Abstract: Disclosed is a rapid and facilitated method of producing from a parental template polynucleotide, a set of mutagenized progeny polynucleotides whereby at each original codon position there is produced at least one substitute codon encoding each of the 20 naturally encoded amino acids. Accordingly, there is also provided a method of producing from a parental template polypeptide, a set of mutagenized progeny polypeptides wherein each of the 20 naturally encoded amino acids is represented at each original amino acid position. The method provided is termed site-saturation mutagenesis, or simply saturation mutagenesis, and can be used in combination with other mutagenization processes, such as, for example, a process wherein two or more related polynucleotides are introduced into a suitable host cell such that a hybrid polynucleotide is generated by recombination and reductive reassortment.

Abstract: A system for rapid thermal processing of a substrate in a process chamber while measuring and controlling the temperature at the substrate to establish substantially uniform substrate temperature in real time. The system includes an essentially continuous spirally-configured multizone illuminator having a plurality of substantially concentric rings of heating lamps for directing optical power toward the substrate and a fluid cooled optical reflector facing the substrate frontside and having a relatively high optical reflectivity. The illuminator can also be offset from the geometric center of the substrate. The system can also include a plurality of contact devices to provide thermal conductivity from each, or some subset, of the plurality of heating lamps. The illumination system of the present invention provides improved spatial resolution and improved thermal properties at the heating lamps.

Abstract: An optical bi-directional line switched ring for performing adding and dropping of traffic into the traffic path and for performing ring and/or span protection switching. The optical bi-directional line switched ring include a plurality of nodes, each node having multiple input demultiplexer/output multiplexer sections, a command and control channel having multiple fibers, and up to N-1 slave circuits. Each multiple input demultiplexer/output multiplexer sections has an input demultiplexer to receive and demultiplex signals from a fiber and an output multiplexer to receive the demultiplexed wavelengths from internally and multiplex them into an outgoing signal. The command and control channel can be a standard bi-directional line switch that has one channel coupled to each fiber of the system.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting, locating and measuring electromagnetic radiation is provided. The apparatus may be a self-contained, portable device which permits a user to detect, locate and measure electromagnetic radiation from distance away from the radiation source in presence of interference.

Abstract: A cis-acting posttranscriptional regulatory element (PRE) useful for efficient RNA export of RNA is provided. The element termed WPRE, is originally derived from woodchuck hepatitis virus. The invention also provides a method for enhancing the expression of transgenes by insertion of the WPRE nucleic acid sequences in operably linkage with the transgene.

Abstract: Growth differentiation factor-12 (GDF-12) is disclosed along with its polynucleotide sequence and amino acid sequence. Also disclosed are diagnostic and therapeutic methods of using the GDF-12 polypeptide and polynucleotide sequences.

Abstract: A method for assessing write element performance in a combined magnetic head that also includes a magneto-resistive (MR) read element for a data storage drive includes exciting the write element with a square wave immediately after lapping the head during manufacture, before mounting the head for operation in the drive. The write element generates an output signal, and the output signal is detected by the read element and then used to determine whether the write element is defective. By using a square wave, temperature gradients in the head and inductive pick up is avoided, thereby facilitating the use of the read element as a test sensor.

Abstract: An inductive magnetic head is provided which has a zero throat height (ZTH) defining insulation layer that is located entirely between the air bearing surface (ABS) and a coil layer of the head. The ZTH defining insulation layer has a front end which defines the zero throat height (ZTH) of the head. An insulation stack, with one or more coil layers embedded therein, is located between the ZTH defining insulation layer and a back gap where first and second pole pieces are connected. The insulation stack has a first insulation layer that has a thickness that is less than the thickness of the ZTH defining insulation layer so that the final stack has less height than previous insulation stacks. The lower stack permits the construction of a second pole piece pole tip portion with improved side wall definition.

Abstract: A portable heating tent (10) and method are disclosed for testing telecommunications equipment (16). The portable heating tent (100 includes a tent assembly (12) that provides a housing sized to contain telecommunications equipment (16) for testing. The housing has an inlet to receive return air and has an outlet to provide supply air. The portable heating tent (10) also includes a heater/blower assembly (14) that has an inlet (20) coupled to the outlet of the housing and an outlet coupled to the inlet of the housing. The heater/blower assembly (14) processes the supply air and provides the return air such that a temperature within the housing is established at a desired set point for heat testing the telecommunications equipment (16).

Abstract: A magneto-resistive read head having a "parasitic shield" provides an alternative path for currents associated with sparkovers, thus preventing such currents from damaging the read head. The parasitic shield is provided in close proximity to a conventional magnetic shield. The electrical potential of parasitic shield is held essentially equal to the electrical potential of the sensor element. If charges accumulate on the conventional shield, current will flow to the parasitic shield at a lower potential than would be required for current to flow between the conventional shield and the sensor element. Alternatively, conductive spark gap devices are electrically coupled to sensor element leads and to each magnetic shield. Each spark gap device is brought within very close proximity of the substrate to provide an alternative path for charge that builds up between the sensor element and the substrate to be discharged.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system and method for far-field determination of store position and attitude for separation and ballistics. The aircraft is outfitted with two photogrammetric video cameras. The store is dropped from the aircraft and the cameras record data describing the descent of the store while the on-board avionics record data describing the flight path of the aircraft. Following the flight, the data are correlated using a computer to obtain a true store position vs. time while separating from the aircraft.

Abstract: A novel class of cationic peptides having antimicrobial activity is provided. Examples of such peptides includeNH.sub.2 -KWKSFIKKLTTAVKKVLTTGLPALIS-COOH (SEQ ID NO:1)andNH.sub.2 -KWKSFIKKLTSAAKKVVTTAKPLISS-COOH. (SEQ ID NO:2)Also provided are methods for inhibiting the growth of bacteria utilizing the peptides of the invention. The peptides are particularly useful for inhibiting endotoxemia in a subject.

Abstract: A combined read head and write head includes at least one write coil layer embedded in an insulation stack. The insulation stack is sandwiched between first and second pole piece layers that are connected at a back gap. The pole piece layers have first and second pole tips that have edges that form a portion of an air bearing surface. A write gap layer that forms a portion of the air bearing surface is sandwiched between a top surface of the first pole tip and a bottom surface of the second pole tip. A non-magnetic electrically conductive layer on top of the second pole tip forms a portion of the air bearing surface. A magnetoresistive sensor is sandwiched between first and second gap layers, which are sandwiched between first and second shield layers. The second shield layer is a common layer with the first pole piece layer.

Abstract: Growth differentiation factor-3 (GDF-3) is disclosed along with its polynucleotide sequence and amino acid sequence. Also disclosed are diagnostic and therapeutic methods of using the GDF-3 polypeptide and polynucleotide sequences.

Abstract: A transgenic mouse whose genome comprises a disruption of the endogenous growth differentiation factor-11 (GDF-11) gene is disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for making such mice. The mice exhibit a phenotype of increased muscle tissue.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods for their use, such as in identifying G-protein coupled receptors and ligands and compounds that modulate signal transduction. The compositions and methods employ promicuous G-proteins. Activation of the promiscous G-protein can be detected in a variety of assays, including assays in which activation is indicated by a change in fluorescence emission of a sample that contains the composition.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for the modulation of melanin production are provided in which the active component is an adenosine receptor antagonist or agonist.

Abstract: This invention includes a path-based method and system that restore a distributed telecommunications network (90) from a failure condition (92). First, the method and system notify all the network nodes (22, 24, 26, 28) of the fault of a link (12). Next, an alternate route finding phase occurs for finding alternate paths (S-T1-T4-D) to reroute the disrupted traffic. For finding alternate paths (S-T1-T4-D), the alternate route finding phase includes sending messages (70, 100) throughout the distributed telecommunications network. Upon finding some alternate paths (S-T1-T4-D), the method and system send connect commands (100) to make the necessary cross connections in the distributed telecommunications network nodes (22, 24, 26, 28) that are on the alternate paths (S-T1-T4-D). Throughout the distributed network restoration process, the method and system synchronize (62) the distributed telecommunications network nodes to avoid possible race conditions among the nodes.

Abstract: A system and method for indexing a data record from an information source into a database, the database containing a plurality of data records, is provided comprising receiving a data record from an information source, the received data record having a predetermined number of fields containing information about a particular entity, standardizing and validating the data in the received data record. A system and method is also provided for retrieving records that refer to an entity characterized by a specific set of data values by comparing a predetermined number of fields within the received data record with a predetermined number of fields within the data records already in the database, selecting data records already in the database as candidates having data within some of the predetermined fields that is identical to the data in the fields of the received data record, and scoring the candidates to determine data records having information about the same entity.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there are provided methods for the separation of biological materials employing a variety of polymeric materials with defined chemical, physical and mechanical properties. Thus, a wide range of biological materials (i.e., from very low to very high molecular weight) can be separated according to the present invention. Polymeric materials contemplated for use in the practice of the present invention are block copolymers of partially hydrolyzed acrylonitrile which have excellent storage stability, are chemically inert, contain minimal residual concentration of monomeric species, and can be prepared in large scale.