Abstract: Methods and compositions relating to motor neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells of subjects having a neurodegenerative disease, where the motor neurons exhibit phenotypes characteristic of the neurodegenerative disease, are provided herein. In particular, the present invention provides methods for screening putative therapeutic agents and methods for diagnosing living subjects as having a neurodegenerative disease. In addition, the present invention provides therapeutic gene transfer methods for treating or preventing a neurodegenerative disease in a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound of formula I: a method for manufacturing the compounds of the invention, and its therapeutic uses. The present invention further provides a combination of pharmacologically active agents and a pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: A method for making a separator of a lithium ion battery is provided. In the method, a modifier, and a porous membrane are provided. The modifier is a mixture of a phosphorus source having a phosphate radical, a trivalent aluminum source, and a metallic oxide provided in a liquid phase solvent. The modifier is coated on a surface of the porous membrane to form a coating layer. The coated porous membrane is dried to form a modifier layer disposed on the surface of the porous membrane.

Abstract: Nanocomposite materials and methods of making composite materials reinforced with carbon nanotubes are disclosed. The composite material includes an array of functionalized and aligned carbon nanotubes having a degree of functionalization of about 1% to about 10%; and a polymeric matrix material bonded to the array of functionalized and aligned carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: A composite material for electromagnetic interference shielding is provided. The composite material comprises a stack including at least two electrically conductive nanoscale fiber films, which are spaced apart from one another by at least one insulating gap positioned between the at least two nanoscale fiber films. The stack is effective to provide a substantial multiple internal reflection effect. An electromagnetic interference shielded apparatus and a method for shielding an electrical circuit from electromagnetic interference is provided.

Abstract: A method is provided for functionalizing nanoscale fibers including reacting a plurality of nanoscale fibers with at least one epoxide monomer to chemically bond the at least one epoxide monomer to surfaces of the nanoscale fibers to form functionalized nanoscale fibers. Functionalized nanoscale fibers and nanoscale fiber films are also provided.

Abstract: A transmission-reflectance swappable Raman device and a method thereof are disclosed. The excitation light is selectively directed to the sample in one direction for generating the transmission Raman signal in transmission mode or in another direction for generating the reflectance Raman signal in reflectance mode. The content of an analyte in a sample can be determined by analyzing transmission and reflectance Raman signal.

Abstract: A method of differentiating embryonic stem cells into neural and motor cells is disclosed. In one embodiment, the invention comprises culturing a population of cells comprising a majority of cells that are characterized by an early rosette morphology and are Sox1?/Pax6+ in the presence of FGF2, FGF4, FGF8, FGF 9, or RA wherein the cells are characterized by an neural tube-like rosette morphology and are Pax6+/Sox1+.

Abstract: An inflatable display with dynamic lighting effect has an inflatable body, an air pump inflating the inflatable body, and a lighting assembly mounted inside the inflatable body for providing dynamic lighting variations. The lighting assembly has a light housing, a power supply, a lighting module, and a refracting module mounted in the light housing. The lighting module and the refracting module rotate relative to each other. As light beams emitted from the lighting module pass through the refracting module, the light beams are mixed and refracted. With relative rotation of the lighting module and the refracting module, the light beams can project outwards to further penetrate through the inflatable body at different angles covering a large area to form the dynamic lighting variations and to exhibit the dynamic lighting effect.

Abstract: A spotlight has a light base, a supporting base, a power supply, a motor, a lighting module, a multi-surface refractive lens and a beam-splitter lens light shade. The supporting base is connected with the light base. The power supply, the motor, the lighting module, and the multi-surface refractive lens are mounted in the light base. The lighting module has multiple light emitting diode units facing the multi-surface refractive lens. The multi-surface refractive lens is mounted around a motor shaft of the motor. The beam-splitter lens light shade is mounted on the light base and has multiple multi-angle refractive convex-lens bodies facing the multi-surface refractive lens.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound of formula I: a method for manufacturing the compounds of the invention, and its therapeutic uses. The present invention further provides a combination of pharmacologically active agents and a pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: A light string can include a power cord adapted to electrically connect to an external power source, and a plurality of light bulbs electrically connected to the power cord in series. At least one of the light bulbs can include: a lamp base defining a first inner surface, and having a first beam-splitter formed on the first inner surface; a circuit board mounted in the lamp base, the circuit board electrically connected to the power cord; a plurality of light-emitting diode (LED) units electrically mounted on the circuit board; a light shade capping the lamp base, the light shade defining a second inner surface and having a second beam-splitter formed on the second inner surface, wherein the first beam-splitter and second beam-splitter are contiguous; and a refractive lens mounted in the lamp base between the LED units and the first beam splitter.

Abstract: A rotary projector light can include a lamp case defining a hollow mounting chamber and having an open front end; a power supply located inside the lamp case, the power supply connected to a power cable adapted to connect to an external power source; a motor located inside the lamp case, the motor electrically connected to the power supply and having a spindle; a positioning seat mounted on the spindle; a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) elements located on the positioning seat, the LED elements electrically connected to the power supply; and a beam-splitting lens cover located on the open front end of the lamp case. The beam-splitting lens cover can have an inner surface with multiple convex lenses directed at multiple refraction angles.

Abstract: A spotlight has a light base, a supporting base, a power supply, a motor, a lighting module, a multi-surface refractive lens and a beam-splitter lens light shade. The supporting base is connected with the light base. The power supply, the motor, the lighting module, and the multi-surface refractive lens are mounted in the light base. The lighting module has multiple light emitting diode units facing the multi-surface refractive lens. The multi-surface refractive lens is mounted around a motor shaft of the motor. The beam-splitter lens light shade is mounted on the light base and has multiple multi-angle refractive convex-lens bodies facing the multi-surface refractive lens.

Abstract: A carbonization apparatus for coal with wide particle size distribution, a carbonization apparatus unit, and a carbonization method based on the apparatus. The apparatus comprises a char discharge outlet (1), a combustion heating chamber (3), a coal feeding inlet (5), and a pyrolysis gas exhausting pipe (4). Wherein, two partition plates between which a pyrolysis gas channel (2) is formed are further provided in the carbonization apparatus, and orifices are provided on the partition plates to form a gas flow path from the fuel bed to the pyrolysis gas channel (2). Further, another internal having good heat transfer performance and made of a material resistant to high temperature, is provided in this coal carbonization apparatus to enhance the heat transfer from the heated wall of the apparatus to the fuel bed inside the apparatus. With the pyrolysis gas channel in the carbonization reaction apparatus, the gaseous products generated from coal pyrolysis are enabled to flow out timely.

Abstract: A flexible LED light string includes a power control assembly and at least one light strip, wherein the power control assembly uses a main connector for screwing to a front connector of the at least one light strip. The strip further has a rear connector for screwing to another light strip sequentially connected. By screwing the rear and front connectors of two adjacent light strips, forming a decorative light string with a required length is relatively easy and fast. Waterproof elements may be provided between two assembled connectors to improve sealing effect.

Abstract: In one embodiment, active links are added to, and removed from, a multichassis link bundle with one side of the multichassis link bundle terminated on multiple devices of a multichassis device. In one embodiment, adding active links includes selecting which particular device to which to add an active link to the multichassis link bundle based on a device priority of each of the multiple devices, with a device priority of a given device being based on a current number of active links associated with the given device.

Abstract: Methods of efficiently converting primate pluripotent stem cells to GABA neurons or cholinergic neurons, as well as applications thereof, are disclosed.

Abstract: A transcription factor both necessary and sufficient for human neuroectoderm specification, Pax6, as well as applications thereof, is disclosed.

Abstract: A Raman signal detection and analyzing system and a method thereof are disclosed. The Raman signal is generated by emitting an excitation light to a sample. The Raman signal is then modulated by passing through a plurality of optical filter and modulator. The resulting modulated Raman signal comprises two orthogonal components, which intensities are to be computed based on the first harmonic of said modulated Raman signal. The content of a specific analyte within the sample can then be determined based on the ratio of the intensities of the two components.