Abstract: A method of manufacturing ULSI wiring in which wiring layers are separately formed via a diffusion prevention layer and an insulating interlayer portion made of SiO2. The method comprises the steps of treating, with a silane compound, a SiO2 surface of the insulating interlayer portion on which the diffusion layer is to be formed, performing catalyzation with an aqueous solution containing a palladium compound, forming the diffusion prevention layer by electroless plating, and then forming the wiring layer on this diffusion prevention layer. A capping layer may be formed on the wiring layer by electroless plating. Consequently, a diffusion prevention layer having good adhesive properties can be formed through a simple wet process, and, the wiring layer can directly be formed on this diffusion prevention layer by a wet process. The capping layer can also be directly formed on the wiring layer by electroless plating.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of bioengineering and discloses a cutinase-producing genetically engineered microorganism and use thereof. Recombinant plasmid Tfu_0883-hlyAs/pET20b(+) was constructed and transformed into E. coli BL21(DE3) to obtain recombinant E. coli strain Tfu_0883-hlyAs/pET20b(+)/E. coli BL21(DE3). Specific growth rate was maintained at a certain value using fed-batch fermentation mode. After fermenting 30-34 hours, the enzyme activity in the supernatant reached 700-750 U/mL. The present invention uses glycerol as the main raw material and employs semi-synthetic medium, has the advantages of good stability and ease of control, and is suitable for large-scale production.

Abstract: Methods for creating a transient nanoscale opening in a cell membrane and methods for transporting a desired species through the nanoscale opening are provided. A nano-sized needle-like tip can be used to mechanically slice the cell membrane to create a transient, localized nanoscale slit. The nanoscale slit may be used for transferring exogenous molecules into a living cell.

Abstract: A screw for use in stimulating bone growth, tissue healing and/or pain control. The screw includes an elongate shaft having a length extending between opposite ends, an exterior surface and a screw thread formed on the exterior surface of the shaft and extending along at least a portion of the length. The shaft has an electrically conducting portion and an electrically insulating portion. The screw also includes a head adjacent one end of the shaft for engaging the screw to rotate the screw and thereby drive it into bone. The screw includes an electrical conductor electrically connectable to the shaft for conveying current through the shaft to the bone through the conducting portion of the shaft.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for the treatment of a human patient. The methods and compositions of the present invention include composition for the efficient loading of curcumin, comprising: an amount of a curcuminoid:liposome complex effective to load curcumin into the liposome, wherein the curcuminoids has between 2 to 9 weight percent of the total composition and the curcuminoids are natural or synthetic.

Abstract: A strained Ge-on-insulator structure is provided, comprising: a silicon substrate, in which an oxide insulating layer is formed on a surface of the silicon substrate; a Ge layer formed on the oxide insulating layer, in which a first passivation layer is formed between the Ge layer and the oxide insulating layer; a gate stack formed on the Ge layer, a channel region formed below the gate stack, and a source and a drain formed on sides of the channel region; and a plurality of shallow trench isolation structures extending into the silicon substrate and filled with an insulating dielectric material to produce a strain in the channel region. Further, a method for forming the strained Ge-on-insulator structure is also provided.

Abstract: A sensorless commutation circuit and sensorless driving apparatus for a brushless motor includes a voltage divided unit, a control signal output unit, a switch unit and a comparison unit. The voltage divided unit outputs a voltage divided signal according to a phase voltage signal of the brushless motor. The control signal output unit outputs a filter control signal, wherein the filter control signal has a same switching cycle as a pulse width modulation control signal that drives the brushless motor. The switch unit is coupled to the control signal output unit and the voltage divided unit, and outputs a comparison signal according to the filter control signal and the voltage divided signal. The comparison unit is coupled to the switch unit, and outputs a correct commutation signal according to the comparison signal.

Abstract: A polarization imaging apparatus includes a laser light source and an image pickup element. Object light and reference light each include a first polarized-light component polarized in a first direction and a second polarized-light component polarized in a second direction that is different from the first direction. The image pickup element simultaneously captures an image of an interference pattern including (i) a first interference figure, (ii) a second interference figure, (iii) a third interference figure, and (iv) a fourth interference figure. The polarization imaging apparatus includes a reconstructing section generating respective reconstructed images of the object in regard to the first and second polarized-light components, from the first to fourth interference figures, and a polarized-light-image-calculating section obtaining polarized-light images from the reconstructed images.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating cancer in a patient (e.g., a human patient) in need thereof, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective regimen, the regimen comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a compound that targets 67 laminin receptor (67LR). In a particular embodiment, the compound that targets 67LR is an antibody or antibody fragment. In particular, the present invention provides a method of treating cancer comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an antibody that binds to 67LR. The present invention also provides a method of treating cancer comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an antibody conjugate, wherein the antibody conjugate comprises an antibody that binds to 67LR linked to a therapeutic agent, a protein toxin, a cytotoxic agent or other moiety.

Abstract: A microfiber showing improved mechanical strength, which comprises a micro gel fiber consisting of collagen gel or the like covered with high strength hydrogel such as alginate gel.

Abstract: An API (Application Programming Interface) for an adaptive computing system (ACS) may be used to create a system for performing an application on different types of ACS platforms. The API may be used to generate a system object including a host and a number of nodes and channels. A system data structure is created which describes the nodes, which may be FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array)-based ACS accelerator boards. The API may enable source-code porting and scaling from small research platforms to larger field-deployable platforms.

Abstract: Particular aspects provide efficient allelic exchange methods to generate directed mutations within genes of slow-growing stains of mycobacteria (e.g., Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map), Map 10 or GFP-expressing Map K-10) using a phage-delivery system, and demonstrate high efficiency allelic exchange. Additional exemplary aspects provide non-naturally occurring slow-growing strains of mycobacteria (e.g., Map, M. bovis, M. tuberculosis) having at least one gene deletion (e.g., pknG, relA, lsr2, panC, panD, proC, trpD, sapM (MAP3432), lysA_1, leuD, and leuC, and deletion mutants at the orthologous loci of two known virulence genes in pathogenic mycobacteria (relA and pknG) and one gene related to colony morphology and biofilm formation in fast growing mycobacteria (lsr2) were made. Further aspects provide novel vaccines comprising such deletion mutants, or portions thereof, and methods for making said vaccines. Yet further aspects provide methods for protecting a mammal from virulent Map, M.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for the treatment of otic diseases or conditions with free-radical modulating agent compositions and formulations administered locally to an individual afflicted with an otic disease or condition, through direct application of these compositions and formulations onto or via perfusion into the targeted auris structure(s).

Abstract: The present invention relates to new AGC kinase inhibitors, in particular to compounds of Formula I or II or a stereoisomer, tautomer, racemic, metabolite, pro- or pre-drug, salt, hydrate, or solvate thereof, wherein Ar, Cy, R1, R3, p and n have the meaning defined in the claims. In particular, the present invention relates to more specifically AGC kinases inhibitors, compositions, in particular pharmaceuticals, comprising such inhibitors, and to uses of such inhibitors in the treatment and prophylaxis of disease.

Abstract: A semiconductor optical amplifier includes: a laminated structure sequentially including a first compound semiconductor layer composed of GaN compound semiconductor and having a first conductivity type, a third compound semiconductor layer having a light amplification region composed of GaN compound semiconductor, and a second compound semiconductor layer composed of GaN compound semiconductor and having a second conductivity type; a second electrode formed on the second compound semiconductor layer; and a first electrode electrically connected to the first compound semiconductor layer. The laminated structure has a ridge stripe structure. When widths of the ridge stripe structure in a light output end face and the ridge stripe structure in a light incident end face are respectively Wout, and Win, Wout>Win is satisfied. A carrier non-injection region is provided in an internal region of the laminated structure from the light output end face along an axis line of the semiconductor optical amplifier.

Abstract: The subject invention provides materials and methods useful in safely and effectively preventing pathological proliferation of blood vessels. The prevention of the over-proliferation of blood vessels according to the subject invention is particularly advantageous for treatment of certain ocular conditions including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and diabetic retinopathy. In preferred embodiments, the subject invention provides materials and methods for effective treatment of pathological ocular neovascularization using gene therapy. In a specific embodiment the materials and methods of the subject invention can be used to treat AMD.

Abstract: A method of treating a cancerous region in a breast of a patient comprising (i) imaging the breast in a three-dimensional coordinate system, (ii) stereotactically determining the location of the cancerous region in the breast, (iii) optionally determining the volume of the entire cancerous region to be treated, and (iv) while maintaining the breast in a three-dimensional coordinate system that is identical to or corresponds with the three-dimensional coordinate system used in (i), noninvasively exposing the cancerous region of the breast of the patient to a cancer-treatment effective dose of radiation; and equipment for use in such a method.

Abstract: A sleep monitoring system includes an ECG device (2) and a respiration inductance plethysmogram (3) which monitor cardiac activity and physical (ribcage) respiration respectively and feed representative signals to a digital data processor. Operations (5-9) process the beat interval data, while in a second thread, operations (20-24) independently process the amplitude modulation of the ECG data caused by the respiratory motion of the subject. The inductance plethysmogram device (3) provides an input to the processor which represents respiration as directly monitored independently of the ECG. Operations (30-34) process this direct respiration data independently and in parallel, in a third thread. All extracted features are fed to a classifier which in step (10) combines selected combinations of features to make decisions in real time.

Abstract: Disclosed is a character recognition preprocessing method and apparatus for correcting a nonlinear character string into a linear character string. A binarized character string region is divided into character regions on a character-by-character basis. Upper and lower feature points of each character region are derived, and an upper boundary line, which is a curve connecting the upper feature points of the character regions, and a lower boundary line, which is a curve connecting the lower feature points of the character regions, are generated by applying cubic spline interpolation. Nonlinearity is corrected through adaptive region enlargement by using the maximum horizontal length and the maximum height of the divided character regions.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a wastewater treatment system may reduce contaminants in water. A system may include one or more bioreactors which include a substrate that supports a biofilm. The bacteria used to form the biofilm may be selected to maximize the reduction of contaminants in water. Various components of the wastewater treatment system may be optimized to improve the efficiency and energy consumption of the wastewater system.