Abstract: This invention provides a simple means for detecting a renal disorder, a diagnostic marker for a renal disorder that enables prognostic prediction of a renal disorder (e.g., diabetic nephropathy and IgA nephropathy) and evaluation of the degree of nephropathy at the phase of stage-II diabetic nephropathy by measuring the megalin level in urine associated with a renal disorder used for the detection means, and use of such marker. The invention also provides the use of human megalin obtained from the urine sample of a subject as a marker for detecting a renal disorder.

Abstract: A method for inducing mucosal immune responses in a subject in need thereof to an antigen includes administering to the subject a vaccine composition including the antigen and a Dioscorea polysaccharides as an adjuvant. Because of the immuomodulatory effect of the Dioscorea polysaccharides, the vaccine composition is further capable of breaking immunological tolerance in the subject.

Abstract: A method for controlling a data center, comprising a plurality of server systems, each associated with a cooling system and a thermal constraint, comprising: a concurrent physical condition of a first server system; predicting a future physical condition based on a set of future states of the first server system; dynamically controlling the cooling system in response to at least the input and the predicted future physical condition, to selectively cool the first server system sufficient to meet the predetermined thermal constraint; and controlling an allocation of tasks between the plurality of server systems to selectively load the first server system within the predetermined thermal constraint and selectively idle a second server system, wherein the idle second server system can be recruited to accept tasks when allocated to it, and wherein the cooling system associated with the idle second server system is selectively operated in a low power consumption state.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of inhibiting the growth of a shoot apical meristem of a cucurbit rootstock plant, comprising contacting a shoot apical meristem of the cucurbit rootstock plant with an effective amount of a composition comprising one or more fatty alcohols, thereby inhibiting the growth of the shoot apical meristem of the cucurbit rootstock plant. The present invention further provides methods for preparing and producing cucurbit rootstock plants for grafting and methods for grafting. Additionally provided are cucurbit rootstock plants and plant parts and grafted cucurbit plants produced by the methods of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for constructing a cable-stayed bridge with a tensionless stay cable, including the steps for: constructing a main tower 100, continuously installing a suspension cable 200 over a main span and a side span, installing a plurality of hangers 210 on the suspension cable 200, arranging an anchorage cable 220 in a longitudinal direction by connecting the anchorage cable 220 to a lower end of the hanger 210, installing a stay cable 110 in sequence, constructing a girder by connecting a segment 300 constituting the girder to each of the stay cables 110 in sequence, and connecting the segments 300 one another in a longitudinal direction, and removing the suspension cable 200, the hanger, and the anchorage cable 220.

Abstract: Systems and methods for inhibiting attacks with a network are provided. In some embodiments, methods for inhibiting attacks by forwarding packets through a plurality of intermediate nodes when being transmitted from a source node to a destination node are provided, the methods comprising: receiving a packet at one of the plurality of intermediate nodes; determining at the selected intermediate node whether the packet has been sent to the correct one of the plurality of intermediate nodes based on a pseudo random function; and forwarding the packet to the destination node, based on the determining. In some embodiments an intermediate node is selected based on a pseudo random function. In some embodiments, systems and methods for establishing access to a multi-path network are provided.

Abstract: Adaptive notch filters can be used to estimate offending frequencies caused by feedback within a hearing aid system. The offending frequencies can be suppressed by filtering. Offending frequencies can be identified based on variability of the adaptive notch filter parameters.

Abstract: Reduced dyes, such as hydrocyanines, deuterocyanines, and/or other deuterated dyes capable of detecting one or more reactive oxygen species are described herein. The reduced dyes exhibit little or no fluorescence due to the disrupted ? conjugation. However, upon reaction with ROS, the reduced dyes are oxidized, regenerating the extended ? conjugation and causing a substantial increase in fluorescence intensity. In many case, the oxidized dye is generally membrane impermeable. However, upon reduction, many of the reduced dyes are membrane permeable. Thus, reduced dyes can accumulate in cells and/or tissue to amplify the signal. Once inside the cell or tissue, the reduced dye is reoxidized upon reaction with ROS, and the oxidized dye again becomes membrane impermeable, trapping the dye within the cell. The reduced dyes can be used to image ROS, such as hydroxide radical and superoxide, in serum, cell cultures, tissue explants, and in vivo.

Abstract: An image processing method for providing a digitized image as an approximation of an image function ƒ, wherein the digitized image comprises a plurality of pixels with a predetermined pixel size, comprises the steps of providing the image function ƒ from Radon data comprising a plurality of projection functions measured corresponding to a plurality of predetermined projection directions (v), and determining pixel values from the image function, the pixel values representing the digitized image to be obtained, wherein the pixel values are determined in dependence on at least two image function values within the pixel size of the respective pixel. Furthermore, an imaging method and an imaging device using the image processing method are described.

Abstract: The liquid crystal display device may include a first electrode; a second electrode facing the first electrode and forming a vertical electrical field together with the first electrode; a blue phase liquid crystal layer provided between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a first prism sheet provided to face the second electrode with the first electrode between the second electrode and the first prism sheet. The first prism sheet changes a path of incident light so that the incident light from the outside obliquely enters the blue phase liquid crystal layer with respect to the vertical electrical field.

Abstract: Disclosed are a filter and a method to improve the objective and subjective video coding performance The filter comprises: a parameter estimation unit configured to determine means and variances from a pilot frame; a filter unit configured to receive quantized residual coefficients in video coding process and restore coefficients from the quantized residual coefficients and the determined means and variances; an inverse ICT unit configured to apply an inverse ICT to the restored coefficients to obtain a filtered frame; a rate-distortion optimization unit configured to determine a quadtree block partition index; and an adaptive block selection unit configured to select final blocks according to quadtree block partition index, the final blocks being utilized to form the filtered frame.

Abstract: A transcutaneous prosthesis includes a first component shaped for implantation into a bone, the first component including flutes or grooves on a surface thereof for deterring rotation of the prosthesis within a bone; a second component adapted for location between the bone and the skin, the second component having a surface treatment for stimulation of fibroblastic cell proliferation and attachment of epithelial cells; and a third component adapted for location to extend from the skin surface and is adapted to extend directly from the skin surface in use, the third component having a coating of a non-stick material on an outer surface thereof, the coating having a surface energy that is lower than a surface energy of the first and second components and which is low enough to deter bacterial adhesion.

Abstract: High sensitivity thermal detectors that perform beyond the blackbody radiation noise limit are described. Thermal detectors, as described herein, use spectrally selective materials that absorb strongly in the wavelength region of the desired signal but only weakly or not at all in the primary thermal emission band. Exemplary devices that can be made in accordance with the present invention include microbolometers containing semiconductors that absorb in the MWIR and/or THz range but not the LWIR.

Abstract: A method for making cathode slurry is provided and includes the following steps. First, a number of electron emitters, an inorganic binder, and an organic carrier are provided. Second, the electron emitters, the inorganic binder, and the organic carrier are mixed to obtain a mixture. Third, the mixture is mechanically pressed and sheared.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating or preventing cardiac disorders in a subject in need thereof by inhibiting the expression or function of both miR-499 and miR-208 in the heart cells of the subject. In particular, specific protocols for administering inhibitors of the two miRNAs that achieve efficient, long-term suppression are disclosed. In addition, the invention provides a method for treating or preventing musculoskeletal disorders in a subject in need thereof by increasing the expression or activity of both miR-208 and miR-499 in skeletal muscle cells of the subject.

Abstract: In one embodiment, program code is added to a social network's web pages or site such that the content a first user accesses is locally stored at the first user's system. When another user, who is a friend of the first user, as defined by the social networking site, browses to that same content, the program code fetches it from the first user, instead of directly from the social networking site. The content is thus directly exchanged between the users without a transaction at the website. The present invention leverages the storage and bandwidth resources of social networking users to help serve content.

Abstract: The invention provides vitamin K-dependent polypeptides with enhanced membrane binding affinity. These polypeptides can be used to modulate clot formation in mammals. Methods of modulating clot formation in mammals are also described.

Abstract: Provided are methods for inducing preservation in a patient and resuscitating that patient. At least three hours of preservation, with successful resuscitation, are realized using the methods described herein. The methods involve flushing a patient with an oxygenated, cold-flush solution, such as normal saline, having an energy source. The patient may be cooled to deep or profound hypothermia to induce preservation. The patient may be resuscitated by warming to from about 33° C. to about 36° C., and then may be slowly warmed over a 24 to 72 hour period to normothermia. Kits for inducing preservation also are provided.

Abstract: A process for producing ammonium nitrate is disclosed and in which: a) a gaseous oxidizer feed composed at least substantially of ammonia, steam and an oxidizing gas is exposed to conditions whereby the ammonia is oxidized to produce a reaction mixture including nitrogen monoxide and water vapor, b) the reaction mixture is cooled in a heat exchanger whereby the nitrogen monoxide is oxidized, the water vapor is condensed and the products of the nitrogen monoxide oxidation react with and are absorbed by the condensed water to form a nitric acid stream, with substantially all of the nitrogen monoxide in the reaction mixture being converted to nitric acid, and c) the nitric acid stream is reacted with a stream of ammonia in an ammonium nitrate producing stage to form the ammonium nitrate.

Abstract: A system for producing hydrogen gas from water decomposition using a thermochemical CuCl cycle, the improvement comprising the use of an insulated hydrogen production reactor comprising a reaction chamber and a separation chamber; the reaction chamber having a hydrogen chloride gas inlet and a solid copper inlet; one or more levels provided in the reaction chamber, the number of which is dependant on production scale and pressure drop; each level comprising a perforated plate with associated filter media, the perforations of the plate and media being of decreasing size from top to bottom of the reaction chamber, and being sized to permit downward flow of the hydrogen gas and molten CuCl products, as well as the HCL gas reactant, and to prevent entrainment of solid copper in the molten CuCl; the separation chamber being located below the reaction chamber and being of greater cross section than the reaction chamber and comprising a first hydrogen removal and entrained copper removal zone and a second molten CuC