Abstract: Provided are modified tobacco plants having reduced nitrate levels and tobacco products generated from the modified tobacco plants having reduced tobacco specific nitrosamines (TSNAs).

Abstract: A thoracic catheter system comprises a flexible thoracic catheter for inserting into a thoracic cavity of a human. A distal end of the thoracic catheter has a plurality of apertures. A proximate end of the thoracic catheter is designed to extend out of the thoracic cavity. A three way valve is one of fused with and removablely attached to the proximal end of the thoracic catheter.

Abstract: For textured digital elevation model generation, a method projects swath point projection coordinates of each lidar point of texel swaths into a corresponding texel swath with normalized projection coordinates. Each texel swath includes lidar points, an optical image, and swath output projection point coordinates of the lidar points into the optical image. The method generates a projection matrix including lidar point data for each lidar point of each texel swath. The method calculates enhanced lidar coordinates for each lidar point as a function of minimizing misregistration errors. In addition, the method creates enhanced output pixel coordinates for each image pixel based on the enhanced lidar coordinates for the lidar points and the associated output pixel coordinates. The method generates a textured digital elevation model based on the enhanced output pixel coordinates for each image pixel, and the enhanced lidar coordinates.

Abstract: The invention features formulations for the local delivery of therapeutically effective doses of curcumin to treat head and neck disorders and upper aerodigestive disorders. Also disclosed are use of the formulations for delivery of other phytochemicals, or the combination of phytochemicals for the treatment of said disorders. Furthermore, these formulations can be used to deliver the recommended daily allowance of vitamins and/or minerals to children or adults.

Abstract: Particular aspects of the present disclosure provide bio-resorbable and biocompatible compositions for bioengineering, restoring, or regenerating tissue or bone. In one embodiment, a biocompatible composition includes a three-dimensional porous or non-porous scaffold material comprising a calcium phosphate-based ceramic having at least one dopant therein selected from metal ion dopants or metal oxide dopants. The composition is sufficiently biocompatible to provide for a cell or tissue scaffold, and resorbable at a controlled resorption rate for controlled strength loss under body, body fluid or simulated body fluid conditions.

Abstract: A method of cutting metallic foams that eliminates the problem of smeared surfaces is provided. The method involves infiltration of the foam with another material to serve as a support structure to the foam when being cut. The method can be executed using softer polymeric materials such as waxes, which are then frozen for machining. These materials are subsequently heated and removed from the foam. In a similar manner, epoxy material can be used, which requires no freezing. In this method, the epoxy material is burnt from the foam upon completion of machining. The method allows for machining foams using conventional machining processes, rather than non traditional methods such as electrical discharge machining.

Abstract: Tunable filters, cancellers, and duplexers based on passive mixers. A tunable delay cell includes passive mixers electrically coupled together for receiving an input signal and outputting a delayed signal, each passive mixer comprising a plurality of mixer switches. The tunable delay includes a control circuit for providing, to each passive mixer, a respective plurality of local oscillator (LO) signals, one to each mixer switch of each passive mixer. The control circuit is configured to vary the LO signals to cause a target frequency band of the input signal to be delayed by a target delay time in propagating through the passive mixers.

Abstract: Polypeptide marker antigens for detecting the presence of autoantibody biomarkers associated with ovarian cancer recurrence, each of the polypeptide marker antigens binding specifically to at least one autoantibody marker. An antibody binding assay for detecting the presence of autoantibody biomarkers associated with ovarian cancer recurrence, and methods for performing the assay. Methods for determining ovarian cancer recurrence in an ovarian cancer patient. A method for isolating antibodies specific for ovarian cancer by their affinity to the polypeptide marker antigens, and antibodies isolated by that method.

Abstract: This invention features polypeptides, variants thereof, and fragments thereof useful in eliciting an immune response (e.g., neutralizing antibodies) against a broad spectrum of HIV-1 isolates. The polypeptides, variants, and fragments include a portion of the gp120 V2 domain of HIV-1. The polypeptides, variants, and fragments display an epitope that is recognized by at least one antibody which neutralizes at least one HIV-1 primary isolate. This invention also features nucleic acid sequences encoding those polypeptides. In addition, the invention provides methods of screening for inhibitors of HIV-1 entry into cells, as well as methods of treatment using the inhibitors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to genes, proteins and methods comprising molecules that alter amino acid levels. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to altering guanidino substrate hydrolysis activities in plants, arthropods and microorganisms using molecules within the arginase family and other molecules that alter an amino acid levels. In ones embodiment, the present invention relates to altering threonine substrate deamination and dehydration activities in plants, arthropods and microorganisms using molecules within the threonine deaminase family and other molecules that alter amino acid levels. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to using genes, proteins and methods comprising arginase or threonine deaminase for altering the pathophysiology of plants, arthropods and microorganisms. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to altering guanidino substrate hydrolysis activity in plants, arthropods, and microorganisms using arginase.

Abstract: Standard nested virtualization allows a hypervisor to run other hypervisors as guests, i.e. a level-0 (L0) hypervisor can run multiple level-1 (L1) hypervisors, each of which can run multiple level-2 (L2) virtual machines (VMs), with each L2 VM is restricted to run on only one L1 hypervisor. Span provides a Multi-hypervisor VM in which a single VM can simultaneously run on multiple hypervisors, which permits a VM to benefit from different services provided by multiple hypervisors that co-exist on a single physical machine. Span allows (a) the memory footprint of the VM to be shared across two hypervisors, and (b) the responsibility for CPU and I/O scheduling to be distributed among the two hypervisors. Span VMs can achieve performance comparable to traditional (single-hypervisor) nested VMs for common benchmarks.

Abstract: A biosensing system that measures the concentration of halogenated alkenes is disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to the discovery of novel mammalian lung spheroids and lung spheroid cells and uses thereof.

Abstract: Methods for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The methods include administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of at least one small conductance calcium-activated potassium (SK) channel activator or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof. Pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of ALS, including a therapeutically effective amount of at least one SK channel activator, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, and at least one excipient, adjuvant, or pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for delivering neurostimulation therapies to patients for treating chronic heart failure. A neural fulcrum zone is identified and ongoing neurostimulation therapy is delivered within the neural fulcrum zone. This neural fulcrum zone may be identified by monitoring a patient's response to incrementally increased intensity settings at a first frequency. If the incremental intensity increases do not result in the identification of the neural fulcrum zone, the frequency may be changed to provide finer resolution identification of the neural fulcrum zone.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention provide a method of detecting the presence of a biomarker associated with resistance to an mTOR kinase inhibitor in a subject, comprising determining the presence of the biomarker in a physiological sample from the subject, wherein the sample comprises a nucleic acid.

Abstract: An information processing system, which includes a control system and an artificial neural network, is disclosed. The artificial neural network includes a group of neurons and a group of synapses, which includes a first portion and a second portion. The control system selects one of a group of operating modes. The group of neurons processes information. The group of synapses provide connectivity to each of the group of neurons. During a first operating mode of the group of operating modes, the first portion of the group of synapses is enabled and the second portion of the group of synapses is enabled. During a second operating mode of the group of operating modes, the first portion of the group of synapses is enabled and the second portion of the group of synapses is disabled.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process of producing a trifluoromethoxylated aryl or trifluoromethoxylated heteroaryl having the structure: wherein A is an aryl or heteroaryl, each with or without subsutitution; and R1 is —H, -(alkyl), -(alkenyl), -(alkynyl), -(aryl), -(heteroaryl), -(alkylaryl), -(alkylheteroaryl), —NH-(alkyl), —N(alkyl)7, —NH-(alkenyl), —NH-(alkynyl) —NH-(aryl), —NH-(heteroaryl), —O-(alkyl), —O-(alkenyl), —O-(alkynyl), —O-(aryl), —O-(heteroaryl), —S-(alkyl), —S-(alkenyl), —S-(alkynyl), —S-(aryl), or —S-(heteroaryl), comprising: (a) reacting a compound having the structure: with a trifluoromethylating agent in the presence of a base in a first suitable solvent under conditions to produce a compound having the structure: and (b) maintaining the compound produced in step (a) in a second suitable solvent under conditions sufficient to produce the trifluoromethoxylated aryl or trifluormethoxylated heteroaryl having the structure:

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein are directed towards a solid state pumping system that utilizes an electric field applied across a channel formed within the solid state pump to move electro-rheological (ER) fluid from an inlet fluidly coupled to a first end of the channel to an outlet fluidly coupled to a second end of the channel. The solid state pumping system may include first, second and third plate with the second plate disposed between the first and third plate. The second plate may include a channel having first and second circuits coupled to opposing sides of the channel. In an embodiment, in response to a voltage applied thereto, the first and second circuits can provide an electric field voltage across the channel such that in response to the electric field voltage the ER fluid moves from the first end to the second end of the channel.

Abstract: A new and distinct Buddleja cultivar named ‘MISS PEARL’ is disclosed, characterized by white ruffled flowers, upright spike-like inflorescences, compact growth habit with high lateral branching and dense foliage, medium green leaf color (adaxial side) with silver-gray underside. Plants are female sterile and anthers malformed or lacking. The new variety is a Buddleja, normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.