Abstract: The subject invention pertains to a method and apparatus for sensing nitroaromatics. The subject invention can utilize luminescent, for example fluorescent and/or electroluminescent, aryl substituted polyacetylenes and/or other substituted polyacetylenes which are luminescent for sensing nitroaromatics. In a specific embodiment, the subject invention can utilize thin films of fluorescent and/or electroluminescent aryl substituted polyacetylenes and/or other substituted polyacetylenes which are fluorescent and/or electroluminescent. In a specific embodiment, the fluorescence from thin films of fluorescent, substituted polyacetylene, such as—poly-[1-phenyl-2-(4-trimethylsilylphenyl)ethyne] (PTMSDPA) is strongly quenched by the vapors of a variety of nitroaromatic compounds present at levels ranging from parts-per-million to parts-per-billion in air.

Abstract: Compositions that include an A? polypeptide linked to a non-A? polypeptide are described, as well as methods of using such compositions.

Abstract: Provided herein are OspA polypeptides from Lyme Disease-causing Borrelia having certain alteration(s). In one embodiment, the alteration(s) increase the conformational stability of the OspA polypeptide containing the alteration(s) while maintaining at least some of the antigenicity of the corresponding unaltered OspA polypeptide. In another embodiment, the altered OspA polypeptide has reduced cross-reactivity to hLFA-1, as compared to the corresponding unaltered OspA polypeptide.

Abstract: Semiconductor materials suitable for being used in radiation detectors are disclosed. A particular example of the semiconductor materials includes tellurium, cadmium, and zinc. Tellurium is in molar excess of cadmium and zinc. The example also includes aluminum having a concentration of about 10 to about 20,000 atomic parts per billion and erbium having a concentration of at least 10,000 atomic parts per billion.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for diagnosing, treating, or evaluating inflammatory and autoimmune diseases by sampling peripheral blood, serum, plasma, tissue, cerebrospinal fluit, or other bodily fluids from a human subject having a suspected diagnosis. The sample is analyzed for the presence and amount of certain cytokines, which provides the diagnosis, prognosis or evaluation of therapeutic response.

Abstract: A composition-of-matter comprising an antibody or antibody fragment including an antigen-binding region capable of specifically binding an antigen-presenting portion of a complex composed of a human antigen-presenting molecule and an antigen derived from a pathogen is disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus and process for producing metal products, in which a metal-containing charge material is melted in a melting unit, and a working gas, in particular an at least partially reducing working gas, is additionally produced in the melting unit. The working gas produced is extracted and if appropriate after cleaning, is used as a carrier gas, at least in part for—preferably pneumatic—transport of an at least partially reduced metal-containing material in the form of fine particles.

Abstract: The use and screening of modulators of apoptosis is disclosed. The modulators may be, for example, modulator of NF-?B activity. The modulators may be used, for example, in the treatment of NF-?B-mediated diseases, conditions, and injuries.

Abstract: A frequency selective surface-based (FSS-based) device (200) for processing electromagnetic waves providing at least a third-order response. The FSS-based device includes a first FSS (202), a second FSS (210), and a high quality factor (Q) FSS (206) interposed between the first and second FSSs. A first dielectric layer (204) and a second dielectric layer (208) separate the respective FSS layers. The first and second FSSs have first and second primary resonant frequencies, respectively. The high Q FSS has a lower primary resonant frequency relative to the first and second primary resonant frequencies. The overall electrical thickness of the FSS device can be <?/10. The high Q FSS has a loaded quality factor of at least thirty at the lower primary resonant frequency.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a method and kit for diagnosing hereditary diseases CMT1A and HNPP, caused by duplication and deletion in the chromosome 17p11.2-p12 region. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for diagnosing an inherited neuropathy, comprising, running the PCR amplification using microsatellites present in a chromosome 17p11.2-p12 region as markers and DNA typing the resulting PCR amplification products to determine the presence of duplication and deletion in the corresponding chromosomal region, wherein Multiplex PCR amplification is carried out using 6 loci of D17S921, D17S9B, D17S9A, D17S918, D17S2230 and D17S4A as markers, and DNA-typing of the resulting PCR amplification products is carried out to determine duplication and deletion in the corresponding chromosomal region. In accordance with the method of the present invention, the diagnosis accuracy of detecting duplication and deletion in the chromosome 17p11.2-p12 region is greater than 99.9%.

Abstract: A method of diminishing the symptoms of neurodegenerative disease in a patient is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of: (a) identifying a patient with a neurodegenerative disease, (b) producing a cell culture, wherein the cell culture comprises cells with induced antioxidant response element (ARE) mediated transcription, and (c) transplanting at least a portion of the cell culture into the brain of the patient, wherein symptoms of neurodegenerative disease are diminished.

Abstract: An item is organized and presented by displaying a table, wherein the table displays a plurality of data comprising analysis results characterizing the at least one item, and wherein an analysis result is based on a decision made by an expert system according to a rule base. Input is accepted from a source, wherein the input may cause the analysis results to be modified, and wherein the results may be modified by re-applying the rule base. In response to the input, an updated table is created, wherein the updated table comprises the modified analysis results. This updated table is then displayable.

Abstract: Methods of treating various medical conditions by neuromodulation of target sites of a cerebello-thalamo-cortical pathway and/or a cortical-ponto-cerebellar pathway. Such medical conditions include unilateral motor deficits, movement disorders, psychiatric disorders, epilepsy, speech or cognitive deficits associated with hemispheric lesions, visual deficits associated with hemispheric lesions, learning disorders associated with hemispheric lesions, vertigo and/or dizziness, gait disturbances, hereditary/genetic disorders, congenital malformations, infectious disease, degenerative disorders, autoimmune disorders, and metabolic disorders. A method of enhancing memory, learning and/or cognitive capacity in a normal individual by stimulating a target site of a cerebello-thalamo-cortical pathway and/or a cortical-ponto-cerebellar pathway is also provided.

Abstract: A direct beam solar lighting system for collecting and distributing sunlight into a room. The system includes a rotatable solar collector head to receive sunlight and to reflect the sunlight downward into a transition tube having a reflective interior surface. The light-concentrating transition tube reflects sunlight into a reflective light tube which directs the reflected sunlight through a plenum space into the room. The system includes a drive mechanism for rotating the rotatable solar collector, and a light fixture at end of the light tube to disburse said reflected sunlight onto a ceiling and a wall in the room. In an embodiment the system includes one or more homogenizing reflectors within the solar collector for collecting the sunlight and directing the sunlight more uniformly over the aperture of the transition tube. In an alternative embodiment, the solar collector includes a rotatable tiltable mirror for providing two-axis tracking.

Abstract: An optical system, apparatus and method are capable of mutual occlusions. The core of the system is a spatial light modulator (SLM) which allows users to block or pass certain parts of a scene which is viewed through the head worn display. An objective lens images the scene onto the SLM and the modulated image is mapped back to the original scene via an eyepiece. The invention combines computer-generated imagery with the modulated version of the scene to form the final image a user would see. The invention is a breakthrough in display hardware from a mobility (i.e. compactness), resolution, and speed, and is specifically, related to virtual objects being able to occlude real objects and real objects being able to occlude virtual objects.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus or systems for providing security based on innate characteristics of devices are disclosed. A method of providing security associated with communications from a digital device includes observing an analog signal associated with communications from the digital device, characterizing the digital device at least partially based on the analog signal, and providing a security feature at least partially based on the step of characterizing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to S1P analogs that have activity as S1P receptor modulating agents and the use of such compounds to treat diseases associated with inappropriate S1P receptor activity. The compounds have the general structure (I) wherein R11 is C5-C18 alkyl or C5-C18 alkenyl; Q is selected from the group consisting of C3-C6 optionally substituted cycloalkyl, C3-C6 optionally substituted heterocyclic, C3-C6 optionally substituted aryl C3-C6 optionally substituted heteroaryl and; R2 is selected from the group consisting of H, C1-C4 alkyl, (C1-C4 alkyl)OH and (C1-C4 alkyl)NH2; R23 is H or C1-C4 alkyl, and R15 is a phosphonate ester or a phosphate ester or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or tautomer thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the treatment of spinal cord injury with a vaccinia virus complement control protein (VCP).

Abstract: Systems and methods of classifying a subject data item based on a training set of pre-classified data items. A piecewise-linear approximation of a local boundary between different classes of data items is automatically computed. The local boundary is approximated by a neighborhood set of data items selected from the training set that have been pre-classified into different classes and have points similar to a point of the subject data item. A class is automatically assigned to the subject data item in accordance with a side of the local boundary on which the subject data item resides.

Abstract: Single crystal SiC, having no fine grain boundaries, a micropipe defect density of 1/cm2 or less and a crystal terrace of 10 micrometer or more is obtained by a high-temperature liquid phase growth method using a very thin Si melt layer. The method does not require temperature difference control between the growing crystal surface and a raw material supply polycrystal and preparation of a doped single crystal SiC is possible.