Abstract: Compositions and methods for reducing inflammation in the central nervous system (CNS) of a mammal that has been subjected to a stroke, traumatic injury to the CNS such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury (SCI), or having an autoimmune or CNS disease have been developed. The compositions and methods described herein include antibodies that specifically bind to at least one component (e.g., ASC, NALP1) in a mammalian inflammasome (e.g., the NALP1 inflammasome) and have use as treatments for SCI, TBI, stroke, and autoimmune and CNS diseases in a mammal. In a rodent model of SCI, therapeutic neutralization of ASC using a polyclonal antibody that specifically binds to ASC inhibited the inflammasome, reduced caspase-1 activation, XIAP cleavage, and interleukin processing, resulting in significant tissue sparing and functional improvement. Additionally, in a rodent model of TBI, neutralization of ASC after TBI reduced caspase-1 activation and XIAP cleavage.

Abstract: Vaccines against prion disease eliciting a humoral immune response when administered mucosally are described. The vaccines comprise a prion protein, a prion protein fragment, or a non-amyloidogenic prion protein homolog and an adjuvant suitable for inducing a humoral immune response after mucosal administration. Suitable adjuvants include cholera toxin subunit B, heat-labile enterotoxin and aluminum hydroxide. Alternatively, the vaccine comprises a vector encoding a prion protein, fragment, or homolog in an attenuated Salmonella host. The vaccines can be used to prevent or treat prion disease in humans and other mammals.

Abstract: An advanced process control (APC) system, an APC method, and a computer program product, which, when executed, performs an APC method are provided for incorporating virtual metrology (VM) into APC. The present inventions uses a reliance index (RI) and a global similarity index (GSI) to adjust at least one controller gain of a run-to-run (R2R) controller when the VM value of a workpiece is adopted to replace the actual measurement value of the workpiece. The RI is used for gauging the reliability of the VM value, and the GSI is used for assessing the degree of similarity between the set of process data for generating the VM value and all the sets of historical process data used for building the conjecturing model.

Abstract: A typical data acquisition system takes periodic samples of a signal, image, or other data, often at the so-called Nyquist/Shannon sampling rate of two times the data bandwidth in order to ensure that no information is lost. In applications involving wideband signals, the Nyquist/Shannon sampling rate is very high, even though the signals may have a simple underlying structure. Recent developments in mathematics and signal processing have uncovered a solution to this Nyquist/Shannon sampling rate bottlenck for signals that are sparse or compressible in some representation. We demonstrate and reduce to practice methods to extract information directly from an analog or digital signal based on altering our notion of sampling to replace uniform time samples with more general linear functionals. One embodiment of our invention is a low-rate analog-to-information converter that can replace the high-rate analog-to-digital converter in certain applications involving wideband signals.

Abstract: This invention provides antibodies immunologically specific for human ARL-1 (also referred to AKR1B10), a species of the aldo-keto reductase superfamily of proteins. The invention also provides methods of making and methods of using said antibodies.

Abstract: A power module assembly includes a reactor core immersed in a coolant and a reactor vessel housing the coolant and the reactor core. An internal dry containment vessel submerged in liquid substantially surrounds the reactor vessel in a gaseous environment. During an over-pressurization event the reactor vessel is configured to release the coolant into the containment vessel and remove a decay heat of the reactor core through condensation of the coolant on an inner surface of the containment vessel.

Abstract: An odor compound release device includes a support that is deformed when an external stimulus is applied, and when the external stimulus is not applied, restored to its original state. A plurality of spaces are located in the support, have upper portions closed by the support, and are to be filled with odor compounds, wherein the upper portions are opened or closed by deformation or restoration of the support due to the application of the external stimulus. A member that is located in the support or on a surface of the support and applies the external stimulus to the support.

Abstract: A method for protecting a message or document. The method comprises encrypting the message using a first key associated with a first party; sending the encrypted message to a second party; encrypting the message using a second key associated with the second party, so that it is encrypted with two keys simultaneously; sending the encrypted message to the first party; decrypting the message using the first key; sending the message to the second party, the message being encrypted with the second key, and using the second key to decrypt the encrypted message, thereby exposing the original message.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving rich media content. A creator creates configuration information of each node formed in a hierarchical structure in a changeable format in which a driver can change the configuration information, and transmits content including the configuration information of each node to the driver. A driver receives the content, determines whether configuration information of each node formed in a hierarchical structure in the received content is created in the changeable format, reconfigures each node when the configuration information is created in the changeable format, and performs an application on the reconfigured node.

Abstract: Provided is a method for enhancing the production of polyhydroxyalkanoic acid (PHA) from microorganism strains by disrupting a gene associated with the production of an exobiopolymer (EBP) in the Pseudomonas strain to redirect the carbon flux toward the production of the polyhydroxyalkanoic acid, thereby enhancing the production of the polyhydroxyalkanoic acid.

Abstract: The invention relates to glutamine endopeptidase enzymes from Rothia spp. bacteria that are naturally associated with the oral cavity, formulations comprising the glutamine endopeptidase enzymes and the use thereof for the treatment, prevention of allergic reaction and diagnosis of gluten allergy related diseases such as Celiac Sprue, gluten allergy and/or dermatitis herpetiformis.

Abstract: An all-digital clock generator includes a digitally-controlled clock generator and a processing unit. The digitally-controlled clock generator generates a clock signal in response to an enable signal and a digital signal. The processing unit has a frequency multiplier and a reference signal having a period, digitizes the period to generate a quantized signal, generates the digital signal according to the quantized signal and the frequency multiplier, and generates the enable signal according to the reference signal, the clock signal and the frequency multiplier.

Abstract: Novel 3?-deoxy-3?-acylaminospectinomycin compounds are described. Also described are methods of using the 3?-deoxy-3-acylaminospectinomycin compounds and other spectinomycin analogs in treating tuberculosis and in treating microbial infections.

Abstract: The present invention is correlated with a derivative of 18?-glycyrrhetinic acid apt to suppressing cancer cells, which is selected from a group comprising of structure I and structure II: wherein residue R1 is selected from one of CH3 and CH2C6H5, residue R2 is selected from one of COOCH3, COOCH2CH3, COOCH(CH3)2, CONHCH2CH3, CONHCH2CH2CH3, and CONHCH2(CH3)2, and residue R3 is selected from one of COOCH2CH3, COOCH(CH3)2, CONHCH2CH3, CONHCH2CH2CH3, and CONHCH2(CH3)2.

Abstract: The present invention belongs to the technical field of semiconductor devices and specifically relates to a method for manufacturing a nanowire tunneling field effect transistor (TFET). In the method, the ZnO nanowire required is developed in a water bath without the need for high temperatures and high pressure, featuring a simple solution preparation, convenient development and low cost, as well as constituting MOS devices of vertical structure with nanowire directly, thus omitting the nanowire treatment in the subsequent stage. The present invention has the advantages of simple structure, convenient manufacturing, and low cost, and control of the nanowire channel developed and the MOSFET array with vertical structure made of it though the gate, so as to facilitate the manufacturing of large-scale MOSFET array directly.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods of expressing eukaryotic proteins in prokaryotic hosts, particularly eukaryotic proteins that require formation of disulfide bridges for biological activity. Various approaches are used including fusion to thioredoxin, cytoplasmic expression of disulfide isomerases, deficiencies in thioredoxin and/or glutathione reductases, deficiencies in proteases, and the like. The method is applicable to express monomeric and dimeric forms of the eukaryotic protein with biological activity such as monomeric and dimeric forms of a disintegrin or a disintegrin domain. Included are the vectors, host cells expressing the proteins, the expressed proteins and methods of using the proteins.

Abstract: Compounds having the general formula II, III, or IV wherein R1 can be a radical of an optionally substituted C-4 to C-7 N-containing heterocycle or a radical of an optionally substituted cyclic or acyclic tertiary amine or isoindoline-1,3-dione: R2,3,4,5,6 can each independently be any one or combinations of the following moieties, cyano, nitro, acyl, alkyl, amido, azido, isothiocyanate, isocyanate, optionally substituted anilino, halogens, ethers, sulfonamides, thioacyl, nitro, aromatic, heterocyclic, olefinic, acetylene, deuterium, or tritium; Y can be either CH, CH2, O, S, OCH2, N—R, N—Ar, C—R, C—Ar; Z can be either H, O, S, S—R or NR.

Abstract: Provided herein are Raman active particles and methods for their preparation and use. The particles can include a SERS-active material that is at least partially encased within a spherical porous hollow casing. In some embodiments, this can be especially advantageous when employed for water analysis and/or being employed in combination with silica particles.

Abstract: A method for coating for a substrate, comprising applying an underlayer of a self assembling monolayer well ordered array of long chain molecules on the substrate; and applying a top layer, over the underlayer, wherein the self-assembling monolayer well ordered array serves as a molecular template organizing formation of said top layer, comprising at least one of a thermally-resistant polymer layer over said self assembling monolayer selected from the group consisting of epoxies, and phosphorus-based polyimides; and a metal oxide, metal nitride, or a ceramic. The self assembling monolayer may be selectively applied to a portion of the substrate, leaving an uncoated region, and the top layer formed only over the areas of the substrate coated with the self-assembling monolayer, resulting in at least one region of the substrate which is not coated with the top layer.

Abstract: While gold wire grids have been used to polarize infrared wavelengths for over a hundred years, they are not appropriate for shorter wavelengths due to their large period. With embodiments of the present invention, grids with periods a few tens of nanometers can be fabricated. Among other things, such grids can be used to polarize visible and even ultraviolet light. As a result, such wire grid polarizers have a wide variety of applications and uses, such as, e.g., in the fabrication of semiconductors, nanolithography, and more.