Abstract: Sensors comprising aptazymes capable of detecting the presence and concentration of effectors, as well as methods of using such sensors, are disclosed.

Abstract: A composite material includes a polymer matrix, a polymerizer, and a plurality of capsules containing a corresponding activator for the polymerizer. The composite material can also include an adhesion promoter, and the polymerizer can be phase separated from the polymer matrix. The composite material can be made by dispersing the polymerizer and capsules into the polymer matrix. These composite materials can exhibit improved environmental stability, and can be used with a wider variety of activators.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel human hiwi protein and genes that encode such proteins. The invention is directed toward the isolation and characterization of human hiwi proteins. The invention specifically provides isolated complementary DNA copies of mRNA corresponding to a human hiwi gene. Also provided are recombinant expression constructs capable of expressing the human hiwi gene of the invention in cultures of transformed prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, as well as such cultures of transformed cells that synthesize the human hiwi proteins encoded therein. The invention also provides methods for isolating human hematopoietic stem cells.

Abstract: This invention provides antibodies immunologically specific for ?1-GABAC receptor protein. The invention also provides methods of making and methods of using said antibodies and kits containing the antibodies.

Abstract: A method of forming an image of a sample, comprising: forming an image of a mixture, by exposing the mixture to electromagnetic radiation; wherein the mixture comprises the sample and plasmon-resonant nanoparticles, and wherein the electromagnetic radiation is in the frequency range of infra-red to ultraviolet light.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an apparatus having a plurality of applicators, each applicator with an ingress opening to receive a liquid, and an egress opening to release the liquid, and a conductor positioned in a conduit of each of the plurality of applicators, the conductor and the conduit having dimensions to cause a surface tension of the liquid to prevent a constant flow of the liquid from the egress opening. Each conductor of the plurality of applicators can be coupled to one of one or more power sources operable to apply a charge to the liquid to overcome the surface tension and form at the egress opening of each applicator a plurality of jet sprays of the liquid applicable on a substrate to form a thin film. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: The membrane scaffold proteins (MSP) of the present invention assemble with hydrophobic or partially hydrophobic proteins to form soluble nanoscale particles which preserve native structure and function; they are improved over liposomes and detergent micelles, both in terms of stability and preservation of biological activity and native conformation. In the presence of phospholipid, MSPs form nanoscopic phospholipid bilayer disks, with the MSP stabilizing the particle at the perimeter of the bilayer domain. The particle bilayer structure allows manipulation of incorporated proteins in solution or on solid supports, including for use with such surface-sensitive techniques as scanning probe microscopy or surface plasmon resonance. The nanoscale particles, which are robust in terms of integrity and maintenance of biological activity of incorporated proteins, facilitate pharmaceutical and biological research, structure/function correlations, structure determinations, bioseparations, and drug discovery.

Abstract: In a vehicle-to-vehicle wireless communication system utilizing certificates to verify trustworthiness of received communications, a method for distributing a list of certificate revocations to vehicles in the communication system. At least one main station transmits a list of certificate revocations to at least one vehicle and the vehicle thereafter transmits the list of certificate revocations to other vehicles in the communication network. Each of the other vehicles in the communication network updates its list of certificate revocations in response to the receipt of the list of certificate revocations from another vehicle in the system. The other vehicles thereafter transmit their updated list of certificate revocations to other vehicles in the system.

Abstract: In a vehicle-to-vehicle communication network utilizing PKI security methods to protect communications and in which the PKI encryption utilizes a Certificate Authority having both a private key and a publicly distributed key, a method for allocating multiple certificates for each vehicle which are assigned to each vehicle in the communication network. The method includes the step of assigning a unique secret key k to each vehicle in the communication network. The Certificate Authority then creates a plurality of public key and private key encryption pairs for each vehicle and each encryption pair is associated with an index i. A plurality of certificates are then created with one certificate for each value of the index. A revocation list comprising the secret keys is maintained by the Certificate Authority so that all encryption pairs assigned to a particular vehicle may be revoked by the secret key k corresponding to that vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for three-dimensional imaging of a sample. A source is provided of a beam of substantially collimated light characterized by a temporally dependent spectrum. The beam is focused in a plane characterized by a fixed displacement along the propagation axis of the beam, and scattered light from the sample is superposed with a reference beam derived from the substantially collimated source onto a focal plane detector array to provide an interference signal. A forward scattering model is derived relating measured data to structure of an object to allow solution of an inverse scattering problem based upon the interference signal so that a three-dimensional structure of the sample may be inferred in near real time.

Abstract: A hybridoma (termed “UIC2 hybridoma”, ATCC Accession No. HB11027) producing monoclonal antibodies (termed “UIC2 mAb”) directed against an extracellular domain of a cell surface P-glycoprotein antigen associated with multidrug resistance in primate cells was produced by fusing a human myeloma cell with a spleen cell derived from a BALB/c mouse immunized with syngeneic 3T3 fibroblasts previously transfected with the isolated human mdr1 cDNA. UIC2 mAb, thus produced, as well as fragments and recombinant derivatives thereof, may be used to detect and isolate multidrug resistant primate cells and human mdr1 gene products, and to reverse multidrug resistance in primate cells, including cells of multidrug resistant human tumors.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to several newly discovered ecteinascidin (Et) species, designated herein as Et 731, Et 815, Et 808, and Et 594. The physical properties of these compounds, their preparation and therapeutic properties are also reported.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for conformally or superconformally coating and/or uniformly filling structures with a continuous, conformal layer or superconformal layer. Methods of the present invention improve conformal or superconformal coverage of surfaces and improve fill in recessed features compared to conventional physical deposition and chemical deposition methods, thereby minimizing formation of voids or gaps in a deposited conformal or superconformal layer. The present methods are capable of coating or filling features useful for the fabrication of a broad class of electronic, electrical and electromechanical devices.

Abstract: The membrane scaffold proteins (MSP) of the present invention assemble with hydrophobic or partially hydrophobic proteins to form soluble nanoscale particles which preserve native structure and function; they are improved over liposomes and detergent micelles, in terms of stability and preservation of biological activity and native conformation. In the presence of phospholipid, MSPs form nanoscopic phospholipid bilayer disks, with the MSP stabilizing the particle at the perimeter of the bilayer domain. The particle bilayer structure allows manipulation of incorporated proteins in solution or on solid supports, including for use with such surface-sensitive techniques as scanning probe microscopy or surface plasmon resonance. The nanoscale particles, which are robust in terms of integrity and maintenance of biological activity of incorporated proteins, facilitate pharmaceutical and biological research, structure/function correlations, structure determinations, bioseparations, and drug discovery.

Abstract: A new xylose reductase encoding gene from Neurspora crassa was heterologously expressed in E. coli as a His-tag fusion protein and subsequently purified in high yield. This xylose reductase was shown to have a high turnover rate and catalytic efficiency, high stability at room temperature, broad pH profile, and a preference of NADPH over NADH. This enzyme is utilized in production of xylitol and other sugar alcohols such as sorbitol and also in the metabolic enhancement of organisms used for fermentation of plant biomass into ethanol.

Abstract: The thymus-derived CD4+CD25+ T cells belong to a subset of regulatory T cells potentially capable of suppressing the proliferation of pathogenic effector T cells. Intriguingly, these suppressor cells are themselves anergic, proliferating poorly to mitogenic stimulation in culture. The inventors have found that the 4-1BB co-stimulator receptor, best known for promoting the proliferation and survival of CD8+ T cells, also induces the proliferation of the CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells both in culture and in vivo. The proliferating CD4+CD25+ T cells produce no detectable IL-2, suggesting that 4-1BB costimulation of these cells does not involve IL-2 production. The 4-1BB-expanded CD4+CD25+ T cells are functional, as they remain suppressive to other T cells in co-culture. These results support the notion that the peripheral expansion of the CD4+CD25+ T cells is controlled in part by co-stimulation.

Abstract: GM-CSF administered before immunization exerted a sustained suppressive effect against the induction of myasthenia gravis (MG). This suppression was associated with lowered serum autoantibody levels, reduced T cell proliferative responses to AChR, and an expansion in the population of FoxP3+ regulatory T cells. Manipulating DCs to expand regulatory T cells is useful for the control of autoimmune diseases such as myasthenia gravis MG.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an apparatus having a tube with an ingress opening to receive a liquid, and an egress opening to release the liquid, a conductor positioned in a conduit of the tube, the conductor and the conduit having dimensions to cause a surface tension of the liquid to prevent a constant flow of the liquid from the egress opening, and a power supply coupled to the conductor to apply a charge to the liquid to overcome the surface tension and form at the egress opening a single jet stream of the liquid applicable on a substrate to create a pattern. The single jet stream can be controllable in part by a viscosity of the liquid. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and devices for detecting, identifying, classifying and characterizing particles in a fluid sample. Optical analyzers are provided having a rotating and/or translating sample container for measuring the concentrations of fluorescent particles present in very low concentrations and for characterizing fluorescent particles on the basis of size, shape, diffusion constant and/or composition. Scanning optical analyzers are provided using pattern recognitions data analysis techniques and multichannel detection.

Abstract: A new apple variety distinguished by the following unique combination of characteristics: It is field-immune to apple scab disease, has good resistance to the bacterial disease fire blight, and moderate resistance to the fungal disease powdery mildew. This new apple is relatively late ripening. It has medium-large fruit size, red colored fruit, with excellent flavor (full favored, fruity, sweet, mild-subacid). The fruit hangs well on the tree, even after ripening. The tree is highly productive on an annual basis.