Abstract: Described herein are optical devices including resonant cavity structures. In one embodiment, an optical fiber includes: (1) an elongated core including an outer surface; (2) an inner reflector disposed adjacent to the outer surface of the core and extending substantially along a length of the core; (3) an outer reflector spaced apart from the inner reflector and extending substantially along the length of the core; and (4) an emission layer disposed between the outer reflector and the inner reflector and extending substantially along the length of the core, the emission layer configured to emit radiation that is guided within the optical fiber.

Abstract: Films for optical use, articles containing such films, methods for making such films, and systems that utilize such films, are disclosed.

Abstract: Described herein are solar modules and related manufacturing methods. In one embodiment, a solar module includes: (1) a photovoltaic cell; and (2) a resonant cavity waveguide having a non-planar configuration and optically coupled to the photovoltaic cell, the resonant cavity waveguide including: (a) an outer reflector; (b) an inner reflector; and (c) an emission layer disposed between the outer reflector and the inner reflector with respect to an anti-node position within the resonant cavity waveguide, the emission layer configured to absorb incident solar radiation and emit radiation that is guided towards the photovoltaic cell, the emitted radiation including an energy band having a peak emission wavelength that is substantially matched to a bandgap energy of the photovoltaic cell.

Abstract: Described herein are solar modules and related manufacturing methods. In one embodiment, a solar module includes: (1) a photovoltaic cell; and (2) a resonant cavity waveguide optically coupled to the photovoltaic cell, the resonant cavity waveguide including: (a) a top reflector; (b) a bottom reflector; and (c) an emission layer disposed between the top reflector and the bottom reflector with respect to an anti-node position within the resonant cavity waveguide, the emission layer configured to absorb incident solar radiation and emit radiation that is guided towards the photovoltaic cell, the emitted radiation including an energy band having a spectral width no greater than 80 nm at Full Width at Half Maximum.

Abstract: Drug delivery is targeted to new opioid receptors using receptor-mediated internalization. Dermorphin was successfully conjugated to DSPE-PEG3400 without affecting the affinity to its receptor. The synthesized conjugate was inserted into preformed sterically stabilized liposomes to obtain dermorphin-grafted SSL. DSPE-PEG34Qo-dermorphin and dermorphin-SSL retained their affinity and selectivity for MOR. Moreover, dermorphin-SSL and encapsulated probes were taken up by CHO-hMOR cells, but not by naive CHO cells or very closely related CHO-hDOR cells. Dermorphin-SSL can be used to deliver drugs to the intracellular component of intended cells with high fidelity. Therefore, dermorphin-SSL is useful to carry pharmaceutical agents to achieve region-specific delivery of analgesics and/or to attenuate side effects associated with opioids.

Abstract: Described herein are solar modules including spectral concentrators and related manufacturing methods.

Abstract: An antenna system for generating and configuring at least one defocused beam is provided. The antenna system includes a reflector having a focal plane and a non-parabolic curvature for forming the at least one defocused beam, and a plurality of feed antennas that illuminate the reflector. Each feed antenna is disposed in the focal plane of the reflector. The antenna system further includes at least one incoming signal dividing network that divides at least one incoming signal into a plurality of sub-signals, each corresponding to one of the feed antennas, a plurality of variable phase shifters, each receiving one of the sub-signals from the incoming signal dividing network and phase shifting the sub-signal to generate a corresponding phase-shifted sub-signal, and a plurality of fixed-amplitude amplifiers, at least one corresponding to each of the feed antennas.

Abstract: Films for optical use, articles containing such films, methods for making such films, and systems that utilize such films, are disclosed.

Abstract: Compounds, compositions, and methods for inhibiting the onset of metabolic syndrome and treating related disorders in a subject in need of such therapy are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for inhibiting PDX-1 are provided according to the present invention. An anti-PDX-1 agent included in inventive methods and compositions includes an antibody, an aptamer, an antisense oligonucleotide, a ribozyme and/or an inhibitory compound. Methods of inhibiting PDX-1 expression in a tumor cell are provided by the present invention which include contacting a tumor cell with an effective amount of an anti-PDX-1 agent highly or completely complementary to a specified region of an RNA molecule encoding PDX-1. Such an agent specifically hybridizes with the RNA molecule encoding PDX-1 and inhibits the expression of a PDX-1 gene in the tumor cell. Compositions including anti-PDX-1 siRNA and/or shRNA are described. Recombinant expression constructs encoding anti-PDX-1 siRNA or shRNA according to the present invention are described.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the invention features methods that include forming a roll of a first material into a substrate and forming a plurality of rows of a second material on the substrate, where the second material includes a metal, the rows of the second material extend along a first direction, the rows are spaced apart from one another, and adjacent rows are spaced apart by about 400 nm or less.

Abstract: Described herein are solar modules including spectral concentrators. In one embodiment, a solar module includes a set of photovoltaic cells and a spectral concentrator optically coupled to the set of photovoltaic cells. The spectral concentrator is configured to: (1) collect incident solar radiation; (2) convert the incident solar radiation into substantially monochromatic, emitted radiation; and (3) convey the substantially monochromatic, emitted radiation to the set of photovoltaic cells.

Abstract: In general, in a first aspect, the invention features a method that includes forming a first layer comprising a first material over a surface of a second layer, wherein forming the first layer includes sequentially forming a plurality of monolayers of the second material over the surface of the second layer, the second layer comprises a plurality of rows of a second material extending along a first direction and spaced from one another in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and the first layer conforms to the surface of the second layer.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the invention features an article that includes a layer including a plurality of spaced-apart portions of a first material extending along a first direction. The layer transmits about 20% or more of light of wavelength ? having a first polarization state incident on the layer along a path. The layer transmits about 2% or less of light of wavelength ? having a second polarization state incident on the layer along the path, the first and second polarization states being orthogonal. For wavelength ?, the first material has a refractive index of 1.8 or more and an extinction coefficient of 1.8 or more, and ? is 300 nm or less.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel isolated compounds characterized as metabolites or derivatives of desmethylvenlafaxine including hydroxy-DV metabolites, hydroxy-DV-glucuronide metabolites, N-oxide-DV metabolites, and benzyl-hydroxy-DV metabolites. The invention includes pharmaceutical compositions comprising any of the metabolites or derivatives of the invention in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient. The invention also includes a method of treating at least one central nervous system disorder in a mammal comprising providing to a mammal in need thereof an effective amount of the compounds of the invention.

Abstract: Drug delivery is targeted to new opioid receptors using receptor-mediated internalization. Dermorphin was successfully conjugated to DSPE-PEG3400 without affecting the affinity to its receptor. The synthesized conjugate was inserted into preformed sterically stabilized liposomes to obtain dermorphin-grafted SSL. DSPE-PEG34Qo-dermorphin and dermorphin-SSL retained their affinity and selectivity for MOR. Moreover, dermorphin-SSL and encapsulated probes were taken up by CHO-hMOR cells, but not by naive CHO cells or very closely related CHO-hDOR cells. Dermorphin-SSL can be used to deliver drugs to the intracellular component of intended cells with high fidelity. Therefore, dermorphin-SSL is useful to carry pharmaceutical agents to achieve region-specific delivery of analgesics and/or to attenuate side effects associated with opioids.

Abstract: The pneumatic tool has a check valve placed inside that includes an internal and external valve base and traveling valve. The internal valve base has an inlet hole, and an enlarged slot is formed on the external end of the inlet hole. An annular oblique edge is formed between the enlarged slot and inlet hole, and an air hole is placed on the enlarged slot. The external valve base has an outlet hole that is connected to the outside of the pneumatic tool. A protruding tube is formed inside the outlet hole. Interval space is formed between the inside of the protruding tube and the inlet hole for the internal valve base; and the traveling valve can be traveling inside the interval space. The built-in check valve can avoid external force, which extends the shelf life and makes appearance of the product look neater and practical.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention features articles that include a substrate having a first surface and a second surface contiguous with the first surface. The first and second surfaces are non-coplanar. A first multilayer film is disposed on the first surface. A second multilayer film is disposed on the second surface. The second multilayer film is contiguous with the first multilayer film.

Abstract: Antenna system and methodology for producing multiple interleaved beams using a hybrid frequency-reuse scheme. In particular, depending on the traffic demand in specific coverage areas, some beams are assigned with frequency channels in accordance with a 4-cell frequency-reuse scheme, and the other beams are assigned with frequency channels in accordance with a 7-cell frequency-reuse scheme. The antenna system has multiple feeds divided into clusters, and a number of reflectors fed by respective feed clusters and configured to form one beam for each of the feeds.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to oxide materials, as well as related articles, systems and methods.