Abstract: A method of modulating the expression of at least one trait in a plant, the method comprising the step of modulating the expression of at least one polypeptide by the plant, wherein the polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of: i) a polypeptide which comprises the amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO:1; ii) a polypeptide which comprises an amino acid sequence which is selected from the group consisting of any one or more of from amino acid 1 to amino acid 7, from amino acid 9 to amino acid 230, from amino acid 1 to amino acid 58, from amino acid 77 to amino acid 485, from amino acid 59 to amino acid 76, from amino acid 150 to amino acid 191, from amino acid 231 to amino acid 405, and from amino acid 406 to amino acid 438 of SEQ ID NO: 1, or at equivalent positions in a homologue thereof, and which is capable of modulating cytokinin signaling in the plant; iii) a polypeptide which comprises an amino acid sequence with at least 70% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence according to SEQ

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a composition containing 2-acyl-lysophosphatidylserine, including (a) a step of obtaining a composition containing phosphatidylserine by allowing phospholipase D to act on a raw material containing phosphatidylcholine in the presence of serine and (b) a step of obtaining a composition containing 2-acyl-lysophosphatidylserine by allowing phospholipase A1 to act on the composition containing phosphatidylserine in the presence of one or more additives selected from the group consisting of the following (I), (II), and (III), in which (I) one or more salts selected from the group consisting of sulfate salts, phosphate salts, nitrate salts, citrate salts, and tartarate salts of monovalent cations, (II) a gum, and (III) an emulsifier.

Abstract: The present invention provides an Al2O3 coated Si3N4 cutting tool comprising a Si3N4 based substrate body and a coating layer on the substrate body, wherein the coating layer has at least one Al2O3 coating layer consisting of amorphous Al2O3 or nanocrystalline ?-, ?-, or ?-Al2O3. The hard and wear resistant refractory coating is deposited onto the Si3N4-based substrate body by reactive sputtering using bipolar pulsed DMS technique or dual magnetron sputtering method at substrate temperatures of 300-700° C. During the deposition, preferably, the substrate temperature is controlled to achieve the desired crystal structure of the coating. To form amorphous Al2O3 coating on the surface of the substrates, the deposition temperature can be controlled from 300 to 500° C.; on the other hand, to form nanocrystalline ?-, ?-, or ?-Al2O3, the deposition temperature can be controlled in the range of 500-700° C.

Abstract: A head mounted display (HMD) for viewing a virtual environment generally include a flat display (FD), lenses for focusing on the FD, and a housing to enclose the FD and lenses. The housing is generally opaque to block out all external light, so the viewer only sees light from the FD. By making a portion or all of the housing translucent or transparent, ambient light and other external light can be seen by the viewer, providing additional visual cues and a larger perceived field of view. Additionally, other people can see light from the FD. The lenses are configured to view the FD and parts of the translucent housing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of genetic engineering drugs, particularly to a novel B cell activating factor (BAFF) antagonist and use thereof. The technical problem to be solved by the invention is to find a new and effective selection for the prevention and treatment of autoimmune diseases. The B cell activating factor receptor antagonist is mainly obtained by the fusion of the domain 2 binding BAFF in TACI receptor and the domain binding BAFF in Br3 receptor, and it also can be fused with a Fc segment of IgG1 to obtain a new fusion protein molecule. Experiments indicate that said new fusion protein molecule has the function of BAFF antagonist, which can treat the autoimmune diseases, and supply a new and effective selection for the prevention and treatment of the autoimmune diseases.

Abstract: Described herein are biodegradable drug delivery conjugates for effectively delivering bioactive agents to a subject. The drug delivery conjugates comprise a water-soluble high molecular weight linear biodegradable polymer backbone comprising a plurality of linear water-soluble polymeric segments connected to one another by a first (main-chain) cleavable linker, wherein a bioactive agent is covalently bonded to at least one water-soluble polymeric segment, at least one cleavable linker, or a combination thereof. The conjugates possess numerous advantages over prior art delivery conjugates. Also described herein are methods for making and using the conjugates.

Abstract: Nitric oxide biosynthesis-inhibiting anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial compounds of Formula (3) and Formula (4) wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected from optionally substituted thienyl, optionally substituted furyl, optionally substituted —CH?CH-thienyl and optionally substituted —CH?CH-furyl, provided that R2 is substituted with as nitro group Treatment methods utilizing the compounds, and methods of synthesis of the compounds are also disclosed.

Abstract: Compound of Formula (I): are described, along with pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, compositions containing the same, and methods of use thereof in the treatment of cancer.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for a power stage that can drive various types of loads. The power stage includes a first capacitor and a second capacitor that are coupled to the load. The power stage also includes switches that are operable in a first power stage state and a second power stage state. When the switches are in the first power stage state, the first capacitor discharges to the load, and the second capacitor charges. When the switches are in the second power stage state, the second capacitor discharges to the load, and the first capacitor charges.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for preparing porous noble metal oxide nanoparticles, comprising the following steps: a) preparing an Olea Europaea fruit extract; b) preparing an Acacia Nilotica extract; c) mixing the Olea Europaea fruit extract and the Acacia Nilotica extract for preparing a mixed extract; d) providing an aqueous solution containing a noble metal compound dissolved therein; e) mixing the mixed extract obtained in step c) and the aqueous solution of step d); f) dropping a solution of sodium chloride to be mixture of step b); g) drying the mixture, in air or by vacuum, and h) calcining at a temperature between 100 to 900° C., to get the porous noble metal oxide nanoparticles; porous noble metal oxide nanoparticles obtained thereby and their use.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of inhibiting, suppressing or preventing levodopa-induced dyskinesia in a patient suffering from Parkinson's Disease, comprising the step of administering to the patient a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one compound of the invention. The present invention further provides a method of inhibiting, suppressing or preventing Parkinson's Disease in a patient, comprising the step of administering to the patient a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one compound of the invention.

Abstract: Stable aqueous solutions comprising concentrations of baclofen in the range of greater than 2.0 mg/mL up to about 10 mg/mL are disclosed. These solutions can be used as pharmaceuticals for parenteral or oral administration. The invention also provides methods of preparing said stable aqueous baclofen solutions.

Abstract: The disclosure provides for saccharide-peptide based hydrogels, the functionalization of the saccharide-peptide based hydrogels with one or more biological agents, and the encapsulation of one or more biological materials and/or pharmaceutical agents in the hydrogels. The disclosure further provides for the use of the saccharide-peptide based hydrogels in treating a disease or disorder in a subject.

Abstract: A method of selecting a transmission parameter and a spectrum allocation apparatus are provided. The method of selecting a transmission parameter involves collecting frequency band information comprising a frequency bandwidth and communication environment information comprising a power density of noise, constituting a plurality of single-objective fitness functions comprising a bandwidth fitness function based on data transmission using two frequency bands, using the frequency band information and the communication environment information, constituting a multi-objective fitness function obtained by assigning a weight value to each of the plurality of single-objective fitness functions, and selecting the transmission parameter by applying a genetic algorithm to the multi-objective fitness function.

Abstract: Methods are provided for determining whether a subject has a graft tolerant phenotype. In practicing the subject methods, the expression level of one or more gene in a sample from the subject, e.g., a blood sample, is assayed to obtain a gene expression result, where the gene expression result includes a result for a biomarker of graft tolerance. The obtained gene expression result is then employed to determine whether the subject has a graft tolerant phenotype. Also provided are compositions, systems and kits that find use in practicing the subject methods. The methods and compositions find use in a variety of applications, including the determination of an immunosuppressive therapy regimen.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for preparing activated charcoal from a precursor material comprising high mineral content plant or algal material by heating the precursor material under suitable conditions sufficient to produce activated charcoal therefrom. The invention also provides various applications of the activated charcoal per se.

Abstract: Multiplexed electrospray deposition apparatus capable of delivering picoliter volumes of one or more substances is disclosed. The apparatus may include a unitary planar dispenser etched from a silicon wafer through microfabrication or micromachining technology. The apparatus may be used as a deposition tool for making protein microarrays in a noncontact mode. Upon application of potential difference in the range of 7-9 kV, the substances may be dispensed directly, not through a collimating mask, onto a substrate with microhydrogel features functionalized with an anchoring agent.

Abstract: FRET measurement uses a FRET probe that includes a probe element X containing a donor fluorescent substance and a probe element Y containing an acceptor fluorescent substance and enables FRET to occur when the probe element X and the probe element Y approach to each other or bind together. The modulation frequency of laser light with which the FRET probe is irradiated is adjusted to an optimum modulation frequency that maximizes a difference between the phase difference of donor fluorescence emitted from the donor fluorescent substance with respect to intensity modulation of the laser light at the time when FRET occurs and the phase difference of donor fluorescence emitted from the donor fluorescent substance with respect to intensity modulation of the laser light at the time when FRET does not occur.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are example methods, systems, and devices involving electrically-conductive wires, such as standard IC bonding wires, that are configured so as to operate as inertial sensors. One embodiment of the disclosed methods, systems, and devices may take the form of a system that includes a first electrically-conductive wire and a second electrically-conductive wire, where the first wire and the second wire are electromagnetically coupled; and a sensor oscillator, where the sensor oscillator is coupled to the first wire and the second wire, and where the sensor oscillator is configured to output a sensor-oscillator signal that is frequency modulated based on a change in complex impedance between the first wire and the second wire, where the change in complex impedance is due to a displacement of the first wire relative to the second wire.

Abstract: Methods for amplifying a desired target region of a nucleic acid through rolling circle amplification with a strand-displacing polymerase are provided. Concatameric hairpin products are resolved with endonuclease digestion, and the resulting amplified product hairpins or fragments can be circularized and employed as templates in a subsequent round of amplification. The methods are effective for targeted amplification of even highly repetitive sequences. Compositions, kits, and systems related to or useful in the methods are also described.