Abstract: The invention provides nucleic acid therapeutics and methods for using these nucleic acid therapeutics in the treatment of complement-related disorders.

Abstract: Materials and methods are provided for producing and using aptamers useful as oncology therapeutics capable of binding to PDGF, PDGF isoforms, PDGF receptor, VEGF, and VEGF receptor or any combination thereof with great affinity and specificity. The compositions of the present invention are particularly useful in solid tumor therapy and can be used alone or in combination with known cytotoxic agents for the treatment of solid tumors. Also disclosed are aptamers having one or more CpG motifs embedded therein or appended thereto.

Abstract: An absorbent structure having a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, a z-direction axis normal to the longitudinal and lateral axes, longitudinally opposite ends and laterally opposite side edges. An upper surface of the absorbent structure has a three-dimensional topography relative to the longitudinal and lateral axes and defines a plurality of peaks and valleys of the upper surface relative to the z-direction. A lower surface of the absorbent structure has a three-dimensional topography relative to the longitudinal and lateral axes and defines a plurality of the peaks and valleys of the lower surface relative to the z-direction. The absorbent structure has a projected area as determined by a Topography Analysis Method, and the upper surface of the absorbent structure has a vertical area as determined by the Topography Analysis Method of at least about 0.1 cm2 per 1.0 cm2 projected area of the absorbent structure.

Abstract: A magnetron has an anode 3 surrounding a tubular hollow cathode 4 which contains a heater 9. The cathode is supported by radial arms at each end. At one end of the cathode, the heater is supplied with one terminal of its D.C. supply by means of a radial arm 5, which also serves to support that end of the cathode. The arm has a portion 5a offset towards the cathode, and a cover of conducting material is interposed between the heater connection and the adjacent end wall 1 of the vacuum envelope. The cover may have a folded portion so that it can be carried by the arm.

Abstract: Materials and methods are provided for producing and using aptamers useful as oncology therapeutics capable of binding to PDGF, PDGF isoforms, PDGF receptor, VEGF, and VEGF receptor or any combination thereof with great affinity and specificity. The compositions of the present invention are particularly useful in solid tumor therapy and can be used alone or in combination with known cytotoxic agents for the treatment of solid tumors. Also disclosed are aptamers having one or more CpG motifs embedded therein or appended thereto.

Abstract: A magnetron includes a cathode and a vacuum envelope in which the cathode extends. The vacuum envelope includes a portion extending radially relative to the axis of the cathode. A pair of electrically conducting support arms for supporting the cathode are in electrical connection with cathode supply terminals. The support arms have free ends connected to the cathode by leads. A wall extends across an area of the radially-extending portion. The wall is positioned along the radially-extending portion nearer to an end of the radially-extending portion that is adjacent to the cathode than to an end that is remote from the cathode and the support arms are mounted in the wall.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing plant material samples and a transfer station designed for use in such systems and methods. In one embodiment, the system includes a controller, a plant-material sampling device, and a transfer station. The plant-material sampling device is configured to communicate with the controller and to read an identifier of a plant. The sampling device also has a removable magazine, and is designed to take at least one plant sample from multiple plants, place such samples in the magazine, and track the identity of the plant from which each sample is taken. The transfer station is configured to hold, at multiple positions, multiple magazines and multiple trays such that the positions of the magazines are mirrored by the positions of the trays, read an identifier of each magazine, read an identifier of each tray, map storage locations for each one of the magazines to storage locations of one of the trays, and sequentially unload plant samples from the magazines to the trays.

Abstract: A bioreactor for growing organisms such as microalgae, includes a container having a parabolic cross section for carrying a culture medium for the organism. A generally triangular flow director in the bottom center of the container with a tube at its top end contains openings for directing fluid such as a growth medium under pressure upwardly into the culture medium to create laminar flow of the culture medium in counter rotating paths of travel on opposite sides of the flow director. Thus, thorough mixing of the culture medium and organism is achieved. The present invention provides a bioreactor system which ensures continuous, thorough mixing of organisms such as microalgae, growth medium and nutrients, and constant changing of the areas or zones of the biomass and movement to the available light, resulting in an enhanced growth environment for the organisms.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for deploying a configuration in a process control system wherein at least a portion of the configuration is deployed to a set of field devices. Initially the set of deployment packages are stored within a configuration storage. Thereafter, deployment is initiated on the set of deployment packages from the configuration storage. In response to the initiating deployment step, an automated cascaded deployment is commenced to the set of connected field devices. The automated cascaded deployment includes first deploying the sets of deployment packages to a set of control module assemblies. The method furthermore includes second deploying the received portions of the set of deployment packages to a set of I/O module assemblies. The set of I/O module assemblies maintain and pass the received sub-portions of the set of deployment packages to sets of field devices.

Abstract: Materials and methods of use thereof are presented for the treatment of diabetes and other diseases. Therapeutic compositions including regulated aptamer therapeutic compositions with specificity to components of diabetes disease are presented with methods of administering these therapeutic compositions.

Abstract: A mechanism for integrating print quality enhancement (PQE) and multi-bit halftone data is disclosed. A system of embodiments of the invention includes a print control unit communicably coupled to a printer, the print control unit operable to process received multi-bit input print data for printing by the printer;\. The system further comprises a PQE card communicably coupled with the printer, the PQE card configured to separate multi-bit text and line art input data from multi-bit halftone image input data in the multi-bit input print data, ignore any of the identified multi-bit halftone image input data for purposes of applying PQE technology to the identified multi-bit halftone image input data, and apply the PQE technology to the identified multi-bit text and line art input data. Lastly, the system includes a print head communicably coupled to the printer, the print head operable to print multi-bit output created by the PQE card.

Abstract: A system for providing online merchants with purchase propensity information is provided. The system includes a processor and a purchase propensity module executable by the processor. The purchase propensity module receives, from an online merchant computer, a message containing a customer identifier that identifies a customer who has established an online browsing session with the online merchant. In response, the purchase propensity module transmits to the online merchant computer purchase propensity data associated with the identified customer while the browsing session is in progress. This allows the online merchant computer to determine a targeted offer for the user while the user is in the online browsing session.

Abstract: A method is disclosed. The method includes receiving a print job, rasterizing the print job to produce rasterized data having a multi bit per pel print format, compressing the rasterized data into compressed data having a data section and a control section including compression control bits corresponding to each data value in the data section and transmitting the compressed data.

Abstract: The invention provides nucleic acid therapeutics and methods for using these nucleic acid therapeutics in the treatment of complement-related disorders.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the removal of oxygenates from a gaseous stream also comprising carbon dioxide, said process comprising: a) providing a first gaseous stream comprising one or more mono-olefin(s), at least 100 ppm (by weight) of one or more oxygenates and at least 0.1 wt % carbon dioxide, and b) treating the first gaseous stream to produce a second gaseous stream comprising one or more mono-olefin(s) and at least 0.1 wt % carbon dioxide with reduced oxygenate content, wherein said treating comprises contacting the first gaseous stream with a first aqueous stream and with a first liquid hydrocarbon stream, and c) subsequently treating the second gaseous stream to remove the carbon dioxide therein.

Abstract: The present invention provides stabilized, high affinity nucleic acid ligands to PSMA. Methods for the identification and preparation of novel, stable, high affinity ligands to PSMA using the SELEX™ method with 2?-O-methyl substituted nucleic acids, and cell surface SELEX™ are described herein. Also included are methods and compositions for the treatment and diagnosis of disease characterized by PSMA expression, using the described nucleic acid ligands.

Abstract: A system for managing wish list items from a plurality of online merchants is provided. The system includes a memory, processor and item management module executed by the processor. The memory stores data regarding the wish list items that have been selected by a user while browsing online merchant websites. The item management module has a receive-advice feature that sends an electronic message to user-selected contacts. The electronic message contains a request for feedback on one or more selected items of interest. When the contacts submit feedbacks, they are stored in the memory for viewing by the user.

Abstract: A miniature camera lens actuation apparatus comprises a support structure, a camera lens element supported on the support structure by a suspension system; and an SMA actuator connected between the support structure and the movable element to drive movement of the camera lens element. The control circuit may include a drive circuit and a sensor circuit which have separate electrical connections to the SMA actuator to reduce the impact of the resistance of the electrical connections on the sensing. The control circuit may vary the drive signal in response to a temperature signal indicative of the ambient temperature. An endstop limits movement to prevent extension of the SMA actuator in its unheated state beyond a maximum length which is at or below the length corresponding the local maximum resistance of the resistance-length curve. Control of position is effected using resistance of the SMA actuator as a measure of position.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method of authenticating an item by affixing an RFID chip to the item. In one embodiment, an authentication method comprises providing an RFID chip having a unique ID readable by a device; applying the chip to an item via an adhesive; associating the ID of the chip with the item at a first point in time; and at a second point in time later than the first point in time, authenticating the item by reading the ID of the chip applied to the item and comparing with the ID associated with the item at the first point in time. The RFID chip cannot be easily removed and preferably cannot be removed without visible evidence of tampering, more preferably without destroying the RFID chip so that the ID of the RFID chip cannot be read.

Abstract: A container wrap absorbs and/or collects condensation from the outside of a beverage container carrying a cold beverage, thereby reducing the inconvenience of the condensation. The wrap may include a sleeve and a base and may be foldable into a flat configuration such that it is easily stored yet easily opened for placement on a container. When opened, the base may be secured in a use configuration with an interference engagement between the base and an interior surface of the sleeve. The sleeve may have a frusto-conical shape so that a similarly shaped container is insertable into the wrap. An upper end of the sleeve may be configured to fit closely to the container around substantially the entire perimeter of the beverage container. A lower end of the sleeve may be configured to be separated from the perimeter of the beverage container.