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 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: 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: 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.

Abstract: CSMA/CD is used to implement flow control in a full-duplex Ethernet network in a lossless fashion. Uniquely identifiable flow control transmit on/off ("XON/XOFF") messages are transmitted, preferably during IPG, by a receiving station about to be congested to the transmitting station whose data output is to be controlled. The transmitting station physical layer receives and decodes these messages. If XOFF is recognized, the transmitting station continuously asserts CRS to its MAC layer at the MII, regardless of the prior CRS current state. CRS is continuously asserted until the receiving station transmits an XON flow control signal, indicating its ability to accept further data. During CRS assertion, the transmitting station defers transmission, e.g., is flow controlled. The MAC layer is slightly modified (but is still backward compatible with half-duplex networks) to provide separate transmit deferral receive data frame mechanisms using separate and independent input status signals, namely CRS and RX.sub.

Abstract: Flexible optical medium comprising a flexible substrate having a surface. An imaging layer is carried by the surface and a protective overcoat of silicon dioxide is provided on the imaging layer to provide abrasion resistance for said imaging layer.

Abstract: Pipe coupling system and method in which a tapered wall is formed on one of two tubular pipe members for press-fit engagement with a wall of the second pipe member, and the two pipe members are pressed together in an axial direction to bring the tapered wall and the other wall into direct press-fit engagement with each other. The two pipe members can, for example, be a length of copper water pipe and a copper pipe fitting, and in certain disclosed embodiments, the pipe members are drawn together by a tool having axially movable jaws which engage the pipe members and are driven together in the axial direction by an actuator and linkage which move in a perpendicular direction.

Abstract: This invention provides isolated nucleic acid molecules which encode inward rectifier, G-protein activated, mammalian, potassium KGA channel. This invention also provides a nucleic acid molecule of at least 15 nucleotides capable of specifically hybridizing with the above nucleic acid molecule. This invention further provides a vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecules which encode inward rectifier, G-protein activated, mammalian, potassium KGA channel. This invention provides a host vector system for the production of a polypeptide having the biological activity of KGA channel which comprises the above vector in a suitable host.

Abstract: Cold termination is provided at the bus output port of a last device coupled to a bus. Each device includes a termination integrated circuit ("TIC") that receives operating voltage from bus-provided V.sub.TERM potential. The TIC includes a series-coupled resistor-capacitor ("R-C") connected between V.sub.TERM and ground. The "R-C" junction defines a SENSE node that is coupled to a groundable pin on the device bus output port and to a SENSE input node on the TIC. If a bus cable connector is attached to the device bus output port, attachment grounds the groundable pin, and thus the TIC SENSE node is "0", which disables TLC bus termination. But if no connector is attached, the groundable pin floats to a potential approximating V.sub.TERM, and is a logical "1", which enables TIC bus termination. Preferably an inverter is series-coupled between the TIC SENSE node and input SENSE node to accommodate a TIC that enables termination with a "0" input SENSE signal. A visual indicator coupled between V.sub.

Abstract: Novel tandem dyes comprising a conjugate of a Cy7 dye and allophycocyanin are provided. Also provided are probes comprising the subject dyes conjugated to a member of a specific binding pair. Probes comprising the subject tandem dyes find use as labels in variety of fluorescence detection assays.