Abstract: A modulator for modulating an optical signal is disclosed having a substrate, a support mounted to the substrate, and membrane attached to the support and defining an airgap between the substrate and the membrane. The membrane has at least three layers including a central layer having an index of refraction which is the square root of the index of refraction of the substrate. The thickness of the layers and the size of the airgap are optimized to maximize differential reflectivity of light incident on the membrane at a non-normal angle of incidence to the membrane when the membrane is either in an unbiased state or biased state. In one embodiment, the first, central, and third layers have corresponding thicknesses approximately equal to one-quarter, one-quarter, and on-half of a wavelength of the optical signal, respectively.

Abstract: A composition which comprises an animal cell population which contains immature animal cells. The immature animal cells are characterized by expression of alpha-fetoprotein or lack of essential expression of alpha-fetoprotein and albumin, and at least a portion of said immature animal cells or at least a portion of the progeny of said immature animal cells is capable of differentiating into cells which express albumin. The cell population is cultured under conditions which result in expansion of the cells. Expansion of the cells may be achieved by culturing the cells in the presence of an extracellular matrix and liver stromal cells; and preferably in the presence of growth factors. Such cells may be used for liver transplantation, artificial livers, and for toxicology and pharmacology studies. Such cells may also be genetically engineered to express proteins or polypepetides of interest.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses a heat exchange catheter for indirect cooling of internal organs, particularly the heart. The heat exchange catheter is inserted into the esophagus and a cooled fluid is circulated within the catheter, cooling the esophagus, and by conduction, the heart. The heat exchange catheter or the invention may be rapidly deployed in the field and is particularly useful for preventing and reducing tissue damage caused by ischemia.

Abstract: A thin-film composition of nanocrystal molybdenum in an amorphous metallic matrix may be formed by co-sputtering Mo with aluminum or nickel. NEMS cantilevers may be formed from the film. The films exhibit high nanoindentation hardness and a reduction in roughness and intrinsic stress, while maintaining resistivity in the metallic range.

Abstract: The invention is directed to formation and use of electroprocessed fibrin as an extracellular matrix and, together with cells, its use in forming engineered tissue. The engineered tissue can include the synthetic manufacture of specific organs or tissues which may be implanted into a recipient. The electroprocessed fibrin may also be combined with other molecules in order to deliver the molecules to the site of application or implantation of the electroprocessed fibrin. The fibrin or fibrin/cell suspension is electrodeposited onto a substrate to form the tissues and organs.

Abstract: A reflective display having a plurality of transparent hemi-beads (120), each having a reflective region (80) surrounding a non-reflective region (82). Each hemi-bead has an associated light absorptive fluid droplet (122) having a normally relaxed shape contacting the non-reflective region, thereby frustrating total internal reflection of light rays at the droplet/hemi-bead interface. An electrical potential is selectably applied across selected droplets. Application of the electrical potential across a droplet deforms the droplet away from the hemi-bead associated with the droplet, such that light rays (158) incident on the non-reflective region are refracted toward substrate (124) and reflected back through hemi-bead (120) in an approximately opposite direction (166); and such that light rays (162) incident on the reflective region are semi-retro-reflected (168). Removal of the electrical potential allows the droplet to resume the relaxed shape.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for simultaneously acquiring interferograms created with a plurality of different interference conditions are provided in the present invention. In the present invention, an object beam and a reference beam are used to interfere with each other and there are a plurality of sub-fields of interference simultaneously generated. All the sub-fields of interference can be simultaneously acquired by an image acquiring device with single shooting action so as to form the plurality of interferograms. Moreover, the present invention also provides a method for solving the phase information of the object beam from the interferograms formed by the foregoing said method.

Abstract: The present invention reduces the delay time to extremely short by monitoring the output/distribution unit of the exchange node to specify the unused time slot as write destination of the data and performing priority control by the priority control signal contained in the data. The traffic congestion is resolved by performing write output to the specified time slot regardless of the communication speed of the transmission path of the data. Furthermore, the present invention aims to provide the exchange node and the exchange node control method that ensures communication quality by using the connection type as the communication method since the delay time in communication can be reduced. The exchange node 100 according to the present invention includes an input buffer unit 2, an identification unit 7, a distribution unit 5, a multiplexing circuit 9, a time slot allocation circuit 12, and an output/distribution unit 10.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for digital transport of paramagnetic particles. The systems and methods may include providing a magnetic garnet film having a plurality of magnetic domain walls, disposing a liquid solution on a surface of the magnetic garnet film, wherein the liquid solution includes a plurality of paramagnetic particles, and applying an external field to transport at least a portion of the paramagnetic particles from a first magnetic domain wall to a second magnetic domain wall of the plurality of magnetic domain walls.

Abstract: A machine and method for the continuous folding of sheet material into different three-dimensional patterns. The innovative machine and method folds sheet material by force converging the sheet to a final stage that imparts a final fold or pattern into the sheet material, the patterns selectively including one of a Chevron pattern, a honeycomb-like pattern, a double-sided inclined folded core structure, and singular inclined direction folded core structure sheet material.

Abstract: A method employing a statistic means to test whether or not luminance signals around a point of interest are distributed according to the same probability distribution with respect to luminance signals of respective pixels constituting the image; determining a range where the same probability distribution can be regarded as being satisfied, estimating the true luminance value of the point of interest by using the luminance data of the range. Especially when the image signals are faint to such an extent that the intensity of the luminance signal is based on the Poisson distribution, it is effective to perform a smoothing processing for each of the probability distributions of the signals and the noises by a test of a uniformity of the Poisson distribution, enabling a clear and denoised image to be obtained.

Abstract: Provided are an organic electroluminescence device having high luminous efficiency and a long emission lifetime, and a transition metal complex compound realizing the organic electroluminescence device. In the transition metal complex compound, three ligands are crosslinked with a crosslinking group having a saturated cyclic structure or a saturated polycyclic structure in a tripod manner. The organic electroluminescence device includes an organic thin film layer composed of one or multiple layers including at least a light emitting layer, the organic thin film layer being interposed between a pair of electrodes. In the organic electroluminescence device, at least one layer of the organic thin film layer contains the transition metal complex compound.

Abstract: Nucleotide monomers, polynucleotides, methods of making each, methods of deprotecting each, and the like are disclosed herein.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical sensor for detecting chemical reaction activity, including, e.g., enzyme activity and catalytic or reactive molecule activity. An optical sensor of the invention includes a porous photonic film that produces a predetermined spectral reflectance response. In preferred embodiments, the film has a chemical coating (such as a hydrophobic layer) within its pores with an affinity for the reaction product(s) of the catalytic or otherwise reactive analyte A coating can also act as a protective layer in preferred embodiment. A thin substrate susceptible to reaction by at least one analyte of interest is on the surface of the thin film to block pores of the thin film. A method of detecting chemical reaction activity of the invention exposes the optical sensor to an analyte of interest, such as an enzyme or otherwise catalytic or reactive molecule.

Abstract: A method for generating output data identifying a class of a predetermined plurality of classes. The method comprises receiving data representing an acoustic signal; determining an amplitude of at least a first predetermined frequency component of said acoustic signal; and comparing the or each amplitude with a respective primary threshold; and generating output data identifying one of said classes to which said acoustic signal should be allocated, based upon said comparison.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive ligand sensor device (MLSD), system and method are provided having at least one magnetostrictive particle (MSP) to which is bound at least one binding element. The MSP may be dispersed in a sample containing a target ligand such that the target ligand binds thereto. A driver is also provided to emit a varying magnetic field such that the MSP produces a resonance response detectable by a measurement device configured to receive and detect changes in the resonance response that are due to alterations of the binding element. The MLSD and assays find use in identifying and quantitating ligands as well as chemicals and environmental conditions in a sample or patient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to microemulsions of immiscible fluids stabilized by reactive ionic liquid surfactant wherein the ionic liquid surfactant has a melting point less than 80° C. The invention also relates to composite materials comprising a copolymer of ethylenically reactive species, wherein one of the species is a reactive ionic liquid surfactant having a melting point less than 80° C., and wherein the material also comprises non-reactive Class I fluid. The invention further relates to methods for synthesizing the composite materials comprising preparing a microemulsion of immiscible Class I fluid and Class II fluid stabilized by reactive ionic liquid surfactant wherein the ionic liquid surfactant has a melting point less than 80° C., and polymerizing the microemulsion to form a composite material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an anti-cancer composition, which comprises a sulfur-containing compound thiacremonone as an active ingredient. The active ingredient induces the death of cancer cells by apoptosis through the action of specific inhibition of the activity of NF-?B. The composition can be effectively used in the treatment or prevention of cancer.

Abstract: The invention provides a CR2-FH molecule comprising a CR2 portion comprising CR2 protein or a fragment thereof and a FH portion comprising a factor H protein or a fragment thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising a CR2-FH molecule. Also provided are methods of using the compositions for treatment diseases in which the alternative complement pathway is implicated, such as age-related macular degeneration, rheumatoid arthritis, and ischemia reperfusion.

Abstract: A multi-variable model analysis system comprises a model creation unit for creating a plurality of models individually having a plurality of variables, a characteristic value calculation unit for calculating the characteristic values of the models on the basis of the variables of the models given and for writing the variables and characteristic values of the models, a clustering unit for classifying the plural models having the characteristic values of a high similarity, into an identical cluster; a correlation coefficient calculation unit for calculating the correlation coefficients of the variables of the models in individual clusters and for writing the correlation coefficients in a memory map; and an extraction unit for extracting the variable having a correlation coefficient exceeding a predetermined value in the individual clusters, from the memory map.