Abstract: Disclosed are new small molecules having a 4-methylpyrrrolo[1,2-a]pyrimidine-8-carboxamide core structure and the uses thereof for modulating glucocerebrosidase activity. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the small molecules which may be administered in methods of treating diseases or disorders associated with glucocerebrosidase activity, including neurological diseases and disorders such as Gaucher's disease and Parkinson's disease. The small molecules may contain a fluorophore or may be conjugated to a fluorophore in order to prepare a fluorescent probe for use in high throughput screening methods to identify new modulators of glucocerebrosidase activity via fluorescence polarization.

Abstract: The synthesis of ursolic acid nanoparticles includes dissolving ursolic acid powder in methanol, boiling water for five minutes, and adding the methanol solution to the boiled water dropwise at a flow rate of 0.1-0.3 ml/min under ultrasonic conditions. After sonication for 20 minutes, the contents are stirred for about 15 minutes, and then dried. Particle size distribution studies and TEM micrographs confirm the resulting product comprises nanoparticles. In vitro testing confirms the ursolic acid nanoparticles exhibit greater anticancer activity than conventional-size particles, and that the nanoparticles exhibit antimicrobial effect against gram positive and gram negative bacteria, as well as fungi.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are anti-CD47 antibody molecules, their manufacture and use in treating disorders associated with CD47 expression, for example, certain hematological cancers and solid tumors.

Abstract: A Raman spectroscopic detection device comprising at least one microfluidic sample channel; at least one excitation waveguide for exciting a Raman signal and at least one collection waveguide for collecting a Raman signal. The output of the excitation waveguide and the input of the collection waveguide are positioned directly in the microfluidic sample channel.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for treating/and or preventing diabetes using a specific inhibitor of SMAD7 expression or function. Also disclosed are methods of promoting organ and/or cell, e.g., pancreatic islet cell, survival after transplantation using a specific inhibitor of SMAD7 expression or function.

Abstract: A lubricated mechanical polishing (LMP) process is provided that uses hard nanoparticles of less than 5 nm diameter dispersed in a fluid lubricant as a polishing slurry to produce an ultra-smooth surface on a hard metallic or non-metallic substrate with a sub-nanometer surface roughness substantially less than that produced by silica chemical mechanical polishing.

Abstract: Provided are a display device, a scan driver, and a method of manufacturing the same. A scan driver includes: a level shifter configured to output a power and a signal, and a scan signal generating circuit configured to generate a scan signal based on the power and the signal supplied from the level shifter, the scan signal generating circuit including a buffer configured to transmit a clock signal to a stage of a shift register, the buffer including two inverters, one of the two inverters being included in a multi-buffer.

Abstract: A medical balloon for a balloon pump is disclosed. The medical balloon has a first end and a second end and a port at one of the ends for engaging a catheter for receiving an inflation fluid into the balloon. The balloon has one or more exterior walls defining, when the balloon is inflated at substantially a standard operating pressure, a taper along at least a part of the length of the balloon. The taper has two or more consecutive tapering sections, each tapering section having a different, substantially constant, angle of tapering. The balloon is substantially asymmetrical about a mid-point between the first and second ends when inflated.

Abstract: A method of driving a display device including a sensing line, a light-emitting element, a capacitor, and a driving transistor, the driving transistor comprising a control terminal that is connected to the capacitor, an input terminal, and an output terminal, the method including: connecting the control terminal and the output terminal; connecting the control terminal and the output terminal to a ground voltage and then disconnecting the control terminal and the output terminal from the ground voltage; sensing a first voltage of the control terminal through the sensing line; and calculating a threshold voltage of the driving transistor based on the first voltage.

Abstract: A hand-held electronic device having a remote control application user interface that functions to displays operational mode information to a user. The graphical user interface may be used, for example, to setup the remote control application to control appliances for one or more users in one or more rooms, to perform activities, and to access favorites. The remote control application is also adapted to be upgradeable. Furthermore, the remote control application provides for the sharing of operational mode information.

Abstract: Methods of producing hepatocyte lineage cells are provided. The method can include transfecting a cell with one or more expression vectors. For example, a cell can be transfected with a first expression vector containing a first gene that encodes CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha (CEBPA), a second expression vector containing a second gene that encodes CCAAT/enhancer binding protein beta (CEBPB), a third expression vector containing a third gene that encodes forkhead box A1 (FOXA1), and a fourth expression vector containing a fourth gene that encodes forkhead box A3 (FOXA3). The method can include culturing the transfected cell obtained in a growth environment. The transfected cell can be cultured in Williams' E medium, ReproFF (feeder-free media maintaining pluripotency) medium, or both. Transfected and/or hepatocyte lineage cells obtained by a method of the present invention are also provided.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide an optical sensor having an optical source, a grating arrangement optically coupled to the optical source to receive a source optical signal from the optical source, the grating arrangement including a chirped FBG having a defined spectral profile, wherein, in response to a first change in at least one parameter interacting with the chirped FBG, the defined spectral profile is shifted in a first direction relative to a reference spectral profile, and the grating arrangement is configured, in response thereto, to generate a first output optical signal corresponding to the first change, and wherein, in response to a second change in the at least one parameter interacting with the chirped FBG, the defined spectral profile is shifted in a second direction relative to the reference spectral profile, and the grating arrangement is configured, in response thereto, to generate a second output optical signal corresponding to the second change.

Abstract: A drilling mud composition including Aloe vera particles with a largest dimension of 75-600 ?m, an aqueous base fluid, and a viscosifier, where the Aloe vera particles are present in the drilling mud composition at a concentration of less than 150 ppm, relative to the total weight of the drilling mud composition. A process for fracking a geological formation, whereby the drilling mud composition is injected into the geological formation through a well bore at a pressure of at least 5,000 psi to fracture the geological formation.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the use of a class of surfactants for emulsion and droplet polymerase chain reaction (“PCR”) mixtures. The class of surfactants consists of those having the chemical formula R—(OCH2CH2)n—OH, wherein R is an alkyl group consisting of 12 to 18 carbons and n is 2 to 25. The present invention also relates to methods, devices, systems, and kits incorporating the above-described class of surfactants.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of assessing an individual subject's risk of developing prostate cancer, comprising: a) analyzing a nucleic acid sample obtained from the subject and determining a genotype for the subject at a plurality of biallelic polymorphic loci, wherein each of said plurality has an associated allele and an unassociated allele, wherein the genotype is selected from the group consisting of homozygous for the associated allele, heterozygous, and homozygous for the unassociated allele; and b) calculating a cumulative relative risk (CRR) for the subject based on the genotype determined in step (a). A CRR of greater than 1.00 identifies a subject as having an increased risk of developing prostate cancer and also can identify a subject who is a candidate for early PSA screening, prostate biopsy and/or chemoprevention.

Abstract: In this work, a hydrophilic, yet slippery solid surface was developed. Because the surfaces are hydrophilic, there is significant affinity between the surface and contacting water, which results in substantial spreading of the contacting liquids on the surface. Due to their strong affinity, a high solid-liquid adhesion having virtually no mobility of the water on the surface occurs. However, counter-intuitively, the disclosed surfaces are highly slippery such that liquids can slide on the surface while maintaining their hydrophilicity. Demonstrated herein are water droplets that can slide on the surface under its own weight, when the hydrophilic, yet slippery solid surface is slightly tilted (?=3°). This indicates that the disclosed hydrophilic surfaces are slippery to water.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method for transferring data in a wireless communication system that supports device-to-device communication, and an apparatus therefor. Specifically, a method for performing, by a device, data transfer in a wireless communication system that supports device-to-device communication, comprises the steps of: broadcasting, at a first sub-carrier, a ready-to-forward (RTF) signal for advertising that the device holds data to transfer; receiving, at a second sub-carrier, a forward-request (FR) signal for requesting transfer of the data from another device; and broadcasting the data after a predetermined time, wherein the first sub-carrier and the second sub-carrier are determined on the basis of sequence numbers of the data, respectively.

Abstract: A sensor network includes a sink and multiple sensor nodes. The sink is coupled to a substrate and configured to transmit a periodic ultrasonic pulse on the substrate. A first one of the sensor nodes is coupled to the substrate. The first sensor node is configured to (i) receive the periodic ultrasonic pulse from the substrate, (ii) synchronize an internal clock of the first sensor node to the sink based on the periodic ultrasonic pulse, (iii) selectively detect an event in a region surrounding the first sensor node, and (iv) in response to detecting the event, transmit a first ultrasonic pulse toward the sink on the substrate.

Abstract: A system and method for detection, reduction of combustion resonance and engine control is provided. The system senses ion current within one or each cylinder of a multi-cylinder engine and determines combustion resonance from the ion current signal. In addition, the system may determine an engine control strategy to reduce combustion resonance based on the feedback from the ion current signal.

Abstract: A system for dispensing oral consumables includes a mobile device and an oral consumables dispenser attached to the device. The dispenser can include a retractable holder for storing the oral consumables. As mobile electronic devices and their associated accessories are carried by most people for lengthy periods throughout the day, the system for dispensing oral consumables can facilitate timely consumption of oral consumables.