Abstract: Novel polymers are provided which are produced by recombinant techniques. The polymers are characterized by having a small repeating sequence which provides for strands capable of associating, resulting in useful structural characteristics, where the strands are joined by turns or loops which are flexible and available for interaction with the environment. Specifically, repeating groups of naturally occurring proteins such as silk are modified by introduction of an amino-acid sequence at a site which provides for a turn between strands to provide for readily available oligopeptides capable of interacting with molecules in the environment.

Abstract: A method for interfering with the binding between p53 and MDM2 or a protein having a p53 binding site analogous to that of MDM2, which method comprises administering a effective amount of a compound, selected from the group consisting of a peptide having up to twenty eight amino acids which is able to disrupt or prevent binding between p53 and MDM2, or a functional peptide analogue thereof.Compounds for use in the method, methods for detecting such compounds and their application in the diagnosis and treatment of tumors is also described and claimed.

Abstract: An electrical cable protected against moisture by a tubular liquid crystal film having its molecules multiaxially oriented.

Abstract: A microsphere-based analytic chemistry system is disclosed in which microspheres carrying different chemical functionalities may be mixed together while the ability is retained to identify the functionality on each bead using an optically interrogatable encoding scheme. An optical fiber bundle sensor is also disclosed in which the separate microspheres may be optically coupled to discrete fibers or groups of fibers within the bundle. The functionalies are encoded on the separate microspheres using fluorescent dyes and then affixed to wells etched in the end of the bundle. Thus, a single sensor may carry thousands of chemistries. Only those microspheres exhibiting reactions then need to be decoded to identify the corresponding functionality.

Abstract: A single body injector for delivering gases to a surface is provided. The injector is comprised of an elongated member with end surfaces and at least one gas delivery surface extending along the length of the member and which includes a number of elongated passages formed therein. Also formed within the member are a number of thin distribution channels which extend between the elongated passages and the gas delivery surface. In another embodiment of the invention a number of metering tubes may be inserted into each elongated passage and are spaced from the walls of the passages and extend between the ends. Gases are conveyed to the elongated passages, through the distribution channels to the gas delivery surface where they are directed to a desired region where they mix, react and form a uniform thin film on the substrate positioned beneath the injector.

Abstract: A two-phase high voltage generator circuit is electronically reconfigurable to output positive (V.sub.Pp) or negative (V.sub.Pn) high voltage, depending upon whether positive or negative mode operation is selected. The circuit includes a plurality of series-connected charge multiplier stages that each comprises a MOS transistor and a charging capacitor. Collectively the stages define an anode node and a cathode node. One of two non-overlapping phase signals is coupled to the free end of each charging capacitor such that adjacent charging capacitors are driven by different phases. First and second two-way multiplexers (MUX1, MUX2) control voltages presented to the anode and cathode nodes, to determine whether circuit operation is positive or negative mode. The MOS devices may be PMOS or NMOS, and preferably Vt-cancellation is provided for each charging stage. A precharge/discharge circuit preferably is coupled to each voltage node including the load capacitor.

Abstract: A method to create an improved hydrodynamic bearing which is relatively insensitive to changes in load and rotational speed is provided, wherein the hydrodynamic bearing is useful in a spindle motor for a disc drive or the like which is stiffer than known standard spindle motors so that the stability of the system and specifically of the actuator arm and transducer relative to the rotating disc is optimized. The hydrodynamic bearing can also be used as a bearing cartridge or as the cartridge that may be incorporated into a spindle motor or the like, where the bearing includes a shaft and at least two independent bearings each comprising a thrust plate supported on the shaft and a counter plate incorporated in a sleeve which is capable of relative rotation around the shaft.

Abstract: An improved capillary seal for use with a hydrodynamic bearing is disclosed, which provides a stronger or stiffer seal for a fluid dynamic bearing motor which is open at both ends, and is used with top cover attached motors utilizing fluid dynamic bearings. The design for the seal system actively pushes the oil back into the FDB while it is spinning, combined with the capillary tension which holds oil in the FDB during stationary periods, and allows air, trapped within the seal and the associated FDB, to be expelled, eliminating air bubbles from the fluid dynamic bearing.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory includes cell array having a plurality of bit lines connected to respective input terminals of a column decoder. Input/output (I/O) lines are connected between respective output terminals of the column decoder and a plurality of sense circuits, where each sense circuit includes its own reference circuit, a sense amplifier, and equalizing circuit. The reference circuit includes a reference array essentially identical to the cell array and provides a reference voltage to respective first input terminals of its associated equalizing circuit and sense amplifier. Second input terminals of the equalizing circuit and sense amplifier of each sense circuit are connected to a corresponding I/O line. During read operations, the equalizing circuits are initially maintained in a conductive state so as to equalize the I/O line voltage and the reference voltages. Thereafter, the equalizing circuits transition to a non-conductive state so as to isolate the I/O line from the reference voltage.

Abstract: A wayside station communicates with a plurality of mobile stations over a wireless communication network. In one embodiment, a wayside station includes a transceiver configured to receive an inbound signal from a mobile station and to transmit an outbound signal to the mobile station. The transceiver has a first switch that is configured to selectively deliver the inbound signal to one of a first band pass filter (BPF) and a second BPF. A second switch is coupled to the first BPF and to the second BPF, and configured to selectively receive the inbound signal from one of the first BPF and the second BPF. A detector is coupled to the second switch and configured to detect the inbound signal, to convert the inbound signal to inbound data and to transfer the inbound data to a processor. The processor decodes the inbound data and processes the data.

Abstract: Cyclophilin-60 proteins, nucleic acids, and monoclonal antibodies are provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for targeting an exogenous polynucleotide or exogenous complementary polynucleotide pair to a predetermined endogenous DNA target sequence in a target cell by homologous pairing, particularly for altering an endogenous DNA sequence, such as a chromosomal DNA sequence, typically by targeted homologous recombination. In certain embodiments, the invention relates to methods for targeting an exogenous polynucleotide having a linked chemical substituent to a predetermined endogenous DNA sequence in a metabolically active target cell, generating a DNA sequence-specific targeting of one or more chemical substituents in an intact nucleus of a metabolically active target cell, generally for purposes of altering a predetermined endogenous DNA sequence in the cell.

Abstract: Processes for producing various heterologous polypeptides which when expressed are either incorrectly processed and hence asssociated with the surface of the host cell or are not processed to mature form. More specifically, processes for the production of heterologous non-human carbonyl hydrolases expressed either in host cells incapable of producing enzymatically active endoprotease or host cells deficient in enzymatically active extracellular endoprotease are disclosed. Such non-human carbonyl hydrolases generally are incapable of autoproteolytic maturation and become associated with the surface of expression hosts which are deficient in enzymatically active extracellular endoprotease. Processes for preparing non-human carbonyl hydrolase and heterologous polypeptides which are expressed as part of a fusion polypeptide are also disclosed, as well as non-human carbonyl hydrolases which are substantially free of the host cell membrane with which they are normally associated.

Abstract: An acid-labile protein is described that, when incubated with the 53-Kd acid-stable protein occupied by IGF, converts it to a high molecular weight complex, corresponding to the in vivo form of IGF. This protein is called the acid-labile subunit (ALS) of IGF binding protein complex and is provided in biologically pure form. ALS is useful in treating wounds and promoting cellular growth. The nucleic acid encoding ALS, antibodies binding thereto, and fragments thereof are also disclosed.

Abstract: Nucleoproteins comprising overlapping homologous DNA sequences coated with a recombinase are employed for introduction into cells to produce double D-loop structures. The sequences may be modified with various moieties which result in modification of DNA. Formation of the D-loops results in inhibition of replication and transcription, where the moieties can be employed for permanent scission or modification of the DNA. The methods and compositions can be used for investigating physiological processes, for producing animal models, and for inhibition of an undesirable phenotype in vivo.

Abstract: In a computer system that utilizes write or read barriers to perform a garbage collection function, instruction execution logic avoids unnecessary calls to the write or read barrier procedure. Each object's header includes a State flag. Each object reference also includes a State flag. Each time an instruction that is the subject of a write or read barrier (e.g., a object reference write instruction) is executed, the State flag of the object reference being processed is inspected by the instruction execution logic. If the State flag in the object reference is set, the write or read barrier procedure is not invoked, because the target object has already been processed by a previous call to the write or read barrier procedure. Otherwise the write or read barrier procedure is invoked. The write or read barrier procedure first checks the State flag in the target object's header. If it is set, the State flag in the target object reference is set and then the procedure exits.

Abstract: A method of managing digital resources of a digital system includes the step of reserving token values for certain digital resources in the digital system. A selected token value in a free-buffer-queue is then matched to an incoming digital resource request. The selected token value is then moved to a valid-request-queue. The selected token is subsequently removed from the valid-request-queue to allow a digital agent in the digital system to process the incoming digital resource request associated with the selected token. Thereafter, the selected token is returned to the free-buffer-queue.

Abstract: The protein, cholinergic neuronal differentiation factor (CDF), also known as leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), is described, together with the use of the polypeptide to stimulate neuron growth and survival in animals either by direct administration or by autotransplantation of adrenal medullary cells converted to the cholinergic phenotype.

Abstract: The invention is a miniature disc drive system. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a positioner for positioning a transducer includes an actuator arm having the transducer mounted at one end and a voice coil motor (VCM) mounted at the other end. A pivot is centrally located along the actuator arm, whereby the VCM, when activated, can rotate the transducer over a disc or discs having approximately 45 mm diameters. The VCM is preferably a moving voice coil-type having a voice coil attached to the actuator arm and two magnets positioned above and below the voice coil such that the voice coil can freely move between them. One magnet is mounted to a base portion of a housing which encloses the entire disc drive system. The other magnet is mounted to roof portion of the housing. Thus, the housing is integrated into the active components of the disc drive and permits a significant size reduction to be achieved.