Abstract: A washer assembly includes a threaded fastener head engaging portion and a surface engaging portion. The threaded fastener head engaging portion includes a head engaging face configured to lie in a plane substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal length of a threaded fastener passed through an opening at an axial center of the threaded fastener head engaging portion. The surface engaging portion includes a slot and a surface engaging face. The slot extends through the surface engaging portion along a line extending through an axial center of the surface engaging portion. An adjustable interface is defined between the surface engaging portion and the threaded fastener head engaging portion to enable the slot to receive the threaded fastener such that the surface engaging face lies parallel to a surface that is not perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the threaded fastener.

Abstract: The present invention provides maspin-related compositions and methods of use thereof. In particular, the present invention provides maspin-related compositions, and methods or use thereof, for the promotion of cell adhesion.

Abstract: An anti-norovirus agent that has high norovirus-inactivating activity and is safe for the human body, and an anti-norovirus composition that contains the anti-norovirus agent and is useful for disinfection and infection control against the norovirus. The anti-norovirus agent includes, as an active ingredient, an extract from a plant of the genus Diospyros containing tannin (hereinafter referred to as a “persimmon extract”), preferably a persimmon extract produced by heating squeezed juice or an extract from the fruit of a plant of the genus Diospyros or treating the squeezed juice or the extract with an alcohol. The anti-norovirus composition contains the anti-norovirus agent and at least one selected from the group consisting of alcohols, surfactants, antimicrobial agents, humectants, and cosmetic fats and oils, and preferably further containing an organic acid, such as citric acid, and/or a salt thereof or vitamin C.

Abstract: Peptide-modified polyurethanes comprising the reaction product of an isocyanate, a chain extender, and a peptide are provided. Also provided processes for making a peptide-modified polyurethane comprising: providing an isocyanate; providing a chain extender; providing a peptide; and allowing the isocyanate, chain extender, and peptide to react thereby forming the peptide-modified polyurethane, as well as methods for treating a subject comprising: providing a peptide-modified polyurethane that comprises the reaction product of an isocyanate, a chain extender, and a peptide; and administering the peptide-modified polyurethane to the subject.

Abstract: A method of treating a neoplastic disease in a subject includes administering to neoplastic cells of the subject an MGMT inhibitor and at least one of an antimitotic agent or a DNA damaging agent.

Abstract: There is provided a power factor correction circuit capable of correcting a power factor of a power converting module through increasing an input current by switching a main switching element of a power converting module on the basis of a first reference wave having a slope based on a first signal and an error voltage, in particular, by limiting a switching frequency on the basis of a first reference wave having a slope based on a second signal lower than a first signal and an error voltage when the switching frequency of the main switching element increases because an input voltage of the power converting module is low.

Abstract: A device for use in optical signal control is presented. The device comprises an amplification waveguide, including a pumpable medium, and a reference and a control inputs and an output selectively allowing transmission of light respectively into and out of said amplification waveguide. The reference input, the amplification waveguide and the output define together a transmission scheme for reference light through the pumpable medium. The control input and the amplification waveguide define a depletion scheme for the pumpable medium and control light. The device thus allows for controlling an output signal, formed by the transmission of the reference light, by controllable depletion of the pumpable medium.

Abstract: The invention provides multivalent surface-crosslinked micelle (SCM) particles, crosslinked reverse micelle (CRM) particles, and methods of making and using them. The SCM particles can be used, for example, to inhibit a virus or bacteria from binding to a host cell. The inhibition can be used in therapy for the flu, cancer, or AIDS. The CRM particles can be used, for example, to prepare metal nanoparticles or metal alloy nanoparticles, or they can be used in catalytic reactions.

Abstract: A method for separating hydrocarbon content from a hydrocarbon contaminated matrix. The method includes controlling water content of a feed material having the hydrocarbon contaminated matrix; continuously conveying the feed material into a treatment cavity; exposing the feed material in a treatment area of the treatment cavity to microwave radiation arranged to cause rapid heating of at least a portion of the water content to form steam, wherein the rapid steam formation results in thermal desorption of at least a portion of the hydrocarbon content from the matrix; and continuously removing the treated matrix from the treatment cavity.

Abstract: A method of generating a hyper iNOS expressing cell includes administering to a myeloid derived cell an amount of a PPAR? agonist and an IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway antagonist effective to substantially inhibit STAT3 activation in the cell and administering an inflammatory insult to the cell to stimulate hyper iNOS expression from the cell.

Abstract: A method of forming composite materials includes dispersing a conjugated material, a solvent for the conjugated material, and a plurality of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) or graphene including structures having an outer surface to form a dispersion. The solvent is evaporated from the dispersion to yield a CNT or graphene composite including a plurality of crystalline supramolecular structures having the conjugated material non-covalently secured to the outer surface of the CNT or the graphene including structure. The supramolecular structures have an average length which extends outward in a length direction from the outer surface of the CNT or graphene including structure, where the average length is greater than an average width of the supramolecular structures.

Abstract: Drag derivatives are provided herein which are suitable for loading into liposomal nanoparticle carriers. In some preferred aspects, the derivatives comprise a poorly water-soluble drag derivatized with a weak-base moiety that facilitates active loading of the drag through a LN transmembrane pH or ion gradient into the aqueous interior of the LN. The weak-base moiety can optionally comprise a lipophilic domain that facilitates active loading of the drag to the inner monolayer of the liposomal membrane. Advantageously, LN formulations of the drag derivatives exhibit improved solubility, reduced toxicity, enhanced efficacy, and/or other benefits relative to the corresponding free drags.

Abstract: A transmission circuit comprises a ??? modulator to perform ??? modulation of an amplitude modulation component of a modulation signal and to output a pulse width modulation signal, an angle modulator to generate an angle modulation component signal of a signal obtained by multiplying the modulation signal by a transmission output control coefficient corresponding to a transmission output in a power amplifier, and a multiplier to multiply the pulse width modulation signal by the angle modulation component signal and to output a result of the multiplication as an output signal to the power amplifier.

Abstract: This invention provides novel compositions to inhibit the aggregation of amyloid proteins. In various embodiments the compositions comprise a molecular tweezers that binds lysine and/or arginine and thereby inhibits the aggregation of amyloidogenic proteins.

Abstract: A concentric coplanar capacitive sensor includes a charged central disc forming a first electrode, an outer annular ring coplanar with and outer to the charged central disc, the outer annular ring forming a second electrode, and a gap between the charged central disc and the outer annular ring. The first electrode and the second electrode may be attached to an insulative film. A method provides for determining transcapacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode and using the transcapacitance in a model that accounts for a dielectric test piece to determine inversely the properties of the dielectric test piece.

Abstract: A random number generating method includes sending a signal source for outputting a data sequence and randomly retrieving a segment of data having an operation length as a seed; converting the seed into a first operation value, determining whether a difference between the first operation value and a second operation value is larger than a threshold value, and determining whether a total number of times the first operation value has been inputted into the operation value processing step is larger than a predetermined value. The first operation value is reset by a reset algorithm; otherwise the sample selection step is re-performed. The operation values are converted into a random number. A total number of bits of the random number is calculated. The operation value setting step is performed or a latest random number having a length equal to the operation length is set as the seed.

Abstract: According to one aspect, this invention provides an apparatus for varying the stiffness of a leg of a robotic system. The apparatus includes a compliant spine assembly including a compliant spine mounted for movement adjacent the leg and a rack coupled to the compliant spine. It also includes a motor assembly positioned to move the compliant spine of the compliant spine assembly with respect to the leg, the motor assembly including a gear engaging the rack of the compliant spine assembly and a motor coupled to drive the gear. The compliant spine of the compliant spine assembly is configured to vary the stiffness of the leg of the robotic system as it is moved by the motor assembly with respect to the leg.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel method of preparing a secondary amine compound using a microflow reactor. According to the method, a primary amine compound and a halide compound are allowed to react with each other in the microflow reactor, such that the production of a tertiary amine compound or an ammonium salt is minimized, whereby the secondary amine compound is efficiently prepared.

Abstract: A seismic-incurred-rupture-resistant deformation-recordable buckling-restrained brace is disclosed. A core plate is disposed in the concrete filled steel tubular outer sleeve, and an end portion of the core plate is provided with a core plate stiffening rib. A brace deformation recording device includes two toothed racks, a ratchet gear, a first cord spool, and a second cord spool. The two toothed racks are fixed on the core plate stiffening rib, and ratchet pawls in the length direction thereof face opposite directions. The ratchet gear is fixedly connected to the concrete filled steel tubular outer sleeve. The ratchet gear is disposed between the two toothed racks. A tooth on the ratchet gear is engaged with a ratchet pawl. The first cord spool is fixed on the ratchet gear. The second cord spool is fixed on the core plate stiffening rib.

Abstract: Access for wireless mobile nodes (WMNs) to access points (APs) may be provided via a wireless network where each WMN is associated with a plurality of APs, according to an exemplary embodiment.