Abstract: The present invention provides a novel xanthone derivative compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The compound is useful as a chemosensitizer that reduces anticancer drug resistance.

Abstract: Compressed sensing (CS) estimation approaches rely on a priori sparsity to significantly reduce the number of samples needed to provide high sampling fidelity, relative to the normal Shannon-Nyquist limit. Accordingly, CS approaches are of considerable interest for detector multiplexing in applications which have inherently sparse signals (e.g., the two correlated photon detection events in PET imaging). However, CS approaches also tend to fare poorly in the presence of noise, which has limited their applicability in practice. In this work, we show that CS estimation can be used to provide an estimate of the support of an image. This estimated support is then used as a constraint for maximum likelihood image reconstruction. This approach has robust noise performance and provides high reconstruction fidelity.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel porphyrin complex having excellent light collection characteristics and a dye-sensitized solar cell using the porphyrin complex as a sensitizing dye. The porphyrin complex of the present invention as a means for achieving the object is characterized by comprising a porphyrin derivative and a metal atom. The porphyrin derivative has a carboxyaryl group, which is optionally substituted on the aryl ring, attached to at least one of four meso positions of a porphyrin ring optionally substituted at the ?-position and also has a diarylamino group, which is optionally substituted on one or both of the aryl rings, attached to at least either of a meso position adjacent thereto and a meso position opposite thereto.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for simulating a distributed business process are disclosed. The methods and apparatus simulate an interdependent business process, such as a financial transaction system, in a secure distributed manner. Each business entity that is part of the interdependent business process models itself on a local client device at any chosen level of detail. A simulation server connects the separate client based simulations into one large simulation. Details of each local simulation may be hidden from other simulation participants. However, interruptions in business flow caused by simulated disruptions introduced at the simulation server and/or a client device are propagated to all of the effected simulation participants via the simulation server. In addition, if a client based model is not available, the server supplies a software agent to replace the inputs and outputs normally associated with that portion of the overall simulation.

Abstract: A method of translation of a chart associated with a graphical modeling environment into an input/output-extended finite automata (I/O-EFA) model is provided. The method includes receiving a representation of the chart and processing the representation of the chart with a computing device by (a) representing atomic models for each individual state of the chart, (b) applying composition rules to interconnect the atomic models while preserving state execution and transition behaviors to obtain the I/O-EFA model.

Abstract: Techniques for comparing 3D models are provided. A method for comparing 3D models includes obtaining a first skeleton of a first 3D model, obtaining a second skeleton of a second 3D model, and calculating similarity between the first and the second 3D models based on distance, angle, and inter-position related global constraints of the first and the second skeletons.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for treating neoplastic disorders, such as pancreatic cancer, using tocotrienols; namely, gamma-tocotrienol and delta tocotrienol. The antitumorogenic effects of these compounds are shown both in vitro and in vivo using several human pancreatic cancer cell lines and MIA-PACA2 human pancreatic cancer cells xenografted in nude mice. Also disclosed are methods of testing the efficacy of potential chemotherapeutic agents by measuring their effect on surrogate endpoint biomarkers, such as Ki-67 and p27. Associated compounds are also disclosed.

Abstract: Oligonucleotide chemistry is central to the advancement of core technologies such as DNA sequencing, forensic and genetic analysis and has impacted greatly on the discipline of molecular biology. Oligonucleotides and their analogues are essential tools in these areas. They are often produced by automated solid-phase phosphoramidite synthesis but it is difficult to synthesize long DNA and RNA sequences by this method. Methods are proposed for ligating oligonucleotides together, in particular the use of an azide-alkyne coupling reaction to ligate the backbones of oligonucleotides together to form longer oligonucleotides that can be synthesized using current phosphoramidite synthesis methods.

Abstract: The present invention provides new zinc finger proteins and zinc finger nuclease (ZFNs) that find particular using in repairing the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene.

Abstract: The present invention contemplates induction of immunological tolerance thereby providing permanent allograft acceptance. This method obviates the need for a lifelong regimen of immunosuppressive agents which can increase the risk of infection, autoimmunity, and cancer. Immunological tolerance is thought to be mediated by regulatory T lymphocytes (Treg cells) with immunosuppressive capabilities. A therapeutically relevant platform comprising artificial constructs are contemplated comprising numerous soluble and surface bound Treg cell stimulating factors that may induce tolerance following allograft transplantation. Such artificial constructs, being the size of a cell, have surface bound monoclonal antibodies specific to regulatory T-cell surface moieties and encapsulated soluble regulatory T-cell modulating factors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a filamentous phage display method wherein the polypeptides of interest displayed on the phage particle are cotranslationally translocated across the cytoplasmic membrane of Gram-negative bacteria based on the signal recognition particle pathway. This method is particularly suitable for polypeptides, which are known to be difficult to display on phages, and for proteins of cDNA libraries and other combinatorial libraries, in particular when derived from very fast folding, stable protein scaffolds. The invention further relates to phage or phagemid vectors useful in the method comprising a gene construct coding for a fusion polypeptide comprising the polypeptide to be displayed on the phage particle and an N-terminal signal sequence promoting cotranslational translocation.

Abstract: A direct polycondensation method for medical biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA). The invention uses commercialized creatinine (a type of biomaterial organic guanidine compounds—the arginine metabolite creatinine in human body) as the catalyst and industrial lactic acid (mass content 85-90%, aqueous solution) as the monomer to synthesize the PLA in terms of second polycondensation without solvent. Instead of tin catalysts having cytotoxicity, the catalyst used in the invention has high biocompatibility and biosafety. The synthesized PLA does not contain any metal and other toxic components; therefore, it can be used as the carrier for targeting drugs and controlled release drugs. The green catalyst and green processing method (no solvent applied and no toxic products produced) are used to synthesize the green biodegradable PLA with high biosafety. The molecular weight distribution for all synthesized products is narrow and the molecular weight is controllable within 1.5-3.0×104.

Abstract: A gaming machine includes a symbol display device, a top box, and a controller. The symbol display device is capable of variably displaying and then rearranging a plurality of symbols. The top box is disposed at an upper part of the symbol display device and has an illumination target disposed on a front face and a plurality of visual recognition targets disposed therein. The controller is programmed to: variably display and then rearrange symbols on the symbol display device to thereby execute a normal game; execute an animation character acquisition game for acquiring a specific animation character from among a plurality of animation characters in accordance with specific symbols being rearranged in the normal game; and move at least one visual recognition target from among the plurality of visual recognition targets, based on a result of the animation character acquisition game. This configuration enables a player to be given notice in a mode of moving a visual recognition target in the top box.

Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) driving circuit suitable for driving an LED load is provided. The LED driving circuit includes an AC voltage source, a bridge rectifier, a plurality of diodes, inductors, transistors and capacitors. The diodes, inductors, transistors and capacitors are configured to form a buck-boost converter and a buck converter, where the buck-boost converter and the buck converter share the transistors as active switches. Designer can design the LED driving circuit with zero-voltage switching-on using the diode characteristic of the existing active switches by selecting suitable circuit parameters.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for simulating sound propagation can be operable to define a sound source position within a modeled scene having a given geometry and construct a visibility tree for modeling sound propagation paths within the scene. Using from-region visibility techniques to model sound diffraction and from-point visibility technique to model specular sound reflections within the scene, the size of the visibility tree can be reduced. Using the visibility tree, an impulse response can be generated for the scene, and the impulse response can be used to simulate sound propagation in the scene.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for making structures, including nanosized and microsized thin film structures that exhibit a high degree of smoothness useful for applications in microelectronics. Deposition processing of the invention utilize smoothing agents capable of selectively adjusting the relative rates of processes involved in thin film formation and growth to access enhanced nucleation densities resulting in smooth thin film structures, including ultrathin (e.g., <10 nm) smooth films.

Abstract: A voxel-based transformation method includes: a) obtaining a MRI dataset in a subject space associated with subject voxel coordinates, subject sampling directions, and subject voxel spin amounts, and a dataset of a co-registration template associated with template voxel coordinates, each subject voxel coordinate corresponding to a template voxel coordinate according to a mapping function; b) through an inverse of the mapping function, obtaining subject voxel coordinates and a Jacobian matrix; and c) obtaining template voxel spin amounts, each being a function of a template sampling direction and a template voxel coordinate, using the Jacobian matrix and image data.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and compositions for modulating the function of transcription factors, especially transcription factors that recruit epigenetic regulators (histone modifying enzymes) to specific DNA promoters. The targeted transcription factors include but are not limited to the myocyte enhancing factor (MEF2), the forkhead/winged helix transcription factor FOXP3 and the transcription factor GATA3. Also disclosed are small molecule modulators of MEF2 and its associated factors that include but not limited to histone deacetylases (HDACs), p300/CBP and Cabin1 and the therapeutic applications thereof.

Abstract: Indolyl or indolinyl compounds of formula (I): wherein bond, n, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6, are defined herein. Also disclosed is a method for treating cancer with these compounds.

Abstract: The present invention concerns compositions comprising and methods of identification and use of targeting peptides for placenta or adipose tissue. In certain embodiments, the targeting peptides comprise part or all of SEQ ID NO:5-11, SEQ ID NO:13-22 or SEQ ID NO:144. The peptides may be attached to various therapeutic agents for targeted delivery. Adipose-targeting peptides may be used in methods for weight control, inducing weight loss and treating lipodystrophy syndrome. Adipose-targeting may also be accomplished using other binding moieties selectively targeted to adipose receptors, such as a prohibitin receptor protein complex. Placenta-targeting peptides may be used to interfere with pregnancy, induce labor and/or for targeted delivery of therapeutic agents to placenta and/or fetus. In other embodiments, receptors identified by binding to placenta-targeting peptides may be used to screen compounds for potential teratogenicity.