Abstract: Conventional block ciphers that traffic in 128-bit block sizes are ill-suited for operating in small domains like credit card numbers. Some embodiments relate to techniques for constructing and speeding up practical and provably secure schemes for deterministically enciphering data from a small domain like credit card numbers using a conventional block cipher or other pseudorandom function.

Abstract: The method for restricting access to sensitive contents of digital images using the digital watermarking technique for encoding and decoding sensitive contents of images is characterized in that the sensitive contents of an image are obscured, and the information necessary for the high quality reconstruction is encoded in the insensitive area of the transmitted image by modification of the DCT spectrum coefficients. The information concerning the obscured contents is retained by means of transform coefficients and processed independently. Noise with statistics identical to that of the digital watermark is inserted into the image after decoding. The system contains encoding unit including acquisition module connected with sensitive contents encoding module through sensitive patterns automatic detection module with attached memory buffer. Also, acquisition module is connected directly with sensitive contents encoding module and with compression module.

Abstract: A nozzle plate containing multiple micro-orifices for the cascade impactor and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The nozzle plate is formed by a series of semiconductor processes, including lithography, etching and electroplating. The nozzle plate comprises a plate body and a plurality of micro-orifices formed on the plate body. The orifice has a diameter which gradually expands in the direction away from the bottom of the plate body to achieve a smooth inner surface, allowing particles to pass therethrough smoothly without being clogged in the nozzle plate.

Abstract: A new class of membranes for use in protective clothing. More specifically, the present invention relates to a polymer-polymer membrane with an ionic polymer located within the nanopores of a porous polymer host membrane. A method for making the polymer-polymer membranes involves filling porous polymers with ionic polymers. The porous polymers may be fabricated by a template synthesis which involves sorption. The ionic polymers may be filled in the nanopores of the porous polymer by plasma-induced graft copolymerization of the ionic polymer with the porous polymeric host membrane.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preventing or treating an undesirable condition in a subject carrying cells homozygous null for the neurofibromatosis type 1 gene or subjects that are haploinsufficient for the neurofibromatosis type 1 gene, the method comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a schweinfurthin or schweinfurthin analog or derivative, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, prodrug, hydrate, or solvate thereof. Also disclosed is a new schweinfurthin compound of the formula.

Abstract: Genetic constructs that comprise a coding sequence for HIV-1 Rev, and a coding sequence for a desired protein are disclosed. Compositions that comprise at least two nucleic acid molecules in which at least one nucleic acid molecule comprises a coding sequence for HIV-1 Rev, and at least one nucleic acid molecule comprises a coding sequence for a desired protein are disclosed. In such genetic constructs and compositions comprising nucleic acid molecules, the coding sequence for the desired protein comprises at least a portion of coding sequence for an HIV structural protein that includes an RRE and at least one CTE. Methods of inducing an immune response against an immunogen in an individual, methods of delivering proteins to an individual and methods of producing proteins are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of making a supported gas separation molecular sieve membrane. In this method a porous support, which is preferably pretreated, is contacted with a molecular sieve synthesis mixture under hydrothermal synthesis conditions. The contacting step is conducted for a shortened crystallization time period. The resulting coated porous support is calcined to yield the supported gas separation molecular sieve membrane having particularly good gas separation characteristics.

Abstract: Embodiments herein generally relate to methods, compositions and uses of CaMKII inhibitors. Other embodiments relate to methods, compositions and uses of agents that target CaMKII. Yet further embodiments relate to compositions, methods and uses of CaMKIIN-derived molecules and other CaMKII inhibitor molecules that inhibit autonomous CaMKII activity. In accordance with these embodiments, compositions that inhibit autonomous CaMKII activity may be used for treating conditions causing neuronal cell death, for treating cancer or for treating neurodegenerative disorders.

Abstract: The present invention provides photoacid generators for use in chemically amplified resists and lithographic processes using the same.

Abstract: A method for growth and fabrication of semipolar (Ga, Al, In, B)N thin films, heterostructures, and devices, comprising identifying desired material properties for a particular device application, selecting a semipolar growth orientation based on the desired material properties, selecting a suitable substrate for growth of the selected semipolar growth orientation, growing a planar semipolar (Ga, Al, In, B)N template or nucleation layer on the substrate, and growing the semipolar (Ga, Al, In, B)N thin films, heterostructures or devices on the planar semipolar (Ga, Al, In, B)N template or nucleation layer. The method results in a large area of the semipolar (Ga, Al, In, B)N thin films, heterostructures, and devices being parallel to the substrate surface.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for increasing tolerance of microorganisms to toxic agents, such as solvents; and for increasing production of solvents from solvent-generating microorganisms. The methods comprise engineering a microorganism of interest to express a heterologous heat-shock protein/chaperone, e.g., Group II chaperonin or a prefoldin such as ?-prefoldin, where the heterologous protein is from an extremophile, such as an archaean.

Abstract: A double-metallic deposition process is used whereby adjacent layers of different metals are deposited on a substrate. The surface plasmon frequency of a base layer of a first metal is tuned by the surface plasmon frequency of a second layer of a second metal formed thereon. The amount of tuning is dependent upon the thickness of the metallic layers, and thus tuning can be achieved by varying the thicknesses of one or both of the metallic layers. In a preferred embodiment directed to enhanced LED technology in the green spectrum regime, a double-metallic Au/Ag layer comprising a base layer of gold (Au) followed by a second layer of silver (Ag) formed thereon is deposited on top of InGaN/GaN quantum wells (QWs) on a sapphire/GaN substrate.

Abstract: A handcuff comprising a bolt and a bolt spring which work to double lock the handcuff. The bolt comprises an underside having teeth which are engagable with the teeth of a jaw. The underside of the bolt comprises a groove through which a stud disposed on a cheek head of the handcuff is positioned to thereby further secure the bolt in position when the handcuff is locked. The bolt further comprises an upper side comprising a groove, a spring stop, and a detent. The bolt spring comprises a body bent to form a side wall which bridges a first spring leg portion to a second spring leg portion, wherein the first and second spring leg portions engage with the upper side of the bolt to hold the bolt spring in a first position. The spring stop prevents the bolt spring from over-rotation, and therefore, prevents breakage of the bolt spring.

Abstract: Stable nanoparticles comprising poorly soluble drugs are disclosed, as well as methods of making and methods of using such nanoparticles, e.g., as therapeutics and diagnostics.

Abstract: Provided is a method for enhancing the production of polyhydroxyalkanoic acid (PHA) from microorganism strains by disrupting a gene associated with the production of an exobiopolymer (EBP) in the Pseudomonas strain to redirect the carbon flux toward the production of the polyhydroxyalkanoic acid, thereby enhancing the production of the polyhydroxyalkanoic acid.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for separating an arsenic mineral from a copper-bearing material, including the steps of grinding a copper-bearing material containing arsenic, adding water to the copper-bearing material to prepare a slurry, and adding a flotation agent including a depressant, a frother, and a collector to the slurry and blowing air into the slurry for performing flotation to obtain a copper concentrate, wherein the depressant is a chelator. As the chelator, a polyethyleneamine or the like is used. Particularly, when triethylenetetramine is used as the chelator, the amount of triethylenetetramine to be added is preferably 1 to 10 equivalents relative to the amount of soluble copper generated by oxidation of the copper-bearing material, and the pH of the slurry is more preferably adjusted to 7 or more but 8 or less before the slurry is subjected to the flotation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electric-field drive display device. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the electric-field drive display device comprises: a first substrate; a first electrode which is formed on the first substrate; a second electrode which is formed on the first substrate and is disposed in parallel with the first electrode; a drive partition wall which is formed on the first electrode and the second electrode and has a plurality of opening and closing holes; and a plurality of drive bodies which are disposed inside each of the opening and closing holes. Consequently, the electric-field drive display device according to one embodiment of the present invention can adjust the amount of light transmitted and so display the desired image by adjusting the positions of the drive bodies in the horizontal direction through the use of electrical force.

Abstract: A 3D contents data encoding method includes receiving a plurality of primitive data contained in 3D contents data, and encoding each of the received primitive data in accordance with a predetermined encoding order for the primitive data.

Abstract: A method for reconstructing an image from emission data includes generating a compressed point-spread function matrix, generating an accumulated attenuation factor; and performing at least one image projection operation on an image matrix of the emission data using the compressed point-spread function matrix and the accumulated attenuation factor. The image projection operation can include rotating an image matrix and an exponential attenuation map to align with a selected viewing angle. An accumulated attenuation image is then generated from the rotated image matrix and rotated exponential attenuation map and a projection image is generated for each voxel by multiplying the accumulated attenuation image and point spread function matrix for each voxel. The rotating and multiplying operations can be performed on a graphics processing unit, which may be found in a commercially available video processing card, which are specifically designed to efficiently perform such operations.

Abstract: Interaction between insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGFI) and integrin is involved in integrin-mediated cellular signaling, such as enhanced proliferation of cells expressing integrins, especially integrin alpha v beta 3, alpha 6 beta. 1 and alpha 6. beta. 4. A method for inhibiting integrin signaling by using an inhibitor of IGFI-integrin binding is disclosed A method for identifying inhibitors of IGFI-integrin binding is also described. Further disclosed are polypeptides, nucleic acids, and corresponding compositions for inhibiting integrin signaling.