Abstract: A sensor having a membrane, which is adapted to deflect in response to a change in surface stress. The membrane has a first and a second surface, which includes a first coating layer on the first surface of the membrane, and a second coating layer on the second surface of the membrane. The first coating layer is adapted to couple one or more probe molecules with the membrane.

Abstract: This invention provides tandem fluorescent protein construct including a donor fluorescent protein moiety, an acceptor fluorescent protein moiety and a linker moiety that couples the donor and acceptor moieties. The donor and acceptor moieties exhibit fluorescence resonance energy transfer which is eliminated upon cleavage. The constructs are useful in enzymatic assays.

Abstract: The present invention provides reporter constructs for in vivo or in vitro monitoring of alternative pre-mRNA splicing events. The reporter constructs described herein are also particularly useful for high-throughput screening of compounds that affect alternative pre-mRNA splicing. Kits comprising the reporter constructs of the present invention find utility in a wide range of applications including, for example, basic research, drug screening, and drug design.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods and compositions useful for identifying a subject's predisposition to lithium treatment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to D-amino acid peptides and their use in methods for the diagnosis and/or treatment of immune disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus.

Abstract: A method of assembling composite structures from objects in fluid includes providing a plurality of objects, each having a preselected size, shape, and spatial distribution of surface structural features characterizing a surface roughness; dispersing the objects into the fluid; and introducing a depletion agent. The depletion agent includes a plurality of particles having a size distribution preselected causing an attractive force arising from a depletion attraction between at least a first object and second object of the plurality in at least one relative position and orientation based on the preselected spatial distribution of surface structural features on the first and second objects, and the depletion attraction between the first and second objects forms at least one rigid bond or slippery bond at or proximate to respective surface portions based on the preselected spatial distribution of surface structural features on the first and second objects to form a two-object composite structure.

Abstract: The present application provides fully human antibodies against N-Cadherin for therapeutic and diagnostic methods in cancer.

Abstract: This invention provides a method that allows selection of antibodies against cells (e.g., tumor cells) in situ using laser capture microdissection. By restricting antibody selection to binders of internalizing epitopes, a panel of phage antibodies was generated that targets clinically represented prostate cancer antigens.

Abstract: An etching technique for the fabrication of thin (Al, In, Ga)N layers. A suitable template or substrate is selected and implanted with foreign ions over a desired area to create ion implanted material. A regrowth of a device structure is then performed on the implanted template or substrate. The top growth surface of the template is bonded to a carrier wafer to created a bonded template/carrier wafer structure. The substrate is removed, as is any residual material, to expose the ion implanted material. The ion implanted material on the bonded template/carrier wafer structure is then exposed to a suitable etchant for a sufficient time to remove the ion implanted material.

Abstract: Techniques for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including obtaining a plurality of MRI images acquired at different echo times subsequent to an excitation pulse applied to a sample which is being imaged, performing a curve-fitting for a specified variation in each pixel of the MRI images, and using fitted parameters for the specified variation in the MRI images to synthesize the MRI images to form an image at any echo time with reduced noise. Performing singular value decomposition to determine the types of variation in each pixel of the MRI images and using only the most significant variations to synthesize the MRI images to form an image with reduced noise.

Abstract: This is a method and an apparatus for the introduction of therapeutic compounds into tissue, particularly cardiac tissue. The apparatus includes a catheter having an elongated flexible body and a tissue infusion apparatus including a hollow infusion needle configured to secure the needle into the tissue when the needle is at least partially inserted into the tissue to help prevent inadvertent removal of the needle from the tissue. This permits the selected therapeutic compound to be delivered to a specific site. The catheter may also include a visualization assembly including a transducer at the distal end of the body.

Abstract: An electrode for an electro-optic device has a wetting layer of electrically conductive material formed on a substrate. A second layer of electrically conductive material is formed on the wetting layer of electrically conductive material. The wetting layer has a first wetting ability with respect to a surface of the substrate and the second layer has a second wetting ability with respect to the surface of said substrate. The first wetting ability is different from the second wetting ability and the wetting layer acts to alter an optical property of the electrode due to the wetting ability of the wetting layer on the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A physics-based statistical model and simulation/modeling method and system of electromagnetic wave propagation (wireless communication) in urban environments. In particular, the model is a computationally efficient close-formed parametric model of RF propagation in an urban environment which is extracted from a physics-based statistical wireless channel simulation method and system. The simulation divides the complex urban environment into a network of interconnected urban canyon waveguides which can be analyzed individually; calculates spectral coefficients of modal fields in the waveguides excited by the propagation using a database of statistical impedance boundary conditions which incorporates the complexity of building walls in the propagation model; determines statistical parameters of the calculated modal fields; and determines a parametric propagation model based on the statistical parameters of the calculated modal fields from which predictions of communications capability may be made.

Abstract: Attenuated Listeria bacteria are provided. The subject bacteria are characterized by having a mutation in a gene chosen from the IpIA gene and the hly gene. The subject bacteria find use in a variety of applications, where representative applications of interest include, but are not limited to: (a) use of the subject bacteria as adjuvants; (b) use of the subject bacteria as delivery vectors for introducing macromolecules into a cell; (c) use of the subject bacteria as vaccines for eliciting or boosting a cellular immune response; etc.

Abstract: A bymixer device and method which provides fast-response, accurate measurements of mixed inspired and/or expired gas fractions in open or closed ventilation circuits and/or in circle circuits used in anesthesia and/or critical care. The bymixer device may include a main flow channel and a bypass flow channel. The bypass flow channel includes a flow-restrictor (e.g, an orifice) that partially blocks the flow of respiratory gas through the bypass flow channel, a mixing chamber positioned upstream of the flow restrictor and a sampling apparatus (e.g., a port for withdrawing samples of gas from said mixing chamber and/or sensor(s) positioned within the mixing chamber).

Abstract: This invention provides fluorescent adducts that emit in the far red and/or near infrared. In certain embodiments, the adducts comprise a mutant apoprotein and a bilin.

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein provide for a universal controller capable of controlling multiple types of three phase, two and three level power converters. The universal controller is capable of controlling the power converter in any quadrant of the PQ domain. The universal controller can include a region selection unit, an input selection unit, a reference signal source unit and a control core. The control core can be implemented using one-cycle control, average current mode control, current mode control or sliding mode control and the like. The controller can be configured to control different types of power converters by adjusting the reference signal source. Also provided are multiple modulation methods for controlling the power converter.

Abstract: A method is provided for measurement of dispersion or other optical and mechanical properties within a waveguide by inducing four-photon mixing at different locations within the waveguide by timing a pump signal to counter-collide with and abruptly amplify or attenuate one or both of a probe pulse and a signal pulse at each location. The measurement of the components of the resulting mixing signal created by each collision is used to calculate dispersion defined by the location at which the collision occurred. By combining the measurements from all of the locations, a spatial map of dispersion or other optical or mechanical properties within the waveguide can be generated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to regulation of adult lifespan in eukaryotes. More particularly, the present invention is directed to methods of assaying for activators of the heat shock factor 1 (HSF-1) protein, which increases lifespan when overexpressed in an organism.

Abstract: Novel compounds that have been found effective in inhibiting PDZ domain interactions, and particularly interactions of PDZ domains in MAGIs with the oncogenic (tumor suppressor) protein PTEN and interactions between the PDZ domain in the Dishevelled (Dvl) protein and other proteins such as the Frizzled (Fz) protein, have the general formula (I) or (III) The invention also includes combinatorial libraries, arrays and methods for screening and studying proteins using such compounds. Compounds of the invention have produced apoptosis in certain cell lines that overexpress the Dishevelled protein (Dvl), inhibiting Wnt signaling.