Abstract: A microvalve device includes a semiconductor-based valve housing that defines a flow passage, and a valve face disposed within the valve housing and in fluid communication with the flow passage. The microvalve device further includes a thermal expansion actuator that drives movement of the valve face from a first position to a second position relative to the flow passage, and a capacitor that holds the valve face in the second position. The microvalve may also include an insulating layer disposed on portions of the semiconductor-based valve housing, and a capacitance sensor for monitoring a capacitance level to determine when the valve face reaches the second position. Once the sensor indicates that the second position has been reached, power is no longer applied to the thermal expansion actuator such that power is only substantially consumed during the transition from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of inhibiting cell motility, for example, by inhibiting the binding between an intracellular transducer and a receptor protein tyrosine kinase, and more particularly by inhibiting hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) induced cell motility. The present invention also provides a method of inhibiting angiogenesis. The methods of the present invention employ peptides such as phosphotyrosyl mimetics. Also disclosed are methods of preventing and/or treating diseases, disorders, states, or conditions such as cancer, particularly metastatic cancer, for example, melanoma or prostate cancer, comprising administering to a mammal of interest one or more peptides of the present invention. Also disclosed are methods of blocking blocks HGF, VEGF, or bFGF-stimulated migration, cell proliferation, and formation of capillary-like structures.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the prophylactic and therapeutic treatment of cancer. The method comprises administering to an animal, preferably a mammal, more preferably a human, at risk for developing a cancer or having a cancer a nitroxide or a prodrug thereof, wherein the nitroxide or prodrug thereof preferably is alicyclic or heterocyclic and more preferably is a compound of Formula I or Formula II: in an amount sufficient to prevent or treat said cancer, wherein said cancer is susceptible to prevention or treatment by said nitroxide or prodrug thereof. Also provided is a composition for use in the method.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for treatment of skin utilizing thymosin ?4.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of identifying biomarkers indicative of the presence of a neurodevelopmental disorder, including an autism spectrum disorder, in an individual, using cytometry and mass spectrometry. The invention further provides methods of using the identified biomarkers to diagnose the presence of a neurodevelomental disorder, including an autism spectrum disorder.

Abstract: Stable carbene ligands are provided having a carbene center flanked by a quaternary carbon and an amino group, and having utility in the preparation of various transition metal complexes.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of identifying markers indicative of the risk of developing a neurodevelopmental disorder caused in part by antibody- or autoantibody-mediated damage of neural tissue, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The invention further provides methods of diagnosing whether an individual has a neurodevelopmental disorder, including an ASD, and methods for determining the risk that a mother's future offspring will develop an a neurodevelopmental disorder, including an ASD.

Abstract: Novel GaN/AlGaN metal-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MESFET) structures grown without any impurity doping in the channel. A high-mobility polarization-induced bulk channel charge is created by grading the channel region linearly from GaN to Al0.3Ga0.7N over a distance, e.g., 1000 ?. A polarization-doped field effect transistor (PolFET) was fabricated and tested under DC and RF conditions. A current density of 850 mA/mm and transconductance of 93 mS/mm was observed under DC conditions. Small-signal characterization of 0.7 ?m gate length devices had a cutoff frequency, ƒ?=19 GHz, and a maximum oscillation of ƒmax=46 GHz. The PolFETs perform better than comparable MESFETs with impurity-doped channels, and are suitable for high microwave power applications. An important advantage of these devices over AlGaN/GaN HEMTs is that the transconductance vs. gate voltage profile can be tailored by compositional grading for better large-signal linearity.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for loading a preservative into blood platelets comprising providing a preservative solution having a preservative, water and protein, and loading blood platelets with the preservative solution to produce preservative-loaded blood platelets having the preservative solution generally including higher glass transition temperatures than glass transition temperatures for a preservative solution having the preservative, water and no protein. A process for processing blood platelets comprising suspending blood platelets in a preservative solution at a concentration greater than about 108 platelets per ml. of preservative solution to produce preservative-loaded blood platelets, freeze-drying the preservative-loaded blood platelets, and recovering at least 75% of the freeze died platelets.

Abstract: Enhancement of the supercontinuum generation performance of a highly-nonlinear optical fiber (HNLF) is accomplished by incorporating at least one Bragg grating structure in the HNLF. The Bragg grating results in reflecting a core-guided signal into signal which also remains core-guided. The supercontinuum radiation generated by such an arrangement will exhibit a substantial peak in its energy at the grating resonance of the Bragg grating and a region of increased radiation in a narrow wavelength band on the long wavelength side of the peak. A number of such Bragg gratings may be formed so as to “tailor” the enhancements provided in the supercontinuum radiation. Various, well-known Bragg grating modifications (tuning, chirped, blazed, etc.) may also be used in the inventive structure to enhance the generated supercontinuum.

Abstract: A method of forming supported group 4, and/or 5, and/or 6 metal clusters, which may be used as a catalyst for alkane reactions. The method includes combining a solid support and a precursor compound of group 4, 5, or 6 metals, or precursor compounds of group 4, and/or 5, and/or 6 metals, or a precursor compound of a combination of group 4, 5, and/or 6 metals, and combinations thereof; and optionally treating the combination to form the supported group 4, and/or 5, and/or 6 clusters. The material formed by the combination of the precursor or precursors with a solid support following an optional treatment can be used as a catalyst for disproportionation of alkanes and/or conversion of one or more alkanes with another alkane or other alkanes by contacting the material with the alkanes.

Abstract: A dehydrated composition is provided that includes freeze-dried platelets. The platelets are loaded with trehalose which preserves biological properties during freeze-drying and rehydration. The trehalose loading is conducted at a temperature of from greater than about 25° C. to less than about 40° C., most preferably at 37° C., with the loading solution having trehalose in an amount from about 10 mM to about 50 mM. These freeze-dried platelets are substantially shelf-stable and are rehydratable so as to have a normal response to an agonist, for example, thrombin, with virtually all of the platelets participating in clot formation within about three minutes at 37° C.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods for treating, reducing or preventing diseases and infections caused by pneumococci. The methods and compositions rely on the use of a CPS-containing composition (e.g., a CPS teichoic acid polymer preparation) of S. pneumoniae and an adjuvant, which may be chemically conjugated or simply admixed. The methods and compositions are particularly useful against nasopharyngeal colonization and invasive disease due to encapsulated pneumococci.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel enhancers of photosynthesis and plant growth and methods of using same. In one embodiment, the enhancer is derived from a microorganism. In alternative embodiments, the compounds are microbial extracts, microbial secretion products, and microbially generated natural products. The invention also provides a method for increasing net photosynthesis in a plant by applying an agent comprising triacetylphloroglucinol, diacetylphloroglucinol or monoacetylphloroglucinol to the plant in an amount effective in increasing net photosynthesis in the plant. The invention further provides novel bacterial genes and recombinant microorganisms comprising these genes which are used to practice the methods of the invention.

Abstract: Chimeric human-bovine respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are infectious and attenuated in humans and other mammals and useful in vaccine formulations for eliciting an anti-RSV immune response. Also provided are isolated polynucleotide molecules and vectors incorporating a chimeric RSV genome or antigenome which includes a partial or complete human or bovine RSV “background” genome or antigenome combined or integrated with one or more heterologous gene(s) or genome segment(s) of a different RSV strain. Chimeric human-bovine RSV of the invention include a partial or complete “background” RSV genome or antigenome derived from or patterned after a human or bovine RSV strain or subgroup virus combined with one or more heterologous gene(s) or genome segment(s) of a different RSV strain or subgroup virus to form the human-bovine chimeric RSV genome or antigenome.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for identifying oligosaccharides specific to cancer and methods for determining a strain of cancer in an individual. The present invention also provides methods for diagnosing cancer or a stage of cancer in an individual by detecting the presence or absence of specific cancer markers and methods for treating cancer by administering antibodies directed to such markers. In addition, the present invention provides cancer markers comprising O-linked oligosaccharides and kits for diagnosing or treating cancer.

Abstract: Biologically stable inhibitors of soluble epoxide hydrolases are provided. The inhibitors can be used, for example, to selectively inhibit epoxide hydrolase in therapeutic applications such as treating inflammation, for use in affinity separations of the epoxide hydrolases, and in agricultural applications. A preferred class of compounds for practicing the invention have the structure shown by Formula 1 wherein X and Y is each independently nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, and X can further be carbon, at least one of R1-R4 is hydrogen, R2 is hydrogen when X is nitrogen but is not present when X is sulfur or oxygen, R4 is hydrogen when Y is nitrogen but is not present when Y is sulfur or oxygen, R1 and R3 are each independently a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, acyl, or heterocyclic, or being a metabolite or degradation product thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel receptor-binding cyclic peptides that advantageously display high receptor binding affinity and selectively. More particularly, the present invention provides integrin-binding cyclic peptides containing an integrin-binding motif such as an RGD motif, an aromatic amino acid such as a tyrosine residue, and a lysine residue having a pi-pi stacking moiety conjugated to its ?-amino group. Methods for identifying receptor-binding cyclic peptides and for using the cyclic peptides of the present invention for imaging a tumor, organ, or tissue and for treating cancer, inflammatory diseases, and autoimmune diseases are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nitric oxide-releasing amidine diazeniundiolates, compositions comprising same, methods of using same, and a method for preparing same from imidate diazeniumdiolates and primary or secondary amines.

Abstract: This invention provides compositions, methods and kits for the diagnosis and treatment of cancers wherein Wnt Inhibitory Factor-1 (WIF-1) is underexpressed.