Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for the diagnosis and treatment of cells lacking normal growth arresting characteristic. The present invention demonstrates that many tumor cells lack normal cell surface ?-dystroglycan and thereby lack dystroglycan function. Dystroglycan can be lost from the cell surface by proteolytic shedding of a fragment of ?-dystroglycan into the surrounding medium. Upon restoration of dystroglycan function and over-expression of the dystroglycan gene, the once tumorigenic cells revert to non-tumorigenic cells which polarize and arrest cell growth in the presence of basement membrane proteins, demonstrating that dystroglycan functions as a tumor marker and suppressor.

Abstract: A process for producing organic acid di- or tri-esters, particularly citric acid tri-esters, with the available acid groups esterified using countercurrent reactive distillation using acid catalysts in a structured packing is described. In the reactive distillation an organic acid di- or tri-ester is formed by chemical reaction and purified to its final state within the single column. Organic acid di- or tri-esters are produced at relatively low cost, with less waste production in by-products of the reaction, and in a less complicated manner than prior processes. Organic acid di- and tri-esters have uses as solvents, as plasticizers and in conversion products.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing a liver disorder in a subject is disclosed. The method comprises determining a level of sH2A and at least one additional liver marker in a sample of the subject wherein a change beyond a predetermined threshold in both the sH2A and the at least one additional marker with respect to a sample from a healthy individual is indicative of the liver disorder. Kits for diagnosing a liver disorder are also disclosed.

Abstract: A neutron source illuminates suspect material leading to emission of gamma rays characteristic of the isotopes present. The system measures Compton scattering of emitted gamma rays using detectors with three dimension event localization capability. Detection does not require full energy deposition. A spatial correlation of projection vectors is computed by a reconstruction that searches for solutions that generate spatial correlation. Identification and location for contraband material is determined from solutions that generate spatial correlation.

Abstract: A method (800) of detecting a target within a population of molecules comprising: contacting a plurality of labeled probe molecules with the population of molecules potentially containing a target of the probe molecules (810); acquiring a probe specific signal emitted by said labeled probe molecules that bound to said target together with a background signal (820); modulating said probe specific signal by at least one of modulating said acquisition and modulating an emission of said probe specific signal (830); and detecting said probe specific signal over said background signal using said preferential modulation (840). The target comprises one or more molecule type selected from the group consisting of a nucleic acid sequence, an amino acid sequence, a carbohydrate sequence, an ion and a feature of a protein determined by non-primary structure. The probe specific signal may be a fluorescent signal.

Abstract: A trust system and method is disclosed for use in computing devices, particularly portable devices, in which a central Authority shares secrets and sensitive data with users of the respective devices. The central Authority maintains control over how and when shared secrets and data are used. In one embodiment, the secrets and data are protected by hardware-rooted encryption and cryptographic hashing, and can be stored securely in untrusted storage. The problem of transient trust and revocation of data is reduced to that of secure key management and keeping a runtime check of the integrity of the secure storage areas containing these keys (and other secrets). These hardware-protected keys and other secrets can further protect the confidentiality and/or integrity of any amount of other information of arbitrary size (e.g., files, programs, data) by the use of strong encryption and/or keyed-hashing, respectively.

Abstract: Rhodopsin transgenes driven by rhodopsin promoters were produced, some attached to GFP coding sequences as a fusion construct. When the resulting transgenes were introduced into Xenopus laevis, the photoreceptors degenerated in a manner similar to the degeneration observed in human retinal degenerations. Lines of animals with these transgenes were generated, and the progeny of such lines undergo similar patterns of degeneration. Since photoreceptors in these generated lines are marked by the expression of visible reporter proteins, and these reporters are visible and quantifiable externally through the lens of live animals, these lines may be used in the screening of therapeutics that prevent or slow photoreceptor degeneration.

Abstract: A fluorophore that forms a complex with Pb ions is disclosed. The fluorophore/lead complex fluoresces with an intensity greater than complexes formed by the fluorophore with other metals. The fluorophore may be used as a sensor/detector for lead ions in various samples. Methods for detecting and calculating the concentration of lead ions in samples are also disclosed.

Abstract: A flash memory cell string and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The flash memory cell string includes a plurality of cell devices and switching devices connected to ends of the cell devices. Each of the cell devices includes a semiconductor substrate, a tunneling insulating layer, a charge storage node, a control insulating layer, and a control electrode which are sequentially laminated on the semiconductor substrate. In each cell device, a source/drain region is not formed. The switching device does not include a source or drain region in a side connected to the cell devices. The switching device includes a source or drain region in the other side that is not connected to the cell devices. The source or drain region does or does not overlap the control electrode. Accordingly, it is possible to improve a miniaturization property and performance of NAND flash memory cell devices.

Abstract: A pixel compositor device for routing an incoming stream of pixel data having been rendered elsewhere and bound for being projected. The device includes a plurality of digital signal inputs each adapted for receiving a plurality of pixel information from the incoming stream of pixel data. The digital signal inputs are in communication with at least one buffer for the pixel information once received by the device. A processing unit is included for image warping the pixel information by performing, on each of a respective of the pixel information: (i) a mapping relating to location of the respective pixel information, and (ii) a scaling function. The geometric mapping can be performed by applying an interpolation technique; and the scaling function can be any of a number of photometric correction functions (alpha-blending, color uniformity correction, image brightness or contrast adjustment, etc.).

Abstract: A method of preparing carbon nanotube/polymer composite is disclosed, which includes: forming a layer of TiO2 on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with a precursor of TiO2 by a sol-gel or hydrothermal method, a weight ratio of the TiO2 precursor to CNT being 0.3:1 to 30:1; modifying the TiO2-coated CNTs with a coupling agent to improve the affinity thereof to a polymer; and mixing a polymer with the resulting modified TiO2-coated CNTs to form a TiO2-coated CNT reinforced polymer composite. The mechanical properties of the polymer composite can be enhanced by using an additional fiber reinforcement material.

Abstract: A polymeric light-emitting diode (PLED) and methods of making same. In one embodiment, the PLED comprises a substrate, a layer of a first conductive material formed on a surface of the substrate, a layer of a conductive polymeric material deposited on the layer of the first conductive material, a layer of a luminescent polymeric material deposited on the layer of the conductive polymeric material, and a layer of a second conductive material formed on the layer of the luminescent polymeric material, wherein at least one of the layer of the conductive polymeric material and the layer of the luminescent polymeric material is deposited by the laser vapor deposition (LVD).

Abstract: A sensor system for detecting a chemical or biological species includes a sensing element and a bias and measurement circuit. The sensing element includes nanochannels, each having an outer surface functionalized to chemically interact with the species to create a corresponding surface potential, and each having a sufficiently small cross section to exhibit a shift of a differential conductance characteristic into a negative bias operating region by a shift amount dependent on the surface potential. The bias and measurement circuit applies a bias voltage across two ends of the nanochannels sufficiently negative to achieve a desired dependence of the differential conductance on the surface potential, wherein the dependence has a steeply sloped region of high amplification substantially greater than a reference amplification at a zero-bias condition, thus achieving relatively high signal-to-noise ratio.

Abstract: A method and system for assessment of a pipe (110) is provided. The system can include a probe (100) having first (120) and second (130) electrodes and a processor (200) in communication with the probe (100). The probe (100) can be in a medium (140) proximate to a section of the pipe (110) to be analyzed. The section of the pipe (110) can have a coating (115) thereon. The processor (200) can measure a difference in potential between the first (120) and second (130) electrodes. The processor (200) can determine a local impedance with respect to the section of the pipe (110) based at least in part on the difference in potential. The processor (200) can evaluate a condition of the coating (115) on the section of the pipe (110) based at least in part on the local impedance or a parameter derived from the local impedance.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses for the discretization and manipulation of sample volumes that is simple, robust, and versatile. It is a fluidic device that partitions a sample by exploiting the interplay between fluidic forces, interfacial tension, channel geometry, and the final stability of the formed droplet and/or discretized volume. These compartmentalized volumes allow for isolation of samples and partitioning into a localized array that can subsequently be manipulated and analyzed.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems and articles for tracing and disabling one or more unauthorized distributors of content originally transmitted by a distribution center. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving rebroadcast transmissions of a data segment previously transmitted by the distribution center, the received segment including embedded information associated with a subset of recipients that includes at least one of the unauthorized distributors, and identifying the subset based on the embedded information. The method further includes assigning recipients in the identified subset into two or more new subsets such that the at least one unauthorized distributor is assigned to one of the two or more new subsets, and coding a subsequent data segment to be transmitted with additional embedded information associated with the two or more new subsets. The above operations may be repeated until the at least unauthorized distributor is identified.

Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and method for visualizing subsurface velocity structure by processing signals through waveform inversion in the Laplace-Fourier domain, and a recording medium storing a program for implementing the method. A receiver receives a seismic signal from a target region, and a signal processor processes the seismic signal to generate image data for visualizing the subsurface structure of the target region. The signal processor performs the waveform inversion in the Laplace-Fourier domain, thereby obtaining a velocity model similar to an true structure of the target region.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods of treating platelet disorders and/or endothelial cell disorders by modulating sema4D/CD100 activity. Specifically, this invention involves the use of compounds to increase or decrease the level of soluble sema4D/CD100.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image reconstruction method in a high-energy dual-energy CT system. The method comprises steps of scanning an objection with high-energy dual-energy rays to obtain high-energy dual-energy projection values, calculating projection values of base material coefficients corresponding to the dual-energy projection values on the basis of a pre-created lookup table or by analytically solving a set of equations, and obtaining an image of base material coefficient distribution based on the projection values of base material coefficients. The method provides a solution for reconstruction with high-energy dual energy CT technology and thus a more effective approach for substance identification and contraband inspection, thereby bringing a significant improvement on accuracy and efficiency in security inspection.