Abstract: An wave division multiplexed (WDM) optical transmitter is disclosed including a directly modulated laser array and a planar lightwave chip (PLC) having a plurality of OSRs that receive outputs of the laser array and increase the extinction ratio of the received light. An optical multiplexer receives the outputs of the OSRs and couples them to a single output port. The multiplexer has transmission peaks through its ports each having a 0.5 dB bandwidth including the frequency of a laser in the array. The optical multiplexer may be embodied as cascaded Mach-Zehnder interferometers or ring resonators.

Abstract: Novel ent-kaurene diterpene compound and its derivatives, their preparation methods and their use. ent-Kaurene diterpene in the present invention could be used as desired intermediates for preparing asymmetric organic compounds and medicaments, and could be used as antitumor agent, anti-inflammatory agent and immune agent etc. The said ent-kaurene diterpene compound could be condensed with hydroxyl compounds to obtain various acetal derivatives, could be reacted with amine compounds to obtain various amino derivatives, and could be reacted with acyl halide or acid anhydride to obtain various acyl derivatives.

Abstract: Processes for catalytically synthesizing ethylbenzene from ethanol and benzene comprising: 1) reacting a first mixture comprising ethanol and benzene with at least one catalyst chosen from binder-containing alkylation catalysts and binder-free alkylation catalysts in an alkylation reactor to obtain a second mixture comprising residual benzene, ethylbenzene, diethylbenzene, and water; 2) passing the second mixture successively through a benzene recovery tower, an ethylbenzene recovery tower, and a polyethylbenzene recovery tower to obtain separated water, separated benzene, separated ethylbenzene, and separated diethylbenzene; and 3) reacting a third mixture with at least one transalkylation catalyst in a transalkylation reactor, wherein the third mixture comprises at least some of the separated benzene and at least some of the separated diethylbenzene at a weight ratio ranging from about 2:1 to about 10:1.

Abstract: The frequency chirp modulation response of a directly modulated laser is described using a small signal model that depends on slow chirp amplitude s and slow chirp time constant ?s. The small signal model can be used to derive an inverse response for designing slow chirp compensation means. Slow chirp compensation means include electrical compensation, optical compensation, or both. Slow chirp electrical compensation can be implemented with an LR filter or other RF circuit coupled to a direct modulation source (e.g., a laser driver) and the directly modulated laser. Slow chirp optical compensation can be implemented with an optical spectrum reshaper having a rounded top and relatively large slope (e.g., 1.5-3 dB/GHz). The inverse response can be designed to under-compensate, to produce a flat response, or to over-compensate.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for operating on time sequences of data. In one aspect, a method includes a database management system storing and updating information in records in a table of a database, the records being associated with respective times that are spaced apart by time intervals, the database management system responding to a query that is phrased to imply a putative record with respect to a time interval that is not among the time intervals with which the records of the table are associated, and the response of the database management system to the query including a computation of a value of an attribute of the putative record from at least one non-null value of the attribute for one of the records of the table, the computation being based on an interpolation policy.

Abstract: A boost table stores adjusted target levels for pairs of original and target pixel levels. The adjusted target levels can be used to as a substitute for the target pixel level to improve pixel response in reaching the desired target pixel level. A reduced boost table can be used, storing a subset of the adjusted target levels. Fuzzy logic control rules can be used to calculate adjusted target levels not actually stored in the reduced boost table.

Abstract: Use of ubiquilin is described, including utilization for reducing fragmentation of presenilin 1 and 2 and to modulate ?-secretase components, Pen-2 and Nicastrin, as well as utilization for inducing increased levels of ubiquilin to reduce aggregation of polyglutamine expansion proteins known to cause cell toxicity and cell death in subjects suffering from neurodegenerative diseases, such as Huntington's and Alzheimer's diseases.

Abstract: A catalyst used in the reaction of oxidative bromination of methane is provided. The catalyst is prepared by the following procedures: mixing at least one of the precursors selected from the compounds of Rh, Ru, Cu, Zn, Ag, Ce, V, W, Cd, Mo, Mn, Cr and La which can dissolve in water with the Si precursor, hydrolyzing, drying and sintering. In the catalysis system, methane reacts with HBr, H2O and oxygen source (O2, air or oxygen-rich air), finally CH3Br and CH2Br2 are produced. Another catalyst used in the reaction of condensation of methane bromide to C3-C13 hydrocarbons is also provided. This catalyst is prepared by supporting compounds of Zn or Mg on molecular sieves such as HZSM-5, HY, Hb, 3A, 4A, 5A or 13X et al. With this catalyst, CH3Br and CH2Br2 produced in the former process can react further to give C3 to C13 hydrocarbons and HBr, and HBr can be recycled as a medium.

Abstract: To interpolate a value for a pixel, multiple patterns are selected. Each pattern is used to determine a pixel angle. One of the determined pixel angles is then selected based on the reliability of the pixel angles. The selected pixel angle can be selected based on its reliability irrespective of the reliability of other pixel angles. The selected pixel angle can then be used to interpolate a value for the target pixel. Dynamic thresholds can be computed for use in either determining a pixel angle for a given pattern, or to select the pixel angle from the available determined pixel angles.

Abstract: To determine if a pixel exhibits artifacts, statistics are generated for the pixel and its neighbors. These statistics are compared with thresholds. If the comparison of the statistics and the thresholds suggests that the pixel exhibits a pixel artifact, then recourse can be taken, either to adjust the pixel value in some way, or to reject the angle of interpolation used in computing the value for the target pixel.

Abstract: A DBR laser, such as a semiconductor DBR laser is disclosed having improved frequency modulation performance. The laser includes a split gain electrode and a tuning electrode. A modulating current encoding a data signal is injected into a first section of the gain electrode whereas a substantially DC bias voltage is imposed on a second section of the gain electrode positioned between the first gain electrode and the tuning electrode. The first and second gain electrodes are electrically isolated from each other and the tuning electrode by a large isolation resistance. In some embodiments, the isolation resistance is generated by forming the electrodes on a P+ layer and removing portions of the P+ layer between adjacent electrodes. Capacitors may couple to one or both of the second gain electrode and the tuning electrode.

Abstract: To determine if a pixel exhibits artifacts, statistics are generated for the pixel and its neighbors. These statistics are compared with thresholds. If the comparison of the statistics and the thresholds suggests that the pixel exhibits a pixel artifact, then recourse can be taken, either to adjust the pixel value in some way, or to reject the angle of interpolation used in computing the value for the target pixel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to chemical compounds, methods for their discovery, and their therapeutic and research use. In particular, the present invention provides compounds as therapeutic agents against bacterial infections.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a method of temporarily embolizing a blood vessel using a hydrolytically degradable crosslinked hydrogel as an embolus. In certain embodiments, the hydrolytically degradable crosslinked hydrogel substantially hydrolyzes only at about physiological pH. In certain embodiments of the method, the hydrolytically degradable crosslinked hydrogel is stable at low pH. In certain embodiments of the method, the hydrolytically degradable crosslinked hydrogel comprises a marker molecule, such as a dye, radiopaque, or an MRI-visible compound. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

Abstract: Novel ent-kaurene diterpene compound and its derivatives, their preparation methods and their use. ent-Kaurene diterpene in the present invention could be used as desired intermediates for preparing asymmetric organic compounds and medicaments, and could be used as antitumor agent, anti-inflammatory agent and immune agent etc. The said ent-kaurene diterpene compound could be condensed with hydroxyl compounds to obtain various acetal derivatives, could be reacted with amine compounds to obtain various amino derivatives, and could be reacted with acyl halide or acid anhydride to obtain various acyl derivatives.

Abstract: An improved method for diagnosing autoimmune or genetic diseases is provided in this disclosure. In particular, a method to diagnose diseases affecting the tissues of organs selected from the group of spleen, brain, heart, kidney, thyroid, eye, skin, intestine, liver, pancreas, adrenal gland, prostate and lungs or from the tissues selected from the group of muscles and bones or other tissues. More specifically, the present invention provides an improved method for diagnosing diseases affecting neuromuscular junctions.

Abstract: A method and system for performing fuzzy logic based de-interlacing on film source fields that might be mixed with video on film. An embodiment of the invention comprises an adaptive de-interlacer by weighing between merge operation and interpolation operation in the case of occurring video on film motion object. A weighing factor is generated from video on film pattern based on fuzzy logic inference rules. This weighing factor specifies the weighting between merging and interpolating in assigning the pixel values of the progressive display output.

Abstract: A method for decreasing cell death in a cell exhibiting aggregation of polyalanine-containing proteins. The method includes introduction of an expression vector to a host cell comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding ubiquilin, followed by maintaining the transformed host cell under biological conditions sufficient for expression and accumulation of the ubiquilin in the host cell, wherein overexpression of ubiquilin reduces sensitivity of cell stress induced by expanded polyalanine proteins.

Abstract: An wave division multiplexed (WDM) optical transmitter is disclosed including a directly modulated laser array and a planar lightwave chip (PLC) having a plurality of OSRs that receive outputs of the laser array and increase the extinction ratio of the received light. An optical multiplexer receives the outputs of the OSRs and couples them to a single output port. The multiplexer has transmission peaks through its ports each having a 0.5 dB bandwidth including the frequency of a laser in the array. The optical multiplexer may be embodied as cascaded Mach-Zehnder interferometers or ring resonators.

Abstract: Use of depletion edge translation as an in cavity phase modulation mechanism in lasers. Aspects of the invention are especially relevant (without limitation) in transmitters for extended reach comprising an intra cavity phase and amplitude modulated laser for generation of a frequency modulated signal and a passive optical spectrum reshaper element, sometimes referred to as a chirp modulated laser. Such techniques may be carried out as disclose herein by adopting predetermined doping profiles and applying predetermined voltage to the laser cavity, and more preferably to a phase section in or adjoining the laser cavity.