Abstract: This invention relates to a sheet membrane for repairing a damaged tissue. The membrane includes an isotropic layer of cross-linked biopolymeric fibers in which the fibers are 10 to 1,000 cm in length. This invention also relates to a method of making an isotropic layer of cross-linked biopolymeric fibers. The method includes: (1) coacervating biopolymeric fibers (e.g., collagen-based fibers) having lengths of less than 1 cm dispersed in an aqueous solution to obtain coacervated biopolymeric fibers having lengths of 10 to 1,000 cm; (2) flattening the coacervated biopolymeric fibers into a layer; (3) drying the layer; and (4) cross-linking the biopolymeric.

Abstract: This invention relates to a sheet membrane for repairing a damaged tissue. The membrane includes an isotropic layer of cross-linked biopolymeric fibers in which the fibers are 10 to 1,000 cm in length. This invention also relates to a method of making an isotropic layer of cross-linked biopolymeric fibers. The method includes: (1) coacervating biopolymeric fibers (e.g., collagen-based fibers) having lengths of less than 1 cm dispersed in an aqueous solution to obtain coacervated biopolymeric fibers having lengths of 10 to 1,000 cm; (2) flattening the coacervated biopolymeric fibers into a layer; (3) drying the layer; and (4) cross-linking the biopolymeric.

Abstract: The invention provides a grafted antibody, or functional fragment thereof, comprising one or more complementarity determining regions (CDRs) having at least one amino acid substitution in one or more CDRs of a heavy chain CDR, where the grafted antibody or functional fragment thereof has specific binding activity for a cryptic collagen epitope. The invention also provides methods of using an antibody having specific binding activity for a cryptic collagen epitope, including methods of inhibiting angiogenesis, tumor growth, and metastasis.

Abstract: The invention provides a grafted antibody, or functional fragment thereof, comprising one or more complementarity determining regions (CDRs) having at least one amino acid substitution in one or more CDRs of a heavy chain CDR, where the grafted antibody or functional fragment thereof has specific binding activity for a cryptic collagen epitope. The invention also provides methods of using an antibody having specific binding activity for a cryptic collagen epitope, including methods of inhibiting angiogenesis, tumor growth, and metastasis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a conformable and semi-permeable biopolymeric membrane suitable for tissue repair and protection. This membrane contains a first layer made from randomly oriented, reconstituted biopolymer fibers and, on top of the first layer, a coating layer made from biopolymer fibers.

Abstract: A surface-reinforced article includes a core assembly (12) comprising a foam core (20) with a surface region (22) that includes fine inner fibrous material intimately surround by foam that is integral with foam of the core, and an outer reinforcing covering (14) which includes an outer layer (32) of fibrous material and a resin (30) surrounding the outer layer of fibrous material and covering the primarily foam core assembly. The fine inner fibrous material (91-94) includes coupling fibers (100) with inner ends (102) embedded in the foam and outer ends (106) embedded in the resin, to better hold the resin to the foam. The primarily foam core assembly is molded within a first mold cavity (64) formed between spacers (60, 62) that lie within a second mold cavity (50).

Abstract: A low phase noise PLL synthesizer is described in which an initial tuning mechanism uses a conventional divider loop to lock a VCO to a desired output frequency. Once initial lock is achieved, the divider loop is switched out of the circuit in favor of a low phase noise mixer loop. The local oscillator signal for the mixer is derived from the same low phase noise source as the phase comparison frequency.

Abstract: A re-rollable membrane for wrapping around and protecting a cylindrical tissue having an injury site. The membrane includes a sheet of a porous matrix formed of cross-linked biopolymeric fibers. In one implementation, the sheet can be spirally rolled so that at least one portion overlaps another portion of the sheet and, upon absorption of a fluid, the overlapping portions adhere to each other closely so as to exclude penetration of cells. In another implementation, the sheet can be helically rolled to form a helix having a pitch of 2 mm to 40 mm and an inner diameter of 1 mm to 50 mm. Also disclosed are methods for making and using such re-rollable membranes.

Abstract: A low phase noise PLL synthesizer is described in which an initial tuning mechanism uses a conventional divider loop to lock a VCO to a desired output frequency. Once initial lock is achieved, the divider loop is switched out of the circuit in favor of a low phase noise mixer loop. The local oscillator signal for the mixer is derived from the same low phase noise source as the phase comparison frequency.

Abstract: The invention provides an antibody, or functional fragment thereof, a grafted antibody, or functional fragment thereof, comprising one or more complementarity determining regions (CDRs) having at least one amino acid substitution in one or more CDRs of a heavy chain CDR, where the antibody or functional fragment thereof has specific binding activity for a cryptic collagen epitope. The invention also provides methods of using an antibody having specific binding activity for a cryptic collagen epitope, including methods of inhibiting angiogenesis, tumor growth, and metastasis.

Abstract: A tag detecting system for detecting a movement of a person or an object that mounts an RFID tag, a moving object detecting method, and an entrance/exit management system using the moving object detecting system are provided. The tag detecting system detects a specific person or object by restricting a detection area of the RFID tag to a narrow area. Since the moving object detecting method detects a piggyback, the entrance/exit system prevents the piggyback even if there are a number of persons passing through an entrance/exit gate almost at the same time.

Abstract: A bone implant composite comprising a collagen matrix and a calcium-based mineral, the calcium-based mineral having a particle size of 25-2000 ?m and being interspersed in the collagen matrix; wherein the bone implant composite contains 3-60% by weight the collagen matrix and 40-97% by weight the calcium-based mineral, and has a pore size of 50-500 ?m, a density range of 0.02-0.8 g/cm3, a tensile strength range of 0.4-100 kg/cm2, and a compression modulus range of 0.2-10 kg/cm2. Also disclosed are methods of preparing the above-described composite.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for preparing a porous bone implant containing a calcium-based mineral. The method includes immersing a porous matrix in an acidic solution containing a calcium-based mineral; removing the matrix from the solution; and exposing the matrix to an alkali to neutralize the acidic solution, thereby causing precipitation of the calcium-based mineral to obtain a porous bone implant containing a calcium-based mineral.

Abstract: The invention provides a grafted antibody, or functional fragment thereof, comprising one or more complementarity determining regions (CDRs) having at least one amino acid substitution in one or more CDRs of a heavy chain CDR, where the grafted antibody or functional fragment thereof has specific binding activity for a cryptic collagen epitope. The invention also provides methods of using an antibody having specific binding activity for a cryptic collagen epitope, including methods of inhibiting angiogenesis, tumor growth, and metastasis.

Abstract: The invention provides a grafted antibody, or functional fragment thereof, comprising one or more complementarity determining regions (CDRs) having at least one amino acid substitution in one or more CDRs of a heavy chain CDR, where the grafted antibody or functional fragment thereof has specific binding activity for a cryptic collagen epitope. The invention also provides methods of using an antibody having specific binding activity for a cryptic collagen epitope, including methods of inhibiting angiogenesis, tumor growth, and metastasis.

Abstract: A bone implant composite comprising a collagen matrix and a calcium-based mineral, the calcium-based mineral having a particle size of 25-2000 ?m and being interspersed in the collagen matrix; wherein the bone implant composite contains 3-60% by weight the collagen matrix and 40-97% by weight the calcium-based mineral, and has a pore size of 50-500 ?m, a density range of 0.02-0.8 g/cm3, and a tensile strength range of 0.4-100 kg/cm2. Also disclosed are methods of preparing the above-described composite.

Abstract: A cell occlusion sheet membrane adapted for repairing a damaged meningeal tissue. The sheet membrane contains a layer of cross-linked, oriented biopolymeric fibers that has a thickness of 0.1 mm to 3.0 mm, a density of 0.1 g/cm3 to 1.2 g/cm3, a hydrothermal shrinkage temperature of 45° C. to 80° C., a suture pullout strength of 0.1 kg to 5 kg, a tensile strength of 10 kg/cm2 to 150 kg/cm2, and permeability to molecules having molecular weights of 200 to 300,000 daltons. Also disclosed is a method for making the membrane.

Abstract: The invention provides a grafted antibody, or functional fragment thereof, comprising one or more complementarity determining regions (CDRs) having at least one amino acid substitution in one or more CDRs of a heavy chain CDR, where the grafted antibody or functional fragment thereof has specific binding activity for a cryptic collagen epitope. The invention also provides methods of using an antibody having specific binding activity for a cryptic collagen epitope, including methods of inhibiting angiogenesis, tumor growth, and metastasis.

Abstract: The invention provides peptide antagonists, such as synthetic collagen peptides. The invention provides antibody antagonists, or functional fragments thereof, that preferentially bind to denatured extracellular matrix components. It additionally provides methods for using the antagonists for inhibiting angiogenesis, tumor metastasis, and other tumor developmental processes, including cell migration, cell adhesion, cell proliferation, and tumor growth and for treating angiogenesis-dependent conditions or collagen-dependent conditions. The application also provides for use of the antagonists as a vaccine for inducing an immune response, immune focusing and induction of antibody responses.

Abstract: An erosion-indicating safety fitting having a fluid passage formed within for connection in-line with a pipe and a cage of interconnecting breach passages formed into the block and surrounding the fluid passage, particularly at areas having a predicted risk of erosion. A pressure gauge, connected to the breach passages, registers a change in pressure to equal that of the pressure in the fluid passage should the material between the fluid passage and one or more of the breach passages be eroded by the flow of particulate-laden fluid within the fluid passage. The fitting can then be changed before compromising the safety of personnel and the environment.