Abstract: A computer implemented method (350) for determining a centerline of a three-dimensional tubular structure is described. The method includes providing an edge-detected data set of voxels that characterize a boundary of the tubular structure according to a three-dimensional voxel data set for the tubular structure (360). A gradient field of a distance transformation is computed for the edge-detected dataset (380). A voxel data set corresponding to a centerline of the tubular structure is computed according to derivative of gradient field (390).

Abstract: The present invention provides an adjuvant for cancer antigen peptide vaccines and virus antigen peptides, containing a pertussis vaccine as a primary ingredient. The present invention also provides a therapeutic agent for a cancer or viral infectious disease, and a prophylactic agent for metastasis or recurrence of cancer or onset of virus-induced tumor, containing a cancer antigen peptide or virus antigen peptide and a pertussis vaccine. A pertussis vaccine that can be suitably used is a whole cell body pertussis vaccine. The agents of the present invention can be safely administered in a plurality of doses.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pol I promoter derived from Vero cells and a recombinant vector containing the same. When the pol I promoter derived from Vero cells according to the present invention is utilized, viruses can be manufactured efficiently, and consequently, the manufacture of both seasonal influenza vaccine and pandemic vaccine can be prepared more quickly to usefully address either situation.

Abstract: Transgenic lignocellulosic plants are provided according to embodiments of the present invention, the transgenic plants transformed with an expression cassette encoding a protein operably linked to a signal peptide which targets the protein to a cell wall of the transgenic plant, where at least 5% of the total amino acid residues of the protein are tyrosine, lysine, serine, threonine or cysteine. Methods of increasing lignin-protein bonds in a lignocellulosic plant are provided according to embodiments of the present invention which include expressing a recombinant nucleic acid in a lignocellulosic plant, the recombinant nucleic acid encoding a protein operably linked to a signal peptide which targets the protein to the cell wall of a plant, where at least 5% of the total amino acid residues of the protein are tyrosine, lysine, serine, threonine or cysteine.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for cancer detection and treatment. Compounds that inhibit PRMT5 are contemplated, as are pharmaceutical compositions comprising a therapeutically effective amount of at least one PRMT5 inhibitor. In some embodiments pharmaceutical compositions further comprising at least one HDAC inhibitor are contemplated. Methods of treating disorders in a mammal by inhibiting PRMT5 by administering to a mammal, a therapeutically effective amount of a PRMT5 inhibitor are also disclosed.

Abstract: The inventive concept relates to a supply regulated voltage controlled oscillator having a function of an active loop filter by sharing one operational amplifier without additional use of active elements in a supply regulated voltage controlled oscillator using an operational amplifier as a supply regulator, and a phase locked loop using the same.

Abstract: A successive approximation ADC made of a low voltage configurable differential amplifier and low voltage logic circuits which can convert a high voltage analog input to a digital equivalent. The differential amplifier can be configured as either an op amp or a comparator depending upon the mode of operation. An input capacitor C1 is switchably coupled to an electrode selected for voltage sampling. A switched capacitor array C2 is coupled across the differential amplifier input and output. A SAR coupled to the switched capacitor array provides a digital output corresponding to the sampled analog voltage. During a sampling interval and a charge transfer interval, the differential amplifier is configured as an op amp. During the transfer interval, the voltage on the input capacitor multiplied by the ratio C1/C2 is transferred to the switched capacitor array. During an analog to digital conversion interval, the ADC converts the analog voltage to an equivalent digital output.

Abstract: An exercise bicycle including a frame supporting a flywheel. A magnetic brake assembly includes a brake arm pivotally mounted to the frame and including at least one magnet. The magnet is positioned adjacent to the flywheel and not in contact with the flywheel, the position of the magnet relative to the flywheel inducing a magnetic braking force on the flywheel. The pivot of the brake arm is positioned such that a pivot force vector induced on the brake arm by the magnetic braking acts to pivot the brake arm away from the flywheel.

Abstract: A method of forming an image of a target that comprises illuminating a target with light, maneuvering an optical unit having at least one diffractive element in front of the target through a plurality of positions, capturing, during the maneuvering, a plurality of spectrally encoded frames each from a portion of the light that is scattered from a different of a plurality of overlapping segments along a track traversing an image plane of the target, and combining the plurality of spectrally encoded frames to form a composite multispectral image of at least a portion of said target.

Abstract: Methods for detecting cancer that include hybridizing a set of chromosomal probes to a biological sample obtained from a patient, and identifying if aneusomic cells are present in a selected subset of cells obtained from the biological sample are described. A set of chromosomal probes and kits for detecting cancer that include sets of chromosomal probes, are also described.

Abstract: Identifying valid wireless access points based on clock skews. A computing device receives plurality of frames, each including a corresponding timestamp, from a wireless access point. The computing device calculates transmit and receive offsets based on transmit and receive times of the plurality of frames, and also calculates differences between the transmit and receive offsets. The computing device also calculates a clock skew of a clock at the wireless access point based on a slope of the differences. The client computing device determines whether the wireless access point is an authorized wireless access point or an unauthorized wireless access point based on comparing the calculated clock skew with one or more known baseline clock skews of one or more authorized wireless access points.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the fabrication of a grafted, UV photo-polymerized silica-based monolithic column and the use of such column for the extraction of DNA. In one embodiment, a method is provided for fabricating a silica-based monolithic column, wherein a vessel is filled with a polymerization mixture that is formed into monolithic solid phase for DNA extraction through in situ photo-polymerization.

Abstract: Non-natural oligomers have recently shown promise as functional analogues of lung surfactant proteins Band C (SP-B and SP-C), two helical and amphiphilic proteins that are clitical for normal respiration. The generation of non-natural mimics of SP-B and SP-C has previously been restlicted to step-by-step, sequence-specific synthesis, which results in discrete oligomers that are intended to manifest specific structural attributes. Presented herein an alternative approach to SP-R mimicry that is based on sequence-random copolymers containing cationic and lipophilic subunits. These materials, members of the nylon-3 family, arc prepared by ling-opening polymelization of 13-lactams. The best of the nylon-3 polymers display promising in vitro surfactant activities in a mixed lipid film. Pulsating bubble surfactometry data indicate that films containing the most surface-active polymers attain adsorptive and dynamic-cycling properties that surpass those of discrete peptides intended to mimic SP-B.

Abstract: This invention relates to soluble forms of G glycoprotein from Hendra and Nipah virus. In particular, this invention relates to compositions comprising soluble forms of G glycoprotein from Hendra and Nipah virus and also to diagnostic and therapeutic methods using the soluble forms of G glycoprotein from Hendra and Nipah virus. Further, the invention relates to therapeutic antibodies including neutralizing antibodies, and vaccines for the prevention and treatment of infection by Hendra and Nipah viruses.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for enhancing a presentation of an athletic event. Data is received at a sensor located at a first location on a first athlete. The data represents an impact applied to the first athlete by a second athlete. One of an acceleration and a force at a second location on the first athlete induced by the impact is determined. A representation of the determined one of the acceleration and the force at the second location on the first athlete is displayed to an audience of the athletic event.

Abstract: This document relates to methods and materials for using nucleic acid and amino acid sequence variants of ribonucleic acid binding motif protein 20 (RBM20). For example, methods and materials for using nucleic acid sequence variants and/or their corresponding amino acid variants of RBM20 that are associated with dilated cardiomyopathy to identify mammals (e.g., humans) at risk of having dilated cardiomyopathy that is likely to progress to heart failure are provided.

Abstract: A method of driving an organic light emitting display capable of providing a sufficient (e.g., a sufficiently long) data writing period and/or threshold voltage compensating period is provided. The method includes supplying scan signals to odd scan lines in a writing period of an odd frame set to be in a non-emission state, and supplying scan signals to even scan lines in a writing period of an even frame set to be in the non-emission state.

Abstract: An object-based approach is used to initialize the magnetic field inhomogeneity estimation for chemical species separation, such as water-fat separation, and other imaging applications. For example, a susceptibility distribution in the subject being imaged is estimated from images reconstructed from single-echo or multi-echo k-space data and used to initialize the magnetic field inhomogeneity estimation. This approach can be applied to any complex-based chemical shift encoded chemical species separation technique and to other imaging applications, such as susceptibility-weighted imaging and quantitative susceptibility mapping. The field map can also be used to correct for image distortions and to generate magnetic field shimming values.

Abstract: A method of storing data in a distributed manner based on data compression ratio prediction, and a mass storage device and system using the method are disclosed. The device includes a compression ratio predicting unit, a compressing unit, and a control unit. When an address and first unit sized data are received, the compression ratio predicting unit estimates the predicted compression ratio of the first unit sized data. The compressing unit generates compressed data. The control unit calculates the benefit of compression based on at least the estimated predicted compression ratio, stores the compressed data in a first storage area if the calculated benefit of compression is higher than a predetermined benefit threshold value, and stores the first unit sized data in the second storage area if the calculated benefit of compression is equal to or lower than the predetermined benefit threshold value.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Caladium plant named ‘UF 4412’, characterized by its mounding growth habit, heart-shaped leaves that have a large red center, red primary veins, netted greyed-purple secondary veins, and green margins, and plants that are attractive in containers or landscapes.