Abstract: Systems, constructs, and methods for reprogramming cells are provided. In one aspect, for example, a transformation construct for generating iPS cells can include an expression vector having a plurality of reprogramming factors, each reprogramming factor being under control of a separate promoter.

Abstract: A method of detecting defects in membranes such as ion exchange membranes of electrochemical cells. The electrochemical cell includes an assembly having an anode side and a cathode side with the ion exchange membrane in between. In a configuration step a chemochromic sensor is placed above the cathode and flow isolation hardware lateral to the ion exchange membrane which prevents a flow of hydrogen (H2) between the cathode and anode side. The anode side is exposed to a first reactant fluid including hydrogen. The chemochromic sensor is examined after the exposing for a color change. A color change evidences the ion exchange membrane has at least one defect that permits H2 transmission therethrough.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of inducing neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) in Schwann cells. The method comprises contacting the cells with laminin-1 so as to bind ?6?1 integrin sufficiently to activate endogenous kinase Cdc42-Pak; and phosphorylating Schwannomin-S518 in the cells by the activated kinase, effectively inactivating Schwannomin's tumor suppressor activity and allowing proliferation of subconfluent Schwann cells, thereby modeling NF2. The invention also includes a method of preventing a Schwann cell from forming a tumor by contacting the cell with an amount of tyrphostin AG825 sufficient to inhibit a receptor selected from ErB2, ErB3, ?1 integrins and combinations thereof, so as to prevent phosphorylation of Schwannomin-S815 by one or more endogenous kinases.

Abstract: A multiple output converter is provided. The multiple output converter includes a power conversion circuit and a switching control unit. The power conversion circuit includes an input unit having at least one first switch, a transformer unit configured to convert a magnitude of power from the input unit, an output unit having a plurality of output terminals, which are configured to receive the power from the transformer unit, and a second switch unit having a plurality of second switches, wherein each of the plurality of second switches is installed in each of the plurality of output terminals, respectively, and is controlled in a time division multiple control manner. The switching control is configured to transmit a pulse width modulation signal to the at least one first switch and the plurality of second switches for controlling the at least one first switch and the plurality of second switches in the time division multiple control manner.

Abstract: A gas turbine combustion instability control device has a combustion unit provided with a hollow combustion chamber, a gas turbine connected to the inside of the combustion chamber and a dynamic pressure sensor which is provided to the inside of the combustion chamber and measures the combustion dynamics of the inside of the combustion chamber; a diagnosis module which processes combustion dynamic pressure signals (p) according to the combustion dynamics measured by the dynamic pressure sensor to calculate the kurtosis value (k) of the dynamic pressure signals, and compares the same with a kurtosis reference value (kth) to evaluate the combustion instability; and a combustion control unit for controlling the operation of the combustion part according to the determination of the diagnosis module.

Abstract: The present invention discloses novel compounds derived from NSAIDs and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Other aspects of the invention relate to use of the NSAID derivatives in treating inflammatory diseases and pharmaceutical compositions thereof.

Abstract: A promoter, which may be used to transform a plant and/or express a gene substantially uniformly in substantially all organs and/or tissues of a plant, and which may include a constitutive expression promoter for transforming a monocot plant. A vector including a promoter, which may include a recombinant plant expression vector. A method of producing a target protein using a vector, and a method of producing a transformed cell and/or plant using a vector. A transformed plant, a transformed seed and a transformed cell are included, which may be formed by the method of producing the same using a vector.

Abstract: A cranial alignment device for use in intracranial stereotactic radiotherapy includes a nosepiece that is custom shaped to mate with the dorsum and alae of the patient's nose.

Abstract: The invention provides nanoparticles, methods for making nanoparticles, and methods for using nanoparticles. An important attribute of a drug delivery system is its ability to allow for spatial and temporal regulated drug release, thereby minimizing side effects and improving therapeutic efficacy of conventional pharmaceuticals. Iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs), specifically Fe304 nanoparticles, possess many appropriate qualities that make them a viable choice for drug delivery.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a positron emission tomography detector and a positron emission tomography system using the same. More particularly, the positron emission tomography detector includes: a lower detecting unit configured to have a plurality of detector modules disposed in a ring or polygonal shape; and an upper detecting unit configured to have a plurality of detector modules which are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, or of which at least some are in contact with each other to be formed on the lower detecting unit, and formed in a conical shape which is tilted by a preset angle. By the configuration as described above, since the positron emission tomography detector and the positron emission tomography system using the same according to the present disclosure have a large number of effective lines of response (LOR) and increase geometric efficiency, it is possible to improve sensitivity.

Abstract: A synchronous direct current (DC)-DC buck converter and a method of controlling the waveforms of switching signals disclosed herein. The synchronous DC-DC buck converter generates a stepped-down output voltage using a first switch configured to apply an input voltage to an inductor and a second switch configured to switch in response to a second switching signal. The synchronous DC-DC buck converter includes a sawtooth generation unit, a driver oscillating signal generation unit, a switching signal generation unit, and a phase tracking unit. The sawtooth generation unit generates a sawtooth wave. The driver oscillating signal generation unit generates an error voltage between the output voltage and a reference voltage, and compares the sawtooth wave with the error voltage, so as to generate a driver oscillating signal. The switching signal generation unit generates each of the first and second switching signals. The phase tracking unit generates the frequency setting signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of coating the surface of inorganic powder particles with a silicon-carbon composite and to inorganic powder particles coated by the method. More specifically, the invention relates to a method of coating the surface of inorganic powder particles with a silicon-carbon composite by mixing inorganic powder particles with a solid organic silicon polymer and heating the mixture, and to inorganic powder particles coated by the method.

Abstract: Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods for accelerated dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In an example embodiment, a method includes acquiring undersampled MRI data corresponding to a set of images associated with an area of interest of a subject, and separating an image of the set of images into image regions. The method also includes performing motion tracking for each of the image regions, grouping the motion-tracked image regions into clusters, and applying a sparsity transform to the clusters, to form sparsity-exploited, transformed image regions. The method further includes forming a set of merged images from the plurality of sparsity-exploited, transformed image regions, and updating the set of merged images based on data fidelity, to form an updated set of estimated images.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of inhibiting the growth of or promoting differentiation and destruction of cancer stem cells (CSCs) comprising contacting the cancer stem cells with a compound having the structure: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Abstract: The oxidative functionalization of olefins is a common method for the formation of vicinal carbon-heteroatom bonds. However, oxidative methods to transform allenes into synthetic motifs containing three contiguous carbon-heteroatom bonds are much less developed. The use of bicyclic methylene aziridines (MAs), prepared via intramolecular allene aziridination, as scaffolds for functionalization of all three allene carbons, among other reactions, is described herein.

Abstract: The carrier-envelope phase (CEP) of a laser pulse has been shown to influence many physical processes such as pulse propagation through polar molecules, cross-phase modulation, ponderomotive surface-plasmon electron acceleration, photoemission from metallic surfaces, terahertz emission from the laser breakdown of air, above-threshold ionization, high harmonic generation, and attosecond pulse generation. Current technology does not allow for the CEP stabilization of chirped pulse amplification (CPA) systems operating at a repetition rate much lower than a kHz. The inventors disclose apparatus and methods that enable CEP control in CPA systems operating at arbitrarily-low repetition rates.

Abstract: A process for producing particle-reinforced composite materials through utilization of an in situ reaction to produce a uniform dispersion of a fine particulate reinforcement phase. The process includes forming a melt of a first material, and then introducing particles of a second material into the melt and subjecting the melt to high-intensity acoustic vibration. A chemical reaction initiates between the first and second materials to produce reaction products in the melt. The reaction products comprise a solid particulate phase, and the high-intensity acoustic vibration fragments and/or separates the reaction products into solid particles that are dispersed in the melt and are smaller than the particles of the second material. Also encompassed are particle-reinforced composite materials produced by such a process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a surface modification method for improving the dispersion of nanoparticles, and to nanoparticles having improved dispersion properties prepared by the method. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method in which amphoteric compounds are bonded to the surfaces of nanoparticles to improve dispersion at the surfaces of nanoparticles. The present invention also relates to nanoparticles using the method. Both anions and cations are formed on the surfaces of the nanoparticles according to the present invention, and therefore the nanoparticles are electrically stable so as to achieve stability in a wide pH range, are stably dispersed in the event of a high concentration of salts, and the non-specific adsorption thereof is reduced. Novel specific substances or sensors having minimized non-specific adsorption may be produced using the nanoparticles of the present invention.

Abstract: A computer cache system delays cache coherence invalidation messages related to cache lines of a common memory region to collect these messages into a combined message that can be transmitted more efficiently. This delay may be coordinated with a detection of whether the processor is executing a data-race free portion of the program so that the delay system may be used for a variety of types of programs which may have data-race and data-race free sections.

Abstract: An optical imaging apparatus includes an optical signal source, an optical signal detector apparatus, and a resonant amplifier assembly. The optical signal source is configured (i) to generate an optical signal including a carrier signal and an imaging signal, and (ii) to guide the optical signal to a sample. The optical signal detector apparatus is configured (i) to detect a modified optical signal from the sample, and (ii) to generate an electrical image signal based on the modified optical signal. The electrical image signal includes a background component and a modulated image signal corresponding to an image of the sample. The resonant amplifier assembly is electrically coupled to the optical signal detector apparatus and is configured (i) to isolate the modulated image signal from the background component, (ii) to amplify the modulated image signal, and (iii) to rectify the modulated image signal.