Abstract: The present application discloses a composite membrane comprising (a) a support member that has a plurality of pores extending through the support member and (b) a cross-linked copolymer comprising (i) a cationic monomer and an anionic monomer and/or (ii) a zwitterionic monomer, which cross-linked copolymer fills the pores of the support member, the cross-linked copolymer having a permeability for a fluid that is dependent on the polarity of the fluid, wherein the permeability increases with increasing polarity. The present application also discloses a process for the preparation of the composite membrane, a pervaporation apparatus comprising the composite membrane, and methods for the use of the composite material in separation and dehydration processes.

Abstract: A novel method for detecting the concentration of a metabolite in a fluid sample is provided. Devices for the detection of the analyte are also provided. In particular, a device for determining the concentration of 11-dehydro thromboxane in a urine sample and comparing it to a set of standardized quartile concentrations is provided. A concentration of urinary 11-dehydro thromboxane that falls within the fourth quartile is indicative of a greatly increased risk of a recurrent cardiovascular event.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a two-step method of preparing methylsilsequixane (MSQ) materials suitable for chromatographic applications comprising treating a MSQ precursor with a suitable acid followed by treatment with a suitable base under conditions to form a MSQ monolith suitable for chromatographic applications.

Abstract: Disclosed is a composite material comprising a support member that has a plurality of pores extending therethrough, which pores are durably filled or coated with a non crosslinked gel polymer. Also disclosed is a process for the preparation of the composite material, use of the composite material as a separation medium, and a filtering apparatus comprising the composite material.

Abstract: The invention provides novel reagents and methodologies for detecting free versus bound compounds. It is particularly useful to detect thrombin when it is not bound to A2M in the presence of thrombin bound to A2M by using a modified substrate that is sterically hindered from reacting with the bound thrombin.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for preventing the generation of active thrombin on the surface of cells. The present methods are based upon the surprising discovery that expression or activation of an ER resident chaperone protein in a cell inhibits the generation of thrombin on the surface of the cell. Accordingly, expressing or activating an ER resident chaperone protein can be used to treat or prevent any of a number of thrombotic diseases.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining the activity of an enzyme which releases methylumbelliferone (MU) from an MU-containing substrate wherein the enzyme has a pH optimum below the pKa of MU comprising: contacting a sample suspected of containing the enzyme with the MU-containing substrate at a pH suitable for activity of the enzyme to allow release of MU by the enzyme; contacting the sample with light of a wavelength in the range of about 310 nm to about 350 nm; determining fluorescence produced by the released MU, thereby determining the activity of the enzyme. This real time method provides improved diagnostic methods, for example for diseases associated with an abnormal level of activity of a glycosidase. The real time assay also can be used to screen compounds for their ability to modulate enzyme activity using MU-containing substrates.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel methods and compositions for the treatment and/or prevention of cataracts. A composition that inhibits destabilization of E-cadherin is administered. Preferably the composition comprises a matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor.

Abstract: Siliceous materials were prepared by adding one or more additives, including one or more water soluble polymers, and derivatives thereof, as well as trifunctional silanes, to sols containing tetraalkoxysilanes derived from polyols. The polymers facilitate phase separation of the growing silica gel matrix, leading to high surface area self-supporting silica gels with cure occurring at ambient temperatures. The materials also show a significant reduction in shrinkage properties and significant protein stabilization abilities.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for use in switching communication operations between a wireless local area network (WLAN) (e.g. an IEEE 802.11-based network) and a wireless wide area network (WWAN) (e.g. a cellular telecommunications network) for a mobile communication device are disclosed. A network support node which is utilized to facilitate such transitioning has a first communication interface (e.g. an Ethernet interface) for connection with a communication network which includes the WLAN and a second communication interface (e.g. a cellular radio air interface) for communicating with a base station of the WWAN over a wireless communication link. The mobile device initially operates in the WLAN in a communication session with another communication device. During the session, the network support node receives an indication that the mobile device is transitioning from the WLAN to the WWAN.

Abstract: An optical sensor has a core, a cladding, and an over-layer. In some embodiments the optical sensor also has a sensing layer. The over-layer acts as a sensitivity enhancement layer, with a refractive index larger than that of the cladding layers. A periodic structure, such as a long-period grating (LPG), is formed in the core. A transmission spectrum of the device shows several notches due to the existence of the LPG. A change in the sensing layer's refractive index and/or thickness results in a shift in the notch wavelengths of the LPG. By choosing proper refractive indices and thicknesses of the core, the cladding and the over-layer, the shift in the notch wavelengths can be significantly enhanced.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a method of purifying radiolabelled compounds comprising a) loading onto a fluorous polymer a radiolabelled compound precursor comprising a fluoroalkyl tin moiety; b) reacting the radiolabelled compound precursor with a radiolabel delivering compound to give a radiolabelled compound, wherein the fluoroalkyl tin moiety is replaced by a radiolabel; and c) eluting the radiolabelled compound from the fluorous polymer.

Abstract: A wireless local area network includes multiple access points with overlapping coverage, and modes of different power consumption are available to the access points. It is assessed whether the traffic load of the network may be adequately supported using fewer access points in an active mode. If so, the traffic load is redistributed from certain active access points among the remaining access points in the active mode. The certain access points are switched into a mode of lower power consumption than the active mode. Similarly, it is assessed whether the traffic load of the network is adequately supported by the current number of access points in an active mode. If not, certain access points which are in a mode of lower power consumption are switched to the active mode. The traffic load is redistributed among the access points in the active mode including the certain access points.

Abstract: A mobile station is assisted to perform a handoff from a current access point in a current extended service set (ESS) to a new access point in a target ESS. A HandOver Mediator, possibly in conjunction with a handover server, performs an authentication process and an association process with an access point in the target ESS while masquerading as the mobile station. Parameters resulting from the authentication process and the association process are then passed to the mobile station and the mobile station can perform a handoff to the new access point.

Abstract: The invention relates to the preparation of monolithic silica under mild conditions from alkoxysilanes derived from sugars, sugar acids, sugar alcohols and polysaccharides including glycerol, sorbitol, mannose and dextran. Unlike the commonly used silica starting material TEOS (Si(OEt)4), the sol-gel hydrolysis and cure of the sugar derivatives are not very sensitive to pH as similar rates of gelation were observed over a pH range of about 5.5-11. The morphology of the resulting silicas could be varied using specific additives, including multivalent ions and hydrophilic polymers.

Abstract: The invention provides asymmetric membranes composed of a microporous substrate whose pores contain a crosslinked gel, the density of the crosslinked gel being greater at or adjacent to one major surface of the membrane than the density at the other major surface. The membranes are useful for separating matter from liquids and display good flux and good rejection at low pressure.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cyclic peptide antibiotic in which an enzyme-sensitive bond is replaced by an enzyme-resistant bond.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a two-step method of preparing methylsilsequixane (MSQ) materials suitable for chromatographic applications comprising treating a MSQ precursor with a suitable acid followed by treatment with a suitable base under conditions to form a MSQ monolith suitable for chromatographic applications.

Abstract: A system and method for processing an acoustic input signal and providing at least one output acoustic signal to a user of a hearing-aid system. The hearing-aid system includes first and second channels with one of the channels having an adaptive delay. The first channel includes a directional unit for receiving the acoustic input signal and providing a directional signal; a correlative unit for receiving the directional signal and providing a noise reduced signal by utilizing correlative measures for identifying a speech signal of interest in the directional signal; and, a compensator for receiving the noise reduced signal and providing a compensated signal for compensating for a hearing loss of the user.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of screening compounds for modulation and binding to proteins, in particular proteins that have been immobilized in a monolithic chromatographic stationary phase. The method involves observing the conversion of a substrate to product by the protein and determining a product to substrate ratio. Changes in this ratio in the presence of another compound indicates that the other compound is a modulator of the enzyme. Various applications of this method to compound screening, including high throughput screening formats, are described.