Abstract: A computer aided detection (CAD) method for detecting polyps within an identified mucosa layer of a virtual representation of a colon includes the steps of identifying candidate polyp patches in the surface of the mucosa layer and extracting the volume of each of the candidate polyp patches. The extracted volume of the candidate polyp patches can be partitioned to extract a plurality of features, of the candidate polyp patch, which includes at least one internal feature of the candidate polyp patch. The features can include density texture features, geometrical features, and morphological features of the polyp candidate volume. The extracted features of the polyp candidates are analyzed to eliminate false positives from the candidate polyp patches. Those candidates which are not eliminated are identified as polyps.

Abstract: Provided is a method for stimulating in an individual an immune response against M. catarrhalis. The method is performed by administering to an individual a composition that contains at least one isolated M. catarrhalis protein in an amount effective to stimulate an immune response against M. catarrhalis in the individual. The M. catarrhalis proteins used in the method of the invention are M. catarrhalis proteins Msp22, Msp75, Msp78, Protein 28, Protein 99, Protein 238, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Systems and Methods for multi-modal or multimedia image retrieval are provided. Automatic image annotation is achieved based on a probabilistic semantic model in which visual features and textual words are connected via a hidden layer comprising the semantic concepts to be discovered, to explicitly exploit the synergy between the two modalities. The association of visual features and textual words is determined in a Bayesian framework to provide confidence of the association. A hidden concept layer which connects the visual feature(s) and the words is discovered by fitting a generative model to the training image and annotation words. An Expectation-Maximization (EM) based iterative learning procedure determines the conditional probabilities of the visual features and the textual words given a hidden concept class. Based on the discovered hidden concept layer and the corresponding conditional probabilities, the image annotation and the text-to-image retrieval are performed using the Bayesian framework.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for production of flavonoids in microbial hosts. The compositions comprises a set of genes which encode for enzymes involved in one or more steps in the biosynthetic pathway for the conversion of phenylpropanoids to various flavonoids. The method comprises the steps of introducing the set of genes into a heterologous host cell, allowing growth of the cells in a suitable medium such that the expression of the genes results in production of enzymes. When specific substrate(s) is/are provided to the transformed cell, the enzymes act on the substrate(s) to produce the desired flavonoids.

Abstract: A method for identifying a bridge node in a network using a processor and memory unit in a specially programmed special purpose-purpose computer including the steps of, for each node in a plurality of nodes in the network: determining a global metric proportional to total traffic flow in the network and through the node; determining a local metric proportional to traffic flow between the node and each second node in the network connected to the node and traffic flow between each second node and each third node in the network connected to a second node; determining a second local metric proportional to the respective traffic flows between each node and each second node; and calculating a respective combination of the global metric and the first and second local metrics; and selecting, a bridge node from among the plurality of nodes based on the respective combinations.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of treating a target area with an ultrasound wave pattern, including: providing an ultrasound apparatus having an ultrasound wave generator operatively attached to a plurality of transducers, coupled to an immersible support and configured to emit an ultrasound wave; immersing the apparatus into a water environment; positioning the apparatus proximate to a target area to treat at least one in situ organism; and emitting a pattern of ultrasound waves from the transducers, the pattern of ultrasound waves additive in effect and emitted onto the target area to threat an in situ underwater organism.

Abstract: This invention provides molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for the detection of analytes, methods for forming the MIPs and detecting the analyte using the MIPs. The MIP comprises templated sites which are formed using a mimic of the analyte such that a reporter compound can be selectively attached at the templated sites, thus providing a site selectively tagged and templated MIP.

Abstract: The present invention features a composite hydrogel for use as soft tissue substitutes and transitional three-dimensional support structures.

Abstract: pH-change sensors and related methods are disclosed. One such sensor may have a first ion-sensitive transistor-operational-transconductance-amplifier (the “first IOTA”) and a second ion-sensitive transistor-operational-transconductance-amplifier (the “second IOTA”). Each IOTA may have an ion-sensitive transistor, a load transistor, and an output. In each IOTA, the drain region of the ion-sensitive transistor may be connected to the drain region of the load transistor. A differential sensor may be connected to the IOTAs, and an output from the differential sensor may indicate a voltage difference between the IOTA outputs. The output from the differential sensor may be used to provide an indication of a change in pH.

Abstract: This invention provides a composition for delivery of a gene to a syncytial structure comprising stem cells incorporated with the gene. This invention also provides a composition for ion channel transfer which comprises stem cells incorporated with a compound in an amount sufficient to create ion channels. This invention also provides for a method of expressing a functional gene product in a syncytial structure comprising administering a composition, comprising stem cells that have been incorporated with a gene, to the syncytial structure. This invention further provides a method of expressing a functional ion channel in a syncytial structure comprising administering a composition, comprising stem cells that have been incorporated with a compound in an amount sufficient to create ion channels, to the syncytial structure. This invention also provides a composition for delivery of small molecules comprising stem cells incorporated with the small molecules or genes encoding the small molecules.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a coating composition including a sol-gel matrix and a dendrimeric organochalcogeno derivative and a system including the coating composition and a substrate. The present invention also relates to a method of preventing fouling of surfaces subjected to a marine environment.

Abstract: The present invention establishes a link between altered aPKC function and nervous system disorders and cancers, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and neuroblastoma. Methods of using aPKC in diagnosis, drug screening and gene therapy in nervous system disorders and cancers are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel methods and compositions for detection and isolation of cancer cells with metastatic potential. The invention further relates to assays for measuring the metastatic potential of such cancer cells and drug screening assays for the identification of agents having anti-metastatic potential. The present invention further provides methods and compositions for inhibiting the metastatic potential of cancer cells by modulating the activity of serine integral membrane proteases [(SIMP) consisting of seprase and dipedidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV)] expressed on the surface of metastasizing cancer cells.

Abstract: A new technique for identifying from images a camera, or other imaging device such as a scanner, is based on the device's reference noise pattern, a unique stochastic characteristic of all common digital imaging sensors, including CCD, CMOS (Foveon™ X3), and JFET. First, one determines from images the sensor's reference pattern noise, which uniquely identifies each sensor. To identify the sensor from a given image, the presence or absence of the reference pattern noise in the image under examination is established using a correlation detector or other means.

Abstract: In the present methods, the automatic detection of polyps is converted into a 2D pattern recognition problem using conformal mapping and direct volume rendering. The colon surface is first segmented and extracted from the CT data set of the abdomen, which is then mapped to a 2D plane using conformal mapping. Ray casting is used to determine sub-surface density values and the flattened image is rendered using a volume rendering technique with a translucent electronic biopsy transfer function. Polyp candidates are detected by a clustering method which identifies regions of elevated sub-surface density. The potential for false positives is reduced by analyzing the volumetric shape and texture features of the polyp candidate regions.

Abstract: A method for electronically cleansing a virtual object formed from acquired image data converted to a plurality of volume elements is provided. The present method allows individual volume elements, or voxels, to represent more than one material type. The method includes defining a partial volume image model for volume elements representing a plurality of material types based, at least in part, on the measured intensity value of the volume element. The material mixture for each of the volume elements representing a plurality of material types can be estimated using the observed intensity values and the defined partial volume image model. The volume elements representing a plurality of material types can then be classified in accordance with the estimated material mixture. For electronic colon cleansing, the method includes removing at least one classification of volume elements when displaying the virtual object.

Abstract: The invention relates to a biosensor comprising living cells that express a chemosensor, or receptor, on their surface. When grown on a microarray comprising electrodes, the cells can be induced, by binding of a ligand to the receptor, to secrete a molecule. This secretion event is detected with millisecond temporal resolution via electrochemical oxidation of the secreted molecule on the electrode which is voltage-clamped slightly above its redox potential. The current so generated is indicative of the amount of the ligand bound to the receptor.

Abstract: The present invention describes the adjuvant activity of mutants of LT-IIa and LT-IIb enterotoxin which lack ganglioside binding activity. The adjuvant activity of the LT-IIb(T13I) mutant is comparable to that of the wild type LT-IIb. The adjuvant activity of LT-IIa(T34I) mutant is also described which exhibits a late onset adjuvant activity. These mutants are useful for enhancing immune response to antigens.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery of certain microRNAs that correlate with certain information regarding cancer. The microRNAs of the invention are selected from the group consisting of hsa-miR-15b, hsa-miR-181b, hsa-miR-191, hsa-miR-200c, and hsa-let-7g. If the expression of these microRNAs is increase, then the increased expression of these microRNAs is diagnostic for cancer, characterizes the cancer, prognosticates an expected response to cancer treatments, and/or prognosticates an expected survival of a patient. Embodiments of this discovery include a method, composition, kit and isolated nucleic acid.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for identifying inhibitors of protein kinases and/or protein phosphatases. Methods are also provided for inhibiting protein kinase and/or protein phosphatase activity. Specific non-peptide protein tyrosine kinase and/or protein phosphatase inhibitors are provided. The protein kinase or protein phosphatase inhibitors of the present invention may be used to treat a number of conditions in patients, including cancer, psoriasis, arthrosclerosis, immune system activity, Type II diabetes, and obesity.