Abstract: A device and method for analyzing cells includes a housing with a chamber, a barrier supported by a frame disposed within the chamber, and a plate arranged at a bottom surface of the housing interior of the chamber. The plate is adapted to receive and sustain cells and the barrier separates the plate into at least two contiguous separate areas. In some embodiments, a thin rubber strip is arranged at the bottom edge of the barrier, which facilitates control of the area in which each cell type is grown, the size of the gap between the cells, and helps prevents over growth of the two cell types on to each other.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system of generating backward stimulated Rayleigh-Bragg scattering by focusing activating radiation through a multi-photon absorbing dye solution, thereby producing coherent output radiation with no measured frequency shift and measured pump threshold values independent of the spectral line width of the input activating radiation.

Abstract: As circuit sizes have increased, designs have become increasingly hierarchical. It is common for designs to have large numbers of macro blocks; many of these blocks are “soft,” and may have variable width and height. The present invention provides an alternate method to handle designs with large numbers of blocks. Rather than approaching them as expanded floorplanning, the problems are re-cast as traditional mixed size placement, and many macro blocks are treated as standard cells. Using existing mixed size placement tools, the superior reported are obtained. First, an effective “standard block design” methodology is provided. Second, new mixed size placement legalization algorithms that are more robust than the widely-used mixed-size Tetris algorithm is presented.

Abstract: The invention provides an adduct comprising a carbon nanotube and a transitional metal coordination complex, wherein the metal of the complex is attached by a covalent linkage to at least one oxygen moiety on the nanotube.

Abstract: Reliable byte stream transfer protocols play an important role in modern networks. The present invention implements such a protocol using credits for flow control and negative acknowledgements for reliable delivery. The credit mechanism uses credit transfer in installments and is immune to the losses or corruptions of intermediate credit installments. Negative acknowledgements are used to solicit the retransmission of data stream component. The present invention provides full compatibility at the programming interface with reliable byte transfer protocols, such as TCP, and also allows full interoperability among hosts running the aforesaid standard protocol or the protocol of the present invention.

Abstract: Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) can be used as a recreational party drug, aphrodisiac, and attenuator of other drugs and make a person a vulnerable target of robbery or rape. The present invention provides methods and kits for detection of GHB in a sample using an antibody-based assay. Antibodies that specifically bind to GHB or the conjugates of GHB and its derivatives to larger molecules and methods for detecting GHB or its derivatives in bodily fluids and non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks by employing such antibodies in ELISA or RIA assays are provided by the present invention.

Abstract: A method for electroblowing fibers is provided which involves the steps of: forcing a polymer fluid through a spinneret in a first direction towards a collector located a first distance from the spinneret, while simultaneously blowing a gas through an orifice that is substantially concentrically arranged around the spinneret, wherein the gas is blown substantially in the first direction; wherein an electrostatic differential is generated between the spinneret and the collector; and collecting the fibers, and its use in preparing submicron scale fibers of various types, particularly hyaluronan fibers, and the hyaluronan nanofibers thus formed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to 1,4-disubstituted naphthalene scaffold compounds and other closely related scaffold compounds. The present invention also relates to combinatorial libraries of such compounds. In addition, the present invention relates to a method of identifying a protein-protein interaction antagonist. The method first involves providing a compound as described herein. Next, the compound is contacted with interacting proteins of a protein-protein interaction target complex, whereby the compound is allowed to compete with the interacting proteins. Then, the activity of the compound for inhibiting formation of the protein-protein interaction target complex is measured. Finally, the compound that inhibits formation of the protein-protein interaction target complex is identified as a protein-protein interaction antagonist. Also disclosed is a method for modulating a protein-protein interaction.

Abstract: Antibodies to heavy chain of human FcRn are provided which function as non-competitive inhibitors of IgG binding to FcRn. The antibodies may be polyclonal, monoclonal, chimeric or humanized, or antigen binding fragments thereof. These antibodies are useful for reducing the concentration of pathogenic IgGs in individuals and therefore used as a therapeutic tool in autoimmune and alloimmune conditions.

Abstract: This invention provides methods and compositions for localized delivery of IL-12 to a desired site. The composition comprises liposomes carrying IL-12. The liposomes comprise phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl glycerol and cholesterol. The size and composition of the liposomes is such that there is minimal leakage into the systemic circulation. These compositions can be used for delivery of IL-12 to selected sites such as tumors.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for identifying bacterial induced rhinosinusitis. The method comprises obtaining a nasal or paranasal mucus sample and detecting the presence of neutrophil degranulation in the mucus sample. Degranulation of neutrophils can be determined by morphological analysis of the cells in the mucus or by detection of released (i.e., “free”) granule content markers such as neutrophil elastase or myeloperoxidase. Based on an accurate determination of the cause of sinusitis as described herein, an appropriate treatment can be instituted.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing a carbon nanotube-quantum dot conjugate having a high density of quantum dots (QDs) on its surface. This method involves providing a plurality of semiconductor quantum dots and providing a thiol-functionalized carbon nanotube having a plurality of terminal thiol groups on its surface. The plurality of semiconductor quantum dots are attached to the surface of the carbon nanotube under conditions effective to yield a carbon nanotube-quantum dot conjugate having a high density of quantum dots on its surface. The present invention also relates to a carbon nanotube-quantum dot conjugate having a high density of quantum dots on its surface. The present invention further relates to a photodetector device. This device includes a substrate and a nanocomposite layer. The nanocomposite layer includes a plurality of the carbon nanotube-quantum dot conjugates previously described.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for ranking a plurality of academic programs includes receiving a plurality of records corresponding to the plurality of academic programs, respectively, combining elements of the plurality of records to determine respective z-scores according to a predetermined metric, and ranking the plurality of academic programs according to the respective z-scores.

Abstract: There is provided a system and methods for segmenting datapath resources such as reorder buffers, physical registers, instruction queues and load-store queues, etc. in a microprocessor so that their size may be dynamically expanded and contracted. This is accomplished by allocating and deallocating individual resource units to each resource based on sampled estimates of the instantaneous resource needs of the program running on the microprocessor. By keeping unused datapath resources to a minimum, power and energy savings are achieved by shutting off resource units that are not needed for sustaining the performance requirements of the running program. Leakage energy and switching energy and power are reduced using the described methods.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel compounds which are derivatives of minocycline or doxycycline, pharmaceutical compositions containing same and use thereof in lowering excess IgE levels in a mammal suffering from a disease where IgE is pathogenic.

Abstract: The present invention provides a high strength polyethylene fiber having an intrinsic viscosity of from about 5 dL/g to 40 dL/g, and containing carbon nanofiber modified with alkyl chains. The fiber obtained by the production method of a high strength polyethylene fiber of the present invention is industrially applicable to a wide range and greatly contributes to the industry.

Abstract: The present invention features additions of nano-structures to interconnect conductor fine particles (spheres) to: (1) reduce thermal interface resistance by using thermal interposers that have high thermal conductivity nano-structures at their surfaces; (2) improve the anisotropic conductive adhesive interconnection conductivity with microcircuit contact pads; and (3) allow lower compression forces to be applied during the microcircuit fabrication processes which then results in reduced deflection or circuit damage. When pressure is applied during fabrication to spread and compress anisotropic conductive adhesive and the matrix of interconnect particles and circuit conductors, the nano-structures mesh and compress into a more uniform connection than current technology provides, thereby eliminating voids, moisture and other contaminants, increasing the contact surfaces for better electrical and thermal conduction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for detecting a material in an object to be analyzed in a radiographic imaging system. The method includes providing wide-field illumination of an object with partially monochromatic x-ray radiation from a divergent source without restrictively collimating the x-ray radiation. The x-ray radiation scattered by the object outside of a predetermined range of angles defined about a characteristic angle is rejected. The characteristic angle is a scattering angle about which a material of the object coherently scatters the incident x-ray radiation. In addition, the method includes the step of detecting coherently-scattered radiation, which is the x-ray radiation diffracted by the object within the predetermined range of angles defined about the characteristic angle.

Abstract: The effect of the action of collagenase in treating lesions containing collagen or mixed fibrin clots (e.g., burns or ulcers) is improved by applying collagenase to the wound in combination with an organogel and a phosphatidylcholine, of which lecithin is a readily available source, particularly when the collagenase is first mixed and stored with that choline and an organic solvent and is subsequently mixed with a second individually stored formulation comprising a gel-forming agent and water, the two formulations individually having satisfactory shelf lives and the resultant mixture being applied to the lesion promptly after being formed.

Abstract: Uniaxially patterned (UAP) dielectric layers have an optical anisotropy that can be dynamically controlled. In a three-layer optical waveguide structure, the pattern can be included in the core or in a cladding layer. The pattern influences the polarization properties of radiation propagating in the structure. Predicated on the effect are devices such as a polarization-insensitive amplifier, a polarizer, an optically controlled polarization switch, and an optically controlled modal coupler.