Abstract: These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in a body fluid sampling system for use on a tissue site that includes an electrically powered drive force generator. A penetrating member is operatively coupled to the force generator. The force generator moves the member along a path out of a housing having a penetrating member exit, into the tissue site, stops in the tissue site, and withdraws out of the tissue site. An analyte detecting member is positioned to receive fluid from a wound created by the penetrating member. The detection member is configured to determine a concentration of an analyte in the fluid using a sample of less than 1 mL of the fluid. A user interface is configured to relay at least one of, penetrating member performance or a penetrating member setting.

Abstract: Provided are methods and systems that extract facts of unstructured documents and build an oracle for various domains. The present invention addresses the problem of efficient finding and extraction of facts about a particular subject domain from semi-structured and unstructured documents, makes inferences of new facts from the extracted facts and the ways of verification of the facts, thus becoming a source of knowledge about the domain to be effectively queried. The methods and systems can also extract temporal information from unstructured and semi-structured documents, and can find and extract dynamically generated documents from Deep or Dynamic Web.

Abstract: An apparatus for dissecting tissue in a substantially uniform plane of dissection includes a housing configured to be advanced under a tissue layer, and control one of a depth of dissection or tissue flap thickness. The housing thermally shields at least a portion of the tissue flap. A roller is coupled to the housing. The roller is configured to smoothly advance housing over tissue. An energy delivery device is coupled to housing. The energy delivery device is configured to be coupled to an energy source. The energy delivery device has a geometry that substantially defines a plane of dissection.

Abstract: Microspheres to be implanted into a patient are metered and mixed with fluids, cells, or tissues withdrawn from the patient's own body, and reinserted into the patient's body to achieve augmentation, repair or other treatment of the patient's tissue.

Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for realizing a high quality bulk domain grating structure utilizing mobile charges that are generated by means of photo-excitation in a substrate. An effect of light exposure (UV, visible, or a combination of wavelengths) is to generate photo-induced charges. The application of a voltage across the substrate combined with the application of light exposure causes a photo-induced current to flow through the substrate. The photo-induced charges (behaving like virtual electrode inside the material) and the photo-induced current result in both reduction of the coercive field required for domain inversion in the material and improve realization of the domain inversion pattern, which previously has not been possible at room temperature.

Abstract: This invention provides a new catalyst for purification of diesel engine exhaust gas comprising a carrier of at least one sulfur-resistant refractory oxide and at least one catalytic metal, wherein at least one solid acid and/or sulfuric acid is carried on the carrier by adding at least one precursor of said solid acid and/or sulfuric acid during the preparation of the carrier, and preparation thereof. The catalyst of this invention is thermally and chemically durable and can effectively remove particulate matters, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides contained in the diesel engine exhaust gas at low temperatures.

Abstract: The invention concerns agonist anti-trkC monoclonal antoibodies which mimic certain biological activities of NT-3, the native ligand of trkC. The invention further concerns the use of such antibodies in the prevention and/or treatment of cellular degeneration, including nerve cell damage associated with acute nervous cell system injury and chronic neurodegenerative diseases, including peripheral neuropathy.

Abstract: A tissue penetrating system includes a plurality of penetrating members each having a tip. A penetrating member driver is coupled to the plurality of penetrating members. Each tip of a penetrating member is uncovered during launch of the penetrating member by the penetrating member driver. A support is provided with a plurality of openings. Each opening receives a penetrating member.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for inlaying a design into a laminate sheet and bonding the inlaid laminate sheet to a core structure or core substrate. The method of the present invention includes the steps of die cutting a preselected inlay design out of a laminate sheet, die cutting a congruent insert to be placed in the aperture left by the die cut design, securing the insert into the die cut design aperture, laminating with heat and pressure the laminate sheet to a core material, and conducting a finishing operation such as trimming to clean the excess laminate sheet from around the edges of the core material.

Abstract: A slide is provided with a sliding surface along which a person may slide. The slide includes a bridging structure spanning the sliding surface and a valve mounted to the bridging structure and coupled to a source of water. A spray nozzle is selectively coupled through the valve to the water source. The spray nozzle is mounted to the bridging structure to spray water toward the sliding surface when the valve couples the nozzle to the water source. A trigger hangs from the bridging structure adjacent the sliding surface and controls the valve to direct water to the spray nozzle when the trigger is contacted and displaced by the user. The nozzle sprays water onto the user as the user activates the trigger by sliding under the bridging structure.

Abstract: A power amplifier assembly has a first power amplifier with a first input conditioning circuit. At least first and second amplifiers are in parallel with each other and having inputs and outputs. An input signal is coupled to the inputs of the first and second amplifiers. A first multi-input power combiner is provided. The outputs of the at least first and second parallel amplifiers are combined by the first multi-input power combiner to add signals of the outputs constructively. A second power amplifier has a first input conditioning circuit. At least first and second amplifiers are in parallel with each other and having inputs and outputs. An input signal is coupled to the inputs of the first and second amplifiers. A second multi-input power combiner is provided. The outputs of the at least first and second parallel amplifiers are combined by the second multi-input power combiner to add signals of the outputs constructively.

Abstract: Arrays of vertical extended cavity surface emitting lasers (VECSELs) are disclosed. The functionality of two or more conventional optical components are combined into an optical unit to reduce the number of components that must be aligned during packaging. A dichroic beamsplitter selectively couples frequency doubled light out of the cavity. In one implementation the dichroic beamsplitter includes at least one prism.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of identifying genes involved in memory formation. This is accomplished by performing a gene chip identification of those genes expressed during transcription-dependent memory formation but not during transcription-independent memory formation. A statistical analysis of the gene chip identification output yields a set of genes that are involved in transcription-dependent memory formation.

Abstract: Crystalline IGF-1 is provided along with a method for production thereof. Crystallizing IGF-1 comprises the steps of mixing an aqueous solution comprising IGF-1 with a reservoir solution comprising a precipitant to form a mixture; and crystallizing the mixture, optionally also recrystallizing and isolating the crystalline IGF-1. In addition, a method for identifying IGF-1 indirect agonists is provided using a detergent as a standard for the level of inhibition of binding of IGFBP-1 or IGFBP-3 to IGF-1 and/or using the coordinates of the binding pockets of IGF-l to which a candidate indirect agonist binds for structure-based drug design.

Abstract: Substituted quinolone carboxylic acids and their derivatives are described. These compounds modulate the effect of ?-aminobutyric acid (GABA) via a novel site on the GABAA receptor complex in a therapeutically relevant fashion and may be used to ameliorate CNS disorders amenable to modulation of the GABAA receptor complex.

Abstract: IGFBP-3 fusion proteins are provided that are useful, for example, in cell-based assays, as IGF antagonists, and in mapping IGF-I and IGF-II binding sites on other molecules such as wild-type IGFBP-3 and IGF agonist peptides identified by phage display. Methods for making such fusion proteins are also provided.

Abstract: IGFBP-3 fusion proteins are provided that are useful, for example, in cell-based assays, as IGF antagonists, and in mapping IGF-I and IGF-II binding sites on other molecules such as wild-type IGFBP-3 and IGF agonist peptides identified by phage display. Methods for making such fusion proteins are also provided.

Abstract: A lancet driver is provided wherein the driver exerts a driving force on a lancet during a lancing cycle and is used on a tissue site. The driver comprises of a drive force generator for advancing the lancet and a processor coupled to the drive force generator capable of changing the direction and magnitude of force exerted on the lancet during the lancing cycle. The driver further includes a human interface on the housing providing at least one output for communicating with the patient.

Abstract: Compositions and methods of treating mammalian diseases using myoblasts, and/or their physical, genetic, chemical derivatives. Myogenic cells that are normal, or genetically or phenotypically altered are cultured and transplanted into malfunctioning and/or degenerative tissues or organs to alleviate conditions that are hereditary, degenerative, debilitating, undesirable, and/or fatal. Treatment of these conditions is not limited to the usage of mechanical, electrical or physical properties of these myogenic cells, but includes the usage of biochemicals secreted/released by the latter. The present invention discloses the use of normal myoblasts to deliver the complete normal genome to effect genetic repair, or to augment the size, or the function of tissues or organs. Certain conditions may be better served with genetically altered myogenic cells derived from gene transduction, whereas others may be better served with cytoclimes converter cells.