Abstract: The ?-trefoil protein human fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF-1) is made up of a six-stranded anti-parallel ?-barrel closed off on one end by three ?-hairpins, thus exhibiting a three-fold axis of structural symmetry. The N- and C-termini ?-strands hydrogen bond to each other and are postulated from both NMR and X-ray structure data to represent a structurally-weakened region of the ?-barrel. Val mutations within the N- and C-termini ?-strands are shown to stabilize the structure and to increase van der Waals contacts by filling local cavities present within this region. Mutations that increase van der Waals contacts between both the N- and C-termini ?-strands are generally associated with significant reductions in the unfolding kinetics, and also increase the cooperativity of unfolding. Surprisingly, several mutant polypeptides herein disclosed greatly exceed the wild-type polypeptide in ability to stimulate human fibroblasts to proliferate.

Abstract: A chromium-free welding consumable and a method of welding stainless steel to reduce the presence of chromium emissions. The consumable is made from an alloy that reduces the emission of chromium during a welding process, and include predominantly nickel, with between approximately five and ten weight percent copper, up to approximately two percent by weight of ruthenium and up to five percent non-copper alloying ingredients. Welding consumables made from the alloy are particularly well-suited for welding austenitic stainless steels, such as type 304 stainless steel. The method involves using chromium-free weld filler material with a stainless steel base material.

Abstract: A process of forming a double strand cleavage in DNA includes providing a reaction mixture containing double stranded DNA having a break in a first strand defining a target site in a second strand. The method continues by adding to the reaction mixture a photoreactive lysine conjugate selected from a lysine-enediyne conjugate, a lysine-acetylene conjugate or a combination thereof, for a time sufficient for the lysine conjugate to bind to the DNA adjacent the target site. The reaction mixture is then irradiated with electromagnetic radiation sufficient to photoactivate the lysine conjugate to cleave the second strand adjacent the target site.

Abstract: A process of making biodiesel from crude tall oil by reacting crude tall oil with a C1-C6 alkanol in the presence of an acid catalyst or by reacting crude tall oil with an acyl halide in the presence of a C1-C6 alkanol. The reaction product of either of these reactions is separated into a suspension liquid by the addition of a polar liquid. The biodiesel product is recovered from the suspension liquid by addition of an organic solvent which produces a polar liquid phase and an organic liquid phase. The biodiesel is recovered from the organic liquid phase by evaporating the organic solvent, which is recovered for use in subsequent separation processes, and vacuum distilling off the product biodiesel from the organic solvent-free organic liquid phase.

Abstract: A method of predicting clinical outcome in a subject diagnosed with colorectal cancer comprising determining evidence of the expression of one or more predictive RNA transcripts or their expression products in a biological sample of cancer cells obtained from the subject.

Abstract: A nanofluidic channel fabricated in fused silica with an approximately 500 nm square cross section was used to isolate, detect and identify individual quantum dot conjugates. The channel enables the rapid detection of every fluorescent entity in solution. A laser of selected wavelength was used to excite multiple species of quantum dots and organic molecules, and the emission spectra were resolved without significant signal rejection. Quantum dots were then conjugated with organic molecules and detected to demonstrate efficient multicolor detection. PCH was used to analyze coincident detection and to characterize the degree of binding. The use of a small fluidic channel to detect quantum dots as fluorescent labels was shown to be an efficient technique for multiplexed single molecule studies. Detection of single molecule binding events has a variety of applications including high throughput immunoassays.

Abstract: Described herein is a composite exhibiting a change in electrical resistance proportional to the concentration of a reducing gas present in a gas mixture, detector and sensor devices comprising the composite, a method for making the composite and for making devices comprising the composite, and a process for detecting and measuring a reducing gas in an atmosphere. In particular, the reducing gas may be carbon monoxide and the composite may comprise rutile-phase TiO2 particles and platinum nanoclusters. The composite, upon exposure to a gas mixture containing CO in concentrations of up to 10,000 ppm, exhibits an electrical resistance proportional to the concentration of the CO present. The composite is useful for making sensitive, low drift, fast recovering detectors and sensors, and for measuring CO concentrations in a gas mixture present at levels from sub-ppm up to 10,000 ppm. The composites, and devices made from the composites, are stable and operable in a temperature range of from about 450° C.

Abstract: A scleral lens is provided with scalloped channels on its posterior surface to improve the flow of fluid between the scleral lens and the eye. Also provided is a scleral lens with a fenestrated channel circumscribing the intersection of the optic portion and the scleral portion of the lens. The circumferential fenestrated channel prevents adhesion and suction between the lens and the eye, and improves comfort, vision, and the fitting process.

Abstract: A system and method for tomographic image reconstruction using truncated limited-angle projection data that allows exact interior reconstruction (interior tomography) of a region of interest (ROI) based on the linear attenuation coefficient distribution of a subregion within the ROI, thereby improving image quality while reducing radiation dosage. In addition, the method includes parallel interior tomography using multiple sources beamed at multiple angles through an ROI and that enables higher temporal resolution.

Abstract: A method of treating spinal cord injury (SCI) includes transcutaneously irradiating at least a portion of a spinal environment of the patient with light having a power density of at least about 0.01 mW/cm2 at the portion of the spinal environment.

Abstract: The invention relates to biosynthetic maturation of cell surface polypeptides and, more specifically, to particular CFTR polypeptides which exhibit increased transport to the cell surface and tripeptide amino acid sequences that promote or enhance transport of export-incompetent CFTR to the cell surface.

Abstract: A system for communication between a mobile node and a communications network is provided for use with a communications network having one or more communications network nodes that define a foreign agents and that communicate with the mobile node in a predefined region. The system includes a ghost-foreign agent that advertises a foreign agent so that the mobile node is aware of the foreign agent when the mobile node is located outside the predefined region. The system further includes a ghost-mobile node that signals the foreign agent in response to the foreign agent advertising and based upon a predicted future state of the mobile node.

Abstract: The present invention is related to immunoglobulin peptides that recognize a thermostable antigen from bovine blood. The invention also provides methods for determining the presence of bovine blood in a food sample or an animal feed sample.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for transmitting data in a station of a wireless local area network (LAN) system. In the apparatus, a data queue stores transmission data, and a data processor processes data output from the data queue. A radio frequency (RF) module up-converts a signal output from the data processor to a frequency band of the wireless LAN system, and transmits the up-converted signal as an RF signal. A scheduler performs scheduling such that a specific stepping index decreases each time a backoff time reaches ‘0’ so as to determine whether to transmit the data, and the data is transmitted when both the stepping index and the backoff time reach ‘0’. A backoff stepping generator determines an initial value of the stepping index within a predetermined range.

Abstract: The use of screening assays based on the role of human stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (“hSCD1”) in human diseases, disorders or conditions relating to serum levels of triglyceride, VLDL, HDL, LDL, total cholesterol, or production of secretions from mucous membranes, monounsaturated fatty acids, wax esters, and the like, is disclosed. Also disclosed are conventions useful in the prevention and/or treatment of such diseases.

Abstract: Tactile communication methods, systems and devices for wireless touch communication which include an array of electromechanical transducers each independently capable of producing a vibration for communicating qualitative and quantitative tactile cues to a user, at least one electromagnetic field sensor coupled with at least one of the array of transducers for monitoring a change in an electromagnetic field of the array of electromechanical transducers and producing an output signals when a change is detected, wherein a change in a position of a transducer contactor produces the change in the electromagnetic field and a vibrotactile waistbelt for housing the array of electromechanical transducers and sensors, wherein the vibrotactile waistbelt is worn by a user to receive and send wireless touch communication respectively from and to a remotely located controller.

Abstract: A tissue stimulation method which uses wave-guiding principles to construct a focused point of stimulation at any location within a region of electrically excitable living tissue. The excitation is formed through the constructive interference of different frequency wave energies, traveling at frequency-dependent velocities, which coalesce at the stimulation point. Further energy is brought to the stimulation point through reflection(s) at the boundaries of the wave-guiding structure. The resulting excitation signal depends upon several factors, including pulse envelope and duration, allowable frequency range, and stimulation time.

Abstract: The present invention provides for compositions and methods for amplifying target nucleic acids using nucleic acid primers designed to limit non-target nucleic acid dependent priming events. The present invention permits amplifying and quantitating the number of repetitive units in a repetitive region, such as the number of telomere repetitive units.

Abstract: Methods and devices for a coupled optoelectronic oscillator having optical frequency stabilization. The coupled optoelectronic oscillator includes a harmonically mode-locked laser cavity having a Mach-Zehnder modulator for mode-locking and an intracavity Fabry-Perot etalon to allow only one single supermode to lase, a stabilization loop coupled with the Fabry-Perot etalon to detect changes in the laser cavity optical frequency and generate an error signal to compensate for the frequency change to stabilize the mode-locking of the laser frequency stabilization, and an electrical loop between the laser cavity and the stabilization loop for driving the Mach-Zehnder modulator with the coupled optoelectronic oscillator signal.

Abstract: A new Epipremnum plant particularly distinguished by having compact and dense growth habit, dark green leaves that are wider, in relation to length, than other cultivars, vines with large diameters, and vines with shorter internodes, is disclosed.