treating bacterial infections.

Abstract: The present invention concerns compositions comprising and methods of identification and use of targeting peptides for placenta or adipose tissue. In certain embodiments, the targeting peptides comprise part or all of SEQ ID NO:5-11, SEQ ID NO:13-22 or SEQ ID NO:144. The peptides may be attached to various therapeutic agents for targeted delivery. Adipose-targeting peptides may be used in methods for weight control, inducing weight loss and treating lipodystrophy syndrome. Adipose-targeting may also be accomplished using other binding moieties selectively targeted to adipose receptors, such as a prohibition receptor protein complex. Placenta-targeting peptides may be used to interfere with pregnancy, induce labor and/or for targeted delivery of therapeutic agents to placenta and/or fetus. In other embodiments, receptors identified by binding to placenta-targeting peptides may be used to screen compounds for potential teratogenicity.

Abstract: A unique composition of a 5-amino salicylic acid (5ASA) and a phospholipid is disclosed for treating Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), where the composition can be a mixture, a molecular association complex or a covalent compound of 5ASA and a reactive phospholipid covalently bonded together via a diazo linkage and to methods for administering the compositions to treat symptoms of IBD.

Abstract: An integrated system and method of integrating fluid dispensing technologies (e.g., direct-write (DW)) with rapid prototyping (RP) technologies (e.g., stereolithography (SL)) without part registration comprising: an SL apparatus and a fluid dispensing apparatus further comprising a translation mechanism adapted to translate the fluid dispensing apparatus along the Z-, Y- and Z-axes. The fluid dispensing apparatus comprises: a pressurized fluid container; a valve mechanism adapted to control the flow of fluid from the pressurized fluid container; and a dispensing nozzle adapted to deposit the fluid in a desired location. To aid in calibration, the integrated system includes a laser sensor and a mechanical switch. The method further comprises building a second part layer on top of the fluid deposits and optionally accommodating multi-layered circuitry by incorporating a connector trace.

Abstract: A method of Dirty Paper Coding DPC using nested lattices is disclosed. The complexity of DPC can be reduced by scaling nested lattices and mapping interference to a lattice point of the scaled lattice.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for distinguishing between a sensor fault and a process fault in a physical system and use the results obtained to update the model. A Bayesian network is designed to probabilistically relate sensor data in the physical system which includes multiple sensors. The sensor data from the sensors in the physical system is collected. A conditional probability table is derived based on the collected sensor data and the design of the Bayesian network. Upon identifying anomalous behavior in the physical system, it is determined whether a sensor fault or a process fault caused the anomalous behavior using belief values for the sensors and processes in the physical system, where the belief values indicate a level of trust regarding the status of its associated sensors and processes not being faulty.

Abstract: A method for the quantification of equivalence between mutational phenotypes to develop non-obvious human disease models is described herein. The present inventors discover candidate genes for diseases of interest by: first, identifying orthologous phenotypes (called phenologs) involving the phenotype of interest (the first phenotype), in which a set of genes is associated with the first phenotype in the first organism, a set of genes is associated with a second phenotype in a second organism, the first and second phenotypes not having one or more common characteristics, and the second phenotype is selected such that at least one gene belongs to both the first and second phenotype gene sets; second, selecting from the second organism one or more second phenotype genes, other than the genes known to overlap the first and second phenotypes, as candidates for also belonging to the first phenotype in the first organism.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically adjusting an exposure for a digital imaging device by (a) receiving a current image frame using an exposure value (EV), (b) computing a current image spatial entropy (ISE) for the current image frame, and (c) whenever the current ISE is greater than a previous ISE, setting the previous ISE equal to the current ISE, increasing the EV, and repeating steps (a) and (b), and (d) whenever the current ISE is less than or equal to the previous ISE, decreasing the EV, receiving the current image frame using the EV, and displaying the current image frame.

Abstract: A silicon nanowire array including a multiplicity of silicon nanowires extending from a silicon substrate. Cross-sectional shape of the silicon nanowires and spacing between the silicon nanowires can be selected to maximize the ratio of the surface area of the silicon nanowires to the volume of the nanowire array. Methods of forming the silicon nanowire array include a nanoimprint lithography process to form a template for the silicon nanowire array and an electroless etching process to etch the template formed by the nanoimprint lithography process.

Abstract: A device is provided for automatically inserting a catheter or other medical implement into a patient. An imaging module (100) identifies a selected point of insertion on the patient. A manipulator module (200) positions a catheter or medical implement at the desired position with respect to the selected point of insertion on the patient. A catheter insertion module (300) or implement insertion module (350) inserts the medical instrument into the patient to complete the desired tasks.

Abstract: Methods and systems for phase current reconstruction are disclosed. An example method comprises: sampling a current from a power stage comprising: three phase legs, a current sensor to measure a dc-link current, and three more current sensors configured to measure three summations of currents for the power stage, storing the sampled current into a current stack if the sampled current comes from a survived sensor and is one of the phase currents from the switching state in the state stack, and reconstructing an unknown phase current by using the previously stored currents along with the sampled current to calculate the unknown phase current. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Quantum cascade lasers (QCLs), and methods of manufacture of QCLs, comprising an active portion. In some embodiments, the active portion can comprise: a plurality of tensiley strained quantum barrier layers, each comprising GayIn1-yAs; and a plurality of compressively strained quantum well layers, each comprising GaxIn1-xAs. In some embodiments, the active portion can comprise: a plurality of compressively strained quantum barrier layers, each comprising AlyIn1-yAs; and a plurality of tensiley strained quantum well layers, each comprising GaxIn1-xAs. The active portion can be grown on InP substrate.

Abstract: A modified adenovirus capable of overcoming the problem of low level of coxsackie-adenovirus receptor (CAR) expression on tumor cells and methods of using such adenovirus are provided. The fiber protein of the adenovirus is modified by insertion or replacement so as to target the adenovirus to tumor cells, and the replication of the modified adenovirus is limited to tumor cells due to specific promoter control or mutations in E1a or E1b genes.

Abstract: The development and application of a novel non-polar oil recovery process utilizing a non-dispersive solvent extraction method to coalesce and recover oil from a bio-cellular aqueous slurry is described herein. The process could apply to recovery of algal oil from a lysed or non-lysed algae slurry, recovery of Omega fatty acids from a bio-cellular aqueous feed, recovery of Beta-carotene from a bio-cellular aqueous feed and for the removal from produced water in oil production and similar type applications. The technique of the present invention utilizes a microporous hollow fiber (MHF) membrane contactor. The non-polar oil recovery process described herein can be coupled to a collecting fluid (a non-polar solvent such as heptane, a biodiesel mixture or the previously extracted oil) that is circulated through the hollow fiber membrane. In cases where the biodiesel mixture or the previously extracted oil is used the solvent recovery step (e.g. distillation) can be eliminated.

Abstract: A system and method of processing seismic data obtained using a surface-based receiver configured to measure vertical movement of the Earth includes retrieving seismic data from a storage device, the seismic data comprising P-P data and shear mode data. The P-P data and shear mode data were both received at a surface-based receiver configured to measure vertical movement of the Earth to generate the seismic data. The system and method further include processing the seismic data to extract the shear mode data and generating a shear mode image based on the extracted shear mode data.

Abstract: Indwelling medical apparatus including one optoacoustic discernible member or a plurality of optoacoustic discernible members and methods for optoacoustic guidance and confirmation of placement of optoacoustically discernible indwelling medical apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods of making and methods of using peptidomimetics compositions that mimic ?-helical BH3 sequences in cells. The peptidomimetics can be used to mimic ?-helical BH3 sequences and kill cancer cells.

Abstract: The invention provides, in a general sense, a new labeling strategy employing 99mTc chelated with ethylenedicysteine (EC). EC is conjugated with a variety of ligands and chelated to 99mTc for use as an imaging agent for tissue-specific diseases. The drug conjugates of the invention may also be used as a prognostic tool or as a tool to deliver therapeutics to specific sites within a mammalian body. Kits for use in tissue-specific disease imaging are also provided.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for the production of superfine fibers.