Abstract: This document provides methods and materials related to selected engineered analogs of atrial natriuretic peptides. For example, this document provides compositions that contain one or more selected engineered analogs of atrial natriuretic peptides provided herein and that have the ability to treat, prevent, or alleviate the symptoms of cardiovascular, cardiorenal, and metabolic disease.

Abstract: A fluidized catalytic reactor system cycles from 0.05-5% of catalyst at a time through a rejuvenation unit to be heated in the presence of oxygen to maintain catalyst activity. The use of the rejuvenation unit that may be 2% of the size of the main catalyst regeneration unit allows for reduction in equipment size and in catalyst inventory. The catalyst that is sent to the rejuvenation unit may be spent catalyst but may be partially or fully regenerated catalyst. The rejuvenation unit may be heated by combusting fuel or by hot flue gas.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides MTR kinase polypeptides having improved properties as compared to a naturally occurring wild-type MTR kinase polypeptide including the capability of phosphorylating D-ribose and 5?-D-isobutyrylribose to give alpha-D-ribose-1-phosphate and alpha 5?-D-isobutyrylribose-1-phosphate. Also provided are polynucleotides encoding the MTR kinase polypeptides, host cells capable of expressing the MTR kinase polypeptides, and methods of using the MTR kinase polypeptides to synthesize alpha-D-ribose-1-phosphate and alpha 5?-D-isobutyrylribose-1-phosphate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to gene fusions and alternative spliced junctions associated with breast cancer. The present invention also relates to novel methods of identifying gene fusions and alternative spliced junctions in RNA sequencing data. The present invention further relates to predicting prognosis of a breast cancer patient based on the number of gene fusion events.

Abstract: A system and method for image data management. A tiled representation of a data set is accessed. The tiled representation includes a plurality of high-resolution tiles and a plurality of reduced-resolution tiles. A request to access said data set from a computing device is received. An image display window is determined based on said request from the computing device, where the image display window corresponds to a displayable image for display on the display device. At least one overlapping image to send the computing device is determined based on said image display window, where the at least one overlapping image is selected from the scaled full images, the plurality of high-resolution tiles, and the plurality of reduced resolution tiles. At least a portion of the at least one overlapping image is sent to the computing device.

Abstract: A system and method for image data management. A tiled representation of a data set is accessed. The tiled representation includes a plurality of high-resolution tiles and a plurality of reduced-resolution tiles. A request to access said data set from a computing device is received. An image display window is determined based on said request from the computing device, where the image display window corresponds to a displayable image for display on the display device. At least one overlapping image to send the computing device is determined based on said image display window, where the at least one overlapping image is selected from the scaled full images, the plurality of high-resolution tiles, and the plurality of reduced resolution tiles. At least a portion of the at least one overlapping image is sent to the computing device.

Abstract: A system and method for image data management. A tiled representation of a data set is accessed. The tiled representation includes a plurality of high-resolution tiles and a plurality of reduced-resolution tiles. A request to access said data set from a computing device is received. An image display window is determined based on said request from the computing device, where the image display window corresponds to a displayable image for display on the display device. At least one overlapping image to send the computing device is determined based on said image display window, where the at least one overlapping image is selected from the scaled full images, the plurality of high-resolution tiles, and the plurality of reduced resolution tiles. At least a portion of the at least one overlapping image is sent to the computing device.

Abstract: A system and method for image data management. A tiled representation of a data set is accessed. The tiled representation includes a plurality of high-resolution tiles and a plurality of reduced-resolution tiles. A request to access said data set from a computing device is received. An image display window is determined based on said request from the computing device, where the image display window corresponds to a displayable image for display on the display device. At least one overlapping image to send the computing device is determined based on said image display window, where the at least one overlapping image is selected from the scaled full images, the plurality of high-resolution tiles, and the plurality of reduced resolution tiles. At least a portion of the at least one overlapping image is sent to the computing device.

Abstract: A backlight unit has a light guide plate with a diffusive layer therein. The light guide plate has a first side, a second side opposite to the first side and a third side. The diffusive layer has a base and a plurality of grains in the base. A lamp is arranged beside the third side of the light plate to provide light to the light guide plate. A reflective film is attached on the second side of the light guide plate to reflect light. A brightness enhance member is provided at the first side of the light guide plate.

Abstract: A substrate has a substrate member, which is made of a polar material, such as Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), Methyl methacrylate/Styrene copolymer (MS) or Polycarbonate (PC), having a first side and a second side. On the fist side and the second side of the substrate member provided with an insulating layers respectively, wherein the insulating layers are made of a non-polar material with a low water absorption, such as Cyclic Olefin Polymer (COP) or Cyclic Olefin Copolymer (COC). The water absorption of COP or COC is less than the water absorption of PMMA, MS or PC to prevent the substrate member from warping while the substrate is heated at a single side. Two adhesive layers, which is made of a material with a chemical structure with a non-polar segment and a polar segment, such as olefin/acrylate copolymer, to bond the insulating layers on the substrate member.

Abstract: An apparatus for making wedged plate has an extruder to provide melted plastic material. A die head has a channel with an inlet and an outlet. The inlet of the die head is connected to an outlet of the extruder. The outlet of the die head has a thick side and a narrow side. A rolling device has two rollers and a space between the rollers. The space has a thick portion and a narrow portion at opposite sides. The space of the rolling device is aligned with the outlet of the die head, so that the plastic material flows into the space of the rolling device via the die head and is rolled by the rollers. A cutting device is arranged behind the rolling device to cut the rolled plastic material to get wedged plates.

Abstract: An automatic score dartboard assembly has a base, a dartboard, a support, at least one imaging element and a main control circuit. The dartboard and the support are attached to the base, and the at least one imaging element is mounted on the support to capture a direct viewing image of the dartboard periodically. The images are output to the main control circuit to determine the score of a dart when the dart sticks in the dartboard. The main control circuit is composed of an image processor and a memory device. The image processor uses an image comparison method to determine the score of the dart. Therefore, the present invention uses as few as one imaging element to determine the score and increases accuracy of determining score.

Abstract: A backlight module has a frame, on which a reflective film, lamps and a diffusive plate are provided in sequence. A plurality of positioning devices each have a base and two rings. The base has two channels, two slots and a post on a top thereof. The lamps are fitted to the rings respectively and the rings are mounted in the slots of the base respectively to rest the lamps in the channels. The base of the positioning devices are secured on the bottom plate of the frame and the posts thereof are against the diffusive plate, such that the lamp is suspended and the relative locations of the lamps, the diffusive plate and the reflective film are fixed.

Abstract: A substrate has a substrate member, which is made of Cyclic Olefins Polymer (COP) or Cyclic Olefins Copolymer (COC), and two protective layers, which are made of Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or Polycarbonate (PC), provided on opposite side of the substrate member. The COP or COC substrate member has a less water absorption (<0.01%) to prevent the substrate from warping while it is irradiated at single side. The PMMA or PC protective layer has a greater hardness to protect the substrate from damage.

Abstract: A direct-light illuminating unit has a frame on which a plurality of U-shaped lamps and a plurality of light shade devices are mounted. The frame has a window region and a margin region. The lamps each have two straight portions and a connection portion. The lamps have the straight portions and the connection portions arranged in the window region of the frame. The light shade device has a top mask extended over the connection portions of the lamps respectively. The top masks have a predetermined transparency to shade a part of the light provided from the connection portions of the lamps respectively.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an optical substrate has the steps of: Heat a first material and a second material to their melt conditions. Stack the first material and the second material. Roll a stack of the first material and the second material and mold a surface profile on the second material by means of a roller calender with a figured texture to mold a substrate with a surface thereon. Cool the substrate and cut the substrate.

Abstract: A substrate has a substrate member, which is made of Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or Polycarbonate (PC), having a first side and a second side. On the fist side and the second side of the substrate member provided with an insulating layers respectively, wherein the insulating layers are made of Cyclic Olefins Polymer (COP). The water absorption of COP is less than the water absorption of PMMA and PC to prevent the substrate member from warping while the substrate is heated at a single side.

Abstract: A casing has a hollow body, at least one wheel holder and at least one wheel. The body has at least one cavity to respectively receive the at least one wheel holder. Each wheel is rotatably mounted on one of the at least one wheel holder. With the arrangement of the at least one wheel, the casing can be transported conveniently and easily.

Abstract: A direct-light illuminating backlight unit with a reflective structure for a liquid crystal display has a case with a back, at least one lamp mounted in alignment with the back, a reflective layer formed on the back and facing the lamp. The case has a front opening that has at least one brighter region immediately in front of the lamp and at least one dimmer region away from the lamp. The reflective layer is composed of multiple reflective protrusions each has two inclined faces. Each inclined face projects light radiated backward from the lamp onto the dimmer region. Therefore, light emit from the illuminating backlight unit has a homogenous brightness.

Abstract: A direct-light illuminating backlight unit with shielding mask for a liquid crystal display has a case with a back, at least one lamp mounted in alignment with the back, and at least one shielding mask mounted in the case in front of the corresponding lamp. The case has a front opening that has at least one brighter region immediately in front of the lamp and at least one dimmer region away from the lamp. The shielding mask is made of opaque material and has openings to let light through. The shielding mask allows only some light radiated forward from the lamp to pass through to the front opening, so that the luminance of the brighter area is reduced and the brightness of the emitting light at the front opening is more homogenous.