Abstract: The present invention is directed to pegylated red blood cells comprising a polyethylene glycol (PEG) attached to a thiolated amino group on a membrane protein, and to compositions comprising the pegylated red blood cells. The invention also provides methods of preparing pegylated red blood cells comprising reacting red blood cells with a compound that produces a thiolated amino group on a red blood cell membrane protein, and reacting the thiolated red blood cell with a PEG. The invention further provides methods of treatment using pegylated red blood cells.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for measuring motion of a portion of the body of a patient and, optionally, electrocardiogram, of a patient in a magnetic field. A pickup coil in the form of a loop positioned around the portion of interest of the body of the patient is formed either by a wire connected to a voltage measuring device or an ECG lead having one end connected to the voltage measuring device and the other end connected to an electrode on the patient. A cradle may be positioned between the loop and the patient to facilitate pickup of the movement of the patient. When the ECG lead is used, a second ECG lead is connected between the voltage measuring device and a second electrode on the patient. The output of the voltage measuring device represents the respiration of the patient, and the electrocardiogram when ECG leads are used.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for identifying a peptide which binds to an anti-double stranded DNA antibody. The present invention also provides a class of peptides identified by the method of the present invention which bind to anti-double stranded DNA antibodies and compositions containing these peptides. The present invention also provides methods for the diagnosis and treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus utilizing the peptides of the present invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a weakly ionic and water-soluble copolymer as a grinding aid agent for grinding mineral matter in aqueous suspension in order to obtain aqueous suspensions of refined mineral matter, with a dry matter concentration that can be high, with a low Brookfield™ viscosity that remains stable over time, having the property that it presents a pigmentary surface area the ionic charge of which, as determined by ionic titration, is low. The invention relates to the aqueous suspensions of mineral matter obtained and their use in the fields of paper, paint and plastics.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for integrated ribonucleic acid integrity assessment and analysis comprising the steps of: (a) providing a support having immobilized thereon a set of detector probes and a set of at least two control probes, wherein (i) a first of said at least two control probes is complementary to 23S or 28S rRNA or a functionally equivalent RNA, and (ii) a second of said at least two control probes is complementary to 16S or 18S10 rRNA or a functionally equivalent RNA; (b) contacting said support with analyte ribonucleic acids derived from a sample, under conditions allowing hybridisation of complementary analyte ribonucleic acids and immobilized probes to form analyte ribonucleic acid/probe complexes; wherein said hybridisation generates a detectable signal; 15 (c) detecting signals generated by said complexes; (d) determining the ratio of signals generated by the 28S/control probe and 18S rRNA/control probe or 23S rRNA/control probe and 16S rRNA/control probe or functionally equi

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds having the formula: wherein A is chosen from a nitrogen-, oxygen-, or sulfur-linked aryl, alkyl, cyclic, or heterocyclic group; both B and C are hydrogen, or either B or C is a halogen, amino, or thiol group and the other of B or C is hydrogen; and D is a primary alcohol, a hydrogen, or an oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, or sulfur linked to phosphate, a phosphoryl group, a pyrophosphoryl group, or adenosine monophosphate through a phosphodiester or carbon-, nitrogen-, or sulfur-substituted phosphodiester bridge, or to adenosine diphosphate through a phosphodiester or carbon-, nitrogen-, or sulfur-substituted pyrophosphodiester bridge. The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions containing the above compounds, methods of using the above compounds as pharmaceuticals, and processes for preparing the above compounds.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hemoglobin molecule (Hb) having six ± one PEG chains, wherein two of said PEG chains are bound to Cys-93 (?) of Hb, and the remaining PEG chains are bound to thiol groups introduced on ?-NH2 of Hb. The present invention also provides a process for preparing a modified hemoglobin molecule (Hb), comprising the steps of: (a) reacting Hb with 8-15 fold excess of iminothiolane to form thiolated Hb; and (b) reacting the thiolated Hb with 16-30 fold excess of PEG functionalized with a maleimide moiety, to form the modified Hb.

Abstract: The invention is a method and system for continuously tracking the movement of cargo in domestic and international shipping from point of departure to point of destination and to prevent hijacking of the same. The system uses one or more wireless electronic seals which can communicate with a central computer system, such as by satellite, providing the current location of the cargo at regular intervals or upon demand. The electronic seals are provided with a unique identification number and are activated upon locking of the seal to the closed cargo container. During shipment, the seal transmits its location to the central computer which compares the location of the shipment to a calculated expected route, notifying the parties to the shipment and government authorities in the event that the cargo is found to deviate from the expected route. The electronic seal is also capable of signaling the central computer when the cargo is opened.

Abstract: An absorbent article is disclosed that provides improved leakage protection. Also disclosed are methods for using and preparing absorbent articles having improved leakage protection, methods for designing articles having improved leakage protection, and methods of measuring and determining the performance index of an absorbent article. The absorbent article having improved leakage protection has a 3 variable urine only leakage performance index (PI3UL) of less than about 3.0, the PI3UL being determined in accordance with the following equation (1): PI3UL=0.046(Tc)?2.94(MS100)?0.772(AUL)??(1) where Tc is the total capacity in grams, MS100 is the percent utilization of the core upon insult with 100 ml of 0.9 wt % saline solution, and AUL is the front pad absorbency under load, expressed in grams of 0.9 wt % saline solution absorbed per gram of pad material.

Abstract: This invention provides methods of using of the sizes and levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles, the -641 allele of the promoter of the gene encoding apolipoprotein C-3 (APOC-3), the 405 allele of the gene encoding cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), and plasma levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), adiponectin, CETP and APOC-3, for determining and increasing an individual's likelihood of longevity and of retaining cognitive function during aging, and for determining and decreasing an individual's likelihood of developing a cardiovascular-, metabolic- or age-related disease.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an automated manufacturing system and method for manufacturing photomasks wherein information provided by a customer at a remote location is interfaced, via a network, to a photomask manufacturer's computer system and automatically processes data for manufacturing a photomask and automatically formats and routes data to processing equipment. The present invention reduces the need for manual intervention, thereby avoiding costly delays and transcription errors associated therewith. The software of the present invention provides for automatic generation of data arrays, which can be used to process and monitor the status of a photomask during manufacture. Further, the software is capable of automatically modifying design data provided by a photomask user. Additionally, the software of the present invention includes an automatic messaging system which can notify users of the system, of status and errors in manufacture of photomasks.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to improved binary half tone (“BHT”) photomasks and microscopic three-dimensional structures (e.g., MEMS, micro-optics, photonics, micro-structures and other three-dimensional, microscopic devices) made from such BHT photomasks. More particularly, the present invention provides a method for designing a BHT photomask layout, transferring the layout to a BHT photomask and fabricating three-dimensional microscopic structures using the BHT photomask designed by the method of the present invention. In this regard, the method of designing a BHT photomask layout comprises the steps of generating at least two pixels, dividing each of the pixels into sub-pixels having a variable length in a first axis and fixed length in a second axis, and arraying the pixels to form a pattern for transmitting light through the pixels so as to form a continuous tone, aerial light image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for monitoring in a high through-put fashion a multitude of molecular reaction processes, using a substrate, said substrate comprising a plurality of micro-channels, wherein each micro-channel has inlet and outlet open ends on opposing sides of said substrate, and wherein said micro-channels comprise at least one first reaction component, comprising the steps of: (a) contacting said micro-channels of said solid substrate with a sample, said contacting being via said inlet open ends, wherein said sample comprises an analyte, under conditions that allow said analyte to be specifically retained within said micro-channels by said first reaction component; (b) optionally removing excess of sample via said outlet open ends; (c) contacting the retained analyte with at least one second reaction component, said second reaction component being different from said first reaction component as defined in step (a), under conditions that allow a molecular reaction to take place, said

Abstract: A method of protecting at least a portion of an initial investment value of an investment made by an investor including the steps of: providing a business entity; electing the business entity to be treated as a regulated investment company; holding positions using the business entity in a set of put-option based instruments having a first underlying reference and a set of call-option based instruments having a second underlying reference, the first underlying reference being the same as or substantially correlated to the second underlying reference, so that the sets of put-option based instruments and call-option based instruments provide the at least a portion of the initial investment value at maturity of the investment; and making available the at least a portion of the initial investment value to the investor upon the maturity of the investment.