Abstract: Endotoxin, also known as lipopolysaccharides (LPS), is the major mediator of septic shock due to Gram-negative bacterial infection. Chemically synthesized S3 peptide, derived from Sushi3 domain of Factor C, which is the endotoxin-sensitive serine protease of the limulus coagulation cascade, binds and neutralizes LPS activity. Fluorescent tagged-S3 is shown to detect LPS-containing bacteria. For large-scale production of S3 and to mimic other pathogen-recognizing molecules, tandem multimers of the S3 gene were constructed and expressed in E. coli. Tetramer of S3 for example is shown to display an enhanced inhibitory effect on LPS-induced activities. An affinity matrix based on tetramer of S3 is also shown to be particularly efficient at removing LPS.

Abstract: Indolo[3,2-c]quinoline compounds of formula (I) shown below. Each variable in this formula is defined herein. These compounds can be used to inhibit both growth of cancer cells and activity of telomerase.

Abstract: A carbon nanomaterial produced by: performing centrifugal melt spinning of core-shell particles that are prepared by using fine particles containing a carbon precursor polymer and a thermally decomposable polymer that disappears as a result of heat treatment, wherein the core-shell particles are heated up to a temperature at which phase separation thereof is not caused, and pressed against a plate-like heater 12 having a large number of pores 12A that penetrate therethrough in a thickness direction of the plate-like heater using centrifugal force; making the fiber obtained by the centrifugal melt spinning infusible; and performing carbonization thereof. According to this method, a carbon nanomaterial such as a carbon nanotube or a carbon nanofiber can be produced with high efficiency.

Abstract: A system and methods for facilitation of enhanced user interactions with metadata corresponding to one or more media files. A number of user interface methods are described and may be used alone or in combination with one another to present an enhanced metadata entry and modification interface to a user. A method of providing for automated step through of media files for metadata entry is described, as well as a method for quickly presenting the user with the most appropriate media sample from which an appropriate metadata entry or modification can be made by the user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for aiding ignition in a discharge lamp is provided. In one embodiment, a method comprises: applying a voltage across a pair of electrodes of a discharge lamp and capacitively coupling the discharge lamp. The capacitive coupling of the discharge lamp induces a current in the lamp to lower an ignition voltage of the discharge lamp. In another embodiment, a circuit for aiding ignition in a discharge lamp comprising a first electrode and a second electrode is also provided. The circuit comprises a lamp drive circuit comprises a voltage source coupled to a first terminal and a current controller coupled to a second terminal. The first and second terminals are configured to couple to a corresponding one of the first electrode and the second electrode of the discharge lamp. The voltage source is configured to provide a voltage signal at the first terminal and the current controller is configured to control a current received via the second terminal.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system are disclosed, which provide a means of real time surface profile evaluation in wet cement. The sliding profiler can be pulled behind various stages in a paving train. The user is alerted to profile discrepancies while the cement is still pliable and afforded the opportunity to make adjustments to the paving process, to include additional finishing. The system is made of affordable components and thus is appropriate for construction projects of different scale. In addition, multiple sliding profilers can measure the profile of multiple wheel paths simultaneously. The system can measure profile changes of less than 150 mils. Use of the system described herein will contribute to better roadways at lower costs.

Abstract: A stage body has a holding surface for placing a substrate thereon. A predetermined embossed configuration is formed by embossing on the holding surface, and thereafter an alumina film in an amorphous state is formed by an anodic oxidation process on the holding surface. The alumina film having an amorphous structure is dense and strong to provide high wear resistance and to substantially prevent separation electrification. This provides a substrate stage having high wear resistance and capable of preventing separation electrification.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to eliminate windmill artifacts that inevitably occurs when a helical scan is performed with an X-ray CT system. To this end, the present invention is equipped with an X-ray source, and an X-ray detector having a plurality of detector elements arranged two-dimensionally, and disposed opposite to the X-ray source with a predetermined rotation center axis therebetween. The invention further includes reconstruction means for performing an arithmetic operation, in which two-dimensional projection data obtained based on X-ray detection data detected by the detector elements while rotating the X-ray source around the rotation center axis are back projected along a path different in a Z-axis direction extending along the rotation center axis from the X-ray path of the projection data, to reconstruct an image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to piperazinone compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing those compounds and methods of treating tumors and cancer, among other disease states and conditions in mammalian patients, especially including humans.

Abstract: The subject invention provides a method for separating a terpene trilactone from Ginkgo biloba plant material or from an extract of Ginkgo biloba comprising a mixture of terpene trilactones, the process comprising the steps of: a) subjecting the Ginkgo biloba plant material or the extract to column chromatography with an appropriate solvent system to produce at least a first fraction containing the terpene trilactone bilobalide, a second fraction eluted after the first fraction containing the terpene trilactones GA and GB, and a third fraction eluted after the second fraction containing at least a preponderance of the terpene trilactones GC and GJ; and b) alkylating the terpene trilactone GB of the second fraction so as to produce a first mixture including terpene trilactone GA and alkylated terpene trilactone GB; or alkylating the terpene trilactone GC of the third fraction so as produce a second mixture including terpene trilactone GJ and alkylated terpene trilactone GC, so as to thereby isolate a terpen

Abstract: A network, such as a radio network, uses dynamic transmission scheduling and soft clustering. When nodes contend for data slots, each node that is successful continues to have its data slot reserved for it until it sets an end-of-stream bit in an information summarization packet, indicating that it will stop broadcasting. From the information summarization packets, each node determines the other nodes to which it will listen, based on proximity and information content.

Abstract: A method of promoting bone healing in a non-diabetic patient in need thereof by locally administering a therapeutically effective amount of insulin to the patient. A drug delivery device, which includes insulin and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the device is adapted for localized administration of insulin to a patient in need thereof is also presented.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein relates to a newly discovered murine norovirus, and compositions and methods related thereto.

Abstract: Enveloped virus vectors are described which comprise a cellular virus receptor protein and which are capable of fusing with a cell which comprises a viral envelope protein to which the cellular virus receptor protein is cognate. Enveloped virus vectors comprising a plurality of cellular virus receptor proteins are also described. Methods for making the enveloped virus vectors are described, as are methods of using the enveloped virus vectors. The invention further relates to a lipoparticle comprising a membrane spanning protein, and the lipoparticle can be attached to a sensor surface. The invention relates to methods of producing and using the lipoparticle to, inter alia, assess protein binding interactions.

Abstract: A system and method for correcting optical aberrations in optical devices, such as wide-field microscopes, optical tweezers and optical media devices, such as DVD drives. The system uses adaptive optics to correct optical aberrations, such as spherical and space-variant aberrations. Spherical aberrations can be corrected using one adaptive optical elements and space-variant aberrations can be corrected using numerous adaptive optical elements in tandem. The adaptive optical elements may be of several types, such as a liquid lenses, deformable membrane mirrors or various liquid crystal phase and amplitude modulators. Adaptive optics can also be used to simultaneously shift the focus of the optical device and correct optical aberrations.

Abstract: A method for enhancing the security of cryptographic systems against side channel attacks and cryptanalysis is based on the concept of object hopping or dynamic transformation of elements between objects that share the same category and/or floating objects which facilitate object hopping. The use of floating objects and floating finite fields to facilitate field hopping is also disclosed. Further, the use of curve hopping and floating elliptic curves to facilitate curve hopping and/or key floating when keys used in cryptosystems are floated through floating fields are also used for enhancing the security of cryptographic systems.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention may provide for architectural and compiler approaches to optimizing processors by packing instructions into instruction register files. The approaches may include providing at least one instruction register file, identifying a plurality of frequently-used instructions, and storing at least a portion of the identified frequently-used instructions in the instruction register file. The approaches may further include specifying a first identifier for identifying each of instructions stored within the instruction register file, and retrieving at least one packed instruction from an instruction cache, wherein each packed instruction includes at least one first identifier. The packed instructions may be tightly packed or loosely packed in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Packed instructions may also be executed alongside traditional non-packed instructions.

Abstract: The subject invention provides a potentially economically viable method for the preparation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in deep eutectic solvents (DES). H2O2 is then used for the destruction of small to large quantities of sulfur and nitrogen mustards and lewisite, their homologous/analogues, and similar chemical warfare agents at ambient conditions in DES without producing any toxic by-products. Furthermore, H2O2 has been used for the destruction of small to large quantities of halogenated hydrocarbons, their homologous/analogues, and similar hazardous chemicals at ambient conditions. H2O2 can be formed by either the electrochemical reduction of oxygen in DES in the presence of water or by dissolving Group 1 (alkali metals) or Group 2 (alkaline earth metals) superoxides, e.g. potassium superoxide, in DES in the presence of water, with/without chemicals used for the enhancement of the solubility of the metal superoxide in the DES, e.g. crown ethers.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to chiral bisoxazolidines and their use in asymmetric catalysis. The chiral bisoxazolidines are a novel class of compounds that is expected to find multiple applications, for example, in asymmetric synthesis. For example, a bisoxazolidine ligand enabled the catalytic enantioselective alkynylation and alkylation of a range of aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes, generating chiral propargylic alcohols and secondary alcohols in high yields and enantiomeric excess.

Abstract: A single, reproducible scheme to simultaneously purify all three of the heparin lyases from F. heparinum to apparent homogeneity is disclosed herein. The kinetic properties of the heparin lyases have been determined as well as the conditions to optimize their activity and stability. Mono-clonal antibodies to the three heparinases are also described and are useful for detection, isolation and characterization of the heparinases.