Abstract: The present disclosure provides for methods of treating cancer in a subject. In certain embodiments, the method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of an inhibitor of fatty acid synthase, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof.

Abstract: Water filtration membranes are provided. Such membranes include polysaccharide fibers that have been modified to possess thiol groups thereon, resulting in materials that effectively bind heavy metal ions. The resulting fibers may be used by themselves or applied to a scaffold to form a membrane suitable for removing heavy metals from water, including groundwater.

Abstract: Methods for synthesizing a polymer functionalized nanoparticle are provided. The method can include attaching a polymeric chain to a nanoparticle, wherein the polymeric chain comprises a plurality monomers, wherein the plurality of monomers comprise alkyl (meth)acrylate monomers. Polymer functionalized nanoparticles are also provided that comprise a nanoparticle defining a surface, and a polymeric chain covalently bonded to the surface of the nanoparticle, wherein the polymeric chain comprises a poly alkyl (meth)acrylate. Nanocomposites are also provided that include a plurality of these polymer functionalized nanoparticles dispersed within a polymeric matrix (e.g., a polyolefin matrix).

Abstract: A shaft torque control device executes highly responsive shaft-torque control even when spring rigidity of a connection shaft connecting an engine and dynamometer varies, and has a feedback control system including a nominal plant imitating input-output characteristics of a test system, generalized plant having nominal plant; controller providing an input with use of outputs and variation term causing variation in the nominal plant on the basis of a variation transfer function. In the controller, setting is made to satisfy a design condition. Nominal plant is structured with a two-inertia system configured by connecting two inertia bodies via a shaft having spring rigidity equal to a predetermined nominal value set to be a lower limit value in an assumed variation range of spring rigidity of the connection shaft. The variation transfer function is a positive real function. Spring rigidity in the nominal plant Na increases from the nominal value.

Abstract: An activity amount calculation system includes a plurality of detection units and an activity amount calculation device. The plurality of detection units detect a resident and output detection signals when the resident passes through doorways of a plurality of rooms. The calculation device includes a calculation unit and a summation unit. Upon detection of the resident by the detection units, the calculation unit calculates an activity amount of the resident based on relationships between detection units and reference activity amounts. The summation unit repeatedly calculates a total activity amount of the resident in a predetermined period by summing activity amounts calculated by the calculation unit.

Abstract: Systems comprising a nanocrystal and a luminescent chromophore are disclosed herein. The luminescent chromophore can emit energy having a first wavelength. The luminescent chromophore is configured to transfer the emitted energy having a first wavelength to the nanocrystal. The luminescent chromophore can be linked to the nanocrystal via a covalent bond. Absorption of the energy having first wavelength by the nanocrystal can activate the nanocrystal and result in an increase in quantum yield. In some embodiments, the nanocrystal can include silicon, germanium, carbon, or combinations thereof. In some examples, the luminescent chromophore can be pyrene. The luminescent chromophore and the silicon containing nanocrystal can be in a ratio of about 1:1 to 100:1 in the nanocrystal system. Methods of making and using the system are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides HLA-DR (MHC class II) binding peptides derived from the ovarian/breast cancer associated antigens, Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER-2/neu), Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA), Insulin Growth Factor Binding Protein 2 (IGFBP-2), and Cyclin D1. The immunogenic peptides can be used in cancer vaccines.

Abstract: Methods and systems for the biological conversion of pretreated or solubilized coal or waste coal into biofuels. Coal (10) may be pretreated perhaps in a pretreatment reactor (13). Pretreated coal or even solubilized coal may be introduced into a processing reactor such as a bioreactor (16) containing a plurality of microorganisms (9) such as oleaginous microorganisms which can convert at least some of the pretreated or solubilized coal into lipids (19) or biomass (18), which then may be used directly or as a precursor for various products such as biofuels, feedstock, or the like.

Abstract: In some aspects, the disclosed technology relates to magnetic field monitoring of spiral echo train imaging. In one embodiment, a method for spiral echo train imaging of an area of interest of a subject includes measuring k-space values and field dynamics corresponding to each echo of a spiral echo pulse train, using a dynamic field camera and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. The dynamic field camera is configured to measure characteristics of fields generated by the MRI system; the characteristics include at least one imperfection associated with the MRI system. The spiral echo pulse train corresponds to a spiral trajectory scan from the MRI system that obtains magnetic resonance imaging data using a pulse sequence which applies spiral gradients in-plane with through-plane phase encoding.

Abstract: A device for a tissue channel includes a device frame, a shape memory polymer foam segment coupled to the device frame, and an attachment structure coupled to the device frame. The device frame includes a proximal structure, a distal structure, and an intermediate structure coupled to the proximal structure and the distal structure. The proximal structure is configured to collapse to fit into a delivery structure and expand to block migration of the proximal structure. The distal structure is configured to collapse to fit into the delivery structure and expand to block migration of the distal structure. The intermediate structure is configured to fit in the tissue channel upon device deployment. The shape memory polymer foam segment is configured to compress to fit into the delivery structure and occlude the channel. The attachment structure is configured to attach and detach the device from a delivery guide.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method to produce RD by using a cutinase to catalyze the esterification of RB under stepwise cooling temperatures, which is related to the field of biosynthesis of organic compounds. The method uses a cutinase from Thermobifida fusca to catalyze the esterification of RB and sophorose to produce RD. The stepwise cooling temperatures are used to reduce the heat inactivation of the enzyme as well as to improve the mass transfer. The method catalyzes the esterification of RB to produce RD in a solvent such as methanol, DMSO and DMF. The reaction is safe, efficient and highly selective. In addition, the method uses stepwise additions of substrate RB and cooling temperatures for the esterification reaction. In this way, it speeds up the initial reaction rate, increases the amount of solved RB as it is converted to RD, and improves the mass transfer to further increase the reaction speed.

Abstract: A signal processing device of a base station being connected to one or more wireless devices of the base station is provided. The signal processing device includes a memory and a processor configured to transmit wireless device setting information to the one or more wireless devices via a front-haul interface during a predetermined time frame, transmit a downlink packet, which is obtained by packetizing downlink baseband data, to the one or more wireless devices via the front-haul interface, receive an uplink packet through the front-haul interface, obtain uplink baseband data and inherent control information by performing uplink packetization on the received uplink packet, and process the uplink baseband data based on analysis of the obtained inherent control information.

Abstract: Bivalent immunogenic compositions against anthrax and plague are disclosed herein. One bivalent immunogenic composition comprises a triple fusion protein containing three antigens, F1 and V from Yersinia pestis and PA antigen from Bacillus anthracia fused in-frame and retaining structural and functional integrity of all three antigens. Another bivalent immunogenic composition comprises bacteriophage nanoparticles arrayed with these three antigens on the capsid surface of the bacteriophage nanoparticles. These bivalent immunogenic compositions are able to elicit robust immune response in a subject administered said the bivalent immunogenic compositions and provide protection to the subject against sequential or simultaneous challenge with both anthrax and plague pathogens.

Abstract: Protein replacement therapy for patients with hemophilia or other inherited protein deficiencies is often complicated by pathogenic antibody responses, including antibodies that neutralize the therapeutic protein or that predispose to potentially life-threatening anaphylactic reactions by formation of IgE. Using murine and canine hemophilia as a model, we have developed a prophylactic protocol against such responses that is non-invasive and does not include immune suppression or genetic manipulation of the patient's cells. Oral delivery of a coagulation factor expressed in chloroplasts, bioencapsulated in plant cells, effectively blocked formation of inhibitory antibodies in protein replacement therapy. Inhibitor titers were mostly undetectable and up to 100-fold lower in treated subjects when compared to controls. Moreover, this treatment eliminated fatal anaphylactic reactions that occurred after four to six exposures to intravenous coagulation factor protein.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for promoting reduction of heat stress in animals, as well as a composition for use in the disclosed method. The composition comprises a glucan, silica, mineral clay, mannan, and optionally an endoglucanohydrolase, and may be administered to an animal that is susceptible to or suffers from heat stress.

Abstract: In some example embodiments, there may be provided a method. The method may include receiving three-dimensional image data representative of a heart; receiving electrical data representative of an electrophysiology of the heart; and generating, based on the received three-dimensional image data and the received electrical data, a computational model of the heart. Related systems and articles of manufacture may also be provided.

Abstract: A dimming controller is coupled to receive an out-source current from a dimming interface for each LED driver connected thereto. Based on the out-source current received, the controller can estimate the number of connected LED drivers. When the LED driver(s) are determined to be on based on the received out-source current, the dimming controller generates and transmits a dimming control voltage. The dimming controller is programmable with relationships between the dimming control voltage and operational parameters for the certain type of LED driver and the certain type of LED load. The dimming controller then estimates the power characteristics (e.g., the input power and the output power) of the LED driver and associated LED load based on the programmed relationships. Power characteristics can accordingly be reported to the customer via a dimming controller without requiring specifically designed power measuring devices. Driver failure in the group can be reported in real time.

Abstract: The present disclosure is generally related to transformed host cells and their use for the production of branched-chain acyl-ACPs, branched-chain acyl-ACP-derived chemicals and fuels, branched-chain fatty acids and producing branched-chain fatty acid-derived chemicals and fuels. More particularly, disclosed herein are transformed host cells and methods for producing branched-chain acyl-ACPs and branched-chain fatty acids in high titer and high percentages. Also disclosed are methods for producing specific branched-chain fatty acid species and producing branched-chain fatty acid-derived chemicals and fuels such as, for example, branched-chain alcohols and branched-chain fatty acid ethyl esters.

Abstract: A therapeutic composition can include an amount of amniotic fluid having a therapeutically effective amount of at least one protein, hyaluronic acid, or both. The therapeutic composition can be substantially free of lanugo, vernix, and cells harvested with the amniotic fluid.

Abstract: A computing device includes a storage device in which a program for operating a file system is stored, and a processor configured to execute the program stored in the storage device wherein, in response to execution of the program, if a write request upon a file to be stored in the storage device is generated, the processor calculates, based on one or more file write methods included in the file system, an overhead of each of the one or more write methods, selects a file write method having the smallest overhead among the one or more file write methods, and records the file in the storage device by using the selected file write method, the one or more file write methods include slack space recycling (SSR), internal-segment-copying-based garbage collection and external-segment-copying-based garbage collection.