Abstract: The present invention provides highly automated fluid delivery systems and related methods with significantly improved throughput relative to preexisting technologies. In particular, the invention relates to a fluid dispensing system that simultaneously produces multiple fluid mixtures on-the-fly in multiple multiwell plates. The invention also includes control system and machine software in addition to various systems and related methods for performing assorted downstream processes.

Abstract: An improved method for determining character codes for a numerical value retrieves two or more character codes for each iteration of the method.

Abstract: This invention pertains to the identification of a novel class of glutamate transporters. In particular, this invention pertains to the discovery that proteins originally considered to perform an entirely different function (BNPI, DNPI, etc.), in fact, transport glutamate into synaptic vesicles. Designated VGLUT glutamate transporters, the transporters provide good targets with which to screen for modulators of glutamate uptake into synaptic vesicles.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and devices for detecting the presence of one or more target analytes in a sample employing a channel having affixed therein one or more binding partners for each target analyte. Assays are carried out by transporting the sample through the channel to each successive binding partner so that target analyte present in said sample binds to the corresponding binding partner. The sample is then transported beyond the binding partner(s), followed by detection of any target analyte bound to each binding partner. In one embodiment, binding efficiency is increased by the use of segmented transport, wherein a first bolus or bubble of a fluid that is immiscible with the sample precedes the sample during transport and a second bolus or bubble of a fluid that is immiscible with the sample follows the sample. Many configurations are possible for the device of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cDNA sequences from a region of amplification on chromosome 20 associated with disease. The sequences can be used in hybridization methods for the identification of chromosomal abnormalities associated with various diseases. The sequences can also be used for treatment of diseases.

Abstract: A method for the rational design and preparation of vaccines based on HIV envelope polypeptides is described. In one embodiment, the method for making an HIV gp120 subunit vaccine for a geographic region comprises determining neutralizing epitopes in the V2 and/or C4 domains of gp120 of HIV isolates from the geographic region and selecting an HIV strain having gp120 a neutralizing epitope in the V2 or C4 domain which is common among isolates in the geographic region. In a preferred embodiment of the method, neutralizing epitopes for the V2, V3, and C4 domains of gp120 are determined. At least two HIV isolates having different neutralizing epitopes in the V2, V3, or C4 domain are selected and used.to make the vaccine. The invention also provides a multivalent HIV gp120 subunit vaccine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant viral vectors encoding a transcriptional unit, that encodes a fusion protein, or a foreign protein or a gene of interest to be silenced, which can be expressed in a host. The present invention also relates to the use of these recombinant viral vectors to express a fusion protein, a foreign protein, to silence a gene of interest in a host. The present invention also relates to the use of these recombinant viral vectors to screen a CDNA or genomic library in order to correlate a nucleotide sequence with a phenotypic or biochemical change.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods for generating combinatorial libraries on solid phase supports in which increased productivity is achieved by pooling all common steps in synthesis without using a tracking or coding system to record the synthetic history of each compound. Methods for generating combinatorial libraries in which containers with random mixtures of solid phase particles are divided and combined together in non-random ways without the exchange of particles between containers are also provided. Various products are optionally produced in multi-stage syntheses according to the invention, such as oligomers and synthetic non-repetitive organic molecules. The methods additionally relate to the identification of each library component without adding extra synthetic, physical, optical, or electronic encoding steps during library synthesis. Combinatorial synthetic systems are also provided.

Abstract: A method or system or apparatus provides improved digital communication. In one aspect, flow control in performed by receiving status preprended to data units in a combined data channel, where the status data indicated the available status of a number of far end receiving channels. Thus data may be sent only to available receiving channels. In a further aspect, a frequency reference may also be transmitted by including data in data units in a combined channel. In a further aspect, an active channel can be selected among two redundant channels by use of an active bit in said data units. The invention has particular applications to ATM-type communication systems and may also be used in other communication systems.

Abstract: The invention is a method of identifying the presence of, and monitoring, a disease state in a mammal which is associated with degradation of connective tissue in the mammal. The method detects and determines whether diagnostically or prognostically significant levels of YKL-40 protein and/or YKL-40 peptide are present in a biological sample. The method can be used, for example, to identify the presence of inflammatory joint disease or degeneration of connective tissue in organs. Serum YKL-40 levels as detected and quantified by the invention method are also suggestive of the prognosis for the length of survival in breast cancer patients following recurrence and/or metastasis of their cancers.

Abstract: This invention provides methods of selecting antibodies that are internalized into target cells. The methods generally involve contacting target cells with one or more members of an antibody phage display library. The members of the phage display library are also contacted with cells of a subtractive cell line. The target cells are then washed to remove the subtractive cell line cells and members of the phage display library that are non-specifically bound or weakly bound to the target cells. The target cells are cultured under conditions where members of the phage display library can be internalized if bound to an internalizing marker and internalized members of the phage display library are then identified.

Abstract: This invention utilizes a two-hybrid system to screen for agents that modulate the ability of a cell to degrade or to accumulate a metabolic product or to selective kill a cell or to selectively express a gene or cDNA in a cell that has a defect in its ability to degrade or to accumulate a metabolic product. One embodiment provides a mammalian cell comprising a nucleic acid encoding a peptide binding domain and an effector gene; a first chimeric protein comprising a nucleic acid binding domain that binds the peptide binding domain attached to the metabolic product or to a ligand that binds to the metabolic product; and a second chimeric protein comprising an expression control protein attached to the metabolic product or to the ligand that binds to the metabolic product such that when the first chimeric protein comprises the metabolic product, the second chimeric protein comprises the ligand and when the first chimeric protein comprises the ligand, the second chimeric protein comprises the metabolic product.

Abstract: Microfluidic devices are provided for the performance of chemical and biochemical analyzes, syntheses and detection. The devices of the invention combine precise fluidic control systems with microfabricated polymeric substrates to provide accurate, low cost miniaturized analytical devices that have broad applications in the fields of chemistry, biochemistry, biotechnology, molecular biology and numerous other fields.

Abstract: A system to maximize the effectiveness of managing capital campaigns, annual funds, and fund-raising projects. The invention in one embodiment includes a special software package designed to manage the complexities of campaigns. In specific embodiments, the invention also involves data items and structures, reporting formats and features, and software and/or business methods for effectively managing fundraising campaigns.

Abstract: A base unit of an electric cooking device includes a grill plate that has front and rear edge portions opposite to each other along a plate axis. An oil-collecting hole is formed adjacent to the front edge portion. The grill plate has a top cooking surface that inclines rearwardly and upwardly from the front edge portion to the rear edge portion, that inclines downwardly from the plate axis to left and right edge portions of the grill plate, and that is formed with a plurality of curved grill ribs, each of which includes a portion extending from the left side of the oil-collecting hole to the plate axis, and a portion extending from the plate axis to the right side of the oil-collecting hole.

Abstract: The present invention provides microfluidic devices that comprise a body structure comprising at least a first microscale channel network disposed therein. The body structure has a plurality of ports disposed in the body structure, where each port is in fluid communication with one or more channels in the first channel network. The devices also include a cover layer comprising a plurality of apertures disposed through the cover layer. The cover layer is mated with the body structure whereby each of the apertures is aligned with a separate one of the plurality of ports. Rings are optionally disposed between the cover layer and the body structure and circumferentially around pairs of aligned apertures and ports. The devices also optionally include conductive coatings and membranes. The invention additionally provides methods of controlling the delivery of a composition of material into a microfluidic device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for effecting a parameter and detecting a parameter using two electric signal in a conductive path are described.

Abstract: Compounds of Formula (1) and processes for their preparation, their N-oxides and agriculturally suitable salts, are disclosed which are useful for controlling undesired vegetation wherein Q, X1, X2, X3, R1, R2, R6 and R7 are as defined in the disclosure. Also disclosed are novel intermediates of Formula (5), Formula (8) and Formula (20) wherein R27 is —(CR6R7)q—Q; R6, R7, q, Q, X1 and X2 are as defined in the disclosure. Also disclosed are compositions containing the compounds of Formula (1) and a method for controlling undesired vegetation which involves contacting the vegetation or its environment with an effective amount of a compound of Formula (1).

Abstract: This invention provides novel high density memory devices that are electrically addressable permitting effective reading and writing, that provide a high memory density (e.g., 1015 bits/cm3), that provide a high degree of fault tolerance, and that are amenable to efficient chemical synthesis and chip fabrication. The devices are intrinsically latchable, defect tolerant, and support destructive or non-destructive read cycles. In a preferred embodiment, the device comprises a fixed electrode electrically coupled to a storage medium having a multiplicity of different and distinguishable oxidation states wherein data is stored in said oxidation states by the addition or withdrawal of one or more electrons from said storage medium via the electrically coupled electrode. The storage medium typically comprises a storage molecule that is a triple-decker sandwich heterodimer. Such dimers can provide 8 or more oxidation states and permit the storage of at least 3 bits per molecule.

Abstract: A fermentation apparatus is constructed to produce a known and repeatable amount of untainted fermentation product using multiple fermentation vessels. To facilitate further processing compatible with other product processing steps, the fermentation apparatus has an array of sample vessels arranged in a container frame. The container frame is configured to hold the sample vessels during fermentation and to transport the vessel array to or from another processing station. Corresponding to the number of sample vessels in the sample vessel array, a cannula array is configured such that each cannula may be placed inside a sample vessel. The cannula array is attached to a gas distributor that delivers oxygen and/or one or more other gases from a gas source through the cannula into the sample vessel. Because the fermentation volume for each individual sample vessel is smaller than a bulk fermentation apparatus, the fermentation product yields are predictable and cell growth rates can be effectively optimized.