Abstract: A nucleic acid accumulation analyzing chip comprising an optical waveguide having a radiation input port and a radiation output port, the optical waveguide being formed with at least one optical microcavity along its optical path, at least one oligonucleotide being immobilized to the optical waveguide in the microcavity, such that when the at least one oligonucleotide is contacted with reaction reagents under conditions allowing a nucleic acid accumulation reaction to take place, accumulated nucleic acid is detectable by providing radiation at the radiation input port of the optical waveguide and monitoring radiation signal modulation at the radiation output port of the optical waveguide.

Abstract: Peptide inhibitors of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) have an amino acid sequence motif of XZXXXS(p)X, wherein S(p)=phosphorylated serine or phosphorylated threonine, X=any amino acid, and Z=any amino acid except serine or threonine. These inhibitors, which are about 7 to 50 amino acids long, are specific for GSK-3 and strongly inhibit the enzyme with an IC50 of about 150 &mgr;M. Also provided are methods of treating biological conditions mediated by GSK-3 activity, such as potentiating insulin signaling in a subject, treating or preventing type 2 diabetes in a patient, and treating Alzheimer's Disease by administering peptide inhibitors. Compositions of these peptide inhibitors and pharmaceutically acceptable carriers are also provided, as is a method for identifying inhibitors of GSK-3. The invention further relates to a computer-assisted method of structure based drug design of GSK-3 inhibitors using a three-dimensional structure of a peptide substrate of GSK-3.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for inhibiting Ras-induced or mediated proliferation of cells associated with a non-malignant disease, disorder or pathological condition. The method entails administering to a patient a Ras antagonist in an amount effective to inhibit the proliferation. The invention is particularly applicable to diseases characterized by a proliferation of T-cells such as autoimmune disease, e.g., type 1 diabetes, lupus and multiple sclerosis, and pathological states such as graft rejection induced by the presentation of a foreign antigen such as a graft in response to a disease condition (e.g., kidney failure). Other non-malignant diseases characterized by proliferations of cells include cirrhosis of the liver and restenosis. Preferred Ras antagonists are S-trans-trans farnesylthiosalicylic acid (FTS) and structurally related compounds (or analogs) thereof.

Abstract: Human herpes virus (HHV) 7 is capable of binding to the CD4 antigen and the HHV-7 or a binding protein derived therefrom is thus useful as a CD4-ligand for various therapeutic applications. HHV-6 or HHV-7 are lymphotropic and are thus useful as lymphotropic vectors for delivering DNA into lymphocytes.

Abstract: A waveguide for guiding electromagnetic radiation of a given range of wavelengths includes a transparent substrate made from non-polymer material, preferably glass, into which at least one elongated channel is etched. A polymer material with a higher refractive index than that of the substrate is deposited within, and extends along, the channel, so as to define a waveguide. The regions of the substrate adjacent to the ends of the channel are preferably treated, such as by ion-exchange, to form secondary waveguide portions, optically coupled to the polymer waveguide, for input and output optical coupling with the waveguide. Also disclosed is a production method for such waveguides.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved, low-cost fuel cells having reduced fuel crossover, reduced sensitivity to metal ion impurities and ability to operate under a broad range of temperatures. Additionally, new effective organic fuels are described for use in such fuel cells. The invention further provides improved methods for catalyst preparation and a new integrated flow field system for use in H2/O2 fuel cells. The fuel cell includes a proton conducting membrane having pore diameters which are essentially smaller than 30 nanometers.

Abstract: A laser with microwave excitation includes a source of microwave radiation coupled to a microwave resonator. The resonator is configured such that the microwave radiation generates an oscillating electric-field perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the resonator corresponding to the first longitudinal resonator mode standing wave pattern. An excitation cavity, housing at least one gas discharge conduit, is coupled to the microwave resonator along a major portion of the cavity's length. The excitation cavity is configured to be below cutoff.

Abstract: A method and an electro-optical device are presented for affecting the propagation of input light impinging on the device. The electro-optical device is composed of at least one domain-patterned ferroelectric crystal structure with inverted domains, and an electrodes' arrangement on the surface of the at least one structure connected to a voltage source.

Abstract: Novel brain targeted low molecular weight, hydrophobic antioxidants and use of antioxidants in treatment of central nervous system neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and Creutzfeldt-Jakob's diseases and in treatment of conditions of peripheral tissues, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, atheroscierotic cardiovascular disease and multiple organ dysfunction, in which oxidants are overproduced.

Abstract: A system and a method for a dynamic probability access protocol for determining access to shared channels. Some networks have a common channel which is shared by many users. A key issue in such networks is the allocation of the shared channel among many competing users. The system and method of the present invention enable media access control in shared bandwidth networks. When the user wishes to send a message, the user transmits with a probability p, which depends on the load on the channel. The probability p is announced by the network, and transmitted to the users as a broadcast message. Under conditions of low load, the probability p approaches 1, while at high load p is relatively low. This media access control protocol guarantees high channel utilization at high load, as well as low delay at low load periods. The proposed method is applicable on wireless networks, such as cellular networks and satellite-based networks.

Abstract: A thermodynamically stable metallic contact for binary oxide-, nitride-, carbide or phosphide-semiconductors and a method of its preparation, the contact is formed in a high temperature reaction in vacuum of a metal bi-layer with the binary semiconductor substrate. With a proper choice of the two metallic layers, each metal forms a single phase with only one of binary semiconductor elements. The resulting phases form distinct layers in a thermodynamically stable sequence.

Abstract: A multifrequency phase-coded signal structure is presented for use in a system like a radar or sonar or detecting a remote target. The signal structure comprises at least one pulse signal in the form of a mutually complementary set of M sequences, each sequence being composed of M phase-modulated bits. Each two adjacent sequences are modulated on subcarriers separated by a frequency fs such that fs=1/tb, tb being a bit duration, and a the subcarriers are transmitted simultaneously.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for using &agr;-particle energy loss to measure the thickness and stoichiometry of films grown by molecular beam epitaxy and other methods. The apparatus for measuring the thickness of films grown on a substrate in a growth chamber, comprises a protective housing having an aperture opening into the growth chamber, a solid state detector disposed in the protective housing, a shutter for opening and closing the aperture, a shield disposed in the housing between the aperture and the solid state detector for shielding the detector, and a calibration source disposed between the shield and the detector for calibrating the measurements made by the detector. A second calibration source disposed between the shutter and the shield, for measuring deposition on the shield.

Abstract: A method of slice selective multiple quantum magnetic resonance imaging of an object is disclosed. The method is effected by implementing the steps of (a) applying a radiofrequency pulse sequence selected so as to select a coherence of an order n to the object, wherein n is zero, a positive or a negative integer other than ±1; (b) applying magnetic gradient pulses, so as to select a slice of the object to be imaged arid to create an image; and (c) acquiring a radiofrequency signal resulting from the object, so as to generate a magnetic resonance slice image of the object. The method provides slice selective multiple quantum magnetic resonance images of yet unprecedented quality in terms of contrast. The method is particularly useful for imaging connective tissues.

Abstract: A method of reducing oxidative stress in the brain of an organism having a blood brain barrier and suffering an ischemic brain injury, the method comprising the step of administering a compound to the organism, the compound having (a) a combination of molecular weight and membrane miscibility properties for permitting the compound to cross the blood brain barrier of the organism; (b) a readily oxidizable chemical group for exerting antioxidation properties; and (c) a chemical make-up for permitting the compound or its intracellular derivative to accumulate within the cytoplasm of cells.

Abstract: A method for catalytic polymerization of alpha-olefin monomers using an ultra-high activity non-metallocene pre-catalyst featuring an amine bis(phenolate) ligand-metal chelate, having general formulas of [{(O)1R1R2R3R4(C6)1(CH2)1(RnY—T)N(CH2)2(C6)2R5R6R7R8(O)2}MX1X2] and [{(O)1R1R2R3R4(C6)1(CH2)1(RnY—T)N(CH2)2(C6)2R5R6R7R8(O)2}MX3], where, M, O, and N, are metal, oxygen, and, nitrogen; X1, X2, and X3, are ligands bonded to M; R1 through R8 are radicals; (RnY—T) is an optional non-donor or donor group bonded to N. The relatively stable and simply synthesized pre-catalyst is activated by a co-catalyst under mild reaction conditions, producing exceptionally reactive polymerization of a wide variety of alpha-olefin monomers, and forming a variety of poly(alpha-olefin) products, having high molecular weight and low molecular weight distribution (PDIs close to 1).

Abstract: A super-resolving imaging apparatus employs diffractive optical elements placed on the imaging lens. This element, and the use of a modified Scheimpflug arrangement allow the conversion of degrees of freedom in one axis of a field of view to a larger degree of freedom in another axis in order to obtain a high resolution image with a wide depth of focus and large field of view. Replicas created by the diffractive elements are mutually shifted by subpixel amounts, and are combined using a Gabor transform, which is facilitated by a spatial mask placed over the detector array. The apparatus is suitable for performing distance estimation on an object within the field of view.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for using &agr;-particle energy loss to measure the thickness and stoichiometry of films grown by molecular beam epitaxy and other methods. The apparatus for measuring the thickness of films grown on a substrate in a growth chamber, comprises a protective housing having an aperture opening into the growth chamber, a solid state detector disposed in the protective housing, a shutter for opening and closing the aperture, a shield disposed in the housing between the aperture and the solid state detector for shielding the detector, and a calibration source disposed between the shield and the detector for calibrating the measurements made by the detector. A second calibration source disposed between the shutter and the shield, for measuring deposition on the shield.

Abstract: The invention concerns a scaffold which is used as a growth supportive base for various cells and tissue explants from three-dimensional tissue comprising naturally derived connective or skeletal tissue into attached flakes having a very high porosity. Alternatively the scaffold is composed of fused epiphyses.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrochemical cell comprising a cathode, non-aprotic or polymeric electrolyte and an anode of carbon-based bonded particles coated with a thin (less than 1 micron thick) solid electrolyte interphase which is a M conductor and electronic insulator consisting of alkali metal or alkaline earth salts, oxides or sulfides, said cell being assembled in the non-charged state.