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: Methods involve a combination of polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) coating or silane self assembly on a substrate; microcontact printing; and conductive graphite particles, especially size controlled highly conductive exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets. The conductive graphite particles are coated with a charged polymer such as sulfonated polystyrene. The graphite particles are patterned using microcontact printing and intact pattern transfer on a substrate that has an oppositely-charged surface. The method allows for conductive organic patterning on both flat and curved surfaces and can be used in microelectronic device fabrication.

Abstract: A robotic submersible includes a housing having a body and a tail. In another aspect, a pump and a pump tank adjust the buoyancy of a submersible housing. In a further aspect, a first linear actuator controls the pump and/or a buoyancy, and/or a second linear actuator controls a position of a battery and/or adjusts a center of gravity. Another aspect includes a pump and at least one linear actuator that control gliding movements of the housing. In still a further aspect, a motor couples a tail with a body, such that the motor controls the movements of the tail to create a swimming movement. Moreover, an additional aspect provides a controller selectively operating the pump, first actuator, second actuator, and motor to control when swimming and gliding movements occur.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for detection schemes for ascertaining pregnancy status of an animal. The compositions and methods employ interferon-tau (IFNT) and/or antibodies specific for IFNT. Methods of the present invention detect the presence of IFNT in samples obtained from animals as an early indicator of pregnancy. Methods are provided to identify non-pregnant animals so that management decisions regarding rebreeding can be made earlier compared to existing approaches.

Abstract: Optical data is obtained from a pair of breasts, employing a simultaneous bilateral referencing protocol, and is subsequently analyzed employing a self-referencing data analysis method. Optical measurements can be performed on both breasts simultaneously under various protocols, including resting-state measures and evoked responses. Sensing hardware and data collection protocols are economical and can be implemented without patient discomfort. The natural variance inherently associated with optical measures of the breast is reduced by: imposition of substantially symmetric boundary conditions; collection of simultaneous bilateral dynamic measures; referencing measurement data of one breast to measurement data from another.

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 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: 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: 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: Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and methods for scaling reachability computations on relatively large graphs. In an embodiment, a method provides for scaling reachability computations on relatively large graphs, the method comprising, identifying an initial graph comprising a plurality of vertices and a plurality of edges, processing at least a portion of the plurality of vertices and at least a portion of the plurality of edges to generate a plurality of reachability indices for the at least a portion of the plurality of vertices, and generating a backbone graph comprising a scaled-down version of the initial graph, based at least in part on at least one of the plurality of reachability indices.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for neurostimulation by high frequency ultrasound. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a pulse generator, an ultrasound transducer coupled to the pulse generator, and an implantable stimulator. The implantable stimulator may include a piezoelectric element configured to convert ultrasound signals from the ultrasound transducer into electrical signals, a rectifier configured to convert alternating current from the piezoelectric element to a monophasic current, a capacitor coupled to the rectifier, and a first electrode and a second electrode coupled to the rectifier and capacitor and configured to transmit the monophasic current to body tissue. In addition, the apparatus may include a current-limiting circuit configured to limit the amount of current transmitted to the body tissue.