Abstract: The invention relates, in part, to monovalent avidin and streptavidin compositions. The invention also relates to methods of preparing and using monovalent avidin and streptavidin compositions. In some aspects of the invention, the compositions are monovalent avidin or monovalent streptavidin with a single femtomolar biotin-binding site.

Abstract: Novel structural forms of T cell costimulatory molecules are described. These structural forms comprise a novel structural domain or have a structural domain deleted or added. The structural forms correspond to naturally-occurring alternatively spliced forms of T cell costimulatory molecules or variants thereof which can be produced by standard recombinant DNA techniques. In one embodiment, the T cell costimulatory molecule of the invention contains a novel cytoplasmic domain. In another embodiment, the T cell costimulatory molecule of the invention contains a novel signal peptide domain or has an immunoglobulin variable region-like domain deleted. The novel structural forms of T cell costimulatory molecules can be used to identify agents which stimulate the expression of alternative forms of costimulatory molecules and to identify components of the signal transduction pathway which results in costimulation of T cells.

Abstract: High-speed optoelectronic devices having a waveguide densely integrated with and efficiently coupled to a photodetector are fabricated utilizing methods generally compatible with CMOS processing techniques. In various implementations, the waveguide consists essentially of single-crystal silicon and the photodetector contains, or consists essentially of, epitaxially grown germanium or a silicon-germanium alloy having a germanium concentration exceeding about 90%.

Abstract: High throughput and automated cellular disruption systems that substantially uniformly disrupt cells as part of cellular motility assays as wells as other assay types are provided. In addition, various system components, including holding blocks, holding block loading devices, and system software, are also provided. Moreover, related methods that utilize these systems and system components are additionally provided.

Abstract: It has now been determined that ?6?4 integrin is a pro-angiogenic receptor, and thus that it provides a novel and heretofore unrecognized target for anti-angiogenic therapy. Thus, angiogenesis, particularly pathological angiogenesis, can be inhibited, and conditions with which pathological angiogenesis is associated treated using inhibitors of ?6?4 integrin. A tissue in which angiogenesis is to be inhibited is exposed to a therapeutic agent effective to reduce the amount of active ?6?4 integrin in the tissue. The tissue may be within a patient, and in particular a human patient to be treated for a disease condition with which pathological angiogenesis is associated. The therapeutic agent may be an antibody or a small molecule, for example a laminin-5 analog, which binds to ?6?4 integrin and inhibits its normal function. The therapeutic agent may also be a chemical species that interferes with the production of ?6?4 integrin, including for example an antisense or RNAi species.

Abstract: A nanocrystal memory element and a method for fabricating the same involves repeatedly and alternately depositing, by atomic layer deposition, conductive layers and dielectric layers on a substrate with a tunnel oxide layer formed thereon, forming multiple layers of nanocrystal groups as a result of crystallization of conductive layers in a rapid thermal annealing process, and forming a gate on the top dielectric layer. The nanocrystal groups disposed at any two neighboring levels are separated by one dielectric layer, thus a plurality of nanocrystals formed in an integration layer are disposed at the same level. Barrier widths between a channel and the nanocrystals of the nanocrystal groups disposed at the same level are equal. Therefore, the nanocrystals at the same level are subjected the same electric field when voltage is applied to the gate, resulting in improved transistor performance, enhanced control of threshold voltage, and avoidance of over-erasing.

Abstract: High-speed optoelectronic devices having a waveguide densely integrated with and efficiently coupled to a photodetector are fabricated utilizing methods generally compatible with CMOS processing techniques. In various implementations, the waveguide consists essentially of single-crystal silicon and the photodetector contains, or consists essentially of, epitaxially grown germanium or a silicon-germanium alloy having a germanium concentration exceeding about 90%.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for comparing and determining the gene expression level, which is very important in disease-related gene screening, early clinical diagnosis and medicine development. The present invention utilizes quantitative characteristics of bioluminescence analysis to compare gene expression levels of different individuals or samples in order to search for disease-related genes. The specific steps include: (i) labeling the mRNA of a given gene from different sources through a suitable method, and mixing the labeled fragments to obtain PCR templates; (ii) performing a polymerase chain reaction using source-specific primers and a gene-specific primer; and (iii) detecting the sequence of the amplified DNA fragments by bioluminescence analysis, the base sequence in the sequencing profile representing the gene source, and the signal intensity of each base representing the gene expression level from the corresponding source.

Abstract: An optical signal optical path switching method comprising steps of using a thermal lens based on a distribution of refractive index produced reversibly caused by temperature increase generated in an area of the light-absorbing layer film of thermal lens forming devices 1, 2 and 3, that has absorbed control light beams 121, 122 and 123, and in the periphery thereof, causing the converged signal light beam to exit from the thermal lens forming device with an ordinary divergence angle when the control light beams 121, 122 and 123 have not been irradiated and no thermal lens has been formed, and causing the converged signal light beam to exit from the thermal lens forming device with a divergence angle larger than the ordinary divergence angle when the control light beams have been irradiated and a thermal lens has been formed, and causing the signal light beam to travel straight through holes 61, 62 and 63 of mirrors provided with the holes for the signal light beam to pass through when the control light beams

Abstract: Aspects of the invention disclosed herein relate to devices that provide heat and/or ultraviolet light to fingernails or toenails that are afflicted by onychomycosis, as well as methods for treating onychomycosis by application of heat and/or ultraviolet light. The devices of the present invention may be used in connection with systemic and/or topical anti-fungal agents to treat onychomycosis.

Abstract: High-speed optoetectronic devices having a waveguide densely integrated with and efficiently coupled to a photodetector are fabricated utilizing methods generally compatible with CMOS processing techniques. In various implementations, the waveguide consists essentially of single-crystal silicon and the photodetector contains, or consists essentially of, epitaxially grown germanium or a silicon-germanium alloy having a germanium concentration exceeding about 90%.

Abstract: Methods and structures for monolithically integrating monocrystalline silicon and monocrystalline non-silicon materials and devices are provided. In one structure, a monolithically integrated semiconductor device structure comprises a silicon substrate and a first monocrystalline semiconductor layer disposed over the silicon substrate, wherein the first monocrystalline semiconductor layer has a lattice constant different from a lattice constant of relaxed silicon. The structure further includes an insulating layer disposed over the first monocrystalline semiconductor layer in a first region and a monocrystalline silicon layer disposed over the insulating layer in the first region. The structure includes at least one silicon-based electronic device including an element including at least a portion of the monocrystalline silicon layer.

Abstract: A method for preparing polymeric membranes is disclosed, which has the following steps: (a) forming a casting solution by dissolving cellulose triacetate (CTA) and polyether-sulfone (PES) in a solvent mixture containing n-methyl pyrroridone (NMP) and hydrogen chloride (HCl); (b) forming a membrane from said casting solution; and (c) recovering said membrane. The method of present invention provides an asymmetrical, microporous, polymeric membrane with a high recovery rate of nucleic acids and desirable bulk and surface properties. Also, the membrane so-produced is useful to the application of material separations by filtration and the like, especially the condensation of nucleic acids from a crude sample by filtration.

Abstract: The invention provides a microfabricated device for sorting cells based on a desired characteristic, for example, reporter-labeled cells can be sorted by the presence or level of reporter on the cells. The device includes a chip having a substrate into which is microfabricated at least one analysis unit. Each analysis unit includes a main channel, having a sample inlet channel, typically at one end, and a detection region along a portion of its length. Adjacent and downstream from the detection region, the main channel has a discrimination region or branch point leading to at least two branch channels. The analysis unit may further include additional inlet channels, detection points, branch points, and branch channels as desired. A stream containing cells is passed through the detection region, such that on average one cell occupies the detection region at a given time.

Abstract: A radiation or neutron detector wherein lateral side light detecting optical fibers prepared from clear optical fibers that are scraped on a lateral side to permit side incidence of fluorescence are used to detect the fluorescence from a phosphor or a scintillator such that the background to gamma-rays is reduced. If desired, the optical fibers may be bent at 90 degrees and guided to a photomultiplier tube in order to reduce the size of the detector. Fabrication and maintenance of the detector can be facilitated by adopting such a design that a detecting block comprising a detection medium and lateral side light detecting optical fibers is separated from a readout block comprising clear optical fibers.

Abstract: When exposing a sample to be oxidized 10 to ozone gas so as to form an oxide film on the surface of the sample, an area to be oxidized is heated locally. Local heating is carried out with a light source 23 for irradiating infrared light the area to be oxidized of the sample on the susceptor 21, and heating means for heating the susceptor. Moreover, when exposing the sample to be oxidized to ozone gas, ozone gas is supplied to the sample while heating the sample under a given pressure. Said pressure is adjusted at 100–44,000 Pa, for example. The flow rate of ozone gas is adjusted, preferably, so that flow of ozone gas in a furnace 20 forms laminar flow. Moreover, it is desirable to provide a light source for emitting ultraviolet light. The light source for emitting ultraviolet light is arranged to irradiate the upstream side of the susceptor 21, for example.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there are provided expression systems for the production of function glucocorticoid receptor proteins, methods for the recombinant production of glucocorticoid receptor proteins as well as sequences encoding novel members of the steroid/thyroid hormone superfamily of receptors (e.g., glucocorticoid receptor). Invention expression systems comprise host cells containing DNA encoding functional glucocorticoid receptor proteins, wherein the DNA is operably linked to control sequences compatible with host cells, thereby enabling the expression of functional receptor proteins. The invention method is carried out by culturing such recombinant host cells, and recovering the functional glucocorticoid receptor proteins produced thereby.

Abstract: System and method for balancing load among access points in a LAN are disclosed. Each access point has a SSID. After resetting an access point, the access point entering a SSID hidden state for hiding its SSID so as to prohibit mobile stations from accessing the access point. When in the SSID hidden state, an access point enters into a SSID showing state for showing its SSID and for enabling mobile stations to couple to the access point if no show-SSID-rejection frame is received. When in the SSID showing state, an access point enters into a SSID pre-hiding state for showing its SSID if the show-SSID-rejection frame is received. When in the SSID pre-hiding state, an access point enters into the SSID hidden state if the show-SSID-rejection frame is received, otherwise the first access point entering into the SSID showing state.

Abstract: A novel nuclear receptor, termed the steroid and xenobiotic receptor (SXR), a broad-specificity sensing receptor that is a novel branch of the nuclear receptor superfamily, has been discovered. SXR forms a heterodimer with RXR that can bind to and induce transcription from response elements present in steroid-inducible cytochrome P450 genes in response to hundreds of natural and synthetic compounds with biological activity, including therapeutic steroids as well as dietary steroids and lipids. Instead of hundreds of receptors, one for each inducing compound, the invention SXR receptors monitor aggregate levels of inducers to trigger production of metabolizing enzymes in a coordinated metabolic pathway. Agonists and antagonists of SXR are administered to subjects to achieve a variety of therapeutic goals dependent upon modulating metabolism of one or more endogenous steroids or xenobiotics to establish homeostasis.

Abstract: Kinetic stabilization of the native state of transthyretin is an effective mechanism for preventing protein misfolding. Because transthyretin misfolding plays an important role in transthyretin amyloid diseases, inhibiting such misfolding can be used as an effective treatment or prophylaxis for such diseases. Treatment methods, screening methods, as well as specific transthyretin stabilizing compounds are disclosed.