Abstract: This invention is based in part on the elucidation of new structural conformations and functions of the sodium/potassium adenosine triphosphate synthase (Na/K ATPase), and especially elucidation of new binding sites and interactions. The present invention provides practical applications of several surprising structural and functional relationships between Na/K ATPase and compounds which interact with Na/K ATPase. Disclosure of these structures and relationships provides insight and practical solutions to chemically affecting not only the Na/K ATPase interactions, but also regulators known to be upstream and downstream.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the technical field of memories, and in particular to a highly-consistent resistive memory and method of fabricating the same. The resistive memory comprises: a lower electrode which is formed in a first dielectric layer by patterning; a second dielectric layer formed on the lower electrode and the first dielectric layer and provided with an opening for exposing the lower electrode to perform patterning; an edge wall formed in the opening of the second dielectric layer for covering a border area of the lower electrode and the first dielectric layer so that only the middle area of the lower electrode is partially or totally exposed; a storage medium layer formed by performing oxidization with the second dielectric layer and the edge wall as mask; and an upper electrode. The resistive memory exhibits good consistency and high reliability; moreover, unit size is mall, which is advantageous for improving storage characteristic.

Abstract: In the gaming machine, an effect producing unit is disposed behind the opened door which protrudes laterally outside the side face plane of the cabinet. The effect producing unit is disposed in the space between the cabinets of adjacent gaming machines so that the space can be efficiently utilized. In addition, the effects of the gaming machine can be enhanced since the effect producing unit produces the attractive effects to a game.

Abstract: An assembly for rigid bone fixation includes a plate and a screw. The screw can be rotated freely within the plate in a non-locking configuration to secure the plate against the bone. A locking mechanism is engaged to prevent the screw from moving relative the plate. In one embodiment, the plate includes a threaded portion and a non-threaded portion. The screw head rotates within the non-threaded portion to tighten the screw and pull the plate against the bone. The locking mechanism can include a moveable nut that rotates within the threaded portion of the plate to lock the screw and plate in a locking mode. The locking mechanism can include a second screw to actuate and expansion portion of screw inserted into the bone. The assembly can be used for rigid fixation of bones that experience cyclic loads, such as the sternum and mandible. Methods of rigid bone fixation are also described.

Abstract: Storage-stable, anti-microbial compositions and products include a carrier and a ceragenin compound suspended in the carrier. Ceragenin compounds suspended in the carrier include a sterol backbone and a number of cationic groups attached to the sterol backbone via hydrolysable linkages. The carrier has a pH of 5.5 or less, which acts to stabilize the hydrolysable linkages and increase the shelf-life of the anti-microbial compositions and anti-microbial products. Nevertheless, the ceragenin compounds described herein are designed to break down relatively quickly (e.g., within about 5 days) if the pH environment of the ceragenin compounds is raised to about pH 6.5 or greater.

Abstract: The present invention provides an insect expression system that may be used to provide biological control of pest insects and control transmission of infectious diseases transmitted to the human population by insects.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for use in enzyme replacement therapy. The inventors disclose a method of producing membrane bound enzymes in an active soluble form by eliminating the glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) membrane anchor. In particular the inventors disclose a soluble active form of the membrane bound enzyme TNSALP which they produced by deleting the GPI anchor single peptide sequence. They have further shown that this composition is useful for treatment of hypophosphatasia. The inventors also disclose oligo acid amino acid variants thereof which specifically target bone tissue.

Abstract: A heat equalizer includes a container structure having a heating block in which a working fluid is held for heating and vaporizing a material to be heated, a heater placed at the bottom of the container structure, and a material feed pipe allowing the outside and the inside of the container structure to communicate with each other. In the heating block, as a flow path in which the material to be heated flows, a main header pipe connected to the material feed pipe and extending in the horizontally, and a riser pipe branching from the main header pipe and extending vertically are formed. As a condensation path in which the working fluid is cooled and condensed, condensation holes formed respectively on the opposite sides of the riser pipe and extending horizontally, and a condensation pit formed under the riser pipe are formed. Between the condensation holes and the condensation pit, the main header pipe is placed.

Abstract: This invention provides RNA, oligoribonucleotide, and polyribonucleotide molecules comprising pseudouridine or a modified nucleoside, gene therapy vectors comprising same, methods of synthesizing same, and methods for gene replacement, gene therapy, gene transcription silencing, and the delivery of therapeutic proteins to tissue in vivo, comprising the molecules. The present invention also provides methods of reducing the immunogenicity of RNA, oligoribonucleotide, and polyribonucleotide molecules.

Abstract: A method of making a biobased-petrochemical hybrid polyol is provided. This method includes reacting a cyclic ether with a vegetable oil-based polyol in the presence of a cationic catalyst or a coordinative catalyst that includes a vegetable oil-based polyol ligand to form the biobased-petrochemical hybrid polyol. The biobased-petrochemical hybrid polyol that is created has a number average molecular weight of about 3,000 to about 6,000 and has a structure that is about 22% to about 36% biobased. In one aspect of the present invention, the cyclic ether is propylene oxide, and the propoxylated polyol formed from the propylene oxide and vegetable oil-based polyol is then reacted with ethylene oxide in the presence of a superacid catalyst to create a block copolymer with a terminal polyethylene oxide block having a high percentage of terminal primary hydroxyl groups.

Abstract: A magnetic coupling assembly has a supporting base, a first disk, a second disk and two piezoelectric actuators. The piezoelectric actuators are mounted between the supporting base and the first disk to drive the first disk to move along an axial direction of the supporting base and to adjust the air gap between the first and second disks. Each piezoelectric actuator has a housing, a pushing arm and at least one piezoelectric block. The pushing arm is mounted slidably in and extends out of the housing along a longitudinal direction parallel with the axial direction of the supporting base and has an end securely connected with the first disk. The at least one piezoelectric block is mounted in the housing and is attached to the pushing arm to push the pushing arm to move along the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A method for digital processing comprises receiving a first set of image data corresponding to a first time and a second set of image data corresponding to a different time. Intensity values for each of a first pixel and second pixel are extracted from each of the first and second set of image data. Substantially linear values in a plurality of intensity values are identified for each of the first and second pixels. For each of the first and second pixels, regression is performed on each of the substantially linear values in the plurality of intensity values. The regression may calculate an intensity level as a function of exposure time. The regression may generate slopes corresponding to the linear values for each of the first and second pixels. These slopes more accurately represent the actual ratio of intensity values. The ratios are useful in applications, such as, for example, polarization.

Abstract: A multi-resolution display system including a desktop display area, a foveal projection device, a sensor, a control unit, and a manually adjustable fixture is provided. The desktop display area displays a central image and a low-resolution image. The control unit determines six-dimensional (6D) orientation information of the foveal projection device relative to the desktop display area according to a projected image detected by the sensor, so as to control the foveal projection device to project the central image within a target area on the desktop display area. The manually adjustable fixture fixes the foveal projection device on top of the desktop display area, and the movement of the manually adjustable fixture has a freedom of up to six dimensions.

Abstract: A non-contact sensing system for measuring and analyzing an object's position, motion, and/or resonance utilizes optical capturing of image features, data extraction, and signal processing to determine changes in the object's motion or position according to changes in signals, which are associated with the excitation of photons due to the object's motion.

Abstract: A method for controlled deposition and orientation of molecular sized nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) on substrates is disclosed. The method comprised: forming a thin layer of polymer coating on a substrate; exposing a selected portion of the thin layer of polymer to alter a selected portion of the thin layer of polymer; forming a suspension of nanostructures in a solvent, wherein the solvent suspends the nanostructures and activates the nanostructures in the solvent for deposition; and flowing a suspension of nanostructures across the layer of polymer in a flow direction; thereby: depositing a nanostructure in the suspension of nanostructures only to the selected portion of the thin layer of polymer coating on the substrate to form a deposited nanostructure oriented in the flow direction. By selectively employing portions of the method above, complex NEMS may be built of simpler NEMSs components.

Abstract: A colorimetric reagent in the form of nanoparticles, composite nanoparticles, and nanoparticle coatings, including methods of use, methods of preparation, deposition, and assembly of related devices and specific applications. The colorimetric reagent comprises cerium oxide nanoparticles which are used in solution or immobilized on a solid support, either alone or in conjunction with oxidase enzymes, to form an active colorimetric component that reacts with an analyte to form a colored complex. The rate of color change and the intensity of the color are proportional to the amount of analyte present in the sample. Also described is the use of ceria and doped ceria nanoparticles as an oxygen storage/delivery vehicle for oxidase enzymes and applications in biocatalytic processes in anaerobic conditions of interest in biomedicine and bioanalysis.

Abstract: Glycerol or other reduced carbon sources may be used as a feedstock for the microbial production of chemical products under certain microaerobic conditions. For example, such production may occur under microaerobic or microrespiratory conditions in which electron acceptors are consumed in the reaction as quickly as they are added. In such reactions, the reaction product is at least as reduced as carbon source. Further, during such a reaction, at least some of the carbon source is used to generate cell mass. In addition, microorganisms with modified genomes are provided for carrying out the methods herein.

Abstract: The present invention provides a high surface area porous carbon material and a process for making this material. In particular, the carbon material is derived from biomass and has large mesopore and micropore surfaces that promote improved adsorption of materials and gas storage capabilities.

Abstract: This invention relates, e.g., to a composition suitable for administration to the central nervous system (CNS), comprising a block copolypeptide hydrogel, which comprises a biologically active material that is mixed with the hydrogel or that is attached to the polypeptide chain of the hydrogel, wherein the composition is suitable for administration to the CNS. Also disclosed are methods of making and using compositions of the invention as depots or as scaffolds for cell migration, and pharmaceutical compositions and kits for implementing methods of the invention.

Abstract: Provided is a parallel operation processing apparatus and method. The parallel operation processing apparatus and method may generate an interpolated matrix with respect to a character included in each of a current frame and a next frame using a matrix corresponding to each of the current frame and the next frame generated, based on joint information corresponding to a plurality of joints included in the character. Also, the parallel operation processing apparatus and method may display an interpolated frame using the interpolated matrix.