Abstract: The present invention provides an optical isomer separating agent and a production method thereof. That is, the present invention provides a one-handed helical poly(diphenylacetylene) compound represented by the following formula (I) [wherein each symbol is as described in the DESCRIPTION], and a production method thereof, an optical isomer separating agent containing the poly(diphenylacetylene) compound, and a packing material for a chiral column, containing the optical isomer separating agent coated on a carrier. Since these have a superior separation ability for a wide variety of compounds, a practical optical resolution method can be provided.

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 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: Technologies and implementations for de-interlacing an interlaced digital video and up-converting a frame rate of a digital video are generally disclosed.

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: 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: A method of treating a degenerative bone condition of a subject includes administering to hematopoietic progenitor cells or osteoclast progenitor cells of the subject at least one agent that substantially reduces the interaction of at least one of C3a or C5a with the C3a receptor (C3aR) and/or C5a receptor (C5aR), a STAT3/IL-6 signaling pathway antagonist, and a combination thereof, the agent being administered to the hematopoietic progenitor cells or osteoclast progenitor cells at an amount effective to inhibit osteoclast differentiation of hematopoietic progenitor cells or osteoclast progenitor cells.

Abstract: The invention provides an integrated process for processing heavy oil, wherein the integrated process at least comprises: solvent deasphalting is carried out for heavy oil material, and de-oiled asphalt phase is mixed with dispersing agent and then entered a thermal cracking reactor to undergo thermal cracking reactions. Upgraded oil can be obtained through the mixture of the de-asphalted oil and thermal cracking oil separated from thermal cracking reaction products. The solvent and heavy gas oil, which are separated from the thermal cracking reaction products, are respectively recycled back to the solvent deasphalting process as solvent and as mixed feed to remove asphaltene. The integrated process of the present invention solves the problems that solvent is difficult to be separated from asphalt with high softening point in solvent deasphalting process and hard asphalt is difficult to be transported.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preparing a thin or thick film, comprising the steps of: (1) arranging non-spherical seed crystals on a substrate such that all the a-, b- and c-axes of each seed crystal are oriented under a predetermined rule; and (2) forming and growing the film from the seed crystals through secondary growth by exposing the arranged seed crystals of step (1) to a seed crystal growth solution. The invention also provides a film prepared by the method. According to the invention, crystals or films larger than the seed crystals can be prepared.

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.

Abstract: According to certain embodiments of the invention, an electrowetting device and a method for improving the response speed of an electrowetting device may be provided. The electrowetting device can includes: an electrode; an insulation film including a dielectric material that is coated over the electrode; a droplet positioned over the insulation film; and a power control unit configured to control a voltage applied to the electrode, where the power control unit reaches a particular contact angle by applying a first voltage that is higher than a second voltage corresponding to the particular contact angle, and applies the second voltage once the particular contact angle is reached. According to certain embodiments of the invention, the response speed of an electrowetting device can be improved by applying different voltages according to the contact angle of the droplet in an electrowetting device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for microstructuring a substrate. In the method according to the invention a substrate with a region to be structured is provided, and then by applying colloid spheres into this region, a colloid sphere monolayer is formed. The thus applied colloid sphere monolayer exhibits a certain geometrical symmetry. Said colloid sphere monolayer is then illuminated with a beam of spatially modulated intensity distribution synchronized to said monolayer, thereby performing mechanical structuring in said region in conformity with a desired pattern through concentrating beam intensity via near-field effect behind said colloid sphere monolayer in the propagation direction of light.

Abstract: The present invention provides sulfonated poly(phenylene sulfide sulfone nitrile) and a polymer electrolyte membrane thereof. In particular, the present invention provides sulfonated poly(phenylene sulfide sulfone nitrile) having a triple bond at its both ends and a polymer electrolyte membrane with superior mechanical properties prepared by heating sulfonated poly(phenylene sulfide sulfone nitrile) and forming cross-links between ends of sulfonated poly(phenylene sulfide sulfone nitrile).

Abstract: A nitride semiconductor light-emitting device is formed of an n-type nitride semiconductor layer, a trigger layer, a V-pit expanding layer, a light-emitting layer, and a p-type nitride semiconductor layer provided in this order. The light-emitting layer has a V-pit formed therein. The trigger layer is made of a nitride semiconductor material having a lattice constant different from that of a material that forms an upper surface of the n-type nitride semiconductor layer. The V-pit expanding layer is made of a nitride semiconductor material having a lattice constant substantially identical to that of the material that forms the upper surface of the n-type nitride semiconductor layer, and the V-pit expanding layer has a thickness of 5 nm or more and 5000 nm or less.

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: An integrated MEMS and IC system (MEMSIC), as well as related methods, are described herein. According to some embodiments, a mechanical resonating structure is coupled to an electrical circuit (e.g., field-effect transistor). For example, the mechanical resonating structure may be coupled to a gate of a transistor. In some cases, the mechanical resonating structure and electrical circuit may be fabricated on the same substrate (e.g., Silicon (Si) and/or Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI)) and may be proximate to one another.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a point-of-collection, selected quantitative indicia of an analyte on a test strip using a smartphone involves imaging a test strip on which a colorimetric reaction of a target sample has occurred due to test strip illumination by the smartphone. The smartphone includes a smartphone app and a smartphone accessory that provides an external environment-independent/internal light-free, imaging environment independent of the smartphone platform being used. The result can then be presented quantitatively or turned into a more consumer-friendly measurement (positive, negative, above average, etc.), displayed to the user, stored for later use, and communicated to a location where practitioners can provide additional review. Additionally, social media integration can allow for device results to be broadcast to specific audiences, to compare healthy living with others, to compete in health based games, create mappings, and other applications.