Abstract: Multi-layer seals are provided that find advantageous use for reducing leakage of gases between adjacent components of electrochemical devices. Multi-layer seals of the invention include a gasket body defining first and second opposing surfaces and a compliant interlayer positioned adjacent each of the first and second surfaces. Also provided are methods for making and using the multi-layer seals, and electrochemical devices including said seals.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to ligands for transition metals. A second aspect of the present invention relates to the use of catalysts comprising these ligands in transition metal-catalyzed carbon-heteroatom and carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions. The subject methods provide improvements in many features of the transition metal-catalyzed reactions, including the range of suitable substrates, reaction conditions, and efficiency.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of metabolic research. Metabolic disorders, such as obesity, are a public health problem that is serious and widespread. GSSP4 polypeptides have been identified that are believed to be beneficial in the treatment of metabolic disorders. These compounds should be effective for reducing cholesterol levels, body mass, body fat, and for treating metabolic-related diseases and disorders. The metabolic-related diseases or disorders include, but are not limited to, obesity, hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, atherosclerosis, diabetes, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance and hypertension.

Abstract: A zoom lens formed in a small size adaptable to a thin and portable device, having three lens groups, including, from the object plane to the image forming plane: a first lens group with a negative power, a second lens group with a positive power and a third lens group with a positive power. By controlling the ratio of the focal length of the second lens group and the focal length of the tele-photo end, image distortion may be controlled, and the total length of the lens may be reduced to shrink the size of the lens. Hence production costs may be reduced, which is important to mass production.

Abstract: This invention relates to nucleic acid, or fragments thereof, encoding the retinoblastoma polypeptide, the retinoblastoma polypeptide itself, methods of detecting a defective retinoblastoma gene in human patients, and methods of treating these patients.

Abstract: The present invention features antibodies and antibody fragments that specifically bind a CD4-inducible HIV gp120 epitope that is enhanced by binding a co-receptor for HIV, such as CCR5 or CXCR4, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the antibodies or antibody fragments. The invention also features nucleic acids encoding the antibodies or antibody fragments, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the nucleic acids encoding the antibodies or antibody fragments, vectors comprising the nucleic acids, and cells comprising the vectors. The invention further features methods of identifying antibodies or antibody fragments with broadly neutralizing activity against HIV. The invention also features methods of inhibiting HIV entry into cells and methods of inhibiting replication of HIV in mammals, using the antibodies and nucleic acids of the invention.

Abstract: Disclosed in the present invention is a Zymomonas integrant and derivatives of these integrants that posses the ability to ferment pentose into ethanol. The genetic sequences encoding for the pentose-fermenting enzymes are integrated into the Zymomonas in a two-integration event of homologous recombination and transposition. Each operon includes more than one pentose-reducing enzyme encoding sequence. The integrant in some embodiments includes enzyme sequences encoding xylose isomerase, xylulokinase, transketolase and transketolase. The Zymomonas integrants are highly stable, and retain activity for producing the pentose-fermenting enzyme for between 80 to 160 generations. The integrants are also resistant to acetate inhibition, as the integrants demonstrate efficient ethanol production even in the presence of 8 up to 16 grams acetate per liter media.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for dissociating Fc-containing molecules from complexes of Protein A/Fc-containing molecules or mixtures containing Fc-containing molecules and Protein A. The association, e.g., by hydrophobic interactions, between the Fc-containing molecules and Protein A can be reduced or inhibited by raising the pH of dissociation. The pH of dissociation can be raised by addition of agents capable of inhibiting hydrophobic interactions, including buffers containing arginine and/or ethylene glycol, to the mixture, either prior to adding the mixture to the column chromatography substrate, after adding the mixture to the column chromatography substrate, or both prior to and after adding the mixture to the column chromatography substrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a micro-resonator including a plurality of waveguides forming optic junctions therebetween, with adjacent waveguides having different core permittivities and different cladding permittivities. Adjacent waveguides are mode-matched through adjustments of the core permittivities and the cladding permittivities of the waveguides to reduce or eliminate junction radiation, thereby providing high performance.

Abstract: Dynamic frequency selection based on CR is provided. A CR BS detects an interference-free and unused frequency band. When sensing a new BS that has great signal strength and requires the frequency band during communications in the frequency band, the CR BS releases the frequency band and dynamically selects another frequency band to avoid interference.

Abstract: The present invention provides materials, devices, and methods involving new heterocyclic, shape-persistent monomeric units with internal free volume. In some cases, materials the present invention may comprise monomers, oligomers, or polymers that incorporate a heterocyclic, shape-persistent iptycene. The present invention may provide materials having low dielectric constants and improved stability at high operating temperatures due to the electron-poor character of materials. In addition, compositions of the invention may be easily synthesized and readily modified to suit a particular application.

Abstract: Described are a method and a system for detecting an atmospheric feature. A value of a meteorological scalar field at an initial time is determined for a set of tracers. Each tracer is initialized at a first tracer location. An integration time is selected according to a coherence time of a type of the feature to be detected. Alternatively, or in combination with the selected integration time, a spatial resolution of the wind field is selected according to a spatial scale of the type of feature to be detected. Each tracer is advected to a second tracer location at an earlier time according to the integration time and the wind field. A value of the meteorological scalar field at the earlier time and second tracer location is determined for each tracer and summed with the value at the first location to generate an integrated value of the meteorological scalar field.

Abstract: A method is provided for ordering retransmissions in a Multi-Input Multi-Output (MIMO) system using N×M antennas. A transmitter splits a coded data stream into N sub-packets, and transmits the N sub-packets to a receiver via N transmission antennas. The receiver removes interferences of the N sub-packets received via M reception antennas, and independently decodes the interference-removed sub-packets. The receiver transmits an acknowledgement (ACK) or a negative acknowledgement (NACK) to the transmitter based on errors included in the decoded sub-packets. Upon receipt of the NACK, the transmitter retransmits to the receiver a sub-packet retransmission using ordering based on an Alamouti space-time coding scheme.

Abstract: A titanium dioxide nanorod having anisotropy and a preparation method thereof in which, particularly, an ultrafine composite fiber of polymer and titanium dioxide precursor and a single crystal titanium dioxide nanorod using a phase separation are prepared, wherein a mixed solution containing titanium dioxide precursor, polymer which is compatible with the precursor and solvent is prepared, the mixed solution is electrospun to form titanium dioxide polymer composite fiber containing ultrafine fibril structure therein by the phase separation between the titanium dioxide precursor and the polymer, the composite fiber is heat-pressed, and the polymer material is removed from the composite fiber, so as to obtain titanium dioxide nanorod, which can be used as dye-sensitized solar cells, various sensors, and photocatalysts.

Abstract: Compounds that modulate the function of anti-apoptotic proteins such as Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL are identified. These compounds have the ability to convert the activity of Bcl-2-family member proteins from anti-apoptotic to pro-apoptotic. Methods for inducing apoptosis are described, together with methods for identifying molecules that induce apoptosis through interaction with Bcl-2-family members.

Abstract: A field emission device (FED) includes a top substrate having an anode electrode and a phosphor layer, a lower substrate, at least one cathode electrode having an opening-pattern with at least one opening, an insulating layer located on the cathode electrode, a gate layer located on the insulating layer, and an electron emitter located in the opening of the cathode electrode. The electron emitter is adjacent to the cathode electrode and is electrically connected therewith. The cathode electrode having the opening-pattern is located on a bottom panel. Through the structure illustrated above, uniformity of emitting electron density can be improved and brightness and contrast of color for the FED can be enhanced.

Abstract: A field emission backlight module has a field emission structure with cathode and anode provided on the same plane, so that electrons directly penetrate an independently provided fluorescent powder layer to produce light. The light is emitted uniformly without the need of the conventional optical membrane. Since the light produced by the fluorescent powder layer is not blocked by the anode, the problem of charge accumulation on the fluorescent powder layer is avoided, and it is not necessary to use expensive light-transmittable conducting glass as the anode. With the cathode and the anode located at the same plane, it is not necessary to use a precision spacer to adjust the distance between the cathode and the anode, enabling the module to be manufactured at reduced cost and high good yield. When the color sequential displaying method is adopted, expensive color filters required in the conventional LCD may be omitted.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for obtaining image reference block in a code mode of fixed reference frame number, comprising the steps of: performing motion estimation for each block of a current B frame and obtaining a motion vector MV of a corresponding block of a backward reference frame; discriminating whether the motion vector is beyond a maximum forward reference frame which is possibly pointed by the B frame, if not, then calculating the forward and backward motion vectors in a normal way; if yes, then using the motion vector of the forward reference frame that the B frame can obtain in the same direction to replace the motion vector of the corresponding block in the backward reference, and calculating the forward and the backward motion vectors of the B frame; finally, two image blocks pointed by the final obtained forward and backward motion vectors as the image reference blocks corresponding to the macro block.

Abstract: The present invention includes a model system and use of the same for the study, manipulation and focusing of the human immune in a mammal, e.g., a nonhuman mammal that is immune deficient with one or more human hematopoietic progenitor cells and one or more human tumor cell lines.

Abstract: The invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule having substantially the same nucleotide sequence as SEQ ID NO:1. Also provided is an isolated oligonucleotide having at least 15 contiguous nucleotides of a nucleotide sequence referenced as SEQ ID NO:11. An isolated polypeptide having substantially the same amino acid sequence as SEQ ID NO:2 is further provided as well as an antibody, or antigen binding fragment thereof, which specifically binds to an ATX polypeptide and has an amino acid sequence as referenced in SEQ ID NO:2. A method for identifying an ATX-modulatory compound is additionally provided. The method consists of measuring the level of an ATX polypeptide in the presence of a test compound, wherein a difference in the level of said ATX polypeptide in the presence of said test compound compared to in the absence of said test compound indicating that said test compound is an ATX-modulatory compound, and wherein said ATX-modulatory compound is not caffeine or wortmannin.