Abstract: A chemical vapor deposition reaction system converts a reactant precursor, which includes the metal Ruthenium, to a vapor during a chemical reaction in order to deposit the metal on a semiconductor wafer. The reactant precursor is Bis(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedionato)(1,5-cyclooctadiene)Ru. An energy source provides energy to the reaction chamber to induce the chemical reaction. A controllable metering system alternatively supplies the precursor and oxygen to the reaction chamber. The precursor is supplied into the reaction chamber during a first phase and the oxygen is supplied into the reaction chamber during a second phase, which is non-overlapping with the first phase. A first pump/valve provides the precursor to the reaction chamber, and a second pump/valve provides the oxygen to the reaction chamber, each in response to a controller. The Ruthenium is selectively deposited on oxide sites patterned on a surface of the semiconductor wafer.

Abstract: An electrical system according to various aspects of the present invention includes a supply configured to provide a signal at a desired level. The supply monitors the output signal and compares the output signal to multiple thresholds. If the signal crosses a coarse-adjustment threshold, the supply coarsely adjusts the output to the load to quickly drive the signal toward the target level. If the signal crosses a fine adjustment threshold, the supply finely adjusts the output.

Abstract: A document analysis tool provides a 3-dimensional network representation of temporal evolution of text in a document. First and second portions of text are extracted from one or more documents. The texts are parsed to identify noun phrases. The noun phrases are stemmed to remove word variations. Words from the first portion of the text are linked together to form a first layer in the network. Words from the second portion of the text are linked together to form a second layer in the network. The second layer exists in a different temporal plane from the first layer. Words that are common between first and second layers are linked together between the first and second layers to provide a visual and analytical representation of relationship between the first and second portions of the text.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel compounds denominated halocombstatins. The halocombstatins are derivatives of combretastatin A-3, and include compounds that exhibit cancer growth cell inhibition against a panel of human cancer cell lines and the murine P388 leukemia, as well as activity as inhibitors of tubulin polymerization and inhibitors of the binding of colchicine to tubulin.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus uses a single crystalline silicon substrate disposed adjacent to a flexible substrate. The electronic apparatus may be a flexible flat panel display, or a flexible printed circuit board. The flexible substrate can be made from polymer, plastic, paper, flexible glass, and stainless steel. The flexible substrate is bonded to the single crystalline substrate using an ion implantation process. The ion implantation process involves the use of a noble gas such as hydrogen, helium, xenon, and krypton. A plurality of semiconductor devices are formed on the single crystalline silicon substrate. The semiconductor devices may be thin film transistors for the flat panel display, or active and passive components for the electronic device.

Abstract: A band pass filter (114) is formed on an integrated circuit (IC) chip (102). Such band pass filter (114) may be used in a RF or wireless communication device, such as a mobile phone or a personal data assistant (PDA). The band pass filter (114) includes a transformer (202 and 204) made of a pair of metallic spirals formed on the IC chip. The metallic spirals may have substantially square or rectangular overall shape, and may be fabricated using copper. The metallic spirals may be co-planar and inter-wound or may be stacked, one on top of the other, and separated by a dielectric layer. The transformer (202 and 204) is capable of receiving an input signal, and providing high pass filtering to the input signal. The band pass filter (114) also includes a capacitor (226, 2; 230 and 232) that is capable of receiving the input signal and providing low pass filtering in conjunction with an inductance of the transformer (202 and 204).

Abstract: This invention provides a method for screening large numbers of individual cells or colonies of cells using scanning microscopy coupled with fluorescence lifetime measurement and analysis, using time-correlated single photon counting. This invention further provides an automated method for selecting cells that exhibit desired characteristics. The method uses the scanning microscope system to focus a laser beam onto a surface upon which cells are immobilized on the timescale of the procedure. The cells that are illuminated in this way are killed or their growth is inhibited. The focused laser beam is scanned across the surface and turned on and off during the scanning process such that only non-irradiated cells survive, resulting in a patterned cell growth This invention further provides a computer-controlled projection device, such as a micro-mirror array or a liquid crystal display system, which is sued to project an image onto the cells.

Abstract: The original synthesis of combretastatin A-2 (1a) was modified to provide an efficient scale-up procedure for obtaining this antineoplastic stilbene. Subsequent conversion to a useful prodrug was accomplished by phosphorylation employing in situ formation of dibenzylchlorophosphite followed by cleavage of the benzyl ester protective groups with bromotrimethylsilane to afford phosphoric acid intermediate 11. The latter was immediately treated with sodium methoxide to complete a practical route to the disodium phosphate prodrug (2a). The phosphoric acid precursor (11) of phosphate 2a was employed in a parallel series of reactions to produce a selection of metal and ammonium cation prodrug candidates. Each of the phosphate salts (2a–q) was evaluated with respect to relative solubility behavior, cancer cell growth inhibition, and antimicrobial activity.

Abstract: Novel conductive polyanionic polymers and methods for their preparion are provided. The polyanionic polymers comprise repeating units of weakly-coordinating anionic groups chemically linked to polymer chains. The polymer chains in turn comprise repeating spacer groups. Spacer groups can be chosen to be of length and structure to impart desired electrochemical and physical properties to the polymers. Preferred embodiments are prepared from precursor polymers comprising the Lewis acid borate tri-coordinated to a selected ligand and repeating spacer groups to form repeating polymer chain units. These precursor polymers are reacted with a chosen Lewis base to form a polyanionic polymer comprising weakly coordinating anionic groups spaced at chosen intervals along the polymer chain. The polyanionic polymers exhibit high conductivity and physical properties which make them suitable as solid polymeric electrolytes in lithium batteries, especially secondary lithium batteries.

Abstract: Yungamycin A has been demonstrated to have unexpected in vivo anticancer activity. New compounds Yungamycin B and C are also disclosed, and have been demonstrated to be specific for DT-diaphorase, as well as to have in vivo anticancer activity.

Abstract: A newly discovered antineoplastic compound denominated “phenstatin” is herein described as are synthetic methods for producing phenstatin and the active prodrug thereof. Phenstatin was converted to the sodium phosphate prodrug (3d) by a dibenzylphosphite phosphorylation and subsequent hydrogenolysis sequence 3b?3c?3d. Phenstatin (3b) was found to be a potent inhibitor of tubulin polymerization and the binding of colchicine to tubulin comparable to combretastatin A-4 (1b).

Abstract: Alfin1 cDNA encodes a putative transcription factor associated with salt tolerance in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L). The recombinant protein binds DNA in a sequence specific manner, including promoter fragments of the salt inducible gene MsPRP2. Alfin1 function was tested in transgenic alfalfa under the control of the 35S promoter in the sense and antisense orientations with the endogenous MsPRP2 as a reporter gene. Calli overexpressing Alfin1 were more resistant to growth inhibition by 171 mM NaCl than vector transformed controls, while calli expressing Alfin1 antisense were more sensitive to salt inhibition. Transgenic plants overexpressing Alfin1 in the sense orientation grew well. In contrast, the antisense transgenic plants grew poorly in soil, demonstrating that Alfin1 expression is essential for normal plant development. Transgenic calli and plant roots overexpressing Alfin1 showed enhanced levels of endogenous MsPRP2 mRNA accumalution.

Abstract: A method for classifying data involves receiving a set of training data from a physical process such as a computer network (20). The training data has attribute data and target data. The target data has a class label associated with the attribute data. Dummy clusters are derived from centroid coordinates of the training data associated with the class label (22). Distance measures are determined between the training data and a plurality of clusters which include the dummy clusters (24). Real clusters are created in the plurality of clusters if the training data is closest to a dummy cluster or a cluster having a class label different than the class label associated with the training data (26). A closest match between data to be classified and the plurality of clusters is identified (28) and the data is classified as the class label of the closest match from the plurality of clusters (30).

Abstract: The merits of N-unsubstituted indoles and cyclopent[b]indoles as DNA-directed reductive alkylating agents are described. These systems represent a significant departure from N-substituted and pyrrolo[1,2-?] fused systems such as the mitomycins and mitosenes. The cyclopent[b]indole-based aziridinylquinone, when bearing an acetate leaving group, was found to be cytotoxic and displayed significant in vivo activity against syngeneic tumor implants. This particular analogue was unexpectedly superior to the others studied, both in terms of high specificity for the activating enzyme DT-diaphorase and in high % DNA alkylation. Alkylation by a quinone methide intermediate as well as by the aziridinyl group were examined for crosslinking. The possible metabolites of the most active indole species were prepared and found to retain cytotoxicity, strongly suggesting that in vivo activity could also be sustained.

Abstract: A composition of matter, denominated herein as 12a-r, having the structural formula set forth below: wherein R is selected from the group consisting of: a) R=NHPh; b) R=NHCH2Ph; c) R=NH(CH2)2Ph; d) R=NH(CH2)2‘-4-F-Ph; e) R=NH(CH2)2-4-Cl-Ph; f) R=NH(CH2)2-3-Cl-Ph; g) R=NH(CH2)2-2-Cl-Ph; h) R=NH(CH2)2-4-Br-Ph; i) R=NH(CH2)2-4-NO2-Ph; j) R=NH(CH2)2-3,4-(CH3O)2Ph; k) R=NH(CH2)2-2-pyridine; l) R=NH(CH2)3Ph; m) R=L-Phe-OCH3; n) R=L-Met-OCH3; o) R=L-Pro-OCH3; p) R=NH-2-thiazolyl; q) R=NH-2-benzothiazolyl; r) R=NH-3-quinolyl; and methods of making these compounds 12a-r.

Abstract: Antifungals based on dolasatin 10 and four structural modifications thereof (herein “peptides”) and methods of treating a host afflicted with a fungi-induced infection are herein described. In broth macrodilution assays, these peptides were fungicidal for ATCC stains and clinical isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans. Specificity for C. neoformans was also demonstrated in the solid-phase disk diffusion assay, and fungicidal activity confirmed in killing kinetics experiments. Broth macrodilution minimum inhibitory and minimum fungicidal concentrations for the most potent modification ranged from 0.0975-1.56 &mgr;g/ml and 0.0975-6.24 &mgr;g/ml respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentrations were nearly identical in the presence of human serum, but increased with lowered pH. Suitable dosage forms for use of the novel antifungals are also described.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for forming a three-dimensional object by planar deposition of forming materials includes containers for holding molten forming materials, mechanical piston or screw members in the containers for pressurizing the molten forming materials in each of the containers, and an adjustable planar nozzle mechanism coupled to the containers through which the pressurized molten forming materials flow to form variable width planar jets that are deposited in layers onto a substrate movable along three axes to form the three-dimensional object. The adjustable planar nozzle mechanism includes cooperating position controllable plates for forming a variable width planar nozzle opening. The edges of the planar nozzle opening are advantageously non-parallel at the ends of the nozzle opening to ensure uniform thickness of the deposited planar jets.

Abstract: In semiconductor devices such as laser diodes (LD) and light emitting diodes (LED) based on gallium nitride thin films, low defect density is desired in the gallium nitride film. In the fabrication of such devices on a silicon carbide substrate surface, the gallium nitride film is formed on the silicon carbide substrate after the substrate surface is etched using hydrogen at an elevated temperature. In another embodiment, an aluminum nitride film is formed as a buffer layer between the gallium nitride film and the silicon carbide substrate, and, prior to aluminum nitride formation, the substrate surface is etched using hydrogen at an elevated temperature.

Abstract: An improved probing device includes: an elongated, substantially cylindrical flexible fiber having a non-conducting outer surface; one or more circuits disposed on the outer surface of the fiber for simultaneously providing an electrical signal path to and from a plurality of locations, each of the circuits comprising a non-planar integrated circuit extending lengthwise along the outer surface of the fiber; and an insulating layer substantially disposed over the electrical circuits and around the outer surface of the fiber, the insulating layer having a plurality of openings through which selected portions of the electrical circuits are exposed to the locations. Such a probing device when adapted as a neural probe is especially useful for conducting deep brain measurement and stimulation.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for forming a three-dimensional object by planar deposition of forming materials includes containers for holding molten forming materials, mechanical piston or screw members in the containers for pressurizing the molten forming materials in each of the containers, and an adjustable planar nozzle mechanism coupled to the containers through which the pressurized molten forming materials flow to form variable width planar jets that are deposited in layers onto a substrate movable along three axes to form the three-dimensional object. The adjustable planar nozzle mechanism includes cooperating position controllable plates for forming a variable width planar nozzle opening. The edges of the planar nozzle opening are advantageously non-parallel at the ends of the nozzle opening to ensure uniform thickness of the deposited planar jets.