Abstract: The present invention relates to novel members of the Tumor Necrosis Factor family of receptors. The invention provides isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding a human TR2 receptor and two splice variants thereof. TR2 polypeptides are also provided as are vectors, host cells and recombinant methods for producing the same. The invention further relates to screening methods for identifying agonists and antagonists of TR2 receptor activity. Also provided are diagnostic methods for detecting disease states related to the aberrant expression of TR2 receptors. Further provided are therapeutic methods for treating disease states related to aberrant proliferation and differentiation of cells which express the TR2 receptors.

Abstract: A method of isolating a monoclonal antibody capable of inhibiting any one of IL-3, GM-CSF and IL-5 binding to the common receptor ?c, or a monoclonal antibody capable of inhibiting the cytokines binding to a receptor analogous to ?c. The method includes the steps of immunizing an animal with a cytokine receptor or portion of a cytokine containing the critical binding site which portion includes the extracellular domain 4 or analogous domain in the analogous common receptor or part thereof. Antibodies producing cells from the animal are then isolated and fused with a myeloma cell line and then screened for a cell line that produces an antibody of the desired type. A monoclonal antibody, or fragments thereof capable of inhibiting the binding of the cytokines IL-3, GM-CSF and IL-5 to the ?c receptor, and a hybridoma cell line producing the antibody are also claimed.

Abstract: A small-sized, high-functionality optical pulse compressor capable of generating a low-power, high-repetition-frequency ultrashort pulse train used for ultrafast optical communication and photometry, and a simple-structure optical function generator for realizing an arbitrary time waveform. The optical pulse compressor comprises and optical Fourier transform device (F) having an optical phase modulator (9) driven by the repetition-frequency of an input optical pulse train and a dispersive medium (8), for converting the shape of an input optical pulse frequency spectrum into its time waveform, and an optical filter (3) inserted ahead of the optical Fourier transform device (F), for reducing the spectrum width of an input optical pulse, wherein the optical Fourier transform device (F) converts a small-spectrum-width optical pulse output from the optical function generator generates an optical pulse.

Abstract: A method and a composition for treatment of pulmonary bacterial infections caused by gram-negative bacteria suitable for treatment of infection caused by Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella oxytoca, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Haemophilus influenzae, Proteus mirabilis, Enterobacter species, Serratia marcescens as well as those caused by Burkholderia cepacia, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Alcaligenes xylosoxidans, and multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, using a concentrated formulation of aztreonam lysinate delivered as an aerosol or dry powder formulation.

Abstract: Improved life sciences business systems and methods are disclosed. One or more genomes are scanned for single nucleotide polymorphisms. The polymorphisms are assigned to haplotype blocks, and representative SNPs from the haplotype blocks are used in association studies for pharmaceutical and diagnostic developments.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of producing a hologram through a two-beam laser interfering exposure process, which comprises emitting a coherent laser light with a pulse width (?) ranging from greater than 900 femtoseconds to 100 picoseconds and a laser power of 10 ?J/pulse or more using a solid-state laser as a light source, dividing the pulses light from the laser into two beams, controlling the two beams temporally and spatially in such a manner that the two beam are converged on a surface of or inside a workpiece for recording a hologram while matching the respective converged spots of the two beams with one another temporally and spatially to create the interference therebetween so as to record a surface-relief hologram on the surface of the workpiece or an embedded hologram inside the workpiece in an irreversible manner.

Abstract: Isolated nucleic acids and proteins associated with lipid and sugar metabolism regulation are provided. In particular, lipid metabolism proteins (LMP) and encoding nucleic acids originating from Arabidopsis thaliana are provided. The nucleic acids and proteins are used in methods of producing transgenic plants and modulating levels of seed storage compounds. Preferably, the seed storage compounds are lipids, fatty acids, starches or seed storage proteins.

Abstract: The present invention generally provides improved methods of fabricating polymeric microfluidic devices that incorporate microscale fluidic structures, whereby the fabrication process does not substantially distort or deform such structures. The methods of the invention generally provide enhanced bonding processes for mating and bonding substrate layers to define the microscale channel networks therebetween.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel means for stably and surely inducing cell apoptosis using the c-myc gene as a target. The present invention relates to an apoptosis-inducing agent containing a protein that interacts with an FBP protein or a polynucleotide encoding the protein as an active ingredient and a method for inducing apoptosis, which comprises a step of causing the apoptosis-inducing agent to come into contact with cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to TR18 polypeptides. In particular, isolated nucleic acid molecules are provided encoding human TR18 protein. TR18 polypeptides are also provided as are vectors, host cells and recombinant methods for producing the same. The invention further relates to screening methods for identifying agonists and antagonists of TR18 activity. The invention further relates to methods of treating, preventing, prognosing, or diagnosing an autoimmune disease or condition associated with an autoimmune disease, comprising administering to a patient an effective amount of polypeptides of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a member of the human chemokine CC protein family. In particular, isolated nucleic acid molecules are provided encoding the chemokine ?-15 protein. Chemokine ?-15 polypeptides are also provided. The invention further concerns diagnostic methods for detecting thymus disorders and therapeutic methods for modulating bone marrow cell proliferation and differentiation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing a carbon nano tube, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for manufacturing a carbon nano tube by which a carbon nano tube having a uniform property and high purity can be manufactured by uniformly raising a temperature of reaction gas, which includes a gaseous transition metal catalyst precursor compound and gaseous carbon compound contained in a hermetically closed reaction space, to the Boudouard reaction temperature.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the production of ?-linolenic acid (18:3?6,9,12) or stearidonic acid (18:4?6,9,12,15) or ?-linolenic acid (18:3?6,9,12) and stearidonic acid (18:4?6,9,12,15) in transgenic plants of the family Brassicaceae, where the transgenic plants comprise at least 10% by weight of oleic acid based on the total fatty acid content and, as the result of the activity of the ?6-desaturases used in the method, have an increased ?6-C18-fatty acid content. The invention furthermore relates to novel nucleic acid sequences which code for the ?6-desaturases used in the method, gene constructs comprising these nucleic acid sequences, a vector and transgenic plants comprising at least one nucleic acid sequence or a gene construct.

Abstract: An aminated oligonucleotide probe is provided, in which the amino group possesses improved reactivity. The present invention relates to an oligonucleotide probe, which is represented by general formula 1: (wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom or a protecting group for an amino group, R2 and R3 are each independently a divalent organic group, and A is an oligonucleotide).

Abstract: An amorphous carbon having sulfonate group introduced therein is provided which is characterized in that chemical shifts of a condensed aromatic carbon 6-membered ring and a condensed aromatic carbon 6-membered ring having sulfonate group bonded thereto are detected in a 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum and that at least a diffraction peak of carbon (002) face whose half-value width (2?) is in the range of 5 to 30° is detected in powder X-ray diffractometry, and which exhibits proton conductivity. This sulfonated amorphous carbon is very useful as a proton conductor material or solid acid catalyst because it excels in proton conductivity, acid catalytic activity, thermal stability and chemical stability and can be produced at low cost.

Abstract: A driving mechanism using shape memory alloys comprises a first and a second shape memory alloys coils (1, 2), a pin-like drive member (3) connected to each of the shape memory alloys coils (1, 2) extending in the axis direction, a substrate (4) having a wiring pattern (11) and a drive circuit (4a) to supply current to the shape memory alloys coils (1, 2), and a magnetic latch part (9) to hold the drive member (3), and the magnetic latch part (9) has a latch position in the axis direction of the drive member (3), the drive circuit (4a) selectively current-drives the first and the second shape memory alloys coils (1, 2), the driven first or second shape memory alloys coils (1, 2) is heated and compressed to move the drive member (3) in the axis direction, and magnetic bodies (9a, 9b) provided to the drive member (3) is magnetically fixed at the latch position, thereby fixed and held in the axis direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel member of the NK family of homeobox genes. In particular, isolated nucleic acid molecules are provided encoding the human NK-3 prostate specific gene 1 (NKX3.1) protein. NKX3.1 polypeptides are also provided as are vectors, host cells and recombinant methods for producing the same. The invention further relates to screening methods for identifying agonists and antagonists of NKX3.1 activity. Also provided are diagnostic methods for detecting prostate cancer and other cancers and therapeutic methods for prostate cancer and other cancers.

Abstract: Human polypeptides and DNA (RNA) encoding such polypeptides and a procedure for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques is disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for utilizing such polypeptides for therapeutic purposes. Antagonists against such polypeptides and their use as a therapeutic are also disclosed. Also disclosed are diagnostic methods for detecting disease which utilize the sequences and polypeptides.

Abstract: A method of producing a DNA array for analyzing a DNA modification (for example, methylation), comprising (1) preparing a mixture of DNA fragments in which a modified base (for example, methylated cytosine) or a base (for example, cytosine) is exposed, (2) bringing the mixture of DNA fragments into contact with an antibody specific to the modified base (for example, methylated cytosine) or the base (for example, cytosine), and separating the mixture into a group consisting of DNA fragments which form an immunocomplex and another group consisting of DNA fragments which do not react with the antibody, or a group consisting of DNA fragments showing a high affinity for the antibody and another group consisting of DNA fragments showing a low affinity for the antibody, (3) identifying all or part of DNA fragments contained in each of the DNA fragment groups, and (4) arranging one or more nucleic acids capable of hybridizing with any one of the identified DNA fragments on a substrate, is disclosed.

Abstract: A convective cooling apparatus cools an electronic device including at least one heat-generating component and enclosed in a case having cooling medium such as air or fluid therein. The convective cooling apparatus neither attempts to increase the velocity of flow in the cooling medium nor replaces the cooling medium with other material as prior art cooling apparatus did. Instead, it utilizes the instability which is inherent in the flow of the cooling medium. In the convective cooling apparatus, by using a driver for generating a signal tuned to the characteristic frequency of the flow, a an acoustic vibrator is driven to provide acoustic waves. The acoustic waves induce resonance of flow, which renders the cooling medium vigorously mixed, which, in turn, enhances the heat dissipation from the device.