Abstract: The invention relates to a non-human knockin animal having a mutation in a proBDNF gene wherein conversion from proBDNF to BDNF has been inhibited by the mutation.

Abstract: A mirror image shielding structure is provided, which includes an electronic element and a ground shielding plane below the electronic element. The shape of the ground shielding plane is identical to the projection shape of the electronic element, and the horizontal size of the ground shielding plane is greater than or equal to that of the electronic element. Thus, the parasitic effect between the electronic element and the ground shielding plane is effectively reduced, and the vertical coupling effect between electronic elements is also reduced. Furthermore, the vertical impact on the signal integrity of the embedded elements caused by the layout of the transmission lines is prevented.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an extrusion process for preparing vegetable casing including preparing a continuous tubular extrudate by extrusion, and transferring the continuous tubular extrudate. The transferring includes repeatedly passing a plurality of separate horizontal posts below the continuous tubular extrudate, hanging the continuous tubular extrudate on the posts so that the continuous tubular extrudate is conveyed by the posts a distance, while a closed space is formed inside the tubular extrudate and between every two adjacent horizontal posts.

Abstract: Systems and methods for communicating over multiple frequency bands include a driven antenna element and a parasitic element communicatively coupled to the driven antenna element, the parasitic element including at least a first and a second conductive section. The parasitic element can include two or more conductive sections, and the sections can be coupled using a connector (e.g., switching element or trap). Further, some driven antenna elements may be associated with two or more parasitic elements.

Abstract: The present application provides a refrigerant composition for a single stage refrigeration system operation comprising: more than 25 molar percent but less than 30 molar percent of Nitrogen; at least some but less than 20 molar percent of Methane; more than 30 molar percent but less than 70 molar percent of Propane, Argon, Helium, Neon and combinations thereof, and optionally up to 45 molar percent of Ethane, Ethylene and combinations thereof and a process for preparing the said composition.

Abstract: There is provided a method for producing a solid element plasma from a solid lump and a plasma source used in the method. The method of the present invention comprises colliding a solid lump with accelerated particles or lasers to detach solid atoms from the solid lump within a first chamber inside which sputtering of solid atoms is performed, directing the solid atoms to a second chamber inside which plasma discharge is performed, applying a voltage to the second chamber to produce a plasma of solid atoms through plasma discharge, and contacting the plasma of solid atoms to a target to be treated. The present invention avoids problems caused from impurities and poisonous gases of conventional systems adopting a solid element-containing gas as a source of solid element.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for pre-concentrating gaseous vapors for analysis. The invention finds application in conjunction with, e.g., analytical instruments where low detection limits for gaseous vapors are desirable. Vapors sorbed and concentrated within the bed of the apparatus can be thermally desorbed achieving at least partial separation of vapor mixtures. The apparatus is suitable, e.g., for preconcentration and sample injection, and provides greater resolution of peaks for vapors within vapor mixtures, yielding detection levels that are 10-10,000 times better than for direct sampling and analysis systems. Features are particularly useful for continuous unattended monitoring applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to conjunctival goblet cell proliferation and secretions. The present invention also relates to compositions that can modulate conjunctival goblet cell proliferation and secretions. The present invention also relates to galectins, PDGF, bFGF, and the regulation of goblet cells.

Abstract: Techniques and devices are described to use spatially-varying curvature information of a layered structure to determine stresses at each location with non-local contributions from other locations of the structure. For example, a local contribution to stresses at a selected location on a layered structure formed on a substrate is determined from curvature changes at the selected location and a non-local contribution to the stresses at the selected location is also determined from curvature changes at all locations across the layered structure. Next, the local contribution and the non-local contribution are combined to determine the total stresses at the selected location.

Abstract: A transmission line transition for coupling electromagnetic energy between different transmission lines includes first and second dielectric substrates laminated to each other and a waveguide tube attached to the first dielectric substrate. The laminated dielectric substrate provides a dielectric waveguide having a first end short-circuited and a second end communicating with a hollow interior of the waveguide tube. An antenna connected to a planar line is disposed in the dielectric waveguide and spaced from the short-circuited end of the dielectric waveguide by a predetermined distance in a longitudinal direction of the waveguide tube to excite and to be excited by the waveguide tube. The dielectric waveguide has a cross-sectional area smaller than that of the interior of the waveguide tube and coincides with the interior of the waveguide tube in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: This invention provides a flexible antenna module for wireless energy transmission, which uses an antenna size controlling device to adjust the antenna's size to conform a living body's outer portion wearing the flexible annular antenna. An antenna energy transmission control module is provided to adjust the power for driving the flexible annular antenna according to the deformation of the flexible annular antenna. This invention can adjust both the antenna size to fit the individual and the power for driving the antenna. The individual can use the present antenna module under a comfortable, safe and reliable circumstance.

Abstract: Microfluidic systems are disclosed, including microfluidic devices and methods, useful for simultaneously analyzing multiple analytes in each of a plurality of distinct nanoliter-volume samples.

Abstract: A light-driven energy generation system using proteorhodopsin is provided. Proteorhodopsin sequences were retrieved and amplified from naturally occurring members of the domain Bacteria using proteorhodopsin-specific polymerase chain reaction primers. Proteorhodopsin sequences were placed in expression vectors for production of proteorhodopsin proteins in a host, for instance, E. coli and other bacteria. The system also includes a light source and a source of retinal, that allows the system to convert light into biochemical energy. The generated biochemical energy could be mediated into electrical energy by a mediator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electrostatic spray deposition (ESD) for fabricating a thin-layer yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolyte on a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) anode substrate constructed of nickel-YSZ cermet. By reducing the thickness of the electrolyte, and thereby reducing the cell internal IR drop, an intermediate temperature SOFC (ITSOFC) can operate at 600–800° C. A collar positioned at a distance from a discharge end of a spray nozzle enhances a spray pattern of a precursor including the electrolyte material and thus provides a very thin electrolyte layer.

Abstract: The invention is a method for fabricating molecular filters which can separate objects approximately 1-5 nm in range, where the filtration size is controlled by using thin films of materials and technologies to form a filtration channel or pore in a middle thin film layer in a multilayered structure. Lithography is used to define two offset arrays of blind holes into the opposing sides of a multi-layer membrane. The blind holes extend across a thin central filtration layer. A selective etch is used to attack the filtration layer to form a communicating channel between the two holes. The only connection between one side of the filter and the other is through the channel in the filter layer, whose thickness, d, determines the largest size object which can traverse the filter.

Abstract: An optical amplification apparatus includes a polarizing beam splitter for reflecting a portion of an incident light and transmitting a remaining portion of the incident light, depending upon a polarized state of the incident light, at least two optical amplification means each including a first polarizing plate which makes polarized states of the light before and after the light reflected from the polarizing beam splitter reciprocatingly passes through the first polarizing plate, to be orthogonal to each other, an amplitude division plate for amplitude-dividing the light having passed through the first polarizing plate, into first and second lights, and optical amplifiers for respectively amplifying the first and second lights which are amplitude-divided by the amplitude division plate. The optical amplification means are located such that the light output from upstream optical amplification means is incident upon the polarizing beam splitter included in downstream optical amplification means.

Abstract: A printer for receiving image data. The printer has a plurality of address lines, a plurality of bank lines, a plurality of control lines, and a plurality of print modules. Each print module is set corresponding to the address lines and the bank lines, each of the print modules has a plurality of print units, each print unit has a heating element and a switch unit coupled to the control lines for controlling the heating elements. When an address signal and a bank signal are applied by a predetermined address line and a predetermined bank line, and a plurality of control signals is transferred to the control lines, a switch unit is turned on according to the control signals for generating a driving current to activate the heating element of the switch unit.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for treating a wide range of inflammatory diseases and disorders, and for inhibiting selectin-mediated binding by administering a mocarhagin protein, or fragments thereof with mocarhagin protein activity are provided. The mocarhagin protein may be administered alone, or in combination with a cytokine, lymphokine, or hematopoietic factor.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for closed-loop power control in mobile satellite communication system, which can compensate round trip delay. The apparatus for closed-loop power control includes the means of; a) converting power control order from base earth station into power control step; b) measuring channel change rate from power of pilot channel; c) making tab coefficient using said channel change rate; d) compensating channel change due to loop delay using power control step; and e) renovating received signal power using said power control step.

Abstract: A microfluidic device and method for capacitive sensing. The device includes a fluid channel including an inlet at a first end and an outlet at a second end, a cavity region coupled to the fluid channel, and a polymer based membrane coupled between the fluid channel and the cavity region. Additionally, the device includes a first capacitor electrode coupled to the membrane, a second capacitor electrode coupled to the cavity region and physically separated from the first capacitor electrode by at least the cavity region, and an electrical power source coupled between the first capacitor electrode and the second capacitor electrode and causing an electric field at least within the cavity region. The polymer based membrane includes a polymer.