Abstract: A method of analyzing a thermal image of a coated substrate to determine the presence of defects includes determining a defect temperature range based on a color of the coated substrate and the maximum temperature of the coated substrate in the thermal image. Thereafter, the thermal image is processed by determining a signal value of a pixel of interest based on a temperature of the pixel of interest, temperatures of pixels in a kernel of pixels surrounding the pixel of interest, and the color of the coated substrate. The signal value of the pixel of interest is then compared to the lower temperature threshold of the defect temperature range, wherein the pixel of interest is a defect location when the signal value of the pixel of interest is greater than or equal to the lower temperature threshold.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing polymeric microspheres loaded with drugs and polymeric microspheres loaded with drugs produced thereby, specifically a method for producing polymeric microspheres loaded with drugs, the method comprising the steps of a) adding a dispersion phase containing a high molecular compound, a drug, and a water-insoluble organic solvent to a dispersion solvent to produce an O/W (oil-in-water) type or O/O (oil-in-oil) type emulsion, or adding a W/O (water-in-oil) type emulsion, which is prepared by emulsifying an aqueous solution, in which a drug is dissolved, in a water-insoluble organic solvent, in which the high molecular compound is dissolved, to the dispersion solvent to produce a W/O/W (water-in-oil-in-water) type emulsion; and b) adding an ammonia solution to the emulsion produced in step a) to convert the water-insoluble organic solvent into water-soluble solvents, and polymeric microspheres loaded with drugs produced thereby.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for evaluating a drug effect enabling on-chip evaluation of the effect of a drug while the drug is acting on hERG-expressing cells. The present invention also provides a myocardial toxicity test apparatus and method therefor enabling in vitro myocardial toxicity testing that has previously been performed in vivo. A pulsating cell population and hERG-expressing cells (target model cells) are suitably isolated and arranged on a transparent substrate so that the two form gap junctions. The hERG-expressing cells are arranged on transparent electrodes provided on the transparent substrate. The hERG-expressing cells are exposed to a flow of a liquid containing a drug such that the drug acts thereon. The difference between the normal pulsation of hERG-expressing cells and the pulsation when a drug is acting thereon is captured via electric signals obtained from electrodes, and the properties of the change in potential are evaluated.

Abstract: The present inventions generally relate to compositions and methods for providing agricultural chemicals comprising active ingredients (A.I.s) combined with a top dressing for application to cultivated areas of turfgrass. Specifically, the compositions are in the form of moist formulations for providing top dressings comprising active ingredients. Further, the inventions relate to compositions and methods for delivering active ingredients simultaneously with a top dressing composition to golf course turf.

Abstract: Nucleotide monomers, polynucleotides, methods of making each, and methods of deprotecting each, are disclosed. An embodiment of the nucleotide monomer, among others, includes a nucleotide monomer having a heterobase protecting group selected from structures I through III as described herein. An embodiment of the polynucleotide, among others, includes a plurality of nucleotide moieties having a heterobase protecting group selected from one of structures I through III as described herein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the identification of miRNAs that are involved in the process of neuromuscular synaptic maintenance and regeneration following injury or disease. Modulation of these miRNAs is proposed as treatment for spinal cord injury and neurodegenerative disease.

Abstract: The invention discloses a pharmaceutical composition of bioactive nanoparticles composed of chitosan, poly-glutamic acid, and a bioactive agent for oral delivery. The chitosan-based nanoparticles are characterized with a positive surface charge and enhanced permeability for oral drug delivery.

Abstract: A small molecular inhibitor of E2F (HLM006474) was identified using a computer-based virtual screen and the known crystal structure of the DNA bound E2F4/DP2 heterodimer. Treatment of multiple cell lines resulted in the loss of intracellular E2F4 DNA-binding activity. Overnight exposure to HLM006474 resulted in down regulation of total E2F4 protein as well as several known E2F targets. The effects of treatment on different cell lines included a reduction in cell proliferation and an increase in apoptosis. Apoptosis was induced in a manner distinct from cisplatin and doxorubicin. E2F4-null MEFs (mouse embryo fibroblasts) were less sensitive than wildtype counterparts to the apoptosis-inducing activity of the compound revealing its biological specificity. A375 cells were extremely sensitive to the apoptosis-inducing activity of the compound in two-dimensional culture and HLM006474 was a potent inhibitor of melanocytes proliferation and subsequent invasion in a three-dimensional tissue culture model system.

Abstract: A new sucrose is obtained through the present invention. The new sucrose has a lower solubility and a lower melting point. Thus, the new sucrose has a higher stability. The new sucrose obtained through the present invention can be used as an added functionality excipient of drug in pharmaceutical industry. And the new sucrose can also be used in sugar and food industries.

Abstract: Provided is a method and apparatus for encoding and decoding multi-view video data. The encoding method includes: decomposing each view image of the multi-view video into an overlapped region and a non-overlapped region, the overlapped region being overlapped with other view image and the non-overlapped region not being overlapped with other view image; generating a stitched image by combining the non-overlapped region of each view image and a middle view image; encoding the stitched image using a first encoding algorithm; and encoding the overlapped region of each view image, using a second encoding algorithm. Further, the decomposing step includes the steps of estimating disparity information for each view image, based on a predetermined view image; and decomposing each view image into said overlapped region and said non-overlapped region using the estimated disparity information.

Abstract: A process for preparing compounds of chitosan saccharified with aminosugar, adopts chitosan derivatives, aminosugar derivatives and anhydride derivatives as raw materials to synthesize target products. The process comprises: covalently bonding an anhydride derivative as a bonding arm to an aminosugar derivative, so as to form a monosaccharide derivative having an end group of carboxyl; and then covalently bonding the monosaccharide derivative having an end group of carboxyl to a primary amino group of a chitosan derivative via the carboxyl, so as to form a compound of chitosan saccharified with aminosugar.

Abstract: A transmission protocol is provided for wireless communications in an OFDMA system that uses a rateless code and techniques are provided for dynamically adjusting the subcarrier resources allocated to an OFDMA relay node so that the relay is used at the right time according to the instantaneous channel state information (CSI). As a result, a higher throughput is achieved between source and destination nodes based on a low complexity algorithm for determining when relay assistance is helpful for completing a transmission between the source and destination nodes.

Abstract: A precoder and a precoding method in a multiuser multi-antenna system are provided. The precoder includes a channel checker for determining a DownLink (DL) channel condition of terminals in a service coverage area, a pre-compensator for pre-compensating, for channel distortion, signals to be sent to the terminals when a nonlinear algorithm is selected based on the channel condition of the terminals, and an interference remover for canceling interference in a channel by multiplying the pre-compensated signals by inverse channels of the terminals, and for canceling interference between the terminals. Accordingly, the pre-equalization can be carried out without global channel state information, and an increase of the transmit power can be prevented in the permutation.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for modulating an immune response in a subject, comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of an A35R protein or active fragment thereof of vaccinia virus or other poxvirus.

Abstract: This invention relates to supervised or unsupervised classification of biological datasets. Specifically, the invention relates to the use of Graph Embedding as a method of reducing dimensionality thereby improving supervised classification of classes, both conventional and new ones.

Abstract: An apparatus and method adapted to enhance the structural performance of a desired connection and provide a readily perceivable indication of predetermined limitations having being reached prior to actual failure of a connection. A method for enhancing structural performance of a desired structure by preventing fracture propagation.

Abstract: To obtain an optical component having excellent secondary optical nonlinear properties by irradiating a surface and/or inside of glass having at least one member selected from Ni, Fe, V, Cu, Cr and Mn as a heat source material for absorbing and converting a laser beam to heat, incorporated to a glass matrix comprising at least one glass-forming oxide-selected from SiO2, GeO2, B2O3, P2O5, TeO2, Ga2O3, V2O5, MoO3 and WO3 and at least one member selected from alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, rare earth elements and transition elements, with a laser beam with a wavelength to be absorbed by the heat source material, to convert the irradiated portion to a single crystal or a group of crystal grains comprising components contained in the glass matrix and not containing the heat source material, thereby to form a pattern.

Abstract: An inorganic nanowire having an organic scaffold substantially removed from the inorganic nanowire, the inorganic nanowire consisting essentially of fused inorganic nanoparticles substantially free of the organic scaffold, and methods of making same. For example, a virus-based scaffold for the synthesis of single crystal ZnS, CdS and free-standing L10 CoPt and FePt nanowires can be used, with the means of modifying substrate specificity through standard biological methods. Peptides can be selected through an evolutionary screening process that exhibit control of composition, size, and phase during nanoparticle nucleation have been expressed on the highly ordered filamentous capsid of the M13 bacteriophage. The incorporation of specific, nucleating peptides into the generic scaffold of the M13 coat structure can provide a viable template for the directed synthesis of a variety of materials including semiconducting and magnetic materials.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the treatment of prostate cancer. In certain embodiments, the invention relates to compositions and methods for the inhibition of prostate cancer cell growth, comprising inhibiting the activity of Stat5 in prostate cancer cells.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling use of a mobile computing device in a vehicle are disclosed. The method comprises monitoring a vehicle-key system comprising a vehicle and a vehicle key having a particular code to determine when the vehicle has been activated using the vehicle key. An operational state of the vehicle is identified based on information received from an OBD port in the vehicle. The operational state of the vehicle is communicated to the mobile computing device. Use of selected device features on the mobile computing device are controlled based on the particular code of the vehicle key when the operational state of the vehicle indicates that the vehicle is outside of selected parameters.