Abstract: A method of generating embryoid bodies is provided. The method comprising culturing undifferentiated embryonic stem cells on a three dimensional scaffold under conditions suitable for formation of embryoid bodies, thereby generating the embryoid bodies.

Abstract: The present invention is of methods of establishing and propagating human embryonic stem cell lines using feeder cells-free, xeno-free culture systems and stem cells which are capable of being maintained in an undifferentiated, pluripotent and proliferative state in culture which is free of xeno contaminants and feeder cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for analyzing and modulating (e.g., enhancing or inhibiting) protein-protein interactions. In particular, compositions and methods of the present invention find use in identifying, reconstituting and characterizing protein-protein interactions, identifying binding subunits, and drug screening. The methods and compositions of the invention may also be used to identify agents that may agonize or antagonize a protein-protein interaction (e.g., using test compounds).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for identifying a compound or a combination of compounds having a pharmacological behavior that qualifies it as a candidate for clinical development of a drug for treatment of a psychiatric disease or disorder, preferably schizophrenia. According to this method, a candidate drug is assessed for its ability to produce a biochemical profile, in either or both in vitro and in vivo test systems, which is similar to a unique reference biochemical profile obtained following treatments with drugs or drug combinations effective against both positive and negative symptoms of psychiatric diseases or disorders.

Abstract: Members of the TGF-? superfamily control many physiologic and pathophysiologic processes in multiple tissues and signal via type II and type I receptor serine kinases. Type II activin receptors are promiscuous and known to bind 12 TGF-? ligands including activins, myostatin, BMPs and nodal. Methods are described for the screening and identification of antagonist for TGF-? superfamily members, in particular activin-A antagonist.

Abstract: The present invention provides HIV-derived lentivectors which are safe, highly efficient, and very potent for expressing transgenes for human gene therapy, especially, in human hematopoietic progenitor cells as well as in all other blood cell derivatives. The lentiviral vectors comprise a self-inactivating configuration for biosaftey and promoters such as the EF1? promoter as one example. Additional promoters are also described. The vectors can also comprise additional transcription enhancing elements such as the wood chuck hepatitis virus post-transcriptional regulatory element. These vectors therefore provide useful tools for genetic treatments such as inherited and acquired lympho-hematological disorders, gene-therapies for cancers especially the hematological cancers, as well as for the study of hematopoiesis via lentivector-mediated modification of human HSCs.

Abstract: A device for replenishing ionizable material in a field ionization apparatus is disclosed. The device comprises a heatable reservoir containing the ionizable material, a field ionization electrode structure, and a channel being in fluid communication with said heatable reservoir. The heatable reservoir and the channel are designed and constructed such that when the heatable reservoir is heated to an evaporation temperature of the ionizable material, a flux of vaporized ionizable material is directed along the channel to a tip of the field ionization electrode structure.

Abstract: A method of designing a transmissive optical element for converting a profile of a light beam from a predetermined input profile to a predetermined output profile is disclosed. The method comprises: calculating a stationary function of a predetermined cost functional selected such that the stationary function satisfies a mapping condition for mapping the predetermined input profile into the predetermined output profile, thereby providing a mapping function. The method further comprises utilizing the mapping function for calculating surface properties of at least a first surface and a second surface of the transmissive optical element.

Abstract: A space variant polarization optical element for spatially manipulating polarization-dependent geometrical phases of an incident light beam. The element comprises a substrate with a plurality of zones of gratings with a continuously varying orientation. The orientation denoted by ?(x-y) is equal to half of a desired geometrical phase (DGP) modulus 2?. Each grating has a local period that is smaller than the wavelength of the incident light beam. In other embodiments of the present invention the substrate comprises a plurality of zones of gratings with a continuously varying orientation.

Abstract: The 28-kDa outer membrane proteins (P28) of Ehrlichia chaffeensis are encoded by a multigene family consisting of 21 members located in a 23-kb DNA fragment in the genome of E. chaffeensis. Fifteen of these proteins are claimed herein as novel sequences. The amino acid sequence identity of the various P28 proteins was 20-83%. Six of 10 tested p28 genes were actively transcribed in cell culture grown E. chaffeensis. RT-PCR also indicated that each of the p28 genes was monocistronic. These results suggest that the p28 genes are active genes and encode polymorphic forms of the P28 proteins. The P28s were also divergent among different isolates of E. chaffeensis. The large repertoire of the p28 genes in a single ehrlichial organism and antigenic diversity of the P28 among the isolates of E. chaffeensis suggest that the P28s may be involved in immune avoidance.

Abstract: An isolated composition of matter is disclosed. The composition comprises a heterogeneous population of cells seeded on a scaffold, wherein the heterogeneous population of cells comprises cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells and fibroblast cells. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising same and uses thereof are also disclosed.

Abstract: An inverted ladder circuit for a Digital to Analog Converter (DAC) having an input binary word representing an input value and an output current corresponding to a converted analog value. The inverted ladder circuit includes at least two fine resistor ladders, including at least an upper fine resistor ladder and a lower fine resistor ladder. The inverted ladder circuit also includes a coarse resistor ladder having a corresponding plurality of coarse ladder resistors, wherein the coarse resistor ladder slides upon the at least two fine resistor ladders. The inverted ladder circuit also includes a plurality of upper fine switches and a plurality of lower fine switches, wherein the switches operate in parallel according to the lower five bits of the input binary word. The plurality of fine ladder resistors are matched with the plurality of coarse ladder resistors to obtain current proportional to the input binary word. The output resistance and parasitic capacitance are reduced.

Abstract: A method for modifying a logic circuit layout to optimize circuit propagation delays for improved circuit operation is presented. The layout includes multiple logic gates connected by conductive segments. An initial layout of a physical electronic logic circuit having the plurality of logic gates is input. A respective size is determined for each of the logic gates in accordance with the initial layout and a circuit propagation delay criterion. The circuit propagation delay criterion is a joint function of properties of at least some of the logic gates and at least some of the conductive segments. A modified logic circuit layout is output. The modified logic circuit layout includes a layout of the logic gates arranged in accordance with the initial layout, where each of the logic gates is modified according to the respective determined size, thereby to obtain a modification of the logic circuit layout incorporating an optimized circuit propagation delay.

Abstract: A recombinant polypeptide and nucleic acid constructs capable of expressing the recombinant polypeptide are provided. The recombinant polypeptide comprises a chimeric polypeptide including an antigenic peptide being capable of binding a human MHC class I, a functional human ?-2 microglobulin and a functional human MHC class I heavy chain.

Abstract: The present invention provides lentiviral vectors that are useful in human gene therapy for inherited or acquired proliferative ocular disease. It furnishes methods to exploit the ability of lentiviral vectors to transduce both mitotically active and inactive cells so that eye diseases may be treated.

Abstract: An ion concentration sensor produces a signal reflective of the ion concentration within a solution. The ion concentration sensor is based on an ion sensitive transistor having a solution input, a reference input, a diffusion input, and a diffusion output. The ion sensitive transistor is connected as a pass transistor, such that the diffusion output provides an electrical signal indicating an ion concentration in a solution contacting the solution input.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polypeptides obtained from bear derivative isolate which are useful in suppressing appetite. The polypeptides of the present invention are most preferably between 12 and 13 amino acid residues in length and a mass of about 1249. The present invention also relates to a method of treating obesity by administering to obese subjects an effective amount of the polypeptides of the present invention.

Abstract: A semiconductor device which produces at least 1 W/m2 two photon emission power per area, when operating at one or more temperatures greater than 20 K.

Abstract: The invention provides ?-conjugated oligomers and polymers. The oligomers and polymers may comprise at least two ?-conjugated amino acid subunits. The oligomers and polymers may contain one or more ?-conjugated amino acid subunits that are optically, electrically or electronically active. The invention also provides optical, electronic and electric devices comprising oligomers and/or polymers having one or more ?-conjugated amino acids that are optically, electrically, or electronically active.

Abstract: An acoustic detector is described for detecting acoustic waves in a medium that can be a relatively dense medium. The detector comprises a concentrating structure provided with a lens-shaped cavity and an acoustic lens made of a dense fluid received within the cavity. A sensor is positioned at an acoustic focus distance from the acoustic lens. Sound waves propagating within the medium towards the acoustic detector are captured by the acoustic lens, concentrated through the concentrating structure, and are collected by the sensor. The acoustic detector can be applied to a vast variety of applications.