Abstract: The present invention relates to an octahydro biquinoline compound. Provided is also a method of separating the octahydro biquinoline compound into enantiomers. The octahydro biquinoline compound is of the general formula (V): In formula (V) R1 is one of H, a protective group and an aliphatic group, with the aliphatic group having a main chain of a length of 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, comprising 0 to about 6 heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, O, S, Se and Si. R2 and R3 are independent from one another selected from the group consisting of (i) H, (ii) one of an aliphatic, an alicyclic, an aromatic, an arylaliphatic, and an arylalicyclic group comprising 0 to about 6 heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, O, S, Se and Si, an ester, a carbonate group, a carbamoyl group and a phosphate ester.

Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for extracting and upgrading heavy hydrocarbons from substrates such as oil sands, oil shales, and tar sands in a unitary operation. The substrate bearing the hydrocarbon is brought into contact with a supercritical or near-supercritical fluid, a source of hydrogen such as hydrogen gas, and a catalyst. The materials are mixed and heated under elevated pressure. As a consequence of the elevated temperature and pressure, upgraded hydrocarbon-containing material is provided in a single or unitary operation. In some embodiments, sonication can be used to improve the upgrading process. Fluids suitable for use in the process include carbon dioxide, hexane, and water. It has been observed that upgrading can occur within periods of time of a few hours.

Abstract: A flow cytometry system includes an inertial particle focusing device including a plurality of substantially parallel microchannels formed in a substrate, each microchannel having a width to height ratio in the range of 2:3 to 1:4, an analyzer disposed adjacent the inertial particle focusing device such that the analyzer is configured to detect a characteristic of particles in the inertial particle focusing device, and a controller connected to the analyzer and configured to direct the detection of the characteristic of the particles.

Abstract: The present invention provides an insect expression system that may be used to provide biological control of pest insects and control transmission of infectious diseases transmitted to the human population by insects.

Abstract: The present invention relates to multi-phase self-stratifying coating systems, and in particular, to multi-phase self-stratifying coating systems having a substantially homogeneous composition of polymeric binder components that upon application and cure generates a multi-phase stratified coating wherein each phase is rich in a different polymeric binder component and wherein individual phases are separated by a diffuse interface, such that the stratified coating exhibits a gradient behavior wherein a given interface exhibits the attributes of the polymeric binder component that is rich at that interface, and wherein at least one phase is rich in a polymeric binder having a telechelic resin with reactive internal groups, reactive end groups, and an alkoxide oligomer, and at least one other phase is rich in a polymeric binder having a fluorinated polymer derived from fluorinated vinyl-based monomers.

Abstract: Hepatic progenitors comprise two populations of human hepatic stem cells, primitive and proximal hepatic stem cells, and two populations of committed progenitors, one for biliary cells and one for hepatocytes. Human primitive hepatic stem cells are a very small fraction of the liver cell population and give rise to proximal hepatic stem cells constituting a much larger fraction of the liver. Human proximal hepatic stem cells give rise to biliary and hepatocyte committed progenitors. Primitive and proximal stem cells are the primary stem cells for the human liver. Human primitive hepatic stem cells may be isolated by immunoselection from human livers or culturing human liver cells under conditions which select for a human primitive hepatic stem cell. Proximal hepatic stem cells may be isolated by immunoselection, or by culturing human liver cells under conditions which include a developmental factor.

Abstract: Described herein are fragments of fibronectin and variants thereof that bind growth factors. Compositions containing such a fragment of fibronectin are therefore useful in sequestering growth factors, and complexes containing both a FN fragment and a bound, active growth factor can be used to deliver growth factors to a patient (e.g., to a wound on the patient's skin).

Abstract: A magnetic navigation control apparatus includes a sensing unit, a control unit and a magnetic field generating unit. The sensing unit generates a sensing signal according to the position of a magnetic element. The control unit is electrically connected with the sensing unit and generates a first control signal and a second control signal according to the sensing signal. The magnetic field generating unit is electrically connected with the control unit and has a housing, a plurality of interpoles, and a plurality of short poles. The interpoles are disposed in the housing. The short poles are disposed between the interpoles evenly. The magnetic field generating unit generates a navigation signal according to the first control signal, thereby controlling the magnetic element to move in at least one direction within a target region. The magnetic navigation control apparatus has greater magnetic navigation effects, and can thus reduce the cost.

Abstract: An electrode device for an electrochemical sensor chip includes an insulation sheet having an insulating property and including a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to each other in a thickness direction, and electrode members having a conductivity and held by the insulation sheet with the electrode members piercing the insulation sheet in a thickness direction, one ends of the electrode members located on the top surface side of the insulation sheet being connected to an analyte, the other ends located on the bottom surface side of the insulation sheet being connected to an electrodes of a transducer, at least the one ends of the electrode members being made of a mixture of conductive particles and an insulating material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for outputting high-frequency, high-power signals from low-frequency, low-power input is disclosed. The apparatus and method may provide a two-dimensional nonlinear lattice having a plurality of inductors and voltage-dependent capacitors intersecting at a plurality of nodes. Two or more adjacent boundaries of the nonlinear lattice may be provided with input signals which constructively interfere to output a signal of substantially higher amplitude and higher frequency than those of the input signals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing 2,3-dimethyl-2,3-dinitrobutane (DMNB), which includes the following steps: (1) making titanium-silicate molecular sieve catalyst, acetone, hydrogen peroxide and ammonia contact and react at 65-80° C. to obtain a modified titanium-silicate molecular sieve catalyst; and (2-1) making acetone oxime and hydrogen peroxide contact and react in the presence of the modified titanium-silicate molecular sieve catalyst and water under the conditions of temperature of 60-90° C. and pH of 8-10, and separating DMNB from the reaction products thereof; or (2-2) making acetone, ammonia and hydrogen peroxide contact and react in the presence of the modified titanium-silicate molecular sieve catalyst and water under the conditions of temperature of 60-90° C. and pH of 8-10, and separating DMNB from the reaction products thereof.

Abstract: A programmable switching circuit with charge pumps for a bio-stimulator is disclosed. A programmable controlling circuit generates a set of binary bits according to a controlling program and then uses a universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter for outputting to the pulse signal generating circuit so as to generate two pulse signals with the predetermined waveforms and different phases. Then, according to these two pulse signals with different phases, two charge pumps included in a charge pump regulating circuit output currents with specific voltage intensity through two output routes. The amplitude of the current is determined by the capacitor on each output route. Additionally, the programmable controlling circuit determines which route to be outputted so as to control and switch the polarities and current amplitude of a bio-stimulator.

Abstract: A rotating electrical machine abnormal state detection apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes: a current signal acquisition unit, coupled to a rotating electrical machine, for acquiring a set of real-time current waveforms from the rotating electrical machine; a state characteristic database, pre-storing a plurality of abnormal state characteristics which respectively correspond to a plurality of abnormal states; and an abnormal state detection unit, coupled to the current signal acquisition unit and the state characteristic database, for performing signal analysis on the set of real-time current waveforms to produce a current state characteristic, and comparing the current state characteristic with the abnormal state characteristics pre-stored in the state characteristic database to determine the abnormal state of the rotating electrical machine.

Abstract: A mouse with a humanization of the mIL-3 gene and the mGM-CSF gene, a knockout of a mRAG gene, and a knockout of a mII2rg subunit gene; and optionally a humanization of the TPO gene is described. A RAG/II2rg KO/hTPO knock-in mouse is described. A mouse engrafted with human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) that maintains a human immune cell (HIC) population derived from the HSCs and that is infectable by a human pathogen, e.g., S. typhi or M. tuberculosis is described. A mouse that models a human pathogen infection that is poorly modeled in mice is described, e.g., a mouse that models a human mycobacterial infection, wherein the mouse develops one or more granulomas comprising human immune cells. A mouse that comprises a human hematopoietic malignancy that originates from an early human hematopoietic cells is described, e.g., a myeloid leukemia or a myeloproliferative neoplasia.

Abstract: Novel N-heterocyclic carbene ligand precursors, N-heterocyclic carbene ligands and N-heterocyclic metal-carbene complexes are provided. Metal-carbene complexes comprising N-heterocyclic carbene ligands can be chiral, which are useful for catalyzing enantioselective synthesis. Methods for the preparation of the N-heterocyclic carbene ligands and N-heterocyclic metal-carbene complexes are given.

Abstract: A membrane micropump includes a vibration chamber, at least one flow guide, at least one fluid inlet, at least one fluid outlet, at least one inlet rectifier, at least one outlet rectifier, a vibration membrane and an actuator. The vibration chamber includes at least one chamber inlet and at least one chamber outlet. The flow guide can be connected to the chamber inlet, the vibration chamber, the chamber outlet or in the vibration chamber, or it can have more pairs to enhance the effects. The inlet rectifier connects the chamber inlet to the fluid inlet. The outlet rectifier connects the chamber outlet to the fluid outlet. The vibration membrane is disposed on the vibration chamber. The actuator is connected to the vibration membrane to reciprocate the vibration membrane, enabling fluid to flow into the vibration chamber via the fluid inlet and flow out thereof via the fluid outlet.

Abstract: Taught is a photonic crystal three-port circulator, which comprises a dielectric background material and a plurality of first air columns which are symmetrically arranged in the form of triangular lattice in the dielectric background material. The photonic crystal three-port circulator also comprises a magneto-optical cavity and three waveguides, wherein the magneto-optical cavity is arranged at the center of the photonic crystal three-port circulator; the three waveguides are symmetrically distributed around the magneto-optical cavity; and each waveguide comprises a waveguide port which is arranged at the position in the waveguide far away from the magneto-optical cavity. The photonic crystal three-port circulator realizes circular light transmission in single rotational direction from any one of the waveguide ports to another next to it, has a simple and compact structure, and can be easily integrated with other photonic crystal devices.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for inhibiting NF-?B activity in a subject, the method comprising providing an agent capable of inducing expression of annexin 1, whereby said agent induces expression of annexin 1 and whereby said induced expression of annexin 1 inhibits NF-?B activity. Also provided are annexin 1 mimetics capable of binding to NF-?B and pharmaceutical compositions of such inducing and mimetic agents.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for the diagnosis and prevention of B. abortus infection are provided.

Abstract: There is provided a novel series of synthetic analogs of hGH-RH(1-29)NH2 (SEQ ID NO: 1) and hGH-RH(1-30)NH2. Of particular interest are those carrying PhAc, N-Me-Aib, Dca, Ac-Ada, Fer, Ac-Amc, Me-NH-Sub, PhAc-Ada, Ac-Ada-D-Phe, Ac-Ada-Phe, Dca-Ada, Dca-Amc, Nac-Ada, Ada-Ada, or CH3—(CH2)10—CO-Ada, at the N-Terminus and ?-Ala, Amc, Apa, Ada, AE2A, AE4P, ?-Lys(?-NH2), Agm, Lys(Oct) or Ahx, at the C-terminus. These analogs inhibit the release of growth hormone from the pituitary in mammals as well as inhibit the proliferation of human cancers, and inhibit the hyperplastic and benign proliferative disorders of various organs, through a direct effect on the cancerous and non-malignant cells. The stronger inhibitory potencies of the new analogs, as compared to previously described ones, result from replacement of various amino acids.