Abstract: Compositions containing a carrier and microbubles encapsulating one or more gases, preferably oxygen, and methods for making and using the compositions are described herein. The microbubbles contain a lipid envelope formed of at least one base lipid and at least one emulsifying agent. The compositions may be administered to a patient to quickly deliver large amounts of oxygen to the patient's blood supply or directly to a tissue in need of oxygen. The compositions may be administered via injection or as a continuous infusion. The compositions contain a concentrated microbubble suspension, where the suspension contains at least 40 mL oxygen/dL suspension. The microbubbles are preferably less than 20 microns in diameter, more preferably less than 15 microns in diameter. The microbubbles described herein may be administered to a patient in an effective amount to increase in oxygen concentration in the patient's blood, and/or one or more tissues or organs.

Abstract: In a method of measuring a temperature value associated with melting, softening or decomposition of sample substances, an array of samples is deposited onto a support tray. The support tray is placed onto a heating device provided with temperature sensing means, the support tray is illuminated, and the array of samples is observed by a imaging device. WNle varying the temperature of the heating device, the image data from the imaging device is fed to an image recording device and temperature values associated with each feed of image data are also recorded. The image data is reviewed to detect changes in the image, such as image intensity, at each or selected sample locations, and the temperature of the heating device at an image change associated with a change in state of a sample is logged. Image processing software may be used to detect changes in the image, for example in the intensity of the image, at each sample location.

Abstract: The present invention describes the identification, isolation, cloning, and determination of the Alzheimer Related Membrane Protein (ARMP) gene on chromosome 14 and a related gene, E5-1, on chromosome 1. Normal and mutant copies of both genes are presented. Transcripts and products of these genes are useful in detecting and diagnosing Alzheimer's disease, developing therapeutics for treatment of Alzheimer's disease, as well as the isolation and manufacture of the protein and the construction of transgenic animals expressing the mutant genes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus models one or more electromagnetic field modes of a waveguide. The method includes calculating a first matrix having a plurality of elements and having a first bandwidth using a refractive index profile of the waveguide. The plurality of elements of the first matrix represents an action of Maxwell's equations on a transverse magnetic field within the waveguide. The method further includes rearranging the plurality of elements of the first matrix to form a second matrix having a second bandwidth smaller than the first bandwidth. The method further includes shifting the second matrix and inverting the shifted second matrix to form a third matrix. The method further includes calculating one or more eigenvalues or eigenvectors of the third matrix corresponding to one or more modes of the waveguide.

Abstract: A micropump device including a first wafer and a second wafer attached to the first wafer. The first and second wafers are configured to define a chamber therebetween having a predetermined volume. A third wafer is attached to the second wafer to define an inlet section and an outlet section in fluid communication with the chamber. At least one of the second and third wafers are formed to define a moveable diaphragm configured to change the predetermined volume of the chamber for pumping a fluid between the inlet section and the outlet section.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to wheat plants having increased resistance to an imidazolinone herbicide. More particularly, the present invention includes wheat plants containing one or more IMI nucleic acids such as a Teal IMI cultivar. The nucleic acids are preferably located on or derived from different genomes. The present invention also includes seeds produced by these wheat plants and methods of controlling weeds in the vicinity of these wheat plants.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for (a) reducing mortality associated with heart failure; (b) improving oxygen consumption; (c) treating heart failure; (d) treating hypertension; (e) improving the quality of life in a heart failure patient; (f) inhibiting left ventricular remodeling; (g) reducing hospitalizations related to heart failure; (h) improving exercise tolerance; (j) increasing left ventricular ejection fraction; (k) decreasing levels of B-type natriuretic protein; (l) treating renovascular diseases; (m) treating end-stage renal diseases; (n) reducing cardiomegaly; (o) treating diseases resulting from oxidative stress; (p) treating endothelial dysfunctions; (q) treating diseases caused by endothelial dysfunctions; or (r) treating cardiovascular diseases; in a patient in need thereof, wherein the patient has a Arg389Arg polymorphism and/or a Gly389Gly polymorphism in the beta 1 adrenergic receptor gene, comprising administering to the patient (i) at least one antioxidant compound or a pharmaceutically

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for preventing or alleviating the symptoms of and inflammation associated with inflammatory diseases and conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, for example, those involving the esophagus. Also provided herein are pharmaceutical compositions useful for the methods of the present invention.

Abstract: Antagonists of group 1 metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR) potentiate the effect of positive AMPA receptor modulators on neurotrophin expression, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The findings described herein suggest a combinatorial approach for drug therapies, using both positive AMPA receptor modulators and mGluR antagonists. to enhance brain neurotrophism.

Abstract: An aerodynamic lens, comprises a cylindrical body having an inlet and an outlet; and a convergence-divergence lens portion inside the cylindrical body, having a lens hole formed at the center of the convergence-divergence lens portion, through which a carrier gas and particles pass, a convergence slant surface at a convergence angle (?) with a central axis of the aerodynamic lens at the front of the lens hole, and a divergence slant surface at a divergence angle (?) with the central axis of the aerodynamic lens at the rear of the lens hole.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for analyzing pattern colorings and evaluating various psychological symptoms or disorders in art therapy are disclosed. The method suggests performance-related elements such as completeness, accuracy and degree of concentration as elements, can objectively and quantitatively rate these elements as well as various color-related elements, can detect the changes of these elements in pattern colorings, can estimate the levels and changes of psychological symptoms and disorders and determine whether the symptoms and disorders are serious or not, can acquire various kinds of knowledge in the field of art therapy and establish a knowledge base, and can interpret the pattern colorings based on the analysis and knowledge base. The apparatus consists of units obtaining inputs of characteristics of clients, analyzing and rating the various elements in the pattern colorings, and outputting various kinds of information to the clients, parents, teachers, and art therapists.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a needle is employed in refilling drug-delivery devices.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to efficiently perform weighted difference coding of two or more signals. Determination is made as to which of independent coding and weighted difference coding is to be used for each channel so that the total energy of the channel signals and weighted difference signals is minimized. A weighted difference signal is generated on the basis of the determination and a reference signal (parent) and a weight is generated as auxiliary codes, the difference signal is treated as an input channel signal, and the process of coding determination and difference signal and auxiliary code generation is repeated. The difference signal generated at the last iteration of the process and a signal to be coded by independent coding are compressive coded and the auxiliary codes generated at the iterations of the process are coded and outputted.

Abstract: The invention provides a wearable device for delivery of light of a desired wavelength and power to the cornea of a subject. The device includes a frame for attachment of a light source housing which includes a light source and a lens positioned in the housing to allow light to be directed to the eye of the subject, and the light source is operably linked to a power source. The invention provides method for the prevention and treatment of ocular disease including infection, neoplasia, and corneal dystrophies. The device of the invention can be used in conjunction with photoactive therapeutic agents.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for preparing high performance aliphatic-aromatic mixed waterborne polyurethanes (PUs). Waterborne PUs prepared from mixed aromatic diisocyanates and aliphatic diisocyanates exhibit superior mechanical properties as compared with those prepared from aliphatic diisocyanates alone.

Abstract: The present invention relates to monochromatic organic light emitting devices. The organic light emitting device includes a substrate, an anode, a cathode and an organic electroluminescent medium disposed between the anode and the cathode, wherein the organic electroluminescent medium includes compound monochromatic luminescent layer; and the compound monochromatic luminescent layer includes host A doped with monochromatic dopant and host B doped with monochromatic dopant, wherein the host A is consisted of two kinds of materials with different transporting characteristics, one is hole-transporting material, and the other is electron-transporting material. In addition, the present invention further relates to white organic light emitting devices, wherein the organic electroluminescent medium is consisted of at least one compound monochromatic luminescent layer, which includes host A doped with monochromatic dopant and host B doped with monochromatic dopant.

Abstract: A low-noise amplifier is provided according to the present invention. The low-noise amplifier includes a first amplifier stage, a second amplifier stage, a third amplifier stage, an input matching network, inter-stage matching networks, and an output matching network. The impedance of the input matching network and the input impedance of the first amplifier stage are conjugate matched, thereby decreasing system power consumption and noise factor. The system gain is enhanced by cascading three stages of amplifiers.

Abstract: The present invention provides for diagnostic kits for identifying cancer patients who are more susceptible to cancer therapies employing endostatin and other angiogenesis inhibitors, based upon the discovery that Nucleolin is a specific receptor for Endostatin. In particular, the diagnostic kits include antibody molecules against Nucleolin, DNA or RNA molecules that specifically bind to nucleic acid molecules encoding Nucleolin. The present invention also discloses methods of screening for angiogenesis inhibitors which specifically interact with Nucleolin, and act as angiogenesis inhibitors in an analogous manner as Endostatin. In addition, the present invention discloses methods of inhibiting the proliferation of endothelial cells or angiogenesis of tumor by administering an anti-nucleolin antibody linked to a cytotoxic agent such as tumor necrosis factor alpha to the endothelial cells.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a light-responsive photocatalyst composition, which is a composite oxide semiconductor containing tungsten, and which can efficiently absorb visible light emitted from the sun and light emitted from interior lamps, such as fluorescent lamps, etc., and a method of preparing the light-responsive photocatalyst composition. The visible light-responsive photocatalyst composition can decompose volatile organic compounds or harmful organic matter causing sick house syndrome, even indoors, because it can be activated by visible light outdoors and can respond to light emitted from interior lamps, such as fluorescent lamps, etc.

Abstract: Included in the digital filtering equipment for extracting a feature quantity from a speech signal in order to execute a speech recognition based on an inputted speech signal are: a) an waveform determining section for obtaining an inputted speech signal and quantizing the speech signal waveform; b) a division value operating section for summing a quantized signal data in a prescribed adjoining region to divide the summation value by the number of summed data, with respect to a data quantized at each point by the waveform determining section, whereby a division value is obtained with the data being centered; c) a comparison section for comparing a division value calculated by the division value operating section and the quantized data calculated in the division value operating section to output logical truth of a comparison result, with respect to each data; and d) a conversion section for converting the quantized data into the selected data points based on an output from the comparison section.