Abstract: The subject invention concerns materials and methods for inhibiting the Akt/PKB pathway. In one embodiment, a compound of the invention inhibits kinase activity and/or phosphorylation levels of Akt proteins. The subject invention also concerns methods for inhibiting or killing a cancer cell or other cell in which expression of an Akt protein is elevated or constitutively active, comprising contacting the cell with an effective amount of a compound of formula I. The subject invention also concerns methods for treating cancer or a tumor in a person or animal comprising administering all effective amount of a compound of formula I to the person or animal.

Abstract: A nitride light emitting diode, on a patterned substrate, comprising a nitride interlayer having at least two periods of alternating layers of InxGa1?xN and InyGa1?yN where 0<x<1 and 0?y<1, and a nitride based active region having at least one quantum well structure on the nitride interlayer.

Abstract: An acoustic emission test sensor fixing device, comprising a radial positioning mechanism, supporting mechanisms, bases, acoustic emission test sensor mounting mechanisms, and parallelism adjusting members, wherein the supporting mechanism comprises a main supporting arm and an auxiliary supporting arm, with one end of the auxiliary supporting arm is fixedly connected to or hinged with the main supporting arm and the other end is provided with kink shaft members which are symmetrical about the auxiliary supporting arm; and the bases are provided with plugholes which form revolute pairs with the auxiliary supporting arm.

Abstract: The objectives are to find a substance or a composition capable of promoting the production of ghrelin with physiological activities such as growth hormone secretion effect, and to provide a pharmaceutical comprising it as the active ingredient. The pharmaceutical is a ghrelin production promoter comprising Rikkunshi-to as the active ingredient.

Abstract: Methods are provided for the utilization of bacterial cell-free extracts in the synthesis of high yields of membrane-associated polypeptides.

Abstract: A method for preventing or delaying the onset of autoimmune diseases is disclosed.

Abstract: A gaming machine of the present invention is configured to include: terminal devices each of which executes a base game with a game value being bet and awards a prize according to a predetermined winning; routes each formed by continuously disposing route light emitters from a corresponding terminal device out of the terminal devices to a common display; the common display having common display light emitters arranged in a matrix and route light emitters arranged so as to form several straight lines each acting as an extension route, the common display being attachably/detachably unitized with the routes; and a controller.

Abstract: Provided is a bone filling complex and method of preparing the same. The bone filling complex includes a matrix including a hydrogel-type hyaluronic acid derivative; and a bone derivative filling the matrix For example, the bone filling complex can be used to regenerate an injured alveolar bone.

Abstract: The present invention describes methods for preparing high quality nanoparticles, i.e., metal oxide based nanoparticles of uniform size and monodispersity. The nanoparticles advantageously comprise organic alkyl chain capping groups and are stable in air and in nonpolar solvents. The methods of the invention provide a simple and reproducible procedure for forming transition metal oxide nanocrystals, with yields over 80%. The highly crystalline and monodisperse nanocrystals are obtained directly without further size selection; particle size can be easily and fractionally increased by the methods. The resulting nanoparticles can exhibit magnetic and/or optical properties. These properties result from the methods used to prepare them. Also advantageously, the nanoparticles of this invention are well suited for use in a variety of industrial applications, including cosmetic and pharmaceutical formulations and compositions.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an in vitro method for promoting differentiation and proliferation of human T helper lymphocytes that express IL17 (Th-IL17+ cells). The instant method may be used to generate a population of human T helper lymphocytes that express IL17 (Th-IL17+ cells) in vitro. Methods for screening to identify agents capable of modulating Th-IL17+ cell differentiation are also encompassed by the present invention. Isolated, pure populations of homogeneous Th-IL17+ cells that do not express cellular markers characteristic of Th1, Th2, or Treg cells are also encompassed herein.

Abstract: A multi-layered matrix, a method of tissue repair using the same, and multi-layered implant prepared thereof are provided. The multi-layered matrix comprises a first element and a second element connected thereto, and the second element comprises a hollow cavity. The first and the second elements are composed of a composite material comprising a bioabsorbable porous material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a display method for an LCD device with reduced color break-up, comprising the following steps: generating a control signal for each sub-frame, and displaying the sub-frames successively. The present invention generates, according to brightness of a screen to be displayed, second backlight control signals and second LC control signals for each display region in the each sub-frame and then, according to the second backlight control signals and the second LC control signals, displays a chromatic sub-frame and a plurality of monochromatic sub-frames successively so that the screen to be displayed can be viewed through human vision. The present invention can not only facilitate reducing color break-up (CBU) of the LCD device, but also can contributes to the LCD device advantaged by high contrast, high color saturation, low power consumption and low manufacturing costs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to diarylhydantoin compounds, including diarylthiohydantoins, and methods for synthesizing them and using them in the treatment of hormone refractory prostate cancer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solar absorptive material for a solar selective surface of an absorber of solar radiation. The solar absorptive material comprises a dispersed metallic material and a receiving boundary through which the solar radiation is received. Further, the solar absorptive material comprises a first region and a second region. The first region being located at a position closer to the receiving boundary than the second region and the first region has an average volume fraction of the dispersed metallic material that is larger than that of the second region.

Abstract: The fuzzy logic-based control method for helicopters carrying suspended loads utilizes a controller based on fuzzy logic membership distributions of sets of load swing angles. The anti-swing controller is fuzzy-based and has controller outputs that include additional displacements added to the helicopter trajectory in the longitudinal and lateral directions. This simple implementation requires only a small modification to the software of the helicopter position controller. The membership functions govern control parameters that are optimized using a particle swarm algorithm. The rules of the anti-swing controller are derived to mimic the performance of a time-delayed feedback controller. A tracking controller stabilizes the helicopter and tracks the trajectory generated by the anti-swing controller.

Abstract: A polyelectrolyte complex for the controlled release of an oil and gas field chemical selected from the group consisting of (a) a gel-forming or cross-linking agent, (b) a scale inhibitor, (c) a corrosion inhibitor, (d) an inhibitor of asphaltene or wax deposition, (e) a hydrogen sulfide scavenger, (f) a hydrate inhibitor, (g) a breaking agent, and a surfactant.

Abstract: The invention provides disintegrin variants, and more specifically to disintegrin variants which are selective ?v?3 integrin antagonists for treatment and prevention of ?v?3 integrin-associated diseases. The present invention also relates to pegylated proteins, including proteins comprising a disintegrin variant having an RGD motif variant 48ARLDDL53. The invention also relates to the use of the polypeptides of the invention for the treatment and prevention of ?v?3 integrin-associated diseases.

Abstract: To improve bioavailability of the catalytic metalloporphyrin-based SOD mimics Mn(III) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[N-ethylpyridinium-2-yl]porphyrin (MnTE-2-PyP5+) and Mn(III) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[N,N?-diethylimidazolium-2-yl]porphyrin (MnTDE-2-ImP5+), three new Mn(III) porphyrins, bearing oxygen atoms within side chains, were synthesized and characterized: Mn(III) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[N-(2-methoxyethyl)pyridinium-2-yl]porphyrin (MnTMOE-2-PyP5+), Mn(III) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[N-methyl-N?-(2-methoxyethyl)imidazolium-2-yl]porphyrin (MnTM,MOE-2-ImP5+) and Mn(III) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[N,N?-di(2-methoxyethyl)imidazolium-2-yl]porphyrin (MnTDMOE-2-ImP5+). The catalytic rate constants for O2.? dismutation (and the related metal-centered redox potentials vs NHE) for the new compounds are: log kcat=8.04 (E1/2=+251 mV) for MnTMOE-2-PyP5+, log kcat=7.98 (E1/2=+356 mV) for MnTM,MOE-2-ImP5+ and log kcat=7.59 (E1/2=+365 mV) for MnTDMOE-2-ImP5+. At 30 ?M levels none of the new compounds were toxic, and allowed SOD-deficient E.

Abstract: An electronic ballast is provided for powering a discharge lamp without visible flash at startup. The ballast includes an integrated circuit having at least one inverter drive output and a voltage controlled oscillator input. A first capacitor is coupled to the voltage controlled oscillator input. An oscillating half-bridge inverter is arranged to receive control signals from the drive output and further coupled to the lamp. The integrated circuit is programmed to start up the lamp by: in a first startup time period, maintaining predetermined lamp preheat values; in a second period, charging the first capacitor to a lamp breakdown voltage; in a third period, continuing to charge the first capacitor to a maximum voltage controlled oscillator input voltage; and in a fourth period, discharging the first capacitor to a predetermined lamp steady state value.

Abstract: A system. The system includes a computing device configured for communication with an imaging system and with a display device. The computing device includes a contour modeling module. The contour modeling module is configured for superimposing reference anchors on a cross-sectional image generated from 3D image data, for generating a line which connects the reference anchors, for sampling the 3D image data in a variable thickness plane defined by the connecting line, and for generating a contour-modeled C-mode image from the sampled 3D image data.