Abstract: It is demonstrated that alpha synculein toxicity such as ?-synuclein mediated cell death, and alpha synuclein induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) in a cell requires proapoptotic endonuclease G and that the deletion of the endonuclease G or suppressing of the endonuclease G apoptotic pathway attenuates or counteracts such alpha synuclein toxicity. In view of these observations, compositions and methods for inhibition of ?-synuclein toxicity are provided. The inhibiting ?-synuclein toxicity can be used in methods for the treatment of synucleinopathies, such as Parkinsons disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), pure autonomic failure (PAF), and multiple system atroypy (MSA) and the manufacture of medicaments for such treatment.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a negative-electrode active material for lithium-ion secondary battery, negative-electrode active material which makes it possible for lithium-ion secondary batteries to exhibit higher capacities, and which makes it feasible to charge and discharge lithium-ion secondary batteries at a faster speed. In a production process according to the present invention, oxidized titanium fluoride is obtained by heating a mixed raw material, which includes a mixture of anatase-type TiO2 and hydrofluoric acid, at 70° C. or more (i.e., a heating step). This mixed raw material includes hydrogen fluoride in an amount exceeding 2 mol per the anatase-type TiO2 making 1 mol. When the oxidized titanium fluoride, which is obtained by this production process, is used as a negative-electrode active material of lithium-ion secondary battery, high-capacity and rapidly-chargeable/dischargeable lithium-ion secondary batteries are obtainable.

Abstract: Devices and systems for power electronic circuits are provided. Embodiments of the present invention enable high density inductive energy storage by using electromechanical coupling between an electrically conducting inductive element and a mechanical resonator to passively store energy via both electromagnetic and mechanical mechanisms. A microelectromechanical inductor (MEMI) is provided utilizing a magnet and a conductor. In a specific embodiment, the MEMI includes a permanent magnet on a compliant layer centrally disposed within a spiral coil. In a further embodiment, a second coil is provided near the magnet to provide a resonating transducer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to active robotic gait training system and method which enables more active gait training based on remaining gait ability of patients with gait disorders by estimating the gait cycle through measurement of slope of the lower leg, operating the hip joint and the knee joint by an actuator depending on the gait cycle and operating the ankle joint by functional electric stimulation (FES). The robotic gait training system contains the femoral support unit, the hip joint support unit and the lower leg support unit.

Abstract: A system for location-based construction project management includes a design information storage section for storing a 2D plot or a 3D model of a building, a work place code storing means, being deployed at each work place of the building, and for storing location information of the work place, a wireless terminal being provided with local information of the work place and location information in addition to the work place code storing means, a work place mapping section for mapping the location information and a locational numeric data of the work place within the 2D plot or the 3D model stored in the design information storage section and a construction information storage section for storing the local information being provided into the wireless terminal, as linked with the locational numeric data mapped by the work place mapping section.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a delta-5 desaturase-defective gene and uses of the gene and/or the mutant in algal transformation.

Abstract: Provided is a method of forming a gate insulating film for use in a MOSFET for a power device. An AlN film is formed on a SiC substrate of a wafer W and then the formation of an AlO film and the formation of an AlN film on the formed AlO film are repeated, thereby forming an AlON film having a laminated structure in which AlO films and AlN films are alternately laminated. A heat treatment is performed on the AlON film having the laminated structure.

Abstract: A lithium battery, including an anode, a cathode, an electrolyte solution and a package structure. The anode includes a material having an oxygen-containing functional group. The cathode and the anode are configured separately, and a housing region is defined between the cathode and the anode. The electrolyte solution is disposed in the housing region, and the electrolyte solution includes water and an additive. The package structure covers the anode, the cathode and the electrolyte solution.

Abstract: Provided herein are Salmonella enteritidis 13A strains and compositions comprising these strains. Also provided are methods of enhancing an immune response against Influenza A and methods of reducing morbidity associated with an Influenza A infection. Methods of enhancing an immune response to a vaccine vector by expressing a polypeptide of CD154 capable of binding CD40 are also disclosed. Methods of developing a bacterial vaccine vector are disclosed. Methods of generating scarless site-specific mutations in a bacterium are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and devices for locating a plurality of interested objects in CT imaging. Location of the interested objects in the three-dimensional space can be determined by using three projection images that are substantially perpendicular to each other. The method can rapidly locate interested objects in a CT image without pre-reconstruction of the CT image even if there are a plurality of interested objects in the field of view. The algorithm does not involve interactive steps. The method is rapid and effective, and thus applicable to industrial applications.

Abstract: The application relates to a composition comprising: a stably integrating delivery vector; a modified mammalian thymidylate kinase (tmpk) wherein the modified mammalian tmpk increases phosphorylation of a prodrug relative to phosophorylation of the prodrug by wild-type human tmpk; and a detection cassette fused to tmpk. The application also relates to use of these compositions in methods of treatment of diseases such as graft versus host disease and cancer.

Abstract: Provided is a gel-forming agent that is easy to prepare and has all the properties including high safety for the living body and the environment, satisfactory gel-forming capability, comfortable feeling upon use, and good handleability. The gel-forming agent includes a lecithin, and a polyglycerol fatty acid ester in an amount of from 30 to 150 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the lecithin. The polyglycerol fatty acid ester has a fatty acid residue having 14 or less carbon atoms, has an HLB of 15 or more as determined based on an organic conceptual diagram, and has a degree of glycerol polymerization of from 8 to 40.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of inhibiting the growth of a shoot apical meristem of a cucurbit rootstock plant, comprising contacting a shoot apical meristem of the cucurbit rootstock plant with an effective amount of a composition comprising one or more fatty alcohols, thereby inhibiting the growth of the shoot apical meristem of the cucurbit rootstock plant. The present invention further provides methods for preparing and producing cucurbit rootstock plants for grafting and methods for grafting. Additionally provided are cucurbit rootstock plants and plant parts and grafted cucurbit plants produced by the methods of the invention.

Abstract: There is disclosed a piezoelectric droplet maker that is driven at high frequency and energized with high power and high frequency Operational Amplifier (OP-AMP) electronics. The droplet maker implements a method of producing jets of uniform droplets of solution precursors (or any other homogeneous liquids). The formation of droplets results from stream break up due to the disturbance of liquid jets by the piezo actuator as they leave an orifice. This disturbance can be electronically tuned to produce uniform droplets with high repeatability. In another aspect, the droplet maker can be used to inject axially uniform diameter solution precursor droplets into process gas flow of a microwave plasma apparatus.

Abstract: A semiconductor epitaxial structure is provided. The semiconductor epitaxial structure includes a substrate, a doped semiconductor epitaxial layer, and a carbon nanotube layer. The doped semiconductor epitaxial layer is located on the substrate. The carbon nanotube layer is located between the substrate and the doped semiconductor epitaxial layer. The carbon nanotube layer can be a carbon nanotube film drawn from a carbon nanotube array and including a number of successive and oriented carbon nanotubes joined end-to-end by van der Waals attractive force therebetween.

Abstract: The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The present invention is also directed to a method of treating a genetic disease caused by premature termination codons, or other conditions that render messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) susceptible to nonsense mediated RNA decay, in a subject. Also disclosed is a method of inhibiting nonsense mediated RNA decay and/or induction of autophagy. The present invention also relates to a method of identifying inhibitors of nonsense mediated RNA decay and/or inducing autophagy. The present invention further relates to a method of inhibiting nonsense mediated RNA decay and/or induction of autophagy in a subject.

Abstract: The invention relates to ecosustainable and biocompatible, low cost, ambient friendly electronic and optoelectronic devices, such as transistors and light-emitting transistors, made with silk fibroin or blended with other biopolymers, methods for fabrication and methods of using the silk-based electronics and optoelectronics. The silk-based electronics and optoelectronics can be implanted in vivo and in vitro for biomedical applications, such as for drug discovery or drug screening assays and devices. The silk-based devices may be used in the food industry and embedded in packaging for tracking and sensing, for security purposes or exploited as disposable not harmful for the environment efficient general electronic and optoelectronic devices.

Abstract: An availability prediction apparatus includes an access section that accesses a storage section and a prediction section. The storage section stores availability specified periods occurred before a present time associated with respective frequencies of the availability specified periods, and the access section acquires the availability specified periods from the storage section. The prediction section predicts at least one target availability specified period within a prediction term, which begins at the present time and ends at a time later than the present time by a predetermined term. The prediction section includes a correlating section that correlates the availability specified periods with candidate periods included in the prediction term, and a selection section that specifies and selects one of the candidate periods having a highest occurrence probability as the target availability specified period.

Abstract: Analogs of largazole are described herein. Methods of treating cancer and blood disorders using largazole and largazole analogs and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same are additionally described herein. Methods for preparing largazole analogs are likewise described.

Abstract: The synthesis of nanostructures uses a catalyst that may be in the form of a thin film layer on a substrate. Precursor compounds are selected for low boiling point or already exist in gaseous form. Nanostructures are capable of synthesis with a masked substrate to form patterned nanostructure growth. The techniques further include forming metal nanoparticles with sizes <10 nm and with a narrow size distribution. Metallic nanoparticles have been shown to possess enhanced catalytic properties. The process may include plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition to deposit Ni, Pt, and/or Au nanoparticles onto the surfaces of SiO2, SiC, and GaN nanowires. A nanostructure sample can be coated with metallic nanoparticles in approximately 5-7 minutes. The size of the nanoparticles can be controlled through appropriate control of temperature and pressure during the process. The coated nanowires have application as gas and aqueous sensors and hydrogen storage.