Abstract: A wavelet coefficient quantization method using a human visual model in an image compression process is provided, which is particularly suitable for remote sensing image compression. A wavelet-domain visual quantization model is obtained through experiments based on human visual characteristics, so as to reflect the relation between distortion of wavelet coefficient blocks and human visual characteristics. The model includes a luminance component, a masking component and a frequency component, where the luminance component is calculated by low frequency coefficients after the kth level wavelet transform, the masking component is calculated by high frequency coefficients of the second and third levels, and the frequency component is calculated by a statistical method. The method may be used in combination with any mainstream wavelet compression method such as EZW, SPIHT or EBCOT.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for manufacturing an aperture plate includes depositing a releasable seed layer above a substrate, applying a first patterned photolithography mask above the releasable seed layer, the first patterned photolithography mask having a negative pattern to a desired aperture pattern, electroplating a first material above the exposed portions of the releasable seed layer and defined by the first mask, applying a second photolithography mask above the first material, the second photolithography mask having a negative pattern to a first cavity, electroplating a second material above the exposed portions of the first material and defined by the second mask, removing both masks, and etching the releasable seed layer to release the first material and the second material. The first and second material form an aperture plate for use in aerosolizing a liquid. Other aperture plates and methods of producing aperture plates are described according to other embodiments.

Abstract: The invention relates to compounds that specifically bind a T1R1/T1R3 or T1R2/T1R3 receptor or fragments or sub-units thereof. The present invention also relates to the use of hetero-oligomeric and chimeric taste receptors comprising T1R1/T1R3 and T1R2/T1R3 in assays to identify compounds that respectively respond to umami taste stimuli and sweet taste stimuli. Further, the invention relates to the constitutive of cell lines that stably or transiently co-express a combination of T1R1 and T1R3; or T1R2 and T1R3; under constitutive or inducible conditions. The use of these cells lines in cell-based assays to identify umami and sweet taste modulatory compounds is also provided, particularly high throughput screening assays that detect receptor activity by use of fluorometric imaging.

Abstract: A crimp terminal (10) has a connecting portion (12) that is conductively connected to an electrical connection target, a crimp portion (14) that is fixed by crimping to a core (52) of a coated wire (50), and a link (16) extending between the connecting portion (12) and the crimp portion (14). Positioning protrusions (44) protrude out from both lateral sides of the link (16) in a width direction orthogonal to an extension direction of the link (16).

Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery that the T1R receptors assemble to form functional taste receptors. Particularly, it has been discovered that co-expression of T1R1 and T1R3 results in a taste receptor that responds to umami taste stimuli, including monosodium glutamate. Also, it has been discovered that co-expression of the T1R2 and T1R3 receptors results in a taste receptor that responds to sweet taste stimuli including naturally occurring and artificial sweeteners. Also the present invention relates to the use of hetero-oligomeric taste receptors comprising T1R1/T1R3 and T1R2/T1R3 in assays to identify compounds that respectively respond to umami taste stimuli and sweet taste stimuli.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery that the T1R receptors assemble to form functional taste receptors. Particularly, it has been discovered that co-expression of T1R 1 and T1R3 results in a taste receptor that responds to umami taste stimuli, including monosodium glutamate. Also, it has been discovered that co-expression of the T1R2 and T1R3 receptors results in a taste receptor that responds to sweet taste stimuli including naturally occurring and artificial sweeteners. Finally, the invention relates to the discovery that some compounds, e.g., lactisole, inhibit both the activities of human T1R2/T1R3 and T1R1/T1R3 receptors, and accordingly the sweet and umami taste, suggesting that these receptors may be the only sweet and umami receptors.

Abstract: A wavelet coefficient quantization method using a human visual model in an image compression process is provided, which is particularly suitable for remote sensing image compression. A wavelet-domain visual quantization model is obtained through experiments based on human visual characteristics, so as to reflect the relation between distortion of wavelet coefficient blocks and human visual characteristics. The model includes a luminance component, a masking component and a frequency component, where the luminance component is calculated by low frequency coefficients after the kth level wavelet transform, the masking component is calculated by high frequency coefficients of the second and third levels, and the frequency component is calculated by a statistical method. The method may be used in combination with any mainstream wavelet compression method such as EZW, SPIHT or EBCOT.

Abstract: Polymerization process for preparing mono-disperse organic/inorganic nanocomposite microspheres in the field of nano technology is disclosed. The process comprises preparing of two different miniemulsion systems of A with inorganic nanoparticles and B with polymeric monomers in advance; adding water-soluble initiator into miniemulsion A, stirring till complete dissolution finally, heating the mixed system to a given temperature for isothermal reaction. The grain size of the as-prepared superparamagnetic Fe3O4/polystyrene using to present invention is homogeneous and controllable, and the magnetic particles content is controllable.

Abstract: Newly identified mammalian taste-cell-specific G protein-coupled receptors which function as hetero-oligomeric complexes in the sweet taste transduction pathway, and the genes and cDNA encoding said receptors are described. Specifically, T1R G protein-coupled receptors active in sweet taste signaling as hetero-oligomeric complexes, and the genes and cDNA encoding the same, are described, along with methods for isolating such genes and for isolating and expressing such receptors. Methods for identifying putative taste modulating compounds using such hetero-oligomeric complexes also described, as is a novel surface expression facilitating peptide useful for targeting integral plasma membrane proteins to the surface of a cell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery that specific human taste receptors in the T2R taste receptor family respond to particular bitter compounds. The invention further relates to the use of these receptors in assays for identifying ligands that modulate the activation of these taste receptors by these bitter ligands and related compounds and which may be used as additives and/or removed from foods, beverages, cosmetics and medicinals in order to modify (block) T2R-associated bitter taste.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery that specific human taste receptors in the T2R taste receptor family respond to particular bitter compounds present in, e.g., coffee. Also, the invention relates to the discovery of specific compounds and compositions containing that function as bitter taste blockers and the use thereof as bitter taste blockers or flavor modulators in, e.g., coffee and coffee flavored foods, beverages and medicaments. Also, the present invention relates to the discovery of a compound that antagonizes numerous different human T2Rs and the use thereof in assays and as a bitter taste blocker in compositions for ingestion by humans and animals.

Abstract: A multi-purpose reagent composition is used for simultaneously determining concentrations of at least two analytes in a water sample. The two analytes are selected from the group consisting of free chlorine, pH, anionic polymer, and phosphates. In one embodiment, the multi-purpose reagent composition is for simultaneously determining the concentration of free chlorine and pH and comprises a free chlorine sensitive dye and pH indicator. In another embodiment, the reagent composition is for simultaneously determining of free chlorine and anionic polymer and includes a free chlorine sensitive dye, a pH buffer, cationic dye, and organic co-solvent. Thus, the pairs of free chlorine and pH or free chlorine and anionic polymer are determined using a single reagent composition. The reagent composition can also be the main reagent for one analyte analysis when it is used alone and also function as an ancillary reagent when it is combined with a second reagent composition for the determination of another analyte.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery that the T1R receptors assemble to form functional taste receptors. Particularly, it has been discovered that co-expression of T1R1 and T1R3 results in a taste receptor that responds to umami taste stimuli, including monosodium glutamate. Also, it has been discovered that co-expression of the T1R2 and T1R3 receptors results in a taste receptor that responds to sweet taste stimuli including naturally occurring and artificial sweeteners. Also the present invention relates to the use of hetero-oligomeric taste receptors comprising T1R1/T1R3 and T1R2/T1R3 in assays to identify compounds that respectively respond to umami taste stimuli and sweet taste stimuli.

Abstract: The invention relates to compounds that specifically bind a T1R1/T1R3 or T1R2/T1R3 receptor or fragments or sub-units thereof. The present invention also relates to the use of hetero-oligomeric and chimeric taste receptors comprising T1R1/T1R3 and T1R2/T1R3 in assays to identify compounds that respectively respond to umami taste stimuli and sweet taste stimuli. Further, the invention relates to the constitutive of cell lines that stably or transiently co-express a combination of T1R1 and T1R3; or T1R2 and T1R3; under constitutive or inducible conditions. The use of these cells lines in cell-based assays to identify umami and sweet taste modulatory compounds is also provided, particularly high throughput screening assays that detect receptor activity by use of fluorometric imaging.

Abstract: The invention relates to compounds that specifically bind a T1R1/T1R3 or T1R2/T1R3 receptor or fragments or sub-units thereof. The present invention also relates to the use of hetero-oligomeric and chimeric taste receptors comprising T1R1/T1R3 and T1R2/T1R3 in assays to identify compounds that respectively respond to umami taste stimuli and sweet taste stimuli. Further, the invention relates to the constitutive of cell lines that stably or transiently co-express a combination of T11 and T1R3; or T1R2 and T1R3; under constitutive or inducible conditions. The use of these cells lines in cell-based assays to identify umami and sweet taste modulatory compounds is also provided, particularly high throughput screening assays that detect receptor activity by use of fluorometric imaging.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated nucleic acid sequences that encode human olfactory cyclic nucleotide gated (CNG) channel subunits, and the corresponding polypeptides. The invention further relates to the use of human CNG channels to profile, screen for, and identify compounds that modulate the human olfactory CNG channel. More specifically, the invention relates to the expression of the human olfactory CNG channel in cells, preferably mammalian cells, and the use of these cells in high throughput cell-based assays to identify compounds that enhance or block human olfactory CNG function. Compounds that activate the olfactory CNG channel will enhance smell and can be used to make foods more palatable for individuals with attenuated olfactory function. Conversely, compounds that inhibit the olfactory CNG channel will inhibit smell and can be use to block malodors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery that the T1R receptors assemble to form functional taste receptors. Particularly, it has been discovered that co-expression of T1R1 and T1R3 results in a taste receptor that responds to umami taste stimuli, including monosodium glutamate. Also, it has been discovered that co-expression of the T1R2 and T1R3 receptors results in a taste receptor that responds to sweet taste stimuli including naturally occurring and artificial sweeteners. Also the present invention relates to the use of hetero-oligomeric taste receptors comprising T1R1/T1R3 and T1R2/T1R3 in assays to identify compounds that respectively respond to umami taste stimuli and sweet taste stimuli.

Abstract: The DEFT methodology, system and computer readable medium extends the applicability of the PRA (Probabilistic Risk Assessment) methodology to computer-based systems, by allowing DFT (Dynamic Fault Tree) nodes as pivot nodes in the Event Tree (ET) model. DEFT includes a mathematical model and solution algorithm, supports all common PRA analysis functions and cutsets. Additional capabilities enabled by the DFT include modularization, phased mission analysis, sequence dependencies, and imperfect coverage.

Abstract: Measuring the concentration of an analyte in an aqueous solution by obtaining an aqueous solution containing an analyte, providing a cyanine indicator, placing the aqueous solution in fluid communication with the cyanine indicator, measuring a detectable property change of the cyanine indicator, and comparing the detectable property change of the cyanine indicator with a calibration curve of the detectable property change of samples containing known concentrations of the analyte. The concentration of the analyte is determined using the detectable property change that is proportional to the concentration of the analyte in the aqueous solution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery that the T1R receptors assemble to form functional taste receptors. Particularly, it has been discovered that co-expression of T1R1 and T1R3 results in a taste receptor that responds to umami taste stimuli, including monosodium glutamate. Also, it has been discovered that co-expression of the T1R2 and T1R3 receptors results in a taste receptor that responds to sweet taste stimuli including naturally occurring and artificial sweeteners. Also the present invention relates to the use of hetero-oligomeric taste receptors comprising T1R1/T1R3 and T1R2/T1R3 in assays to identify compounds that respectively respond to umami taste stimuli and sweet taste stimuli. Further, the invention relates to the constitutive of cell lines that stably or transiently co-express a combination of T1R1 and T1R3; or T1R2 and T1R3; under constitutive or inducible conditions.