Abstract: We present an invention on the synthesis of elastic, bio-compatible functional microstructures wherein the designed electrical functionalities are achieved by mixing conducting nano to micro-particles with PDMS gels. The methodology for constructing planar and three-dimensional microstructures by soft-lithographic technique is presented. Applications such as electrodes, conducting strips, two and three-dimensional microstructures for electrical wiring connections, micro heaters, micro heater arrays, flexible thermochromic displays, and applications for microfluidic devices are demonstrated, all with demonstrated elastic flexibility and fall-proof characteristics while maintaining their functionalities. Results obtained are very promising for the utilization of such composites in future micro-fabrications, especially for the bio-chips and microfluidic devices.

Abstract: A method and a computer-readable medium containing computer program for encoding a frame of video data are presented. The frame of video data has a plurality of macro-blocks. Each of the macro-blocks includes a macro-block header having multiple elements and macro-block residue data. An element of the macro-block header is encoded based on the value of the same element of a previous macro-block header so as to reduce overall bits in the macro-block header. The element of the macro-block header is encoded by grouping the elements of the plurality of the macro-blocks.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel process of preparing branched polymers by cyclotrimerization and branched organic materials containing triaroylbenzene moieties as base structural unit. The polymerization is a simple one-pot reaction, strictly regioselective and highly functionality-tolerant giving oligomeric and polymeric polymers with high degree of branching (up to 100%) in high yields (up to 99%). The polymers are processible, easily film-forming, transformable (curable) into thermosets by heat or irradiation, and readily crosslinkable by UV irradiation to give patterns with nanometer resolution. The polymers of the present invention can be blend with a variety of macromolecules for general use. The polymers can be metallified utilizing organometallic acetylene as building blocks and ceramization of the patterns of the obtained polymers afford ferromagnetic ceramic patterns with high resolution.

Abstract: An azo compound of the present invention is represented by the general formula (1): (wherein, R1 and R2 each independently represents a hydroxy group, or a polymerizable functional group selected from the group consisting of a (meth)acryloyl group, a (meth)acryloyloxy group, a (meth)acrylamide group, a vinyl group, a vinyloxy group, and a maleimide group; X1 represents single bond when R1 is a hydroxy group and represents a linking group represented by -(A1-B1)m- when R1 is a polymerizable functional group; X2 represents a single bond when R2 is a hydroxy group and represents a linking group represented by -(A2-B2)n- when R2 is a polymerizable functional group; R3 and R4 each independently represents —OR7, a hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or —CONR8R9; and R5 and R6 each independently represents a carboxy group, a sulfo group, a nitro group, amino group, or a hydroxy group).

Abstract: The present invention provides therapeutically active compounds and compositions as NMDA and MC receptor antagonists, which are useful in preventing and treating central nervous system disorders by inhibiting over-activation of NMDA and/or MC receptors. In one aspect, the present invention provides methods of treating and/or preventing neurodegenerative diseases and neuropathological disorders, methods of providing neuroprotection under stress conditions such as a stroke, methods of enhancing the brain's cognitive functions and methods of treating depression, anxiety and cachexia induced by a chronic disease in mammals and humans.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making modified jacobsite, Al-doped maghemite or modified maghemite nanoparticles that can be used to adsorb heavy metals, such as Cr(VI), found in wastewater. The magnetic nanoparticles can be separated using a magnetic field after adsorbing heavy metals from wastewater, and processed for reused.

Abstract: A field-effect transistor includes a first gate, a second gate held at a substantially fixed potential in a cascode configuration, and a semiconductor channel. The semiconductor channel has an enhancement mode portion and a depletion mode portion. The enhancement mode portion is gated to be turned on and off by the first gate, and has been modified to operate in enhancement mode. The depletion mode portion is gated by the second gate, and has been modified to operate in depletion mode and that is operative to shield the first gate from voltage stress.

Abstract: Antisense oligonucleotides that inhibit expression of human replication-initiation protein as well as methods of preventing or treating hyperproliferative conditions using said oligonucleotides are disclosed. One aspect provides an antisense oligonucleotides that inhibits the expression of human replication-initiation protein and has a sequence complementary to at least a portion of a target sequence encoding a human replication-initiation gene. By administering a therapeutically effective amount of antisense oligonucleotides or by contacting the hyperproliferating cells with an effective amount of antisense oligonucleotides, expression of replication-initiation protein is inhibited. Methods of screening and testing active antisense oligonucleotides for their ability to inhibit gene expression are also disclosed.

Abstract: Protein sequences encoding antigenized antibodies for treatment of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) or foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) of swine is provided. The antigenized antibodies are created from the grafting of peptide epitopes derived from FMDV into swine antibody CDR loops. FMDV peptide epitopes are cloned by PCR from VP1 gene of FMDV. The overlapping PCR method is used to insert the FMDV peptide epitopes into the CDR regions of swine immnuoglobulin heavy and light chains genes. The resulting antigenized antibody genes were cloned into mammalian expression vector. The plasmids are transfected into CHO or myeloma cells. The stable transfectant cell line was selected for high yield of the desired protein antibodies.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a novel retinoic acid regulated gene whose expression product displays useful morphogenic/mitogenic properties. The present invention further concerns an isolated nucleic acid of SEQ ID NO:1 encoding a retinoic acid regulated expression product having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.

Abstract: A method for the fine-pitch stencil mask design for stencil printing bumping technology for eutectic Sn/Pb and lead-free solder material is described. In the method, a reflowing enhancement layer is introduced to improve the solder quality and reduce the pitch of solder bumps. The method of forming the layer is described as well as the forming method of matching under-bump metallurgy layer. The method of stencil mask design can match various sizes and pitch of the solder bumps. The designed mask is fixed on the stencil printer to deposit the solder materials with the required patterns. This method can increase the solder paste volume to increase the height of solder bumps after the reflowing process.

Abstract: There is disclosed a liquid crystalline polyacetylene having a repeat structure of the formula where spa is a spacer group and mes is a mesogenic substituent.

Abstract: A purified neurotrophin, NT-7, including nucleic acid sequences encoding neurotrophin-7 isolated from Cyprinus carpio (carp) is described along with compositions derived therefrom.

Abstract: There is disclosed a liquid crystalline polyacetylene having a repeat structure of the formula where spa is a spacer group and mes is a mesogenic substituent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for forming metal-induced laterally crystallized polysilicon in which the metal residue is reduced. A first low temperature lateral crystallization is performed using a metal crystallization-inducing agent such as nickel or a nickel compound. A second lateral crystallization is then carried out which may be either a low-temperature crystallization using metal residue from the first crystallization as the metal crystallization-inducing agent, or may be a high temperature crystallization that does not require a metal.

Abstract: This invention provides a method and apparatus for driving bistable cholesteric liquid crystal displays. The method and apparatus provided a display in which all the pixels are initially driven to the P state. Selected pixels for the display are then driven to the FC state to provide the desired message. The state of the pixels is then maintained for a viewing period prior to any resetting of the display to the P state. The switching from the P state to the FC state allows faster addressing times and lower voltages to be used in driving the display.

Abstract: A vaccine for treatment of foot-and-mouth disease of swine is provided. This vaccine is an antigenized antibody vaccine created from the grafting of peptide epitopes derived from FMDV into swine antibody CDR loops. FMDV peptide epitopes are cloned by PCR from VP1 gene of FMDV. The overlapping PCR method is used to insert the FMDV peptide epitopes into the CDR regions of swine immnuoglobulin heavy and light chains genes. The resulting antigenized antibody genes were cloned into mammalian expression vector. The plasmids are transfected into CHO or myeloma cells. The stable transfectant cell line was selected for high yield of the desired protein vaccine.

Abstract: There is disclosed a liquid crystalline polyacetylene having a repeat structure of the formula 1

Abstract: The present invention concerns novel proteins capable of binding p35nck5a, and method of use of same.

Abstract: There is disclosed a liquid crystalline polyacetylene having a repeat structure of the formula 1