Abstract: Replication protein A (RPA) is a single-strand DNA-binding protein with essential roles in DNA replication, recombination and repair. Small molecule inhibitors (SMIs) with the ability to disrupt RPA binding activity to ssDNA have been identified and assessed using both lung and ovarian cancer cell lines. Lung cancer cell lines demonstrated increased apoptotic cell death following treatment with the SMI MCI13E, with IC50 values of ˜5 ?M. The A2780 ovarian cancer cell line and the p53-null lung cancer cell line HI 299 were particularly sensitive to MCI13E treatment with IC50 values below 3 ?M. Sequential treatment with MCI13E and cisplatin resulted in synergism, suggesting that decreasing RPA's DNA binding activity via a SMI may disrupt RPA's role in cell cycle regulation. Thus, RPA SMIs hold the potential to be used as single agent chemotherapeutics or in combination with current chemotherapeutic regimens to increase their efficacy.

Abstract: A substance that sets in a relatively short time for use in general dentistry and in endodontics to replace natural tooth material, the substance comprising untreated mineral trioxide aggregate and milled mineral trioxide aggregate, or comprising untreated mineral trioxide aggregate, milled mineral trioxide aggregate and water. A method of making a substance that sets in a relatively short time for use in general dentistry and in endodontics to replace natural tooth material, the method comprising milling by high shear and impact impingement of particles using high pressure homogenization. A method for use in general dentistry and in endodontics to replace natural tooth material.

Abstract: A method for communicating data between peripheral devices and an embedded processor that includes receiving, at a data buffer unit of the embedded processor, the data from a peripheral device. The method also includes copying data from the data buffer unit into the bridge buffer of the embedded processor as a bridge buffer message. Additionally, the method includes creating, after storing the data as a bridge buffer message, a peripheral device message comprising the bridge buffer message, and sending the peripheral device message to a thread message queue of a subscriber.

Abstract: A molecular probe for use in imaging of pancreatic islets is provided. The molecular probe comprises a polypeptide represented by the following formula (1), (2), or (3), or a polypeptide having homology with the foregoing polypeptide, (SEQ?ID?NO.?1) Z-HGEGTFTSDLSXQMEEEAVRLFIEWLKNGGPSSGAPPPS-NH2?(1) (SEQ?ID?NO.?2) Z-HGEGTFTSDLSKQMEEEAVRLFIEWLXNGGPSSGAPPPS-NH2?(2) (SEQ?ID?NO.?3) B-HGEGTFTSDLSKQMEEEAVRLFIEWLKNGGPSSGAPPPS-NH2?(3) where, in the formulae (1) and (2), “X” represents a lysine residue, an amino group of a side chain of the lysine residue being labeled with a radioactive nuclide, and “Z—” indicates that an ?-amino group at an N-terminus is not modified, or is modified with a modifying group having no electric charge; in the formula (3), “B—” indicates that an ?-amino group at an N-terminus is labeled with a radioactive nuclide; and in the formulae (1), (2), and (3), “—NH2” indicates that a carboxyl group at a C-terminus is amidated.

Abstract: With a pulse-height analyzer, a reference-pulse generator generates a reference pulse of a given pulse height for a given period of time when an analog radiation pulse inputted to a comparator is higher than an initial threshold. A capacitor and a resistor receive the reference pulse, and then increase an increment threshold for the given period of time from the initial threshold to the given pulse height. Then the increment threshold is set as a reference voltage of the comparator. A pulse time width of the analog radiation pulse is determined through measuring a period of time from timing where the analog radiation pulse exceeds the initial threshold to timing where the analog radiation pulse being attenuated falls below the increment threshold.

Abstract: The time/temperature history of a food tray or pouch heated by microwave energy applied through a waveguide can be accurately assessed on positioning and stabilizing a shielded data logger in an orientation where the base of the data logger is located generally close to zero depth (near the side wall) and the tip projects to the cold spot in the tray or pouch. A frame can be used to assure stability of orientation in a pouch while bracing can be used to assure stability in a tray. The properly configured food tray or pouch can serve as an accurate witness device for food items being processed in a similar manner under microwave heating for, e.g., sterilization or pasteurization.

Abstract: Provided according to embodiments of the invention are novel tertiary alkyl thiol compounds and novel tertiary alkyl nitrosothiol compounds. Further provided according to embodiments of the invention are methods of forming a nitric oxide (NO)-releasing xerogel coating that include (a) co-condensing a sol precursor solution comprising at least one backbone alkoxysilane and at least one tertiary thiol alkoxysilane in a solvent to form a sol; (b) coating a substrate with the sol; (c) optionally, drying the sol to form the xerogel coating; and (d) contacting the xerogel coating with a nitrosating agent. Methods of using xerogel coatings are also included.

Abstract: Myeloid function is enhanced by transplantation or infusion of allogeneic myeloid progenitor cells, including CMP, GMP, MEP and MKP cell subsets. Myeloid progenitors ameliorate sequelae of anemia and thrombocytopenia, and can prevent or treat gastrointestinal mucositis associated with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and the like. The transplantation or infusion may be performed in the absence of HLA typing, and the cells may be mismatched at one or more Class I HLA loci. The transplantation may provide for treatment of ongoing disease, or prevention of disease in high risk patients.

Abstract: A method of fabricating organic solar panels with transparent contacts. The method uses a layer-by-layer spray technique to create the anode layer. The method includes placing the substrate on a flat magnet, aligning a magnetic shadow mask over the substrate, applying photoresist to the substrate using spray photolithography, etching the substrate, cleaning the substrate, spin coating a tuning layer on substrate, spin coating an active layer of P3HT/PCBM on the substrate, spray coating the substrate with a modified PEDOT solution, and annealing the substrate.

Abstract: A gaming machine selects a control data corresponding to a type of a game result among a plurality of control data for controlling a door. Each control data includes at least one position data for determining a position of the door, and the at least one position data corresponds to at least one of a position data for fully closing the door, a position data for fully opening the door, or at least one position data for partially opening the door. The gaming machine selects a display data corresponding to the selected control data among a plurality of display data, displays on the display panel an image according to the selected display data, controls the door using at least one position data of the selected control data; and displays the game result on the first display.

Abstract: An electrowetting device includes: a liquid-confining member including a base and an electrode unit supported on the base, the liquid-confining member defining an inner chamber; a first liquid of a magnetic ink disposed in the inner chamber; and a second liquid of a polar material disposed in the inner chamber and immiscible with the first liquid. The first and second liquids contact each other to define a liquid-liquid interface therebetween.

Abstract: Agonists of growth hormone releasing hormone promote islet graft growth and proliferation in patients. Methods of treating patients comprise the use of these agonists.

Abstract: A method for treating bisretinoid-mediated macular degeneration in a mammal afflicted therewith comprising administering to the mammal an effective amount of a compound having the structure: or an ester or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Abstract: Chemoselective ligation of hydrophobic reactants in a lipid phase.

Abstract: Glucagon antagonists are provided which comprise amino acid substitutions and/or chemical modifications to glucagon sequence. In one embodiment, the glucagon antagonists comprise a native glucagon peptide that has been modified by the deletion of the first two to five amino acid residues from the N-terminus and (i) an amino acid substitution at position 9 (according to the numbering of native glucagon) or (ii) substitution of the Phe at position 6 (according to the numbering of native glucagon) with phenyl lactic acid (PLA). In another embodiment, the glucagon antagonists comprise the structure A-B-C as described herein, wherein A is PLA, an oxy derivative thereof, or a peptide of 2-6 amino acids in which two consecutive amino acids of the peptide are linked via an ester or ether bond.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a better intestine immunomodulator. The intestine immunomodulator of the present invention comprises bacterial cells or a bacterial component of a Lactobacillus paracasei K71 strain having an international deposit No.: FERM BP-11098 as an active ingredient. Preferably, the intestine immunomodulator is used to facilitate production of secretory immunoglobulin A or to activate natural killer cells.

Abstract: This invention refers to innovative water sprays applications to significantly improve coal and quartz dust control around a continuous miner. Significant dust control is achieved through utilizing different types of sprays at locations on the top and sides of the miner chassis to create water curtains or shrouds of water around zones of high dust concentration and zones of high concentration dust transport. This is called “multiple lines of defense” spray system (MLD.) This invention also provides a method of reducing dust around a continuous miner by configuring a spray system, located at the top or sides of the cutter boom, thereby improving control of respirable dust.

Abstract: A digital microfluidic platform utilizes dual active matrix circuitry to actuate and heat liquid droplets on a biochip. Liquid droplets are introduced into a droplet handling area of the biochip where they can be actuated by electrodes residing in pixels of an actuating active matrix array according to the electrowetting on dielectric phenomenon and heated by heating elements residing in pixels of a heating active matrix array. Pixels of the actuating active matrix array and the heating active matrix array are independently addressable such that droplets in the droplet handling area can be selectively heated and actuated according to their location. The actuating active matrix array and heating active matrix array can be formed on the same or different substrates with the droplet handling area disposed above or between the substrates.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for analysis of cardiac rhythms, based on calculations of entropy and moments of interbeat intervals. The invention provides an optimal determination of segments of data that demonstrate statistical homogeneity, specifically with regard to moments and entropy. The invention also involves calculating moments and entropy on each segment with the goal of diagnosis of cardiac rhythm. More specifically, an absolute entropy measurement is calculated and provided as a continuous variable, providing dynamical information of fundamental importance in diagnosis and analysis. Through the present invention, standard histograms, thresholds, and categories can be avoided.

Abstract: A manufacturing execution system (MES) with virtual-metrology capabilities and a manufacturing system including the MES are provided. The MES is built on a middleware architecture (such as an object request broker architecture), and includes an equipment manager, a virtual metrology system (VMS), a statistical process control (SPC) system, an alarm manager and a scheduler. The manufacturing system includes a first process tool, a second process tool, a metrology tool, the aforementioned MES, a first R2R (Run-to-Run) controller and a second R2R controller.