Abstract: An aspect of the present invention is directed towards DNA plasmid vaccines capable of generating in a mammal an immune response against a plurality of influenza virus subtypes, comprising a DNA plasmid and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. The DNA plasmid is capable of expressing a consensus influenza antigen in a cell of the mammal in a quantity effective to elicit an immune response in the mammal, wherein the consensus influenza antigen comprises consensus hemagglutinin (HA), neuraminidase (NA), matrix protein, nucleoprotein, M2 ectodomain-nucleo-protein (M2e-NP), or a combination thereof. Preferably the consensus influenza antigen comprises HA, NA, M2e-NP, or a combination thereof. The DNA plasmid comprises a promoter operably linked to a coding sequence that encodes the consensus influenza antigen. Additionally, an aspect of the present invention includes methods of eliciting an immune response against a plurality of influenza virus subtypes in a mammal using the DNA plasmid vaccines provided.

Abstract: As information to be processed at an object-based video or audio-visual (AV) terminal, an object-oriented bitstream includes objects, composition information, and scene demarcation information. Such bitstream structure allows on-line editing, e.g. cut and paste, insertion/deletion, grouping, and special effects. In the interest of ease of editing, AV objects and their composition information are transmitted or accessed on separate logical channels (LCs). Objects which have a lifetime in the decoder beyond their initial presentation time are cached for reuse until a selected expiration time.

Abstract: Described here is a solid-state lithium-ion battery, comprising a cathode, an anode, and a solid-state electrolyte disposed between the cathode and the anode, wherein the electrolyte comprises a hexacyanometallate represented by AxPy[R(CN)6-wLw]z, wherein: A is at least one alkali metal cation, P is at least one transition metal cation, at least one post-transition metal cation, and/or at least one alkaline earth metal cation, R is at least one transition metal cation, L is an anion, x, y, and z are related based on electrical neutrality, x>0, y>0, z>0, and 0?w?6.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are disclosed for individually controlling energy storage devices in an array of devices. An energy storage regulation unit (ESRU) is described that enables the connection of an energy storage device to a system load bus and a charging/diagnostic bus such that the energy storage device may be individually charged and/or disconnected for maintenance. The ESRU comprises switches for selectively connecting the system load bus circuit, charging circuit, or a bypass circuit. An energy storage regulator is further described for enabling the control of one or more ESRUs. A regulator controller may receive sensor or measurement data from the ESRUs connected to the energy storage regulator, and may also issue control instructions that control the switches of the individual ESRUs. Measurement data can include, for example, voltage, current, or temperature information relating to a specific ESRU.

Abstract: This invention provides a compound having the structure: wherein R1 is H, halogen, —NR5R6, —NR5—C(?0)-R6, —NH—C(?O)—OR7, —OR7, —NO2, —CN, —SR7, —SO2R7, —CO2R7, CF3, —SOR7, —POR7, —C(?S)R7, —C(?O)—NR5R6, —CH2—C(?O)—NR5R6, —C(?NR5)R6, —P(?O)(OR5)(OR6), —P(OR5)(OR6), —C(?S)R7, C1-5 alkyl, C2-5 alkenyl, C2-5 alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, or heterocyclyl, wherein R5, R6, and R7 and are each, independently, H, C1-5 alkyl, C2-5 alkenyl, C2-5 alkynyl, heteroalkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, or heteroaryl; m is an integer from 0 to 2; R2 and R3 are each, independently, H, halogen, —NH2, —CX3, —C(?O)OR8, C(?O)R8, —C(?O)NR9R10, C1-10 alkyl, C2-10 alkenyl, C2-10 alkynyl, heteroalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, or heterocyclyl; wherein X is Cl, Br, or F; R8, R9 and R10 are each, independently, H, C1-5 alkyl, C2-5 alkenyl, C2-5 alkynyl, heteroalkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, or heteroaryl; Q is —Ar1—Z— or —Z—Ar1—Z—, wherein Ar1 is aryl or heteroaryl; and each occurrence of Z is independently present or

Abstract: Techniques and systems for facilitating the calibration of oscillation frequencies for an analog audio synthesizer are disclosed. Included are embodiments for performing the initial calibration of an audio synthesizer and for continuously compensating for the frequency irregularities which originate from insufficient calibration and/or frequency drift of the oscillator circuits. Embodiments can utilize the microcontroller already present in most synthesizers and require no further hardware.

Abstract: Paper microfluidic devices for the detection of bodily fluids are provided. Such devices can be used, for example, for detection of bodily fluids from or at crime scenes, including blood, saliva, semen, urine, feces, vaginal fluids, and perspiration. Detection can be performed using colorimetric reagents that react when placed in contact with the fluid of interest. A single device can be used to test for multiple bodily fluids at the same time.

Abstract: A device, method, and system for using an acoustic radiation force resulting from focused ultrasound energy in order to generate an internal force remotely and to measure quantitatively tissue elasticity in vivo and non-invasively.

Abstract: A capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) is provided that includes a substrate, a bottom conductive layer disposed on a bottom surface of the substrate, a cavity disposed into a top surface of the substrate, a nonconductive layer disposed on the substrate top surface and on the cavity, a CMUT plate disposed on the nonconductive layer and across the cavity, a top conductive layer disposed on a top surface of the CMUT plate, a pressure control via that spans from the cavity to an ambient environment, and an active pressure controller connected to the pressure control via, wherein the active pressure controller is capable of actively varying a pressure differential across the CMUT plate.

Abstract: Disclosed are knottin peptides containing non-natural amino acids so that they can be formed by chemical conjugation into two or more knottin monomers. The knottin monomers comprise a non-natural amino acid such as an aminooxy residue within the polypeptide sequence. The exemplified dimers were produced by oxime formation between two aldehyde groups present on a polyether linker and an aminooxy functional group that was site-specifically incorporated the knottin. Knottins variants based on EETI (Ecballium elaterium trypsin inhibitor) and AgRP (Agouti-related protein) were engineered to contain integrin-binding loops. These dimers were shown to have increased binding strength to integrins on U87MG tumor cells, achieving significant increases in inhibition of cell adhesion and proliferation. Also disclosed are knottin monomers comprising an aminooxy residue; these may be conjugated to molecules such as doxorubicin.

Abstract: Sequences of a serotype 8 adeno-associated virus and vectors and host cells containing these sequences are provided. Also described are methods of using such host cells and vectors in production of rAAV particles.

Abstract: A thermionic energy converter is provided that includes an anode, a cathode, where the anode is disposed opposite the cathode, and a suspension, where a first end of the suspension is connected to the cathode and a second end of the suspension is connected to the anode, where the suspension moveably supports the cathode above the anode to form a variable gap between the anode and the cathode, where the variable gap is capable of enabling a variable thermionic current between the anode and the cathode, where the thermionic converter is capable of an AC power output.

Abstract: A substrate having trenches containing carbon nanotubes has elements to provide a power converter. One set of trenches is configured to form an inductor and another set is configured to form a capacitor. Trenches in the substrate are also configured to receive semiconductor material and carbon nanotubes to form a power field effect transistor. All the elements are coupled together using carbon nanotubes placed in connection trenches of the substrate.

Abstract: The invention described herein relates to methods of treating emphysema and COPD with a GHK tripeptide. The invention further relates to methods of determining the state of the lungs using biomarkers described herein.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for characterizing a sample in situ as to both its mechanical and optical characteristics. The apparatus comprises a reflective microscope with a concave primary mirror and a convex secondary mirror sharing a common optical axis, and an actuator vignetted by the convex secondary mirror for applying a force to a nanoprobe in a direction having a component along the common optical axis. The apparatus may addition include a source for generating an illuminating beam, a detector, and a processor for forming an image based on a signal provided by the detector.

Abstract: A photonic crystal (PC) device including one or more resonant optical structures defined by the photonic crystal structure is affixed to the end face of an optical fiber. The PC device is fabricated on a separate substrate, and then affixed to the fiber end face. This transfer can be facilitated by device templates which are laterally supported by tabs after an undercut etch. The tabs can be designed to break during transfer to the fiber, thereby facilitating transfer. Registration marks and/or the use of device templates having the same diameter as the fiber can be used to provide lateral alignment of the fiber to the resonant optical structures. Such alignment may be needed to provide optical coupling between the fiber and the resonant optical structures.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel IgE antibodies useful for inhibiting or preventing metastatic cancer. Also provided are methods to inhibit tumor metastasis by modulating the activity of at least one non-tumor cell, treating a patient to inhibit or prevent tumor metastases of a primary solid tumor, treating metastatic carcinoma, reducing metastasis of carcinoma cells, and reducing the growth kinetics of a primary solid tumor or a metastasized cell or tumor.

Abstract: The subject invention provides the materials and methods for fabricating and using an electrochemical immunosensing device to detect a target antigen. In a preferred embodiment, the subject invention utilizes Camelid-derived, single-domain antibodies as the sensing agents immobilized onto the surface of the immunosensing device, more specifically, the working electrode of the immunosensing device. Furthermore, embodiments of the subject invention provide means for increasing the device's detection sensitivity by utilizing a working electrode optionally configured with an array of interdigitated electrodes.

Abstract: To ameliorate the detrimental effects of time delays, techniques and systems are disclosed for detecting time delays in a plant, facility, or environment (such as a power system) controlled by an NCS, and for providing more resilient control capabilities for adapting to the detected time delays. A time delay estimate can be determined by comparing the expected state of the plant, calculated from a plant model, with the state of the plant described by its telemetry data. Techniques for adapting to a time delay include: switching to an emergency controller and acting in accordance with a local reference model; sending adjusted control commands in accordance with an expected plant state; and instructing a transmitter to transmit subsequent communications packets over multiple redundant communication channels.

Abstract: C1q is shown to be expressed in neurons, where it acts as a signal for synapse elimination. Methods are provided for protecting or treating an individual suffering from adverse effects of synapse loss. These findings have broad implications for a variety of clinical conditions, including Alzheimer's disease.