Abstract: Methods, systems, and techniques for data compression. A cluster fingerprint of an uncompressed data block is determined to correspond to a cluster fingerprint of a base block stored in a base array. This determining involves looking up the cluster fingerprint of the first base block from the base array using the cluster fingerprint of the first uncompressed data block. The difference between the uncompressed data block and the base block is determined, and a compressed data block is encoded using this difference. The compressed data block is then stored in a data array.

Abstract: Somatostatin derivative compounds of general formula (I) that may be readily labelled with the isotope fluorine-18 and that have affinity and selectivity for cellular somatostatin receptors are provided. The labelled compounds are useful clinically as radioactive tracers in various in vivo imaging applications (for example, using positron emission tomography (PET) and related techniques) to detect somatostatin-expressing cells and tissues, including tumors, or as therapeutic agents.

Abstract: Compounds having a structure of Formula I: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, tautomer or stereoisomer thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, R11a, R11b, R11c, R11d, X, n1, n2, and n3 are as defined herein, are provided. Uses of such compounds for modulating androgen receptor activity, imaging diagnostics in cancer and therapeutics, and methods for treatment of subjects in need thereof, including prostate cancer are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to nucleic acids encoding a feruloyl-CoA:monolignol transferase and the feruloyl-CoA:monolignol transferase enzyme that enables incorporation of monolignol ferulates, for example, including p-coumaryl ferulate, coniferyl ferulate, and sinapyl ferulate, into the lignin of plants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel endoglycoceramidase whose hydrolytic activity has been substantially reduced or eliminated, such that the enzyme is useful for synthesis of glycolipids from a monosaccharide or oligosaccharide and a ceramide. More specifically, the endoglycoceramidase is a mutant version of a naturally occurring endoglycoceramidase, preferably comprising a mutation within the active site or the nucleophilic site of the enzyme and more preferably comprising a substitution mutation of the Glu residue within the active site or the nucleophilic site. Also disclosed are a method for generating the mutant endoglycoceramidase and a method for enzymatically synthesizing glycolipids using this mutant enzyme.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for delineating the contour of an object in captured medical images by first transforming the shape of the object into a simple geometric shape that is more computationally tractable than the shape of the object. After the contour of the transformed shape is detected, the inverse of the transformation is applied to the contour such that it represents the contour of the object in the captured medical image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel endoglycoceramidase whose hydrolytic activity has been substantially reduced or eliminated, such that the enzyme is useful for synthesis of glycolipids from a monosaccharide or oligosaccharide and a ceramide. More specifically, the endoglycoceramidase is a mutant version of a naturally occurring endoglycoceramidase, preferably comprising a mutation within the active site or the nucleophilic site of the enzyme and more preferably comprising a substitution mutation of the Glu residue within the active site or the nucleophilic site. Also disclosed are a method for generating the mutant endoglycoceramidase and a method for enzymatically synthesizing glycolipids using this mutant enzyme.

Abstract: A category overlay infrastructure for Peer-to-Peer (P2P) content search and a cost-effective large-scale on-demand media streaming are described. Based on a novel hierarchical P2P model, the category overlay infrastructure can provide good load balancing and efficient keyword search services for large-scale networks. The category overlay search services may be applied for locating video segments. The on-demand media streaming architecture can apply an efficient media segment scheduling algorithm and aggregate concurrent media streaming from multiple sources to allow users to play high-quality video or other media.

Abstract: The invention is drawn to a process for isolating and purifying a phytosterol composition from a pulping soap by first extracting a creamy precipitate from the pulping soap using a solvent mixture of water, ketone, and hydrocarbon, and then purifying the cremy precipitate to form the phytosterol composition. The invention also includes the phytosterol composition formed by this method.

Abstract: A regenerable biosensor probe adapted for positioning in a bioreactor comprises a selectively permeable interface membrane, a porous protein-receiving matrix adjacent to the interface membrane, an indicating electrode, an inlet conduit through which fresh protein conjugate may flow to the protein-receiving matrix, and an outlet conduit through which spent protein conjugate may be removed from the protein-receiving matrix. A selectively permeable interface membrane, which may be used in a biosensor system to separate biochemical, optical or other processes from an analyte matrix comprises a supporting mesh, a perfluorosulfonic acid polymer impregnated substrate and a homogenous film of perfluorosulfonic acid polymer.A method of preparing this interface membrane comprises fixing a substrate on to a supporting mesh to form a substrate membrane, casting a perfluorosulfonic and polymer on the substrate membrane and curing the product to so formed.