Abstract: Disclosed is a rubber composition obtained by chemically blending rubber with a filler, particularly in which Latex rubber is directly blended with a starch solution obtained by gelatinizing starch in water. Herein, as a coupling agent between Latex rubber and starch, resorcinol-formaldehyde is used. By this, a vulcanized rubber compound is prepared. When resorcinol-formaldehyde is used as a coupling agent during the blending of the Latex rubber with the gelatinized starch solution, it is possible to solve the problem of tensile strength lowering caused by low affinity with rubber. Furthermore, it is possible to inhibit starch loss caused by high water-solubility, during the blending of starch in a liquid state. Also, the physical property of the vulcanized rubber compound can be varied according to the amount of the added coupling agent.

Abstract: A device for replenishing ionizable material in a field ionization apparatus is disclosed. The device comprises a heatable reservoir containing the ionizable material, a field ionization electrode structure, and a channel being in fluid communication with said heatable reservoir. The heatable reservoir and the channel are designed and constructed such that when the heatable reservoir is heated to an evaporation temperature of the ionizable material, a flux of vaporized ionizable material is directed along the channel to a tip of the field ionization electrode structure.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for storing hydrogen. One embodiment of such a method comprises providing a storage apparatus having a substrate and a nanostructure mat on at least a portion of a side of the substrate. The nanostructure mat comprises a plurality of nanostructures having a surface ionization state which causes more than one layer of hydrogen to adsorb onto the nanostructures. The method can also include exposing the nanostructure mat to hydrogen such that more than one layer of hydrogen adsorbs onto the nanostructures.

Abstract: A functionalized tip is incorporated into catheters for the cytometric delivery of cells into the brain and other body parts. For use in the brain, the tip forms part of a neurosurgical probe having a proximal end and a distal end. In addition to the functionalized tip, the probe has at least one cell slurry delivery lumen and a plurality of optical fibers configured along the probe, terminating in the tip to provide the photo-optical capability needed to monitor the viability and physiological behavior of the grafted cells as well as certain characteristics of the cellular environment. Details are also presented of the use of a neurocatheter having a cytometric tip of the type disclosed in the invention, as employed within the context of a feedback and control system for regulating the number of cells delivered to the brain of a patient.

Abstract: Polymers for photoresists and monomers for incorporation into those polymers are disclosed. The polymers comprise a photoacid generator (PAG) component and at least a second component that is photolytically stable and acid-stable. The polymers may also contain a third, acid-labile component. The photoacid generator is based on N-sulfoxyimides and related moieties that contain photolabile oxygen-heteroatom and oxygen-aromatic carbon bonds.

Abstract: The invention relates to protein binding inhibitor compounds and methods of identifying and using them. The invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treating a variety of diseases and disorders, including cell proliferative disorders, especially cancer.

Abstract: Image tracking systems, and corresponding methods, are described. In some embodiments, conventional imaging components are placed on a platform having wheels, thereby providing a mechanism for imaging a moving subject. In other embodiments, conventional imaging components are situated on non-parallel rails, and moved along those rails, thereby providing a mechanism for imaging an anatomical region of a subject as that region moves in two dimensions. For yet other embodiments, image recognition and tracking approaches are provided to track the movement of a non-stationary anatomical region. The tracking of the non-stationary anatomical region permits imaging of a moving anatomy. For some embodiments, the anatomy moves within its normal range of motion.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to substituted heterocyclic mercaptosulfonamide compounds, precursors, and derivatives as well as methods for the preparation of and pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds. These compounds are designed to be potent selective inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), including, for example, gelatinases, collagenases, matrilysins, metalloelastase, stromelysin, and membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase. These inhibitors may be used for the control of physiological and pathological processes and disease conditions in which MMPs are believed to play significant functions.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of diagnosing carcinoma in a patient, the method comprising providing a sample of colorectal cells from a human patient and analyzing the sample for CXCL12 hypermethylation.

Abstract: An appliance for the delivery of at least one bioactive agent to the eye has at least one diffusion attenuator within a hydrophilic or silicone-hydrogel contact lens. The bioactive agent can be a drug or a nutraceutical. The diffusion attenuator can be a plurality of solid particles or phase separated liquid aggregates within at least one continuous phase of the lens where the diffusion attenuators promote a tortuous path for the diffusion of the bioactive agent to mediate the rate by which the bioactive agent diffuses from the contact lens. The diffusion attenuator can be homogeneously dispersed throughout at least one continuous phase of the lens to modify the diffusivity of the bioactive agent through that phase. The diffusion attenuator can have little or no affinity for the bioactive agent or can be miscible with the bioactive agent. The diffusion attenuator can be incorporated while forming the contact lens by polymerization of a monomer mixture containing the diffusion attenuator.

Abstract: A system processes 2D images of 2D or 3D objects, creating a model of the object that is consistent with the image and as veridical as the perception of the 2D image by humans. Vertices of the object that are hidden in the image are recovered by using planarity and symmetry constraints. The 3D shape is recovered by maximizing 3D compactness of the recovered object and minimizing its surface area. In some embodiments, these two criteria are weighted by using the geometric mean.

Abstract: Disclosed are a DNA aptamer specifically binding to human cardiac troponin I, and a composition and a diagnostic kit for the diagnosis of acute cardiovascular diseases, comprising the same. Being superior in specificity and stability to antibodies which are conventionally used to diagnose acute cardiovascular diseases, the DNA aptamers specifically binding to human cardiac troponin I can be developed into biosensors which determine human cardiac troponin I levels with high sensitivity and accuracy, greatly contributing to the diagnosis in an early stage of acute cardiovascular diseases. It is expected to lots of help for increase of diagnostic accuracy.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composition for suppressing and preventing obesity and related adult diseases, comprising Herba Ephedrae and Thallus Laminariae seu Eckloniae, or comprising Herba Ephedrae, Thallus Laminariae seu Eckloniae and Radix et Rhizoma Rhei.

Abstract: A method for selecting beams, a switched beam operation method during an initial synchronization process, and an initial synchronization method using it are provided for selecting beams to minimize the probability of occurrence of interferences between cells by considering a distance between beams within neighboring sectors during an initial synchronization process using switched beams, in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) cellular system employing a smart antenna. The inventive method comprises the steps of dividing each cell into sectors, and counting the number of fixed beams per cell, and selecting a switched beam for minimizing probability of interference, from fixed beams presenting in a corresponding sector, based on distances between a selected beam and beams of all of adjacent cells and the number of cases to be selected in a subsequent time slot, according to the counted number of the fixed beams existing in each sector.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for operating an MRI system is provided. The disclosure provides a diffusion-prepared driven-equilibrium preparation for an imaging volume and acquiring 3-dimensional k-space data from said prepared volume by a plurality of echoplanar readouts of stimulated echoes. An excitation radio-frequency signal and first and second inversion RF signals are provided to define a field-of-view (FOV).

Abstract: There are provided an apparatus and a method for controlling the power quality of a power generation system. According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for controlling the power quality of a power generation system including a DC/AC inverter converting DC voltage into AC voltage and supplying inverter current to a grid, including: a grid voltage phase follower generating a grid signal; a fundamental extractor extracting a magnitude of a fundamental wave of a load current introduced into a non-linear load connected between the DC/AC inverter and the grid; a first calculator subtracting a preset current compensation value from the magnitude of the fundamental wave from the fundamental extractor; and a second calculator generating an inverter current instruction value for the DC/AC inverter by using the output value of the first calculator and the grid signal and the load current from the grid voltage phase follower.

Abstract: A soluble donor-acceptor electrochromic polymer (DA-ECP) is prepared that absorbs light throughout at least the majority of the visible range and is essentially black to the human eye when in the neutral state, but is highly transmissive when electrochemically doped. The conjugated polymer has acceptor units separated by sequences of a plurality of donor units. The sequences can be monodispersed or polydispersed. The DA-ECP is prepared by the polycondensation of a plurality of at least one donor-acceptor oligomer (DA-oligomer) that has at least one internal acceptor repeating unit and at least one donor repeating unit on all termini of the oligomer, and optionally, a plurality of at least one donor monomer and/or donor oligomer.

Abstract: A non-volatile latch circuit includes a pair of cross-coupled inverters, a pair of resistance-based memory elements, and write circuitry configured to write data to the pair of resistance-based memory elements. The pair of resistance-based memory elements is isolated from the pair of cross-coupled inverters during a latching operation. A sensing circuit includes a first current path that includes a first resistance-based memory element and an output of the sensing circuit. The sensing circuit includes a second current path to reduce current flow through the first resistance-based memory element at a first operating point of the sensing circuit. The sensing circuit may also include an n-type metal-oxide-semiconductor (NMOS) transistor to provide a step down supply voltage to the first current path.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a scanning microscope using a heterodyne interferometer, which can be used for mapping or imaging complex optical parameters such as physical structures and material properties of a sample under test. The heterodyne interferometer is designed to provide in- and quadrature-phase interference signal which can be used for extracting the phase and amplitude change induced on the probe beam. The phase and the amplitude of the probe beam, which is reflected from or transmitted through the sample, are modified by the physical structures and material properties of the sample. Therefore, by scanning the probe beam, local variations of the phase and amplitude can be mapped, and, thereby, three-dimensional microscopic physical structures and material properties can be imaged by processing the phase and amplitude values.

Abstract: A method of purifying (20R,25S)-2-methylene-19,26-dinor-1?,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 to obtain (20R,25S)-2-methylene-19,26-dinor-1?,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in crystalline form. The method includes the steps of preparing a solvent of methanol and water, dissolving a product containing (20R,25S)-2-methylene-19,26-dinor-1?,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 to be purified in the solvent, cooling the solvent and dissolved product below ambient temperature for a sufficient amount of time to form a precipitate of (20R,25S)-2-methylene-19,26-dinor-1?,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 crystals, and recovering the (20R,25S)-2-methylene-19,26-dinor-1?,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 crystals.