Abstract: A patch antenna system comprises a patch antenna having a patch spatially separated from a ground plane; a plurality of pins interposed between the patch and the ground plane selectively connecting the patch to the ground plane; and a control module operably coupled to the plurality of pins and operable to set an operating frequency characteristic of the patch antenna by selectively connecting the patch to the ground plane with one or more of the plurality of pins.

Abstract: Disclosed are recombinant host cells suitable for degrading an oligosaccharide that have been optimized for growth and production of high yields of ethanol, and methods of making and using these cells. The invention further provides minimal media comprising urea-like compounds for economical production of ethanol by recombinant microorganisms. Recombinant host cells in accordance with the invention are modified by gene mutation to eliminate genes responsible for the production of unwanted products other than ethanol, thereby increasing the yield of ethanol produced from the oligosaccharides, relative to unmutated parent strains. The new and improved strains of recombinant bacteria are capable of superior ethanol productivity and yield when grown under conditions suitable for fermentation in minimal growth media containing inexpensive reagents. Systems optimized for ethanol production combine a selected optimized minimal medium with a recombinant host cell optimized for use in the selected medium.

Abstract: A method, technique and system is disclosed for the delivery of therapeutic agents and/or into the bulk brain tissues and other parts, tissues and organs of the body, including vasculature. A novel form of coaxial catheter provides a means for implanting an outer tube into the brain, then inserting an inner tube into the outer tube and aligning them such that port holes on both of the tubes will overlap and permit a flux of the therapeutic agent to flow into the brain in such a way as to minimize the effects of trapped air, virtually eliminate backflow of the agent, and avoid the potential for additional damage to the brain since only one surgical placement of the outer tube is needed. Similarly, the method, technique system may be utilized to remove fluids or other medium from the brain, tissues, and organs to minimize the effects of escaped air or negative pressure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device that can be used in individual weight control protocols that is capable of detecting in real time information with regard to number of bites taken, time between bites, and so forth. The weight control device can detect bites through motion detection via a sensor worn on the wrist or hand of a user. The device can include notification capabilities that can alert a user as to excessive eating speed, excessive amounts of food intake, and the like so as to provide immediate feedback for purposes of weight control.

Abstract: Disclosed is an accelerated progression relapse test for use in the prognosis of disease states. According to the test disclosed herein, it can be determined whether a patient would benefit from treatment for a disease state or whether the patient's prognosis would not have a high probability of benefit with additional treatment. In particular, the test is useful in determining a patient's prognosis for cancer (breast, colon, lung, etc). For example, the test of the invention can be used to determine the prognosis for estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer patients. In the test for ER+ breast cancer patients, four genetic probes are employed that target MK167, CDC6, and SPAG5 gene products. The ER+ breast cancer test stratifies a patient population into two groups, with the low gene expression group identifying a group that is less likely to benefit from additional treatment measures, and a high gene expression group, identifying a group more likely to benefit from additional treatment measures.

Abstract: The invention discloses a tissue engineering graft, comprising:(a) pharmaceutically-acceptable biodegradable material; and (b) seed cells, which can be inoculated on the described biodegradable material and are selected from:(i) fibroblasts; (ii) adipose derived cells, or (iii) mixture of dermal fibroblasts and ASCs according to the ratio of 1:10000-10000:1. The graft can be prepared by mixing of seed cell and pharmaceutically-acceptable biodegradable material, obtaining a construct of seed cells and pharmaceutically-acceptable biodegradable material, then culturing the construct in a bioreactor in vitro. The graft can be used for repairing the defect of tendon tissues.

Abstract: The subject invention concerns materials and methods for providing plants or plant tissue with increased starch biosynthesis. Increased starch biosynthesis provides for increased yield. One aspect of the invention concerns polynucleotides that encode a mutant plant large subunit of AGPase. In one embodiment, a polynucleotide of the invention encodes a plant AGPase large subunit having an amino acid mutation wherein the cysteine amino acid corresponding to amino acid position 424 of wild type maize AGPase large subunit is substituted with an amino acid that results in increased AGPase activity when provided in an AGPase enzyme. In a specific embodiment, the cysteine corresponding to amino acid position 424 of wild type maize AGPase large subunit is substituted with a valine amino acid. The subject invention also comprises a mutant plant large subunit of AGPase encoded by a polynucleotide of the invention.

Abstract: A center-of-gravity detection system includes a vehicle capable of carrying cargo and adapted to be towed by a towing vehicle, a shake detector configured to detect shakes in the directions of the self-weight and width of the towed vehicle during travel of the towed vehicle, and an arithmetic unit. The arithmetic unit is configured to derive, based upon physical quantities that correlate with the shakes, the location of the center of gravity, in three-dimensional space, of the towed vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and systems for energy management are disclosed. An example system includes a first port connected to an energy storage device for bidirectional flow of energy, a second port connected to an energy source device for unidirectional flow of energy, a third port connected to a utility grid for bidirectional flow of energy, and a unified control system with control logic configured to simultaneously control energy flow between the first, second, and third ports based on at least two factors from the group consisting of: a state of charge of the energy storage device, a state of the energy source device, and a state of the utility grid. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Provided are a container security device, a container security system, and a security management method which efficiently check opening/closing of a container door and an opening/closing record of the container door and process seal information, cargo state information, base passing information, and location tracking information in real-time from a gate-out process from a shipper (POA) to a gate-in process to a consignee (POD). The container security system includes the container security device which includes a first communication means for providing container seal information through multi-channel communication; and a second communication means for providing information about container transportation and storage in real-time.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing calcium silicate-based bone cement and a composition produced by the method. It further provides a novel composition for bone tissue repair.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for incentivizing and rewarding consistent and repeated recycling of recyclable materials.

Abstract: A device, system and method for exchanging components between first and second fluids by direct contact in a microfluidic channel. The fluids flow as thin layers in the channel. One of the fluids is passed through a filter upon exiting the channel and is recycled through a secondary processor which changes the fluid's properties. The recycled fluid is reused for further exchange. The filter excludes blood cells from the recycled fluid and prevents or limits clogging of the filter. The secondary processor removes metabolic waste and water by diafiltration.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of determining an HCC subtype in a subject comprising a) obtaining a sample from the subject, b) assaying the sample to detect the expression of 1 or more biomarkers, and c) correlating the expression of the biomarkers with an HCC subtype in a subject. The invention further provides methods of detecting HCC stem cells in a sample. Additionally, the invention provides methods and compositions for treating subjects with HCC that take advantage of the biomarkers associated with HCC stem cells.

Abstract: Transparent monolithic aerogels based on silica, the bioderived polymer chitosan, and coordinated ions are employed to serve as a three-dimensional scaffold decorated with metal ions such as Au, Pt and Pd ions. It has also been found that the metal aerogels, such as Au(III) aerogels, can be imaged photolytically to produce nanoparticles.

Abstract: A tree-structured index to multidimensional data is created using naturally occurring patterns and clusters within the data which permit efficient search and retrieval strategies in a database of DNA profiles. A search engine utilizes hierarchical decomposition of the database by identifying clusters of similar DNA profiles and maps to parallel computer architecture, allowing scale up past to previously feasible limits. Key benefits of the new method are logarithmic scale up and parallelization. These benefits are achieved by identification and utilization of naturally occurring patterns and clusters within stored data. The patterns and clusters enable the stored data to be partitioned into subsets of roughly equal size. The method can be applied recursively, resulting in a database tree that is balanced, meaning that all paths or branches through the tree have roughly the same length.

Abstract: A complex, water soluble polysaccharide fraction having potent immunostimulatory activity isolated from Aloe vera. The polysaccharide fraction has an apparent molecular weight above 2 million daltons. Its major glycosyl components are glucose, galactose, mannose and arabinose. The invention further includes pharmaceutical compositions containing the instant polysaccharide fraction, optionally in combination with acceptable pharmaceutical carriers and/or excipients. These pharmaceutical compositions may be used to provide immunostimulation to an individual in need of such treatment by administering to such an individual an effective amount of the composition. The polysaccharide fraction is also useful as a component of dietary supplements and as a standardization component of commercial Aloe products.

Abstract: Perfluorocarbons are used to control nitric oxide metabolism, either to inhibit nitric oxide activity or to potentiate the effects of nitric oxide. Perfluorocarbons can be used, for example, to treat hypotension and vasoplegia in septic shock, to protect against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, to treat hypertension, and to provide antiplatelet effects.

Abstract: A robotic architecture for capturing the autonomous performance advantages the animal models enjoy in the natural environment is disclosed. A biomimesis process is employed to allow selective utilization of basic physical components and adaptation of a common control paradigm for each of different vehicle types. The biomimetic architecture involves five functional elements: a basic biomorphic plant for capturing the biomechanical advantages of the model organism; a neural circuit-based controller consisting of a finite state machine; myomorphic actuators producing linear graded force in response to trains of current pulses for mediating movements; labeled line code output by neuromorphic sensors; and a reactive behavioral sequencer executing command sequences defined within a behavioral library.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for the modulation of systemic immune responses by transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells transduced with genes encoding antigens and antigen presenting cell regulatory molecules. The invention includes bi-cistronic lentiviral expression vectors adapted for antigen expression in antigen presenting cells for use in DNA vaccines directed against pathogens and tumor antigens as well as for the treatment of autoimmune disease and for the establishment of antigen tolerance.