Abstract: The present invention relates to a composite material comprising a microparticle support, which has metallic ions and non-metallic cations grafted thereto, a process for producing said composite material and its use.

Abstract: The invention presented here relates to a crystal growing equipment. It is equipped in general with a resistance heater for heating a melt (13) as well as with field coils, which generate alternating magnetic field in a crucible, with which flows can be induced in the melt (13). The invention is so designed that the resistance heaters are also devised to function as the field coils, that is, they are built of a hollow cylindrical body (1), in which, by means of a surrounding slit (2) which winds around it, a spiral-shaped single layer current path is formed. This has the advantage that the current needed for the electrical heating in the equipment is also used for the generation of the magnetic field. Thus, neither separate field coils nor a separate current supply is necessary. Further, the resistance heater, which serves as the field coil arranged as a coil array, is high temperature resistant and surrounds the immediate hot core zone of the equipment and thus the region of the melt.

Abstract: The present invention provides antibodies which specifically bind early conception factor, which can be found in body fluids of animals including but not limited to the cow, cat, dog, horse, human, sheep, and pig. The invention provides methods for detecting conception or the absence of conception in an animal, the latter being recognized by the absence of early conception factor in a suitable body fluid collected from the animal. Apparati for detecting early conception factor in a body fluid from an animal comprising the antibodies which specifically bind early conception factor are also provided.

Abstract: A composition comprising particulate carbonaceous material and a conducting polymer containing hetero atoms. The composition can further comprise a metal. Devices comprising the composition can be constructed including supported electrocatalysts, membrane electrode assemblies, and fuel cells. A method for preparing the composition comprises oxidatively polymerizing a monomer of a conducting polymer containing hetero atoms in the presence of a carbonaceous material. The method grafts the conducting polymer to the carbonaceous material. The method can further comprise metallizing the polymer-grafted carbonaceous material.

Abstract: The invention provides polypeptides comprising inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family members, such as BmIAP initially derived from Bombyx mori BmN cells, and nucleic acids encoding them, and methods for making and using these compositions, including their use for inhibiting apoptosis.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for in-situ sampling and measuring particulate fineness in a process stream, comprising (a) sampling particles in-situ from a process stream, (b) adjusting the sample to conditions suitable for LII, (c) measuring the fineness using LII, and (d) correlating the LII fineness measurement with actual particle fineness. Also disclosed is a method for sampling and controlling a process based on the real-time, on-line, in-situ methods for sampling and measuring particles. Sampling can comprise drawing a sidestream from a source of the particles. Adjusting the sample to conditions suitable for LII can comprise diluting the sample or bringing the temperature of the sample to ambient conditions. Correlating may comprise using a correlation function determined by comparing LII measurements and laboratory fineness measurements for particle samples drawn at the same time.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an olefin polymerisation catalyst comprising: a) reacting an aluminoxane and a Lewis base in an optionally halogenated hydrocarbon solvent to form a particulate suspension; b) reacting said suspension with a metallocene complex in an optionally halogenated hydrocarbon solvent; and optionally c) isolating the olefin polymerisation catalyst.

Abstract: A tufting needle assembly for use with a tufting machine is disclosed that comprises a first gauge block or needle bar having a first series of tufting needles disposed thereon. The respective tufting needles are spaced from one another along a first longitudinal axis extending in the lengthwise direction of the gauge block. At least one tufting needle is offset with respect to the first longitudinal axis and the adjacent ones of the tufting needles in the series of tufting needles in the range of from 0.005 to 0.100 inches. The tufting needle assembly further comprises a second series of spaced tufting needles extending along a second longitudinal axis spaced parallel to the first longitudinal axis.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds and methods of administering compounds to a subject that can reduce ?APP production and that is not toxic in a wide range of dosages. The present invention also provides non-carbamate compounds and methods of administering such compounds to a subject that can reduce ?APP production and that is not tocix in a wide range of dosages. It has been discovered that either the racemic or enantiomerically pure non-carbamate compounds can be used to decrease ?APP production.

Abstract: The present invention improves image quality by detecting and enhancing edges in an image. Images often include blurry or fuzzy edges that can obscure an image. An edge is a portion of an image separating two regions of substantially constant image intensity. An image can be examined on a pixel-by-pixel basis to find a candidate edge. When a candidate edge is found, a determination can made as to whether the candidate edge is a true edge. A true edge can be enhanced by amplifying the image intensity differences between pixels on the true edge and adjacent pixels not on the true edge. The present invention also provides a novel image processing filter for eliminating well-known noise from an image. The image processing filter can further improve edge enhancement by eliminating such noise prior to the edge detection and enhancement.

Abstract: The invention relates to certain heterocyclic compounds useful for the treatment of cancer and other diseases, having the Formula (I): wherein: (a) m is an integer 0 or 1; (b) R12 is an alkyl, a substituted alkyl, a cycloalkyl, a substituted cycloalkyl, a heterocyclic, a substituted heterocyclic, a heteroaryl, a substituted heteroaryl, an aryl or a substituted aryl residue; (c) Ar3 is an aryl, a substituted aryl, a heteroaryl or a substituted heteroaryl residue; (d) Ar4 is an aryl, a substituted aryl, a heteroaryl or a substituted heteroaryl residue; (e) R5 is hydrogen, hydroxy, alkyl or substituted alkyl; (f) ----- represents a bond present or absent; and (g) W, X, Y and Z are independently or together —C(O)—, C(S), S, O, or NH; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-mouse, including human, pluripotential embryonic stem cell which can: (a) be maintained on feeder layers for at least 20 passages; and (b) give rise to embryoid bodies and multiple differentiated cell phenotypes in monolayer culture. The invention further provides a method of making a pluripotential embryonic stem cell comprising culturing germ cells and germ cell progenitors in a composition comprising a growth enhancing amount of basic fibroblast growth factor, leukemia inhibitory factor, membrane associated steel factor, and soluble steel factor to primordial germ cells under cell growth conditions, thereby making a pluripotential embryonic stem cell. Also provided are compositions useful to produce the pluripotent embryonic stem cells and methods of screening associated with the method of making the embryonic stem cell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to genetically altered hybridomas, myelomas and B cells. The invention also relates to utilizing genetically altered hybridomas, myelomas and B cells in methods of making monoclonal antibodies. The present invention also provides populations of hybridomas and B cells that can be utilized to make a monoclonal antibody of interest.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polypeptide comprising the isolated amino acid sequence of a pre-ligand assembly domain (PLAD) of a TNF-like receptor. Also provided by this invention is a polypeptide comprising the isolated amino acid sequence of a pre-ligand assembly domain (PLAD), wherein the PLAD is selected from the group consisting of: the PLAD of a TNF-R, the PLAD of p60, the PLAD of p80, the PLAD of Fas (CD95/APO-1), the PLAD of TRAIL receptors, the PLAD of LT?R, the PLAD of CD40, the PLAD of CD30, the PLAD of CD27, the PLAD of HVEM, the PLAD of OX40 and the PLAD of DR4. TNF-R, p60, p80, Fas, TRAIL receptor, LT?R, CD40, CD30, CD27, HVEM, OX40, DR4, TROY, EDAR, XEDAR, DCR3, AITR, 4-1BB, DR3, RANK, TACI, BCMA, DR6, DPG, DR5, DCR1 AND DCR2 are all members of the TNF receptor superfamily or the TNF-like receptor family. The invention also provides the PLAD for other members of the TNF receptor superfamily.

Abstract: A transdermal drug delivery device for forming a micropore in a tissue membrane of an animal comprising a substrate and a porator that is located on or within the substrate. The porator is constructed of a material that is destroyed upon forming the micropore. The transdermal drug delivery device also comprises at least one reservoir and a controller for controlling the formation of said micropore by the porator and destroying the porator after the formation of the micropore.

Abstract: A hammermill having a housing, a rotor assembly, a plurality of hammers, and a attrition plate assembly is provided to reduce oversized particulate material to a desired size. The housing has a sidewall that extends between an inlet end and an discharge end which defines an enclosed work space. The rotor assembly is disposed within the housing for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the housing. The plurality of hammers is coupled to the rotor assembly and is disposed within the enclosed work space. The attrition plate assembly has a generally circular configuration and is removably secured to the sidewall within the enclosed work space of the housing.

Abstract: A voting system that allows voters who may be blind or otherwise disabled to use election ballots without needing to see the ballot. The present invention provides a balloting system which presents and holds an election ballot while allowing a voter to cast and inspect votes. The system provides audible or tactile feedback when voting targets are probed with a wand or other pointing means. The feedback can comprise information pertaining to a candidate at a position on the ballot. The feedback can also comprise information pertaining to a mark that may or may not have been made on the ballot.

Abstract: The imaging system can comprise a plurality of elongated rails, a scanhead assembly, and a small animal mount assembly. The scanhead assembly is selectively mounted onto a first rail and is constructed and arranged for movement in a linear bi-directional manner along the longitudinal axis of the first rail. The small-animal mount assembly is selectively mounted onto a second rail and is constructed and arranged for movement in a linear bi-directional manner along the longitudinal axis of the second rail. The second rail being mounted relative to the first rail such that the longitudinal axis of the second rail is at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the first rail. The imaging system can also comprise a needle injection assembly that is selectively mounted onto the third rail and is constructed and arranged for movement in a linear bi-directional manner along the longitudinal axis of the third rail.

Abstract: The invention relates to a DNA sequence which acts as a promoter in yeast cells, to an expression and optionally, secretion system containing said DNA sequence, to plasmids containing this system, to host cells that have been transformed with said DNA and to methods for producing proteins and polypeptides.