Abstract: The adjoint network reduction technique has been shown to reduce 50% of the computational complexity of constructing the congruence transformation matrix. The method was suitable for analyzing the special multi-port driving-point impedance of RLC interconnect circuits. This technique is extended for the general circumstances of RLC interconnects. Comparative studies among the conventional methods and the proposed methods are also investigated. Experimental results will demonstrate the accuracy and the efficiency of the proposed method.

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein provide for a universal controller capable of controlling multiple types of three phase, two and three level power converters. The universal controller is capable of controlling the power converter in any quadrant of the PQ domain. The universal controller can include a region selection unit, an input selection unit, a reference signal source unit and a control core. The control core can be implemented using one-cycle control, average current mode control, current mode control or sliding mode control and the like. The controller can be configured to control different types of power converters by adjusting the reference signal source. Also provided are multiple modulation methods for controlling the power converter.

Abstract: An amperometric sensor for uric acid and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed, in which polyacrylamide is used to fix catalase, uricase and ferrocenecarboxylic acid on a working electrode. In determining concentration of uric acid, hydrogen peroxide is produced when enzyme and uric acid react with each other and then a reduction current generated from enzyme on the electrode with an external voltage 200 mV applied is detected. In determining concentration of uric acid, a concentration range of 2.5-20 mg/dl is achieved and sensibility of the sensor in a linear portion is 5.17 uAcm?2(mg/dl)?1. In addition, reaction time required for the reaction between enzyme and uric acid is 5.17 uAcm?2(mg/dl)?1.

Abstract: Electrospun fibers comprising mesoporous molecular sieve materials are described. In an aspect of the invention, fibers are electrospun from a conducting solution to which a high voltage electric current is applied. The apparatus includes in one aspect one or more conducting solution introduction devices for providing a quantity of conducting solution, said conducting solution introduction devices being electrically charged thereby establishing an electric field between said conducting solution introduction devices and a target, and means for controlling the flow characteristics of conducting solution from said one or more conducting solution introduction devices.

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions, methods and kits for inducing an immune response to a tumor and for treating cancer with a Listeria vaccine strain expressing an antigen fused to a truncated LLO protein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cupredoxin, specifically Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin, and/or Pseudomonas aeruginosa cytochrome c551 and their use in inhibiting of viral infection, and in particular infection of mammalian cells by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The invention also relates to variants and derivatives of cupredoxin and cytochrome c that retain the ability to inhibit viral infection, and in particular infection by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The invention also relates to research methods for studying viral and bacterial infection in mammalian cells.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a flexible stapling device (1). More particularly, this invention concerns a flexible endovascular stapling device (1) for an intravascular procedure such as patent foramen ovale closure, which is designed to avoid open heart surgery by permitting the closure of the defect utilizing a stapling means (26) which is positioned by using a flexible shaft/guidewire system.

Abstract: Novel compounds that have been found effective in inhibiting PDZ domain interactions, and particularly interactions of PDZ domains in MAGIs with the oncogenic (tumor suppressor) protein PTEN and interactions between the PDZ domain in the Dishevelled (Dvl) protein and other proteins such as the Frizzled (Fz) protein, have the general formula (I) or (III) The invention also includes combinatorial libraries, arrays and methods for screening and studying proteins using such compounds. Compounds of the invention have produced apoptosis in certain cell lines that overexpress the Dishevelled protein (Dvl), inhibiting Wnt signaling.

Abstract: A norovirus-permissive cell culture infected with a norovirus, and methods of culturing a norovirus, are disclosed. Norovirus-permissive cells include dendritic cell-lineage cells, and macrophage-lineage cells, such as dendritic cells, and macrophages having a deficiency in a cellular anti-viral pathway such as a STAT-1-dependent pathway, an interferon receptor-dependent pathway, or a PKR-dependent pathway. Also disclosed are methods of screening anti-viral compounds against norovirus-permissive cells infected with norovirus, and norovirus adapted to grow in fibroblasts as well as macrophages that are not deficient in a cellular anti-viral pathway. Methods of making a norovirus vaccine are also disclosed. A replicative form of norovirus as well as its use in the development of an anti-viral agent and a polypeptide expression system are also described. Further disclosed are methods of detecting norovirus in a sample.

Abstract: An electromagnetic generator comprising two magnets and a coil disposed therebetween, the two magnets being configured to define therebetween a region of magnetic flux in which the coil is disposed whereby relative movement between the coil and the magnets generates an electrical current in the coil, and a vibratable first mount for each of the magnets and a vibratable second mount for the coil whereby each of the at least two magnets and the coil are respectively vibratable about a respective central position.

Abstract: The methodologies of the present invention demonstrate that a critical balance between pro- and anti-amyloidogenic molecules exists that regulates amyloid formation and cell death in Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. ?-Synuclein, the non-amyloidogenic homologue of ?-synuclein, is a negative modulator of ?-synuclein and A? aggregation, having neuroprotective properties against ?-synuclein and A? neurotoxicity and that ?-synuclein and therapeutic agents derived therefrom block amyloidogenesis and neurodegeneration in vivo. The method of the present invention establishes that ?-synuclein blocks A? aggregation either by direct inhibition of A? amyloidogenesis or indirectly via either ?-synuclein or its 35 a.a. NAC region, inferring neuroprotective characteristics within the effected cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to regulation of adult lifespan in eukaryotes. More particularly, the present invention is directed to methods of assaying for activators of the heat shock factor 1 (HSF-1) protein, which increases lifespan when overexpressed in an organism.

Abstract: A parallel mechanism which has a holding bracket; a movable platform; and three branch joint assemblies of the same structure that are spatially arranged symmetrically about an axis disposed between the holding bracket and the movable platform. Each branch joint assembly has a connecting rod, a linear guide, a driving device and a carriage. The linear guide and the driving device both are secured on the connecting rod. One end of the connecting rod is connected with the movable platform through a hinge having three rotational degrees of freedom. The carriage and the linear guide are connected with each other by a sliding joint, and the carriage is connected with the holding bracket by a hinge having one rotational degree of freedom.

Abstract: The present invention provides for methods of DNA methylation detection. The present invention provides for methods of generating and detecting specific electronic signals that report the methylation status of targeted DNA molecules in biological samples. Two methods are described, direct and indirect detection of methylated DNA molecules in a nano transistor based device. In the direct detection, methylated target DNA molecules are captured on the sensing surface resulting in changes in the electrical properties of a nano transistor. These changes generate detectable electronic signals. In the indirect detection, antibody-DNA conjugates are used to identify methylated DNA molecules. RNA signal molecules are generated through an in vitro transcription process. These RNA molecules are captured on the sensing surface change the electrical properties of nano transistor thereby generating detectable electronic signals.

Abstract: Hardware threading optimizes use of hardware resources in a dynamic workload environment. Unutilized hardware resources are dynamically borrowed to increase throughput performance and/or power savings by enabling parallel processing of application pipeline stages.

Abstract: A method for immobilizing biological polymers such as DNA or proteins, on a solid support, by ionocovalent bond, for making biochips, and the resulting chips obtained by the method.

Abstract: An X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence instrument for analyzing samples having no sample preparation includes a X-ray source configured to output a collimated X-ray beam comprising a continuum spectrum of X-rays to a predetermined coordinate and a photon-counting X-ray imaging spectrometer disposed to receive X-rays output from an unprepared sample disposed at the predetermined coordinate upon exposure of the unprepared sample to the collimated X-ray beam. The X-ray source and the photon-counting X-ray imaging spectrometer are arranged in a reflection geometry relative to the predetermined coordinate.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a vortex-modulation based micromixer for enforced mass exchange. The micromixer of the present invention comprises a mixing chamber with grooves on one wall thereof and a special-shape barrier on another wall. As different fluids are injected into the mixing chamber respectively from two inlets of the micromixer, the grooves and barriers of the micromixer of the present invention create the constructive interferences to form the active-like agitation of the fluid. For every groove, the flux passed by can be increased via its high pressure gradient. Understandably, the mixing efficiency of the fluids can be greatly improved within a very short distance. At last, the outlet of the micromixer is located in the downstream of the mixing chamber and further is able to connect with other elements. The present invention is entirely a passive micromixer and no additional energy is required.

Abstract: A high suction double-cell extractor includes an outer cell defining an outer chamber, and an open-ended inner cell defining an inner chamber. The inner chamber is bottle-shaped and has a neck. The high suction double-cell extractor also includes a vertical loading system for applying axial force on a soil specimen during extraction. The high suction double-cell extractor also includes a port for introduction of pressurized air supply into the outer and inner cells. The introduced pressurized air can apply cell pressure on the soil specimen during extraction. The high suction double-cell extractor also includes a relative humidity control system and a differential pressure detector system. The high suction double-cell extractor can be used to measure stress-dependent soil-water characteristics curve (SDSWCC) under various stress states three-dimensionally and more accurately, and under total suction up to 8,000 kPa.

Abstract: Excitation of a triad artificial photosynthetic reaction center consisting of a porphyrin (P) convalently linked to a fullerene electron acceptor (C60) and a carotenoid secondary donor (C) leads to the formation of a long-lived C+-P-C60? charge-separated state via photoinduced electron transfer. This reaction occurs in a frozen organic glass down to at least 8 K. At 77 K, charge recombination of C*+-P-C60? occurs on the ?s time scale, and yields solely the carotenoid triplet state. In the presence of a small (20 mT) static magnetic field, the lifetime of the charge-separated state is increased by 50%. This is ascribed to the effect of the magnetic field on interconversion of the singlet and triplet biradicals. At zero field, the initially formed singlet biradical state is in equilibrium with the three triplet biradical sublevels, and all four states have comparable populations. Decay to the carotenoid triplet only occurs from the three triplet sublevels.