Abstract: A friction stir welding (FSW) travel axis load control method and apparatus for controlling a travel axis load applied to a FSW setup during the joining of workpieces by FSW. The method and apparatus recognize that controlling certain attributes of a friction stir welding plasticized region are key to controlling the quality of the resulting weld. This invention controls any of a number of qualities associated with the plasticized region thereby producing welds having improved mechanical and aesthetic properties, as well as extending the life of the FSW tool. The method and apparatus may control the FSW process to obtain a predetermined optimum size of a heat affected zone. The plasticized region may be monitored in a number of ways including, but not limited to, force on the tool, torque applied to the tool, workpiece temperature, plasticized region physical dimension, as well as changing surface characteristics such as color and reflectivity.

Abstract: A method for detecting DNA damage in a tissue sample involves contacting an immobilized biological sample with a labeled ligand which binds to human 53Bp1, and examining the immobilized sample for the presence of a label generated-detectable signal concentrated in foci in said sample. The presence of concentrated foci is indicative of DNA damage and the presence of diffuse signal is indicative of a normal sample. Diagnostic reagents contain a ligand that binds to human 53Bp1 associated with a detectable label. Diagnostic kits for detecting DNA damage in a biological sample contain such diagnostic reagents and signal detection components. Compositions that inhibit or antagonize the biological activity of 53Bp1 are identified by suitable assays, and are employed in methods of retarding the growth of a cancer cell.

Abstract: DNA encoding core+1 polypeptides of hepatitis C virus (HCV), nucleotides encoding the polypeptides, and methods for using the nucleotides and the encoded polypeptides are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention features substantially pure nucleic acid sequences encoding wild-type or mutant serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT) polypeptides, as well as the polypeptides themselves. The invention also features methods for identifying modulators of the biological activity of a SERT and for identifying if such a modulator has a secondary target. In addition, the invention features methods for treating a condition in a subject.

Abstract: An organotypic culture comprises an artificial stroma overlayed with epithelial cells isolated from a human colon or intestine. The stroma comprises a mixture of collagen and human fibroblasts isolated from a human colon or intestine. The culture contains a factor that binds the IGF-1 receptor, a factor that binds the EGF receptor, and a factor that binds the LIF receptor. These factors may be added exogenously to the culture via medium or may be expressed by various recombinantly engineered cell types in the culture. The organotypic culture can result in growth that is in situ-like or emphasizes other physiological or morphological states, depending on the balance of factors in the growth media. The organotypic culture may be used in methods for screening of therapeutic, carcinogenic, or growth enhancement factors, or for treating intestinal injuries by applying to the site of an injury the intact culture or the components thereof.

Abstract: In a method for a variable-length communications system including encoding a message and decoding a data bit stream, the message includes a plurality of message blocks. A message block of the message is encoded by generating a parity check bit stream, flipping the parity check bit stream, appending the flipped parity check bit stream and a number of 0's to the end of the message block, and convolutionally encoding the resultant bit stream. When a data bit stream is received, a guessed message block and a guessed flipped parity check bit stream are extracted based on a guessed message block length. A parity check bit stream is generated for the guessed message block and then flipped. If the flipped parity check bit stream is the same as the guessed flipped parity check bit stream, the message block has been identified. Otherwise, the guessed message block length is increased by 1 and the above step is repeated.

Abstract: The invention proposes a low dropout voltage regulator, including a feedback circuit, an operational amplifier, a transconductor, a current mirror, and a power transistor. The feedback circuit provides a voltage according to a current provided by the power transistor. An invert-phase input terminal of the operational amplifier is coupled with the feedback circuit, and the positive-phase input terminal of the operational amplifier receives a reference voltage. The transconductor is coupled to an output terminal of the operational amplifier, and controls the current, which is fed to the transconductor from the current mirror, according to the output voltage from the operational amplifier. The current mirror is coupled with the transconductor and drives the power transistor. The power transistor is coupled between the current mirror and the feedback circuit, so as to provide current to the feedback circuit.

Abstract: A apparatus for pipeline integrity monitoring comprising a magnetically permeable backing bar and at least three magnets comprising a relatively medium-strength magnet positioned at one end of the backing bar, a relatively low-strength magnet positioned at the other end of the backing bar, and a relative high-strength magnet positioned between the medium-strength and the low-strength magnet. The at least three magnets are adapted and positioned to induce a plurality of resultant fields within the pipeline wall comprising a first resultant field suitable for detecting a reduced metal-related anomaly and a second resultant field suitable for detecting a mechanically worked-related anomaly. Preferably, the first resultant field has a strength greater than 120 Oersted and the second resultant field has a strength between 40 and 80 Oersted.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a metal nanocomposite powder reinforced with carbon nanotubes and to a process of producing a metal nanocomposite powder homogeneously reinforced with carbon nanotubes in a metal matrix powder.

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.

Abstract: System and method of simulating mobile communication by means of local area network are provided. After reset of simulation mobile station, the simulated mobile station is initialized for fetching a dynamic IP address from a simulated base station controller. It is determined whether there exists a simulated base station by receiving a broadcasting packet of the simulated base station. If yes, the simulated mobile station requests the simulated base station controller to obtain the dynamic IP address and establish a channel, and the simulated mobile station performs a certification procedure on the simulated base station. If the certification procedure is successful, the simulation mobile station enters into a link state for simulating mobile communication.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for counting or measuring the relative positions of a number of resonant tag elements in proximity to each other. By measuring the resonant frequency of a given set of tags using a reader antenna and comparing the measured frequency to a reference resonant frequency, the observed frequency shift is used to ascertain certain properties of the set of tags, such as the number of tags present or the relative positions thereof.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thin film magnetic sensor comprising: forming a projection on a surface of an insulating substrate formed of an insulating nonmagnetic material by removing an unnecessary portion of the insulating substrate from a surface region thereof or by depositing a thin film formed of an insulating nonmagnetic material on the surface of the insulating substrate; forming a pair of thin film yokes positioned to face each other with the projection interposed therebetween and completely electrically separated from each other, the thin film yokes being formed by depositing a thin film formed of a soft magnetic material on the surface of the insulating substrate having the projection formed thereon, followed by partially removing the thin film formed of the soft magnetic material until at least a tip surface of the projection is exposed to the outside; and depositing a GMR film having an electrical resistivity higher than that of the soft magnetic material on the tip surface of the projection and

Abstract: A capacitive RF switch and DC RF switch include a fixed electrode having a thin layer of metal and at least one pull-down electrode. A moving plate has a plurality of corrugations and a selective finger design. The capacitive switch includes a selective finger that comes into contact with the fixed electrode so as to minimize the stiction between the moving plate and the fixed electrode when the switch is closed. The DC switch comprises a plurality of dimples that are formed on the selective portion of the moving plate and are positioned to come into contact with the fixed electrode when the switch is closed so as to increase the contact force and lower the resistance between the moving plate and fixed electrode.

Abstract: A channel encoding/decoding method and a multiple-antenna wireless communication transmitting/receiving system performing the same are disclosed. A transmitter of the multiple-antenna wireless communication system comprises a space-time encoder, interleavers, a P/S converter, a RSC encoder, a S/P converter, and a modulator. A receiver of the multiple-antenna wireless communication system comprises a RSC decoder, deinterleavers, a space-time decoder, and interleavers. The frame error rates from the information transmission and reception by the present invention are found to be significantly lower than those by the multiple encoding/separated decoding method. Compared with the multiple encoding/joint decoding method, the present invention maintains comparable or better performance, while simplifying the decoding procedure considerably thereby it reduces the complexity in the hardware implementation.

Abstract: Methods are provided for enhancing the image of brachytherapy seeds implanted in tissue using a transrectal ultrasound apparatus. In a first arrangement the resonance of the seeds is determined and the seeds are insonified using acoustic signals having a resonance frequency of the seeds to cause the seeds to vibrate. The vibrating seeds have enhanced detection using a Doppler ultrasound device. In a second arrangement the acoustic signature of the seeds is determined and used to enhance the imaging of the seeds using a correlation function. In a third arrangement images are taken of the tissue and implanted seeds prior to and during the application of mechanical stress to the tissue. A correlation between the unstressed and stressed tissue can cause enhanced imaging of the seeds.

Abstract: A luminaire with reflector of negative focal length is disclosed, which comprises a light source and a luminaire screen having a reflector of negative focal length, a side screen and a plate; wherein the reflector of negative focal length is capable of reflecting the upward-incident rays emitted from the light source; and the side screen is capable of reflecting the sideward-incident rays emitted from the light source and the reflected rays of the reflector; and the plate being disposed at the lower portion of the luminaire screen beneath the light source has a plurality of micro-structures arranged thereon and is capable of accepting the rays of the downward incident area along with both the reflected rays of the reflector and the side screen so as to diffuse the same for discharging.

Abstract: A method and system for injecting charge includes providing a first material on a second material and injecting charge into the first material to trap charge at an interface between the first and second materials. The thickness of the first material is greater than a penetration depth of the injected charge in the first material.

Abstract: Methods for making glycoproteins, both in vitro and in vivo, are provided. One method involves incorporating an unnatural amino acid into a protein and attaching one or more saccharide moieties to the unnatural amino acid. Another method involves incorporating an unnatural amino acid that includes a saccharide moiety into a protein. Proteins made by both methods can be further modified with additional sugars.

Abstract: A cDNA encoding a novel LTC4 receptor has been isolated. Provision of the novel protein, an LTC4 receptor, enabled binding experiments using the LTC4. By screening for compounds that modulate LTC4 receptor activity based on these binding experiments, development of drugs targeting the LTC4 receptor becomes possible.