Abstract: A method for the identification of a composition useful in the treatment of an overweight or obese person to reduce the person's body mass index is provided which comprises obtaining an extract of an ethnobotanical plant, and evaluating the activity of the extract in an assay selected from the group consisting of a lipolysis assay, an assay that measures the amount of glycerol introduced by a cell into a suspension medium of the cell, an adipocyte differentiation assay, an assay that measures the level of the enzyme glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, an assay that measures the inhibition of differentiation of preadipocytes to adipocytes, an assay that measures the accumulation of lipid in an adipocyte, an assay that measures the de-differentiation of adipocytes into preadipocytes, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: The GaN single-crystal substrate 11 in accordance with the present invention has a polished surface subjected to heat treatment for at least 10 minutes at a substrate temperature of at least 1020° C. in a mixed gas atmosphere containing at least an NH3 gas. As a consequence, an atomic rearrangement is effected in the surface of the substrate 11 in which a large number of minute defects are formed by polishing, so as to flatten the surface of the substrate 11. Therefore, the surface of an epitaxial layer 12 formed on the substrate 11 can be made flat.

Abstract: Disclosed is the production of difructose dianhydride IV from sugar. A sugar solution is subjected to reaction at room temperature or lower in an acidic buffer of pH 3.0-7.0 in the presence of a levansucrase derived from Z. mobilis to produce levan. The levansucrase is prepared by culturing E. coli BL21 (DE3)/pEL12 (KCTC 8661), harvesting and homogenizing the cells, and isolating levansucrase from the cell homogenate. Levan is purified from the reaction solution and subjected to reaction at 25-50° C. for 3-10 hours in an acidic buffer of pH 3.0-7.0 in the presence of a levan fructotransferase to produce difructose dianhydride IV. The levan fructotransferase is obtained from E. coli JUD81 (KCTC 0877BP). Also, disclosed are a gene coding for the levan fructotransferase and an expression vector pUDAF81 carrying the gene.

Abstract: This invention relates to a refiner force sensor for refiners used in the pulp and paper industry, to a refining apparatus, and to a method of measuring force acting on a refiner bar in a refiner.

Abstract: The present invention provides a CD40-targeted gene delivery system and a CD40-targeted recombinant adenoviral vector for genetic manipulation of dendritic cells and B cells. Also provided are methods of using this enhanced gene delivery to immune system cells and therefore, enhancing dendritic cell-based immunotherapy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for decreasing elevated serum/plasma LDL-cholesterol levels or LDL-cholesterol levels and CRP levels in a mammal in need thereof. The methods comprises administering an effective amount of a tetracycline formulation. In one embodiment, the tetracycline formulation is a non-antibacterial tetracycline. In another embodiment, the tetracycline formulation is an antibacterial tetracycline at a sub-antibacterial amount.

Abstract: A micro-electromechanical fluid ejection device includes a substrate that incorporates drive circuitry. Nozzle chamber walls and a roof are positioned on the substrate to define a nozzle chamber with the roof defining a fluid ejection port in fluid communication with the nozzle chamber. A fluid-ejecting member is operatively positioned with respect to the nozzle chamber. The fluid-ejecting member is displaceable with respect to the substrate to eject fluid from the fluid ejection port. An actuator is connected to the fluid-ejecting member and to the drive circuitry. The actuator is displaceable upon receipt of an electrical signal from the drive circuitry to displace the fluid-ejecting member and thus eject fluid from the fluid ejection port. A covering formation is positioned on the substrate so that the substrate and the covering formation define an air chamber, the actuator being positioned within the air chamber.

Abstract: Accelerated degradation of mulching paper, formed from cellulose fibers impregnated with a hydrophobic resin to provide weather resistance, comprises spraying the paper with an enzyme solution which degrades both the resin and the cellulose.

Abstract: A method evaluates and optimizes an error-correcting code to be transmitted through a noisy channel and to be decoded by an iterative message-passing decoder. The error-correcting code is represented by a parity check matrix which is modeled as a bipartite graph having variable nodes and check nodes. A set of message passing rules is provided for the decoder. The decoder is analyzed to obtain a set of density evolution rules including operators and operands which are then transformed to projective operators and projected operands to generate a set of projective message passing rules. The projective message passing rules are applied iteratively to the error-correcting code modeled by the bipartite graph until a termination condition is reached. Error rates of selected bits of the error-correcting code are then determined by evaluating the corresponding operands. The error rates can be passed to an optimizer to optimize the error-correcting code.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel strains of Xenorhabdus bovienii deposited with NCIMB under accession numbers NCIMB 40985 and NCIMB 40986 which are a source of orally acting pesticides. Also disclosed are pesticidal agents which are (i) obtainable from a X. bovienii strains; (ii) have oral insecticidal activity against one or more species of insect of the order Lepidoptera, Coleoptera or Homoptera; (iii) are substantially heat stable to 50° C.; and (iv) act synergistically with B. thuringiensis cells as an oral insecticide. The invention further makes available nucleic acids encoding these and variant toxins, plus vectors, host cells and plants transformed with the same. Also disclosed are insecticidal polypeptides (and antibodies raised to them) and compositions, plus methods of using all of these materials for the control of pests, particularly insects.

Abstract: Disclosed are modified naturally occurring biocompatible biopolymers of plant and animal origin made by subjecting same to ionizing radiation in the presence of a mediating gas, typically acetylene to enable one to selectively enhance and modify one or more of the physiochemical properties of the starting materials which have a wide range of uses in medicine, food technology and other industrial applications. Notwithstanding the modifications, the biocompatibility of the biopolymer remains unchanged and no new or additional functional groups are introduced into the starting biopolymer.

Abstract: A mixture of probiotics effective to reduce the contamination of enteric bacteria in humans and other monogastric animals. The mixture of probiotics includes one or more acid-producing bacteria strains and one or more yeast strains, and may advantageously be supplemented with a source of nutrients, such as prebiotics including fructo-oligosaccharides. In a preferred embodiment, said one or more bacteria strains contain Enterococcus faecium strain NCIMB #10415, and said one or more yeast strains contain NCYC #47 and CNCM I-1079.

Abstract: Disclosed is a prodrug of the formula: where A is a sulfur or a selenium, and R is derived from a mono- di- or oligo- saccharide. Also disclosed is a prodrug of the formula: where A is sulfur or selenium, R? is derived from a sugar and R? has the formula (CHOH)nCH2OH, where n is 1 to 5, or R? is an alkyl or aryl group, or R? is ?O, and the R? groups may be the same or different and may be hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, carboxy. Also disclosed is a conjugate of an antioxidant vitamin and a thiolamine or selenolamine. Also disclosed is a prodrug of the formula; where A is sulfur or selenium, and R? is derived from a sugar and R? has the formula (CHOH)nCH2OH, where n is 1 to 5, or R? is also be an alkyl or aryl group, or R? is ?O, and R‡ is an alkoxy, or an amine group. Also disclosed is a prodrug of the formula: where R is COOH or H, and R? is derived from a sugar and R? has the formula (CHOH)nCH2OH,where n is 1 to 5, or R? is an alkyl or aryl group, or R? is ?O.

Abstract: Fabrication device of organic light emitting diode (OLED) includes a Substrate, a transparent conductive layer, an insulating film layer, an organic light-emitting layer, and a conductive layer; when a suitable potential is applied thereto, an organic light-emitting layer emits a visible light, however, it usually occurs breakdown between cathode and anode or bad signal, therefore, the present invention provides a positive insulating film photoresist with an easily inclining obtuse angle, smooth surface, and easily controlled fabrication condition to cover the edge of a transparent electrode (anode) in order to avoid that when the edge of ITO transparent electrode is sharp it causes an organic light-emitting layer film breakdown and results from signal lost or weaken to increase the yields.

Abstract: An integrated circuit for wireless communications includes substrate, at least one integrated antenna formed in or on the substrate, and a heat sink. At least one dielectric propagating layer is disposed between the integrated antenna and the heat sink which provides a thermal conductivity of at least 35 W/m·K and resistivity greater than 100 Ohm-cm at 25 C. The invention can be used to establish an on-chip or inter-chip wireless link over at least a 2.2 cm distance.

Abstract: An antenna arrangement for generating an rf field distribution at a plasma generating region inside a chamber wall of a process chamber of a plasma processing apparatus is described. The antenna arrangement includes an rf inductive antenna to which an rf power supply can be connected to supply an rf current to generate a first rf field extending into the plasma generating region. A passive antenna is also provided which is inductively coupled to the rf inductive antenna and configured to generate a second rf field modifying the first rf field. The rf field distribution at the plasma generating region increases the processing uniformity of the processing apparatus compared to that in the absence of the passive antenna.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing Er-doped silicon nano-dot arrays and a laser ablation apparatus are provided. In the method, a target having a silicon region and an erbium region is prepared. A silicon substrate is introduced opposite to the target. Laser light is irradiated onto the target, a plume containing silicon ablated from the silicon region and erbium ablated from the erbium region is generated, and an Er-doped silicon film is deposited on the silicon substrate from the plume. The Er-doped silicon film is patterned.

Abstract: Articles, including fabrics and film layers, are disclosed which can protect against multiple hazards, including radiation, chemical, biological agents, metal projectiles and fire hazards. In some embodiments, the fabrics and films of the present invention are used to produce garments having protection against multiple hazards and superior heat dissipating properties. A radiation protective compound is preferably created by mixing a radiopaque material, such as barium, bismuth, tungsten or their compounds, with powdered polymer, pelletized polymer or a liquid solution, emulsion or suspension of a polymer in solvent or water. This radiation protective mixture can then be laminated or otherwise adhered to other types of protective films or fabric, such as the protective polymer films or fabrics used for chemical protective garments, biological protective garments, bullet proof vests or fire retardant garments.

Abstract: During injection molding of a plastic product having a base wall and a sidewall, alignment of the mold parts that shape the mold cavity is maintained by conducting injected plastic material through a sequence of variable-opening throttles in a base-wall-section flow guide of the mold cavity. The openings of the throttles vary in response to variations in the thickness of a region of the sidewall section into which injected plastic material is conducted from the base-wall-section flow guide so that upon an increase in the thickness of such region the openings of the throttles in the base-wall-section flow guide decrease and so that upon a decrease in the thickness of such region the openings of the throttles in the base-wall-section flow guide increase.

Abstract: A data-compressed audio waveform is temporally modified without requiring complete decompression of the audio signal. Packets of compressed audio data are first unpacked, to remove scaling that was applied in the formation of the packets. The unpacked data is then temporally modified, using one of a number of different approaches. This modification takes place while the audio information remains in a data-compressed format. New packets are then assembled from the modified data, to produce a data-compressed output stream that can be subsequently processed in a conventional manner to reproduce the desired sound. The assembly of the new packets employs a technique for inferring an auditory model from the original packets, to requantize the data in the output packets.