Abstract: An optical measurement system for obtaining information such as the absorption coefficient of a light-absorbing liquid, or a surface profile of an object immersed in a light-absorbing liquid having a known absorption coefficient. The system includes a light source that transmits light through the liquid, a detector that records an image of the light transmitted through the sample and a processor or other means adapted to analyze the intensity distribution found on the image to generate information about the sample.

Abstract: Cloning, expression, viral and delivery vectors and hosts which contain nucleic acid coding for at least one peripheral nervous system specific (PNS) sodium channel peptide (SCP), isolated PNS SCP, and compounds and compositions and methods, are provided, for isolating, crystallizing, x-ray analysing molecular modeling, rational drug designing, selecting, making and using therapeutic or diagnostic agents or ligands having at least one peripheral nervous system specific (PNS) sodium channel (SC) modulating activity.

Abstract: A three-dimensional PET detector of a type having a scintillation crystal and first and second photosensitive detectors arranged one at each opposite end face of the crystal for detecting scintillation interactions within the crystal is calibrated to determine a depth-of-interaction (DOI) function thereof by irradiating the crystal to cause a predetermined distribution of interactions along a depth axis of the crystal, and applying probability theory to signal data collected by the two photosensitive detectors. The method provides a DOI function that indicates DOI position as a function of a signal ratio R obtained from the signal data.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of differentiating metallic carbon nanotubes from semiconducting carbon nanotubes. The method comprising providing a nanotube dispersion, wherein the nanotube dispersion comprises a plurality of carbon nanotubes, osmium tetroxide, or ruthenium tetroxide, and a solvent; and irradiating the nanotube dispersion with ultraviolet light, wherein the metallic carbon nanotubes are osmylated, or ruthenylated, thereby differentiating the metallic carbon nanotubes from the semiconducting carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: Snow Mountain Virus (SMV) belongs to the Norovirus genus of the Caliciviridae family. SMV is a genogroup II (GII) reference strain of human enteric caliciviruses associated with epidemic gastroenteritis. The positive sense RNA genome sequence of SMV was determined to be 7,537 nucleotides in length excluding the 3? polyadenylated tract. The genome is organized into three open reading frames. Pairwise sequence alignments showed SMV ORF1 is highly conserved with other GII noroviruses, and most closely related to GII strains Melksham and Hawaii viruses. Comparative sequence analyses showed the SMV is a recombinant norovirus. VP1/NP2 proteins assembled into virus-like particles (VLPs) when expressed in insect cells by a recombinant baculovirus. Characterization of one clone that expressed VP1 but failed to assemble into VLPs, identified histidine residue 91 as important for particle assembly.

Abstract: A register designed to detect and correct soft errors in real time. A redundant latch is added to the existing structure of a flip flop and functional data is simultaneously registered at multiple latches. The content of these multiple latches are fed to a majority voting circuit. If the content of any of these latches is corrupted by soft error, it is filtered out through the majority voting circuit and correct data is passed out from the output of the flip flop. In one embodiment, this design operates as a simple scan flip flop or scan-hold flip flop, and is useful for system testability purposes.

Abstract: According to the invention, an amorphous CBDO copolymer (as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,705,575, issued Jan. 6, 1998, which U.S. patent is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety) is treated to impart high impact resistance, also called impact strength.

Abstract: According to the invention, an amorphous CBDO polymer (as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,705,575, issued Jan. 6, 1998, which U.S. patent is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety) is imparted self healing and shape memory properties by heat treatment.

Abstract: There are provided SF5-containing amino acids of the general formulas and processes for preparing same. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A semiconductor vertical junction field effect power transistor formed by a semiconductor structure having top and bottom surfaces and including a plurality of semiconductor layers with predetermined doping concentrations and thicknesses and comprising at least a bottom layer as drain layer, a middle layer as blocking and channel layer, a top layer as source layer. A plurality of laterally spaced U-shaped trenches with highly vertical side walls defines a plurality of laterally spaced mesas. The mesas are surrounded on the four sides by U-shaped semiconductor regions having conductivity type opposite to that of the mesas forming U-shaped pn junctions and defining a plurality of laterally spaced long and vertical channels with a highly uniform channel opening dimension. A source contact is formed on the top source layer and a drain contact is formed on the bottom drain layer.

Abstract: A method is provided for multi-channel analog-to-digital conversion. The method includes: receiving an input vector which represents a plurality of analog signals; transforming the input vector using a linear transformation matrix; converting the transformed input vector to a digital stream using an array of sigma-delta converter; and adapting the linear transform matrix to maximize de-correlation between the signals represented in the input vector.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to compositions and methods related to the synthesis and modification of uridine-5?-diphospho-sulfoquinovose (UDP-SQ). In particular, the methods of the present invention comprise the utilization of recombinant enzymes from Arabidopsis thaliana, UDP-glucose, and a sulfur donor to synthesize UDP-SQ, and the subsequent modification of UDP-SQ to form compounds including, but not limited to, 6-sulfo-?-D-quinovosyl diaclyglycerol (SQDG) and alkyl sulfoquinovoside. The compositions and methods of the invention provide a more simple, rapid means of synthesizing UDP-SQ, and the subsequent modification of UDP-SQ to compounds including, but not limited to, SQDG.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a fuel source, an oxidizer source, and a plurality of electrodes each having a surface provided with an electrolyte. Relative movement is permitted between the electrodes and the fuel and oxidizer sources such that, when the electrodes are coupled to a load, each electrode is switched between (a) an anode condition wherein the electrode communicates with the fuel source for oxidizing the fuel and conducting electrons from the oxidized fuel to the load, and (b) a cathode condition wherein the electrode communicates with the oxidizer source and receives electrons from the load for reducing the oxidizer. The fuel cell also includes a driver to affect the relative movement between the electrodes and the fuel and oxidizer sources so as to continuously switch the electrodes between the anode and cathode conditions.

Abstract: A method for controlling yeast-to-filamentous growth transition in fungi comprising contacting a fungal cell with an anti-fungal small molecule in an amount effective to reduce or inhibit the yeast-to-filamentous growth transition, wherein the anti-fungal small molecule is 5-(p-Bromobenzylidine)-?-isopropyl-4-oxo-2-thioxo-3-thiozolidineacetic acid or an analog thereof. A method for treating fungal infections comprising contacting one or more fungal cells with an anti-fungal small molecule in an amount effective to control the fungal infection, wherein the anti-fungal small molecule is 5-(p-Bromobenzylidine)-?-isopropyl-4-oxo-2-thioxo-3-thiozolidineactic acid or an analog thereof.

Abstract: Particular aspects provide a method for recovering phosphate, comprising: obtaining an effluent or wastewater, etc. having calcium-sequestered phosphate; adding to the effluent or wastewater a calcium chelating or sequestration agent suitable to chelate or sequester Ca++ ions from the calcium-sequestered phosphate to facilitate release of phosphate from the calcium-sequestered phosphate; transferring, facilitated by said Ca++ ion capture and in the presence of sufficient concentrations of NH4+ and Mg2 ions, of the phosphate into struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate or MgNH4PO4.6H2O), or hydrated magnesium ammonium complex of phosphate; and recovering the struvite, or the formed hydrated magnesium ammonium complex. Preferably, the method further comprises acidification of the effluent or wastewater to facilitate release of Ca++ ions from the calcium-sequestered phosphate and chelation of sequestration of the Ca++ ions by the calcium chelating or sequestration agent.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting of COX2 and inflammation by administering a hydroxybenzaldehyde.

Abstract: Optical devices and methods for providing wide field magnification to assist the visually impaired, and others, are provided. The optical device includes a plurality of telescopic lens sets, for example, a plurality of telescopes, each telescopic lens set including an objective lens and an ocular lens, and a plurality of refracting optical elements, for example, prisms, positioned in front of at least some of the objective lenses. The refracting optical elements are adapted to at least partially redirect light rays toward at least some of the objective lenses to provide wider fields of view, for example, a wider contiguous field of view. Aspects of the invention can provide fields of view up to 40 degrees or more. These wider fields of view can greatly enhance the visual acuity of the visually impaired, as well as provide wider fields of view for non-corrective purposes, such as for field observations.

Abstract: Methods for generating a three-dimensional visualization image of an object, such as an internal organ, using volume visualization techniques are provided. The techniques include a multi-scan imaging method; a multi-resolution imaging method; and a method for generating a skeleton of a complex three dimension object. The applications include virtual cystoscopy, virtual laryngoscopy, virtual angiography, among others.

Abstract: A differential wireless sensing device includes a first resonant device impinged on a substrate having a predetermined natural frequency, the first resonant device having a changeable resonant frequency in response to an environmental condition, and a second resonant device impinged on the substrate having a predetermined static resonant frequency.

Abstract: An image data correction apparatus has a motion information acquisition section, a correction section, and a composition section. The motion information acquisition section acquires motion information indicating spatial distribution of the magnitude of motion, in actual space, of a to-be-imaged portion of a subject. Based on the motion information, the correction section performs correction, which is different from correction in a second region, in a first region of image data collected by a scan by magnetic resonance imaging. The composition section composes individual image data of the first region and the second region that are corrected by the correction section.