Abstract: Materials and methods are described to produce xylitol from a mixture of hemicellulosic sugars by several routes. Examples include either as a direct co-product of a biorefinery or ethanol facility, or as a stand-alone product produced from an agricultural or forestry biomass feedstock including using, e.g. ethanol waste streams.

Abstract: Provided herein are synthetic porous electron-rich covalent organonitridic frameworks (PECONFs). The PECONFs are useful as an adsorbent class of materials. In the PECONFs, inorganic nitridic building units are interconnected via electron-rich aromatic units to form porous covalent frameworks. The frameworks include tunable porous, electron-rich organonitridic frameworks, which are determined based upon synthetic methods as exemplified herein.

Abstract: A fluid-pressure regulator for regulating the pressure of a fluid. The regulator includes a variable-resistance fluid element and a variable-volume fluid element located downstream of the variable-resistance element. Pressure in the fluid at the outlet of the regulator is controlled by substantially simultaneously changing the resistance of the variable-resistance element and the volume of the variable-volume element. In one example, a decrease in pressure is effected at the outlet by simultaneously increasing the resistance of the variable-resistance element and increasing the volume of the variable-volume element. Some embodiments of the regulator are particularly useful to effect long-term and high-speed pressure changes in high-resistance fluidic channel networks.

Abstract: A system and method for validating the accuracy of delineated contours in computerized imaging using statistical data for generating assessment criterion that define acceptable tolerances for delineated contours, with the statistical data being conditionally updated and/or refined between individual processes for validating delineated contours to thereby adjust the tolerances defined by the assessment criterion in the stored statistical data, such that the stored statistical data is more closely representative of a target population. The present invention may be used to facilitate, as one example, on-line adaptive radiation therapy.

Abstract: Compositions and methods of modulating an immune response by controlling expression levels of microRNAs in dendritic cells are disclosed. In particular, the invention relates to modified dendritic cells and methods of using such dendritic cells in cellular therapy for treating various immune conditions and diseases, including transplant rejection, inflammatory disorders, autoimmune diseases, allergies, infectious diseases, immunodeficiency, and cancer.

Abstract: A rodent immobilizing apparatus for use during experimental procedures, dissection, and sample procurement. The apparatus has two (2) points of adherence to the dissection board, one at the head/jaw region and one at the tail region. Generally, the rodent immobilizing apparatus includes a base, a bed positioned atop the base, a bank disposed along one side of the bed, another bank disposed along the opposite side of the bed, a string/wire hook affixed to each bank with string/wire therebetween, and a tail clip/clamp positioned at an inferior portion of the bed. The bed is slidable along the banks to accommodate different sized rodents. In operation, an anesthetized/euthanized rodent is positioned supine on the bed. The bed slides along the banks, so that the string/wire is hooked within the rodent's jaw. The tail is clamped to the bed, and the bed is pulled back to stretch out the rodent, thus immobilizing the rodent completely and rapidly.

Abstract: Double caged GABA compounds and compositions including the same are described. Methods of synthesizing and using double caged GABA compounds are provided.

Abstract: A method of spectrum sensing and an apparatus for spectrum sensing are provided. A method of spectrum sensing involves partitioning, by a processor, a spectrum sensing section into a plurality of sub-periods each having a same size, performing energy detection in each of the plurality of sub-periods, and determining whether a primary user's signal is present in the spectrum sensing section based on presence of a primary user's signal in each of the plurality of sub-periods and a test statistic in each of the plurality of sub-periods.

Abstract: A framework, comprising techniques, process(es), device(s), system(s), combinations thereof, or the like, to analyze propagation of information in prior-image-based reconstruction by decomposing the estimation into distinct components supported by a current data acquisition and by a prior image. Such decomposition can quantify contributions from prior data and current data as a spatial map and/or can trace specific features in an image to a source of at least some of such features.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring three-dimensional radiation dose distributions with high spatial and temporal resolution using a large-volume scintillator. The scintillator converts the radiation dose distribution into a visible light distribution. The visible light is transported to one or more photo-detectors, which measure the light intensity. The light signals are processed to correct for optical artifacts, and the three-dimensional light distribution is reconstructed. The reconstructed light distribution is post-processed to convert light amplitudes to measured radiation doses. The high temporal resolution of the detector makes it possible to observe the evolution of a dynamic dose distribution as it changes over time. Integral dose distributions can be measured by summing the dose over time.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is provided with a plurality of synthetic jet actuators and a nonlinear robust controller. The controller compensates for uncertainty in a mathematic model that describes the function of the synthetic jet actuators. Compensation is provided by the use of constant feedforward best guess estimates that eliminate the need for more highly computationally burdensome approaches such as the use of time-varying adaptive parameter estimation algorithms.

Abstract: Peptide compounds based on the CAP37 protein are disclosed, along with methods for treating various infections, wounds, and conditions, and methods of promoting healing and acceptance of grafts, using compositions containing these peptide compounds.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a monoclonal antibody that specifically binds to human CD133 and single-chain variable fragments thereof. Also disclosed herein is a hybridoma that produces the monoclonal antibody that specifically binds to human CD133.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions of a multimodal detection agent and methods of fabricating the same. The multimodal detection agent comprises a plurality of metallic nanoparticles attached to a surface of a polymeric carrier. The detection agent further comprising one or more target-specific binding agents attached to the metallic nanoparticles or the polymeric carrier.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating micro- and nanostructures comprise top-down etching of lithographically patterned GaN layer to form an array of micro- or nanopillar structures, followed by selective growth of GaN shells over the pillar structures via selective epitaxy. Also provided are methods of forming micro- and nanodisk structures and microstructures formed from thereby.

Abstract: An agent that increases local concentration of retinoic acid (RA) in the intestine through modifying enzymatic pathways involved in RA metabolism is administered in a dose effective to inhibit or reverse production of inflammatory mediators by intestinal dendritic cells and thereby reduce intestinal inflammation and tumor growth associated with intestinal inflammation.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods useful for diagnostic and imaging techniques for detecting and localizing the biomarker Plectin-1. The present invention provides multimeric peptide ligand complexes for targeting Plectin-1, such as the multimeric peptide ligand complex having the formula (?AKTLLPTPGGS(PEG5000))4 KKKKDOTA?A-NH2, to which imaging agents and/or therapeutic agents can be conjugated.

Abstract: A wide-band optical frequency comb is provided to estimate an optical phase shift induced in a dispersive material. In contrast to the conventional techniques that rely on a single tunable laser for extracting the dispersion parameter at different frequencies, the wide-band optical frequency comb uses multiple comb lines for simultaneously evaluating the dispersion induced phase shifts in different frequencies. Since the frequency response of the dispersive material is a phase function, a phase associated with each comb line passed through the material represents a discrete measure of the material frequency response.

Abstract: The present invention relates to optimized aptamers and methods of using these aptamers.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for modifying tocochromanol biosynthesis in plants. The present invention thus surprisingly and beneficially provides for increasing desired tocochromanol compounds in plants and enhancing the nutritional quality of human food and animal feed, without associate deleterious plant phenotypes.