Abstract: Compositions comprising extracts prepared from mixtures of the herbal plants Radix Bupleurum chinense DC (“B”), Rhizoma Corydalis yanhusuo WT Wang (“Y”), Caulis Polygonum multiflorum Thunb (“P”) and Flos Albizia julibrissin Durazz (“A”) are provided. The BYP, BYA, BPA, BY, BP, YP and BYPA extracts significantly decreased one or more of the effects of accelerated aging in mice exposed to D-galactose, including spatial memory deficit, and elevated oxidative stress marker malondialdehyde and pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-6 in the brain, indicating efficacy in reducing the damage of aging, and preventing and treating Alzheimer's disease and/or Parkinson's disease. Anxiolysis by the BYA, BPA, YPA, BA and PA extracts indicates efficacy for treating anxiety disorders, and the sedative effect of the BYA, YPA and PA extracts indicates efficacy for treating sleep disorders.

Abstract: A dispersed mobile-phase countercurrent chromatography system is described in which solutes are carried by a stream of dispersed mobile phase solvent through a column, or array of serially-connected columns, of stationary phase solvent with which the mobile phase solvent is immiscible. Solutes carried along by the stream of dispersed mobile-phase solvent will be equilibrated between the mobile-phase solvent and the stationary-phase solvent. Because the mobile-phase is dispersed into mini-droplets much smaller in diameter than the column of stationary phase, the enhanced surface/volume ratio of the droplets expedites countercurrent equilibration of different solutes between the mobile-phase solvent and the stationary-phase solvent in accordance with the distribution-coefficients of the solutes between the two solvents.

Abstract: Zwitterionic crosslinking agents, crosslinked zwitterionic hydrogels prepared from copolymerization of zwitterionic monomers with the zwitterionic crosslinking agent, methods for making crosslinked zwitterionic hydrogels, and devices that include and methods that use the crosslinked zwitterionic hydrogels.

Abstract: Marine coatings including cationic polymers hydrolyzable to nonfouling zwitterionic polymers, coated marine surfaces, and methods for making and using the marine coatings.

Abstract: In this invention, prediction on the predisposition of a human test subject to cancer is made based on machine learning-assisted comparison of the copy number variations (“CNV”) found in the constitutional DNA of the test subject with a set of diagnostic recurrent CNV features (viz. markers) selected from a collection of constitutional DNA samples from noncancer subjects (designated as “Noncancer DNA” samples) plus constitutional DNA samples from cancer patients (designated as “Cancer DNA” samples), all from the same ethnic group as the test subject. Selection and testing of the set of diagnostic recurrent CNV features is performed using a machine learning procedure, exemplified by the CFS-based method, the Frequency-based method and the Classifier-based method, together with the Naïve Bayes classification method. Prediction of the test subject's predisposition to cancer is also performed with the Naïve Bayes classification method.

Abstract: HEMA-compatible siloxane monomers are described that can be used to manufacture contact lenses that combine the attributes of HEMA-based contact lenses with the high oxygen permeability of silicone hydrogel lenses. Optically clear silicone hydrogel contact lens can be manufactured that comprise a polymeric lens body that is the reaction product of a polymerizable composition comprising: a) at least 25 wt. % of at least one hydroxyalkyl methacrylate; and b) at least 20 wt. % of at least one HEMA-compatible polysiloxane.

Abstract: HEMA-compatible siloxane monomers are described that can be used to manufacture contact lenses that combine the attributes of HEMA-based contact lenses with the high oxygen permeability of silicone hydrogel lenses. Optically clear silicone hydrogel contact lens can be manufactured that comprise a polymeric lens body that is the reaction product of a polymerizable composition comprising: a) at least 25 wt. % of at least one hydroxyalkyl methacrylate; and b) at least 20 wt. % of at least one HEMA-compatible polysiloxane.

Abstract: Zwitterionic crosslinking agents, crosslinked zwitterionic hydrogels prepared from copolymerization of zwitterionic monomers with the zwitterionic crosslinking agent, methods for making crosslinked zwitterionic hydrogels, and devices that include and methods that use the crosslinked zwitterionic hydrogels.

Abstract: Marine coatings including cationic polymers hydrolyzable to nonfouling zwitterionic polymers, coated marine surfaces, and methods for making and using the marine coatings.

Abstract: Silicone hydrogel contact lenses comprising an ionic component sustain release of beneficial cationic polymers.

Abstract: Miscible polymerizable compositions comprising at least one primary amine-containing methacrylate monomer, or at least one primary amine-containing methacrylamide monomer, in addition to 20-80 wt. % siloxane monomer, 20-80 wt. % hydrophilic monomer, cross-linking agent, and polymerization initiator, are described. These polymerizable compositions can be used to form silicone hydrogel contact lenses, and in methods of manufacturing silicone hydrogel contact lenses.

Abstract: Zwitterionic crosslinking agents, crosslinked zwitterionic hydrogels prepared from copolymerization of zwitterionic monomers with the zwitterionic crosslinking agent, methods for making crosslinked zwitterionic hydrogels, and devices that include and methods that use the crosslinked zwitterionic hydrogels.

Abstract: Miscible polymerizable compositions comprising at least one primary amine-containing methacrylate monomer, or at least one primary amine-containing methacrylamide monomer, in addition to 20-80 wt. % siloxane monomer, 20-80 wt. % hydrophilic monomer, cross-linking agent, and polymerization initiator, are described. These polymerizable compositions can be used to form silicone hydrogel contact lenses, and in methods of manufacturing silicone hydrogel contact lenses.

Abstract: Zwitterionic polymers having adhesive groups, methods for making the polymers, surfaces having the polymers grafted thereto and grafted therefrom, and methods for making and using the polymer-modified surfaces.

Abstract: A brushless motor has a stator and a rotor. The stator has a stator core and stator windings. The stator core has a stator yoke and teeth extending radially inwardly from the stator yoke. The stator windings are formed by concentrated coils wound on the teeth. The rotor has a rotor shaft, a rotor core fixed to the rotor shaft and magnets fixed in slots formed in the rotor core. Each magnet is plate shaped and extends in both axial and radial directions of the rotor and each magnet is magnetically charged across its thickness so that a rotor pole is formed between two adjacent magnets. The ratio of the radial thickness (Y) of the stator yoke to the width (T) of the tooth body is from 0.4 to 0.7.

Abstract: Zwitterionic polymer and mixed charge copolymer bioconjugates, methods for making and using the bioconjugates.

Abstract: Zwitterionic crosslinking agents, crosslinked zwitterionic hydrogels prepared from copolymerization of zwitterionic monomers with the zwitterionic crosslinking agent, methods for making crosslinked zwitterionic hydrogels, and devices that include and methods that use the crosslinked zwitterionic hydrogels.

Abstract: A method of genotyping single nucleotide polymorphisms (“SNP”) and point mutations in nucleic acid based on chain extension by polymerase. This invention is based on the fact that the neighboring sequence immediately 3? adjacent to the site is known, and the nucleoside immediately 5? adjacent to any SNP/point mutation site is also known. An extension primer complementary to the sequence directly adjacent to the SNP on the 3? side of a target polynucleotide is used for chain extension. Up to four different polymerase reaction mixtures are provided in separate reaction containers, each containing one different potentially chain-extending Bridging Nucleotide. A Reporting Nucleotide having a base complementary to the nucleotide directly adjacent to the SNP on the 5? side of the target polynucleotide may also be added to each reaction container.

Abstract: Zwitterionic polymer and mixed charge copolymer bioconjugates, methods for making and using the bioconjugates.

Abstract: A brushless motor has a stator and a rotor. The stator has a stator core with a plurality of inwardly extending salient poles and windings wound about the salient poles. The rotor has a shaft, a rotor core fixed onto the shaft, and magnets inserted in the rotor core for forming magnetic poles of the rotor. Each of the salient poles has a pole shoe with a pole face that extends along a circumferential direction confronting the rotor core and being spaced from the rotor core by an air gap. In a radial cross section of the motor, each of the magnetic poles of the rotor has an effective dimension (W) which is about 0.85 times to 1.2 times of the chord length (L) of each pole face.