Abstract: The invention presents methods for preventing and treating sensorineural hearing loss and is directed to the restoration or protection of hair cells in individuals experiencing a non-presbycusis type sensorineural hearing loss or who are at risk for an acute hearing loss due to exposure to noise, toxins, or other stressors. More specifically, the present invention relates to the use of agents which augment inner ear antioxidant defenses (e.g. acetyl-L-carnitine, steroids, compounds that are transported into inner ear hair cells and then synthesized by said cells into glutahione) to prevent and/or reverse hearing loss induced by noise, toxins, or other stressors.

Abstract: A vaccine for promoting an immune response in a mammalian subject includes a eucaryotic plasmid expression vector which include at least part of the envelope gene and optionally, the PreM gene of dengue virus. In order to minimize immune enhancement, vaccines of up to the four serotypes of dengue are combined in a single vaccine. The vaccine in a suitable pharmaceutical carrier constitutes a pharmaceutical composition which is injected into the subject.

Abstract: A magnetoquenched superconductor device or cell includes a superconductor element disposed on a substrate and a bilayer ferromagnetic film which provides uniaxial switching. The bilayer film is formed by a first ferromagnetic film disposed on and isolated from the superconductor element; and a second ferromagnetic film disposed on and separated from the first ferromagnetic film. The first and second films are magnetically coupled and have magnetizations which are switchable between a parallel relation wherein the films produce additive magnetic fringe fields that form a weak link in a portion of the superconductor element and an antiparallel relation wherein one of the films substantially absorbs the fringe field of the other film and the resultant fringe fields in the vicinity of the superconductor are such that a weak link is not formed in the superconductor. A number of two dimensional memory arrays are provided which use rows and columns of the devices.

Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of micronuclei in cells of an organism comprises the steps of (a) isolating cells of the organism, (b) exposing the cells to a hybridization probe, the hybridization probe comprising digested, labeled whole genomic DNA, the digested genomic DNA being labeled with a first binding member capable of specifically binding with a second binding member, whereby, as a result of exposing the cells to the hybridization probe, the hybridization probe binds hybridizes with DNA in the cells, including DNA contained in micronuclei, if present, (c) exposing the cells to a compound comprising the second binding member coupled to an enzyme capable of reacting with a chromogenic substrate to convert the chromogenic substrate into a colored pigment, whereby, as a result of exposing the cells to the compound, the compound binds to the hybridization probe that is hybridized with the DNA in the cells, (d) exposing the cells to the chromogenic substrate, whereby the chromogenic substrate is c

Abstract: A debonding layer is formed on fibers such as silicon carbide fibers by forming a thin film of a metal such as nickel or iron on the silicon carbide fibers and then annealing at a temperature of about 350-550° C. to form a debond layer of a metal silicide and carbon. These fibers having the debond coating can be added to composite forming materials and the mixture treated to form a consolidated composite. A one heating-step method to form a consolidated composite involves inserting the silicon carbide fibers with just the initial metal film coating into the composite forming materials and then heating the mixture to form the debond coating in situ on the fibers and to form the consolidated composite. Preferred heating techniques include high temperature annealing, hot-pressing, or hot isostatic pressing (HIP).

Abstract: A circuit includes at least one negative differential resistance (NDR) device and at least one magnetic device having reversibly variable resistance, wherein the negative differential resistance device and the magnetic device are operatively connected so that changing the resistance of the magnetic device changes the current-voltage response characteristics of the circuit. NDR devices and magnetic devices can be arranged to form multiple value logic (MVL) cells and monostable-bistable transition logic elements (MOBILE), and these logic cells can form the components of a field programmable gate array.

Abstract: An electrically conducting composite is made by providing an aerogel structure of nonconducting material, exposing the aerogel structure to a mixture of RuO4 and a nonpolar solvent in an inert atmosphere, wherein the mixture is held initially at a first temperature that is below the temperature at which RuO4 decomposes into RuO2 in the nonpolar solvent and in the presence of the aerogel, and allowing the mixture to warm to a second temperature that is above the temperature at which RuO4 decomposes to RuO2 in the nonpolar solvent and in the presence of the aerogel, wherein the rate of warming is controlled so that as the mixture warms and the RuO4 begins to decompose into RuO2, the newly formed RuO2 is deposited throughout the aerogel structure as a three-dimensionally networked conductive deposit.

Abstract: Selective, crosslinked chelating polymers are produced by substituting an acyclic chelating agent with a polymerizable functional group. The resulting substituted acyclic chelating agent is then complexed with the target metal ion. A crosslinkable monomer is then added and the complexed material is crosslinked. The complexed metal is then removed, providing a crosslinked polymeric chelating agent that has been templated for the target metal ion.

Abstract: High temperature superconductor composite thin film devices with easily moved Josephson vortices are described having high Tc and good magnetic vortex properties. A preferred composite material was YBCO/CeO2 thin film on a MgO substrate. The superconductor composites were preferably formed by off-axis co-sputtering. A surprising recovery in properties was seen after plasma etching with oxygen.

Abstract: Objects are marked for identification by a luminescent label including an optically stimulable glass having trapping centers and luminescence centers. The objects are marked by exposing the luminescent label to a radiation flux to populate metastable trapping centers in the luminescent label. The labels are read by exposing the label to a second radiation flux of optical radiation, to stimulate the release of trapped charges, causing the label to luminesce. The labels may also be read without previously populating these metastable trapping centers, by stimulating prompt luminescence through exposure to a flux of UV radiation. The label is made from an optically stimulable glass, where this glass has a glass matrix with defects, where these defects may be: (i) an alkaline earth sulfide, activator Sm ions, and an additional coactivator dopant (Eu or Ce); (ii) ZnS and activator ions (Cu, Pb, Mn, Ce, Eu, Ag, Au, or Fe); or (iii) activator ions without metal sulfides.

Abstract: An device for depositing a transfer material onto a receiving substrate includes a source of pulsed laser energy, a receiving substrate, and a target substrate. The target substrate comprises a laser transparent support having a back surface and a front surface. The front surface has a coating that comprises a mixture of the transfer material to be deposited and a matrix material. The matrix material is a material that has the property that, when it is exposed to pulsed laser energy, it is more volatile than the transfer material. The source of pulsed laser energy is be positioned in relation to the target substrate so that pulsed laser energy is directed through the back surface of the target substrate and through the laser-transparent support to strike the coating at a defined location with sufficient energy to volatilize the matrix material at the location, causing the coating to desorb from the location and be lifted from the surface of the support.

Abstract: Pentacene derivatives substituted with two or more aromatic, substituted aromatic, heteroaromatic, or substituted heteroaromatic groups are dopants for organic electroluminescent devices. When combined with host materials and incorporated into an organic light emitting devices, the pentacene derivatives are red emitters with narrow spectra.

Abstract: A computer-based device for providing spoken translations of a predetermined set of medical questions, upon the selection of individual questions. Translations are prerecorded into a number of languages, and the physician user, in cooperation with the patient, chooses the language into which the translations are made. Then the physician chooses the questions in the physician's own language that should be asked, then indicates his choice to the device, and the device speaks the corresponding questions in the language of a potential respondent.