Abstract: The invention encompasses methods and kits used in the detection of invasive glioblastoma based upon the expression of NHERF-1. The methods and kits also allow prediction of disease outcome as well as therapeutic outcome.

Abstract: Frequency-steerable acoustic transducers (FSATs) that allow directional generation or sensing of waves propagating in two-dimensional domains. Directionality is the result of the spatial filtering effect produced by the characteristic shape of the sensing surface. A wavenumber spiral FSAT (WS-FSAT) maps the direction of wave sensing in the [0°, 180°] range to a specific frequency component in the spectrum of the received signal. The use of a wavenumber spiral FSAT operating in sensing mode can be used for the localization of broadband acoustic events. One configuration includes a broadband source generating guided elastic waves in an isotropic plate. The WS-FSAT records the plate response and defines the source location through a time-frequency analysis of the received signal. The frequency selective response of the WS-FSAT directly maps the dominant component of the received signal to the direction of arrival of the incoming wave, thus greatly facilitating the source localization procedure.

Abstract: A composition of matter comprises a polymer with a fully conjugated backbone or a conjugated block with a plurality of binding groups connected to the backbone by a linking moiety. The binding groups permit a non-covalent binding to a graphitic surface such as a carbon nanotube. A composition of matter where an electroactive polymer with binding groups connected to a conjugated backbone through a linking moiety is bound to carbon nanotubes. Such compositions can be used for a variety of applications using electroactive materials.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for enhancing the integration of processes for recovering products from algae-derived biomass. The enhanced process integration allows for increased use of input streams and other reagents that are derived from renewable sources. This increases the overall renewable character of the products extracted from the algae-derived biomass. The process integration can include exchange of input streams or energy between an algae processing system and a system for processing non-algal biomass. One example of improving process integration is using oxygenates that are generated in a renewable manner as a reagent for enhancing the algae processing system.

Abstract: Melanocortin receptor antagonist compounds, processes for preparing them and uses thereof in human medicine and cosmetics are described. Melanocortin receptor antagonist compounds corresponding to the general formula (I): compositions containing them, and processes for their preparation and their use in pharmaceutical or cosmetic compositions are also described.

Abstract: An impedance matching network for a radio frequency (RF) amplifier includes multiple stages connected to each other in a first to last order. A first stage produces an RF output signal, and a last stage receives an RF input signal. Each stage includes a first inductor connected to produce an output signal, a second inductor connected to receive an input signal from a next stage, a capacitor connected between the first and second inductors and a ground. In addition, each stage other than the first stage further includes a first switch to by-pass the first and second inductors, a second switch connected between the first and second inductors and the ground, and a controller for controlling, the first and second switches to select a particular power level of a set of power levels.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a semiconductor chip probe for measuring conducted electromagnetic emission (EME) of a bare die and a conducted EME measurement apparatus with the semiconductor chip probe. The semiconductor chip probe comprises a substrate, a dielectric layer, an impedance unit, a measuring unit and a connection unit. The measurement apparatus comprises a semiconductor chip probe, a high frequency probe, a signal cable and a test receiver. The integrated passive component network designed and embedded inside the semiconductor chip probe forms the 1? or 150? impedance network. And the semiconductor chip probe is able to directly couple the EME conducted current or voltage from the test pin of the flipped chip under test to the test receiver for measurement.

Abstract: There is provided a semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device. Within the N-type semiconductor layer formed from a high resistance N-type substrate, the P-type well diffusion layer and P-type extraction layer are formed and are fixed to ground potential. Due thereto, a depletion layer spreading on the P-type well diffusion layer side does not reach the interlayer boundary between the P-type well diffusion layer and the buried oxide film. Hence, the potential around the surface of the P-type well diffusion layer is kept at a ground potential. Accordingly, when the voltages are applied to the backside of the N-type semiconductor layer and a cathode electrode, a channel region at the MOS-type semiconductor formed as a P-type semiconductor layer is not activated. Due thereto, leakage current that may occur independently of a control due to the gate electrode of a transistor can be suppressed.

Abstract: A solar simulator including a light source and a light conduit array is provided. The light source is used for emitting a beam of ray radiation. The light conduit array includes a plurality of light conduits closely adjacent to one another. Each of the light conduits has an inner reflecting surface used for reflecting the ray radiation, a light input side, and a light output side opposite to the light input side. The ray radiation enters the light conduits through the light input side and emitting from the light output side.

Abstract: Androgen receptor-based vaccines for eliciting an immune reaction in vivo against cells expressing androgen receptor are disclosed. The vaccines are useful in the treatment of prostate cancer. Also disclosed are methods for inducing immune reaction to androgen receptor or treating prostate cancer in a mammal, using the vaccines and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the vaccines.

Abstract: A system and method extract a plurality of three dimensional identification minutiae from a three dimensional image of a biometric identification feature. The extracted three dimensional identification minutiae from the three dimensional image may be compared to one or more sets of three dimensional identification minutiae to determine an identification and/or confirm an identification. In a preferred embodiment, the system and method extract three dimensional identification minutiae from a three dimensional image of a fingerprint, and compare the extracted three dimensional identification minutiae from the fingerprint to one or more sets of three dimensional identification minutiae associated with previously classified fingerprints to determine and/or confirm an identification.

Abstract: Integrated surgical systems and methods for using same are provided that can receive scanned images and produce a three dimensional model from the images. Based at least in pan on the three dimensional model, a processor generates code defining an optimized tool path, which is sent to a surgical machining system that can machine the desired portion of the patient. In one exemplary aspect, the integrated system operates in a clearly defined and pre-programmed manner with no necessity for in-situ sensory or guidance feedback.

Abstract: Embodiments of the subject invention relate to an air vehicle and a power source. Embodiments can operate at reasonable power levels for hovering and withstanding expected wind gusts. Embodiments can have a diameter less than 15 cm. Embodiments can have one or more smooth (continuous curvature) surface and can be operated using electromagnetic and electrohydrodynamic principles. The wingless design of specific embodiments can allow operation with no rotating or moving components. Additional embodiments can allow active response to the surrounding flow conditions. The issue of low lift to drag ratio and degradation of airfoil efficiency due to the inability of laminar boundary layers attachment can also be significantly reduced, or eliminated. The electromagnetic force can be generated by applying a pulsed (alternating/rf) voltage between a set of grounded and powered electrodes separated by a polymer insulator, dielectric, or other material with insulating properties.

Abstract: A wheelchair transportation system for transporting a wheelchair over at least one obstacle, including a wheelchair transportation unit being operable to transport the wheelchair over the at least one obstacle during at least one transportation operation of the wheelchair. The wheelchair transportation unit includes a pivotal support platform configured to support the wheelchair and pivotally coupled to a chassis of the wheelchair transportation unit, the pivotal support platform includes at least one group of rotating members frictionally engaging at least one main wheel of the wheelchair. During the at least one transportation operation, the at least one main wheel being operable to rotate the at least one group of rotating members thereby a wheelchair user operably controls and guides the wheelchair transportation unit by adjusting at least one rotational speed of the at least one main wheel.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to systems and methods for transferring ions for analysis. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a system for analyzing a sample including an ionizing source for converting molecules of a sample into gas phase ions in a region at about atmospheric pressure, an ion analysis device, and an ion transfer member operably coupled to a gas flow generating device, in which the gas flow generating device produces a laminar gas flow that transfers the gas phase ions through the ion transfer member to an inlet of the ion analysis device.

Abstract: The present invention provides isolated polynucleotide sequences encoding ?-mannosidase. The present invention further provides DNA constructs comprising the polynucleotide sequence coding for ?-mannosidase in sense or anti-sense orientation, RNAi constructs, recombinant vectors comprising the constructs, and host cells comprising the recombinant vector. The present invention further provides transgenic plants, plant cells, transgenic progeny and seeds expressing the polynucleotide with reduced ?-mannosidase protein accumulation, having enhanced fruit shelf life.

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods for the expression, secretion and use of novel compositions for use as, e.g., vaccines and antigen delivery vectors, to delivery antigens to antigen presenting cells. In one embodiment, the vector is an anti-CD40 antibody, or fragments thereof, and one or more antigenic peptides linked to the anti-CD40 antibody or fragments thereof, including humanized antibodies.

Abstract: Projection data acquired with an x-ray CT system is filtered using a bilateral filter to reduce image noise and enable the acquisition at lower x-ray dose without the loss of image diagnostic quality. The bilateral filtering is performed before image reconstruction by producing a noise equivalent data set from the acquired projection data and then converting the bilateral filtered values back to a projection data set suitable for image reconstruction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an insider threat detection device and method which collects and analyzes a variety of information generated by insiders working for an organization, such as behaviors, events, and states of the insider, and detects an abnormal insider who may become a potential threat. According to the present invention, the insider threat detection method and apparatus analyzes information related to insiders using the correlation analysis method, and previously detects an abnormal sign of an insider who may become a potential threat to an organization, which makes it possible to protect the organization from attacks on systems inside the organization or seizure of important information inside the organization.

Abstract: A method of superimposing N optical transmission modes for collective transmission along a multimode optical fiber is provided where each of the N optical signals comprises N distinct superimposed transmission modes (M1, M2, . . . ) and a portion of each of the N propagating optical signals is sampled at a receiving end of the data transmission network. N2?1 distinct measurement conditions are derived from a transmission matrix T and a special unitary matrix group SU(N) corresponding to the superimposed transmission modes (M1, M2, . . . ) at the receiving end of the data transmission network and N2?1 measurements are extracted from the sampled signals. The extracted N2?1 measurements are used to solve a matrix equation corresponding to the generated SU(N) matrices and the output matrix transposed and used to generating principal state launch conditions from the eigenvectors of the transposed output matrix to form a principal state in each of the N optical signals.