Abstract: Provided herein are methods and compositions for the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Also provided are methods of identifying anti-HCC agents.

Abstract: A new light modulating material using interconnected unidirectionally oriented microdomains of a liquid crystal, dispersed in a stressed polymer structure, is provided. The light modulating material is prepared by dissolving the liquid crystal in an uncured monomer and then curing the monomer so that the polymer forms a well-developed interpenetrating structure of polymer chains or sheets that is uniformly dispersed through the film. When the film is subjected to stress deformation the liquid crystal undergoes a change in its unidirectional orientation. The concentration of the polymer is high enough to hold the shear stress, but is as low as possible to provide the highest switch of the phase retardation when an electric field is applied. The new materials are optically transparent and provide phase modulation of the incident light opposed to the low driving voltage, linear electro-optical response, and absence of hysteresis.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and compositions of matter related to high efficiency InGaN-based photovoltaic devices. The disclosed synthesis of semiconductor heterostructures may be exploited to produce higher efficiency, longer lasting, photovoltaic cells.

Abstract: A polyelectrolyte film is provided, the polyelectrolyte film comprises an interpenetrating network of a net positively charged polymer and a net negatively charged polymer, wherein the net positively charged polymer, the net negatively charged polymer, or both contain polymer repeat units with at least two fluorine atoms.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polypeptide of a protective antigenic determinant (PAD polypeptide) of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and nucleic acids encoding a PAD polypeptide. The PAD polypeptide and nucleic acids encoding a PAD polypeptide are useful in the development of antibodies directed to PAD, vaccines effective in providing protection against PRRSV infection, and diagnostic assays detecting the presence of PAD antibodies generated by a PAD-specific vaccine. The invention also discloses methods of generating antibodies to PAD, for vaccinating a pig to provide protection from PRRSV infections, a method of preparing the vaccine, a method of treating PRRSV infections in a pig, and a method of detecting antibodies to PAD of PRRSV.

Abstract: Nanolayered layered silicate materials of octahedrally arranged units with divalent metal ions at centers of the units covalently linked above and below to tetrahedrally arranged oxygen and hydroxyl units with silicon atoms. The silicate materials contain silanol groups which are reactive to form derivative compositions useful for water purification to remove heavy meal cations.

Abstract: An optical system for the production of images, comprising an all optical system is disclosed. Said all optical system manipulates images directly by digital electronics without loss in the number of resolvable spots at higher magnifications.

Abstract: Bcl-xL/Bcl-2 binding inhibitors useful in the treatment of unwanted proliferating cells, including cancers and precancers, in subjects in need of such treatment. Also provided are methods of treating a subject having unwanted proliferating cells comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a Bcl-xL/Bcl-2 binding inhibitor described herein to a subject in need of such treatment. Also provided are methods of preventing the proliferation of unwanted proliferating cells, such as cancers and precancers, in a subject comprising the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of a Bcl-xL/Bcl-2 binding inhibitor described herein to a subject at risk of developing a condition characterized by unwanted proliferating cells.

Abstract: Methods for treating aligning substrates produces uniform alignment of liquid crystals in at least two modes. The method is based on the treatment of liquid crystal aligning substrates with a collimated or partially collimated plasma beam. In one embodiment, the method comprises a step of bombarding an aligning substrate with at least one plasma beam from a plasma beam source at a designated incident angle to align the atomic/molecular structure or the surface profile of the aligning substrate in at least one aligned direction.

Abstract: A method for generating electrical current using a fuel cell includes flowing a first flow that includes a fuel and an electrolyte through a first channel. The fuel is oxidized at an anode to generate electrons for conduction to a load and oxidation products that remain in the first flow. The method includes flowing a second flow that includes an oxidizer and an electrolyte through a second channel that is open to the first channel. A cathode receives electrons from the load and the oxidation products, and the oxidizer is reduced to form reduction products and complete an electrochemical circuit. The plurality of exchange zones are positioned and the flows are oriented within their respective first and second channels such that the first and second flows contact one another intermittently at the exchange zones to enable transport of the reduction and oxidation products to the anode and cathode.

Abstract: Compounds of formulas I-IV: (I), (II), (III) (IV), wherein: R1 and R4-R23 are independently selected from H and 1-3 carbon lower alkyl; and R2 and R3 are independently selected from H, 1-3 carbon lower O II alkyl, and —C—Ra, wherein Ra is 1-3 carbon lower alkyl. Pharmaceutical compositions, which include any of Compounds I-IV and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, methods of inducing tumor cell apoptosis by administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of any of Compounds I-IV, and methods for obtaining any of Compounds I-IV by extracting the compound from coral are also provided.

Abstract: A method of ion cleaving using microwave radiation is described. The method includes using microwave radiation to induce exfoliation of a semiconductor layer from a donor substrate. The donor substrate may be implanted, bonded to a carrier substrate, and heated via the microwave radiation. The implanted portion of the donor substrate may include increased damage and/or dipoles (relative to non-implanted portions of the donor substrate), which more readily absorb microwave radiation. Consequently, by using microwave radiation, an exfoliation time may be reduced to 12 seconds or less. In addition, a presented method also includes the use of focused ion beam implantation to achieve a pattern-less transfer of a semiconductor layer onto a carrier substrate.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided to identify functional mutant ribosomes that may be used as drug targets. The compositions and methods allow isolation and analysis of mutations that would normally be lethal and allow direct selection of rRNA mutants with predetermined levels of ribosome function. The compositions and methods of the present invention may be used to identify antibiotics to treat a large number of human pathogens through the use of genetically engineered rRNA genes from a variety of species. The invention further provides novel plasmid constructs to be used in the methods of the invention.

Abstract: Diagnostic tools for serodiagnosing ehrlichiosis in mammals, particularly in members of the Canidae family and in humans are provided. The diagnostic tools are a group of outer membrane proteins of E. chaffeensis and variants thereof, referred to hereinafter as the “OMP proteins”, a group of outer membrane proteins of E. canis and variants thereof referred to hereinafter as the “P30F proteins”, and antibodies to the ONP proteins and the P30F proteins. The OMP proteins of E. chaffeensis encompass OMP-1, OMP-1A, OMP1-B, OMP-1C, OMP1-D, OMP1-E, OMP1-F, OMP1-H, OMP-1R, OMP-1S, OMP-1T, OMP-1U, OMP-1V, OMP-1W, OMP-1X, OMP-1Y and OMP-1Z. The P30F proteins of E. canis encompass P30, P30a, P30-1, P30-2, P30-3; P30-4, P30-5, P30-6, P30-7, P30-8, P30-9, P30-10, P30-11, and P30-12. Isolated polynucleotides that encode the E. chaffeensis OMP proteins and isolated polynucleotides that encode the E. canis P30F protein are also provided.

Abstract: An in-place learning algorithm is provided for a multi-layer developmental network. The algorithm includes: defining a sample space as a plurality of cells fully connected to a common input; dividing the sample space into mutually non-overlapping regions, where each region is a represented by a neuron having a single feature vector; and estimating a feature vector of a given neuron by an amnesic average of an input vector weighted by a response of the given neuron, where amnesic is a recursive computation of the input vector weighted by the response such that the direction of the feature vector and the variance of signal in the region projected onto the feature vector are both recursively estimated with plasticity scheduling.

Abstract: Cyclic alkyl, particularly cyclohexyl, substituted glycolides and polylactides are described. The polylactides have a high glass transition temperature and improved clarity.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of oxazole, imidazole, and pyraxole boryl compounds. The compounds are intermediates to functionalized compounds, both natural and synthetic which are cytotoxic, anticancer and antiviral agents.

Abstract: A vacuum chamber with an innovative wall structure. Instead of a conventional homogenous wall structure, the invention uses an array of internally-pressurized, thin-walled cells to contain an enclosed volume. The walls are arranged so that when a vacuum is present in the enclosed volume, the cell walls are placed primarily in tension. In this way the likelihood of buckling instability is substantially reduced. The result is a much lighter vessel compared to a conventional homogenous wall vessel of similar strength.

Abstract: Piezoelectric transducers and associated methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a piezoelectric transducer includes a support member, a piezoelectric element attached to the support member, and a pressurized chamber at one side of the piezoelectric element. The piezoelectric element comprises a flexible film, and the pressurized chamber contains a fluid that applies a static pressure to a side of the piezoelectric element.

Abstract: A portable, lightweight, rugged, easy-to-operate biosensor useful for rapidly detecting cells, viruses, antibodies, and other proteins. A capillary tube has a capture antibody immobilized on its interior surface. The specific capture antibody is selected based upon a desired target analyte to be detected. A sample potentially containing the target antigen is introduced into the capillary tube. Thereafter, a second antibody labeled with a fluorescent dye is introduced. Upon excitation by electromagnetic energy, typically supplied by a laser, the fluorescence of the sample is captured and analyzed. The apparatus is extremely compact and rugged making it ideal for field use. In addition, accurate results may be obtained by relatively unskilled operators directly from a self-contained readout. Optionally, an external device (e.g., a computer) may be connected to the apparatus via an optional interface.