Abstract: The invention is directed to aptamers, methods and kits comprising same for detecting Streptococcus pyogenes. The method of screening a subject for Streptococcus pyogenes involves obtaining a body sample from the subject; contacting the sample or a bacterial culture of the sample with an aptamer or a panel of aptamers specific to S. pyogenes; and detecting the presence or absence of S. pyogenes in the sample or the bacterial culture, wherein binding of the aptamer is indicative of the presence of S. pyogenes.

Abstract: The present invention provides new ?-phenylethylidenehydrazine derivatives, processes for preparing them and their use as pharmaceutical compostions.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to fructose-based radiopharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical compositions comprising same, precursors and methods for preparing same, and methods of using same for diagnostic imaging of cancer cells and non-imaging tracer studies.

Abstract: A method of forming a waveguide is disclosed, as well as the waveguide itself. A multilayer stack of light guiding layers is formed, and the multilayer stack is delaminated between light guiding layers to form a waveguide between the light guiding layers. The multilayer stack is delaminated in a patterned region between light guiding layers. Here a new approach is described, wherein hollow microchannels forming a Bragg waveguide assembly are fabricated by controlled formation of thin film delamination buckles within a multilayer stack. A hollow waveguide is formed by alternating layers of the multilayer stack forming light guiding surfaces. The hollow waveguide is formed between layers that delaminate from each other, as for example under applied stress to one or more of the layers. The multi-layer stack may be formed of alternating layers of low and high index of refraction materials, as for example forming omni-directional dielectric reflectors.

Abstract: A novel ultra-wide bandwidth receiver structure dubbed the “zonal” receiver is proposed to detect time-hopping ultra-wide bandwidth signals in multiple access interference channels. The zonal receiver outperforms the conventional matched filter ultra-wide bandwidth receiver and the recently proposed soft-limiting ultra-wide bandwidth receiver when only MAI is present, or AWGN is negligible compared to MAI. In more practical mixed MAI-plus-AWGN environments, the zonal ultra-wide bandwidth receiver achieves better performance than the conventional matched filter ultra-wide bandwidth receiver, the recently proposed soft-limiting ultra-wide bandwidth receiver, and the recently proposed adaptive threshold soft-limiting ultra-wide bandwidth receiver. In multipath fading UWB channels, a new Rake receiver based on the zonal UWB receiver design has been proposed, this new Rake receiver can achieve better BER performance than the conventional matched filter based Rake receiver.

Abstract: Taxanes are widely used in the treatment of breast cancer, although there are currently no validated predictive markers for taxane responsiveness. While the mechanism by which taxanes induce mitotic arrest is well documented, the signaling pathway that links mitotic arrest to cell death, is ill-defined. As described herein, the BH3-only protein Bad and Bik are prognostic indicators for overall survival after adjuvant taxane chemotherapy and a predictive marker for taxane responsiveness.

Abstract: Described herein are the preparation and use of novel bromo-phosphonomethylphenylalanine amino acid derivatives (BrPmp) and BrPmp-containing peptides as specific, irreversible protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitors, which are suitable for application in peptide synthesis. These derivatives are particularly advantageous since their synthesis is both easy and scalable, and they are suitable for peptide synthesis. The BrPmp derivatives described herein can be appropriately protected to allow for solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) and incorporation into peptides for preparation of protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitors and inhibitor libraries. The peptides and peptide libraries can be used to identify new protein tyrosine phosphatase specific sequences and profile protein tyrosine phosphatase activity in cell lysates, diagnostic samples and biopsy samples.

Abstract: The invention is directed to isolated polynucleotide and polypeptides of the CoD5, CoD6 and CoE6 genes from Conidiobolus obscurus, the CtE6 gene from Conidiobolus thromboids, and the PgDesX gene from Puccinia graminis; nucleic acid constructs, vectors and host cells incorporating the polynucleotide sequences; and methods of producing and using same.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a novel system and method for amplification and detection of nucleic acids within a microfluidic device wherein multiple nucleotides capable of priming PCR are present within the system and substantially sequestered within separate hydrogel posts therein.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of producing deamidated barley proteins by extracting protein from barley using an alcohol or alkaline; treating the extracted protein with an alkaline or acidic solution for a sufficient time and temperature for partial deamidation; and recovering partially deamidated protein from the solution. The partially deamidated protein has improved functional properties with respect to solubility, and emulsifying and foaming properties at acidic and neutral pHs compared to those of a non-deamidated protein.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a novel system and method for amplification and detection of nucleic acids within a miniaturized device.

Abstract: Two hybrid message decoders for low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes are proposed. One decoder uses a posteriori probability ratio (APPR) and a posteriori probability difference (APPD), and the other decoder uses a logarithm a posteriori probability ratio (LAPPR) and a logarithm a posteriori probability difference (LAPPD) as hybrid message. Since the variable node and check node processing can be readily done using APPR and APPD, respectively, the proposed decoders have lower complexity than the conventional decoder that uses LAPPR only as a message.

Abstract: A flexible-base electrode array for implantation within neural tissue, method of making the electrode array and use thereof, is provided. A surrogate neural tissue, method of making same and use thereof, is further provided. The use of the present flexible-base electrode array for implantation into the surrogate neural tissue for stimulation or recording neural activity, wherein the array is biocompatible with the surrogate tissue.

Abstract: An all-metal microdevice or nanodevice such as an atomic force microscope probe is manufactured from a copper-hafnium alloy thin film having an x-ray amorphous microstructure.

Abstract: A method of fabricating carbon nanotube arrays (CNTA) on an oxide catalyst layer is disclosed. In one embodiment, the oxide catalyst is a metal oxide. The metal oxide may be deposited on a substrate used as a support. The CNTA is grown on the oxide catalyst layer under conditions promoting CNT growth. CNT growth is dependent on temperature, concentration of oxidizing molecules and carbon availability. One embodiment of the method comprises depositing an oxide catalyst layer on the substrate, heating the catalyst layer at certain rates to the target temperatures, adding oxidation molecules for the pretreatment of the oxide catalyst layer, and growing the array on the substrate. The oxide catalyst layer may comprise a group VIII element.

Abstract: Visible and infrared light sources on silicon that have several attractive properties with respect to integrated optics. First, the devices are operational at room temperature and strictly require no thermal processing in their synthesis (although low temperature annealing can be used to form Ohmic contacts). These devices could therefore be included at any stage of chip fabrication. The special ease of synthesis of these silicon LEDs enables simple fabrication of surface structures such as patterned emitters and photonic crystal surfaces that enhance light emission in the forward direction. The LEDs are color-switchable—by reversing the current one can switch from infrared emission to visible emission. The lifetime of the luminescence is much shorter than the standard carrier recombination time in silicon, suggesting direct modulation of the emitted light.

Abstract: A novel receiver structure is proposed for detecting a time-hopping ultra-wide bandwidth signal in the presence of multiple access interference. The proposed structure achieves better bit error rate performance than the conventional matched receiver when operating in multiple access interference. When operating in a multiple access interference-plus-Gaussian-noise environment, the receiver structure outperforms the conventional matched filter receiver for moderate to large values of signal-to-noise ratio. A receiver structure with adaptive limiting threshold is further proposed to ensure the performance of the soft-limiting receiver always meets or surpasses the performance of the conventional UWB receiver for all values of signal-to-noise ratio.

Abstract: A method of predicting the phenotype of cattle through the analysis of one or more single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) is described. More particularly, a method for predicting cattle temperament and behavior through the analysis of one or more single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) mapped at specific regions of the bovine genome is described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to micelle-forming poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(ester) block copolymers having reactive groups on the polyester block therein. The biodegradability of these copolymers and their biocompatibilities with a large number of bioactive agents make them suitable as carriers for various bioactive agents. The bioactive agents, such as DNA, RNA, oligonucleotide, protein, peptide, drug and the like, can be coupled to the reactive groups on the polyester block of the copolymer.

Abstract: A gel assembly comprising a polymeric gel layer between metal layers. A gel assembly process comprising providing a colloidal polymer in solution, drying the solution to form a polymeric gel layer and forming metal layers on either side of the polymeric gel layer. A method of drug delivery comprising loading a polymeric gel layer with drug, forming metal layers on either side of the polymeric gel layer, wherein the polymeric gel layer comprises a material that is sensitive to a stimulus, and subjecting the polymeric gel layer to the stimulus to release the drug from between or through the metal layers.