Abstract: The present invention is directed generally to activating gene expression or causing over-expression of a gene by recombination methods in situ. The invention also is directed generally to methods for expressing an endogenous gene in a cell at levels higher than those normally found in the cell. In one embodiment of the invention, expression of an endogenous gene is activated or increased following integration into the cell, by non-homologous or illegitimate recombination, of a regulatory sequence that activates expression of the gene. In another embodiment, the expression of the endogenous gene may be further increased by co-integration of one or more amplifiable markers, and selecting for increased copies of the one or more amplifiable markers located on the integrated vector. The invention also provides methods for the identification, activation, isolation, and/or expression of genes undiscoverable by current methods since no target sequence is necessary for integration.

Abstract: The present invention is directed generally to activating gene expression or causing over-expression of a gene by recombination methods in situ. The invention also is directed generally to methods for expressing an endogenous gene in a cell at levels higher than those normally found in the cell. In one embodiment of the invention, expression of an endogenous gene is activated or increased following integration into the cell, by non-homologous or illegitimate recombination, of a regulatory sequence that activates expression of the gene. In another embodiment, the expression of the endogenous gene may be further increased by co-integration of one or more amplifiable markers, and selecting for increased copies of the one or more amplifiable markers located on the integrated vector. In another embodiment, the invention is directed to activation of endogenous genes by non-targeted integration of specialized activation vectors, which are provided by the invention, into the genome of a host cell.

Abstract: The present invention is directed generally to activating gene expression or causing over-expression of a gene by recombination methods in situ. The invention also is directed generally to methods for expressing an endogenous gene in a cell at levels higher than those normally found in the cell. In one embodiment of the invention, expression of an endogenous gene is activated or increased following integration into the cell, by non-homologous or illegitimate recombination, of a regulatory sequence that activates expression of the gene. The invention also provides methods for the identification, activation, isolation, and/or expression of genes undiscoverable by current methods since no target sequence is necessary for integration. The invention also provides methods for isolation of nucleic acid molecules (particularly cDNA molecules) encoding a variety of proteins.

Abstract: Expression of an endogenous gene is activated or increased following integration into a cell, by non-homologous or illegitimate recombination, of (1) an enhancer sequence that activates expression of the gene and (2) a sequence that encodes an amplifiable marker. The invention also provides methods for the identification, activation, isolation, and/or expression of genes undiscoverable by current methods since no target sequence is necessary for integration. The invention also provides cells containing the enhancer and amplifiable marker sequence and expressing increased amounts of a desired gene. The invention also provides methods for the isolation of nucleic acid molecules (particularly cDNA molecules) encoding a variety of proteins, including transmembrane proteins, and for the isolation of cells expressing such proteins.

Abstract: The present invention is directed generally to activating gene expression or causing over-expression of a gene by recombination methods in situ. The invention also is directed generally to methods for expressing an endogenous gene in a cell at levels higher than those normally found in the cell. In one embodiment of the invention, expression of an endogenous gene is activated or increased following integration into the cell, by non-homologous or illegitimate recombination, of a regulatory sequence that activates expression of the gene. In another embodiment, the expression of the endogenous gene may be further increased by co-integration of one or more amplifiable markers, and selecting for increased copies of the one or more amplifiable markers located on the integrated vector. In another embodiment, the invention is directed to activation of endogenous genes by non-targeted integration of specialized activation vectors, which are provided by the invention, into the genome of a host cell.

Abstract: Expression of an endogenous gene is activated or increased following integration into the cell, by non-homologous or illegitimate recombination, of a regulatory sequence that activates expression of the gene. The invention also provides methods for the identification, activation, isolation, and/or expression of genes undiscoverable by current methods since no target sequence is necessary for integration. The invention also provides methods for the isolation of nucleic acid molecules (particularly cDNA molecules) encoding a variety of proteins, including transmembrane proteins, and for the isolation of cells expressing such transmembrane proteins which may be heterologous transmembrane proteins. Thus, by the present invention, endogenous genes, including those associated with human disease and development, may be activated and isolated without prior knowledge of the sequence, structure, function, or expression profile of the genes.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of gene therapy, gene expression, and vectors for these uses. In particular, the invention relates to the development and use of an artificial or synthetic chromosome for gene expression and gene therapy in mammals, and especially humans. The invention allows the controlled construction of stable synthetic or artificial chromosomes constructed from isolated segments of purified DNA. Functional minimal segments preferably include centromeric DNA, telomeric DNA, and genomic DNA. The artificial chromosome performs the essential chromosomal functions of naturally-occurring chromosomes so as to permit the chromosome to function as an effective vector for gene therapy.

Abstract: A handheld control device provides a way for controlling one or multiple mobile robotic vehicles by incorporating a handheld computer with a radio board. The device and software use a personal data organizer as the handheld computer with an additional microprocessor and communication device on a radio board for use in controlling one robot or multiple networked robots.

Abstract: The present invention is directed generally to activating gene expression or causing over-expression of a gene by recombination methods in situ. The invention also is directed generally to methods for expressing an endogenous gene in a cell at levels higher than those normally found in the cell. In one embodiment of the invention, expression of an endogenous gene is activated or increased following integration into the cell, by non-homologous or illegitimate recombination, of a regulatory sequence that activates expression of the gene. In another embodiment, the expression of the endogenous gene may be further increased by co-integration of one or more amplifiable markers, and selecting for increased copies of the one or more ampliflable markers located on the integrated vector. In another embodiment, the invention is directed to activation of endogenous genes by non-targeted integration of specialized activation vectors, which are provided by the invention, into the genome of a host cell.

Abstract: A test system for testing a controller provides a way to use large numbers of miniature mobile robots to test a cooperative search controller in a test area, where each mobile robot has a sensor, a communication device, a processor, and a memory. A method of using a test system provides a way for testing a cooperative search controller using multiple robots sharing information and communicating over a communication network.

Abstract: The invention is directed to improved methods for gene expression using vectors with multiple promoters. Multiple promoters are used in nucleic acid constructs to provide increased expression of a desired nucleic acid sequence. The sequence is introduced into a vector by conventional cloning or is expressed from an endogenous sequence in the genome that is activated by the vector containing the multiple promoters.

Abstract: The present invention is directed generally to activating gene expression or causing over-expression of a gene by recombination methods in situ. The invention also is directed generally to methods for expressing an endogenous gene in a cell at levels higher than those normally found in the cell. In one embodiment of the invention, expression of an endogenous gene is activated or increased following integration into the cell, by non-homologous or illegitimate recombination, of a regulatory sequence that activates expression of the gene. In another embodiment, the expression of the endogenous gene may be further increased by co-integration of one or more amplifiable markers, and selecting for increased copies of the one or more amplifiable markers located on the integrated vector. In another embodiment, the invention is directed to activation of endogenous genes by non-targeted integration of specialized activation vectors, which are provided by the invention, into the genome of a host cell.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of gene therapy, gene expression, and vectors for these uses. In particular, the invention relates to the development and use of an artificial or synthetic chromosome for gene expression and gene therapy in mammals, and especially humans. The invention allows the controlled construction of stable synthetic or artificial chromosomes constructed from isolated segments of purified DNA. Functional minimal segments preferably include centromeric DNA, telomeric DNA, and genomic DNA. The artificial chromosome performs the essential chromosomal functions of naturally-occurring chromosomes so as to permit the chromosome to function as an effective vector for gene therapy.

Abstract: A method for stably cloning large arrays of repetitive DNA is described. The method is especially useful for the stable cloning of alpha satellite DNA.

Abstract: A direction method of stably cloning large repeating units of DNA is described. The method is especially useful for the stable cloning of alpha satellite DNA.

Abstract: A nipper for pruning sticks, stems and branches is provided with an anvil having locator hooks which partially block the jaw opening of a nipper to limit the size of sticks, stems and branches to be cut. The locator hooks further position sticks, stems and branches for cutting such that larger sizes are subjected to higher cutting forces, and are shaped to enhance retention of sticks, stems and branches for cutting.

Abstract: A computer-controlled exercise sit up machine has a frame supporting a bed on which a user may rest his or her body, knee support posts for resting the user's knees, and foot rest support posts for receiving the user's feet and ankles. The exercise sit up machine has a triangular-shaped housing which acts as a fulcrum for pivoting the frame about a transverse axis so that the bed is inclined to a position where the user performs sit ups with the head at a higher vertical level than the feet. A computer controls a motor housed in the triangular-shaped housing for pivoting the frame about the fulcrum. The user may select a desired sit up routine. The computer then operates the machine through the chosen sit up routine and calculates and displays a sit up coefficient score to apprise the user of his or her performance.

Abstract: A decoy missile having the shape of a reentry vehicle and containing a pair of conically shaped dipole jacks in tandem, the jacks are shaped and spaced to provide a desired reflective cross section at a specific frequency, the rear cover plate of the decoy is constructed of radar absorbing material to aid in the enhancement process.

Abstract: An aid in penetrating hostile radar defenses by forming target images that are false in size and configuration. The inventive device includes: a cone-shaped deep penetrating forebody with an orgival nosetip; a bellows-fold, expansible, cylinder-like shaped, tethered radar signal reflector bag connected to the aft end of the forebody and carrying a plurality of circumferential crown reflectors along its length, and a cannister lined with a plurality of sabots to house, hold and support the payload (i.e., the forebody and the connected radar reflector bag) until the payload is launched and is separated from the cannister and the sabots.