Abstract: A competitive assay to determine the presence and concentration of an intracellular analyte (e.g., cAMP) in a sample is provided. All of the steps of the assay can be performed on the same assay plate, thereby eliminating the need to transfer the cells from a tissue culture plate on which the cells are grown, induced and lysed to a separate assay plate. The assay procedure includes combining, in a reaction chamber provided with a capture antibody, an antibody for the analyte, the sample to be assayed, and a conjugate of the analyte and an enzyme such as alkaline phosphatase. The mixture is incubated and washed and an enzyme labile substrate (e.g., a chemiluminescent, fluorescent or calorimetric substrate) is added. The assay can also be performed with a tagged analyte (e.g., an analyte having a radioactive or fluorescent tag) instead of an enzyme conjugate.

Abstract: The universal Internet based telephony system is implemented as a process that is accessible via an Internet WEB page and executes on the WEB server that hosts the WEB page and/or a back-end Internet telephony server which is accessed and controlled by the WEB server. The customer accesses the universal Internet based telephony system via any existing Java Enabled Internet Browser software resident on the customer's personal computer, either as an adjunct process thereon, or as a dedicated Internet telephony process. When a customer accesses the Internet WEB page and clicks on the universal Internet based telephony system icon, the WEB server on which the WEB page resides executes the resident universal Internet based telephony system hyperlink script and transfers a newly opened browser session to the universal Internet based telephony system WEB site.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are disclosed for prevention or treatment of prostate disorders and ameliorating symptoms thereof, including prostatitis, benign prostate hyperplasia and prostatic carcinoma.

Abstract: A low profile deadman is shaped such that it can be placed alongside a storage tank on a conventionally-sized flatbed trailer. In one preferred embodiment, the deadman includes at least one chamfered edge.

Abstract: A Moisture and Density Detector (MDD) that provides a method and apparatus to determine the moisture content and/or density of any dielectric material for various purposes. This device is very useful in detecting the moisture content (MC) of wood and wood-based materials, such as that of lumber in a dry kiln prior to, during and/or following drying. The MDD passes a radio frequency signal between opposed or adjacent capacitance electrodes and measures the signal strength and phase shift of the signal. The addition of phase shift and multiple frequencies improves the accuracy of the results.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting areas of differential density in logs, cants, timbers, poles or trees comprises applying a signal to one or more pairs of electrodes and measuring the magnitude and phase shift of the voltage, current or impedance at an output electrode. Electrodes may be arranged in a circumferential or opposed configuration depending on scanned product shape, and may be stationary or move freely but are preferably in direct contact with wood surface. Wire brush electrodes are used in some embodiments. Measurements are taken in both directions between an electrode pair. Multiple frequencies may be employed. Different electrode sizes may be used for different measurements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of treating disorders related to cellular overproliferation comprising neutralizing the production or activity of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF). The invention also relates to therapeutic compositions comprising factors which inhibit or neutralize MIF activity, such as, MIF antisense RNA molecules and MIF monoclonal antibodies and derivatives or analogs thereof. The invention further relates to the uses of such compositions and methods for the treatment of malignancies, including, but not limited to, B and T cell lymphomas.

Abstract: Devices and methods for the vapor deposition of amorphous, silicon-containing thin films using vapors comprised of deuterated species. Thin films grown on a substrate wafer by this method contain deuterium but little to no hydrogen. Optical devices comprised of optical waveguides formed using this method have significantly reduced optical absorption or loss in the near-infrared optical spectrum commonly used for optical communications, compared to the loss in waveguides formed in thin films grown using conventional vapor deposition techniques with hydrogen containing precursors. In one variation, the optical devices are formed on a silicon-oxide layer that is formed on a substrate, such as a silicon substrate. The optical devices of some variations are of the chemical species SiOxNy:D. Since the method of formation requires no annealing, the thin films can be grown on electronic and optical devices or portions thereof without damaging those devices.

Abstract: A method of making vertical diodes and transistors in SiC is provided. The method according to the invention uses a mask (e.g., a mask that has been previously used for etching features into the device) for selective epitaxial growth or selective ion implantation. In this manner, the gate and base regions of static induction transistors and bipolar junction transistors can be formed in a self-aligned process. A method of making planar diodes and planar edge termination structures (e.g., guard rings) is also provided.

Abstract: A continuous information gathering and evaluating system uses five highly coupled databases and software for gathering user input (respondent software), for evaluating input (evaluator software), and for administering the system (administrative software). The first database includes the categories of users for an organization. The second database stores information about each user. The third database includes all topics and issues of interest and queries for each combination of topic, issue, and respondent category. Responses to query statements are preferably collected using a 7 point Likert scale. The fourth database is the repository for the responses from users and appropriate statistics based on the responses. The fifth database includes authorization data and rules that determine how the process and system are implemented for a particular organization.

Abstract: A fiber optic laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) sensor, including a laser light source, a harmonic separator for directing the laser light, a dichroic mirror for reflecting the laser light, a coupling lens for coupling the laser light at an input of a multimode optical fiber, a connector for coupling the laser light from an output of the multimode optical fiber to an input of a high temperature holder, such as a holder made of stainless steel, and a detector portion for receiving emission signal and analyzing LIBS intensities. In one variation, the multimode optical fiber has silica core and silica cladding. The holder includes optical lenses for collimating and focusing the laser light in a molten alloy to produce a plasma, and for collecting and transmitting an emission signal to the multimode optical fiber.

Abstract: There is disclosed a fibrocyte-based vaccine formulations made from isolated fibrocytes. There is further disclosed a method for establishing an immune response against a specific antigen by administering a fibrocyte-based vaccine formulation, such as one made by pulsing fibrocytes in culture with the antigen peptide or protein, or by fusing tumor cells (whole cells or membrane fragments thereof) with fibrocytes.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for triggering an advertisement for display via a computer network. One of a several part numbers is received from a user request. An advertisement to be displayed is triggered if (i) the user is associated with a pre-determined desired group corresponding to the triggered advertisement, and (ii) the user is not associated with a pre-determined no-show group corresponding to the triggered advertisement; and (iii) at least one of the received part numbers is included in the portion of part numbers. The triggering step further includes determining whether the triggered advertisement has exceeded a pre-determined maximum number of showings. An advertiser associated with the advertisement is notified of the triggered advertisement and the user. Further, responsive to the user request, stored information is searched for a part corresponding to at least one part number. Further, the user is classified by type within a vertical industry such as the airline industry.

Abstract: An oligonucleotide useful for specific amplification of HCV RNA, or highly sensitive detection and identification of HCV RNA, and a combination thereof. A detection method using RNA amplification step, wherein the oligonucleotide of SEQ ID NO: 11 is used as a first primer and the oligonucleotide of SEQ ID NO: 6 or 7 as a second primer, the oligonucleotide of SEQ ID NO: 12 is used as a first primer and the oligonucleotide of SEQ ID NO: 7 as a second primer, or the oligonucleotide of SEQ ID NO: 13 is used as a first primer and the oligonucleotide of SEQ ID NO: 9 as a second primer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of forming, in semiconductor substrates, contact openings having low contact resistance. The method involves, in particular, the introduction of a “soft etch” cleaning step that is used to clean the bottom of the contact openings. The “soft etch” cleaning step uses fluorocarbon chemistry. It is shown that the resulting resistance of the contact openings is reduced.

Abstract: A radiation-sensitive resin composition used as a chemically amplified positive tone resist responsive to short wavelength active radiation such as KrF excimer laser and ArF excimer laser is disclosed. The resin composition comprises: (A) an acid-dissociable group-containing resin which is insoluble or scarcely soluble in alkali and becomes alkali soluble when the acid-dissociable group dissociates, the resin comprising a lactone cyclic structure of the following formula (1): wherein a is an integer from 1-3, b is an integer from 0-9, and R1 represents a monovalent organic group, and (B) a photoacid generator. The composition has high transmittance of radiation, exhibits high sensitivity, resolution, and pattern shape, and can produce semiconductors at a high yield without producing resolution defects during microfabrication.

Abstract: The invention discloses a process of extracting, fractionating and purifying bioactive molecules from an associated mangrove plant, methods of screening for pharmacological activities of crude extract, its fractions and purified compounds and use of the chloroform fraction of the crude extract as anti-spasmodic, anti-arrhythmic and anti-cholinergic agent.

Abstract: A chemical composition including a moiety comprising a quencher (Q), a tethering element (T), and a ligand (L) that associates with and quenches a fluorescent polymer is disclosed. When an analyte sample is introduced, the ligand (L) binds to a target biological agent if it is present, thereby causing the QTL molecule to separate from the fluorescent polymer resulting in an increase in detected fluorescence. The same chemistry is advantageously employed in a competitive assay. An electric field can also be applied to separate the QTL molecule from the fluorescent polymer. A method for detecting targets for these methods are also disclosed.