Abstract: Provided is a method of diagnosing a condition associated with abnormal uptake of a retinoid comprising determining the amount of STRA6 expressed by a suspect cell and comparing the amount of expressed STRA6 in the suspect cell with the amount of expressed STRA6 in a normal cell. Also provided is a method for treating a condition associated with excessive uptake or insufficient uptake of a retinoid comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an amount of a drug effective for lowering or increasing expression or activity of STRA6 in cells. Also provided is a method of screening for a compound which alters the uptake of a retinoid by a cell comprising exposing the cell to the compound and determining if the expression or activity of STRA6 is altered.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing random access of structured media content are described. One aspect provides a novel file structure or “Vfile”, and method of using the same, for organizing and managing portions of a structured media content file that are or can be downloaded from a content provider such as a multimedia content server. The Vfile is configured to emulate a server file structure that a server uses to store structured media content files. The Vfile is established at a client location when a client accesses a structured media content file and is used to buffer and cache structured media content file portions. In addition, the Vfile includes one or more media management tags. The tags are used by the client to manage a cache of structured media content file portions that are downloaded from the server.

Abstract: A fuel injector is provided having a needle valve element and a nozzle member with a central bore configured to slidingly receive the needle valve element. The fuel injector also has a spring configured to bias the needle valve element toward a closed position. In addition, the fuel injection assembly has a guide element configured to reduce a lateral movement of the needle valve element. The fuel injection assembly further has a fluid flow restricting device configured to restrict the flow of a fluid through the needle valve element and create a fluid pressure differential between the fluid upstream and downstream of the fluid flow restricting device.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of an ATP binding cassette transporter and mutated sequences thereof associated with macular degeneration. Methods of detecting agents that modify ATP-binding cassette transporter comprising combining purified ATP binding cassette transporter and at least one agent suspected of modifying the ATP binding cassette transporter an observing a change in at least one characteristic associated with ATP binding cassette transporter. Methods of detecting macular degeneration is also embodied by the present invention.

Abstract: The techniques and mechanisms described herein are directed at transmitting elementary streams in a broadcast environment. The mechanisms provide a buffer controller and packet scheduler that allow a media format to be transmitted through the broadcasting environment in a manner resulting in a low channel switch delay. A buffer-fullness indicator allows the operation with various types of decoders. A lower bound and an upper bound are calculated for each frame within the elementary stream. The lower bound corresponds to an earliest time for sending the frame without causing an overflow condition within a decoder buffer. The upper bound corresponds to a latest time for sending the frame without causing an underflow condition within the decoder buffer. A send time is then scheduled based on the lower bound and the upper bound that determines when a packet associated with the frame is transmitted over a channel in a broadcast environment.

Abstract: With an image-based rendering (IBR) system based on linear interpolated concentric mosaics, an observer is able to wander through a real or synthesized scene and have new view images (optionally including stereo images) of the scene rendered as the observer moves. According to one embodiment, multiple viewing rays are extended in a viewing direction from the image to be rendered at a view point. For viewing rays that do not coincide with captured images, an image is generate based on the captured images. The image is generated by interpolating between at least two captured images based on a constant distance to objects in the scene. The view images that are displayed can be mono or stereo (e.g., simulating a pair of eyes of the observer).

Abstract: A strap holding structure (200) for an electronic device (100), which includes a body (20), a cover (10). The body has a knuckle (22) formed at one end thereof. The knuckle has a middle board (226) formed therein. The cover has a barrel (12) formed at one end. The strap holding structure includes a latching element (30) and a strap holder (40). The latching element is attached to the cover at one end. The strap holder has a pole (424) at a first end of the strap holder. A groove (444) is circumferentially defined in an outer wall of the strap holder and two notches (442) are axially defined in the outer wall thereof. The strap holder is engaged in the knuckle and the barrel. The latching element is received in the groove and the middle board is received in the notches.

Abstract: A strap holding structure (200) for an electronic device (100) includes a body (10), a strap holder (22) and a latching element (24). The body defines a receiving portion (12). The receiving porting has a side board (1242). The side board with the receiving portion cooperatively surrounds a space (1244). The strap holder has a pole (228) at one end thereof and two opposite feet (223) extending from another end thereof. A block (226) radially extends from a circumferential wall of the strap holder, and the side board is received in the space. The latching element forms two concave portions (244). Each foot engages with a corresponding concave portion. A stopper (246) perpendicularly protrudes from the latching element, and resists a wall of the receiving portion.

Abstract: A cover latching assembly (60) for a portable electronic device (100) is provided. The portable electronic device includes a housing (10) and a cover (20) configured for attaching to the housing. The cover has a latching portion (26) formed thereon. The cover latching assembly includes a button (30) and an elastic member (40). The button includes a recessed portion (344), and the button is slidably secured on the housing. The elastic member enables the latching portion of the cover to engage with the recessed portion of the button.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to process for the preparation of metabolites as well as the parent compound of N-(2-chloro-6-methylphenyl)-2-[[6-[4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazinyl]-2-methyl-4-pyrimidinyl] amino]-5-thiazolecarboxamide, the compound of formula (I).

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing random access to structured media content are described. The described methods and systems implement one or more of an importance evaluator module, a priority evaluator module, and a preemptive loader module. The importance evaluator assigns importance values to different portions of a structured media content file. The importance values are used to determine whether to remove individual portions of the structured media content file from a client cache file to make room for other more important file portions. The priority evaluator assigns priority values to different portions of a structured media content file. The priority values are used to determine an order in which the portions are to be provided from a server to a client. The preemptive loader preemptively facilitates provision of one or more portions of a structured media content file to a client, without the client specifically requesting so.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of an ATP binding cassette transporter and mutated sequences thereof associated with macular degeneration. Methods of detecting agents that modify ATP-binding cassette transporter comprising combining purified ATP binding cassette transporter and at least one agent suspected of modifying the ATP binding cassette transporter an observing a change in at least one characteristic associated with ATP binding cassette transporter. Methods of detecting macular degeneration is also embodied by the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of an ATP binding cassette transporter and mutated sequences thereof associated with macular degeneration. Methods of detecting agents that modify ATP-binding cassette transporter comprising combining purified ATP binding cassette transporter and at least one agent suspected of modifying the ATP binding cassette transporter an observing a change in at least one characteristic associated with ATP binding cassette transporter. Methods of detecting macular degeneration is also embodied by the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of an ATP binding cassette transporter and mutated sequences thereof associated with macular degeneration. Methods of detecting agents that modify ATP-binding cassette transporter comprising combining purified ATP binding cassette transporter and at least one agent suspected of modifying the ATP binding cassette transporter an observing a change in at least one characteristic associated with ATP binding cassette transporter. Methods of detecting macular degeneration is also embodied by the present invention.

Abstract: A simple chemical technique has been developed to grow large quantity of carbon nanostructures, including carbon nanotubes, hydrocarbon nanotubes and carbon nanoonions, in the organic solution at ambient (room) temperature and atmospheric pressure using silicon nanostructures (nanowires, nanodots, ribbons, and porous silicon) as starting materials. These CNT and CNO have the lattice d-spacing from 3.4 ? to 5 ?.

Abstract: With an image-based rendering (IBR) system based on linear interpolated concentric mosaics, an observer is able to wander through a real or synthesized scene and have new view images (optionally including stereo images) of the scene rendered as the observer moves. According to one embodiment, multiple viewing rays are extended in a viewing direction from the image to be rendered at a view point. For viewing rays that do not coincide with captured images, an image is generated based on the captured images. The image is generated by interpolating between at least two captured images based on a constant distance to objects in the scene. The view images that are displayed can be mono or stereo (e.g., simulating a pair of eyes of the observer).

Abstract: The techniques and mechanisms described herein are directed at transmitting elementary streams in a broadcast environment. The mechanisms provide a buffer controller and packet scheduler that allow a media format to be transmitted through the broadcasting environment in a manner resulting in a low channel switch delay. A buffer-fullness indicator allows the operation with various types of decoders. A lower bound and an upper bound are calculated for each frame within the elementary stream. The lower bound corresponds to an earliest time for sending the frame without causing an overflow condition within a decoder buffer. The upper bound corresponds to a latest time for sending the frame without causing an underflow condition within the decoder buffer. A send time is then scheduled based on the lower bound and the upper bound that determines when a packet associated with the frame is transmitted over a channel in a broadcast environment.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel anti-microbial agents and compositions that include cyclic peptides having an amino acid sequence of alternating D- and L-?-amino acids. Alternatively, the cyclic peptides are made from ?-amino acids.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a tubular endovascular stent comprising a plurality of annular segments connected by one or more bridging elements. Each annular segment takes forms of periodic wavelets with a plurality of alternating symmetric peaks and valleys, preferably consisting of circular arc segments of large radii connected tangentially with straight segments to minimize stress concentration when the stent undergoes radial deformation, transverse to the longitudinal axis of the stent. The points of connection between the bridging elements and adjacent annular segments are so designed that deformations of the bridging elements remain negligible as the stent deforms radially, namely, the longitudinal dimension of the stent does not vary during the radial expansion or contraction of the stent.

Abstract: With an image-based rendering (IBR) system based on linear interpolated concentric mosaics, an observer is able to wander through a real or synthesized scene and have new view images (optionally including stereo images) of the scene rendered as the observer moves. According to one embodiment, multiple viewing rays are extended in a viewing direction from the image to be rendered at a view point. For viewing rays that do not coincide with captured images, an image is generated based on the captured images. The image is generated by interpolating between at least two captured images based on a constant distance to objects in the scene. The view images that are displayed can be mono or stereo (e.g., simulating a pair of eyes of the observer).