Abstract: New aerogels are disclosed which comprise silica, at least one organic polymer having polar functional groups, and at least one metal ion. Also disclosed are methods for making such aerogels. The present invention further concerns printable objects comprising these aerogels, specifically when the print media are imaged by the absorption of liquid and the spatial localization of pigments or dyes.

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein relate to nucleic acid probes comprising a a pattern of universal and designate nucleotides, or ‘gapped’ probes, and the use of sets of gapped probes in sequencing by hybridization to determine the sequence of nucleic acid sequences. The inclusion of universal nucleotides in the probes allows for efficient and rapid sequencing of longer nucleotide sequences than can be sequenced using traditional probes. The systems and methods described herein also relate to apparatus for sequencing nucleic acids which include gapped probes, as well as computer systems capable of analyzing data generated using gapped probes in such apparatus.

Abstract: A process is provided for making dry, micronized particles of an agent, such as a drug. The method includes (a) dissolving a macromolecular material, preferably a polymer, in an effective amount of a solvent, to form a solution; (b) dissolving or dispersing the agent in the solution to form a mixture; (c) freezing the mixture; and (d) drying by vacuum the mixture to form solid particles of the agent dispersed in solid macromolecular material. The micronization in this process occurs directly in a macromolecular matrix and hardening of the particles of agent by solvent removal takes place by lyophilization of the bulk matrix, which stabilizes the drug particles during hardening and prevents coalesence, thereby resulting in smaller final drug particles. The method is particularly preferred for protein agents. The process can be used in conjunction with a standard microencapsulation technique, typically following separation of the agent from the macromolecular matrix.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a human N-type calcium channel isoform, h?1B+SFVG, which is involved in central nervous system signaling, and nucleic acids relating thereto. The present invention also includes fragments and biologically functional variants of the human h?1B+SFVG channel. Also included are human N-type calcium channel h?1B+SFVG subunit inhibitors which inhibit human N-type calcium channel h?1B+SFVG subunit activity by inhibiting the expression or function of human N-type calcium channel h?1B+SFVG subunit. The invention further relates to methods of using such nucleic acids, polypeptides, and inhibitors in the treatment and/or diagnosis of disease, such as in methods for treating stroke, pain, e.g., neuropathic pain, and traumatic brain injury.

Abstract: An immunoisolatory vehicle for the implantation into an individual of cells which produce a needed product or provide a needed metabolic function. The vehicle is comprised of a core region containing isolated cells and materials sufficient to maintain the cells, and a permselective, biocompatible, peripheral region free of the isolated cells, which immunoisolates the core yet provides for the delivery of the secreted product or metabolic function to the individual. The vehicle is particularly well-suited to delivery of insulin from immunoisolated islets of Langerhans, and can also be used advantageously for delivery of high molecular weight products, such as products larger than IgG. A method of making a biocompatible, immunoisolatory implantable vehicle, consisting in a first embodiment of a coextrusion process, and in a second embodiment of a stepwise process.

Abstract: A method for finding optimal filter coefficients for a filter given an input data sequence and an objective function is disclosed. The method includes selecting a wavelet basis having k parameters and minimizes the k parameters according to the predetermined objective function. The wavelet basis is reparameterized into k/2 rotation parameters and factorized into a product of rotation and delay matrices. The k/2 rotation parameters are provided for the rotation matrices and a data transform matrix is computed based on the product of the rotation and delay matrices. The input data sequence is converted into transformed data by applying the data transform matrix to the input data. The Jacobian of the data transform matrix and the input data sequence is determined and multiplied by the gradient vector with respect to the transformed data of the objective function.

Abstract: Modified ion-conducting membranes (10), and a method for making the same, which increases the membrane (10) surface area, and, optionally, incorporates mono- and multi-metal ion-containing catalysts for both fuel consumption catalysis in fuel cells as well as catalysis of reactions to ameliorate the effects of CO and other impurities in fuel cells. The membranes (10) modified by these methods can fin application in catalysis and transport applications.

Abstract: A scanning magnetic microscope (SMM) (20) includes a current source (27) for imposing an excitation current to a conductor-under-test (CUT) (70) and, if applicable, a reference current to a proximally located reference conductor (72). During accelerated testing, the SMM (20) corrects thermal drift of the CUT (70) via the reference conductor (72). A sensor (21) may be cooled by a heat sink (31) such as a pump (33) directing an airstream or a coldfinger (80). The sensor may switch from a contact to a non-contact mode of scanning the CUT (70). The SMM (20) and methods are useful for measuring electromigration in a CUT (70) as it occurs, for assembling the images into time lapsed representations such as a shape of the CUT (70), for measuring electromigration as a function of a cross sectional area of a wire under a dielectric material (DM) (78), for determining electrical parameters of the CUT (70), and for optimizing a thickness of a DM (78) over a CUT (70).

Abstract: Improved color management techniques use sample identifiers that define sample color areas having core areas and buffer areas adjacent the core areas. The core area defined by each sample identifier includes a unique set of colors. However, the buffer area defined by each sample identifier is a same common color (e.g., white). Sample color areas can be displayed or outputted (e.g., printed) adjacent to each other to form a region of sample color areas (e.g., a color image, a uniform region of color, etc.). Within such an arrangement, the buffer areas limit any ink bleed between the core areas of the sample color areas thus minimizing, or altogether avoiding, spectral interaction between inks of different core areas.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel targets in eukaryotic cells for antibiotic agents and methods for identification of antibiotic agents affecting such targets and the use of the identified antibiotic agents in treatment of opportunistic infections in eukaryotic hosts. The invention is based upon the identification of species specific 5? hinge and 3? hinge regions of U3 small nucleolar ribonucleic acid (snoRNA). The present invention discloses that the external transcribed spacer (ETS) of the ribosomal RNA precursor (pre-rRNA) comprises sequences that are complementary to the 5? and 3? hinge regions of U3 snoRNA. The invention further discloses that sequence substitutions of the 5? hinge or 3? hinge region of U3 snoRNA severely compromise or fully inhibit the cleavage events at sites 1 and 2 in rRNA processing necessary to form mature 18S rRNA which is a vital component of the small subunit of ribosomes of all eukaryotes.

Abstract: The invention involves methods and products related to the micronization of hydrophobic drugs. A method of micronizing hydrophobic drugs using a set of solutions including an aqueous solution is provided. The invention also relates to products of micronized hydrophobic drugs and related methods of use.

Abstract: Carbon-containing fly ash has been treated with optimum amounts of ozone. There is homogenous treatment of the fly ash with ozone and over saturation with ozone is avoided. In a further embodiment of the invention carbon, from various sources is oxygenated to be incorporated into concrete. The preferred oxygenating agent is ozone.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for treating, preventing, and diagnosing diseases or conditions associated with an abnormal level or activity of biglycan; disorders associated with an unstable cytoplasmic membrane, due, e.g., to an unstable dystrophin associated protein complex (DAPC); disorders associated with abnormal synapses or neuromuscular junctions, including those resulting from an abnormal MuSK activation or acetylcholine receptor (AChR) aggregation. Examples of diseases include muscular dystrophies, such as Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy, Becker's Muscular Dystrophy, neuromuscular disorders and neurological disorders.

Abstract: The invention relates to the discovery of a novel amino acid sequence motif, herein termed the RKIP motif, and to the family of proteins defined by the presence of that motif. Proteins comprising the RKIP motif modulate kinases involved in signal transduction pathways. The RKIP motif forms the basis for screening assays for the identification of agents useful for modulating signal transduction pathways subject to RKIP family mediated regulation, and for the diagnosis and treatment of disorders involving inappropriate activities of pathways subject to RKIP family medicated regulation.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for treating, preventing, and diagnosing diseases or conditions associated with an abnormal level or activity of biglycan; disorders associated with an unstable cytoplasmic membrane, due, e.g., to an unstable dystrophin associated protein complex (DAPC); disorders associated with abnormal synapses or neuromuscular junctions, including those resulting from an abnormal MuSK activation or acetylcholine receptor (AChR) aggregation. Example of diseases include muscular dystrophies, such as Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy, Becker's Muscular Dystrophy, neuromuscular disorders and neurological disorders.

Abstract: The invention involves methods and products related to the micronization of hydrophobic drugs. A method of micronizing hydrophobic drugs using a set of solutions including an aqueous solution is provided. The invention also relates to products of micronized hydrophobic drugs and related methods of use.

Abstract: The invention pertains to N-type calcium channel isoforms containing exon 37a (Cav2.2e[37a]), which are specifically expressed in nociceptive neurons, and nucleic acids relating thereto. Also included are methods for identifying antagonists of Cav2.2e[37a] subunit activity that act by inhibiting the expression or function of the subunit. The invention further relates to methods of using such nucleic acids, polypeptides, and inhibitor molecules in the treatment and/or diagnosis of disease, such as in methods for treating pain, particularly neuropathic pain.

Abstract: An EHE magnetic sensor has an alloy of the form Ry[MxN100−x]100−y, M being Fe, Co, Ni, or magnetic alloys that contain Fe, Co or Ni. N is from the fifth or sixth period of the periodic table. If present, R is a rare earth element. In one embodiment, the alloy exhibits a Temperature Coefficient ≦0.003 K−1 in the room temperature region. Various geometric shapes of sensors are presented including one and two-dimensional arrays of sensors for measuring spatial magnetic fields. Vias (98, 100, 102, 104) defined by a substrate (92) onto which an alloy layer (106) is disposed are filled with a conductive material in certain embodiments of arrays. Methods are disclosed for making a sensor, for designing a sensor at a thickness, for determining maximum acceptable current through a sensor, for reducing Joule heating of a sensor, and for making an array of sensors.

Abstract: The invention involves methods and products related to the micronization of hydrophobic drugs. A method of micronizing hydrophobic drugs using a set of solutions including an aqueous solution is provided. The invention also relates to products of micronized hydrophobic drugs and related methods of use.

Abstract: A reflective strain gauge includes an holographically-formed polymer dispersed liquid crystal (H-PDLC) film comprising layers of liquid crystal (LC) droplets in a matrix polymer, the H-PDLC film having a reflection or transmission grating capable of reflecting or transmitting light of a selected wavelength, and means for adhering the film to a surface of a workpiece for monitoring the strain at said surface. A change in the nature of the reflected light is an indication of strain. Also included is a polarizing material having an holographically-formed polymer dispersed liquid crystal (H-PDLC) film comprising layers of liquid crystal (LC) droplets in a matrix polymer, the H-PDLC film having a reflection grating capable of reflecting light of a selected wavelength, wherein the reflection grating of the H-PDLC film is oriented, such that the refractive index parallel to said axis of orientation (ne) is greater than the refractive index perpendicular to said axis (no).