Abstract: A process for removing oil from an agricultural substrate, including a dry grind corn. An ethanol solution with a concentration in the range of from about 90% to about 100% ethanol is mixed with the dry grind corn in a ratio of from about 10:1 to about 1:1 to form an extraction solution including the ethanol solution, oil, and corn solids. The extraction solution is separated into the corn solids and a filtrate, the filtrate including the ethanol solution and oil. The filtrate is membrane filtered, including nanofiltration, to restrain an oil concentrate from the filtrate and pass a permeate of the ethanol solution. The oil contained within the oil concentrate is purified.

Abstract: Methods/reagents for detecting and/or treating cancers or potential cancers are disclosed. In one embodiment, methods and reagents for detecting truncated forms of P2X7 protein in cells are described. In one embodiment, methods and reagents for increasing the amount and/or activity of full-length P2X7 in cells are described. In one embodiment, methods and reagents for decreasing the amount and/or activity of truncated P2X7 in cells are described.

Abstract: A method of forming multi-phasic nano-objects involves the jetting of two or more different liquids in side-by-side capillaries thereby generating a composite liquid stream. The composite then exposed to a force field which causes the composite liquid stream to at least partially solidify into a nano-object. The method forms a nano-object having a number of morphologies such as rods, spheres, and fibers.

Abstract: A system and method for parallel imaging is disclosed that generates linear combination coefficient weights by solving systems of linear equations formulated with correlation values. An MRI apparatus includes a computer programmed to acquire MR data from an imaging volume for a plurality of encoding locations using an array of RF receiver coils. Correlation values are calculated from the MR data. From these calculated correlation values, synthesis weights are generated. An image is then reconstructed based on an application of the synthesis weights to at least a portion of the MR data acquired from the array of RF receiver coils.

Abstract: The present invention provides a treatment method to excise a cancerous lesion, such as in the breast, with subsequent ablation of the margin. The method provides for location and excision with ablation under open guidance or guided imaging and for diagnosis by cytology. The method may be a minimally, invasive same day method with diagnosis before or immediately after excision. Also provided is a method of treating close or positive margins of an excisional site of a cancerous lesion in a breast by ablating the margin while monitoring the fluorescence of a fluorophor at the site to determine when ablation of the close or positive margin has occurred.

Abstract: Active and passive wound drainage systems and method are provided. A drainage device includes an input passage for receiving the fluid from a site on or within the patient's body, a container for holding the fluid, and a reversible valve disposed between the input passage and the container. The reversible valve in an original configuration provides unidirectional fluid flow from the input passage toward the container, and in a reversed configuration provides fluid flow from the container toward the input passage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to previously unknown biological roles of Nogo-B. We have discovered that Nogo-B is a component of endothelial cells. We have also discovered that Nogo-B is highly expressed in intact blood vessels. The amino terminus of Nogo-B promotes the adhesion, spreading and migration of endothelial cells and plays a role in vascular remodeling. Thus, Nogo-B is a novel regulator of vascular homeostasis and remodeling. The present invention provides compositions comprising Nogo-B and fragments and fusion proteins thereof. The present invention also relates to nucleic acids encoding Nogo-B and fragments and fusion proteins thereof, as well as vectors and cells comprising such nucleic acids. The present invention also relates to antibodies specific for Nogo-B and fragments and fusion proteins thereof. The present invention also provides methods for preventing, detecting and treating Nogo-B-related diseases, disorders and conditions.

Abstract: The present invention is a device for electromanipulation of chemical species in vivo relative to a target tissue including a nonconductive, conformable array base adapted to be placed coincident to the target tissue, a plurality of electrode elements projecting from the array base towards the target tissue, the electrode elements addressable individually, an electrical source coupled to the plurality of electrodes, a control means interposed between the electrical source and the plurality of electrode elements and in circuit communication therein, the control means adapted to establish an electrical potential between at least two electrodes, and a delivery means adapted to introduce chemical species to the target tissue.

Abstract: An adamantane functionalized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent has been synthesized, and shows high liver specificity, prolonged retention time in both the liver and kidneys, the highest relaxivity among clinical contrast agents, high water solubility, thermodynamic stability, signal intensity enhancement, hepatocellular uptake, and low osmolality and toxicity.

Abstract: Ferroelectric structures and methods of making the structures are presented. The ferroelectric structures can include an electrode in contact with a ferroelectric thin film. The contact can be arranged so that a portion of the atoms of the ferroelectric thin film are in contact with at least a portion of the atoms of the electrode. The electrode can be made of metal, a metal alloy, or a semiconducting material. A second electrode can be used and placed in contact with the ferroelectric thin film. Methods of making and using the ferroelectric structures are also presented.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for facilitating repair of an area of bone by providing hemihydrate calcium sulfate particles, mixing the particles with an aqueous solution to obtain a paste, applying the paste to an area of bone in need of repair, and allowing the paste to set.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of identifying compounds as candidate drugs for treatment of cancer by providing a cell expressing a GTPase protein that is regulated by a prenyl-electrostatic switch, contacting the cell with compounds to be evaluated, and selecting compounds able to regulate charge at the prenyl-electrostatic switch in the GTPase protein as candidate drugs for treatment of cancer. Also disclosed are methods of treating cancer in a patient. An isolated antibody which binds to a phosphorylated prenyl-electrostatic switch on a K-Ras4B protein is also disclosed, as is a kit for detecting phosphorylation of a prenyl-electrostatic switch in a K-Ras4B protein which includes a labeled antibody and a device to detect the label. Also disclosed is a method of detecting phosphorylation of a prenyl-electrostatic switch on a K-Ras4B protein in a biological sample.

Abstract: In a reaction where a lower hydrocarbon is subjected to direct decomposition by using a catalyst to produce a functional nanocarbon and hydrogen, the lower hydrocarbon is subjected to the reaction in an coexistent gas comprising low concentration of oxidizing gas, reducing gas or a mixture thereof. The precursor of functional nanocarbon produced on the catalyst and amorphous carbon secondarily produced on the catalyst react with the coexistent gas so that being removed from the catalyst, making it possible to prevent the drop of conversion with time on stream due to the inhibition of the reaction by the precursor and by-product. In the case where the raw material of lower hydrocarbon is biogas, the coexistent gas can be easily contained in methane by lowering purification degree of methane.

Abstract: The present invention relates in general to methodologies for the treatment quenching preconditioning and communication between the intrinsic cardiac nervous system and an electrical stimulus. In particular, the present invention utilizes spinal cord stimulation to alter and/or affect the intrinsic cardiac nervous system and thereby protect the myocytes, stabilize myocardial electrical instability and/or alleviate or diminish cardiac pathologies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing 2,2?,6,6?-tetraoxazolinyl biphenyl ligand in chemical industry field. In the present invention, compound (III) is reacted with an activator that can activate the hydroxyl group selected from the group consisting of alkyl halosulfonium compound, aryl halosulfonium compound, phosphoryl chloride, phosphorus pentachloride, thionyl chloride and triphenyl phosphine, in the presence of alkali(s), to give the target product (IV), 2,2?,6,6?-tetraoxazolinyl biphenyl ligand. The ligand of the present invention can be used in various asymmetric reactions catalyzed by metals, with high reactivity and stereoselectivity, and thus represents a good application outlook.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for predicting bone fracture risk in an osteoporotic patient. The apparatus comprises a Dual X-ray Absorptiometry scanner for scanning a body area of the patient and producing a Dual X-ray Absorptiometry image of the body area, and image analysis means for analyzing pre-determined aspects of the Dual X-ray Absorptiometry image. The apparatus further comprises data comparison means comprising a database of comparative data sets from Dual X-ray Absorptiometry images of control subjects to predict the risk of bone fracture in the patient. The image analysis means preferably analyses the shape of a body past using an Achieve Shape Model or analyses the texture of a body past using Fourier Transforms and Principal Component Analysis.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a method for determining deformation parameters that a patterned device would undergo to minimize dimensional variations between a recorded pattern thereon and a reference pattern, the method including, inter alia, comparing spatial variation between features of the recorded pattern with respect to corresponding features of the reference pattern; and determining deformation forces to apply to the patterned device to attenuate the dimensional variations, with the forces having predetermined constraints, wherein a summation of a magnitude of the forces is substantially zero and a summation of moment of the forces is substantially zero.

Abstract: An ac/ac converter for accepting a pulsating dc input with encoded sinusoidal modulation and providing a multiphase modulated output. The converter comprises a bridge including a plurality of switches having switch legs for modulating the pulsating dc input at a carrier frequency over a plurality of phases. The bridge is coupled at one end to a pulsating dc source and coupled at another end to a modulated signal output. A controller is provided for the plurality of switches for causing, for each of the plurality of phases, under unity power factor, one of the switch legs to modulate the pulsating dc input at the carrier frequency while the other switch legs do not modulate the pulsating dc input at the carrier frequency.

Abstract: The present invention is an overvoltage protection and automatic re-strike circuit for an electronic ballast. The electronic ballast has an inverter, a shut-down circuit, a safety circuit, a monitoring circuit, and an overvoltage protection circuit. The inverter provides an appropriate alternating current power supply to operate the lamp. The shut-down, safety, monitoring, and overvoltage protection circuits are coupled to the inverter and provide the overvoltage protection and automatic re-striking functions. During an overvoltage condition, the overvoltage protection circuit will temporarily disable the inverter. Subsequent to the overvoltage condition, the overvoltage protection circuit permits the inverter to attempt to re-ignite the lamp. After a predetermined number of unsuccessful re-ignition attempts, the safety circuit will permanently disable the inverter to avoid damage to the ballast.

Abstract: A structure using integrated optical elements is comprised of a substrate, a buffer layer grown on the substrate, one or more first patterned layers deposited on top of the buffer layer, wherein each of the first patterned layers is comprised of a bottom lateral epitaxial overgrowth (LEO) mask layer and a LEO nitride layer filling holes in the bottom LEO mask layer, one or more active layers formed on the first patterned layers, and one or more second patterned layers deposited on top of the active layer, wherein each of the second patterned layers is comprised of a top LEO mask layer and a LEO nitride layer filling holes in the top LEO mask layer, wherein the top and/or bottom LEO mask layers act as a mirror, optical confinement layer, grating, wavelength selective element, beam shaping element or beam directing element for the active layers.