Abstract: A method of developing a gene expression profile indicative of the presence or stage of a selected a disease, disorder or genetic pathology in a mammalian subject employs penalized discriminant analysis with recursive feature elimination. A method of diagnosing a cancer in a mammalian subject includes the steps of examining a sample containing the subject's immune cells and detecting a variance in the expression of a statistically significant number of genes, e.g., at least 10 non-tumor genes from those same genes in a characteristic disease or healthy gene expression profile. A significant variance in expression of these genes when compared to a gene expression profile, preferably an average gene expression profile of a normal control, or significant similarities to an average gene profile of subjects with cancer, correlates with a specific type of cancer and/or location of tumor.

Abstract: Provided is a sputtering target having a relative density of 80% or more and containing a compound having as its principal component zinc oxide satisfying AXBYO(KaX+KbY)/2(ZnO)m, 1<m, X?m, 0<Y?0.9, X+Y=2, where A and B are respectively different positive elements of trivalence or more, and the valencies thereof are respectively Ka and Kb. Obtained is a ZnO based sputtering target which does not contain ZnS and SiO2, and, upon forming a film via sputtering, is capable of reducing the affect of heating the substrate, of performing high speed deposition, of adjusting the film thickness to be thin, of reducing the generation of particles (dust) and nodules during sputtering, of improving the productivity with small variation in quality, and which has fine crystal grains and a high density of 80% or more, particularly 90% or more.

Abstract: Provided is a silicon carbide epitaxial wafer which is formed on a substrate that is less than 1° off from the {0001} surface of silicon carbide having an ?-type crystal structure, wherein the crystal defects in the SiC epitaxial wafer are reduced while the flatness of the surface thereof is improved.

Abstract: In a chain transmission in which a roller chain transmits power from a driving sprocket to one or more driven sprockets, the sprocket teeth are shaped so that at a location radially outward from the sprocket pitch circle, the distance between the front surface of each sprocket tooth to a radial reference line from the sprocket center through the center of the tooth root, is at least as great as the distance from the centerline to the front tooth surface at the pitch circle. The tooth faces merge smoothly with the tooth gap bottom, the sprocket root diameter is smaller than the root diameter according to ISO standards, and the radius of the arcuate tooth gap bottom is greater than the radius of the chain roller.

Abstract: A sprocket is formed by fine-blanking a steel plate using a die having a cutting edge shaped to produce rounded edges on the back sides of the sprocket tooth heads, and protrusions on the front sides. Thereafter the edges of the front sides of the sprocket tooth heads are formed in a press so that the protrusions are removed, and the edges of the front sides of the sprocket tooth heads have a rounded cross-sectional shape substantially the same as that of the edges of the front sides.

Abstract: A sanitary pack container is composed of a collapsible, coil spring-supported, fabric tube disposed inside a rectangular enclosure. The collapsible tube serves as a support for disposable plastic bags, a supply of which is stored in the container along with a supply of tissue papers and a supply of chemically treated sanitary wipes.

Abstract: Methods for the synthesis of regiospecific rapamycin 42-hemiesters and regiospecific FK506 32-esters with dicarboxylic acids is described. The methods involve catalyzing the reaction between a rapamycin or a FK-506 and a dicarboxylic anhydride or a bifunctional activated ester of dicarboxylic acid with a lipase.

Abstract: A method useful for the enumeration of cell populations in a biological sample includes the steps of reacting in a single reaction mixture a sample, a first antibody labeled with a fluorochrome having a first emission spectrum and an additional antibody. The first antibody binds to an antigenic determinant differentially expressed on leukocytes and non-leukocytes. The additional antibody binds to an antigenic determinant differentially expressed on mature and immature granulocytes or myeloid cells, and is labeled either with the first fluorochrome or an additional fluorochrome having an emission spectrum distinguishable from the first emission spectrum. The reaction mixture can be mixed with a nucleic acid dye having an emission spectrum that overlaps with one of the first or additional emission spectra. The reaction mixture may be treated with a lytic system that differentially lyses non-nucleated red blood cells and conserves leukocytes.

Abstract: The invention relates to cellular compositions comprising hematopoietic cells with the potential or increased potential to form non-hematopoietic cells; methods for producing such cellular compositions; methods for differentiation of cells of cellular compositions of the invention into cells that exhibit morphological, physiological, functional, and/or immunological features of non-hematopoietic cells; and uses of the cellular compositions. The invention also relates to a method for the expansion of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells.

Abstract: A scalable process for the preparation of a rapamycin 42-ester by reacting a rapamycin 42-ester boronate with a diol and purifying crude rapamycin 42-ester by recrystallization and treatment with a diol is provided. Also provided is a method for isolating and purifying a rapamycin 42-ester boronate from mother liquors comprising acetone and rapamycin contaminants.

Abstract: In a hydraulic tensioner having a relief valve inside its plunger, a relief valve spring-receiving plug, press-fit into the plunger is formed by forging a plurality of flat surfaces on its exterior. These flat surfaces, in cooperation with the cylindrical inner wall of the plunger, form plural oil passages, each having a segment-shaped cross-section. The oil passages allow flow of oil past the plug to a discharge opening at the front end of the plunger, and the flow of oil is substantially unaffected by circumferential displacement of the oil passages on the periphery of the plug relative to the oil passages on the periphery of the relief valve seat.

Abstract: Provided is high purity nickel or nickel alloy target for Magnetron sputtering having superior sputtering film uniformity and in which the magnetic permeability of the target is 100 or more, and this high purity nickel or a nickel alloy target for magnetron sputtering capable of achieving a favorable film uniformity (evenness of film thickness) and superior plasma ignition (firing) even during the manufacturing process employing a 300 mm wafer. The present invention also provides the manufacturing method of such high purity nickel or nickel alloy target.

Abstract: A child-resistant and senior-friendly unit dose package has a hollow container body containing a separate tray carrying a plurality of tablets or like items for being dispensed from the container body. The container body has an end with an opening, and the tray can be slid to a retracted position in which the tray is located within the container body and a dispensing position in which a proximal end part of the tray extends through the opening of the container body. The package includes a separate cap removably securable to the container body to seal the opening and prevent access to the trays. The container body can be positioned in a tray re-loading position that permits a spent tray to be removed from the container body and replaced with a new tray. Thus, the container body is reusable.

Abstract: A P4 variant protein that has reduced enzymatic activity and that induces antibody to wild-type P4 protein and/or has good bactericidal activity against non-typable H. influenzae (NTHi) is useful as an active component in an immunogenic composition for humans. Methods of using these proteins, and compositions containing them in combination with additional antigens, are also provided.

Abstract: A device, method and kit for the electrophoretic separation and purification of charged and neutral compounds in an analyte solution. The device comprises a chamber (1), at least one wall of which is composed of a chemical buffering system (4). A potential difference is applied across the buffering system, resulting in the charged and neutral compounds being differentially separated by extraction of the charged compounds into the buffering system. The device also comprises means for collecting the separated compounds, preferably in ampholyte-free or buffer-free solution and optionally means for recycling the separated fractions.

Abstract: A drainage-promoting wrap includes an elongate web of a weather-resistive membrane and a series of separate, laterally spaced-apart, elongate filament spacers bonded to a face of the membrane. The filaments are preferably extruded polymeric filaments and have depressions formed therein providing transverse drainage paths across the filaments. Preferably, the filaments extend substantially parallel to each other and to a longitudinal axis of the elongate membrane. In addition, preferably the membrane is made of a polymeric material so that the filaments are thermally bonded to the face of the membrane. Wall and roof assemblies utilizing the wrap and methods of making the wrap are provided.

Abstract: In a hydraulic tensioner, a deairing valve unit, for releasing air mixed with oil in the high pressure oil chamber of the tensioner, comprises a check ball, a retainer, which envelops the check ball, but allows the check ball to move freely between an inflow end and an outflow end of a retainer passage, and a cylindrical ball seat press-fit into to a recess formed in a front end of the retainer. The deairing valve unit communicates with an exhaust vent formed in the front end of the plunger. A ball biasing spring is optionally provided to bias the check ball toward the ball seat.

Abstract: Processes are described for preparing 42-pegylated rapamycins including reacting a rapamycin with an acylating agent in the presence of a lipase to form an acylated rapamycin and reacting the acylated rapamycin with a methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) derivative in the presence of a base. Also described are processes for preparing 32-pegylated tacrolimus and/or ascomycin using these steps.

Abstract: A roof ridge vent and installation includes a ventilation material having walls defining a plurality of separate open cellular cavities, such as a honeycomb material, that may or may not extend from the underside of a separate sheet material. Preferably, the walls of the ventilation material extend substantially vertically within the vent, and paths of ventilation, which extend from on open slot on the roof ridge to either longitudinally-extending side edge of the vent, extend transversely through the walls of the ventilation material. To this end, the walls are perforated or are made of an air permeable material, more preferably, a non-wicking hydrophobic material or a non-woven fabric having a multiplicity of closely spaced openings. Alternatively, paths of ventilation can be provided by channels formed between adjacent, spaced-apart sections of the ventilation material. Preferably, the vent is continuous and elongate and is stored and shipped in a spiral roll.

Abstract: Processes for preparing individual diastereomers of mono-pegylated rapamycin 42 ester with 3-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-2-methylpropionic acid (CCI-779) are provided.