Abstract: Disclosed is a mutant CAR-DI-binding adenovirus which has a genome comprising one or more mutations in sequences which encode the fiber protein knob domain wherein the mutation causes the encoded viral particle to have a significantly weakened binding affinity for CAR-DI relative to wild-type adenovirus. Such mutations may be in sequences which encode either the AB loop, or the HI loop of the fiber protein knob domain. Specific residues and mutations are described. Also disclosed is a method for generating a mutant adenovirus which is characterized by a receptor binding affinity or specificity which differs substantially from wild type.

Abstract: A test method for a plurality of circuits respectively having inputs for greatly reducing the required test time and the control circuit complexity is provided. The method includes steps of providing a set of test patterns for detecting a characteristic of the circuits, providing a common data line, and electrically connecting the circuit inputs to the common data line so that the test pattern can be broadcasted to the circuits through the common data line. The present invention also provides an architecture for implementing such method.

Abstract: A method of assisting recovery of an injury site of brain or spinal cord injury includes providing a therapeutic dose of X-ray radiation to the injury site through an array of parallel microplanar beams. The dose at least temporarily removes regeneration inhibitors from the irradiated regions. Substantially unirradiated cells surviving between the microplanar beams migrate to the in-beam irradiated portion and assist in recovery. The dose may be administered in dose fractions over several sessions, separated in time, using angle-variable intersecting microbeam arrays (AVIMA). Additional doses may be administered by varying the orientation of the microplanar beams. The method may be enhanced by injecting stem cells into the injury site.

Abstract: A high-efficiency, high-sensitivity absorbance detection system in a lab-on-a-chip is provided. The absorbance detection system includes detection cells having an optical pathlength ten times and/or much longer than the width of a separation channel to improve detection sensitivity, lens structures for collimating light in the detection cells, and slit structures for preventing scattered light from entering detectors. The detection cells, the lens structures, and the slit structures of the absorbance detection system are fabricated and integrated in a lab-on-a-chip. The absorbance detection system exhibits excellent absorption efficiency, detection limit, and linearity, compared to existing absorbance detection systems, and can be applied for the detection of a variety of samples. The absorbance detection system does not need labeling of the samples which saves time and costs. The absorbance detection system can be used effectively in detecting trace compounds with a high sensitivity.

Abstract: An illuminating device is made from a transparent hollow envelope that encloses a filler gas. The envelope has inner and outer surfaces. The illuminating device has a coating of a fluorescent material deposited on the inner surface of the transparent envelope where the fluorescent material emits light having a visible component and an ultraviolet component; and a titanium dioxide film having first and second opposing surfaces where the first surface of the titanium dioxide film is formed on the outer surface of the transparent envelope. A light transmittance of the titanium dioxide film is at least 50% for light having a wavelength of 550 nm, and the light transmitted from the fluorescent material through the transparent envelope and the first surface of the titanium dioxide film to the second surface thereof causes photocatalytic activity to be generated on the second surface of the titanium dioxide film.

Abstract: A method for partially verifying the legitimacy of a remote purchase request based on a card number from a card issuing financial institution. The method includes receiving and storing a first purchase request information set including an origin and a card number. Further, the origin and the card number are sent to the card issuing financial institution to determine if the origin matches an origin on file for the card number at the card issuing financial institution.

Abstract: A nicotianamine synthase is isolated and purified. Then the gene of this enzyme is cloned and the base sequence and amino acid sequence thereof are determined. This gene is employed in constructing plants, in particular, grass plants highly tolerant to iron deficiency. A nicotianamine synthase involved in the mugineic acid biosynthesis pathway; the amino acid sequence thereof; a gene encoding the same; a vector containing this gene; cells transformed by the vector; a process for producing nicotianamine by using the same; plants transformed by the gene encoding the nicotianamine synthase; and an antibody against the nicotianamine syntase.

Abstract: An enclosure is provided having openings for allowing entry of rodents into the enclosure. There is arranged one or more applicators in the form of a suspended flexible web configured to contact rodents entering the chamber and having a chemical on the web for application to the rodents.

Abstract: A micro angular rate-sensing device is provided. A vibrator, having a plurality of proof masses connected to a ring, is arranged in a first base. Flexible supporting members connect to the vibrator to suspend the vibrator in the first base. Electrodes drive the vibrator to oscillate and control the oscillation mode of the vibrator in driving mode. Planar electrodes are arranged relative to the proof masses on a second base. The motion of the proof masses relative to the planar electrodes is sensed through the capacitance between the proof masses and the planar electrodes. The resonant structure with greater mass of the device generates greater Coriolis force and increases the sensing area. Thus, the intensity of sensed signals and noise-signal ratio are greatly increased. Furthermore, the device does not rely much on high aspect ratio manufacturing technology. Thus the manufacturing cost is reduced and the yield rate is increased.

Abstract: A laminated contact lens according to the present invention includes at least a first contact lens and a second contact lens coupled to each other via the peripheral edge of each respective contact lens. The two contact lenses include a proximity zone depth and/or proximity zone width different from one another such that one or more chambers are formed between the two contact lenses. Various materials and/or components may be housed within the chamber to provide, among other things, vision correction tools, medicament administration, and/or cosmetic improvements to the user.

Abstract: Compositions related to expressed severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus group-specific polypeptides are provided. Further provided are methods and compositions related to the use of these polypeptides, in particular use for inducing apoptosis in cells, diagnosing SARS infection and screening for modulator and inhibitor compounds of such polypeptides and in turn the virus itself, and in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of disease caused by SARS infection.

Abstract: There is provided a method for regulating the absorption of a nutrient in a subject, including administering to the subject an effective amount of a ginsenoside compound purified from Panax notoginseng for modulating transportation of the nutrient across gut cells of the subject.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for differential spectral interferometry comprising providing an interferometer comprising a light source; employing an element to provide a dithered relative phase shift between target and reference arms of the interferometer, detecting output from the interferometer, demodulating signals received from the detector at different multiples of the dither frequencies, generating more than one real-valued interferograms from demodulated signals, and using the real-valued interferograms to obtain the complex spectral interferogram.

Abstract: There are provided a fabrication method of a nanostructure by FIB-CVD which enables fabrication of a three-dimensional nanostructure, especially that without a support such as a terrace structure or a hollow structure, and a drawing system thereof. The three-dimensional nanostructure is fabricated by controlling a focused ion beam to determine a beam irradiation position or time based on discrete drawing data of a multilayer structure generated by calculating a cross-sectional shape divided in a vertical direction of a three-dimensional nanostructure model designed using an electronic microcomputer.

Abstract: A rewritable photomemory material obtained by combining a polymer possessing a carbonyl group in a main chain or a side chain with a function-imparting component such as a compound which produces rare earth ions is disclosed. The magnitude of fluorescence level of the rewritable phtomemory material can be intensified by light irradiation, while an initial state can be recovered by a heat treatment. Fine particle materials imparted with functions such as fluorescence characteristics, magnetic characteristics, coloration or non-linear characteristics are also disclosed, and particularly a fine particle material imparted with heat resistance through combination with polyimide is disclosed.

Abstract: A three-dimensional analyzing device includes a first beam source for generating a first beam, a second beam source for generating a second beam, an optical system for spatially overlapping the first and second beams at least partly and irradiating the beams onto a specimen to three-dimensionally confine a photoactive region in a specimen, and a photo acceptance element for accepting a response light emitted from the photoactive region. Preferably, the device further includes an operation unit for calculating a correlation function of a response light in the time domain based on the output of the photo acceptance element to analyze a desired physical value of the specimen.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a calibration apparatus for vacuum gauge having a combined use for an 1 Torr level, a 10 Torr level, and a 100 Torr level vacuum gauge.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for producing a multi-element oxide single crystal which contains Bi, which has high crystallinity independently of a preparation process, and which is represented by the formula (Bi2O2)Am-1BmO3m+1, wherein A is Sr, Ba, Ca, or Bi and B is Ti, Ta, or Nb. A flux layer, containing a composition satisfying the inequality 0<CuO/Bi2O3<2 and/or 0?TiO/Bi2O3<7/6 on a molar basis is deposited on a wafer and a single-crystalline thin-film is then deposited on the flux layer placed on the wafer. A melt of a composition which contains raw materials and a flux and which satisfies the above inequality is prepared and the melt is cooled such that a single crystal is grown. A CuO flux layer is deposited on a wafer and Bi—Ti—O is supplied to the flux layer using a Bi6Ti3O12, Bi7Ti3O12, or Bi8Ti3O12 target of which the Bi content is greater than that of an object film such that a Bi4Ti3O12 single-crystalline thin-film is formed above the wafer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a double-stranded oligonucleotide derivative, which contains two oligonucleotide derivatives each containing at least one nucleotide derivative wherein a base portion of a nucleotide is substituted with a metal coordination group that is resistant to oxidation and metal atoms, wherein the double strands are formed by coordination of each metal coordination group contained in each oligonucleotide to a metal atom so as to form a complex.

Abstract: There is provided a method for enhancing the absorption of a nutrient in a subject, including administering to the subject an effective amount of a astragaloside compound purified from Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus for facilitating transportation of the nutrient across gut cells of the subject.