Abstract: A prototyping method and apparatus incorporating the invention enables rapid fabrication of heterogeneous parts with non-planar and/or layer-by-layer printing. An electronically addressable array of micro-electrodes is employed as a "printing" panel, A processor controls the printing panel through use of two dimensional planar slice data. Such slice data is used to address electrodes that correspond to points in the slice image. When the printing panel is brought close to a flat powder bed, a static electrical field at each addressed electrode attracts particles to the electrode's surface. The powder image on the printing panel electrodes is then placed over a substrate and the powder image is released to the substrate by applying a reverse polarity voltage to the electrodes. Multiple applications of powder image layers, with intervening fixing of each image layer, enables a three dimensional object to be rapidly constructed.

Abstract: This invention relates to detection of specific extracellular nucleic acid in plasma or serum fractions of human or animal blood associated with neoplastic or proliferative disease. Specifically, the invention relates to detection of nucleic acid derived from mutant oncogenes or other tumor-associated DNA, and to methods of detecting and monitoring extracellular mutant oncogenes or tumor-associated DNA found in the plasma or serum fraction of blood, using DNA extraction followed by nucleic acid amplification with or without enrichment for mutant DNA. In particular, the invention relates to detection, identification, or monitoring of the existence, progression or clinical status of benign, premalignant, or malignant neoplasms in humans or animals that contain a mutation associated with the neoplasm through detection of the mutated nucleic acid of the neoplasm in plasma or serum fractions.

Abstract: The present invention is a new and simple method of decomposing ammonium tetrathiomolybdate (ATTM) in an organic solvent with added water under H.sub.2 pressure. Model compound reactions of 4-(1-naphthylmethyl)bibenzyl (NMBB) were carried out at 350-425.degree. C. under H.sub.2 pressure in order to examine the activity of the Mo sulfide catalysts generated from ATTM with and without added water for C--C bond cleavage and hydrogenation of aromatic ring. The Mo sulfide catalysts generated from ATTM with added water were much more effective for C--C bond cleavage and hydrogenation of aromatic moieties at 350-425.degree. C. than those from ATTM alone. Two-step tests revealed that the addition of water is effective for generating highly active Mo sulfide catalyst from ATTM, but water itself does not promote catalytic conversion. Removal of water after the decomposition of ATTM with added water at 350-400.degree. C. under H.sub.2 pressure by hot purging gives highly active Mo sulfide catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved methods of transforming cacao tissues with Agrobacterium vectors and regenerating transgenic plants. The invention further relates to transgenic cacao somatic embryos and plants obtained according to the methods of the invention. Novel tissue culture media adapted for use in the above-identified methods are also within the scope of the invention. The novel media of the invention include primary callus growth medium, secondary callus growth medium, embryo development medium, primary embryo conversion medium, secondary embryo conversion medium and plant regeneration medium.

Abstract: The present invention is related to the treatment and prevention of cancer including particularly gastrointestinal cancer. More specifically, the present invention describes the use of naltrexone, naloxone and the pentapeptide growth factor [Met.sup.5 ]-enkephalin to inhibit and arrest the growth of cancer. Such efficiency has been discovered to be a consequence of the functional manipulation of the zeta (.zeta.) opioid receptor through endogenous [Met.sup.5 ]-enkephalin. This receptor has been determined to be present in growing cancers such as pancreatic and colon cancer, for example.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for the thermomechanical net shape finishing of precision gear tooth surfaces by controlled deformation into metastable austenitic condition. To this end, an arrangement of a fixed axis through-feed motion of workpiece and moving axes in-feed motion of two opposed rolling dies are utilized. By means of process control methods and architecture for accomplishing precision mechanical motions, thermal and environmental control and timely and automatic transfer of workpiece, high strength and high accuracy gear tooth contact surfaces are produced.

Abstract: The present invention provides a two component system to obtain uniform density of compacted materials and track the compaction of the materials. The first component provides an automated, real-time compaction density meter and method of use to measure the density of the compacted material. The second component provides a Geographic Information System (GIS) for tracking compaction of a surface at specific locations. The two components of the present invention combined provide a system to measure the density of the compacted material and record the location of each density measurement. The components of the present invention can be utilized for many compaction operations, such as the roller compaction of concrete, pavement, soil, landfills, and asphalt pavements.

Abstract: A process for converting alkyl-substituted aromatic hydrocarbons, such as p-xylene or 2,6-dimethyl naphthalene to their corresponding dicarboxylic acids is disclosed, said process comprising contacting the alkyl-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon with a gaseous mixture containing oxygen, NOx, where x is 1 or 2, and an inert gas, and heating the resulting mixture at a temperature from 90 .degree. C. to 250 .degree. C. and at a pressure of from 300 psi to 2500 psi for a period of time sufficient to convert the alkyl substitutents on the aromatic hydrocarbons to carboxyl groups.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fiber testing apparatus which permits creep and strength testing of one or more fibers in a controlled environment, including a vacuum, at high temperatures. Components of the fiber tester provide for accurate measurement of the effects on the fiber(s) being tested when exposed to a chosen environment. The fiber tester includes a furnace system, fiber testing system, a fixed sample, a environmental control system, a mass flow control system, a Computer Data Acquisition and Control (CDAC) system, and a support system. Most of these systems are contained in a test chamber which is part of the environmental control system. These systems of the fiber tester allow various types of mechanical tests to be performed on one or more fibers under a variety of environmental conditions not previously achievable.

Abstract: An electrical interconnect incorporating the invention includes a first conductive electrode having a male connector part; a second electrode having a female connector part closely coupled to the male connector part so as to create opposed surface regions of area A for electrical conduction therebetween; and a fusible alloy layer of maximum thickness t, positioned within the area A and between the male electrical part and the female electrical part, the fusible alloy having a resistivity that is greater than a resistivity of either the first electrode or the second electrode. A ratio of t to A assures that the resistance of the fusible alloy layer is smaller than the resistance of either the first electrode or the second electrode.

Abstract: Homopolymers or copolymers of acrylates, homopolymers or copolymers of norbornenes, and copolymers of acrylates with norbornenes, may be prepared by contacting acrylate and/or norbornene monomer reactant under polymerization conditions and in the presence of a solvent with a catalyst system consisting essentially of a Pd(II) dimer component having the formula:[(L)Pd(R)(X)].sub.2,where L is a monodentate phosphorus or nitrogen ligand, X is an anionic group, and R is an alkyl or aryl group.

Abstract: Expression vectors that include reporter genes and an operable regulatory region containing a promoter and E2 binding sites of papillomavirus (PV), are used to detect and/or titer papillomavirus by quantitative or qualitative methods.

Abstract: A phased-beam transducer is disclosed for transmitting and receiving steered acoustic beam signals that includes a sheet of piezoelectric material such as Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF), a copolymer, piezo-rubber, quartz, 1-3 PZT composite, or similar transducer material. The transducer includes specially designed electrode on each side of the piezoelectric sheet. The transducer is a two channel device with a sine channel, cosine channel and a ground lead. A summing circuit is used to sum the sine and cosine channels with a 90 .degree. phase shift applied by a phase shift circuit to one of the two channels, for example, the sine channel. The transducer is designed to form a predetermined steered beam at a particular frequency. If a different sound wave frequencies are used, the transducer will form useful directional beams with different steer angles and beamwidths. Variable sector coverage is achieved by forming beams at different frequencies.

Abstract: New methods and compositions suitable for the vaccination of poultry against pathogenic Escherichia coli are presented. The invention uses the clonal structure of bacterial populations in order to successfully vaccinate against such poultry pathogens by selecting out closely related non-pathogenic organisms. Live E. coli are used to effect immunization.

Abstract: The invention relates to linear copolymers containing alpha-olefin and divinylbenzene comonomer units and to a process for preparing the copolymers, the copolymers having a mole ratio of unsaturation/divinylbenzene (TUS/DOU) between 0.8 and 1.1, a molecular weight distribution of less than 4, and a homogeneous composition distribution, and having the structural formula ##STR1## in which R is a linear or branched C.sub.1 to C.sub.10 alkyl group or a phenyl or alkyl-substituted phenyl group, x+y is the mole % of alpha-olefin units in the copolymer, z is the mole % of divinylbenzene units in the copolymer, the sum of x+y is from 50 to 99.9, and the sum of x+y+z is 100. The copolymers are prepared in the presence of a bridged metallocene catalyst having a spacial opening at the metal active site of between 135 and 105.degree. for reacting with only one of the two vinyl groups in the divinylbenzene comonomer, which assures the formation of linear copolymers without detectable branching structure.

Abstract: Incorporation of phosphate and phosphonate units into the side groups of aryloxyphosphazenes, at both the polymer and cyclic trimer levels, is disclosed. Phosphorylated cyclic trimers are utilized as flame-retardant additives to polystyrene.

Abstract: The present invention is a real-time spatial particulate mass deposition tester. The tester is based on the principle that an anisotropic fill density distribution would result in an uneven particulate vertical pressure distribution on the inside face of the bottom surface of the die. Further, this uneven particulate vertical pressure distribution can be detected by placing multiple, sufficiently sensitive load cells on the inside surface at the bottom of the die, and analyzing the output signals acquired from the load cells using any suitable data acquisition system.

Abstract: A method of balancing the flow of a molten polymer containing material in a multi-runner injection mold includes the step of providing a mold body having at least one mold cavity and at least two runners. The first runner includes first and second ends and is connected to a source of molten material. The first runner is connected to a second runner. The second runner is connected to the at least one mold cavity. A stream of a molten polymer containing material flows through the first and second runners. The stream is repositioned in a circumferential direction as it flows from the first runner through the second runner while maintaining continuity between laminates of the stream of the molten material in a radial direction. In this way, a balance is provided for the melt temperatures and material properties of the cross branching runners.

Abstract: The present invention is a process and apparatus for producing nano-scale particles using the interaction between a laser beam and a liquid precursor solution. There are two embodiments. The first embodiment includes the use of a solid substrate during the laser-liquid interaction. In this embodiment the laser beam is directed at the solid substrate which is immersed in the liquid precursor solution and rotating. The second embodiment includes the use of a plasma during the laser-liquid interaction. In the second embodiment, a mixture of a liquid precursor and a carrier gas is injected into a laser beam. Injection of the mixture can be performed either perpendicular or parallel to the laser beam. The apparatus for injecting the liquid precursor and carrier gas into the laser beam includes a plasma nozzle designed to allow the laser beam to enter the plasma nozzle so that the laser beam may irradiate what is flowing through the plasma nozzle to create a plasma flow.

Abstract: Methods for improving insulin sensitivity in a patient using one or more A.sub.2B adenosine receptor antagonists are disclosed. These methods stimulate insulin dependent glucose uptake in muscle.