Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for synthesizing a reversibly protected organometallic compound which comprises (1) reacting an organometallic compound with a hydroxyl group containing compound to produce a solution containing the reversibly protected organometallic compound and hydrogen chloride; (2) reacting the solution containing the reversibly protected organometallic compound and the hydrogen chloride with a trialkyl amine to precipitate the hydrogen chloride from the solution; and (3) recovering the reversibly protected organometallic compound from the solution of the reversibly protected organometallic compound.

Abstract: Methods and therapeutic strategies utilizing proteinacious channels in lipid membranes of mammalian cells. The methods entail administering a pharmaceutical to a lipid membrane of a mammalian cell, and then determining the effect of the pharmaceutical on the electrophysiology of at least one proteinacious channel of the lipid membrane, wherein the proteinacious channel is a Kv7 potassium channel and/or a L-type calcium channel of an airway smooth muscle cell (ASMC). The method can be used to identify pharmaceuticals that may be used to treat asthmatic and other bronchospastic conditions that can lead to airway obstruction, or to perform drug screening to assess potential risk of pharmaceuticals.

Abstract: A distributed media access system and method. The method includes making each of a plurality nodes in a P2P network designate at least one nearest neighbors as a first node candidate and perform at least one random walk to obtain a second node candidate according to the peer list; calculating user preferences of the request node and user preferences of the first and second node candidates according to the first and second node candidates and the preference parameters corresponding to the first and second node candidates so as to obtain a plurality of similarity values; selecting the more similar candidate as buddies of user of the node according to the calculated similarity values; and establishing a buddy list according to the buddies of user and storing the buddy list such that the P2P network can quickly find buddies of the node through the buddy list.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for reducing inflammation in the central nervous system (CNS) of a mammal that has been subjected to a stroke, traumatic injury to the CNS such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury (SCI), or having an autoimmune or CNS disease have been developed. The compositions and methods described herein include antibodies that specifically bind to at least one component (e.g., ASC, NALP1) in a mammalian inflammasome (e.g., the NALP1 inflammasome) and have use as treatments for SCI, TBI, stroke, and autoimmune and CNS diseases in a mammal. In a rodent model of SCI, therapeutic neutralization of ASC using a polyclonal antibody that specifically binds to ASC inhibited the inflammasome, reduced caspase-1 activation, XIAP cleavage, and interleukin processing, resulting in significant tissue sparing and functional improvement. Additionally, in a rodent model of TBI, neutralization of ASC after TBI reduced caspase-1 activation and XIAP cleavage.

Abstract: A method for protecting a message or document. The method comprises encrypting the message using a first key associated with a first party; sending the encrypted message to a second party; encrypting the message using a second key associated with the second party, so that it is encrypted with two keys simultaneously; sending the encrypted message to the first party; decrypting the message using the first key; sending the message to the second party, the message being encrypted with the second key, and using the second key to decrypt the encrypted message, thereby exposing the original message.

Abstract: A thermometer is described which is suitable as an indwelling thermometer to detect pyrexia or oestrus in a mammal. The thermometer provides a continued signal that a predetermined reference temperature has been exceeded, which temperature is selected to be indicative of pyrexia or oestrus in a given species and may change according to species.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for dehumidifying air by establishing a humidity gradient across a water selective permeable membrane in a dehumidification unit. Water vapor from relatively humid atmospheric air entering the dehumidification unit is extracted by the dehumidification unit without substantial condensation into a low pressure water vapor chamber operating at a partial pressure of water vapor lower than the partial pressure of water vapor in the relatively humid atmospheric air. For example, water vapor is extracted through a water permeable membrane of the dehumidification unit into the low pressure water vapor chamber. As such, the air exiting the dehumidification unit is less humid than the air entering the dehumidification unit. The low pressure water vapor extracted from the air is subsequently condensed and removed from the system at ambient conditions.

Abstract: An apparatus for capillary zone electrophoresis includes a polyelectrolyte multilayer positioned in a capillary tube for analytical separations of macromolecules. The capillary comprises a passage defined by passage walls comprising fused silica and the polyelectrolyte multilayer positioned within the passage. The polyelectrolyte multilayer comprises layers with alternating charge. The apparatus includes a power supply having a positive electrode and a negative electrode for generating an electric field therebetween and a sensor positioned adjacent the passage for sensing macromolecules.

Abstract: The invention relates to glutamine endopeptidase enzymes from Rothia spp. bacteria that are naturally associated with the oral cavity, formulations comprising the glutamine endopeptidase enzymes and the use thereof for the treatment, prevention of allergic reaction and diagnosis of gluten allergy related diseases such as Celiac Sprue, gluten allergy and/or dermatitis herpetiformis.

Abstract: Nanosized particles are molded from granules of organic substances in nano-scale molds. The nano-scale molds can be fabricated from non-wetting, low surface energy polymeric materials. The nanosized particles can be virtually any shape, are typically less than 500 micrometers in a broadest dimension, and can include pharmaceutical compositions, biologic drugs, drug compositions, organic materials, and the like.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided herein for time-resolved analysis of the effect of a perturbation (e.g., a light or voltage pulse) on a sample. By operating in the time domain, the provided method enables sub-microsecond time-resolved measurement of transient, or time-varying, forces acting on a cantilever.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for analyzing pattern colorings and evaluating various psychological symptoms or disorders in art therapy are disclosed. The method suggests performance-related elements such as completeness, accuracy and degree of concentration as elements, can objectively and quantitatively rate these elements as well as various color-related elements, can detect the changes of these elements in pattern colorings, can estimate the levels and changes of psychological symptoms and disorders and determine whether the symptoms and disorders are serious or not, can acquire various kinds of knowledge in the field of art therapy and establish a knowledge base, and can interpret the pattern colorings based on the analysis and knowledge base. The apparatus consists of units obtaining inputs of characteristics of clients, analyzing and rating the various elements in the pattern colorings, and outputting various kinds of information to the clients, parents, teachers, and art therapists.

Abstract: This invention provides methods of diagnosing or determining a cause of an autoimmune encephalitis or an epilepsy in a subject and of diagnosing a tumor in a subject, comprising the step of testing a biological sample of the subject for an anti-body to a GABAB receptor. This invention further provides methods of treating an autoimmune encephalitis or an epilepsy, comprising the steps of detecting an antibody to a GABAB receptor and treating a tumor associated with the disease.

Abstract: While gold wire grids have been used to polarize infrared wavelengths for over a hundred years, they are not appropriate for shorter wavelengths due to their large period. With embodiments of the present invention, grids with periods a few tens of nanometers can be fabricated. Among other things, such grids can be used to polarize visible and even ultraviolet light. As a result, such wire grid polarizers have a wide variety of applications and uses, such as, e.g., in the fabrication of semiconductors, nanolithography, and more.

Abstract: Embodiments of a product such as a stimuli-responsive product can comprise a shape memory component and a nanofiber component that forms a fibrous microstructure or network. The resulting product can be responsive to stimuli, such as electrical stimuli, in a manner that cause the product to deform, deflect, and rebound. In one embodiment, the product can comprise an epoxy and a continuous non-woven nanofiber, the combination of which provides a product with enhanced actuation speed.

Abstract: Digital communication coding methods resulting in rate-compatible low density parity-check (LDPC) codes built from protographs. Described digital coding methods start with a desired code rate and a selection of the numbers of variable nodes and check nodes to be used in the protograph. Constraints are set to satisfy a linear minimum distance growth property for the protograph. All possible edges in the graph are searched for the minimum iterative decoding threshold and the protograph with the lowest iterative decoding threshold is selected. Protographs designed in this manner are used in decode and forward relay channels.

Abstract: The preset invention relates to a new approach for treating a cancer or fibrosis, such as Hepatocellular carcinoma, or liver fibrosis using an extract from a plant of Graptopetalum sp., Rhodiola sp. or Echeveria sp., and prepared by extracting the plant with Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), its fraction or the compound isolated from the extract.

Abstract: A slide member includes a substrate that is made of a metal material and has a sliding surface with a plurality of microdimples formed therein. Each of the microdimple has a circular opening, the microdimples are arranged in regular intervals in a hexagonal close-packed configuration, and the area ratio of the openings of all the microdimples to the entire sliding surface is in the range of 50 to 80%.

Abstract: An oil generation system is provided. The oil generation system includes a saccharide; and a working microorganism reacting with the saccharide to produce an oil, wherein the working microorganism has a genus being a Cystofilobasidium.

Abstract: This invention pertains to the discovery that an amplification of the CYP24 gene or an increase in CYP24 activity is a marker for the presence of, progression of, or predisposition to, a cancer (e.g., breast cancer). Using this information, this invention provides methods of detecting a predisposition to cancer in an animal. The methods involve (i) providing a biological sample from an animal (e.g. a human patient); (ii) detecting the level of CYP24 within the biological sample; and (iii) comparing the level of CYP24 with a level of CYP24 in a control sample taken from a normal, cancer-free tissue where an increased level of CYP24 in the biological sample compared to the level of CYP24 in the control sample indicates the presence of said cancer in said animal.