Abstract: Method of analyzing data from an online social network having a set of network users. The method includes obtaining topic-specific messages sent by the network users. The messages have social content provided by the networks users, wherein the messages include a marker of interest in the social content. The marker of interest is associated with a topic of the social network. The method also includes identifying the network users that sent the messages having the marker of interest in the social content as interested users of the topic. The interested users are a subset of the set of network users. The method also includes determining a topic-specific influence (TSI) value of a designated user from the interested users in the subset. The TSI value of the designated user is based on a number of the interested users that are registered to receive the messages from the designated user.

Abstract: Electrospinning nozzles include novel constructs for providing spinning pores that define the origin of jets of fiber-forming media. In some embodiments, a film covers relatively large holes in a nozzle body and provides spinning pores aligned with such large holes. In some embodiments, conductive tubes are secured at or about relatively large holes in a nozzle body and provide spinning pores fluidly communicating with fiber-forming media at such large holes. In yet other embodiments, nozzle bodies are provided with circular or semi-spherical surfaces having a plurality of spinning pores.

Abstract: An appropriate catalyst is found for synthesis of an unsaturated carboxylic acid and/or a derivative thereof using as a raw material compound a hydroxycarboxylic acid and/or a derivative thereof that can easily be synthesized from a polysaccharide such as biomass-derived cellulose, and an efficient method for synthesizing the unsaturated carboxylic acid and/or the derivative thereof is provided. This method is a method for synthesizing an unsaturated carboxylic acid and/or a derivative thereof, wherein an apatite compound is used as a catalyst to synthesize the unsaturated carboxylic acid and/or the derivative thereof from a biomass-derived hydroxycarboxylic acid and/or a derivative thereof by a dehydration reaction.

Abstract: A composition for preventing and treating fatty liver is disclosed. The composition includes a lactoferrin and a trivalent chromium compound. The trivalent chromium compound of the present invention is selected from the group consisting of chromium (III) chloride hexahydrate, chromium (III) chloride, chromium (III) acetate, chromium (III) sulfate, chromium picolinate, chromium nicotinate, chromium GTF, chromium yeast extract, other inorganic salts of trivalent chromium, other organic salts of trivalent chromium, and combinations thereof. The composition of the present invention can provide a beneficial effect in preventing and treating fatty liver by effectively reducing multiple risk factors of fatty liver disease.

Abstract: An apparatus of a damper (46) for a bicycle comprising a housing defining a chamber, and a piston, movable in the chamber along a first direction. The apparatus further comprises a controllable means to vary the resistance to movement of the piston in the chamber, a sensor (62), and a controller (58) including a timer. Said sensor measures at least one dynamic quantity and produces an output signal based thereon. Said output signal is received by the controller, and said controller controls said controllable means based on said dynamic quantity as a function of time to control the level of damping. The invention further provides means for manually adjusting the level of rebound damping.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are presented for a prosthetic injectable intraocular lens. One or more silicone elastomeric patches located outside the optical path on the anterior side but away from the equator can be accessed by surgical needles in order to fill or adjust optically clear fluid within the lens. The fluid can be adjusted in order to set a base dioptric power of the lens and otherwise adjust a lens after its initial insertion. The elastomeric patches are sized so that they self-seal after a needle is withdrawn. A straight or stepped slit in the patch can allow a blunt needle to more easily access the interior of the lens.

Abstract: A method for producing high levels of methane based on a combination of steam hydrogasification and a shift reactor is provided. Hydrogen produced by the shift reactor can be recycled back into the steam hydrogasifier.

Abstract: A method for making a light emitting diode is provided. In the method, a substrate having an epitaxial growth surface is provided. A first semiconductor layer, an active layer, a second semiconductor layer are grown on the epitaxial growth surface in the listed sequence. The first semiconductor layer, the active layer, and the second semiconductor layer constitute a source layer. A third optical symmetric layer, a metallic layer, a fourth optical symmetric layer, a first optical symmetric layer, and a second optical symmetric layer are then disposed on a surface of the second semiconductor layer away from the substrate in the listed sequence. A first electrode is applied to electrically connect with the first semiconductor layer and a second electrode is applied to electrically connect with the second semiconductor layer.

Abstract: Provided are coumarin compounds of formula I, for example, robustic acid methyl ether, and the use of such compounds and compositions thereof to modulate (e.g., inhibit) melanogenesis and pigmentation. wherein R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and R8 are described herein. Also provided are plant extracts containing a compound of formula I, and the use of such a plant extract to modulate (e.g., inhibit) melanogenesis and pigmentation. The compound or plant extract may be prepared as pharmaceutical and cosmetic compositions, and may be used for the prevention and treatment of conditions that are related to aberrant melanogenesis activity.

Abstract: Bisphosphonamidate prodrugs of therapeutic bisphosphonate compounds and uses thereof to treat diseases are described.

Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a compound, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, having a formula: where at least one of R1-R4 is a heterocycle, at least one of R1-R4 is an aryl group coupled to the ring by a linker atom, functional group, or other moiety, or where none of R1-R4 is an amide, and any and all combinations thereof. Remaining R1-R4 substituents independently are aliphatic, substituted aliphatic, amine, substituted amine, aryl, substituted aryl, cyclic, substituted cyclic, halide, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, heterocyclic, substituted heterocyclic, hydrogen or hydroxyl. A method for treating a subject also is provided comprising administering a disclosed compound or compounds, or a prodrug that is converted into the disclosed compound or compounds, or a composition comprising the compound, compounds, or prodrugs thereof, to a subject. A method for making disclosed compounds also is provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nanofibers. In particular, the present invention provides aligned nanofiber bundle assemblies. In some embodiments, the aligned nanofiber bundle assemblies are used for tissue regeneration, controlled growth of cells, and related methods (e.g., diagnostic methods, research methods, drug screening).

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for enhancing signals in magnetic resonance imaging are provided. The method includes the following steps. Applying one or more than one RF pulse, which carries at least two frequency components, and a slice/slab selection gradient to a subject, so that at least two slices/slabs of the subject respectively corresponding to the at least two frequency components are excited simultaneously. Applying a plurality of spatial encoding gradients and one or more than one separation gradients for separating the at least two slices/slabs. Receiving a plurality of responsive RF signals excited from the subject. The responsive RF signals are restored according to a signal restoration function.

Abstract: Load measuring parts 50 and 52 are provided with reaction sensors 50a, 50b, 52a and 52b to measure loads at two positions, the tiptoe and the heel, on each sole of right and left feet of a wearing person 12. The reaction sensor 50a detects a reaction force to a load on a front side of the right foot (right tiptoe), the reaction sensor 50b detects a reaction force to a load on a rear side of the right foot (right heel), the reaction sensor 52a detects a reaction force to a load on a front side of the left foot (left tiptoe), and the reaction sensor 52b detects a reaction force to a load on a rear side of the left foot (left heel). The reaction sensors 50a, 50b, 52a and 52b are arranged to detect, based on a change of a capacitance, the loads on the right and left feet during a walk action. A change of the load accompanied with a shift of the weight and a contact between the wearing person's foot and the ground can be detected.

Abstract: A wireless communication method and apparatus using adaptive transmission polarization control are provided. The wireless communication apparatus includes an orthogonal polarization antenna, a channel state estimator, and a transmission polarization state (TPS) selector. The orthogonal polarization antenna receives at least one reference signal. The channel state estimator estimates a wireless polarization channel on the basis of the reference signal. The TPS selector selects a TPS corresponding to the estimated wireless polarization channel from among a plurality of predefined TPSs, and feeds back the selected TPS information. Accordingly, the wireless communication apparatus feeds back information for polarization control using minimum uplink wireless resources, and maximizes a transmission capacity on the basis of the feedback information.

Abstract: A method for color feature extraction extracts a color feature vector representative of the color of each image pixel contained in an image signal. The method comprises: receiving the image signal; mapping the image signal to a color space model, where the color of each of the plural image pixels is represented by a first parameter, a second parameter, and a third parameter; obtaining an adjusted second parameter; clustering the plural image pixels into plural color regions or plural fuzzy regions of a color plane of the color space model; and designating the color feature vector to each of the plural image pixels based on the clustering result.

Abstract: Combinations of agents that have a synergistic effect for the treatment of a tumor are disclosed herein. These combinations of agents can be used to treat tumors, wherein the cells of the cancer express a mutated BRAF. Methods are disclosed for treating a subject diagnosed with a tumor that expresses a mutated BRAF. The methods include administering to the subject (1) a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof that specifically binds glucose regulated protein (GRP) 94; and (2) a therapeutically effective amount of a BRAF inhibitor. In some embodiments, the tumor is melanoma. In some embodiments the method includes selecting a subject with primary or secondary resistance to a BRAF inhibitor. In further embodiments, treating the tumor comprises decreasing the metastasis of the tumor. In additional embodiments, the BRAF inhibitor comprises PLX4032 or PLX4720.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to telomeres, and, in particular, to a method or effecting telomere elongation in mammalian cells. The invention further relates to a protein suitable for use in such a method and to nucleic acid sequences encoding same.

Abstract: A static random access memory includes a pre-charger, a first cell column array/peripheral circuit, and a first ripple buffer. The pre-charger is connected to a first local bit line in order to pre-charge the first local bit line. The first cell column array/peripheral circuit is connected to the first local bit line and has a plurality of cells for temporarily storing data. The cells are connected to the first local bit line. The first ripple buffer is connected to the first local bit line and a second local bit line in order to send the data from the first local bit line to the second local bit line.

Abstract: This invention relates to a new and distinct June-bearing (short day responsive) strawberry plant named ‘Herriot’ primarily adapted to the growing conditions of the west central New York and other regions of similar climate. The new plant is primarily characterized by strong vigor, longer than broad fruit, conical fruit shape, uniformity in shape between primary and secondary fruit, reflexed calyx, bright red fruit color, glossy fruit skin and highly pigmented petioles.