Abstract: Disclosed are isolated mutant erythropoietin (EPO) polypeptides, functional fragment thereof, nucleic acid encoding such peptides, vectors including such nucleic acids and compositions including such peptides and nucleic acids. The mutant EPO peptides are unique in that they include a substitution at amino acid position number 76, such as a glutamic acid for arginine substitution at position 76. This substitution inhibits erythropoietic activity while retaining their neuroprotection. Also disclosed are methods of treating or inhibiting neuronal degeneration, reducing or inhibiting one or more symptoms associated with neuronal degeneration and/or glaucoma in a subject. The methods include administering a therapeutically effective amount of a isolated mutant erythropoietin EPO polypeptide, an expression vector encoding such a mutant erythropoietin EPO polypeptide, a viral particle including an expression vector, or a composition, thereby treating or inhibiting neuronal degeneration in the subject.

Abstract: Provided is an operating method of a full-bridge sub-module (FBSM)-based modular multilevel converter for HVDC transmission with AC-side voltage boosting. The peak value of the AC-side voltage is increased under a constant DC-link voltage by using FBSM's negative output voltage under steady state, wherein keeping the semiconductor's current rating constant during AC-side voltage boosting is in favor of reducing converter cost by decreasing energy interaction between the upper and lower arms in a leg, and further capacitance value of FBSM's capacitor under a constant capacitor voltage ripple, keeping the RMS value of AC-side current constant during AC-side voltage boosting can effectively improve transmission capacity of the converter while reducing converter cost, and keeping converter transmission capacity constant during AC-side voltage boosting can reduce RMS value of arm currents while reducing converter cost, thereby reducing power loss of FBSMs and improving converter efficiency.

Abstract: Mobile power transfer methods and apparatuses for charging electric vehicles both statically and dynamically are provided. A mobile electric charging station can include a chassis, a power source connected to the chassis, a power control system connected to the chassis and the power source, and a wireless power transmitter deployment structure connected to the chassis and the power control system. The power source can be one more of an electric grid connection, a battery, a generator, and solar panels.

Abstract: The invention relates to intracellular lipid binding proteins that bind retinoids and/or dye ligands and that are modified to transmit or emit light at a variety of different wavelengths.

Abstract: A smart glass uses a guided self-assembled photonic crystal, including a photonic crystal layer that is interposed between a pair of conductive glass plates. The smart glass includes a first material and a second material having a different refractive index from the first material and surrounding the first material. Thereby, the smart glass has a color, even when a dye is not included, by strongly reflecting light in a specific wavelength range incident to the photonic crystal layer. This is because the first material is formed regularly to have a constant distance by guided self-assembly, and the smart glass thereby may obtain a target color by randomly adjusting the distance between the first materials.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide Raman spectroscopy methods and devices that exploit high quality factor (Q) resonators to enhance Raman signal by several orders of magnitude over the signal typically expected for Raman methods. Embodiments typically include one or more resonators, typically microtoroid microresonators. Embodiments also take advantage of Rayleigh scattering using these microresonators. Embodiments may be particularly useful for non-labeled nanoparticle sensing.

Abstract: A device and method for the collection of sterile specimen samples from the uterus is presented. Also presented is a method of delivering nano-encapsulated drugs to the female reproductive tract to treat pelvic inflammatory disease. The device generally is comprised of an outer cannula over which a cover is provided. A sampler may be positioned within the cannula so that when the sampler is advanced through the cannula, the sampler exits an orifice at one end of the cannula and pierces the cover causing it to retract. In use, the device is positioned within the vagina and once correctly positioned, the sampler is advanced thus piercing the cover and allowing an uncontaminated sample to be taken from the uterus or a drug to be delivered directly into the uterus.

Abstract: An end milling apparatus has an end mill and a support member. The end mill has a cutting portion and a non-cutting portion. The support member supports the non-cutting portion in at least one direction toward the periphery of the end mill. The width of the support member as measured in the direction orthogonal to the direction of the center axis of the end mill and to the direction in which the support member is located as viewed from the end mill is smaller than the outer diameter of the end mill.

Abstract: Variant IL-13 polypeptides are provided, which are engineered to have one or more of the following properties: (a) altered affinity for IL-13R?2, relative to the native human IL-13 protein; (b) altered affinity for IL-13R?1 relative to the native human IL-13 protein; (c) a disruption in the binding site for IL-4R? relative to the native human IL-13 protein.

Abstract: The present invention are methods for fabrication of micro- and/or nano-scale adhesive fibers and their use for movement and manipulation of objects. Further disclosed is a method of manipulating a part by providing a manipulation device with a plurality of fibers, where each fiber has a tip with a flat surface that is parallel to a backing layer, contacting the flat surfaces on an object, moving the object to a new location, then disengaging the tips from the object.

Abstract: Methods and systems for securing remotely-operable devices are provided. A security device can receive a plurality of commands to control a remotely-operable device in a remote environment. At least one command in the plurality of commands can include command data that is related to the remotely-operable device. The security device can receive a plurality of responses to the plurality of commands. The security device can process the plurality of commands and the plurality of responses to determine a signature related to an operator that issued the plurality of commands for the remotely-operable device. The security device can determine an identity of the operator based on the signature. The security device can generate an identity report that includes the identity of the operator.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses methods and compositions for treating an ocular disease, disorder or condition in a mammal. The invention includes a population of mesenchymal stromal cells that possess anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, immune modulatory and anti-tumorigenic properties. The invention includes administration of TSG-6, STC-1, or a combination thereof to the ocular as a treatment for an ocular disease, disorder or condition in a mammal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for improving biological production of hydrogen from protein-containing wastewater comprising two stages: ultraviolet radiation pretreatment of protein-containing wastewater and biological production of hydrogen under a neutral pH condition and intermediate temperature condition.

Abstract: An isolated peptide is disclosed. The peptide comprises a titanium oxide binding amino acid sequence connected to a heterologous biologically active amino acid sequence via a beta sheet breaker linker, wherein: (i) the titanium oxide binding amino acid sequence is selected to bind coordinatively with titanium oxide; (ii) the titanium oxide binding amino acid sequence is selected to induce a beta sheet structure; and (ii) the titanium oxide binding amino acid sequence binds to titanium oxide with a higher affinity than said biologically active amino acid sequence binds to the titanium oxide under physiological conditions. Use of the peptides and titanium devices comprising same are also disclosed.

Abstract: An oxide semiconductor film includes indium (In), cerium (Ce), zinc (Zn), doping metal element (M) and oxygen (O) elements, and a molar ratio of the In, Ce, and Zn as In:Ce:Zn is in a range of 2:(0.5 to 2):1. A method for making a oxide semiconductor film includes a step of forming an oxide film on a substrate by using a sputtering method and a sputtering target comprising In2CexZnO4+2x, wherein x=0.5˜2.

Abstract: A controlling device has a configurable key. An overlay, such as a sticker, is provided to the configurable key and includes an indicia representative of media content and machine readable data indicative of an identity of the media content represented by the indicia. A memory of the controlling device stores a correspondence between the configurable key and data indicative of a source of the media content. Upon activation of configured, configurable key, the controlling device uses select command codes from a library of command codes and the correspondence between the configurable key and the data indicative of the source of the media content to transmit one or more commands for causing one or more appliances to access the source of the media content.

Abstract: CpG densities and sequence motifs that are characteristic of regions of DNA associated with epimutations and control of epimutations are provided. Such regions include, within approximately 400 (or fewer) base pairs, at least one, usually two, and preferably all three of the following features: i) a CpG density of 15% or less; ii) the presence of the sequence motif ATTTGTTTTTTCTTTTnT (SEQ ID NO: 1) where n is A, T, C or G, and statistically relevant variants thereof; and iii) the presence of the sequence motif GGGGGnGGGG (SEQ ID NO: 2), where n is A, T, C or G, and statistically relevant variants thereof.

Abstract: Methods and composition for cell-based therapy as well as somatostatin receptor-based therapy are described. For example, in certain aspects methods for administering an anti-tumor therapy using a signaling defective somatostatin receptor mutant are described. Furthermore, the invention provides compositions and methods involve a somatostatin constitutively active somatostatin receptor mutant.

Abstract: A multi-sided controlling device automatically makes keys on one or more sides of the controlling device active as a function of an operating mode of the controlling device. One or more sides of such a multi-sided controlling device may also have at least one keycap behind which is positioned an IR transmitter usable when another side of the controlling device is active.

Abstract: According to an example, a signal space based navigation apparatus may receive traces of wireless signal observations and corresponding pedestrian deadreckoning (PDR) traces between different ones of the wireless signal observations from a plurality of user devices. A plurality of wireless clusters may be generated based on the traces of wireless signal observations. A PDR displacement vector may be generated between two or more of the wireless clusters based on the two or more of the wireless clusters and a subset of the PDR traces corresponding to the two or more of the wireless clusters. A sensing map may be generated based on the plurality of wireless clusters and a plurality of PDR displacement vectors including the PDR displacement vector.