Abstract: The present invention is based on the identification of new mutations in KCNQ1 (also termed KvLQTI), KCNH2 (also termed HERG), SCN5A, KCNE1 (also termed minK), KCNE2 (also termed MiRP) genes that encode ionic channels involved in cardiac electrical activity and are potentially responsible for the Long QT Syndrome. According to a main aspect, the invention relates to nucleic acids, oligonucleotides and polynucleotides and mRNA, containing sequences of KCNQ1, KCNH2 SCN5A, KCNE1, KCNE2 genes and cDNAs in a mutated form and to respective variant proteins thereof. A preferred embodiment of the present invention is represented by a diagnostic method based on the identification of a group of about 70 non-private mutations in the KCNQ1, KCNH2 and SCN5A genes, detected at high frequency.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for diagnosing increased risk of cardiovascular disease in a subject.

Abstract: The invention provides metal compositions, including silver compositions, and thermal imaging donors prepared with the compositions. The donors are useful for thermal transfer patterning of a metal layers and optionally, a corresponding proximate portion of an additional transfer layer onto a thermal imaging receiver. The compositions are useful for dry fabrication of electronic devices. Also provided are patterned multilayer compositions comprising one or more base film(s), and one or more patterned metal layers, including EMI shields and touchpad sensors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the synthesis of 2?-deoxy-?-L-thymidine, 2?-deoxy-?-L-uridine and 2?-deoxy-?-L-cytidine, and their derivatives, such as the 3?-O-acyl or 3?,5?-O-diacyl prodrugs, including the 3?-O-L-aminoacyl and 3?,5?-O-L-diaminoacyl prodrugs, and particularly the 3?-O-L-valinyl and 3?,5?-O-L-divalinyl prodrugs.

Abstract: A fiber spinning process which provides an uncharged, electrically conductive polymer-containing liquid stream, issues said liquid stream in combination with a forwarding gas in a direction from at least one spinning nozzle in said spinneret, passes said liquid stream through an ion flow formed by corona discharge to impart electrical charge to the liquid stream, forms fine polymer fibers of said polymer and collects said fine polymer fibers.

Abstract: A thin, uniform membrane comprising polymeric fibrils or a combination of fibrils and particles, wherein the fibrils have randomly convoluted cross-sections, and a process for making the membrane are disclosed. The membrane may be on the surface of a substrate as part of a composite sheet, or as a stand-alone structure.

Abstract: A sub-assembly for use in forming an electro-optic display comprises (in this order) a light-transmissive substrate (120); discrete areas (204) of electro-optic material separated by gutter areas (205) essentially free from the electro-optic material; and an adhesive layer (122) and/or a release layer (124) peelable from the sub-assembly. A second sub-assembly comprises (in this order) a peelable release sheet (102); discrete areas of electro-optic material (204) separated by gutter areas (205) essentially free from the electro-optic material, and an adhesive layer (206) and/or a peelable release layer (208). Processes for producing these sub-assemblies and for using them to form electro-optic displays are also described.

Abstract: There are provided compounds of Ir(III) having ?-diketimine ligands including the complexes having Formula I: L is the same or different at each occurrence and is a cyclometalating bidentate monoanionic ligand coordinated through a nitrogen atom and a carbon atom. R1 and R3 can be the same or different and are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl and heterocyclic groups. R10 and R11 can be the same or different and are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, trialkylsilyl, triarylsilyl, and heterocyclic groups. R2 is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, heterocyclic groups, or fluorine. Adjacent R groups can join together to form 5- or 6-membered rings. R8 is H, F, or alkyl. There are also provided electronic devices containing such compounds.

Abstract: A dielectrophoretic display comprises a substrate having walls defining at least one cavity, the cavity having a viewing surface and a side wall inclined to the viewing surface; a suspending fluid contained within the cavity; a plurality of at least one type of particle suspended within the suspending fluid; and means for applying to the fluid an electric field effect effective to cause dielectrophoretic movement of the particles to the side wall of the cavity.

Abstract: A system and method for scheduling advertisements in a television service network environment. An ad scheduler prepares an ad insertion schedule based on channel change statistical information and avail time information. The scheduler evaluates the statistical information, time durations between adjacent avails in a presentation stream, and the relatedness of market segments assigned to a plurality of advertisements. It schedules the ads into presentation stream groups based on this evaluation. The statistical ad scheduling allows the system to eliminate “forced” switching between multiple presentation streams, whereby system wears and malfunctions can be decreased.

Abstract: A polyamide resin composition which can improve heat resistance and water absorbency while suppressing the deterioration of processability is provided. Provided is a polyamide resin composition having an aromatic polyamide resin and an epoxy group-containing phenoxy resin having an epoxy group in the molecule of the phenoxy resin, wherein the content of the epoxy group-containing phenoxy resin is 30 to 50% by mass.

Abstract: A nanofiller masterbatch comprising a nanofiller and an ethylene/ester copolymer having copolymerized units of ethylene and a comonomer selected from monoesters of C4-C8 unsaturated acids having at least two carboxylic acid groups, diesters of C4-C8 unsaturated acids having at least two carboxylic acid groups, and mixtures of two or more thereof; and a nanocomposite comprising a polyolefin and the nanofiller masterbatch are disclosed. Processes for preparing the nanofiller masterbatch and the nanocomposite are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention concerns a mechanism for operating a thermodynamic cycle, particularly a low-temperature power plant, as well as a related process, whereby a low-temperature mass stream (1) feeds a first heat stream to a working fluid (6) circulating in a first cycle at an initial temperature level (T1), whereby subsequent to an expansion of the working fluid in an expansion machine (7) a second heat stream is extracted from the working fluid (6) at a lower expansion temperature level (T5) with respect to the initial temperature level (T1) for an improvement of the energy exploitation of the thermodynamic cycle or the low temperature power plant, which is pumped to a higher pump temperature level and is fed to the low temperature mass stream (1) and/or fed at least partially to the first cycle.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a highly loaded pearlescent pigment acrylic polymer slurry concentrate for use as a pearlescent pigment additive for an acrylic polymer sheet, comprising: (a) about 35 to about 45 wt. % of a pearlescent pigment based on the weight of the slurry concentrate; (b) about 1.0 to about 5.0 wt. % of a copolymer dispersant comprising a pigment functional component derived from a monomer selected from the group consisting of urethane or urea, epoxy-containing methacrylate esterified with aromatic carboxylic acids, aliphatic carboxylic acids, ammonia and primary, secondary and tertiary aliphatic amines, primary aromatic amines, and alkyl methacrylate; and a solvent functional component derived from a monomer selected from the group consisting of methyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, ethyl hexyl methacrylate, lauryl methacrylate, 1,2-propane diol, 6, hydroxyhexanoic acid, and 2-phenoxyethanol; (c) about 15 to about 45 wt. % of a (C1-C22) alkyl ((C1-C10)alk) acrylate; and (d) about 0.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for measuring human serum hepcidin levels. The invention provides methods for the oxidative refolding of a hepcidin polypeptide to a form that is mature, bioactive and folded as in the native configuration and molecular mass; a method for measuring the level of native, bioactive hepcidin in a vertebrate animal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the process of extruding melt drawing fluoropolymer onto conductor to form insulated conductor at a line speed of at least 533 m/min and having no more than 10 sparks and no more than 2 lumps/13.7 km of insulated conductor under conditions that comprise an adequate process window to allow for these results to be obtained at different conditions within the process window. The invention identifies the critical parameters for achieving this process window, namely melt flow rate of the fluoropolymer, preferably being 30±3 g/10 min, and the melt temperature of the extruding/melt-drawing step, preferably being 393° C.±6° C.

Abstract: A hyperbranched polymer having pendent olefinic groups and comprising polymer units derived from one or more terminally-unsaturated, acyclic aliphatic diene and polymer units derived from maleic anhydride. Optionally, the hyperbranched polymer may further comprise polymer units derived from one or more 1-alkenes and/or a chain transfer agent. A process to prepare the hyperbranched polymer comprises contacting maleic anhydride with at least one terminally unsaturated acyclic aliphatic diene having at least 7 carbon atoms in the presence of an effective amount of a radical initiator in an aprotic solvent under dilute conditions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for fixing a tool (10, 22, 64), especially a shaft tool, in a clamping chuck (8, 18, 60), whereby the tool (10, 22, 64) is introduced into the clamping chuck (8, 18, 60) and fixed therein (8, 18, 60) upon reaching an axial nominal position. According to the invention, the tool (10, 22, 64) is brought against an abutment (42, 70) and the position of a characteristic element of the tool (10, 22, 64) is measured. The tool (10, 22, 64) is positioned in the axial nominal position by moving the abutment (42, 70) along a positioning section (Z1) calculated from the measurement.

Abstract: Hexafluoroisobutylene and its higher homologs are easily reacted with SO3 to give fluorosulfates of the formula CH2?C(R)CF2OSO2F, wherein R is a linear branched or cyclic fluoroalkyl group comprised of 1 to 10 carbon atoms and may contain ether oxygen. These compounds react under mild conditions with many nucleophiles to give CH2?C(R)CF2X, where X is derived from the nucleophile. This reaction provides a route to many substituted hexafluoroisobutylenes, which copolymerize easily with other fluoro- and hydrocarbon monomers such as vinylidene fluoride and ethylene.