Abstract: Provided herein are OspA polypeptides from Lyme Disease-causing Borrelia having certain alteration(s). In one embodiment, the alteration(s) increase the conformational stability of the OspA polypeptide containing the alteration(s) while maintaining at least some of the antigenicity of the corresponding unaltered OspA polypeptide. In another embodiment, the altered OspA polypeptide has reduced cross-reactivity to hLFA-1, as compared to the corresponding unaltered OspA polypeptide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a body thermal regulation system. The system includes a fluid-circulating garment having a plurality of fluid-impervious compartments where each compartment is in contact with a different part of a body. The system also includes an expandable bladder to accommodate changes in pressure in the fluid circulation system. At least one heating/cooling unit is positioned to heat and/or cool fluid circulating to the fluid-impervious compartments in the garment. The system also includes a fluid circulation system positioned to circulate fluid between the heating/cooling unit and the plurality of fluid-impervious compartments in the garment. The present invention also relates to a method for measuring heat fluxes in different parts of a body. The method involves providing to a subject the body thermal regulation system according to the present invention.

Abstract: A method for producing a polymer blend that includes: combining a first polymer, a second polymer and an organoclay to form a mixture, wherein the first polymer is not compatible with the second polymer, and heating the polymer and organoclay mixture to form a compatilized polymer blend. The preferred organoclay is montmorillonite clay functionalized by an intercalation agent. The intercalation agent is a reaction product of a polyamine and an alkyl halide in a polar solvent.

Abstract: A method of computer aided treatment planning is performed by generating and manipulating a three dimensional (3D) image of a region which includes at least one anatomical structure for which treatment, such as surgery, biopsy, tissue component analysis, prosthesis implantation, radiation, chemotherapy and the like, is contemplated. A virtual intervention, which simulates at least a portion of the contemplated treatment, is performed in the 3D image. The user can then determine the effect of the intervention and interactively modify the intervention for improved treatment results. Preferably, a warning is automatically provided if the intervention poses a risk of detrimental effect. The user can navigate through the contemplated region in the 3D image and assess the results. The treatment plans can be saved for comparison and post treatment evaluation.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of determining the severity of rhinoconjunctivitis in a patient by determining the levels of C5a or C5a-desArg in the patient's blood, plasma or serum.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for automated determination and adjustment of height and tilt of a substrate surface within a lithography system. The method includes: directing a beam of light onto the substrate surface, which reflects off the substrate surface as a reflected beam; optically splitting the reflected beam into a first reflected beam portion and a second reflected beam portion; impinging the first reflected beam portion onto a first detector plane of a first optical detector to generate intensity data, and impinging the second reflected beam portion onto a second detector plane of a second optical detector to generate intensity data, and utilizing the generated data in determining height and tilt of the substrate surface relative to a nominal writing plane of the lithography system. Responsive to the determination, focus or tilt of the system's writing beam, or position of the substrate surface within the system, is adjusted.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for complexing a protein in a dispersed medium. Also disclosed are associated proteins produced by the methods of complexing of the present invention. Pharmaceutically effective stabilized protein dosages are also disclosed. The present invention also relates to a method for associating AHF protein in a dispersed medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides catalytic RNA molecules having cis or trans aminoacylation activity. The catalytic RNA molecules having cis aminoacylation activity comprise a catalytic domain and an aminoacylation domain. The catalytic RNA molecules having trans aminoacylation activity only have the catalytic domain. A method is provided for constructing and screening of these molecules. These molecules are suitable for aminoacylating with specific amino acids.

Abstract: Provided are antisense poly-2?-O-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)oligoribonucleotides which are complementary to the IL-14? gene and/or transcribed IL-14? mRNA. Also provided are monoclonal antibodies reactive with discreet IL-14? peptides. The oligoribonucleotides and monoclonal antibodies are useful in inhibiting the growth of lymphocytes.

Abstract: The present invention provides peptides (including analogs and derivatives thereof) corresponding to residues 96-110 and 35-47 of ras-p21, which peptides have attached thereto a membrane-penetrating leader sequence. The subject peptides, analogs and derivatives thereof are useful in treatment of cancers and have been shown to induce phenotypic reversion of pancreatic cancer cells to non-cancerous cells. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more subject peptides are also provided by the present invention. The present invention further provides replication incompetent Adenovirus (AdV) vectors comprising a promoter sequence and a nucleotide sequence encoding a subject peptide. Methods of treating cancer by administering one or more subject peptides, pharmaceutical compositions, and/or AdV vectors are also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides a yeast-enhanced red fluorescent protein. In an embodiment of the invention, the yeast-enhanced red fluorescent protein is monomeric and is expressible in Candida albicans. The invention also provides a novel visible color marker for plasmid expression in yeast, particularly Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans.

Abstract: A method for forming a photovoltaic cell which includes forming a nanostructured layer in a semiconductor material having a plurality of pores opening onto a surface, the plurality of pores having a depth greater than about 1 micron and a diameter between about 5 nanometers and about 1,200 nanometers, and disposing an organic charge-transfer material in the pores of the nanostructured layer. A first electrode is attached to the semiconductor material, and a second electrode is attached to the organic charge-transfer material. The semiconductor material has a thickness between about 5 microns and about 700 microns. Desirably, the nanostructured layer has a porosity of less than the porosity corresponding to the percolation threshold, and the organic charge-transfer material extends at least about 100 nm from the surface of the nanostructured layer.

Abstract: A finger-mounted implement including a kinesthetic sensor, at least one tactile sensor, and means for securing the kinesthetic sensor and the at least one tactile sensor to a fingertip. The tactile sensor may be a thin-film force transducer, a piezoelectric accelerometer, or a combination thereof. An artificial fingernail may be connected to the accelerometer. The kinesthetic sensor may include a magnetic transducer and may sense an X-Y-Z position and an angular orientation of a fingertip to which the kinesthetic sensor is secured. The securing means may include at least one means selected from the group consisting of adhesive tape, an elastically deformable cover, and detachable adhesive. The implement can be further connected to a computer processing system for, amongst other things, the virtual representation of sensed objects. The implement can also be used as part of a method of haptic sensing of objects.

Abstract: A new technique for identifying whether images are derived from a common imager, e.g., a camera, or other imaging device such as a scanner, based on the device's measured or inferred reference noise pattern, a unique stochastic characteristic of all common digital imaging sensors, including CCD, CMOS (Foveon™ X3), and JFET. The measured or inferred noise pattern of two images may be extracted and then cross correlated, with a high correlation being consistent with a common imager. Various preprocessing techniques may be used to improve tolerance to various types of image transform. It is also possible to perform the analysis without explicit separation of inferred image and inferred noise.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds having the formula (I):

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for treating anxiety or irritability in a subject. The methods comprise administering to the subject an effective amount of an antagonist of allopregnanolone (THP), or a regulator which decreases expression of the alpha 4 subunit of GABA such as gabadoxbol (THIP), or a vector comprising an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a mutant alpha 4 subunit GABAA receptor protein having a neutral or non-basic amino acid residue substituted for the arginine residue at position 353 of the wild type mature protein, wherein this nucleic acid molecule is operably linked to a promoter which functions in the human brain. Such methods are useful in treating a subject undergoing a stage such as entering or having reached puberty, suffering from pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS), entering or having reached post-partem stage, entering or having reached menopause, and/or suffering from chronic stress.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thermal interface material, comprising providing a sheet comprising nano-scale fibers, the sheet having at least one exposed surface; and stabilizing the fibers with a stabilizing material disposed in at least a portion of a void space between the fibers in the sheet. The fibers may be CNT's or metallic nano-wires. Stabilizing may include infiltrating the fibers with a polymerizable material. The polymerizable material may be mixed with nano- or micro-particles. The composite system may include two films, with the fibers in between, to create a sandwich. Each capping film may include two sub films: a palladium film closer to the stabilizing material to improve adhesion; and a nano-particle film for contact with a device to be cooled or a heat sink.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved means of treating tracheobronchitis, bronchiectasis and pneumonia in the nosocomial patient, preferably with aerosolized anti gram-positive and anti-gram negative antibiotics administered in combination or in seriatim in reliably sufficient amounts for therapeutic effect. In one aspect, the invention assures this result when aerosol is delivered into the ventilator circuit. In one embodiment the result is achieved mechanically. In another embodiment, the result is achieved by aerosol formulation. In another aspect, the invention assures the result when aerosol is delivered directly to the airways distal of the ventilator circuit. The treatment means eliminates the dosage variability that ventilator systems engender when aerosols are introduced via the ventilator circuit.

Abstract: A process for synthesizing nanostructures is disclosed. The process involves forming a liquid crystalline template by combining a block copolymer, a first reactant in a polar phase, and a nonpolar phase, then contacting the template with a gas phase composed of a second reactant, under conditions effective to form nanostructures.

Abstract: A first aspect of the invention provides a method of screening cholesterol absorption inhibitors, including: administering to a mammal a biologically effective amount of a candidate SPT inhibitor; and determining whether an amount at least one cholesterol absorption indicator protein in the intestine has changed after the administering step.