Abstract: The present invention provides a use of a pure compound extracted from Antrodia camphorata in preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for controlling appetite, regulating metabolism of lipids and glucoses in peripheral tissues, alleviating a condition, or treating a disease such as metabolic syndrome, obesity, fatty liver, hyperinsulinemia, or type 2 diabetes. The pure compound comprises dehydroeburicoic acid (C31H48O3, TT).

Abstract: Provided is a method of treating metabolic diseases including type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, obesity, hepatic steatosis, and hyperinsulinemia in a subject in need, including the step of administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of antcin K. Also provided is a method of enhancing protein expression ratio of phospho-5? adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (phospho-AMPK) to total AMPK in skeletal muscle or liver of a subject, and a method of reducing blood leptin in a subject. Antcin K exerts prominent antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic effects through regulation of membrane GLUT4, AMPK, Akt PPAR?, FAS, and PPAR? protein expressions and G6Pase, DGAT2, SREBP-1c, aP2, apoCIII, SREBP2, and PPAR? mRNA expressions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating or preventing type 2 diabetes and hyperlipidemia in a subject in need thereof, comprising administrating to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula I. The present invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition for treatment or prevention of type 2 diabetes and hyperlipidemia, comprising a compound of formula I and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Through down-regulation of PEPCK, G6Pase, 11?-HSD1, DGAT2, and GPAT, up-regulation of PPAR? and adiponectin, and promotion of membrane GLUT4 expression and phosphorylation of AMPK and Akt, the compound of formula I of the present invention exerts antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic effects, including reduced weight of visceral fat, decreased blood levels of triglycerides, free fatty acids, glucose, insulin, and leptin as well as decreased hepatic levels of total lipid and triacylglycerol. The compound of formula I also inhibits adipocyte hypertrophy and hepatic ballooning.

Abstract: Provided is a method of treating metabolic diseases including type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, obesity, hepatic steatosis, and hyperinsulinemia in a subject in need, including the step of administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of antcin K. Also provided is a method of enhancing protein expression ratio of phospho-5? adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (phospho-AMPK) to total AMPK in skeletal muscle or liver of a subject, and a method of reducing blood leptin in a subject. Antcin K exerts prominent antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic effects through regulation of membrane GLUT4, AMPK, Akt PPAR?, FAS, and PPAR? protein expressions and G6Pase, DGAT2, SREBP-1c, aP2, apoCIII, SREBP2, and PPAR? mRNA expressions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating or preventing hyperlipidemia in a subject in need thereof. Such method includes, specifically, administrating to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a caffeamide derivative. The present invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition containing, primarily, the caffeamide derivative. The method and pharmaceutical composition of the present invention can effectively and significantly lower the high-fat diet-induced body weight gain and absolute visceral fat weight as well as the concentration of triglycerides and free fatty acids in blood, and levels of total lipid and triacylglycerol in liver tissue. In addition, the caffeamide of the present invention also reduces size of adipocyte, hepatocellular ballooning phenomenon, and liver steatosis.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating or preventing type 2 diabetes and hyperlipidemia in a subject in need thereof, comprising administrating to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula I. The present invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition for treatment or prevention of type 2 diabetes and hyperlipidemia, comprising a compound of formula I and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Through down-regulation of PEPCK, G6Pase, 11?-HSD1, DGAT2, and GPAT, up-regulation of PPAR? and adiponectin, and promotion of membrane GLUT4 expression and phosphorylation of AMPK and Akt, the compound of formula I of the present invention exerts antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic effects, including reduced weight of visceral fat, decreased blood levels of triglycerides, free fatty acids, glucose, insulin, and leptin as well as decreased hepatic levels of total lipid and triacylglycerol. The compound of formula I also inhibits adipocyte hypertrophy and hepatic ballooning.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for treating diabetes, hyperlipidemia or hepatic total lipids by using ergostatrien-3?-ol and its derivatives, as well as a method for decreasing blood glucose and HbA1c levels and reducing blood total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, whereas increasing blood HDL-C levels; and a method for decreasing hepatic total lipid and triacylglycerol levels; and increasing expression levels of membrane glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) and phospho-Akt in skeletal muscle tissue, and phospho-AMPK in both skeletal muscle and liver tissue using ergostatrien-3?-ol and its derivatives.

Abstract: Provided is a method for suppressing diabetes and/or hepatic lipids in a mammal to lower blood glucose levels and hepatic total lipids and triacylglycerol contents by increasing AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation in both skeletal muscle and liver tissue, and Akt phosphorylation and membraneprotein levels of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) in skeletal muscle. The method comprises administrating to the mammal an effective amount of tormentic acid or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for treating diabetes, hyperlipidemia or hepatic total lipids by using ergostatrien-3?-ol and its derivatives, as well as a method for decreasing blood glucose and HbA1c levels and reducing blood total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, whereas increasing blood HDL-C levels; and a method for decreasing hepatic total lipid and triacylglycerol levels; and increasing expression levels of membrane glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) and phospho-Akt in skeletal muscle tissue, and phospho-AMPK in both skeletal muscle and liver tissue using ergostatrien-3?-ol and its derivatives.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating or preventing hyperlipidemia in a subject in need thereof. Such method includes, specifically, administrating to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a caffeamide derivative. The present invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition containing, primarily, the caffeamide derivative. The method and pharmaceutical composition of the present invention can effectively and significantly lower the high-fat diet-induced body weight gain and absolute visceral fat weight as well as the concentration of triglycerides and free fatty acids in blood, and levels of total lipid and triacylglycerol in liver tissue. In addition, the caffeamide of the present invention also reduces size of adipocyte, hepatocellular ballooning phenomenon, and liver steatosis.

Abstract: A laser frequency converter includes a first substrate material forming a first planar surface that includes a first nonlinear material situated along a portion of the first planar surface of the first substrate material to perform a frequency conversion of a laser signal. The frequency converter includes a second substrate material forming a second planar surface and separated by a distance from the first planar surface of the first substrate material. The second substrate material includes a second nonlinear material situated along a portion of the second planar surface of the second substrate material to perform the frequency conversion of the laser signal in conjunction with the first non-linear material. The second nonlinear material is offset from the first nonlinear material along an axis of propagation for the laser signal.

Abstract: A laser frequency converter includes a first substrate material forming a first planar surface that includes a first nonlinear material situated along a portion of the first planar surface of the first substrate material to perform a frequency conversion of a laser signal. The frequency converter includes a second substrate material forming a second planar surface and separated by a distance from the first planar surface of the first substrate material. The second substrate material includes a second nonlinear material situated along a portion of the second planar surface of the second substrate material to perform the frequency conversion of the laser signal in conjunction with the first non-linear material. The second nonlinear material is offset from the first nonlinear material along an axis of propagation for the laser signal.

Abstract: A pulsed fiber array laser system that has actively stabilized coherent beam combination (CBC) is disclosed. The active stabilization is accomplished using both piston phase control and intra-pulse phase control, allowing a much greater increase in pulse energy. Further stabilization using intra-pulse amplitude control is also disclosed. A chirp profile can be written on the output pulse to enable specific applications. An amplitude profile of the amplifier array may optionally be tailored to match to a reference electrical pulse. Using the current invention, a much smaller number of amplifier chains will be needed to achieve certain pulse energy, resulting in a system with lower complexity, lower cost, smaller size, less weight, and higher reliability.

Abstract: A pulsed fiber array laser system that has actively stabilized coherent beam combination (CBC) is disclosed. The active stabilization is accomplished using both piston phase control and intra-pulse phase control, allowing a much greater increase in pulse energy. Further stabilization using intra-pulse amplitude control is also disclosed. A chirp profile can be written on the output pulse to enable specific applications. An amplitude profile of the amplifier array may optionally be tailored to match to a reference electrical pulse. Using the current invention, a much smaller number of amplifier chains will be needed to achieve certain pulse energy, resulting in a system with lower complexity, lower cost, smaller size, less weight, and higher reliability.

Abstract: Systems and methods for shifting the phase of incident light to induce a continuous phase variation in an azimuthal direction. A phase mask assembly has a first surface and a second surface. The first surface and the second surface are configured such that the distance between the first surface and the second surface varies continuously in an azimuthal direction around the phase mask. This mask can be used in a coronagraph system to effectively suppress the on-axis star image for the detection of off-axis planets.

Abstract: Systems and methods for attenuating light from undesired sources in a coronagraph apparatus are provided. The coronagraph includes a first imaging lens that receives light representing a desired image and an undesired central image and a reimaging system that mitigates the undesired central image. The reimaging system includes a composite half-wave plate assembly that includes a plurality of angular half-wave plate sections. Each of the plurality of angular half-wave plate sections have two congruent sides that meet at an apex substantially at a center of the composite half-wave plate. A characteristic c-axis associated with a given angular half-wave plate section is aligned differently from the respective characteristic c-axes of at least two angular half-wave plate sections in substantial contact with the two sides of the given angular half-wave plate section. A fixation element engages the half-wave plate sections to maintain the angular half-wave plate sections in a desired arrangement.

Abstract: A technique for generating very-high-order Hermite functions needed for accurately simulating operation of various devices and structures involving propagation of electromagnetic waves. By using modified recursion formulas, the technique generates asymptotic Hermite functions, smooth Hermite functions or optimized smooth Hermite functions, allowing for very high orders of the functions to be generated without the intermediate function values becoming so large as to exceed the capacity of conventional computers. The disclosed method for generating smooth Hermite functions provides for generation of well-behaved functions of order 30,000 or higher.

Abstract: Systems and methods for shifting the phase of incident light to induce a continuous phase variation in an azimuthal direction. A phase mask apparatus includes a conical mirror assembly and a flexible annular reflector that substantially surrounds at least a portion of the conical mirror assembly. The flexible annular reflector is configured to receive reflected light from the conical mirror assembly. A plurality of driver assemblies are operative to deform the flexible annular reflector as to produce the desired phase response in light reflected from the annular reflector.

Abstract: Systems and methods for shifting the phase of incident light to induce a continuous phase variation in an azimuthal direction. A phase mask apparatus includes a conical mirror assembly and a flexible annular reflector that substantially surrounds at least a portion of the conical mirror assembly. The flexible annular reflector is configured to receive reflected light from the conical mirror assembly. A plurality of driver assemblies are operative to deform the flexible annular reflector as to produce the desired phase response in light reflected from the annular reflector.

Abstract: Systems and methods for attenuating light from undesired sources in a coronagraph apparatus are provided. The coronagraph includes a first imaging lens that receives light representing a desired image and an undesired central image and a reimaging system that mitigates the undesired central image. The reimaging system includes a composite half-wave plate assembly that includes a plurality of angular half-wave plate sections. Each of the plurality of angular half-wave plate sections have two congruent sides that meet at an apex substantially at a center of the composite half-wave plate. A characteristic c-axis associated with a given angular half-wave plate section is aligned differently from the respective characteristic c-axes of at least two angular half-wave plate sections in substantial contact with the two sides of the given angular half-wave plate section. A fixation element engages the half-wave plate sections to maintain the angular half-wave plate sections in a desired arrangement.