Abstract: The present invention provides novel methods and compositions for the diagnosis and treatment of solid cancers. The invention also provides methods of identifying inhibitors of tumorigenesis.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter for generating a DC output voltage includes: a digitally controlled pulse width modulator (DPWM) for controlling a switching power stage to supply a varying voltage to an inductor; and a digital voltage feedback circuit for controlling the DPWM in accordance with a feedback voltage corresponding to the DC output voltage, the digital voltage feedback circuit including: a first voltage controlled oscillator for converting the feedback voltage into a first frequency signal and to supply the first frequency signal to a first frequency discriminator; a second voltage controlled oscillator for converting a reference voltage into a second frequency signal and to supply the second frequency signal to a second frequency discriminator; a digital comparator for comparing digital outputs of the first and second frequency discriminators and for outputting a digital feedback signal; and a controller for controlling the DPWM in accordance with the digital feedback signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel methods and compositions for the diagnosis and treatment of solid cancers. The invention also provides methods of identifying inhibitors of tumorigenesis.

Abstract: A method to generate siRNAs in vivo is described, as are constructs and compositions useful in the method. The method does not depend on the use of DNA or synthetic constructs that contain inverted duplications or dual promoters so as to form perfect or largely double-stranded RNA. Rather, the method depends on constructs that yield single-stranded RNA transcripts, and exploits endogenous or in vivo-produced miRNAs or siRNAs to initiate production of siRNAs. The miRNAs or siRNAs guide cleavage of the transcript and set the register for production of siRNAs (usually 21 nucleotides in length) encoded adjacent to the initiation cleavage site within the construct. The method results in specific formation of siRNAs of predictable size and register (phase) relative to the initiation cleavage site. The method can be used to produce specific siRNAs in vivo for inactivation or suppression of one or more target genes or other entities, such as pathogens.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thermal interface material, comprising providing a sheet comprising nano-scale fibers, the sheet having at least one exposed surface; and stabilizing the fibers with a stabilizing material disposed in at least a portion of a void space between the fibers in the sheet. The fibers may be CNT's or metallic nano-wires. Stabilizing may include infiltrating the fibers with a polymerizable material. The polymerizable material may be mixed with nano- or micro-particles. The composite system may include two films, with the fibers in between, to create a sandwich. Each capping film may include two sub films: a palladium film closer to the stabilizing material to improve adhesion; and a nano-particle film for contact with a device to be cooled or a heat sink.

Abstract: A laser material processing system and method are provided. A further aspect of the present invention employs a laser for micromachining. In another aspect of the present invention, the system uses a hollow waveguide. In another aspect of the present invention, a laser beam pulse is given broad bandwidth for workpiece modification.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel methods and compositions for the diagnosis and treatment of solid cancers. The invention also provides methods of identifying inhibitors of tumorigenesis.

Abstract: An acceleration-triggered or shock-triggered, smart, tunable MEMS switch that may function as both a classic accelerometer and an acceleration threshold detector. A parallel element MEMS device has a stationary and a movable element forming a capacitor. Varying acceleration moves the movable member with respect to the stationary member, thereby changing the capacitance of the device. The capacitance varying may be used, in cooperation with appropriate circuitry, to provide a signal representative of instantaneous acceleration. By applying a biasing voltage, the movable element may be positioned in a predetermined fashion such that acceleration of a predetermined magnitude causes the movable element to pull in (snap down). The movable and stationary elements may function as a switch such that when the predetermined acceleration or shock level occurs, electrodes close, a current flows between the elements so that an external device such as an air bag may be activated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus includes an optical source for a single order single-sideband suppressed-carrier optical signal with a bandwidth that scales from over 1 gigaHertz to greater than 20 gigaHertz. In an example embodiment, an apparatus includes a stable laser source configured to output an optical carrier signal at a carrier frequency. The apparatus includes a radio frequency electrical source configured to output an electrical radio frequency signal with a radio frequency bandwidth less than one octave. The apparatus also includes an optical modulator configured to output an optical signal with the optical carrier signal modulated by the radio frequency signal in a plurality of orders of optical frequency sidebands. The apparatus further includes an optical filter configured to pass one single order optical frequency sideband of the optical signal.

Abstract: A wind turbine tower system is provided which includes a wind turbine tower with a height of at least 80 meters, said wind turbine tower comprised of ultra-high performance concrete and a wind turbine mounted on the wind turbine tower. The wind turbine tower system may include a vertically extending lattice structure formed of a plurality of modular components, wherein each of said plurality of modular components being pre-stressed. The tower may also be formed using UHPC shells.

Abstract: The invention provides novel nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists, for example, phantasmidine and derivatives thereof, for example a compound of formula (I). Also disclosed are methods of treating disorders responsive to nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists such as Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, Myasthenia Gravis, Tourette's syndrome, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, pain, and cognitive dysfunction by treatment with the nicotinic acetylcholine for agonists.

Abstract: Substrates may be bonded according to a method comprising contacting a first bonding surface of a first substrate with a second bonding surface of a second substrate to form an assembly; and compressing the assembly in the presence of an oxidizing atmosphere under suitable conditions to form a bonding layer between the first and second surfaces, wherein the first bonding surface comprises a polarized surface layer; the second bonding surface comprises a hydrophilic surface layer; the first and second bonding surfaces are different.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for the treatment and/or protection of airway cells and/or tissue from damage due to injury to the lungs or complications of underlying respiratory, cardiovascular or infectious diseases, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: Sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua L., family Hamamelidaceae) fruit extract was discovered to possess potent activities against multiple targets of the PI3K (phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase) pathway, especially the PI3K/Akt and mTOR pathways. At a very low concentration of 1.85 ?g/ml (IC50), sweet gun extract showed the ability of simultaneously blocking the pathways of PI3K/Akt (upstream), mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) (downstream), as well as its downstream protein products S6K and S6. It was also able to block 5-HETE, a lipoxygenase product that contributes to inflammation and activation of PI3K/Akt. The sweet gum fruit extract was prepared with 50% methanol (47:1; raw to extract) and concentrated to an organic fraction (210:1 raw to extract) referred as LIS-100 via reverse-phase column chromatography using a bioassay directed fractionation approach.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for managing stack data in multi-core processors having scratchpad memory or limited local memory. In one embodiment, stack data management calls are inserted into software in accordance with an integer linear programming formulation and a smart stack data management heuristic. In another embodiment, stack management and pointer management functions are inserted before and after function calls and pointer references, respectively. The calls may be inserted in an automated fashion by a compiler utilizing an optimized stack data management runtime library.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for improved VA-TIRFM microscopy. The method comprises automatically controlled calibration of one or more laser sources by precise control of presentation of each laser relative a sample for small incremental changes of incident angle over a range of critical TIR angles. The calibration then allows precise scanning of the sample for any of those calibrated angles for higher and more accurate resolution, and better reconstruction of the scans for super resolution reconstruction of the sample. Optionally the system can be controlled for incident angles of the excitation laser at sub-critical angles for pseudo TIRFM. Optionally both above-critical angle and sub critical angle measurements can be accomplished with the same system.

Abstract: The present invention provides membranes having a coating layer comprising cellulose or cellulose derivative and a porous support comprising nanofibers prepared by a process of coating a solution comprising cellulose or a cellulose derivative dissolved in an ionic liquid on to a porous support layer. The present invention is useful for providing improved water flux and high rejection rates for oil/water emulsions. The present invention also provides fluid separation systems in UF, NF, RO and FO, incorporating membranes of the present invention.

Abstract: A method for predicting a subject's risk factors for ACE-related disorders includes detecting the allelic status of one or more polymorphisms in a nucleic acid sample of the subject.

Abstract: A system and method for tracking features is provided which allows for the tracking of features that move in a series of images. A training set of images is processed to produce clustered shape subspaces corresponding to the set of images, such that non-linear shape manifolds in the images are represented as piecewise, overlapping linear surfaces that are clustered according to similarities in perspectives. A landmark-based training algorithm (e.g., ASM) is applied to the clustered shape subspaces to train a model of the clustered shape subspaces and to create training data. A subsequent image is processed using the training data to identify features in the target image by creating an initial shape, superimposing the initial shape on the target image, and then iteratively deforming the shape in accordance with the model until a final shape is produced corresponding to a feature in the target image.

Abstract: Provided are methods and compositions for determining whether an individual has Sjögren's disease (SD). The method entails determining in a biological sample from the individual the presence of antibodies directed to salivary gland protein 1 (SP-1), parotid secretory protein (PSP), carbonic anhydrase 6 (CA6), or determining a combination of the antibodies. Determining that the individual has SD is based on the presence of the antibodies. The method provides for detection of early SD. Kits for antibody detection containing the antigens to which the antibodies of SD patients are directed are also provided.