Abstract: A neutron detection system may include a neutron detector including a plurality of neutron detection devices, a plurality of discrete neutron moderating elements, wherein each of the neutron moderating elements is disposed between two or more neutron detection devices, the plurality of neutron detection devices and the plurality of discrete neutron moderating elements disposed along a common axis, a control system configured to generate a detector response library, wherein the detector response library includes one or more sets of data indicative of a response of the detector to a known neutron source, receive one or more measured neutron response signals from each of the neutron devices, the one or more measured response signals response to a detected neutron event, and determine one or more characteristics of neutrons emanating from a measured neutron source by comparing the one or more measured neutron response signals to the detector response library.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of altering metabolism of phosphate in a livestock via an antibody. The methods involve the development of an antibody against FGF-23 for the purpose of reducing phosphate excretion by an animal.

Abstract: Single nucleotide polymorphic sites at positions 19069 and 25402 of the bovine STAT3 gene are associated with improved fertilization rate and/or improved embryo survival rate. The interactions between these two polymorphisms, and between them and the bovine STAT1 gene and fertilization and early embryonic survival rates were also disclosed. The interactions between STAT3 SNPs, and between STAT1 and STAT3 SNP19069 were highly significant for embryonic survival rate. Also disclosed are nucleic acid molecules, kits, methods of genotyping and marker assisted bovine breeding methods.

Abstract: This invention relates to representations of prostaglandin synthase three-dimensional structures. Such representations are suitable for designing agents that modulate the activity of the enzyme by binding to the substrate binding domain.

Abstract: An elasticity measuring system determines tissue displacement between a pre-deformation and post-deformation image by a matching process using a cost function accepting as its arguments continuity of the tissue motion and correlation of the tissue in making the block matching. The invention allows the selection among different cost functions for different imaging situations or tissue types, to provide improved displacement calculations using a priori knowledge about the tissue and structure of tissue interfaces or information derived during the scanning process.

Abstract: A biologically-inspired model for sequence representation, method of construction and application of such models, and systems incorporating same are provided. The model captures the statistical nature of sequences and uses that for sequence encoding, recognition, and recall. The model can be trained in real time, has few tunable parameters, and is highly parallelizable, which ensures that it can scale up to very large problems. Applications of the model to word and speech recognition, machine leaning, robotics, computational bioinformatics, genetics datasets, and other sequence processing pipelines are provided.

Abstract: A Fresnel zone plate is provided for encountering incident light having a wavelength. The Fresnel zone plate has a focal length and a wafer including alternating transparent and opaque zones, and a mounting surface. A plurality of silicon nanowires extend into opaque zone of the wafer. A mechanically stretchable turning structure is mounted to the mounting surface such that stretching of the tuning structure varies the focal length of the Fresnel zone plate.

Abstract: Computational resources of an electronic computer are monitored by predictors that establish predicted trade-offs between performance and power for a particular workload while the workload is being executed. A coordinator combines prediction values to identify a limited number of combinations of operating states of the computational resources, allowing operating states of the computational resources to be readily adapted during program execution based on a particular workload. The limited number of combinations of operating states are ideally Pareto optimal combinations.

Abstract: The pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein Bax initiates apoptosis in almost all apoptotic paradigms. Agents facilitating disruptive Bax insertion into mitochondrial membranes have potential as cancer therapeutics. Small molecule compounds associating with the hydrophobic groove of the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein Bax have been identified and found to promote Bax-dependent, but not Bak-dependent, apoptosis. The compounds alter Bax protein stability in vitro and promote Bax insertion into mitochondria, leading to Bax-dependent mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization and apoptosis. The compounds activating the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein Bax inhibit the growth of tumors by inducing apoptosis. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds that activate Bax and induce Bax-dependent apoptosis are useful as anti-cancer therapeutic agents alone or with other anti-cancer agents. Methods for inducing apoptosis and for treating cancer involve administering the compounds to a patient in need thereof.

Abstract: A system and a method for objectively evaluating qualitative levels of academic journals in the field of science and engineering are disclosed. The system for evaluating journals includes: a winner or member's paper database which includes information of papers published by a researcher who is awarded a prize or elected to a member of the academy in the field of science and engineering; a journal database which includes information of papers published in journals to be evaluated; a winner or member's paper ratio evaluation section which calculates a winner or member's paper ratio for the journals by using the information of papers of the journal database and the information of papers of the winner or member's paper database; and a journal evaluation section which evaluates a degree of contribution of the journals in awarding the prize or electing to the member of the academy from the winner or member's paper ratio calculated by the winner or member's paper ratio evaluation section.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods for treating bacterial infections.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for increasing the efficacy of an agent that directly or indirectly affects a muscarinic receptor by administering a pyrophosphate analog. Methods and compositions for protecting a pharmacological agent in a formulation, comprising combining the pharmacological agent with at least one pyrophosphate analog. Methods and compositions for increasing the efficacy of a neurologic agent by administering at least one pyrophosphate analog. Methods and compositions for increasing the efficacy of an agent that neither directly nor indirectly affects a muscarinic receptor by administering at least one pyrophosphate analog.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are reagents that include a moiety that includes a metal such as titanium and that readily binds to phosphorylated molecules the reagents also include at least one moiety that produces a signal or that binds to a molecule that produces a signal. The reagent may also include a moiety that binds to a larger molecule or to a surface. Some forms of the reagent include a dendrimer that can simultaneously bind to multiple metal moieties that include a metal such as titanium and multiple moieties that can be used to detected bound molecules. These reagents can be used in detection and/or measurement and/or at least partial purification of phosphorylated molecules. These reagents and methods using them are used to analyze proteins, polypeptides, nucleic acids, phospholipids and the like. They are readily adapted for use in gels, blots, plate based high through put assays and for mass spectrometry.

Abstract: Electrochemical capacitors and methods for producing such electrochemical capacitors. The electrochemical capacitor can have an initial charged state and a cycled charged state and can include an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte. The anode can include a first mixture having a first plurality of electrically conductive carbon-comprising particles having a first average porosity. The cathode can include a second mixture having a second plurality of electrically conductive carbon-comprising particles having a second average porosity greater than said first average porosity. The electrolyte can be physically and electrically contacting said anode and said cathode, and the first mixture in the cycled charged state can be substantially free of lithium metal particles and can further include a plurality of lithium ions intercalating the first plurality of carbon comprising particles. The mass ratio of the cathode and the electrolyte can be less than 1.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system that adaptively compensates for subject motion in real-time in an imaging system. An object orientation marker (30), preferably a retro-grate reflector (RGR), is placed on the head or other body organ of interest of a patient (P) during a scan, such as an MRI scan. The marker (30) makes it possible to measure the six degrees of freedom (x, y, and z-translations, and pitch, yaw, and roll), or “pose”, required to track motion of the organ of interest. A detector, preferably a camera (40), observes the marker (30) and continuously extracts its pose. The pose from the camera (40) is sent to the scanner (120) via an RGR processing computer (50) and a scanner control and processing computer (100), allowing for continuous correction of scan planes and position (in real-time) for motion of the patient (P).

Abstract: A method for providing an extended propagation ephemeris model for a satellite in Earth orbit, the method includes obtaining a satellite's orbital position over a first period of time, applying a least square estimation filter to determine coefficients defining osculating Keplarian orbital elements and harmonic perturbation parameters associated with a coordinate system defining an extended propagation ephemeris model that can be used to estimate the satellite's position during the first period, wherein the osculating Keplarian orbital elements include semi-major axis of the satellite (a), eccentricity of the satellite (e), inclination of the satellite (i), right ascension of ascending node of the satellite (?), true anomaly (?*), and argument of periapsis (?), applying the least square estimation filter to determine a dominant frequency of the true anomaly, and applying a Fourier transform to determine dominant frequencies of the harmonic perturbation parameters.

Abstract: A novel type of ultrathin cationic hydrogel coatings are provided that have high, quick and reversible swelling/shrinkage transitions and surface wettability in response to pH changes. The poly(4-vinyl pyridine) (PVP) hydrogel films are produced by selective cross-linking of PVP copolymers in layer-by-layer (LbL) films assembled by spin-assisted method. These multilayer hydrogels exhibit drastic and reversible 10-fold swelling when the pH is changed from neutral to acidic. The swelling amplitude of these coatings is controlled by varying cross-link densities within the films. The pH-responsive hydrogels open new prospects for developing “intelligent” materials with sharp stimuli-triggered responses for applications in sensing, transport regulation, and self-cleaning coatings.

Abstract: A method of deformable image registration for thoracic 4-D computed tomography (CT) images includes: receiving, by a processing device, a set of thoracic 4-D CT images; and iteratively solving, by the processing device, an energy function applied to subsequent images of the set of thoracic 4-D CT images to transform the subsequent images into respective optical flow fields between the subsequent images, the energy function enforcing the following constraints on the subsequent images: intensity constancy; mass conservation; gradient constancy; and spatio-temporal smoothness.

Abstract: The invention described herein pertains to substituted dibenzonaphthyridine compounds, pharmaceutical compositions, and formulations comprising the dibenzonaphthyridine compounds, their synthesis, and methods for their use in the treatment and/or prevention of cancer.

Abstract: An assay system designed to detect a protein biomarker in urine that is diagnostic for interstitial cystitis (IC). The presence of a 9 amino acid glycopeptide, antiproliferative factor (APF), in urine is unique to patients with IC. Urine samples from patients who exhibit symptoms consistent with IC are added to the assay system. Binding of APF to the cytoskeletal associated protein 4 (CKAP4) is positive for the presence of APF in urine and diagnostic for IC. The diagnostic system is a significant and surprising advance in diagnosis of IC and has commercial applications relevant to women and men who suffer from symptoms consistent with IC.