Abstract: Amorphous steel composites with enhanced mechanical properties and related methods for toughening amorphous steel alloys. The composites are formed from monolithic amorphous steel and hard ceramic particulates, which must be embedded in the glass matrix through melting at a temperature above the melting point for the steel but below the melting point for the ceramic. The ceramics may be carbides, nitrides, borides, iron-refractory carbides, or iron-refractory borides. An optical micrograph of such a composite including niobium carbide particulates is shown in FIG. 2A. The produced composites may be one of two types, primarily distinguished by the methods for embedding the ceramic particulates in the steel. These methods may be applied to a variety of amorphous steels as well as other non-ferrous amorphous metals, and the resulting composites can be used in various applications and utilizations.

Abstract: Height control systems and/or methods are implemented for dynamic force tunneling microscopy and single electron tunneling force spectroscopy to improve their accuracy.

Abstract: Microfluidic devices and methods for conducting chemical assays and biological assays using microfluidic devices are disclosed. The microfluidic devices do not require external connections, tethers, tubing, valves and actuators. The microfluidic devices are useful in methods for analyzing a wide variety of chemical and biological assays such as, for example, molecule-molecule interactions, enzyme-substrate interactions, molecule identification, minimum inhibitory concentrations, therapeutically effective amounts, and toxic amounts.

Abstract: Disclosed are cellulose capsules, methods for preparing a cellulose capsule, and compositions comprising cellulose capsules, including sustained- or controlled-release dosage forms comprising cellulose capsules.

Abstract: The instant invention describes macrocyclic compounds having antiproliferation activity, and methods of treating disorders such as cancer, tumors and cell proliferation related disorders.

Abstract: The present invention relates to microfluidic systems and methods for controlling the flow of fluid using passive components engineered into the microchannels. These passive flow components include fluidic diodes, fluidic capacitors, and fluidic inductors. Various fluidic circuits are provided to control fluid flow including fluid rectifiers, fluid band pass filters, and fluid timers.

Abstract: A method of ameliorating one or more symptoms of an inflammatory condition in a subject comprises the step of administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a polypeptide that is capable promoting cholesterol efflux from lipid loaded cells, the polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, in which each X in SEQ ID NO:1 is a phenylalanine amino acid.

Abstract: A method of controlling a multilevel converter is provided. In the method of controlling a multilevel converter according to an embodiment, a sub-module having the maximum voltage and a sub-module having the minimum voltage respectively are extracted from among a plurality of sub-modules. An amount of state variation of each of the plurality of sub-modules is determined. When the amount of state variation is not determined to be 0, a direction of a current flowing through the plurality of sub-modules is detected. A subsequent state of at least one sub-module is determined according to at least one of the amount of the state variation and current direction. Subsequently an arrangement time for sub-module values can be efficiently reduced while the number of the sub-modules increases in the voltage balancing.

Abstract: The present invention provides crosslinked epoxy-functional copolymer films and microarrays built from the crosslinked epoxy-functional copolymer films. Microarrays incorporating the copolymers include a substrate on which a film of the crosslinked epoxy-functional copolymer is disposed and target molecules bound to the copolymer film. The crosslinked polymer films are well-suited for use as scaffolds for target molecules in microarrays because they provide a high density of binding sites for the target molecules, are mechanically stable, and may be coated onto a wide range of substrates.

Abstract: Shape controlled synthesis of ferroelectric nanocrystals such as barium titanate (BaTiO3) nanocrystals is described. By tuning the molar ratio between the surfactant and the metal precursors, BaTiO3 nanocrystals with different shapes are readily obtained. This provides the nanoscopic ferroelectric building blocks for the fabrication of various electronic devices, as well as for fundamental research in nanoscience and nanotechnology.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle comprises an internal combustion engine, a traction motor, a starter motor, and a battery bank, all controlled by a microprocessor in accordance with the vehicle's instantaneous torque demands so that the engine is run only under conditions of high efficiency, typically only when the load is at least equal to 30% of the engine's maximum torque output. In some embodiments, a turbocharger may be provided, activated only when the load exceeds the engine's maximum torque output for an extended period; a two-speed transmission may further be provided, to further broaden the vehicle's load range. A hybrid brake system provides regenerative braking, with mechanical braking available in the event the battery bank is fully charged, in emergencies, or at rest; a control mechanism is provided to control the brake system to provide linear brake feel under varying circumstances.

Abstract: A Brain Machine Interface (BMI) agent (110) is provided, that when operatively coupled to a subject during a mental task by the subject to control a prosthetic device (130), monitors one or more states (125) of neural activity of the subject, receives feedback associated with a behavior of the prosthetic device responsive to the control, learns a functional mapping between the mental task and the behavior in view of the feedback, and applies at least one control action (115) to the prosthetic device in accordance with the learning to control the prosthetic device for a targeted behavior.

Abstract: A resonator fabrication method is provided. A method includes providing a plurality of electrode patterns disposed apart from each other on a substrate using a nano-imprint technique; and forming an extended electrode pattern connected to a plurality of electrode patterns, and forming a nano structure laid across an extended electrode patterns. Therefore, a nano-electromechanical system (NEMS) resonator is easily fabricated at a nanometer level.

Abstract: An object detection system (24) is disclosed having a transducer (40, 40?) for detecting buried objects (26). The transducer is encapsulated within a robust, electromagnetically transparent construction (42).

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for displaying proteins and polypeptides on the surface of cells and cellular vesicles. Methods and compositions for drug and vaccine delivery using cell surface display systems of the present invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an angiogenic composition, and more particularly, to a pharmaceutical angiogenic composition including a microRNA-382 activator. The inventors of the present invention have confirmed that microRNA-382, the expression of which is elevated in stomach cancer cells in a low oxygen environment, affects the promotion of angiogenesis. Therefore, provided in the present invention is the pharmaceutical angiogenic composition which includes the microRNA-382 activator, which is angiogenic and thus promotes cell proliferation, and can be valuably used in treating injuries, ischemic myocardial infarctions, or foot ischemia.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to identifying peptide sequences involved in antibody binding to any protein for synthesis of vaccine treatments. This novel method allows for a more manageable vaccine peptide discovery and specific generation of unique immunogenic peptides from self-tumor associated proteins and/or foreign proteins from infectious organisms for specific and/or enhanced expression only in the presence of the antibody.

Abstract: Transistor-based particle detection systems and methods may be configured to detect charged and non-charged particles. Such systems may include a supporting structure contacting a gate of a transistor and separating the gate from a dielectric of the transistor, and the transistor may have a near pull-in bias and a sub-threshold region bias to facilitate particle detection. The transistor may be configured to change current flow through the transistor in response to a change in stiffness of the gate caused by securing of a particle to the gate, and the transistor-based particle detection system may configured to detect the non-charged particle at least from the change in current flow.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems related to the use of the pre-existing ion injection pathway of a mass spectrometer to perform beam-type collision-activated dissociation, as well as other dissociation methods. The methods can be practiced using a wide range of mass spectrometer configurations and allows MSn experiments to be performed on very basic mass spectrometers, even those without secondary mass analyzers and/or collision cells. Following injection and selection of a particular ion type or population, that population can be fragmented via beam-type collision-activated dissociation (CAD), as well as other dissociation methods, using the pre-existing ion injection pathway or inlet of a mass spectrometer. For CAD applications, this is achieved by transmitting the ions back along the ion injection pathway with a high degree of kinetic energy. As the ions pass into the higher pressure regions located in or near the atmospheric pressure inlet, the ions are fragmented and then trapped.

Abstract: Disclosed are metal-bound tetracarbene catalysts, such as iron based aziridination catalyst, having the formula: wherein X is a group 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 metal and wherein Z is a hydrogen, alkyl, aryl or organic group, wherein the alkyl, aryl or organic group is optionally are independently substituted. In a specific example, a metal-bound tetracarbene catalyst has the formula: Also disclosed are methods of making (synthesizing), transmetallation reagents, these agents, metal-bound tetracarbene catalysts, and a method of catalytic alkene aziridination, using the disclosed metal-bound tetracarbene catalysts.