Abstract: Prodrug formulations of bioactive polypeptides are provided wherein the bioactive polypeptide has been modified by the linkage of a dipeptide to the bioactive polypeptide through an ester linkage. The prodrugs disclosed herein in some embodiments have extended half lives of at least 1.5 hours (e.g., at least 10 hours), and more typically greater than 20 hours and less than 70 hours, and are converted to the active form at physiological conditions through a non-enzymatic reaction driven by chemical instability.

Abstract: An underwater robot is configured to be charged in response to a charging signal from a charging dock, and includes a main body having a waterproof chamber, and an electric power unit disposed in the waterproof chamber. The electric power unit includes a rechargeable battery set storing electric power, and a charging module coupled to the rechargeable battery set and configured to charge the rechargeable battery set in response to the charging signal from the charging dock.

Abstract: A method for protection of tissues subject to ischemic and/or reperfusion damage is provided. The method includes administering to the tissue a composition comprising nanodevices. The nanodevices can take the form of, for example, polymeric nanoparticles or lipidic nanoparticles. The nanodevices also find use in methods for reducing ischemic injury in tissue at risk of such injury, such as heart and brain tissue.

Abstract: Described is a direct method for the fabrication of resorcinarene nanocapsules by photopolymerization of compounds of formula (I), such as resorcinarene tetraalkene tetrathiol (RTATT), in the absence of any template or preorganization. Further, by varying the polymerization media, a variety of other polymeric architectures like lattices, fibrous networks, and nanoparticles were obtained. The morphology and structure were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. These morphologically distinct resorcinarene polymeric architectures contain residual thiol and ene functional groups offering potential functionalization opportunities.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a protein transistor device, wherein an antibody molecule (antibody-antigen) is bonded to at least two gold nanoparticles in a high reproducible self-assembly way to form molecular junctions, and wherein the two gold nanoparticles are respectively joined to a drain and a source. The protein transistor device can be controlled to regulate current via applying a bias to the gate. The conformational change of the protein molecule will cause the variation of the charge transport characteristics of the protein transistor device. The protein transistor device can be further controlled by different optical fields via conjugating a quantum dot to the molecular junctions. Therefore, the present invention has diversified applications.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for elevating the work function of conductive layers such as indium tin oxide by chlorine-containing plasma exposure or etching. Also disclosed are electronic devices such as organic light-emitting diodes and organic photovoltaic cells with a chlorine plasma-treated conductive layer as the hole-injecting or hole-accepting electrode. The performance of the devices is enhanced due to an increased work function of the plasma-treated electrode.

Abstract: A light emitting device having auto-cloning photonic crystal structures comprises a substrate, a first semiconductor layer, an active emitting layer, a second semiconductor layer and a saw-toothed multilayer film comprising auto-cloning photonic crystal structures. The saw-toothed multilayer film provides a high reflection interface and a diffraction mechanism to prevent total internal reflection and enhance light extraction efficiency.

Abstract: The invention described herein relates to novel genes and their encoded proteins, termed Mutants Associated with Resistance to STI-571 (e.g., T315I Bcr-Abl), and to diagnostic and therapeutic methods and compositions useful in the management of various cancers that express MARS. The invention further provides methods for identifying molecules that bind to and/or modulate the functional activity of MARS.

Abstract: The pressure sensitive adhesive is a copolymer of ethylene and propylene that has a maximum load between 6.4 N and 11.2 N in a lap joint shear strength test. The copolymer is prepared by mixing ethylene and propylene in the presence of a diimine nickel catalyst and polymethylaluminoxane (MAO) co-catalyst. The molar ratio of the ethylene to propylene feed is between 60:40 and 40:60. The polymerization is carried out at 30° C. and 1.3 bar. The polypropylene molar percentage in the resulting copolymer is between 42% and 88%, and the weight average molecular weight is between 24,917 and 33, 314 Da. The copolymer is an amorphous polymer having a glass transition temperature (Tg) between ?63° C. and ?66° C.

Abstract: During lung injury, p53 expression increases, inducing plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) while inhibiting expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and its receptor (uPAR), resulting in apoptosis of lung epithelial cells (LECs). In the bleomycin lung injury model, p53 and PAI-1 are induced while uPA and uPAR are inhibited. A 20 residue peptide DGIWKASFTTFTVTKYWFYR termed PP-1 (the Cav-1 scaffolding domain) or peptide NYHYLESSMTALYTLGH, termed PP-2, protected LECs from bleomycin-induced apoptosis in vitro and in vivo and prevented subsequent pulmonary fibrosis by attenuating lung epitheilial damage. Pharmaceutical compositions, peptide multimers and deliverable polypeptides comprising the above peptides are dislcosed.

Abstract: A method and system of scheduling demands on a system having a plurality of resources are provided. The method includes the steps of, on receipt of a new demand for resources: determining the total resources required to complete said demand and a deadline for the completion of that demand; determining a plurality of alternative resource allocations which will allow completion of the demand before the deadline; for each of said alternative resource allocations, determining whether, based on allocations of resources to existing demands, said alternative resource allocation will result in a utilization of resources which is closer to an optimum utilization of said resources; and selecting, based on said determination, one of said alternative resource allocations to complete said demand so as to optimise utilization of resources of the system.

Abstract: There is provided a system and methods for segmenting datapath resources such as reorder buffers, physical registers, instruction queues and load-store queues, etc. in a microprocessor so that their size may be dynamically expanded and contracted. This is accomplished by allocating and deallocating individual resource units to each resource based on sampled estimates of the instantaneous resource needs of the program running on the microprocessor. By keeping unused datapath resources to a minimum, power and energy savings are achieved by shutting off resource units that are not needed for sustaining the performance requirements of the running program. Leakage energy and switching energy and power are reduced using the described methods.

Abstract: A light emitting device having auto-cloning photonic crystal structures comprises a substrate, a first semiconductor layer, an active emitting layer, a second semiconductor layer and a saw-toothed multilayer film comprising auto-cloning photonic crystal structures. The saw-toothed multilayer film provides a high reflection interface and a diffraction mechanism to prevent total internal reflection and enhance light extraction efficiency. The manufacturing method of the light emitting device having auto-cloning photonic crystal structures is presented here.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing and storing ice on the sea using sub-zero cold air of the winter season, to achieve an earlier freezing period, and increasing the area and thickness of the ice layer, to suppress the melting of ice sheets and glaciers and suppress and overcome global warming as well as its side effects. The apparatus and method involve compressing cold air; injecting the compressed cold air into a storage tank; supercooling water using the injected cold air; forming an ice layer by misting the supercooled water into the sea; and increasing a thickness of the ice layer by additionally misting water onto the ice layer formed at water level.

Abstract: The vehicle flotation system is adaptable to a conventional land motor vehicle to provide sufficient buoyancy for the vehicle should it become immersed in water. A plurality of permanently inflated pneumatic elements and/or solid closed-cell (e.g., foam, cork, etc.) elements is installed throughout the bodywork of the vehicle. Such permanently inflated and solid flotation elements do not require a pneumatic inflation system, thus providing benefits in reliability and economy. Optionally, a pneumatic inflation monitoring system may be provided for the pneumatic elements. As an additional option, a plurality of collapsed, inflatable elements may be installed within the vehicle fenders for deployment and inflation in the event of water immersion of the vehicle. These inflatable elements are automatically ejected laterally from slots or openings in the vehicle fenders and are automatically inflated by an on-board container of compressed gas, in the event of water immersion of the vehicle.

Abstract: Improved anti-HIV immunogens and nucleic acid molecules that encode them are disclosed. Immunogens disclosed include those having consensus sequences for HIV Subtype A Envelope protein, those having consensus sequences for HIV Subtype B Envelope protein, those having consensus sequences for HIV Subtype C Envelope protein, those having consensus sequences for HIV Subtype D Envelope protein, those having consensus sequences for HIV Subtype B consensus Nef-Rev protein, and those having consensus sequences form HIV Gag protein subtypes A, B, C and D. Improved anti-HPV immunogens and nucleic acid molecules that encode them; improved anti-HCV immunogens and nucleic acid molecules that encode them; improved hTERT immunogens and nucleic acid molecules that encode them; and improved anti-Influenza immunogens and nucleic acid molecules that encode them are disclosed as well methods of inducing an immune response in an individual against HIV, HPV, HCV, hTERT and Influenza are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds and compositions that modulate adenosine monophosphate deaminase (AMPD) and methods for using the same to treat a clinical condition associated with the metabolic syndrome or a disease associated with the metabolic syndrome. In particular, the present invention provides a compound and a composition comprising a selective AMPD2 inhibitor and methods for using the same, for example, to treat a clinical condition associated with metabolic syndrome as well as diseases manifested by the metabolic syndrome.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a channel estimation method for an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing system with cyclic-delay diversity. The method makes pilots have the same amplitude and equally partitions the pilots into a number of pilot groups. In addition, the method equally spaces the pilots of each group in a frequency domain and determines the pilot locations and cyclic-delay coefficient of each pilot group in order to optimize the channel estimation of a receiver. The method can perform the channel estimation by using just one OFDM symbol.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of inhibiting neovascularization in a subject. The method comprises administering to the subject an agent that interferes with fibronectin (Fn) matrix assembly in an amount effective to inhibit neovascularization. The invention also provides a method of identifying an agent that inhibits neovascularization. The method comprises detecting fibronectin (Fn) matrix assembly by stimulated endothelial cells cultured in three-dimensional culture gel in the presence and absence of an agent. A decrease in Fn matrix assembly in the presence of the agent compared to Fn matrix assembly in the absence of the agent is indicative of an agent that inhibits neovascularization. Alternatively, the method of identifying an agent that inhibits neovascularization comprises detecting changes in nuclear architecture in stimulated endothelial cells cultured in three-dimensional culture gel in the presence and absence of an agent.

Abstract: The invention encompasses micelle assemblies, compositions having micelle assemblies, and methods for preparing micelle assemblies and compositions thereof. The invention also encompasses a prolamine protein conjugated to a polymer, such as a polyethylene glycol (PEG) chain, which conjugates can be used to prepare micelle assemblies. The invention further encompasses methods of encapsulating molecules using the conjugates of the invention. The micelle assemblies can be used for a variety of applications, such as treating cancer, targeting tumors, reducing the toxicity of a drug in vivo, increasing the efficacy of an encapsulated agent in vivo, protecting an encapsulated agent against degradation, and enhancing the water solubility of a drug or other agent.