Abstract: A method of increasing expression of a molecular chaperon by a cell and/or enhancing the activity of a molecular chaperon in cells is provided. The method comprises treating a cell that is exposed to a physiological stress which induces expression of a molecular chaperon by the cell with an effective amount of a certain hydroxylamine derivative to increase the stress. Alternatively, an hydroxylamine derivative can be administrated to a cell before it is exposed to a physiological stress which induces expression of a molecular chaperon by the cell. Preferably, the cell to which an hydroxylamine derivative is administered is an eukaryotic cell. The hydroxylamine derivative corresponds to the formulae (I) or (II). The invention also provides novel hydroxylamine derivatives falling within the scope of the formulae (I) and (II) as well as pharmaceutical and/or cosmetical compositions comprising the said compounds.

Abstract: Power detection circuitry that provides a substantially constant trip-point is provided. The circuitry is immune to temperature and process variations, thus preventing premature or delayed enablement of utilization circuitry (e.g., memory). In addition, the trip-point remains constant during both slow and fast power up and power down conditions. This may be accomplished with the use of bandgap reference circuitry that provides a stable bandgap reference voltage when operating in its stable operating region. The bandgap circuitry operates in conjunction with startup circuitry, which enables the bandgap circuitry to operate in its non-stable operating region. When in the non-stable region, the bandgap circuitry provides a source voltage as the reference voltage until the source voltage begins to approach the bandgap voltage, at which point the bandgap circuitry provides the stable bandgap reference voltage as the reference voltage.

Abstract: Clock data recovery (CDR) circuitry or phase locked loop (PLL) circuitry can be provided with a dynamically adjustable bandwidth. One CDR circuit or PLL circuit can be provided to support multiple systems or protocols, multiple parameter requirements for a given system or protocol, and changes in the input frequency or data rate within a given system or protocol. The parameters can include jitter (e.g., jitter tolerance, jitter transfer, jitter generation), source of dominant noise, and lock time. Control signals can be used to dynamically adjust the bandwidth of the CDR circuitry or PLL circuitry while the circuitry is processing data. The control signals can be set by a PLD, by a processor, by circuitry external to the PLD, or by user input.

Abstract: A programmable logic integrated circuit device has several features which help it perform according to the PCI Special Interest Group's Peripheral Component Interface (“PCI”) signaling protocol. Some of the registers on the device are closely coupled for data input and output to data signal input/output pins of the device. The clock signal input terminals of at least these registers are also closely coupled to the clock signal input pin of the device. Programmable input delay is provided between the data signal input/output pins and the data input terminals of the above-mentioned registers to help compensate for clock signal skew on the device.

Abstract: Heart valve attachment apparatus and methods that significantly reduce attachment times are provided. The apparatus and methods utilize a connector band to form an interface between a uni-directional valve and a tissue annulus. The connector band is secured to the tissue annulus by retention fingers.

Abstract: Circuits and methods are provided that alleviate overloading of the command address bus and limit decreases in command address bus bandwidth to allow increased numbers of memory modules to be included in a computer system. A plurality of switches is coupled between the command address bus (which is coupled to the memory controller) and a respective plurality of memory modules. Each switch provides command address bus data only to its respective memory module. Preferably, only one switch does so at a time, limiting the loading seen by the memory controller.

Abstract: Nanoelectromechanical systems utilizing nanometer-scale assemblies are provided that convert thermal energy into another form of energy that can be used to perform useful work at a macroscopic level. These systems may be used to, for example, produce useful quantities of electric or mechanical energy, heat or cool an external substance or propel an object in a controllable direction. In particular, the present invention includes nanometer-scale beams that reduce the velocity of working substance molecules that collide with this nanometer-scale beam by converting some of the kinetic energy of a colliding molecule into kinetic energy of the nanometer-scale beam. In embodiments that operate without a working substance, the thermal vibrations of the beam itself create the necessary beam motion. In some embodiments, an automatic switch is added to realize a regulator such that the nanometer-scale beams only deliver voltages that exceed a particular amount.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for field ion mobility spectrometry for identification of chemical compounds in a sample by trajectory of sample ions in a transverse electric field.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a compound that binds to a C-type lectin on the surface of a dendritic cell, in the preparation of a composition for modulating, in particular reducing, the immune response in an animal, in particular a human or another mammal. The composition in particular modulates the interactions between a dendritic cell and a T-cell, more specifically between a C-type lectin on the surface of a dendritic cell and an ICAM receptor on the surface of a T-cell. The compositions can be used for preventing/inhibiting immune responses to specific antigens, for inducing tolerance, for immunotherapy, for immunosuppression, for the treatment of auto-immune diseases, the treatment of allergy, and/or for inhibiting HIV infection. The compound that binds to a C-type lectin is preferably chosen from mannose, fucose, plant lectins, antibiotics, sugars, proteins or antibodies against C-type lectins.

Abstract: It is shown here that hedgehog proteins possess novel activities beyond phenotype specification. Using cultures derived from the embryonic day 14.5 (E14.5) rat ventral mesencephalon, we show that hedgehog is also trophic for dopaminergic neurons. Interestingly, hedgehog not only promotes dopaminergic neuron survival, but also promotes the survival of midbrain GABA-immunoreactive (GABA-ir) neurons.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing data representative of a full color image. Such systems may comprise the steps of assisting a color blind person to indicate portions of an image which to their color-deficient vision are indistinguishable, and altering the image to cause those portions to become distinguisable and identifiable.

Abstract: The present invention concerns the discovery that proteins encoded by a family of vertebrate genes, termed here hedgehog-related genes, comprise morphogenic signals produced by embryonic patterning centers, and are involved in the formation of ordered spatial arrangements of differentiated tissues in vertebrates. The present invention makes available compositions and methods that can be utilized, for example to generate and/or maintain an array of different vertebrate tissue both in vitro and in vivo.

Abstract: An iono-refractive structure that includes one or more ion insertion layers having a real portion and an imaginary portion of the dielectric constant is provided. While both the real portion and the imaginary portion of the dielectric constant change, the change in the imaginary portion is less than the change in the real portion at the wavelength of interest or at the operational wavelength. The iono-refractive structure may be suitable for the fabrication of or integration with tunable optical filters, wavelength-selective optical elements, active modulated interferometers, optical phase shifters, optical phased array beam steering, optical phased array beam tracking, tunable optical filters, sensors, variable lenses, tunable diffraction gratings, and other optical components.

Abstract: In a programmable logic device having dedicated multiplier circuitry, some of the scan chain registers normally used for testing the device are located adjacent input registers of the multipliers. Those scan chain registers are ANDed with the input registers, and can be loaded with templates of ones and zeroes. This allows, e.g., subset multiplication if the least significant bits are loaded with zeroes and the remaining bits are loaded with ones. The multipliers preferably are arranged in blocks with other components, such as adders, that allow them to be configured as finite impulse response (FIR) filters. In such configurations, the scan chain registers can be used to load filter coefficients, avoiding the use of scarce logic and routing resources of the device.

Abstract: A recovered clock signal is aligned (“eye centered”) with a data signal from which it is recovered by intentionally varying one of the factors or parameters that causes misalignment. For example, if a loop circuit (i.e., a phase-locked loop or a delay-locked loop) is used to recover the clock signal, charge pump current mismatch in the charge pump of the loop circuit is normally one factor in clock-data misalignment, and is also a parameter that can be manipulated. During a test mode, the current mismatch can be varied to obtain the best error rate, which signifies the best clock-data alignment. The test mode can be implemented using built-in self-test circuitry already on the device to transmit test data and then to receive it and analyze it for errors.

Abstract: The disclosure describes techniques for determining the response characteristics of a system. One such technique includes applying a series of M vector probe input signal sets of a form {overscore (V)}m x(t) to the system, wherein {overscore (V)}m is an m-th column of a matrix V and x(t) is a scalar input signal. The response signals {overscore (y)}t are measured and a single-input system {overscore (F)}m(z) is determined by considering the approximate relationship {overscore (y)}z?{overscore (F)}m(z)x(z), where {overscore (F)}m(z) is an m-th column of a matrix F(z). The system characteristics can be determined from the relationship H(z)=F(z)V?1, where V?1 denotes the right-matrix-inverse of the matrix V. The matrix V may be a matrix with mutually orthogonal rows, or may have entries consisting of plus one and minus one values, or may be a portion of a Hadamard matrix.

Abstract: A programmable logic device (PLD) is provided that includes at least one dedicated output routing channel configured to facilitate the processing of output signals generated by multiple function-specific blocks (FSBs). The output routing channel includes a plurality of functional units that may be programmably selectively chained, wherein each functional unit contains an operational block and output selection logic that are configured to programmably selectively implement any of a variety of operations (e.g., bitwise, logical, arithmetic, etc.) that may be performed on the outputs of single FSBs and/or several FSBs. In addition to the output routing channel, the PLD may also contain at least one input routing channel that is configured to facilitate the routing, registering, and/or selection of FSB input signals. In some cases, the FSB input routing channel may also include circuitry for performing elementary processing operations.

Abstract: Described is the use of a nucleic acid molecule encoding an IL-12 polypeptide for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of a tumor, wherein the pharmaceutical composition is for intra-tumoral administration.

Abstract: Benefit denial systems for securing an asset within a container and methods of use are provided. Such benefit denial systems of the present invention may include a benefit denial device that secures the asset within the container. The benefit denial device may include a base member and at least one locking member, and the asset may be secured therebetween. By securing the asset between the base member and a locking member, the asset will be rendered unusable if a thief attempts to remove the asset from the container. For example, if the asset is a storage medium such as a DVD, then the DVD will break if the thief attempts to remove the DVD from the confines of the benefit denial device.

Abstract: It is shown here that hedgehog proteins possess novel activities beyond phenotype specification. Using cultures derived from the embryonic day 14.5 (E14.5) rat ventral mesencephalon, we show that hedgehog is also trophic for dopaminergic neurons. Interestingly, hedgehog not only promotes dopaminergic neuron survival, but also promotes the survival of midbrain GABA-immunoreactive (GABA-ir) neurons.