Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for the production of peptides, and the peptides produced accordingly. Peptides produced according to the invention may be produced more efficiently than peptides produced according to prior art processes. The production process of the invention may lead to advantages in yield, purity, and/or price. Methods of marketing peptides are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention provides a nucleotide analogue comprising (i) a base selected from the group consisting of adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine and uracil, (ii) a deoxyribose, (iii) an allyl moiety bound to the 3?-oxygen of the deoxyribose and (iv) a fluorophore bound to the base via an allyl linker, and methods of nucleic acid sequencing employing the nucleotide analogue.

Abstract: An extension cord with environmental condition sensing ability has a plug for connecting to a power source, and includes a main body, a sensor unit, and a current control unit. On the main body, there are provided a first socket group and a second socket group, which are electrically connected to the power source via the plug. The sensor unit is electrically connected to the second socket group for sensing an environmental condition and thereby generating a signal. The current control unit and the sensor unit together form an electric circuit, and the current control unit receives the signal generated by the sensor unit and turns on or cuts off electric current being supplied to the second socket group according to the received signal.

Abstract: A dynamic taxi-sharing system and a sharing method thereof. A ride-sharing service provider carries at least one passenger from the first current location to the first travel destination through a route in an area and sends registration information to a service server. A plurality of ride-sharing requests is sent to the service server, and each of the ride-sharing requests comprises the second current location and the second travel destination. The service server divides the area into n by n blocks. A ride-matching module of the service server chooses a destination area in which the first travel destination is a center point and divides the destination area into k by k blocks. According to the registration information and the ride-sharing requests, the ride-matching module matches at least one ride-sharing traveler to the ride-sharing service provider to achieve a goal of fuel-saving and pollution-reducing.

Abstract: A micro-array surface that provides for drag reduction. In one aspect, an aerodynamic or hydrodynamic wall surface that is configured to modify a fluid boundary layer on the surface comprises at least one array of micro-cavities formed therein the surface. In one example, the interaction of the micro-cavities with the boundary layer of the fluid can delay transition of the fluid over an identical smooth surface without the micro-cavities.

Abstract: Administering an effective dose of glutenase to a Celiac or dermatitis herpetiformis patient reduces levels of toxic gluten oligopeptides, thereby attenuating or eliminating the damaging effects of gluten.

Abstract: Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks (ZIFs) characterized by organic ligands consisting of imidazole ligands that are either essentially all 2-chloroimidazole ligands or essentially all 2-bromoimidazole ligands are disclosed. Methods for separating propane and propene with the ZIFs of the present invention, as well as other ZIFs, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A calibration method for radio frequency scattering parameter measurement applying three calibrators and measurement structure thereof, comprising a transmission line segment calibrator, an offset series device calibrator, an offset shunt device calibrator and a tested object measuring instrument, wherein the length of the transmission lines for the offset series device calibrator and the offset shunt device calibrator is equal to the one of the transmission line for the tested object measuring instrument such that the offset series device calibrator, the offset shunt device calibrator and the tested object measuring instrument have the identical error boxes, and after having acquired the scattering parameter matrix of the error box by means of the calibration method, it is possible to connect the tested electronic device onto the tested object measuring instrument and perform operations on uncorrected measurement data thereof thereby obtaining the radio frequency scattering parameter of the tested object.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a syntactic component for retrieving records corresponding to an individual and analyzing the records to assess a condition for the individual; a user interface for capturing interaction data that is associated with an encounter between the individual and a service provider; and a semantic component for comparing the interaction data to interaction criteria, where an action plan for the individual is generated based at least in part on the assessed condition and the comparison of the interaction data to the interaction criteria. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for measuring temperature of an object using the longitudinal mode output by a short cavity fiber laser, includes steps of: a) arranging the short cavity fiber laser, which laser comprises sequentially coupled laser diode pumping source, a wavelength division multiplexer, a fiber bragg grating, an active optical fiber and a loop mirror which are; b) contacting the short cavity fiber laser with the object whose temperature will be measured; c) measuring the drift amount of longitudinal mode output by the short cavity fiber laser; and d) calculating the temperature of the object to be measured. According to the present invention, the temperature can be measured accurately utilizing the features of the short cavity fiber laser. The arranged fiber laser has a small and simple structure, high measuring accuracy, good portability, and can be used in a variety of occasions.

Abstract: This invention relates to a magnetic ceramic material comprising, as main components, (a) at least one magnetic iron oxide selected from the group consisting of Fe3O4 and ?-Fe2O3, and (b) an amorphous phase, and a process for producing a magnetic ceramic material, comprising (1) heating a microorganism-derived iron oxide ceramic material containing an iron atom, and (2) reducing the iron oxide ceramic material obtained in Step (1) by heating in the presence of hydrogen gas.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a one-dimensional nano-structure-based device includes the steps of preparing a solution (14) containing one-dimensional nano-structures (18); providing a plurality of electrical conductors (42), each of the electrical conductors having a first tip (421) to be treated; providing a fixing device (44) having a second tip (441); connecting at least one of the one-dimensional nano-structures with one of the electrical conductors; and repeating the connecting step to another one of the first tips to be treated. Therein, the connecting step further includes the steps of, in part: applying at least a drop of the solution to the first and second tips thereby the first and second tips being interconnected by the solution; applying a voltage between the first and second tips thereby at least one one-dimensional nano-structures being interconnected therewith; and separating the second tip from the first tip.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of treating and/or preventing infections in mammals caused by microorganisms, by administering to a mammal a therapeutically effective amount of at least one defensin-like molecule, e.g., in a composition that includes such molecule. Also disclosed are the use of such defensin-like molecules for treating and/or preventing infections in mammals; and kits that may include such molecules, or compositions that include such molecules, as well as instructions for using such molecules to treat a mammal.

Abstract: The invention features methods of inhibiting the growth of, or killing, fungal and certain bacterial microorganisms with one or more of a family of glycerol-based compounds.

Abstract: Methods, compositions and articles of manufacture involving soluble conjugated polymers are provided. The conjugated polymers have a sufficient density of polar substituents to render them soluble in a polar medium, for example water and/or methanol. The conjugated polymers may desirably comprise monomers which alter their conductivity properties. The different solubility properties of these polymers allow their deposition in solution in multilayer formats with other conjugated polymers. Also provided are articles of manufacture comprising multiple layers of conjugated polymers having differing solubility characteristics. Embodiments of the invention are described further herein.

Abstract: A method of recovering copper from chalcopyrite concentrate by chemical leaching, using pyrite and silver. The catalytic properties of pyrite in the chalcopyrite leaching process are significantly enhanced by pretreating the pyrite with silver ions. Particulate pyrite is exposed to a solution containing silver ions to form silver-treated pyrite. Particulate chalcopyrite and the silver-treated pyrite are mixed in an acidic sulfate leach solution. The copper is leached from the concentrate in the leach solution in the presence of an oxygen-containing gas, under conditions whereby the pyrite is substantially unoxidized. The leached copper is recovered from the solution by conventional methods. The used silver-treated pyrite is recycled to the leaching process.

Abstract: The present invention provides molecules, including IgGs, non-IgG immunoglobulins, proteins and non-protein agents, that have increased in vivo half-lives due to the presence of an IgG constant domain, or a portion thereof that binds the FcRn, having one or more amino acid modifications that increase the affinity of the constant domain or fragment for FcRn. Such proteins and molecules with increased half-lives have the advantage that smaller amounts and or less frequent dosing is required in the therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic use of such molecules.

Abstract: A lithium-ion battery having an anode including an array of nanowires electrochemically coated with a polymer electrolyte, and surrounded by a cathode matrix, forming thereby interpenetrating electrodes, wherein the diffusion length of the Li+ ions is significantly decreased, leading to faster charging/discharging, greater reversibility, and longer battery lifetime, is described. The battery design is applicable to a variety of battery materials. Methods for directly electrodepositing Cu2Sb from aqueous solutions at room temperature using citric acid as a complexing agent to form an array of nanowires for the anode, are also described. Conformal coating of poly-[Zn(4-vinyl-4?methyl-2,2?-bipyridine)3](PF6)2 by electroreductive polymerization onto films and high-aspect ratio nanowire arrays for a solid-state electrolyte is also described, as is reductive electropolymerization of a variety of vinyl monomers, such as those containing the acrylate functional group.

Abstract: Described are nucleic acids encoding a polypeptide for delivery of a nanoparticle to the cytosol, the peptide comprising: (a) a nanoparticle association domain, (b) a spacer domain, (c) an uptake domain, and (d) a vesicle escape domain, wherein the domains (a) through (d) appear in the same order as listed above, and wherein the peptide, upon addition of a non-hydrolyzable lipophilic moiety to the vesicle escape domain and binding to a nanoparticle, is effective to induce uptake of a nanoparticle by a cell and delivery of the nanoparticle to the cytosol of the cell. Also described are methods of delivery of a nanoparticle to the cytosol of a cell, the method comprising providing to a cell a nanoparticle attached to such a peptide. Exemplary nanoparticles include quantum dots.

Abstract: A method for producing a single stranded DNA (ssDNA) molecule of a defined length and sequence is disclosed. This method enables the preparation of, inter alia, probes of greater length than can be chemically synthesized. The method starts with a double stranded molecule, such as genomic, double stranded DNA (dsDNA) from any organism. A fragment of the starting molecule (dsDNA) is amplified by specific primers engineered to introduce cleavage sites on either side of the desired sequence. Cleavage steps on the amplified, engineered fragment are combined with a phosphate removal step, thereby creating a construct that can be digested with an exonuclease without damage to the desired ssDNA. Probes, which hybridize with large gaps between the ends of the probes, are also disclosed.