Abstract: The presently-disclosed subject matter includes thermophilic glucan phosphatase polypeptides. In some embodiments the polypeptide includes non-native laforin polypeptides, or fragments and/or variants thereof, and in some instances the polypeptide can alter the biophysical properties of starch in vitro or in planta. The presently-disclosed subject matter also includes isolated polynucleotides encoding the present polypeptides, methods for processing starch by exposing starch to the present polypeptides, and methods for making the present polypeptides.

Abstract: Compounds, compositions, and methods comprising a polyamine compound are described, which may be used to kill, disperse, treat, reduce biofilms, and/or inhibit or substantially prevent biofilm formation. In certain aspects, the present invention relates to compounds, compositions, and methods comprising polyamine compounds that have antimicrobial or dispersing activity against a variety of bacterial strains capable of forming biofilms.

Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to fixturing devices for supporting a workpiece, the devices including modularized cantilevered and fixed beam fixing elements. Each module includes a compliant beam and an interface element in contact with the workpiece and a portion of the compliant beam for transmitting a contact force between the workpiece and the beam. Dynamic adaptability of the beam is configured by selectively varying beam stiffness by varying either beam length or beam width. Varying a width can include varying a beam width, and/or breadth. In a further embodiment, the compliant beam fixed at both ends is slidable in a longitudinal direction of the beam such that a portion of the interface element slides along the beam, thus dynamically adapting the beam stiffness according to a force applied to a workpiece.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to peptides having antiviral properties. More particularly, the invention relates to peptides exhibiting activity against influenza viruses, to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the peptides, and to methods of using the peptides to prevent and/or treat influenza viral infections.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition for diagnosing a Parkinson's disease comprising mesenchymal stromal cells derived from adipose tissue, a method of providing information for diagnosing Parkinson's disease and/or the extent of the disease progression, a biomarker for diagnosing a Parkinson's disease, a method of screening a drug candidate treating Parkinson's disease where the drug candidate is a target of the biomarker, and an immortalized mesenchymal stromal cell from adipose tissue.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for making a fatty acid N-acylalkanolamine having the formula: One of the methods comprises the steps of providing a vinyl ester of a fatty acid having the formula: providing a primary or secondary alkanolamine having the formula: NHR1R2; and reacting the vinyl ester of the fatty acid with the alkanolamine under conditions effective to form the fatty acid N-acylalkanolamine. The other method comprises the steps of providing a fatty acid; purifying the fatty acid; providing a primary or secondary alkanolamine having the formula: NHR1R2; reacting the fatty acid with the alkanolamine under conditions effective to form the fatty acid N-acylalkanolamine; and purifying the formed fatty acid N-acylalkanolamine.

Abstract: Mixtures of ethanol and water are dehydrated using starch pearls to adsorb and remove water. Vapor-phase adsorption equilibrium capacities of cassava starch pellets (tapioca pearls) having different particle sizes are disclosed, and tapioca pearl particles are shown to be surprisingly more effective for dehydrating 88 to 97% w/w feed ethanol than corn grits. The adsorption equilibrium curve and BET surface area measurement show that the adsorption capacity of tapioca pearls is a function of surface area available to water molecules. SEM images demonstrate that the particle architecture required for the adsorption and dehydration properties is that of a core-shell configuration with pre-gel starch acting as a central scaffold holding together other particles to the outer layer of the particle. The outer surface area of the pearls, populated with dry starch granules, is the main factor determining the adsorption capacity of the pearls.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for processing a media file for an augmented reality service are provided. The method includes analyzing at least one media file including a marker track and a virtual object track to be used for providing the augmented reality service; generating image data needed for reproducing an image by extracting video data and/or audio data included in the media file; generating virtual object data for displaying a virtual object by extracting virtual object information included in the media file; and synthesizing the image data and the virtual object data based on the marker track to structure a final image and reproducing the final image on a screen.

Abstract: The present invention provides a 3-dimensional nanoparticle structure, wherein a plurality of structures formed by assembling nanoparticles is connected to form a bridge, and a gas sensor using the same.

Abstract: The invention provides methods to identify agents useful to prevent, inhibit or treat viral infections, e.g. filovirus infections, as well as compositions having one or more agents to prevent, inhibit or treat viral infection.

Abstract: This invention describes the development of targeted small molecule inhibitors of the inv(16) fusion, the causative agent in ˜12% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The inv(16) fusion results in expression of the CBF?-SMMHC fusion protein in the blood cells of afflicted patients. The present invention provides compounds which inhibit the function of both CBF? and the CBF?-SMMHC fusion. These compounds block the growth of an inv(16) leukemia cell line as well as increase its apoptosis, while showing minimal effects against non inv(16) cell lines. As a mechanism to develop inhibitors with selectivity for the CBF?-SMMHC fusion protein, the present invention further provides dimeric derivatives of these compounds which show both increased potency as well as selectivity for CBF?-SMMHC. These compounds show potent inhibition of an inv(16) leukemia cell line with minimal effects on non inv(16) cell lines.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for resonance tuning of microcavities are provided. An apparatus comprises a whispering gallery mode optical microcavity characterized by at least one resonance frequency; optical components configured to evanescently couple a probe laser beam into the microcavity; an absorber element in thermal contact with the microcavity; and optical components configured to illuminate the absorber element with a free space pump light beam, wherein the absorber element is configured to absorb energy from the free space pump light beam, thereby generating heat, and to transfer the heat to the microcavity, thereby inducing a shift in the at least one resonance frequency. The absorber element may be configured as a pillar forming an interfacial region with the microcavity at one of the ends of the pillar. The surface of the microcavity may be substantially free of a coating material.

Abstract: A surgical tool configured to facilitate delivery of a neurostimulator to a craniofacial region of a subject includes a handle portion, an elongate shaft having a contoured distal portion, and an insertion groove on the elongate shaft. The elongate shaft is configured to be advanced under a zygomatic bone along a maxillary tuberosity towards a pterygopalatine fossa. The distal portion includes a distal dissecting tip. The insertion groove is configured to receive, support, and guide a medical device or instrument.

Abstract: A digital filter having improved attenuation characteristics is disclosed. The disclosed performs upsampling of model filter response by applying a sampling kernel scaled by a sampling constant. The disclosed filter has good attenuation characteristics with small number of taps and pass bands of the digital filter can be changed with simple parameter variation.

Abstract: Chlorophyll fluorometry may be used for detecting toxins in a sample because of changes in micro algae. A portable lab on a chip (“LOAC”) based chlorophyll fluorometer may be used for toxin detection and environmental monitoring. In particular, the system may include a microfluidic pulse amplitude modulated (“PAM”) chlorophyll fluorometer. The LOAC PAM chlorophyll fluorometer may analyze microalgae and cyanobacteria that grow naturally in source drinking water.

Abstract: Methods are provided for enhancing the resistance of plants to bacterial pathogens. The methods involve transforming a plant with a polynucleotide molecule comprising a plant promoter operably linked to a nucleotide sequence that encodes a plant receptor that binds specifically with bacterial elongation factor-Tu. Further provided are expression cassettes, transformed plants, seeds, and plant cells that are produced by such methods.

Abstract: A pipelined processor comprising a cache memory system, fetching instructions for execution from a portion of said cache memory system, an instruction commencing processing before a digital signature of the cache line that contained the instruction is verified against a reference signature of the cache line, the verification being done at the point of decoding, dispatching, or committing execution of the instruction, the reference signature being stored in an encrypted form in the processor's memory, and the key for decrypting the said reference signature being stored in a secure storage location. The instruction processing proceeds when the two signatures exactly match and, where further instruction processing is suspended or processing modified on a mismatch of the two said signatures.

Abstract: Processors and methods disclosed herein include a cache memory unit, n processor cores where n?1, a controller connected to the cache memory unit and to each of the n processor cores, and n obstruction monitoring units, where each obstruction monitoring unit is connected to the controller and to a different one of the n processor cores, and where during operation of the electronic processor, each obstruction monitoring unit is configured to detect an obstruction corresponding to an operation from the processor core connected to the obstruction monitoring unit before the operation executes in the cache memory unit.

Abstract: A computer-based education system monitors brain activity of the student to produce an “engagement” signal that may be compared against a dynamic threshold to identify a plurality of points demarcating periods of declining attention. These points are used to trigger modifications to the presentation of the educational program to promote student retention of the present information.

Abstract: A system includes a frame configured to hold a workpiece and first and second tool positioning assemblies configured to be opposed to each other on opposite sides of the workpiece. The first and second tool positioning assemblies each include a toolholder configured to secure a tool to the tool positioning assembly, a first axis assembly, a second axis assembly, and a third axis assembly. The first, second, and third axis assemblies are each configured to articulate the toolholder along a respective axis. Each axis assembly includes first and second guides extending generally parallel to the corresponding axis and disposed on opposing sides of the toolholder with respect to the corresponding axis. Each axis assembly includes first and second carriages articulable along the first and second guides of the axis assembly, respectively, in the direction of the corresponding axis.