Abstract: The present invention is directed to nanoparticles comprising: (a) an inner core comprising oligomeric (?)-epigallocatechin gallate (OEGCG), (b) an outer core comprising a polyethylene glycol-epigallocatechin gallate conjugate (PEG-EGCG), and (c) a protein molecule of a drug substance encapsulated in the inner core; wherein at least 70% of the nanoparticles have a diameter between 50-300 nm. The present invention also provides a process for preparing the nanoparticles. The present invention further provides a method of treating cancer by administering to a subject in need thereof the nanoparticles of the present invention, in an amount effective to treat cancer.

Abstract: A crossed field device, such as a magnetron or crossed field amplifier, that includes a cathode, an anode, one or more magnetic elements, and one or more extraction elements. In one embodiment, the crossed field device includes an annular cathode and anode that are axially spaced from one another such that the device produces an axial electric (E) field and a radial magnetic (B) field. In another embodiment, the crossed field device includes an oval-shaped cathode and anode that are radially spaced from one another such that the device produces a radial electric (E) field and an axial magnetic (B) field. The crossed field device may produce electromagnetic (EM) emissions having a frequency ranging from megahertz (MHz) to terahertz (THz), and may be used in one of a number of different applications.

Abstract: An environmental control systems (ECS) for an aircraft in which bleed air is cooled with ram air, the ECS may include a ram air controller configured to control a rate of ram air flow responsively to a desired temperature of bleed air at a bleed air outlet and a bleed air controller configured to control a rate of bleed air flow responsively to a temperature lower than the desired temperature of the bleed air at the bleed air outlet. Collectively the two controllers may provide a minimizing of ram air usage for cooling the bleed air.

Abstract: A wood effect fireplace cabinet trim for fixing onto the surface of the fireplace cabinet, comprising a trim body made of wood-based panels. a trim body, a wood grain paper layer, and a PU protective layer. Wood grain paper layer is paste onto the panel surface of the trim body to produce real wood effect. Various style of wood grain paper can be used to achieve different wood effect.

Abstract: The invention provides cell-mediated gene therapy for cancer using mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) expressing a suicide gene. The MSC are administered to a subject having a tumor, the MSC are allowed to migrate to the tumor site, and then the subject is administered with a prodrug. Expression of the suicide gene by the MSC at the tumor site converts the prodrug to a drug that is lethal to cells of the tumor. The impact of the tumor on the subject's health can thereby be reduced or eliminated. The MSC of this invention may be optimized for use as an off-the-shelf product by using an immortalized MSC line, and selecting MSC with immunological characteristics to forestall a graft-versus-host response.

Abstract: An environmental control systems (ECS) for an aircraft in which bleed air is cooled with ram air, the ECS may include a ram air controller configured to control a rate of ram air flow responsively to a desired temperature of bleed air at a bleed air outlet and a bleed air controller configured to control a rate of bleed air flow responsively to a temperature lower than the desired temperature of the bleed air at the bleed air outlet. Collectively the two controllers may provide a minimizing of ram air usage for cooling the bleed air.

Abstract: A crossed field device, such as a magnetron or crossed field amplifier, that includes a cathode, an anode, one or more magnetic elements, and one or more extraction elements. In one embodiment, the crossed field device includes an annular cathode and anode that are axially spaced from one another such that the device produces an axial electric (E) field and a radial magnetic (B) field. In another embodiment, the crossed field device includes an oval-shaped cathode and anode that are radially spaced from one another such that the device produces a radial electric (E) field and an axial magnetic (B) field. The crossed field device may produce electromagnetic (EM) emissions having a frequency ranging from megahertz (MHz) to terahertz (THz), and may be used in one of a number of different applications.

Abstract: Methods and associated structure for rapidly detecting a catastrophic failure of a bus structure within a storage subsystem. Features and aspects hereof associated with SCSI bus storage system configurations coordinate such failure detection with standard monitoring features of the SAF-TE, enclosure monitoring specifications. In particular, standard polling operations of a SAF-TE compliant enclosure may be terminated early so as to preclude queuing additional polling related commands for disk drives or an enclosure of disk drives coupled to a SCSI bus cable or backplane that has experienced a catastrophic failure. Other features and aspects hereof disable all disk drives in a storage system that are coupled to a failed common bus.

Abstract: Capacitance measurement apparatus that enhances the sensitivity and accuracy of capacitive transducers, proximity sensors, and touchless switches. Each of two capacitors (C1, C2) under measurement has one end connected to ground and is kept at substantially the same voltage potential by operational amplifier (A1) or amplifiers (A0, A1) using negative feedback. The apparatus is driven by a periodic e.g. sinusoidal signal source (G1) or sources (G1, G2) and includes a difference amplifier (A2) operative to produce an electrical signal having a linear relationship with a specified arithmetic function of the capacitances of the two capacitors (C1, C2). A touchless switch is implemented using the capacitance measurement apparatus. The touchless switch includes two sensor electrodes (E1, E2) that correspond to the two capacitors (C1, C2) under measurement and in one embodiment has a front surface in the form of a container.

Abstract: Methods and associated structure for rapidly detecting a catastrophic failure of a bus structure within a storage subsystem. Features and aspects hereof associated with SCSI bus storage system configurations coordinate such failure detection with standard monitoring features of the SAF-TE enclosure monitoring specifications. In particular, standard polling operations of a SAF-TE compliant enclosure may be terminated early so as to preclude queuing additional polling related commands for disk drives or an enclosure of disk drives coupled to a SCSI bus cable or backplane that has experienced a catastrophic failure. Other features and aspects hereof disable all disk drives in a storage system that are coupled to a failed common bus.

Abstract: Capacitance measurement apparatus that enhances the sensitivity and accuracy of capacitive transducers, proximity sensors, and touchless switches. Each of two capacitors (C1, C2) under measurement has one end connected to ground and is kept at substantially the same voltage potential by operational amplifier (A1) or amplifiers (A0, A1) using negative feedback. The apparatus is driven by a periodic e.g. sinusoidal signal source (G1) or sources (G1, G2) and includes a difference amplifier (A2) operative to produce an electrical signal having a linear relationship with a specified arithmetic function of the capacitances of the two capacitors (C1, C2). A touchless switch is implemented using the capacitance measurement apparatus. The touchless switch includes two sensor electrodes (E1, E2) that correspond to the two capacitors (C1, C2) under measurement and in one embodiment has a front surface in the form of a container.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to generate a beam of coherent light including x-rays or XUV by colliding a high-intensity laser pulse with an electron beam that is accelerated by a synchronized laser pulse. Applications include x-ray and EUV lithography, protein structural analysis, plasma diagnostics, x-ray diffraction, crack analysis, non-destructive testing, surface science and ultrafast science.

Abstract: A multi-channel digital-to-analog (D/A) conversion system that can produce an analog output (210) from a digital signal (201) using N D/A converters (C1-CN), each with 1/N of the resolution of a single D/A converter used to perform the same D/A conversion. A data sample (Din) of the digital signal (201) is decomposed into N data sub-samples (D1-DN). The sum of the values of the data sub-samples (D1-DN) is equal to the value of the data sample (Din), while the normalized range of the value of the data sample Din is greater than the normalized range of the value of each data sub-sample (D1-DN). Each D/A converter (C1-CN) receives a respective one of the data sub-samples (D1-DN), and generates a respective one of a plurality of analog component outputs (A1-AN) singly or jointly with at least one of the other D/A converters (C1-CN). The analog output (210) is produced by additively combining the plurality of analog component outputs (A1-AN).

Abstract: A digital system employing a multi-channel and multi-level PWM technique that allows for smoother transitions in the outputs of the multiple channels in response to variations in the level of a digital input signal. The system generates PWM and other digital control signals to control switching circuitry included in the multiple channels, in which the PWM control signals are generated from a number of LSBs of the digital input signal, and the other digital control signals are generated from the remaining MSBs of the digital input signal. The system provides selected ones of the PWM and other digital control signals to each channel for controlling the switching circuitry included therein. By providing both the PWM and the other digital control signals to the multiple channels in an interleaved manner, smoother transitions in the outputs of the various channels can be achieved, thereby reducing the occurrence of unwanted transients in the system output.

Abstract: A hand held vacuum having a tapered centrifugal chamber as its primary filter. The tapering causes the air stream within the centrifugal chamber to accelerate as it moves toward the distal end. The air steam will be able to retain more debris at higher speeds, thereby improving the efficiency of the centrifugal chamber. This will also keep more of the debris in the vicinity of the distal end of the centrifugal chamber and away from its outflow aperture. An air freshener in a filter housing is also provided. The air freshener will sublimate into the passing air stream and be emitted with the exhaust from the vacuum and/or any odor causing particles that may be in the air stream will be absorbed by the air freshener. The filter will prevent any dust and debris in the airstream from adhering to the air freshener and impeding its effectiveness.

Abstract: Cost-effective, simple, low-noise, crossed-field devices such as a microwave magnetron, a microwave oven utilizing same, and crossed-field amplifier utilize an azimuthally varying, axial magnetic field. The magnetic configuration reduces and eliminates microwave and radio frequency noise. This microwave noise is present near the carrier frequency and as sidebands, far separated from the carrier. The device utilizes azimuthally-varying, axial, magnetic field perturbations. At least one permanent perturbing magnet having an azimuthally-varying magnetic field impressed thereupon causes the axial magnetic field to vary azimuthally in the magnetron and completely eliminates the microwave noise and unwanted frequencies. Preferably, the number of axial magnetic field perturbations is based on the number of cavities of the magnetron.