Abstract: A system having a ferroelectric liquid host material and a small amount of polymer additive is provided. In an embodiment, the polymer additive improves the physical characteristics of the system. In an embodiment, the system can be used in FLC applications.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention provide novel multi-targeted microbiological screening and monitoring methods having substantial utility for monitoring and control of microbial growth and contaminants, microbiological processes, predictive microbiology, and for exposure and risk assessment. Microbial markers shared by both target and index microbes are used in novel methods for microbial monitoring, monitoring of microbial performance potential, trend analysis, and statistical process control (SPC) in processes or systems that are receptive to a plurality of genetically distinct microbes.

Abstract: The invention provides molecular entities that bind with high affinity to PPARG (PPAR?), inhibit kinase-mediated, e.g., cdk5-mediated, phosphorylation of PPARG, but do not exert an agonistic effect on PPARG. Compounds of the invention can be used for treatment of conditions in patients wherein PPARG plays a role, such as diabetes, insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, pre-diabetes, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, obesity, or inflammation. In methods of treatment of these conditions using a compound of the invention, the compound can avoid producing side effects of significant weight gain, edema, impairment of bone growth or formation, or cardiac hypertrophy, or any combination thereof, in the patient receiving the compound. Methods of preparation of the compounds, bioassay methods for evaluating compounds of the invention as non-agonistic PPARG binding compounds, and pharmaceutical compositions are also provided.

Abstract: A monolithic ultrasonic horn where the horn, backing, and pre-stress structures are combined in a single monolithic piece is disclosed. Pre-stress is applied by external flexure structures. The provision of the external flexures has numerous advantages including the elimination of the need for a pre-stress bolt. The removal of the pre-stress bolt eliminates potential internal electric discharge points in the actuator. In addition, it reduces the chances of mechanical failure in the actuator stacks that result from the free surface in the hole of conventional ring stacks. In addition, the removal of the stress bolt and the corresponding reduction in the overall number of parts reduces the overall complexity of the resulting ultrasonic horn actuator and simplifies the ease of the design, fabrication and integration of the actuator of the present invention into other structures.

Abstract: An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a fluid bearing and a method of adjusting the load carrying capacity of a fluid bearing. The fluid bearing may include a bore defined in the fluid bearing and a rotatable bearing including a rotatable bearing surface. Lubricating fluid in the bore may be contacted with at least a portion of the rotatable bearing surface, wherein an effective bearing surface area is provided where the lubricating fluid contacts the rotatable bearing surface. The effective bearing surface area may be altered by either increasing or reducing the area of the rotatable bearing surface which is contacted by the lubricating fluid.

Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and method of surround wave field synthesizing a multi-channel signal excluding sound image localization information. A wave field synthesis and reproduction apparatus may include a signal classification unit to classify an inputted multi-channel signal into a primary signal and an ambient signal, a sound image localization information estimation unit to estimate sound image localization information of the primary signal and sound image localization information of the ambient signal, and a rendering unit to render the primary signal and the ambient signal based on the sound image localization information of the primary signal, the sound image localization information of the ambient signal, and listener environment information.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for producing dimethyl ether (DME) from methanol and for producing DME directly from syngas, such as syngas from biomass. Also disclosed are apparatus for DME production. The disclosed processes generally function at higher temperatures with lower contact times and at lower pressures than conventional processes so as to produce higher DME yields than do conventional processes. Certain embodiments of the processes are carried out in reactors providing greater surface to volume ratios than the presently used DME reactors. Certain embodiments of the processes are carried out in systems comprising multiple microchannel reactors.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a cell culture system and a serum-free method for cultivating cells. The cell culture system includes a substratum, wherein the substratum has a surface. A polymer is disposed on the surface of the substratum, wherein the polymer is prepared by polymerizing a first monomer with a second monomer. The first monomer has a structure as represented by Formula (I), and the second monomer has a structure as represented by Formula (II): wherein, R1 is hydrogen or methyl; R2 is methyl, ethyl, or —CH2CH2OCH3; R3 is hydrogen or methyl; and, R4 is hydrogen, —CH2CH2OCOCHCHCOOH, —CH2CH2OCOCH2CH2COOH, or —CH2CH2COOH.

Abstract: The invention includes a method and apparatus for dynamically allocating spectrum available within a region including a plurality of base stations. The method includes obtaining a plurality of spectrum demands associated with at least a portion of the base stations, each spectrum demand requesting a portion of the available spectrum, and determining a plurality of spectrum allocations satisfying at least a portion of the spectrum demands. The spectrum allocations are determined by processing the spectrum demands using network information such as base station information associated with the base stations and region information such as terrain information associated with the region. The region information may include signal propagation information.

Abstract: The invention, in some aspects, relates to compositions and methods for altering cell activity and function. The invention also relates, in part, to the use of light-activated ion pumps (LAIPs) such as a light-activated ion pump polypeptide that when expressed in an excitable cell and contacted with a red light silences the excitable cell, wherein the polypeptide sequence of the light-activated ion pump comprises a wild-type or modified halomicrobium or haloarcula halorhodopsin polypeptide sequence.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of reducing or preventing mitochondrial permeability transitioning. The method comprises administering an effective amount of an aromatic-cationic peptide having at least one net positive charge; a minimum of four amino acids; a maximum of about twenty amino acids; a relationship between the minimum number of net positive charges (pm) and the total number of amino acid residues (r) wherein 3pm is the largest number that is less than or equal to r+1; and a relationship between the minimum number of aromatic groups (a) and the total number of net positive charges (pt) wherein 2 a is the largest number that is less than or equal to pt+1, except that when a is 1, pt may also be 1.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for establishing a symmetric encryption key between a first device and a second device. The symmetric encryption key is a function of a phase difference of the signals emitted between the first device and the second device and distance between the first device and the second device.

Abstract: The present application is directed to a peptides comprising an a-helix forming-amino acid sequence that binds a heat shock protein. Also included is a polypeptide comprising (a) a first peptide portion that comprises an ?-helix-forming amino acid sequence that binds a heat shock protein; and (b) at least one second peptide portion comprising an antigenic amino acid sequence and/or an a-helix-stabilizing amino acid sequence that increases the interaction of the first peptide portion with the heat shock protein. The present application also includes compositions comprising the peptides and/or polypeptides of present application and uses of the peptides and/or polypeptides of the present application for fractionating substances relevant for discovery, research or clinical analysis from a biological sample and as therapeutics.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a micro contact probe used for a probe card. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a micro contact probe including a coating layer of a nanostructure such as carbon nanotubes formed on a surface thereof to reduce contact resistance when contacting a semiconductor chip. According to the micro contact probe of which the surface is coated with the nanostructure, contact resistance between the probe and the semiconductor chip is lowered and the high frequency characteristics are improved, such that a more accurate measurement can be obtained.

Abstract: Provided is a method and apparatus for setting a detour path in a wideband high frequency wireless system using a centralized Media Access Control (MAC) protocol. Here, in a wireless system using the centralized MAC protocol where a time synchronization and a band allocation may be performed by a single central control unit, when a signal blockage occurs while a data communication is being performed via a direct path between a source device and a destination device, the detour path may be quickly provided.

Abstract: An enterosoluble and intestinal-enzyme-biodegradable material is provided. The enterosoluble and intestinal-enzyme-biodegradable material includes a modified amylopectin, wherein at least one of hydrogen atoms is replaced by —CO—(CH2)n—COOH (n is 2-4) and the modified amylopectin has an acid value of 35-180 mg KOH/g. The disclosure also provides a method for preparing an enterosoluble and intestinal-enzyme-biodegradable material.

Abstract: The present invention presents a method and system for an autonomous mower attached with a camera, wherein the control of the parameters of the camera and the control of the mower movement and grass detection are optimized holistically during operation. The present invention mitigates the camera sensing limits by adapting the movement speed of the mower. Furthermore, the camera control optimizes the visibility of grass by using the grass mask of a grass segmentation to calculate updated exposure, gain and aperture values only from grass pixels. The grass segmentation tracks changes in the grass color that are caused by illumination differences. Optionally, the system is equipped with a head light used to further improve the camera signal quality in conjunction with the control of the camera parameters and the movement speed of the mower.

Abstract: A test pattern is sequentially selected from an original test pattern sequence constituted by a plurality of test patterns including a don't care bit. Power consumption in each of regions obtained by substantially equally dividing a layout region of a semiconductor integrated circuit in a case where a don't care value is specified in the selected test pattern and this selected test pattern is applied to the semiconductor integrated circuit is estimated. A searching is conducted for a don't care value of the selected test pattern which minimizes a variation in power consumption among the regions by repeatedly changing the don't care value and repeatedly estimating power consumption in the regions. A new test pattern sequence constituted by a plurality of test patterns including no don't care bit is generated by defining the don't care value obtained by the searching as a don't care value of the selected test pattern.

Abstract: A method for adhering a major substrate to which nano sized concave and convex structures are formed without damaging the concave and convex structures can be used in a production method of a microfluidic device including nano sized fluidic channels. The substrates may be adhered under heat free and adhesive agent free environment by exciting the substrate surface including hard silicone resin with atmospheric plasma or vacuum ultraviolet light, then juxtaposing and pressurizing the surface of the hard silicone resin substrate and glass substrate. The silicone rubber composition is applied on the contact face of the cover substrate and then the silicone rubber composition is cured to form the silicone rubber layer and then the ultraviolet light is exposed under the condition that the surface of the major substrate being formed with concave and convex structures is contacted closely to the silicone rubber layer of the cover substrate.

Abstract: A simple, rapid, inexpensive, and promising commercial biomarker assay method for multiple diseases is described herein. The present invention detects miRNA-based biomarkers in human stool specimens. The method of the present invention amplifies miRNA directly from stool specimens without any prior miRNA extraction. Differential expression of specific microRNAs in stool of colorectal cancer CRC and adenoma patients suggest fecal microRNAs as a novel potential biomarker for colorectal neoplasia detection. The method of the present invention has diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic relevance for gastroenterological cancers/colorectal cancer and as well as further acquired or hereditary GI diseases.