Abstract: A pharmaceutical preparation containing polymeric compounds as shown in the specification. This preparation can be used to improve liver function and treat liver disease, and promoting liver tissue regeneration.

Abstract: A hollow fiber for adsorption or filtration. The hollow fiber contains a tubular matrix having a first end and a second end, and a winding channel formed through the tubular matrix and extending between the first end and the second end. The tubular matrix is porous and has a surface-area-to-volume ratio of 10 to 20000 m2/m3, a thickness of 0.05 to 9.95 mm, an outside diameter of 0.1 to 10 mm, and a length 10 to 90% that of the winding channel. Also disclosed is a method of preparing this hollow fiber.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition prepared from a Boehmeria species. This composition can be used to improve liver function and treat liver disease, and promoting liver tissue regeneration.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method for detection of migratory and invasive cancer cells based on a number of marker nucleic acids differentially expressed in migratory/invasive cancer cells relative to nonmigratory/noninvasive cancer cells. Also disclosed are antisense oligonucleotides of the marker nucleic acids and uses thereof for suppressing cancer cell migration and invasion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for detecting liver fibrotic injury, including fibrosis and/or cirrhosis, by assaying biological samples for differential expression of at least one gene encoding a protein chosen from SEQ ID NO: 1-SEQ ID NO: 63 and human orthologs thereof, wherein differential expression of at least one gene suggests the presence of liver fibrosis or cirrhosis. The invention also provides a kit containing nucleic acid probes or antibodies for detecting liver fibrosis and/or cirrhosis by assaying the differential expression of proteins encoded by SEQ ID NO: 1-SEQ ID NO: 63 and human orthologs thereof.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical preparation containing polymeric compounds as shown in the specification. This preparation can be used to improve liver function and treat liver disease, and promoting liver tissue regeneration.

Abstract: Use of urine biomarkers for diagnosing nephropathy, monitoring nephropathy progress, and assessing efficacy of a nephropathy treatment. These urine biomarkers include leukocyte-associated Ig-like receptor-2, alpha-1 acid glycoprotein, their fragments, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Use of urine and serum biomarkers in diagnosing diabetic nephropathy, staging diabetic nephropathy, monitoring diabetic nephropathy progress, and assessing efficacy of diabetic nephropathy treatments. These biomarkers include urine precursor alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein, urine alpha-1 antitrypsin, urine alpha-1 acid glycoprotein, urine osteopontin, serum osteopontin, their fragments, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Use of urine biomarkers for diagnosing nephropathy, monitoring nephropathy progress, and assessing efficacy of a nephropathy treatment. These urine biomarkers include leukocyte-associated Ig-like receptor-2, alpha-1 acid glycoprotein, their fragments, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Use of urine and serum biomarkers in diagnosing diabetic nephropathy, staging diabetic nephropathy, monitoring diabetic nephropathy progress, and assessing efficacy of diabetic nephropathy treatments. These biomarkers include urine precursor alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein, urine alpha-1 antitrypsin, urine alpha-1 acid glycoprotein, urine osteopontin, serum osteopontin, their fragments, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Use of urine biomarkers for diagnosing nephropathy, monitoring nephropathy progress, and assessing efficacy of a nephropathy treatment. These urine biomarkers include leukocyte-associated Ig-like receptor-2, alpha-1 acid glycoprotein, their fragments, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Method for producing itaconic acid in yeast cells using glycerol as the substrate. The yeast cells express cis-aconitic acid decarboxylase and optionally, citrate synthase and/or aconitase at high levels.

Abstract: An apparatus for anulus fibrosus repair includes a shaft, a pair of curved suturing needles mounted in parallel on the shaft, and a rotational driving mechanism connected to the shaft, which is configured to rotate the shaft and the pair of needles about a rotation axis of the shaft. Each needle includes a substantially semi-annular body having a proximal end, a distal end, an inner periphery, and an outer periphery, and an arm extending radially inward from the proximal end, in which a concavity is formed in the body proximate to the distal end extending in a direction away from it. Also disclosed is a suturing technique associated with use of the repair apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of diagnosing myasthenia gravis in a subject, by determining an amount of at least one autoantibody that specifically binds one or more autoantigens selected from heat-shock protein 60 (hsp60), heat-shock protein 90, alpha isoform (hsp90?), and heat-shock protein 90, beta isoform (hsp90?). The invention also provides diagnostic kits for identifying a subject having myasthenia gravis.

Abstract: Use of urine biomarkers for diagnosing nephropathy, monitoring nephropathy progress, and assessing efficacy of a nephropathy treatment. These urine biomarkers include leukocyte-associated Ig-like receptor-2, alpha-1 acid glycoprotein, their fragments, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Use of urine and serum biomarkers in diagnosing diabetic nephropathy, staging diabetic nephropathy, monitoring diabetic nephropathy progress, and assessing efficacy of diabetic nephropathy treatments. These biomarkers include urine precursor alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein, urine alpha-1 antitrypsin, urine alpha-1 acid glycoprotein, urine osteopontin, serum osteopontin, their fragments, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A high performance real-time turbo code system is proposed. The proposed system exploits cooperative coding architecture and a proper decoding scheduling to achieve low error rate within a constrained latency. Permutation schemes and hardware embodiments utilizing the cooperative coding are also shown. Various memory saving techniques are provided to reduce memory usage in both encoder and decoder. The proposed system is compatible with 3rd generation mobile standards and cost of designing new parts exclusively for the proposed system can be minimized. This invention can provide substantial coding and system capacity gains for real-time applications in a wireless environment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a patternable coatable electrically conductive layer comprising a fluid-coated electrically conductive material, wherein the fluid-coated electrically conductive material has sufficient conductivity to induce an electric field strong enough to change the optical state of a light modulating material and a display comprising a substrate, at least one patternable coatable electrically conductive layer comprising a fluid-coated electrically conductive material, wherein said fluid coated electrically conductive material has sufficient conductivity to induce an electric field strong enough to change the optical state of a light modulating material which has a first and a second field-switched stable optical state, and an imaging layer comprising said light modulating material disposed over said at least one patternable fluid-coated electrically conductive layer.

Abstract: A gain amplifier with quadrature phase compensation circuit is disclosed.

Abstract: A frequency synthesizer for dual-band high frequency RF application. The frequency synthesizer first uses a frequency-locked loop circuit (“FLL”) to achieve self-calibration and frequency-locking, and then uses a phase-locked loop circuit (“PLL”) to achieve phase-locking. During the FLL, the PLL is de-activated by control signals from the digital control and state machine of the FLL. The varactor of the VCO is initially connected to a fixed voltage, thus isolating the varactor from the PLL. The FLL adjusts the VCO's capacitor array by varying the five binary control bits from the state machine and digital control, until frequency-locking and self-calibration is achieved. Then, those five binary weighting control bits are also fixed for the VCO. The PLL is then activated to perform a fine-tuning and phase-locking loop, where the varactor of the VCO is controlled by the signal from the charge pump and the low-pass filter.