Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for the assessment and treatment of asthma and other inflammatory diseases, particularly those mediated by interleukin-13 (IL-13). The present invention also provides arrays comprising markers for asthma as well as IL-13 responsiveness. The markers of the present invention can be used in methods to diagnose a patient as having asthma or an IL-13-mediated condition, to evaluate the effectiveness of potential therapeutic agents, to identify or evaluate agents capable of modulating marker expression levels, and to select a treatment for a patient suffering from asthma or an IL-13-mediated condition.

Abstract: Differential transducers for corrosive or electrically conductive fluids have a first tube for guiding such fluids toward one side of a semiconductor diaphragm containing embedded strain gages, and a second tube for guiding such fluids toward an opposite side of that semiconductor diaphragm. These tubes are made of an electrically insulating material temporarily convertible to an electrical conductor for electrostatic bonding. The semiconductor diaphragm is provided in a semiconductor wafer extending beyond the perimeter of at least the first tube. The strain gages are provided with embedded electrical leads extending beyond the above mentioned perimeter for attachment of electrical contact wires outside the first tube, while providing these leads inlaid in the semiconductor wafer at least in a region to be covered by the first tube.

Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a disposable transducer or other disposable apparatus, which may be subject to sterilization inimical to that disposable apparatus, determine parameters required for operation of the disposable apparatus and provide a record of that determined parameters on the disposable apparatus. These parameters are subsequently derived by machine-reading the record on the disposable apparatus in order to operate that disposable apparatus. The mentioned record may be made destructible by resterilization and the machine-reading and the operation of the disposable apparatus may be rendered impossible upon resterilization of that apparatus by destroying the mentioned record by said resterilization.

Abstract: A transducer diaphragm overload protection system provides a core of insulating material for supporting a sensor and being movable relative to a deflectable diaphragm portion, and establishes a mechanical interconnection between that deflectable portion of the diaphragm and that movable core, while that core is in a movable condition. The movable core is rendered stationary relative to the diaphragm, and the mechanical interconnection is removed by establishing between the deflectable diaphragm portion and the core a gap corresponding to a predetermined diaphragm deflection, while maintaining the core stationary relative to the diaphragm. Advantageously, in pressure transducers having a ceramic core for supporting the transducer sensor, the desired gap may then be established by locating a dissolvable shim between the core and the diaphragm, while such core is movable, and by thereafter dissolving such shim after the core has become set in the transducer.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for handling a compatible solution relative to a circulatory system of a living organism employ a recipient device having a circular cavity tending to retain gas bubbles. A pocket communicating with an opening for injecting the compatible solution is provided in the circular cavity. A unidirectional jet of the injected solution is formed by blocking flow of the injected solution at a closed end of the pocket, thereby forming a pressure head in the pocket. The injected solution is then ejected through an outlet of the pocket and is swept in a swirling motion along a boundary of the cavity, thereby wiping gas bubbles from such boundary, for bleeding to atmosphere.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for filling a cavity with a liquid from a hypodermic needle through a port provide the port with a straight passage leading to the cavity either directly or through a laterally offset further passage. The needle is partially inserted into the straight passage of the port. The partially inserted needle is stopped by engagement inside the port short of the cavity while an overflow and gas escape path is provided through the straight passage along the outside of the stopped partially inserted needle.

Abstract: A force is translated into a pair of oppositely acting moments or electric signals up to a limited magnitude of that force by means of a folded beam structure which has a first leg presenting a first end of the folded beam structure, and a second leg, shorter than the first leg, presenting a second end of the beam structure. The first end is maintained relatively stationary and the force to be transduced is applied to the second end of the folded beam structure. The second leg is thereby moved with the applied force and there is thus applied on the first leg a first moment acting in a first portion of the first leg on one side of the second end and a second moment acting oppositely to the first moment in a second portion of the first leg on another side of the second end. According to the invention, overloading of the first leg is prevented by limiting the travel of the second leg against movement of that second leg by the applied force.