Abstract: A hydrogel forming system which comprises a hydrophobic macromer with unsaturated group terminated ends and a hydrophilic polymer which is a polysaccharide containing hydroxy groups which are reacted with unsaturated group introducing compound, is convertible by free radical polymerization to form a hydrogel containing a three dimensional crosslinked polymer network containing hydrophobic and hydrophilic components. Agent can be entrapped in the polymer network, e.g., drugs, macromolecules or synthetic or natural polymers, for controlled release therefrom. In one embodiment, a vascular stent is coated with hydrogel with therapeutic agent entrapped therein.

Abstract: A telescope (800) includes a lens (802) and an eyepiece (801) by which a person can view a remote object. The telescope includes a built-in printer to provide an instantaneous permanent record of an image viewed by the person. Upon activation of a trigger (817), a permanent graphic image is printed onto a sheet (816) that passes out of the telescope via slot (804).

Abstract: Post-translational O-sulfonation of a serine or threonine residue of proteins is detected, optionally comparatively, wherein the detected O-sulfonation is detected under a first physiological condition, and is compared with a control O-sulfonation detected under a second physiological condition, and a difference between the detected and control O-sulfonations indicates a difference between the first and second physiological conditions. Predetermined changes in physiological conditions are used to infer specific changes in O-sulfonation. Proteins are modified by introducing a predetermined change in O-sulfonation at a serine or threonine residue of the protein, and optionally, detecting a resultant change in O-sulfonation. These methods include introducing or increasing O-sulfonation, eliminating or reducing O-sulfonation; and derivatizing or substituting O-sulfonation.

Abstract: Methods and means are provided for reducing the phenotypic expression of a nucleic acid of interest in eukaryotic cells, particularly in plant cells, by providing aberrant, preferably unpolyadenylated, target-specific RNA to the nucleus of the host cell. Preferably, the unpolyadenylated target-specific RNA is provided by transcription of a chimeric gene comprising a promoter, a DNA region encoding the target-specific RNA, a self-splicing ribozyme and a DNA region involved in 3? end formation and polyadenylation.

Abstract: Hard-carbon films with unique structures, methods for producing the films, and articles coated by the films are provided. These hard-carbon films are synthesized by the plasma surface treatment of a polymer substrate or a polymer-coated substrate in a plasma containing SFx species, where x is less than 6, and may be produced under room temperature, low pressure environments.

Abstract: An environmental barrier coating material comprising one or more constituents selected from a group consisting of hafnia; hafnia stabilized by one or more rare-earth oxides and/or silica; zirconia-containing hafnia; and zirconia-containing hafnia stabilized by one or more rare-earth oxides and/or silica, which when formed as a coating structure for covering a substrate which has a low thermal expansion coefficient, has hafnon (HfSiO4) serving as a first layer directly formed on the substrate, and hafnia with which the first layer is coated as a second layer.

Abstract: A printing assembly includes a printer and card holder having separate housings that are adapted to engage one another. The card holder has a slider mechanism for engaging a topmost card in a stack and ejecting the card from an ejection slot of the card holder into a slot of the printer housing. The card is then engaged by rollers in the printer housing which feed the card past the printhead for printing.

Abstract: Identification of a gene from monocotyledonous plants such as rice, which codes for a transcription factor specific to a stress tolerant gene and provision of a novel environmental stress tolerant plant using the gene. From the rice genome, a gene, which binds to a cis element existing upstream of the gene encoding a stress responsive protein and for a transcription factor to activate the transcription of the gene, is identified. Further, the gene of the transcription factor is used to transform a plant, thereby improving tolerance against environmental stresses such as low temperature, dehydration, and salt stresses.

Abstract: A rotatable and replaceable plunger type multi-source radiator is provided for equipment correlation and radiation experiment. The rotatable and replaceable plunger type multi-source radiator comprising a radiation source rod, a rotatable radiation source selection device, staircases radiation aperture, radiation shields, and a mechanic operation arm for replacing radiation source. The plunger type rotatable and replaceable multi-source radiator of the present invention is capable of preventing radiation leakage and mutual interferences among radiation sources, providing precise positioning, safety operation, and simple replacement of radiation sources.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding a type III—secreted bacterial protein capable of modifying a cell death pathway in a plant cell. One aspect of the present invention involves an isolated nucleic acid molecule having a nucleotide sequence that encodes the HopPtoD2 protein of Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae DC 3000. Expression vectors, host cells, and transgenic plants which include the DNA molecules of the present invention are also disclosed. The nucleic acid molecules of the present invention can be used to impart disease resistance to a plant and to make a plant hypersusceptible to colonization by nonpathogenic bacteria.

Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing a nano-gap electrode device comprising the steps of: forming a first electrode on a substrate; forming a spacer on a sidewall of the first electrode; forming a second electrode on an exposed substrate at a side of the spacer; and forming a nano-gap between the first electrode and the second electrode by removing the spacer, whereby it is possible to control the nano-gap position, width, shape, and etc., reproducibly, and manufacture a plurality of nano-gap electrode devices at the same time.

Abstract: A computer controlled system provides for configuration-specific recovery of operation in a reconfigurable production system having a plurality of modules with a plurality of alternative capabilities for processing work units. The system includes a system controller having planning, scheduling, and performance failure identification functions. The planning function plans utilization of selected module capabilities in the production of jobs having not less than one work unit and the scheduling function schedules utilization of selected module capabilities in the production of jobs. The failure identification function identifies the failure of module capabilities to perform the work units for a scheduled job.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to map the shape or thickness of a surface. Thickness estimates across a distance are received, and Fourier analysis is performed to generate Fourier amplitude coefficients and phase values for a number of frequency components. Linear discriminant functions are used to characterize the resulting shape as normal or not. Discriminant functions are provided that aid in the diagnosis of glaucoma when the thickness measured is the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness.

Abstract: A router device has a plurality of ingress line interface cards (LICs), a plurality of egress LIC's, a backplane and a controller. Transmission of signals from the ingress LICs to the controller, and from the controller to each of the ingress and egress LICs takes place across the backplane. Each ingress LIC is provided with a dedicated timeslot in which it can send information to the controller via connection. Information is sent in a slice within the dedicated timeslot and each egress LIC ignores data sent by a given ingress LIC within the timeslot assigned to said ingress LIC. A similar system is used for transmission of communications from the controller to the LICs. It is thus possible to avoid provision of additional, dedicated communications paths between the LICs (ingress and egress) and the controller.

Abstract: A pressure sensor (30) for harsh environments such as vehicle tires, formed from a chamber (58) partially defined by a flexible membrane (50), the chamber (58) containing a fluid at a reference pressure. In use, the flexible membrane (50) deflects due to pressure differentials between the reference pressure and the fluid pressure, the membrane being at least partially formed from conductive material. A conductive layer (36) is deposited within the chamber (58) spaced from the flexible membrane (50) such that they form opposing electrodes of a capacitor. Associated circuitry (34) is also deposited for converting the deflection of the flexible membrane (50) into an output signal indicative of the fluid pressure. The membrane (50) is at least partially formed from a transition metal nitride because transition metal nitrides are a metal ceramics with high yield strength and metallic bonding that makes it suitable for use in extreme environments.

Abstract: A method of enabling electronic redemption a plurality of tokens, wherein each the plurality of tokens is disposed on a product label and includes coded data that can be used to determine a unique product identifier of the product label with which it is associated, the method including the steps of: using a sensing device, and for each of the plurality of tokens: (a) generating interaction data by sensing at least some of the coded data of the token, the interaction data representing interaction of the sensing device with the coded data; and (b) forwarding the interaction data to a computer system, for enabling the product identifier associated with the product label to be captured electronically in the computer system, thereby enabling the computer system to transmit further information to a token administrator; and receiving token redemption information from the token administrator after a predetermined combination of the further information has been transmitted to the token administrator.

Abstract: A journaling method is provided for supporting a recovery when a system is abnormally terminated in a shared disk environment. When a system call operation to take part in a journaling is generated, in order to guarantee a recovery, a transaction is started and new transaction region is assigned. Then, a system is initialized and a transaction type is set up. Lock information on modified data is acquired and added to the transaction so that a transaction manages lock information. A reflection to a disk during a modification of metadata is prevented. Modified metadata added to the transaction and modified information on principal general data are recorded. Then, lock information connected to the transaction is released.

Abstract: A method of enabling user interaction with computer software running in a computer system via an interface surface and a sensing device. The interface surface contains information relating to the computer software and coded data indicative of a signature field relating to the computer software. When the sensing device is placed in an operative position relative to the interface surface, it senses indicating data indicative of the signature field. The sensing device also generates movement data indicative of the sensing device's movement. The indicating data and the movement data are received from the sensing device, and the signature field is identified. Once the signature has been identified, the computer software is operated in reliance on the movement data, and in accordance with instructions associated with the signature field.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for cardiac pacing are provided. For pacing using biventricular synchronization in a patient, a first stimulation signal is applied to a first region of a heart of the patient at a first time and a second stimulation signal applied to a second region of the heart of the patient at a second time to provide biventricular synchronization stimulation of the heart. Cardiac function of the patient associated with application of the first and the second stimulation signals is sensed and a timing relationship of the first stimulation signal to the second stimulation signal is adjusted based on the sensed cardiac function.

Abstract: The security clearance card, system and method of the present invention includes a card that stores data to verify the identity of an owner of the card. In addition to other types of information, the card stores biometric data of the owner and other identity data. Different portions of the data may be encrypted with different encryption techniques based upon a predetermined level of security assigned to the portions of the stored data. Reader elements are then capable of reading at least a portion of the encrypted data stored on the security clearance card, and receiving at least one biometric from an individual. The biometric stored in the card is then compared with the biometric of the individual presenting the security clearance card to verify that the holder of the card is the owner of the card.