Abstract: A method and apparatus are described including a laser with a plurality of internal or external actuators for affecting an optical frequency of light output by the laser, wherein the plurality of actuators have a corresponding plurality of different frequency response bands for changing optical properties of the laser and a corresponding plurality of actuation ranges of optical frequencies affected. Also included is an optical detector, and a plurality of optical paths configured to direct light output by the laser onto the detector. A laser controller is configured to provide a plurality of inputs to the plurality of actuators based on a detector signal output from the optical detector and the corresponding frequency response bands and actuation ranges.

Abstract: An image-guided system and method for performing needle biopsy on a moving lung nodule of a body is provided. CT images of the lung nodule are obtained to generate a motion model, based on which an optimal needle advancing path is determined. The motion of the lung nodule and the motion of a fiducial marker attached to the body are correlated. The motion of the fiducial marker is tracked and monitored by a camera to determine a position of the lung nodule based on the correlation. A time for advancing the needle is determined based on a motion attribute of the reference. The needle is advanced by a robotic needle manipulator at the predetermined time along the path to accomplish the needle placement.

Abstract: A luminescent device including an emission layer having luminescent nanoclusters is provided. The luminescent nanoclusters can be phosphorescent metal halides. The luminescent device can emit IR, NIR, colored, or white light and be pumped electrically or optically. A method for manufacturing a luminescent device including an emission layer having luminescent nanoclusters is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of inhibiting the binding of anthrax lethal factor with protective antigen comprising contacting the anthrax lethal factor with a compound having the structure:

Abstract: The present invention is directed to reagents useful for generating immune responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis and for diagnosing infection and disease in a subject that has been exposed to M. tuberculosis.

Abstract: A multi-sensing fuel injection system for internal combustion engines. The system includes a fuel injector for injecting fuel into the internal combustion chamber. The fuel injector is electrically insulated from an engine body of the internal combustion engine by way of a first electrically insulated member. A second electrically insulated member is provided for fixedly disposing the fuel injector within the combustion chamber. The electrical insulation of the fuel injector, in conjunction with the integration of an ion sensing circuit including a resistor and a power source for supplying voltage to the fuel injector, allows for a full measurement of the ionization current.

Abstract: A polymer and a method of forming a polymer are provided. The polymer has the general structure (I): wherein M is a main group element, a transition metal element, or an organic moiety; X is a main group element selected from S, P, As, Se, Te, and Sb; R1 is a direct bond between M and the ethylene group depicted between M and X or a hydrocarbyl linking moiety having between 1 and about 9 carbon atoms; R2 is a hydrocarbyl moiety; R3 is an organic linking group; Y has a value of 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4; Z has a value of 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4; YY has a value of 0, 1 or 2; and Y, YY, and Z are such that the total number of moieties bonded to M is 3, 4, 5, or 6.

Abstract: A method of forming a product from an oil feedstock, such as a biodiesel product, and a heterogeneous catalyst system used to form said product is disclosed. This catalyst system, which has a high tolerance for the presence of water and free fatty acids (FFA) in the oil feedstock, may simultaneously catalyze both the esterification of FAA and the transesterification of triglycerides present in the oil feedstock. The catalyst system is comprised of a mixture of zinc oxide and a second metal oxide. The zinc oxide includes a mixture of amorphous zinc oxide and zinc oxide nanocrystals, the zinc nanocrystals having a mean grain size between about 20 and 80 nanometers with at least one of the nanocrystals including a mesopore having a diameter of about 5 to 15 nanometers. Preferably, the second metal oxide is a lanthanum oxide, the lanthanum oxide being selected as one from the group of La2CO5, LaOOH, and combinations or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Provided are methods of enhancing an immune response and methods for reducing the recruitment of monocytes to a lymph node by administering to an individual an angiotensin II receptor blocker or a compound of Formula (I) in conjunction with an antigen. The invention also provides relate methods for amplifying vaccine immunity by administering to an individual an angiotensin II receptor blocker or a compound of Formula (I) in conjunction with an vaccine. The invention also provides related methods of inhibiting tumor growth and metastasis by administering to an individual with cancer an angiotensin II receptor blocker or a compound of Formula (I) in conjunction with an anti-tumor preparation. In addition, related compositions comprising an ARB or a compound of Formula (I) and an antigen, vaccine, or anti-tumor preparation are provided.

Abstract: Compositions of matter are provided that include chitosan and a modified carbohydrate. The modified carbohydrate includes a carbohydrate component and a cross linking agent. The modified carbohydrate has increased carboxyl content as compared to an unmodified counterpart carbohydrate. A carboxyl group of the modified carbohydrate is covalently bonded with an amino group of chitosan. The compositions of matter provided herein may include cross linked starch citrate-chitosan and cross linked hemicellulose citrate-chitosan, including foams thereof. These compositions yield excellent absorbency and metal chelation properties. Methods of making cross linked modified carbohydrate-chitosan compounds are also provided.

Abstract: A thermophoretic sampler includes a sample assembly into which a removable sample cartridge can be inserted. The sample cartridge holds a substrate that, upon insertion, is exposed to a sample chamber. Thermophoresis is induced in the sample chamber, causing nanoparticles to be deposited on the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a catalyst complex or ligand, and compositions thereof, for use in a variety of organic reactions having high reactivity and enantioselectivity. The catalyst is a N-heterocyclic carbene having three fused rings with first and second rings being six-membered rings and the third being a five-membered ring. The first ring is fused to the second and has four substituents. The second ring has two nitrogens flanking a carbene atom with one nitrogen bound to a substituent. The carbene atom may optionally be bonded to a metal. The third ring is fused to the second ring and contains two nitrogens. The third ring of the catalyst has a double bond and two substituents on adjacent non-fused carbons. A non-fused nitrogen of the third ring is partially bonded to another substituent. Methods for the synthesis and use of the catalyst embodiments of the present invention are also provided.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the concentration of zooplankton in a continuous zooplankton culture system. The system may include a transmissiometer, a sample tube, a first sample containing water and microalgae, and a second sample containing water, microalgae, and zooplankton. The concentration of zooplankton in the system may be calculated by comparing the transmissiometer output from the first sample and the second sample, wherein each of the outputs are obtained by moving each sample into the sample tube such that the transmissionmeter is positioned to take a reading across the tube.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include methods of using vitamin B12 to influence amyloid-beta peptide aggregation. A preferred method comprises contacting at least one amyloid-beta peptide oligomer formed from a plurality of amyloid-beta peptide monomers with an effective amount of vitamin B12, the effective amount being sufficient to stimulate dissociation of the amyloid-beta peptide monomers from the amyloid-beta peptide oligomer or fibril. Also provided are methods of treating Alzheimer's disease and diagnostic tests for detecting the presence of amyloid-beta peptides.

Abstract: The present invention is based, in part, on our studies of molecular pathways that include the deubiquitinase CYLD. Accordingly, the present invention features, inter alia, nucleic acid constructs that express CYLD or a biologically active variant thereof (e.g., a variant including the catalytic domain), nucleic acids that inhibit the expression of a negative regulator of CYLD (e.g., PDE4B or LNK2), nucleic acids that modulate the expression of downstream CYLD targets (e.g., Akt, by inhibiting or promoting the expression of the downstream target), compositions including one or more of these types of constructs (e.g., pharmaceutical compositions), kits including one or more of the compositions described herein and instructions for use, screening methods to identify therapeutic agents {e.g., anti-inflammatory agents) that upregulate CYLD, downregulate a negative regulatory of CYLD, or modulate (e.g., inhibit) a downstream CYLD target (e.g.

Abstract: The present application relates at least in part to methods for the administration of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to the spinal cord of a human or animal patient and also to a method of treatment for spinal cord injury and other diseases and disorders of the CNS. In particular, the application discloses methods to deliver an siRNA compound locally, directly and without the need for transduction vehicles and formulations in effective doses to the injured spinal cord to promote recovery of CNS function and or attenuation of allodynia.

Abstract: A computer-based method for diagnosing a region of interest within an anatomical structure having the steps of receiving a 3D volumetric representation of the anatomical structure, and identifying at least one volume of interest and volume of normal of the anatomical structure. A first feature set can be generated based on a density, a gradient and a curvature of the volume of interest, and the first feature set can be compared to a second feature set to diagnose the region of interest to at least one a plurality of pathology types.

Abstract: A control-based approach is provided for achieving accurate indentation quantification in broadband and in-liquid nanomechanical property measurements using atomic force microscope (AFM). Accurate indentation measurement is desirable for probe-based material property characterization because the force applied and the indentation generated are the fundamental physical variables that are measured in the characterization process. Large measurement errors, however, occur when the measurement frequency range becomes large (i.e., broadband), or the indentation is measured in liquid on soft materials. Such large measurement errors are generated due to the inability of the conventional method to account for the convolution of the instrument dynamics with the viscoelastic response of the soft sample when the measurement frequency becomes large, and the random-like thermal drift and the distributive hydrodynamic force effects when measuring the indentation in liquid.

Abstract: Hand pointing has been an intuitive gesture for human interaction with computers. A hand pointing estimation system is provided, based on two regular cameras, which includes hand region detection, hand finger estimation, two views' feature detection, and 3D pointing direction estimation. The technique may employ a polar coordinate system to represent the hand region, and tests show a good result in terms of the robustness to hand orientation variation. To estimate the pointing direction, Active Appearance Models are employed to detect and track, e.g., 14 feature points along the hand contour from a top view and a side view. Combining two views of the hand features, the 3D pointing direction is estimated.