Abstract: This disclosure outlines a new method of modifying the properties of existing liquid crystals by doping them with ferroelectric micro- and nanoparticles. We show that this approach, in contrast to the traditional time consuming and expensive chemical synthetic methods, enriches and enhances the electro-optical performance of many liquid crystal materials. We demonstrate that by changing the concentration and type of ferroelectric particles the physical properties of the nematic, smectic, and cholesteric liquid crystal materials can be changed, including the dielectric constants, the birefringence, the phase transition temperatures, and even the order parameter. We also demonstrate the performance of these new materials in various devices, including displays, light modulators, and beam steering devices.

Abstract: A multidimensional spectrometer for the infrared, visible, and ultraviolet regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, and a method for making multidimensional spectroscopic measurements in the infrared, visible, and ultraviolet regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The multidimensional spectrometer facilitates measurements of inter- and intra-molecular interactions.

Abstract: A polypeptide, called Tir (for translocated intimin receptor, which is secreted by attaching and effacing pathogens, such as the enteropathogenic (EPEC) and enterohemorrhagic (EHEC) E. coli. These bacterial pathogens inserts their own receptors into mammalian cell surfaces, to which the bacterial pathogen then adheres to trigger additional host signaling events and actin nucleation. Diagnosis of disease caused by pathogenic E. coli can be performed by the use of antibodies which bind to Tir to detect the protein or the use of nucleic acid probes for detection of nucleic acids encoding Tir polypeptide. Isolated nucleic acid sequences encoding Tir polypeptide, Tir peptides, a recombinant method for producing recombinant Tir, antibodies which bind to Tir, and a kit for the detection of Tir-producing E. coli are provided. A method of immunizing a host with Tir to induce a protective immune response to Tir or a second polypeptide of interst is also provided.

Abstract: Novel, monodispersed, spherical ZrO2 particles in the size range of approximately 10 to approximately 600 nm exhibiting metastable tetragonal crystal structure at room temperature and novel methods of preparation. The ZrO2 particles are approximately 100% in the tetragonal phase at room temperature and can be pure and free of foreign oxides. The novel method can include mixing zirconium-alkoxide and an alcohol, forming preparation one, followed by separately dissolving completely de-ionized water and a polymeric steric stabilizer in an alcohol forming preparation two. Next the preparations can be mixed with vigorous stirring while subjecting the materials to hydrolysis and condensation reactions with very slow stirring. Next, there is waiting for the formation of a sol from the mixture, followed by drying at approximately 80 degrees C. to form resultant material followed by crushing the resultant material.

Abstract: A method for processing multiple continuous Top-K queries, which is performed between a master server and multiple of slave servers, including steps of: a first step, for arbitrarily selecting the multiple of slave servers and querying and counting up K of accumulated values of which are recorded at most; a second step, for calculating every two adjacent values which have been sent from the same servers to obtain an average value as a threshold; and a third step, for measuring variations of an upper bound and a lower bound for each of the values by using the threshold, and reporting to the master server at a time of the value being in excess of the upper bound or lower than the lower bound for each of the values.

Abstract: Various embodiments include methods for diagnosing and treating medical conditions that involve an autoimmune response to connective tissue such as collagen found in organs such as the lung. In one method pulmonary disease and disorders such as Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) are diagnosed by analyzing fluid or tissue samples obtained from a patient for evidence of an autoimmune response to various types of collagen including, for example, Type V. One type of assay for evidence of an autoimmune response to Type V collagen comprises the steps of obtaining a fluid or tissue sample from a patient, contacting at least a portion of the sample with antigen to anti-Type V collagen antibody and monitoring the mixture of sample and antigen for changes indicative of the presence of anti-Type V collagen in the sample. Another embodiment includes treating pulmonary diseases such as IPF by administering a therapeutically effective dose of epitopes of various collagens including Type V collagen.

Abstract: A method for making a reference leak includes the steps of: (a) preparing a substrate; (b) forming a patterned catalyst layer on the substrate, the patterned catalyst layer comprising one or more catalyst blocks; (c) forming one or more elongate nano-structures extending from the corresponding catalyst blocks by a chemical vapor deposition method; (d) forming a leak layer of one of a metallic material, a glass material, and a ceramic material on the substrate with the one or more elongate nano-structures partly or completely embedded therein; and (e) removing the one or more elongate nano-structures and the substrate to obtain a reference leak with one or more leak holes defined therein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel chemical compounds, methods for their discovery, and their therapeutic use. In particular, the present invention provides benzodiazepine derivatives and related compounds and methods of using benzodiazepine derivatives and related compounds as therapeutic agents to treat a number of conditions associated with the faulty regulation of the processes of programmed cell death, autoimmunity, inflammation, hyperproliferation, and the like.

Abstract: This invention relates to a green phosphor and a process for producing the same, wherein the phosphor is represented by a chemical formula: M(Tb1-xLax)4Si3O13, where M includes at least one of Ca and Sr, and 0<x<1, and is obtained by mixing at proper ratios and calcining at a high temperature in an oxygen-containing atmosphere. When the produced phosphor is excited by a near ultra-violet light of 378 nm, a green light having its main peak at 541 nm is emitted, and the x and y values of its CIE coordinate are in respective ranges of (0.34-0.37) and (0.52-0.55). The method for producing the phosphor includes steps of weighing and mixing the ingredient powder, and calcining in the oxygen-containing atmosphere at high temperature to form the phospher.

Abstract: This invention describes methods of synthesis and applications of a composite material of a colloidal crystal and a substrate. The method includes steps of (a) providing a substrate having a surface with a surface relief pattern; and (b) applying a liquid dispersion containing colloidal particles onto the surface and spinning the substrate whereby colloidal particles are swept across the surface and self-assemble in void spaces on the surface defined by the relief pattern. The resulting composite material (substrate with colloidal crystal) may be used in various applications such as chromatography, for use in lab-on-chip based devices, micro-reactors and the like. The material may be infiltrated by a material and the composite inverted to remove the colloidal particles to produce an inverted colloidal crystal pattern on the substrate. The material may be selected such that the inverted colloidal crystal pattern is a photonic crystal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnetic impedance measurement device comprising an apply coil for generating an alternate magnetic field of variable frequency, a power source for the apply coil, at least one magnetic sensor means comprising a pair of magnetic sensors for detecting orthogonal vector components of a magnetic field generated from a test object, the vector components being parallel to the face of the apply coil, a measurement means for the magnetic sensor for measuring a detected signal from said magnetic sensor mean, the measurement means being located at a distance from the face of the apply coil and facing the test object, a lock-in amplifier circuit for detecting from an output of the measurement means a signal having the same frequency as the frequency of the apply coil and an analysis means for analyzing intensity and phase changes of an output of the magnetic sensor means with the use of an output signal of the lock-in amplifier circuit.

Abstract: Methods and compositions to prevent scarring of the skin include a matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor and a vehicle suitable for topical application. Scarring and damage to the epidermis and extracellular matrix may be reduced and/or prevented. Following skin damage, application of the matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor reduces expansion of the extracellular matrix portion of the skin compared to untreated skin.

Abstract: First, an object model library and an operation module library are provided. The object model library contains at least an object model geometrically similar to a real object to be processed. The operation module library contains at least an operation module for each operation to be performed. Then, for each real object to be processed, a virtual object is defined by association with an object model in the object model library and by specification of the object model's geometric parameters. Subsequently, for each operation to be performed, the operation is defined by selecting an operation module from the operation module library and specifying its operation parameters. Optionally, for each virtual object defined, at least a two-dimensional image previously taken of the corresponding real object is associated with the virtual object.

Abstract: A method for measuring an upper limb reaching capability of a user with an impaired limb is provided. Each upper limb is placed at a default position on a horizontal surface. A target is displayed from among a plurality of targets on the horizontal surface. One of the limbs reaches for the target. Limb choice, position information and elapsed time are sensed and recorded. The reaching limb is retracted to the default position. The displaying step through the retracting step are repeated for each of the plurality of targets, wherein each of the plurality of targets is spaced apart.

Abstract: A method for separating fractions of single-walled carbon nanotubes includes exposing a solution containing fractions of single-walled carbon nanotubes to a reducing agent and separating the resulting reaction products. An alternate method for separating fractions of single-walled carbon nanotubes includes exposing a solution containing fractions of single-walled carbon nanotubes to an oxidizing agent and separating the resulting reaction products. A third method for separating fractions of single-walled carbon nanotubes includes exposing a solution containing fractions of substantially non-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes to a charge transfer complex agent and separating the resulting reaction products. These methods allow the production of single-walled carbon nanotubes of approximately 95 to 99% metallic and semiconducting types.

Abstract: The invention is in general directed to compounds and methods for diagnosing, preventing or alleviating the symptoms of amyloid-associated diseases, for example, neuronal diseases, such as, for example, Alzheimer's disease, methods of screening for compounds useful in preventing or alleviating the symptoms of amyloid-associated diseases, methods of diagnostic imaging of A-beta fibrils, and compounds and methods useful for studying normal or disease-associated cellular mechanisms relating to amyloid proteins.

Abstract: Screening assays and methods of employing the screening assays designed to identify potential inhibitors of amyloidal neurodegenerative disease. The screening assays comprises providing a membrane construct disposed on a substrate and contacting the membrane construct with A? peptide capable of forming an A? peptide ion channel in the construct. The membrane construct is then contacted with a test compound. A? peptide ion channel activity is determined after the construct has incubated with the A? peptide in the presence and in the absence of the test compound. A reduction in the A? peptide ion channel activity of the membrane construct contacted with the test compound in comparison to a different membrane construct contacted with the same A? peptide in the absence of said test compound indicates that the test compound is an inhibitor of amyloidal neurodegenerative disease.

Abstract: A system and method of identifying relational patterns across a plurality of databases using a data structure and the data structure itself. The data structure including one or more data node branches, each of the one or more data node branches including one or more data nodes, each of the one or more data nodes representing a data item of interest and corresponding data item support values for the data item across the plurality of databases in relation to other data items represented in the data node branch. The data structure can be used to mine one or more relational patterns considering pattern support data across the plurality of databases at the same time.

Abstract: A method for detecting coupled RF current magnetic resonance (MR) objects in a body and determining MR risk is provided. The body is scanned with reverse circularly polarized RF. MR signals generated by coupling of the reverse circularly polarized RF with the RF current MR objects are detected. The detected MR signals are used to determine a risk value.

Abstract: An elastomeric polymer, comprising (1) a hard segment in the amount of 10% to 60% by weight of the elastomeric polymer, wherein the hard segment includes a urethane, urea or urethaneurea; and (2) a soft segment in the amount of 40% to 90% by weight of the elastomeric polymer. The soft segment comprises (a) at least 2% by weight of the soft segment of at least one polyether macrodiol, and/or at least one polycarbonate macrodiol; and (b) at least 2% by weight of the soft segment of at least one polyisobutylene macrodiol and/or diamine.