Abstract: The present invention relates to mutant polypeptides of the beta chain of the type I IFN receptor (IFNAR2 mutant) with enhanced affinity for IFN? as compared to the wild type protein for prolonging the effect of IFN? in vivo.

Abstract: The present invention relates to materials comprising hydrophilic polymers and immobilized proteorhodopsin and the use of such materials as an optical information carrier. The material comprises one or more hydrophilic polymers that are capable to form a homogeneous phase with proteorhodopsin prior to solidification to a solid form. The hydrophilic polymer, for example, is silica sol-gel, gelatin, polyvinylalcohol, agarose, agar, methyl cellulose, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyethylene glycol, or a mixture thereof. The solid material having immobilized proteorhodopsin is deposited on a substrate selected from the group consisting of glass, paper, metal, fabric material, plastic material, and used as an optical data storage material or a fraud-proof carrier. The present invention further provides a security ink comprising proteorhodopsin and one or more hydrophilic polymers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for stabilization of analytes in solutions of solubilized body samples. The method comprises the steps of solubilizing the body samples obtained from a subject in a suitable sample medium and stabilizing said body sample contained within the sample medium by heating said sample medium for a certain period of time. A further aspect of the invention is a method of a denaturing immunoassay of proteins in solution. The method comprises the steps of bringing a sample containing proteins into contact with a denaturing agent and heating said sample in the presence of the denaturing agent to allow the protein to be denatured.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for developing novel strains deleted specific chromosome sites, using transposon and Cre/loxP site-specific recombination by Cre expression vector, wherein the transposon comprises a selectable marker and loxP site. The method comprises the steps of: (1) preparing a transposon comprising a selectable marker and loxP site; (2) inserting the transposon into an optional position of microbial chromosome, and determining the inserted site; (3) integrating two transposons comprising a different selectable marker to one chromosome; (4) deleting a chromosomal site between the two lox sites by introducing a Cre expression vector into the chromosome of step (3); and (5) repeating steps (3 and 4) for the mutant deleted a part of chromosome, to shorten the chromosome of mutant gradually.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical scanning device that comprises a light source to emit a beam of light, and a beam splitter to split that beam into several beamlets, and further a first objective lens to direct said beamlets onto a focal plane wherein each of said beamlets impinges on the focal plane spacially separated from each other, wherein the beam splitter comprises several birefringent elements for splitting said beam, preferably a stack of Wollaston prisms.

Abstract: An apparatus that can determine the water wettability of fluid at simulate downhole conditions. For example, a spacer fluid and a drilling mud mixture can be tested under a specified pressure and a specified temperature that simulate downhole conditions. Additionally, a shear rate may be applied to the fluid mixture that is substantially identical to the shear rate that will be exerted on the mixture due to downhole geometries and conditions. The apparatus may also provide the viscosity of the fluid under the designated pressure, at the specific temperature, and under the specified shear rate. The apparatus may also be used to determine the amount of spacer fluid that would need to be added to a drilling mud to improve the rheological properties of the mixture to provide adequate water wettability as well as the displacement of the mixture during the cementing process of a wellbore.

Abstract: A system for determining a basket of financial instruments for hedging investment risk in actively managed exchange traded funds is described. The system uses a trusted computer system and includes a computer storage medium storing a computer program product. The product determines the basket of hedging instruments by extracting factor information from a portfolio of the actively managed exchange traded fund and determining factors that affect the price of the exchange traded fund. The program can select a portfolio of instruments with similar behavior with respect to the determined factors to produce a hedging portfolio that tracks the price of the exchange traded fund.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a processes for the synthesis of trans isomer of 4,6-disubstituted-tetrahydro-furo, thieno, pyrrolo and cyclopenta-[3,4][1,3]dioxoles (Formula I). The process comprises the steps of: (a) obtaining a compound of Formula II, which is a mixture of cis and trans-diastereomers, and (b) chemically decomposing the compound of Formula II in a solution comprising a solvent and an acid that is a hydrogen donor or an electron pair acceptor, whereby the cis diastereomer is decomposed and the compound of Formula I is obtained. The compounds prepared by the present invention are useful in treating diseases or conditions associated with platelet aggregation and/or platelet activation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of compositions comprising trans-clomiphene for treating wasting, especially a loss of muscle mass. The invention is also directed to methods for treating wasting in a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder. The present invention is also directed to methods for treating hypogonadism in males with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder.

Abstract: A brazing product for fluxless brazing comprises a substrate and a filler metal-forming composition applied to the substrate. The substrate preferably comprises aluminum, an aluminum alloy or another metal and may include at least one layer of a ceramic, carbide or nitride. The filler metal-forming composition comprises a liquid-forming layer comprising silicon and a braze-promoting layer comprising one or more metals selected from the group comprising nickel, cobalt, palladium and iron. The liquid-forming layer comprises one or more material layers. Where the liquid-forming layer comprises a plurality of layers, it may include at least one layer consisting essentially of silicon.

Abstract: An improved method for building a plug in a horizontal wellbore using a fluid pill pumped into the wellbore at the end of a fracturing treatment. The fluid pill includes a high concentration of an ultra lightweight proppant, such as a neutrally buoyant proppant or an ultra lightweight proppant mixture. The fluid pill is pumped down the wellbore until it almost reaches fractures within a zone of interest. The pumping is then ceased or reduced, allowing the fractures to partially close. The ultra lightweight proppant remains suspended within the fluid pill while stationary. The pumping is then resumed at a very slow rate or as a short pump burst, thus causing the proppant in the fluid pill to bridge off until a bridge plug is formed.

Abstract: A member of a specific binding pair (sbp) is identified by expressing DNA encoding a genetically diverse population of such sbp members in recombinant host cells in which the sbp members are displayed in functional form at the surface of a filamentous bacteriophage particle containing DNA encoding the sbp member, wherein the sbp member has a binding domain that consists of a dAb fragment. The displayed sbps may be selected by affinity with a complementary sbp member, and the DNA recovered from selected filamentous bacteriophage particles for expression of the selected sbp members.

Abstract: The invention relates to a high gloss car wash-resistant coating composition comprising a hydroxyl-functional binder and a cross-linker reactive with the hydroxyl groups of the binder and a method to prepare such a car wash-resistant coating. The invention further relates to the use of said coating composition, as a pigment-free top coat or a clear coat, in the finishing and refinishing of articles, for example motorcycles, cars, trains, buses, trucks, and aeroplanes. The coating composition after curing forms a coating having an initial gloss of at least 81 GU and a loss of gloss (LoG) of less than 0.18, the loss of gloss being determined by the formula (I): LoG=A+B·E?·(X)?1·10(C·?Tg)+D·(E?)?0.5; wherein A=0.0132, B=1.0197, C=0.0113, and D=0.0566, E? reflects the tensile storage modulus at 40° C. in GPa, ?Tg the width of the glass transition temperature in ° C., and X the cross-link density parameter in kPA/K all three parameters determined in a DMTA test at 11 Hz and a heating rate of 5° C./min.

Abstract: A device for milking animals includes a milking robot for automatically connecting at least two teat cups to the teats of an animal to be milked. The milk yielded is collected in a milk container. In each milk line, between a respective teat cup and the milk container, there is provided an auxiliary reservoir for collecting milk obtained at the beginning of the milking process. The auxiliary reservoir has an outlet aperture with a closing device. Each auxiliary reservoir is disposed in a respective mounting block, the various mounting blocks being arranged side by side, and the device is provided with an arrangement for simultaneously operating the closing devices.

Abstract: A member of a specific binding pair (sbp) is identified by expressing DNA encoding a genetically diverse population of such sbp members in recombinant host cells in which the sbp members are displayed in functional form at the surface of a secreted recombinant genetic display package (rgdp) containing DNA encoding the sbp member or a polypeptide component thereof, by virtue of the sbp member or a polypeptide component thereof being expressed as a fusion with a capsid component of the rgdp. The displayed sbps may be selected by affinity with a complementary sbp member, and the DNA recovered from selected rgdps for expression of the selected sbp members. Antibody sbp members may be thus obtained, with the different chains thereof expressed, one fused to the capsid component and the other in free form for association with the fusion partner polypeptide. A phagemid may be used as an expression vector, with said capsid fusion helping to package the phagemid DNA.

Abstract: A biocompatible synthetic bone growth composition comprising a fibrillar collagen component and a calcium phosphate component. The composition is formed into particles, and then formed into a unitary article that may be provided at the site of a skeletal defect. An osteoinductive component may be further added, either before or after forming the unitary article. The composition may be formulated as a paste or putty and facilitates bone growth and/or repair.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel non-immunogenic, hydrophilic/cationic block copolymers comprising a neutral-hydrophilic polymer and a cationic polymer, wherein both polymers have well-defined chain-end functionality. A representative example of such a block copolymer comprises poly(N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide) (PHPMA) and poly(N-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]methacrylamide) (PDMAPMA). Also provided is a synthesis method thereof in aqueous media via reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Further provided are uses of these block copolymers as drug delivery vehicles and protection agents.

Abstract: A device for delivering a biocompatible material to a surgical site includes a cannula having proximal and distal portions and at least a first interior lumen disposed therebetween through which the biocompatible material is delivered. The device further includes an initiation member for initiating cross-linking of the biocompatible material while the biocompatible material is within the cannula. The cannula may include a heating element to thermally initiate cross-linking. Alternately, the cannula may include a second lumen for transmitting light from a light source. A movable blocking element controls the amount of light that passes into the first lumen. A method of delivering a curable biocompatible material to a surgical site includes positioning a distal portion of a cannula adjacent the surgical site and introducing the biocompatible material through a first lumen of the cannula. Cross-linking of the biocompatible material is then initiated while the biocompatible material is within the cannula.

Abstract: The present invention provides assays for detecting the presence of the PV-BNGT04(RT73) canola event based on the DNA sequence of the recombinant construct inserted into the canola genome and of genomic sequences flanking the insertion site.

Abstract: This invention relates to an electrophoretic display comprising a plurality of cells, each of said cells comprises: a) partition walls; b) an electrophoretic fluid filled therein; c) a polymeric sealing layer to enclose the electrophoretic fluid within the cell; and d) an interface between the electrophoretic fluid and the sealing layer.