Abstract: A method of differentiating embryonic stem cells into neural and motor cells is disclosed. In one embodiment, the invention comprises culturing a population of cells comprising a majority of cells that are characterized by an early rosette morphology and are Sox1?/Pax6+ in the presence of FGF2, FGF4, FGF8, FGF 9, or RA wherein the cells are characterized by an neural tube-like rosette morphology and are Pax6+/Sox1+.

Abstract: Polyacrylamide-based methods of fabricating surface-bound peptide and protein arrays, the arrays themselves, and a method of using the arrays to detect biomolecules and to measure their concentration, binding affinity, and kinetics are described. Peptides, proteins, fusion proteins, protein complexes, nucleic acids, and the like, are labeled with an acrylic moiety and attached to acrylic-functionalized glass surfaces through a copolymerization with acrylic monomer. The specific attachment of glutathione S-transferase-green fluorescent protein (GST-GFP) fusion protein was more than 7-fold greater than the nonspecific attachment of non-acrylic labeled GST-GFP. Surface-attached GST-GFP (0.32 ng/mm2) was detectable by direct measurement of green fluorescent protein fluorescence and this lower detection limit was reduced to 0.080 ng/mm2 using indirect antibody-based detection.

Abstract: The present invention provides a chiral ligand, represented by a formula or its enantiomer: X and X? can be independently O, NH, NR, NCOR or S; each of Z1-Z7 and Z1?-Z7? can be independently H, alkyl, aryl, substituted alkyl, substituted aryl, alkoxyl, aryloxyl, nitro, amide, aryloxide, halide, hydroxyl, carboxylate, heteroaryl, or a cyclic alkene, fused aryl, or cyclic ether group formed from any two adjacent Z groups or any two adjacent Z? groups; Y and Y? can be independently OH, OR, NH2, NHR, NR2, SH, PR2, OPR2, NHPR2, OP(OR)2, COOH, COOR, CONHR, or a linking group formed from Y and Y? groups together. Processes of preparing these ligands, catalysts that employ them and methods of using the catalysts are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a direct methanol fuel cell having reduced methanol crossover. The fuel cell includes a layer of material for controlling the diffusion rate of fuel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel process for sustainable, continuous production of hydrogen and carbon by catalytic dissociation or decomposition of hydrocarbons at elevated temperatures using in-situ generated carbon particles. Carbon particles are produced by decomposition of carbonaceous materials in response to an energy input. The energy input can be provided by at least one of a non-oxidative and oxidative means. The non-oxidative means of the energy input includes a high temperature source, or different types of plasma, such as, thermal, non-thermal, microwave, corona discharge, glow discharge, dielectric barrier discharge, or radiation sources, such as, electron beam, gamma, ultraviolet (UV). The oxidative means of the energy input includes oxygen, air, ozone, nitrous oxide (NO2) and other oxidizing agents.

Abstract: The invention provides recombinant viruses comprising heterologous envelope proteins capable of mediating entry of the recombinant viruses into host cells. In one embodiment, a recombinant virus of the invention is a member of the Paramyx-ovirzdae family (e.g., a respiratory syncytial virus), and the heterologous envelope protein includes the ectodomain of a baculovirus envelope protein (e.g., the GP64 protein). In some cases, the heterologous envelope protein is provided in addition to homologous envelope proteins) which may or may not be functional. The heterologous protein can provide the recombinant virus with enhanced stability (e.g., at 4° C., 22° C., or 37° C.), and allows production of high-titer virus stocks. The heterologous protein can also impart temperature sensitivity to the replication of the recombinant virus. In addition, the recombinant virus can be designed to be infectious but incapable of spreading between host cells by providing the heterologous protein by complementation in trans.

Abstract: The present invention provides a group B streptococcal (GBS) surface antigen, designated epsilon antigen, that is co-expressed with the delta antigen on a subset of serotype III GBS. Epsilon is expressed on more pathogenic Restriction Digest Pattern (RDP) III-3 GBS, but not on RDP types 1, 2, or 4. Accordingly, the present invention provides compositions and methods for detecting a group B streptococcus serotype III, RDP III-3 strain. Vaccines and methods of identifying agents which inhibit adhesion of a group B streptococcal cell to a host cell are also provided.

Abstract: Methods, systems and processes for providing efficient image reconstruction using local cone beam tomography which provide a reduced level of artifacts without suppressing the strength of the useful features; and in a dynamic case provide reconstruction of objects that are undergoing a change during the scan. An embodiment provides a method of reconstructing an image from cone beam data provided by at least one detector. The method includes collecting CB projection data of an object, storing the CB projection data in a memory; and reconstructing the image from the local CB projection data. In the reconstructing step, a combination of derivatives of the CB projection data that will result in suppressing the artifacts are found. The combination of derivatives includes collecting cone beam data that represents a collection of integrals that represent the object.

Abstract: Systems, configurations and methods of using an ultrafast, self-starting, mode-locked laser are provided. The systems, devices and methods of using stable, self-starting mode-locked lasers, can be compact, use fewer optical elements and have energies sufficient for most micro-processing and micro-structuring applications. The large spectral bandwidth of ultra-short (femtosecond) laser pulses can be used in laser sensing applications, micro-machining, time-resolved experiments, where short-lived transient species can be observed in biological or chemical reactions. Terahertz radiation can be generated using ultrashort pulses and used for imaging applications.

Abstract: A method of creating a non-invasive predictor of both physiologic and imposed patient effort from airway pressure and flow sensors attached to the patient using an adaptive mathematical model. The patient effort is commonly measured via work of breathing, power of breathing, or pressure-time product of esophageal pressure and is important for properly adjusting ventilatory support for spontaneously breathing patients. The method of calculating this non-invasive predictor is based on linear or non-linear calculations using multiple parameters derived from the above-mentioned sensors.

Abstract: According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated W701BC. This inbred variety yields multiple ears, and is ideal for production of baby corn. The invention further relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety W701BC, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety W701BC with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention also relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety W701BC with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety W701BC.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods and systems for a transmissive liquid crystal display including a plurality of pixel circuits, each pixel circuit including a reflective region and a transmissive region. The reflective region includes a polarization dependent reflector for reflecting ambient light. The reflective and transmissive regions include an initially homogeneously aligned liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a first and a second substrate. Each pixel further includes at least one first transparent electrode as the common electrode and at least one second transparent electrode as the pixel electrode both formed on one of the same first and second substrates, wherein substantial fringe fields with rich horizontal electric fields are generated in the liquid crystal layer when voltage is applied to the pixel electrode, making the liquid crystal molecules rotate mainly in the horizontal direction to achieve wide viewing angle.

Abstract: This invention relates to a ribonucleic acid (RNA) based assay system for body fluid identification, and in particular to a novel, multiplex, parallel assay system based on messenger RNA expressed in human tissue, and to a method for using the same.

Abstract: Disclosed is a stereo image matching method for re-creating 3-dimensional spatial information from a pair of 2-dimensional images. The conventional stereo image matching method generates much noise from a disparity value in the vertical direction, but the present invention uses disparity information of adjacent image lines as a constraint condition to eliminate the noise in the vertical direction, and compress the disparity by using a differential coding method to thereby increase a compression rate.

Abstract: A fault current limiter comprises a pancake type current limiting module, comprising at least two pancake type bifilar winding modules stacked and connected to each other in series, each of the bifilar winding modules having a bobbin, a first superconducting wire wound around the bobbin in a bifilar manner, and at least one pair of first metal blocks installed and fixed to the bobbin and attached to the first superconducting wire; and a superconducting bypass reactor that has the current limiting module disposed therein, and is connected in parallel with the current limiting module.

Abstract: A tool holder assembly and method for intentionally inducing modulation in a machining process. The tool holder assembly is configured for mounting in a tool block on a machining apparatus and includes a tool holder body configured to be secured to the tool block of the machining apparatus, a tool holder mounted on the tool holder body and configured for securing a cutting tool thereto, and a device for imposing a superimposed modulation on the tool holder so as to move the cutting tool relative to the tool holder body and thereby relative to the tool. The tool holder assembly is useful in a process for producing chips having a desired shape and size, and particularly to a method of controllably producing nanocrystalline chips.

Abstract: A method for making an oxidation resistant article, including (a) depositing a layer of a Pt group metal on a substrate to form a platinized substrate; and (b) depositing on the platinized substrate layer of Pt group metal a layer of a reactive element selected from the group consisting of Hf, Y, La, Ce and Zr and combinations thereof to form a surface modified region thereon, wherein the surface modified region includes the Pt-group metal, Ni, Al and the reactive element in relative concentration to provide a ?-Ni+??-Ni3Al phase constitution.

Abstract: A process for producing a carbon-particle structure, including the step of irradiating opaque carbon dioxide at and/or near its critical point, as light is scattered, with a UV-wavelength laser beam to produce a carbon-particle structure.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for diagnosing and treating glaucoma are disclosed.

Abstract: A new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, denominated ‘UFRoyal’, has a low winter chilling requirement estimated at 250 chill units (cu). The tree is medium size and moderately vigorous with a semi-spreading growth habit. It produces showy, pink flowers and small reniform leaf glands. Trees of ‘UFRoyal’ are self-fertile and regularly bear heavy annual crops of early season fruit that are large for its ripening season. Fruit are uniformly firm and yellow with non-melting flesh which are clingstone. Fruit are oval, and uniform with substantially symmetrical shape, and have an attractive 90 to 100% bright red skin. The fruit of ‘UFRoyal’ ripen about 1 week before ‘UFQueen’ nectarine in early May at Gainesville, Fla.