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 composition including nanocomposites formed from blue phase liquid crystals that are stabilized with dopants and nanorods such as metallic nanorods and/or carbon nanotubes. Devices including the compositions are disclosed that provide increases temperature ranges as well as reduction in threshold voltage and turn on voltage, in addition to the inherent blue phase liquid crystal properties of sub-millisecond response time in the field induced Kerr effect.

Abstract: A material useful as a MRI contrast agent used for medical imaging, drug delivery platform or other functions are provided as a class of non-gadolinium and non-iron oxide based materials that comprise Prussian blue materials or analogue materials. The materials may be used as T1-weighted and/or T2-weighted MRI contrast agents for imaging, including cellular imaging, in clinical diagnosis and biomedical research applications. The agent is a compound created from Prussian blue materials that is non-toxic, and can be internalized by cells through endocytosis. The Prussian blue materials may also be used for drug delivery applications. The Prussian blue materials may be administered orally to a subject in either medical imaging or drug delivery applications or dual modality MRI-Fluorescence imaging agent.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of preventing or ameliorating a neuropsychiatric or neurodegenerative disease or disorder in a subject. The method includes administering a composition comprising equol in an amount sufficient to prevent or ameliorate the neuropsychiatric or neurodegenerative disease or disorder. The equol may be a racemic mixture of R-equol and S-equol. The equol may be enantiomerically enriched with R-equol or enantiomerically enriched with S-equol.

Abstract: A process for benzylating an alcohol includes mixing 2-benzyloxy-1-methylpyridinium triflate in an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent having a predetermined boiling point; adding an acid scavenger to the mixture; combining the alcohol to be benzylated with the mixture; reacting the alcohol with the 2-benzyloxy-1-methylpyridinium triflate by heating above ambient temperature to generate the benzylated alcohol; and separating the benzylated alcohol from the mixture.

Abstract: A method includes combining an aqueous solution of sodium fumarate with an aqueous solution of iron chloride to form a mixture, and obtaining an iron coordination polymer as an amorphous compound formed as a precipitate from the mixture. The iron coordination polymer may be used to bind contaminants, such as arsenate and phosphate from water.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention are configured to produce boiler and transportation fuels. A first phase of the method may include oxidation and/or hyper-acidification of bio-oil to produce an intermediate product. A second phase of the method may include catalytic deoxygenation, esterification, or olefination/esterification of the intermediate product under pressurized syngas. The composition of the resulting product—e.g., a boiler fuel—produced by these methods may be used directly or further upgraded to a transportation fuel. Certain embodiments of the present invention also include catalytic compositions configured for use in the method embodiments.

Abstract: The speech feature extraction algorithm is based on a hierarchical combination of auditory similarity and pooling functions. Computationally efficient features referred to as “Sparse Auditory Reproducing Kernel” (SPARK) coefficients are extracted under the hypothesis that the noise-robust information in speech signal is embedded in a reproducing kernel Hilbert space (RKHS) spanned by overcomplete, nonlinear, and time-shifted gammatone basis functions. The feature extraction algorithm first involves computing kernel based similarity between the speech signal and the time-shifted gammatone functions, followed by feature pruning using a simple pooling technique (“MAX” operation). Different hyper-parameters and kernel functions may be used to enhance the performance of a SPARK based speech recognizer.

Abstract: Subjecting a heterogeneous cell population (one with both stem cells and non-stem cells) to extreme stress selectively eliminated the non-stem cells and resulted in the enrichment of stem cells in the population. The stress can take many forms, including without limitation, cell toxins, high temperature, high salt, and low oxygen (hypoxic) conditions. The number of stem cells remaining after stress were increased, and showed increased expression of traditional stem cell markers. The stem cells were shown to be capable of proliferation and differentiation into multiple types of cells. This method allows purification of stem cells from adult heterogeneous cell populations on a large scale basis without requirement of expensive equipment, and without requiring the presence of cell surface markers. Stem cells produced by the above method can be used for clinical applications, including tissue engineering.

Abstract: A system and method for training a person in minimally-invasive surgery (“MIS”) utilizing a video of the MIS. The system comprises a processor, a display, and a first interaction device. The processor programmed to receive the video and to obtain tracking data. The tracking data may correspond to the motion of a tool controller. The tracking data may correspond to motion of a first surgical tool in the video. The processor programmed to calculate motion of the first interaction device corresponding to the tracking data, to display the video, and to cause the first interaction device to move according to the calculated motion. The method comprises receiving the video, obtaining the tracking data, calculating a motion of a first interaction device corresponding to the tracking data, displaying the video, and causing the first interaction device to move according to the calculated motion.

Abstract: Target and method for inhibition of bacterial RNA polymerase disclosed are targets and methods for specific binding and inhibition of RNAP from bacterial species.

Abstract: Highly ordered anodic TiO2 nanotube arrays fabricated by electrochemical anodization and sensitized with dye to yield dye-sensitized TiO2 nanotube solar cells is described. With inorganic compound (such as TiCl4) treatment, in conjunction with oxygen plasma exposure under optimized conditions, dye-sensitized TiO2 nanotube solar cells produced using TiO2 nanotube arrays exhibited a pronounced power conversion efficiency.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of treating acute myelogenous leukemia with TPA along with Dexamethasone and choline magnesium trisalicylate.

Abstract: This invention provides methods for fabricating substantially continuous layers of a group III nitride semiconductor material having low defect densities and optionally having a selected crystal polarity. The methods include epitaxial growth nucleating and/or seeding on the upper portions of a plurality of pillars/islands of a group III nitride material that are irregularly arranged on a template structure. The upper portions of the islands have low defect densities and optionally have a selected crystal polarity. The invention also includes template structures having a substantially continuous layer of a masking material through which emerge upper portions of the pillars/islands. The invention also includes such template structures. The invention can be applied to a wide range of semiconductor materials, both elemental semiconductors, e.g., combinations of Si (silicon) with strained Si (sSi) and/or Ge (germanium), and compound semiconductors, e.g.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for separating anthocyanins depleted in phenolic mixture content from fruits or vegetables feedstock containing anthocyanins and phenolic mixtures. The first step is to contact the feedstock with a cation-exchange resin at low pH for a time period effective for the resin to selectively bind with the anthocyanins. Next, the non-bound phenolic mixture is separated from the resin for recovery. The bound resin is subjected to solvent wash to release the anthocyanins for recovery.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of generating scalable patterned features on a substrate. The methods includes ejecting a succession of droplets; applying a force to the droplets in a manner such that the droplets travel along a designated path; altering the properties of one or more of the droplets in a manner so as to adjust the size of the droplets; and depositing the droplets on the substrate to generate patterned features on the substrate. The present invention also provides apparatuses for generating scalable patterned features on a substrate.

Abstract: A powertrain is adapted to drive ground-engaging elements disposed along longitudinally-opposing sides of a vehicle. The powertrain includes at least one engine, a first electric machine, a second electric machine, a third electric machine, a first differential mechanism and a second differential mechanism. The engine and first electric machine are operatively connected to the first and second differential mechanisms. The second electric machine is operatively connected to the first differential mechanism and the third electric machine is operatively connected to the second differential mechanism. The first and second differential mechanisms are each operatively connected to drivably engage one or more ground-engaging elements disposed on a different one of the longitudinally-opposing sides of the associated vehicle. A vehicle including such a powertrain as well as methods of using the same are also included.

Abstract: A plasma generating system, related method and device are disclosed. The plasma generation system includes a plasma generation device, a source of ionizable gas and a driver network. The plasma generation device includes a housing, an electrode, and a resonant circuit. The housing includes a passage defined therein and directs a flow of ionizable gas therethrough. The electrode is coupled to the ionizable gas flowing through the passage of the housing. The resonant circuit includes a capacitor and an inductor connected together in series. The resonant circuit has a resonance frequency and is coupled to the electrode. The resonant circuit receives an AC signal. The driver network provides the AC signal such that the AC signal has a frequency and excites the ionizable gas flowing through the passage of the housing to a plasma.

Abstract: Calycanthus ‘Aphrodite’ is a medium-sized, multi-stemmed shrub with glossy foliage. The large, purple-red, magnolia-like flowers have yellow tips on the inner tepals and a light fruity fragrance. The flowers are produced on long pedicles/peduncles at the distal end of the current year's growth for 6-8 weeks in late spring and early summer.

Abstract: Buddleja ‘Lilac Chip’ is a new and distinct variety of butterfly bush. ‘Lilac Chip’ is distinguished from other related known cultivars based on the unique combination of traits including at least one of very dwarf growth, spreading habit, purple pink flowers, male sterility, and very low female fertility.