Abstract: The pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein Bax initiates apoptosis in almost all apoptotic paradigms. Agents facilitating disruptive Bax insertion into mitochondrial membranes have potential as cancer therapeutics. Small molecule compounds associating with the hydrophobic groove of the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein Bax have been identified and found to promote Bax-dependent, but not Bak-dependent, apoptosis. The compounds alter Bax protein stability in vitro and promote Bax insertion into mitochondria, leading to Bax-dependent mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization and apoptosis. The compounds activating the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein Bax inhibit the growth of tumors by inducing apoptosis. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds that activate Bax and induce Bax-dependent apoptosis are useful as anti-cancer therapeutic agents alone or with other anti-cancer agents. Methods for inducing apoptosis and for treating cancer involve administering the compounds to a patient in need thereof.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a group of newly discovered intrinsic scintillation compounds. As intrinsic scintillators, these compounds do not require an external activator as a dopant. The new scintillators may include members of two elpasolite families with the general exemplary formulas of A2BMX(6-y)X?y and A3MX(6-y)X?y, (0<y<6).

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for spraying systems, methods of disposing a layer of matrix onto a sample, and the like.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method for preparing organic microbubble complex particles including sonicating an aqueous solution including a graphene compound and an amphiphilic material in the presence of a gas, a method for preparing organic microbubble complex particles including injecting an aqueous solution including a graphene compound and an amphiphilic material into a microchannel, and an organic microbubble complex particle including a core part including at least one gas selected from the group consisting of an inert gas and carbon dioxide, and a shell layer including a graphene compound and an amphiphilic material, and an ultrasound contrast agent including the organic microbubble complex particles.

Abstract: An integrated nonvolatile memory control subsystem and method are disclosed. The integrated nonvolatile memory control subsystem includes a nonvolatile buffer cache, a nonvolatile journal area, nonvolatile storage, and an integrated memory control unit. The integrated memory control unit performs a read operation, a write operation, a commit operation and a checkpoint operation on the cache blocks of the nonvolatile buffer cache and the journal blocks of the nonvolatile journal area. The integrated memory control unit sets each of data blocks of the nonvolatile storage as one among valid state, erasable state and invalid state, depending on being cached or not, being journaled or not, and being a clean cache or not, so as to maintain an authentic original up-to-date consistent data within any one of the nonvolatile buffer cache, the nonvolatile journal area and the nonvolatile storage.

Abstract: The present invention provides processes for removing nitrogen species from fresh water or high salinity water recirculated aquaculture systems. The processes are based on physico-chemical treatments which are performed at ambient temperatures and at low p H values thus keeping the total ammonia nitrogen concentrations below a value which is considered detrimental for the growth or survival rate of cultured fish/shrimp.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and techniques for stimulating a user. For example, materials and methods for manipulating nystagmus and the related vestibular system with coupling of galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) and visual cueing are provided herein. Use of GVS within the present invention may be applied to simulation, alleviating motion sickness, and directional cueing of a user to a precise target location.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a transient semiconductor based on a single-wall nanotube includes stacking a thermal oxide layer on a silicon substrate and depositing a nickel thin layer on the thermal oxide layer, depositing an oxide layer on the nickel thin layer, depositing a metallic layer on the oxide layer, and patterning the metallic layer to form a gate electrode, depositing a gate insulating layer on the gate electrode, changing a surface of the gate insulating layer into a hydrophilic surface, and washing and drying the gate insulting layer, coating a single-wall nanotube on the hydrophilic surface of the gate insulating layer, forming source and drain electrodes by forming a contact opening with respect to the gate insulating layer, attaching a thermal release tape after removing a surrounding single-wall nanotube, performing a transfer onto a polyvinyl alcohol thin layer after etching the nickel thin layer, and releasing the thermal release.

Abstract: Provided are certain histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors of Formula I, compositions thereof, and methods of their use.

Abstract: Provided are a microfluidic platform for cell culturing and a cell culturing method using the same. By applying a structure of a compartment which surrounds at least a portion of an annular reservoir and moving cells to be cultured to a site adjacent to a microchannel via rotation, a probability of observing cells that grew after culturing may increase and a probability of causing cells, particularly neurons, to grow so as to correspond to a signal transfer direction may increase.

Abstract: System and method for converting energy; the system comprising: an acoustic resonator; a phase-exchange device configured for forming across a section of said resonator a concentration gradient of a first substance in a gaseous medium contained by said resonator, to thereby generate a pressure wave within said resonator; and a conversion device for converting mechanical energy constituted by said pressure wave to non-mechanical energy.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, an ion trap mass analyzer includes a variable- or multi-potential type ion guide (MPIG) assembly which has been pre-configured to produce a parabolic-type potential field. Each MPIG electrode has a resistive coating of designed characteristics. In one example the coating varies in thickness along the length of an underlying uniform substrate. The MPIG assembly can be a single MPIG electrode or an array of a plurality of MPIG electrodes. An array can facilitate delocalization for improved performance. This chemical modification of a uniform underlying substrate promotes cheaper and flexible instruments. The modified MPIG electrodes also allow miniaturization (e.g. micro and perhaps even nano-scale), which allows miniaturization of the instrument in which the single or plural modified MPIG electrode(s) are placed. This promotes portability and field use instead of limitation to laboratory settings.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining alcohol consumption capable of analyzing alcohol consumption in a time domain by analyzing a formant slope of a voice signal, and a recording medium and a terminal for carrying out same. An terminal for determining whether a person is drunk comprises: a voice input unit for generating a voice frame by receiving a voice signal; a voiced/unvoiced sound analysis unit for determining whether a received voiced frame corresponds to a voiced sound; a formant frequency extraction unit for extracting a plurality of formant frequencies of the voice frame corresponding to the voiced sound; and an alcohol consumption determining unit for calculating a formant slope between the plurality of formant frequencies, and determining the state of alcohol consumption depending on the formant slope, thereby determining whether a person is drunk by analyzing the formant slope of an inputted voice.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a new approach for bio-oil upgrading using methane as reductant instead of hydrogen. Guaiacol, produced by thermal degradation of lignin, represents a model compound for upgrading of fast pyrolysis bio-oils by deoxygenation. To overcome the high cost of H2, methane is used to deoxygenate guaiacol. On Pt/C catalyst, in terms of guaiacol conversion and product distribution, methane is found to exhibit comparable deoxygenation performance as H2. Its lifetime, however, is lower (<3 hrs). In one embodiment, the lifetime of Pt—Bi/C catalyst is extended by addition of bismuth as a promoter.

Abstract: The present invention involves the use of 2,4-disulfonyl phenyl tert-butyl nitrone (2,4-ds-PBN) in the treatment and prevention of gliomas. The 2,4-ds-PBN may be used alone or combined with other traditional chemo- and radiotherapies and surgery, to treat or prevent glioma occurrence, recurrence, spread, growth, metastasis, or vascularization.

Abstract: A method for storing an image of a vehicle black box comprises: an image input step for inputting an image through a camera module; a temporary storage step for temporarily storing the inputted image in a temporarily processing unit, which consumes relatively low power, and allowing an event processing unit, which consumes relatively high power, to be in a sleep state or a power-off state; and an event storage step for allowing the event processing unit to be returned from the sleep state or the power-off state and storing in the event processing unit an image for the event from the time of the event occurrence up until before a predetermined time and from the time of the event occurrence up until after a predetermined time.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved process for the preparation of 4?-acetoxy-2?-benzoyloxy-5?,20-epoxy-1?,13?-dihydroxy-7?,10?-dimethoxy-9-oxo-11-taxene (7?,10?-dimethoxy-10-deacetoxybaccatin III). The present invention also provides a novel process for the preparation of cabazitaxel.

Abstract: The direct current (DC) side fault isolator for high voltage direct current (HVDC) converters (10) includes a first set of double thyristor switches (12) connected across the line-to-line voltage terminals between first and second phases of alternating current (AC) terminals of a HVDC converter (14), and a second set of double thyristor switches (12) connected across the line-to-line voltage between the second phase and a third phase of the AC terminals of the HVDC converter (14). In use, the first and second sets of double thyristor switches (12) separate the HVDC converter (10) from an external power grid (18) during direct current (DC) side faults by turning on these thyristors (12).

Abstract: A system for controlling at least one heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning unit to increase efficiency while maintaining comfort. The system comprises at least one computer. The at least one computer is configured to receive an indication of measured occupant load. The at least one computer is further configured to send a control signal to the at least one heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning unit. The at least one computer may receive the indication of the measured occupant load by receiving from at least one sensor node at least a zone occupant quantity and a zone temperature. The at least one computer may send the control signal to the at least one heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning unit by sending a signal that controls at least one variable air volume box to set a supply air flow rate and a supply air temperature based on the measured occupant load.

Abstract: A system and method for using the system that permits a severely-ability challenged user to communicate with his or her environment using a brain-controlled interface. In one embodiment, the user's functional capability with the system is assessed to enhance candidate optimization for system benefit.