Abstract: Short-quasi-unique-identifiers (SQUIDs) are generated and assigned to the data objects stored in memory. Pointers to a particular data object contain the data object's assigned SQUID. If a data object is moved to a second allocated memory segment, a new pointer to the second allocated memory segment is placed at the original memory segment, so that any pointers to the original memory segment now point to the new pointer. The distribution of SQUIDs is uniform. SQUIDs can be generated by counting, generated randomly, generating through some hashing mechanism, or other means. In comparing two different pointers, it is determined that the two pointers do not reference the same data object if the SQUIDs are different. On the other hand, if the SQUIDs are identical and the address fields of the two pointers are identical, then the two pointers reference the same data object.

Abstract: Ion mobility spectrometer. The spectrometer includes an enclosure for receiving a sample therewithin and an electron beam window admits an electron beam into the enclosure to ionize the sample in an ionization region. A shutter grid is spaced apart from the ionization region and means are provided for sample ion preconcentration upstream of the shutter grid. The ion preconcentration is effective to reduce space charge resulting in a lowered threshold detection level.

Abstract: An integrated optic polarization splitter, includes a pair of waveguide elements with a first waveguide element having a horizontal orientation and a second waveguide element having a vertical orientation formed from a plurality of waveguide core layers. The first and second waveguide elements are intersected or nearly intersected at one end of the structure and separated at the other end of the structure and the transition there between is made to be adiabatic. The waveguide elements receive an optical signal having both a TE component and a TM component. The TE component propagates along the horizontally oriented waveguide element and the TM component propagates along the vertically oriented waveguide element.

Abstract: The invention involves identification of a mechanism of ?-amyloid peptide cytotoxicity, which enables treatment of conditions caused by ?-amyloid peptide aggregates by administration of compounds which antagonize the mechanism of cytotoxicity. The invention includes the identification and isolation of compounds which can reduce the neurotoxic effects of such aggregates. Methods for treating conditions resulting from neurotoxic ?-amyloid peptide aggregates, such as Alzheimer's disease and pharmaceutical preparations are provided. Also provided are methods for selecting additional compounds which can reduce the neurotoxic effects of ?-amyloid aggregates.

Abstract: A radio operated data card whose outer jacket forms a sealed protected housing for internal electrical components, including an RFID integrated circuit which incorporates data storage and a radio frequency transceiver, and one or more on-card antenna structures. Manually operated electrical switching elements, or antenna structures which are responsive to the positioning of conductive members, such as the human hand, at particular locations on or near the surface of the card, are connected to the on-card electronic circuitry. The switching elements or antenna elements are selectively operated by the cardholder who manipulates the card in predetermined ways to generate data signals that may be used to activate the card, store data in the card, or transmit data to the reader.

Abstract: The present invention is a network architecture or framework that supports hosting and content distribution on a truly global scale. The inventive framework allows a Content Provider to replicate and serve its most popular content at an unlimited number of points throughout the world. The inventive framework comprises a set of servers operating in a distributed manner. The actual content to be served is preferably supported on a set of hosting servers (sometimes referred to as ghost servers). This content comprises HTML page objects that, conventionally, are served from a Content Provider site. In accordance with the invention, however, a base HTML document portion of a Web page is served from the Content Provider's site while one or more embedded objects for the page are served from the hosting servers, preferably, those hosting servers near the client machine. By serving the base HTML document from the Content Provider's site, the Content Provider maintains control over the content.

Abstract: The present invention provides lanthanide binding tags (LBT) that selectively complex trivalent lanthanide (Ln) ions and afford stable complexes with desirable physical properties, including at least one of fluorescence and anomalous x-ray scattering.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to optionally substituted halogenated benzyl halides and the like. These compounds are useful as halogenated benzyl ether-based protecting groups for a variety of functional groups. Another aspect of the present invention relates to use of said protecting groups in an orthogonal protecting group strategy for the synthesis of complex molecules that comprise a number of suitable functional groups. Another aspect of the present invention relates to saccharides bearing various arrays of protecting groups of the present invention. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of synthesizing an oligosaccharide or glycoconjugate, comprising the steps of: using a saccharide bearing at least one protecting group of the present invention to glycosylate a second molecule to give a product comprising said saccharide; and removing a protecting group of the present invention from said product.

Abstract: A high density integrated optical chip. The optical chip features an optical function connected to a low minimum bending radius dielectric waveguide, and a large mode field size dielectric waveguide to interface with an external optical device, such as an optical fiber. The large mode field size dielectric waveguide is optically connected to the low minimum bending radius dielectric waveguide on the optical chip.

Abstract: An invention for polymerizing or crosslinking a prepolymer using a water soluble, thermal polymerization initiator is disclosed. The prepolymer mixed with the initiator is injected or placed into an animal's body, and heat is applied over the site of the injection to polymerize the polymer. This transdermal thermal polymerization system can be used for drug delivery of bioactive agents in tissue engineering applications in which living cells are delivered.

Abstract: An equalizer provided in a digital transmitter compensates for attenuation in a signal channel to a digital receiver. The equalizer generates signal levels as a logical function of bit history to emphasize transition signal levels relative to repeated signal levels. The preferred equalizer includes an FIR transition filter using a look-up table. Parallel circuits including FIR filters and digital-to-analog converters provide a high speed equalizer with lower speed circuitry. The equalizer is particularly suited to in-cabinet and local area network transmissions where feedback circuitry facilitates adaptive training of the equalizer.

Abstract: A processor implements conditional vector operations in which, for example, an input vector containing multiple operands to be used in conditional operations is divided into two or more output vectors based on a condition vector. Each output vector can then be processed at full processor efficiency without cycles wasted due to branch latency. Data to be processed are divided into two groups based on whether or not they satisfy a given condition by, e.g., steering each to one of two index vectors. Once the data have been segregated in this way, subsequent processing can be performed without conditional operations, processor cycles wasted due to branch latency, incorrect speculation or execution of unnecessary instructions due to predication. Other examples of conditional operations include combining one or more input vectors into a single output vector based on a condition vector, conditional vector switching, conditional vector combining, and conditional vector load balancing.

Abstract: A device for enhancing interpersonal communication over distance through use of touch. A vibrotactile (touch-and-vibration) interface is used to improve existing remote communication by allowing tactile cues to augment the audio-visual information in real-time. The pressure exerted by each finger of the transmitter produces patterns of vibration against the corresponding finger of the receiver. A hand-held device using the interface allows a user to transmit and receive patterns of vibration to and from a remote user and signify tactile gestures, or expressive uses of touch.

Abstract: Described herein is the self-assembly of amphiphilic peptides, i.e., peptides with alternating hydrophobic and hydrophilic residues, into macroscopic membranes. The membrane-forming peptides are greater than 12 amino acids in length, and preferably at least 16 amino acids, are complementary and are structurally compatible. Specifically, two peptides, (AEAEAKAK)2 (ARARADAD)2, were shown to self-assemble into macroscopic membranes. Conditions under which the peptides self-assemble into macroscopic membranes and methods for producing the membranes are also described. The macroscopic membranes have several interesting properties: they are stable in aqueous solution, serum, and ethanol, are highly resistant to heat, alkaline and acidic pH, chemical denaturants, and proteolytic digestion, and are non-cytotoxic.

Abstract: An implantable device for the controlled release of drug or diagnostic molecules in vivo which includes a substrate formed of a metal or a polyethylene, a plurality of discrete reservoirs provided in spaced positions in the substrate, and a release system disposed in the at least two reservoirs, wherein the release system comprises drug or diagnostic molecules combined with a release-controlling polymer matrix, wherein the kinetics of release of the drug or diagnostic molecules is controlled by disintegration of the polymeric matrix. The substrate and reservoirs therein may be made by a manufacturing technique which comprises compression molding, thermoforming, casting, laser cutting, etching, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Methods for detecting low frequency nuclear mutations in a target sequence from a genomic DNA sequence are disclosed.

Abstract: An envelope detector system is disclosed for detecting an envelope in a system input signal. The envelope detector system includes an input node for receiving an input voltage signal, a transconducting amplifier for receiving the input voltage signal and producing an input current signal, a current mirror network for receiving the input current signal and for producing a current output signal, a capacitor for receiving the current output signal, and a rectifier output node for providing a rectifier output current signal. The capacitor is coupled to an input of the transconducting amplifier. The rectifier output current signal is fed into the current-mode wide-dynamic-range peak detector. The peak detector produces the envelope detector output current signal.

Abstract: A compliant mechanism is provided for accurate and precision alignment of mechanical component parts, surfaces or assemblies and the like, where low-cost, accurate, and repeatable alignment are desired. The compliant mechanism may be used in applications that require high precision alignment and where the relative location of coupled components must be variable or adjustable. The compliant mechanism includes a stage coupled to a plurality of hinges, at least one tab coupled to one of the hinges, and a support coupled to the tab. The relative position of the stage and the support may be adjusted by actuating (i.e., displacing) the tab(s) or other parts of the structure, to enable controlled movement in six degrees of freedom therebetween.

Abstract: The invention relates to ?4,5 glycuronidase, related compositions, and methods of use thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to heparinase III and mutants thereof. Modified forms of heparinase III having reduced enzymatic activity which are useful for a variety of purposes, including sequencing of heparin-like glycosaminoglycans (HLGAGs), removing active heparan sulfate from a solution, inhibition of angiogenesis, etc. have been discovered according to the invention. The invention in other aspects relates to methods of treating cancer and inhibiting tumor cell growth and/or metastasis using heparinase III, or products produced by enzymatic cleavage by heparinase III of HLGAGs.