Abstract: Methods for predicting a response to an erythropoietic agent in a subject include providing a biological sample from the subject, and determining an amount in the sample of at least one peptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 1-17. If there is a measurable difference in the amount of the at least one peptide in the sample, when compared to a control level of the same peptide, the subject is then predicted to have a good response or a poor response to the erythropoietic agent. Kits for predicting a response to an erythropoietic agent are further provided and include one or more antibodies, or fragments thereof, that specifically recognize a peptide of SEQ ID NOS: 1-17.

Abstract: A compound for protection of an object from a blast or shock wave. The compound include a matrix material and at least a first and second sets of inclusions in the matrix material that differ in size, quantity, shape and/or composition in a direction through the impact-absorbing material, the combination of which contributes to the ability of the material to exhibit at least one property that changes as the inclusions are deformed in response to a blast or shock wave.

Abstract: A method of interfacing atmospheric pressure ion sources, including electrospray and desorption electrospray ionization sources, to mass spectrometers, for example miniature mass spectrometers, in which the ionized sample is discontinuously introduced into the mass spectrometer. Discontinuous introduction improves the match between the pumping capacity of the instrument and the volume of atmospheric pressure gas that contains the ionized sample. The reduced duty cycle of sample introduction is offset by operation of the mass spectrometer under higher performance conditions and by ion accumulation at atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: An article for controlling the attachment and growth of cells on a surface of the article, and a method for the use of the article is provided. The article comprises a substratum having a surface and a film on the surface, the film comprising a network of a net positively charged composition and a net negatively charged composition, wherein the net positively charged composition comprises a net positively charged polyelectrolyte or the net negatively charged composition comprises a net negatively charged polyelectrolyte, and the net positively charged polyelectrolyte or the net negatively charged polyelectrolyte contain (i) a polymer repeat unit having at least two fluorine atoms, or (ii) a polymer repeat unit having a zwitterion group. The method comprises contacting the article with living tissue, living organisms, or with water in an aqueous system comprising living organisms.

Abstract: A first fuel charge having low reactivity (low cetane number) is injected into a rotary engine, such as a Wankel engine, sufficiently early during the intake stroke that a subsequent higher-reactivity injected fuel charge forms one or more stratified high-reactivity regions within the engine chamber. Compression ignition then begins at the high-reactivity regions and propagates to the lower-reactivity regions. Appropriate choice of the timings, quantities, and other parameters of the injections can allow control of the timing and rate of combustion, such that work output can be maximized, unburned fuel can be minimized, and chamber temperature can be controlled to reduce heat losses and NOx emissions. As a result, rotary engine efficiency can be enhanced while emissions are reduced. Since the invention can be implemented in a lightweight and compact rotary engine, it is well suited for use in hybrid and compact vehicles.

Abstract: Electronic devices for the generation of electromagnetic radiation are provided. Also provided are methods for using the devices to generate electromagnetic radiation. The radiation sources include an anisotropic electrically conducting thin film that is characterized by a periodically varying charge carrier mobility in the plane of the film. The periodic variation in carrier mobility gives rise to a spatially varying electric field, which produces electromagnetic radiation as charged particles pass through the film.

Abstract: The present invention provides continuous, free-standing metal oxide films and methods for making said films. The methods are able to produce large-area, flexible, thin films having one or more continuous, single-crystalline metal oxide domains. The methods include the steps of forming a surfactant monolayer at the surface of an aqueous solution, wherein the headgroups of the surfactant molecules provide a metal oxide film growth template. When metal ions in the aqueous solution are exposed to the metal oxide film growth template in the presence of hydroxide ions under suitable conditions, a continuous, free-standing metal oxide film can be grown from the film growth template downward into the aqueous solution.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a reducing method of carbon dioxide using sunlight and hydrogen, and an apparatus therefor.

Abstract: This invention provides a compound having the structure wherein R1 is H, wherein n and q are independently an integer from 0 to 8; A is absent or present and when present is wherein m is an integer from 0 to 8; R3 is an amino, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, diol, piperazine, morpholine, piperidine, triazole, azide or biphenyl, each with or without substitution, branched or unbranched, or and R4 is alkyl, aryl, or heteroaryl, each with or without substitution, branched or unbranched, R2 is H, CH3, or alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, pyrrole, diazole, or triazole, each with or without substitution, branched or unbranched, or wherein n and q are independently an integer from 0 to 8; A is absent or present and when present is and R6 is azide, methoxy, trifluoromethyl, biphenyl, substituted phenyl, substituted triazole, or alkyl, aryl or heteroaryl, with or without substitution, branched or unbranched, when R1 is H then R2 is other than H or CH3, and

Abstract: The invention described herein pertains to the treatment of multiple sclerosis. In particular, the invention described herein pertains to the treatment of multiple sclerosis using compounds that modulate the action of acrolein.

Abstract: Semiconductor lasers comprise a substrate; an active layer configured to generate transverse magnetic (TM) polarized light under an electrical bias; an upper cladding layer; a lower cladding layer; and a distributed feedback (DFB) grating defined by the interface of a layer of metal and a layer of semiconductor under the layer of metal, the interface periodically corrugated in the longitudinal direction of the laser with a periodicity of ?DFB=m?/(2neff), wherein m>1. The DFB grating is configured such that loss of one or more antisymmetric longitudinal modes of the laser structure via absorption to the DFB grating is sufficiently maximized so as to produce lasing of a symmetric longitudinal mode of the laser with laser emission characterized by a single-lobe beam along each direction defined by the grating diffraction orders corresponding to emission away from the plane of the grating.

Abstract: Height control systems and/or methods are implemented for dynamic force tunneling microscopy and single electron tunneling force spectroscopy to improve their accuracy.

Abstract: Microfluidic devices and methods for conducting chemical assays and biological assays using microfluidic devices are disclosed. The microfluidic devices do not require external connections, tethers, tubing, valves and actuators. The microfluidic devices are useful in methods for analyzing a wide variety of chemical and biological assays such as, for example, molecule-molecule interactions, enzyme-substrate interactions, molecule identification, minimum inhibitory concentrations, therapeutically effective amounts, and toxic amounts.

Abstract: Disclosed are cellulose capsules, methods for preparing a cellulose capsule, and compositions comprising cellulose capsules, including sustained- or controlled-release dosage forms comprising cellulose capsules.

Abstract: The instant invention describes macrocyclic compounds having antiproliferation activity, and methods of treating disorders such as cancer, tumors and cell proliferation related disorders.

Abstract: Shape controlled synthesis of ferroelectric nanocrystals such as barium titanate (BaTiO3) nanocrystals is described. By tuning the molar ratio between the surfactant and the metal precursors, BaTiO3 nanocrystals with different shapes are readily obtained. This provides the nanoscopic ferroelectric building blocks for the fabrication of various electronic devices, as well as for fundamental research in nanoscience and nanotechnology.

Abstract: The present invention provides crosslinked epoxy-functional copolymer films and microarrays built from the crosslinked epoxy-functional copolymer films. Microarrays incorporating the copolymers include a substrate on which a film of the crosslinked epoxy-functional copolymer is disposed and target molecules bound to the copolymer film. The crosslinked polymer films are well-suited for use as scaffolds for target molecules in microarrays because they provide a high density of binding sites for the target molecules, are mechanically stable, and may be coated onto a wide range of substrates.

Abstract: A Brain Machine Interface (BMI) agent (110) is provided, that when operatively coupled to a subject during a mental task by the subject to control a prosthetic device (130), monitors one or more states (125) of neural activity of the subject, receives feedback associated with a behavior of the prosthetic device responsive to the control, learns a functional mapping between the mental task and the behavior in view of the feedback, and applies at least one control action (115) to the prosthetic device in accordance with the learning to control the prosthetic device for a targeted behavior.

Abstract: An object detection system (24) is disclosed having a transducer (40, 40?) for detecting buried objects (26). The transducer is encapsulated within a robust, electromagnetically transparent construction (42).

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for displaying proteins and polypeptides on the surface of cells and cellular vesicles. Methods and compositions for drug and vaccine delivery using cell surface display systems of the present invention are also disclosed.