Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and uses for screening anti-hepadnaviral substances, wherein the substances are screened for the capacity to inhibit covalently closed circular (ccc) DNA of a hepadnavirus, like hepatitis B virus. The methods and uses take advantage of cells comprising a nucleic sequence encoding a tagged hepadnavirus e antigen, like Hepatitis B virus e antigen (HBeAg). Furthermore, the present invention provides nucleic acid sequences encoding a tagged hepadnavirus e antigen and proteins encoded thereby. Also kits for use in the screening methods are provided.

Abstract: There are several approaches to encrypting circuits: combination logic encryption, encrypted gate topologies, transmission gate topologies, and key expansion of gate topologies. Each of these may encrypt a circuit with certain advantages in delay and power consumption.

Abstract: A real-time workload scheduling heuristic assigns tasks to the cores such that the total load current consumption of the cores is always less than the total current capability of the under-provisioned on-chip voltage regulators. In addition, the energy-efficient scheduling of the tasks on to the cores ensures that the reconfiguration of the power delivery network is minimized. The heuristic includes DVFS management based on the unique constraints of the under provisioned voltage regulators.

Abstract: A key based technique that targets obfuscation of critical circuit parameters of an analog circuit block by masking physical characteristics of a transistor (width and length) and the circuit parameters reliant upon these physical characteristics (i.e. circuit biasing conditions, phase noise profile, bandwidth, gain, noise figure, operating frequency, etc.). The proposed key based obfuscation technique targets the physical dimensions of the transistors used to set the optimal biasing conditions. The widths and/or lengths of a transistor are obfuscated and, based on an applied key sequence, provides a range of potential biasing points. Only when the correct key sequence is applied and certain transistor(s) are active, are the correct biasing conditions at the target node set.

Abstract: The present invention describes methods and compositions of hydrogel microspheres for inducing macrophage conversion by sequentially converting a first population of wound macrophages in a wound to M2A macrophages by exposing the first population of wound macrophages to IL-4 and converting a second population of wound macrophages to M2C macrophages by exposing the second population of wound macrophages to IL-10. One aspect describes a method of inducing macrophage conversion in a wound. Another aspect describes compositions and methods of preparing a hydrogel microsphere for wound healing. Yet another aspect describes methods for treating a chronic wound with hydrogel microspheres.

Abstract: The present invention is direct to a nano-probe corona tool and uses thereof. A nano-probe corona tool is disclosed having a tip with a diameter in the nano-scale, typically around 100 nm. The nano-probe corona tool is constructed of electrically conductive material. On the other end of the tool, a pulsed voltage source outputs a pulsed voltage to generate a pulsed electrical potential at the tip. The pulsed electrical potential at the tip causes a plasma discharge corona to occur. Uses of the corona discharge include, but are not limited to, optical emission spectroscopy, in the enhancement of deposition of coatings and nanoscale welding, e.g., nanotube or nanowires to a contact pad and welding two nanowires together, and in nanoscale surgery. For example, a nano-probe comprising CNTs may be inserted into cell membranes. The resulting corona discharge may be used to destroy tumors within the cell.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions comprising a complex comprising octadecylamine surface-functionalized nanodiamonds with dexamethasone bound to octadecylamine. In another aspect the invention comprises a method for reducing inflammation in a patient comprising locally administering a composition comprising a complex comprising octadecylamine surface-functionalized nanodiamonds with dexamethasone bound to octadecylamine. In a further aspect, the invention comprises a method for reducing inflammation in a patient comprising locally administering a composition comprising octadecylamine surface-functionalized nanodiamonds, wherein no therapeutic agent is bound to the nanodiamonds.

Abstract: Methods for diagnosing pathology of the liver in a subject suspected of having such pathology are disclosed. The methods comprise quantifiably detecting glycosylation, and more specifically fucosylation, on proteins in biological fluids, and comparing the detected glycosylation with reference values for the glycosylation of such proteins in healthy or disease states.

Abstract: A prosthetic ankle including a talar component and a tibial component. At least a portion of top surface of the talar component has a convex curvature, relative to a location above the top surface, in the anterior to posterior direction as viewed in a sagittal plane cross-section, and a concave curvature relative to a location above the top surface, in the medial to lateral direction. An axis of cone projected based on medial and lateral circles located in medial and lateral sagittal plane cross-sections which approximate the average radius of curvature of the top surface of the talar component as viewed in medial and lateral sagittal plane cross-sections, has a total offset angle from the lateral direction in the range of 0° to 45°. In another aspect, the present invention further comprises a bearing component adapted for location between the tibial component and the talar component.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and uses for screening anti-hepadnaviral substances, wherein the substances are screened for the capacity to inhibit covalently closed circular (ccc) DNA of a hepadnavirus, like hepatitis B virus. The methods and uses take advantage of cells comprising a nucleic sequence encoding a tagged hepadnavirus e antigen, like Hepatitis B virus e antigen (HBeAg). Furthermore, the present invention provides nucleic acid sequences encoding a tagged hepadnavirus e antigen and proteins encoded thereby. Also kits for use in the screening methods are provided.

Abstract: A modular light gas accelerator includes a first stage having a chamber having a rear portion and a discharge portion and a barrel located inside the chamber. The barrel has a rear port at the rear portion of the chamber and a discharge port extending outwardly from the discharge portion of the chamber. A piston is slidingly located inside the barrel proximate to the rear port and is adapted to be propelled through the barrel and out of the discharge port. A second stage includes a receiver adapted to receive the piston from the discharge port. The receiver has a receiver passage. A frangible member extends across the receiver passage. A projectile is located downstream of the frangible member. The projectile is adapted to travel along the receiver passage. A target chamber is located at a downstream end of the receiver passage.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to compositions and methods for treating diseases and disorders caused by herpes simplex virus type 1, including herpes simplex labialis or herpes esophagitis, in a subject. In certain embodiments, the compositions of the invention comprise an ATM inhibitor and an anti-herpetic agent. In other embodiments, the compositions comprise a Chk2 inhibitor and an anti-herpetic agent. In yet other embodiments, the compositions comprise a Chk2 inhibitor and an ATM inhibitor, and optionally an anti-herpetic agent.

Abstract: An incremental author disambiguation framework may create new clusters to accommodate new data based on the existing cluster results and newly added data. The proposed system may provide frequent update of taxonomic classification, name disambiguation and many other applications because it takes less time to generate new results. In addition, the proposed methods may reduce the time needed for updating the model and help improve the performance with the limited computational resource.

Abstract: A flexible and scalable emissive fabric display with individually controllable pixels disposed within a fabric matrix. The pixels may include areas where electroluminescent thread contact conductive threads, and take the form of either individual stitches, or contact points between perpendicularly inlayed conductive threads and electroluminescent threads. Alternatively, the pixels may include individual electroluminescent segments disposed along a conductive thread.

Abstract: Anhydrosugar-based monomers prepared from isosorbide, isomannide, and isoidide and resin systems containing these anhydrosugar-based monomers that are partially to fully bio-based, which may produce materials having properties that meet or exceed the properties of similar petroleum derived vinyl ester resins.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of treating a subject having hepatitis B viral (HBV) infection. More specifically, disclosed herein are methods of stimulating the innate cytokine response in macrophages, dendritic cells and/or liver non-parenchymal cells with small molecular agonists of STING to suppress HBV replication in hepatocytes. The methods are especially suitable for use in the treatment of chronic HBV infections. Also disclosed herein are methods of identifying compounds useful in the treatment of HBV infection.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses a class of compounds known as splice modulating oligonucleotides (SMOs) that modulate pre-mRNA splicing, thereby affecting expression and functionality of a specific protein in a cell. The present invention further provides compositions and methods for modulating pre-mRNA splicing using a SMO of the invention to abrogate disease-causing mutations in a protein. Accordingly, the present invention provides compositions and methods of treating a subject at risk of, susceptible to, or having a disease, disorder, or condition associated with aberrant or unwanted target pre-mRNA expression or activity.

Abstract: A planar reconfigurable antenna that is capable of generating omnidirectional and directional radiation patterns over a wide frequency band or over multiple frequency bands includes a substrate, one or more pairs of conductive elements on at least one side of the substrate, a common RF feed point, and respective switches that selectively connects one or all of the conductive elements to the common RF feed point. An omni-directional radiation pattern is generated when all of the conductive elements are connected to the common RF feed point, while a directional radiation pattern is generated when only a pair of conductive elements on opposite sides of the substrate are connected to the common RF feed point. In the directional radiation mode, the conductive elements that are not connected to the common RF feed point act as a reflector for other conductive elements that are connected to the common RF feed point.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a method of producing a heterogeneous filament. The method includes applying pressure to a plurality of filament components to move the filament components into a common outlet channel. Another aspect of the invention provides a method of fabricating a scaffold. The method includes producing a plurality of filaments according to the methods described herein. Another aspect of the invention provides a scaffold produced according to the methods described herein. Another aspect of the invention provides a heterogeneous filament including a plurality of adjacent filament components. Another aspect of the invention provides a method of producing a droplet. The method includes: positioning a printing tip in proximity to a cross-linking liquid; applying pressure to one or more liquids to produce a droplet extending beyond outside of the printing tip; and contacting the droplet with the cross-linking liquid, thereby producing a droplet.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing hydrogen from a waste material, comprising steps of fermenting 100 a fermentation mixture comprising the waste material in a reactor 1 with a headspace 1a under anaerobic conditions, removing 200 hydrogen from a gas from the headspace 1a during fermentation to produce a hydrogen gas and a remainder gas and recirculating 300 at least a portion of the remainder gas back to the headspace 1a. An apparatus for producing hydrogen and recirculating at least a portion of the remainder gas to the headspace 1a is also provided.