Abstract: A method of treating an inflammatory disease is disclosed. The method comprises administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a polypeptide comprising a pro-domain of TNF-alpha converting enzyme (TACE), said polypeptide being devoid of a catalytic domain of said TACE, said polypeptide comprising a modification at a site selected from the group consisting of R58, R56 and K57 which renders said polypeptide resistant to furin degradation said polypeptide being capable of downregulating an activity of TACE, thereby treating the inflammatory disease.

Abstract: A polycaprolactone fumarate polymer useful as a matrix material for a biocompatible scaffold for tissue engineering applications is disclosed. The polycaprolactone fumarate polymer can be prepared by reacting caprolactone with an alkane polyol to prepare a polycaprolactone precursor, and then reacting the polycaprolactone precursor with fumaric acid or a salt thereof to prepare the polycaprolactone fumarate polymer. The use of an alkane diol, such as 1,2-propanediol, provides a linear polycaprolactone diol precursor. The use of an alkane triol, such as glycerol, provides a branched polycaprolactone triol precursor. The biocompatible polycaprolactone fumarate formulation releases no diethylene glycol or other undesirable byproducts during degradation.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a thin-film transistor structure with a three-dimensional fin-shape channel and a preparation method thereof. The preparation method includes following steps: (a) depositing and etching a bottom gate electrode on a substrate; (b) depositing a bottom dielectric layer at an upper part of a structure obtained from the step (a), and sequentially depositing a semiconductor film on the bottom dielectric layer; (c) etching the semiconductor film to obtain a fin-type channel; (d) respectively depositing an ohmic contact layer, a source electrode and a drain electrode on the semiconductor film located at both sides of the fin-shape channel, and etching; (e) depositing a top dielectric layer and a top gate electrode at an upper part of a structure obtained from the step (d); and (f) etching the top gate electrode, an completing a preparation of a thin-film transistor with a dual-gate three-dimensional fin-shape channel.

Abstract: Fiber optic connectors, connector housings, connectorized cable assemblies, and methods for the connectorization of cable assemblies are provided with particular cable adapter features, adapter extensions, multi-diametrical sealing flexures, subcutaneous sealing elements, and combinations thereof, for improved connector and cable performance, integrity, and durability.

Abstract: A gas supply delivery arrangement of a plasma processing system for processing a substrate with gases introduced through at least first, second, and third gas injection zones comprises process gas supply inlets and tuning gas inlets. A mixing manifold comprises gas sticks in fluid communication with a process gas supply and tuning gas sticks in fluid communication with a tuning gas supply. A first gas outlet delivers gas to the first gas injection zone, a second gas outlet delivers gas to the second gas injection zone, and a third gas outlet delivers gas to the third gas injection zone. A gas splitter is in fluid communication with the mixing manifold, and includes a first valve arrangement which splits mixed gas exiting the mixing manifold into a first mixed gas supplied to the first gas outlet and a second mixed gas supplied to the second, and/or third gas outlets.

Abstract: Provided are methods and compositions from reprogramming human glial cells into human neurons. The reprogramming is achieved using combinations of compounds that can modify signaling via Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-?), Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3), and ?-secretase/Notch pathways. The reprogramming is demonstrated using groups of three or four compounds that are chosen from the group thiazovivin, LDN193189, SB431542, TTNPB, CHIR99021, DAPT, VPA, SAG purmorphamine. Reprogramming is demonstrated using the group of LDN193189/CHIR99021/DAPT, the group of B431542/CHIR99021/DAPT, the group of LDN193189/DAPT/SB431542, the group of LDN193189/CHIR99021/SB431542, a three drug combination of SB431542/CHIR99021/DAPT. Reprogramming using functional analogs of the compounds is also provided, as are pharmaceutical formulations that contain the drug combinations.

Abstract: Provided is versine trolley-type equipment for inspecting a track irregularity, having sensors respectively provided to a trolley so as to measure a height difference, direction misalignment, gauge irregularity, rail longitudinal slope, cant and the like of railroad rails, and simultaneously measuring the height difference and direction misalignment of a left rail and a right rail so as to reduce a measurement time by half and, also, allowing left and right measurement frames to freely move in a vertical direction within a predetermined range, thereby bringing front and rear trolley wheels of the left and right measurement frames into close contact with the rails all the time even if the rails are warped.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a load balancing method, a load balancing system, a load balancing device and a topology reduction method. The load balancing method includes configuring a transmission progress value for each of the edge servers; grouping the edge servers into server groups, wherein each of the edge servers is grouped into at least one server group among the server groups; receiving a download request corresponding to a first video stream from a user device, wherein a first server group among the server groups provides the first video stream; and selecting one of the edge servers from the edge servers of the first server group as a first edge server to provide video data of the first video stream to the user device according to the transmission progress values of the edge servers of the first server group.

Abstract: Provided are apparatus and systems for performing a swing adsorption process. This swing adsorption process may involve performing a startup mode process prior to beginning a normal operation mode process to remove contaminants from a gaseous feed stream. The startup mode process may be utilized for swing adsorption processes, such as TSA and/or PSA, which are utilized to remove one or more contaminants from a gaseous feed stream.

Abstract: Various embodiments herein relate to methods, apparatus and systems for forming a recessed feature in a dielectric-containing stack on a semiconductor substrate. In many embodiments, a mask shrink layer is deposited on a patterned mask layer to thereby narrow the openings in the mask layer. The mask shrink layer may be deposited through a vapor deposition process including, but not limited to, atomic layer deposition or chemical vapor deposition. The mask shrink layer can result in narrower, more vertically uniform etched features. In some embodiments, etching is completed in a single etch step. In some other embodiments, the etching may be done in stages, cycled with a deposition step designed to deposit a protective sidewall coating on the partially etched features. Metal-containing films are particularly suitable as mask shrink films and protective sidewall coatings.

Abstract: A broadcast signal transmission apparatus and method using layered division multiplexing are disclosed. A broadcast signal transmission apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a combiner configured to generate a multiplexed signal by combining a core layer signal and an enhanced layer signal at different power levels; a power normalizer configured to reduce the power of the multiplexed signal to a power level corresponding to the core layer signal; a time interleaver configured to generate a time-interleaved signal by performing interleaving that is applied to both the core layer signal and the enhanced layer signal; a frame builder configured to generate a broadcast signal frame using the time-interleaved signal; and an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) transmitter configured to generate a pilot signal that is shared by a core layer corresponding to the core layer signal and an enhanced layer corresponding to the enhanced layer signal.

Abstract: A matching circuit in a communication apparatus may comprise a first inductor disposed at a primary side of a transformer; a second inductor disposed at a secondary side of the transformer; and an impedance element connected to the first inductor and the second inductor. Also, a first terminal of the first inductor may be connected to an input terminal of the transformer, a second terminal of the first inductor may be connected to a common node connected to a ground, a first terminal of the second inductor may be connected to an output terminal of the transformer, a second terminal of the second inductor may be connected to the common node, a first terminal of the impedance element may be connected to the common node, and a second terminal of the impedance element may be connected to the ground.

Abstract: A device and method detect cellular targets in a bodily source by utilizing a biofunctional pad comprised of a thin film of carbon nanotubes (CNT's). When antibodies are absorbed by the CNT's, cellular targets having markers matching the antibodies may be detected in a bodily source placed upon the biofunctional pad by measuring the conductivity of the thin film using conductive contacts electrically coupled to the thin film, as the binding of the receptors in the cellular targets to the antibodies changes the free energy in the thin film. In many respects, the device functions as a Field Effect Transistor (FET) with the bodily source, e.g., blood, acting as a polyelectrolyte liquid gate electrode to create a varying electrostatic charge or capacitance in the thin film based upon the binding of cellular targets in the source to the antibodies present on the biofunctional pad.

Abstract: A method of determining the optimum vehicle gap distance for a vehicle in a platoon, the vehicle having a cooling fan and a coolant-based cooling system. The vehicle's vehicle control system determines a base gap distance, based on safety considerations related to platoon operation. A gap control process stores a fan turn-on threshold temperature, which is less than the coolant temperature that will result in the vehicle's cooling fan becoming activated. During vehicle operation, the gap control process receives a current coolant temperature value, and compares that value to the fan turn-on threshold temperature. If the coolant temperature is at or above the fan turn-on threshold temperature, the vehicle is operated to increase the base gap distance.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a staining composition and to the use of the staining composition in staining ocular tissue. In a first aspect, the invention provides a staining composition comprising a vital dye and a density increasing compound chosen from the group consisting of water soluble polymers and small inert molecules.

Abstract: A server for providing a city street search service includes a street information database configured to store city street images, a feature selection unit configured to select at least one feature according to a predetermined criterion when a city street image for searching and two or more features for the image are received from a user terminal, a candidate extraction unit configured to extract a candidate list of a city street image, a feature matching unit configured to match the city street image for registration included in the extracted candidate list and the at least one selected feature, and a search result provision unit configured to provide the user terminal with a result of the matching as result information regarding the city street image for searching.

Abstract: Provided is a method and apparatus for performing intra-prediction using an adaptive filter. The method for performing intra-prediction includes the steps of: determining whether or not to apply a first filter for a reference pixel value on the basis of information of a neighboring block of a current block; applying the first filter for the reference pixel value when it is determined to apply the first filter; performing intra-prediction on the current block on the basis of the reference pixel value; determining whether or not to apply a second filter for a prediction value according to each prediction mode of the current block, which is predicted by the intra-prediction performance on the basis of the information of the neighboring block; and applying the second filter for the prediction value according to each prediction mode of the current block when it is determined to apply the second filter.

Abstract: A method is provided for setting, by a processor, a minimum and maximum symbol size for rendering at different zoom levels on a digital map. In another embodiment of the invention, the size of overlay features, such as line widths, received by a processor is automatically adjusted for different zoom levels depending on the average size of map features, such as polygons. In one example, line widths are decreased, and/or made partially transparent, as the map views are zoomed out, finally being altogether eliminated. In one embodiment, the system automatically analyzes received data to determine an appropriate way to map the data.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a device for charged particle transportation and manipulation. Embodiments provide a capability of combining positively and negatively charged particles in a single transported packet. Embodiments contain an aggregate of electrodes arranged to form a channel for transportation of charged particles, as well as a source of power supply that provides supply voltage to be applied to the electrodes, the voltage to ensure creation, inside the said channel, of a non-uniform high-frequency electric field, the pseudopotential of which field has one or more local extrema along the length of the channel used for charged particle transportation, at least, within a certain interval of time, whereas, at least one of the said extrema of the pseudopotential is transposed with time, at least within a certain interval of time, at least within a part of the length of the channel used for charged particle transportation.

Abstract: Compositions including a surface or film comprising nanofibers, nanotubes or microwells comprising a bioactive agent for elution to the surrounding tissue upon placement of the composition in a subject are disclosed. The compositions are useful in medical implants and methods of treating a patient in need of an implant, including orthopedic implants, dental implants, cardiovascular implants, neurological implants, neurovascular implants, gastrointestinal implants, muscular implants, and ocular implants.