Abstract: A method of constructing a non-uniform attenuation map (460) of a subject for use in image reconstruction of SPECT data is provided. It includes collecting a population of a priori transmission images and storing them in an a priori image memory (400). The transmission images not of the subject. Next, a cross-correlation matrix (410) is generated from the population of transmission images. The eigenvectors (420) of the cross-correlation matrix (410) are calculated. A set of orthonormal basis vectors (430) is generated from the eigenvectors (420). A linear combination of the basis vectors (420) is constructed (440), and coefficients for the basis vectors are determined (450) such that the linear combination thereof defines the non-uniform attenuation map (460).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for vaporizing and cracking chemical elements for use in a deposition process. The apparatus includes a vaporization cell integrally connected with a thermal cracker cell. The vaporization cell has an inlet section in communication with a valve section defining a heating chamber capable of holding a liquid or solid chemical material to be vaporized. A heat source is positioned in the heating chamber and is capable of providing sufficient thermal energy to evaporate or sublimate the chemical material. The thermal cracker cell is communicatively connected to an outlet of the vaporization cell, and includes an elongated tapered tube with a heating element associated therewith. The heating element is capable of providing sufficient thermal energy to dissociate molecular clusters of vaporized chemical material. This provides monomeric or dimeric chemical elements for use in a deposition process such as during semiconductor device fabrication.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and devices for analyzing sequence variations in nucleic acid samples comprising multiple loci, each having two, three or more possible allelic sequences. The method involves combining at least a first and second pair of oligonucleotide probes with the nucleic acid sample. The first pair of probes is capable of hybridizing in proximity to each other within a segment of the nucleic acid sample comprising the first locus and the second pair is capable of hybridizing in proximity to each other within a segment of the nucleic acid sample comprising the second locus. The first member of each probe pair comprises a FRET donor and the second member comprises a FRET acceptor, the FRET acceptor of the first probe pair member having a different emission spectrum from the FRET acceptor of the second probe pair.

Abstract: An apparatus for vaporizing and cracking chemical elements for use in a deposition process is provided. The apparatus includes a vaporization cell integrally connected with a thermal cracker cell. The vaporization cell has an inlet section in communication with a valve section defining a heating chamber capable of holding a liquid or solid chemical material to be vaporized. A heat source is positioned in the heating chamber and is capable of providing sufficient thermal energy to evaporate or sublimate the chemical material. The thermal cracker cell is communicatively connected to an outlet of the vaporization cell, and includes an elongated tapered tube with a heating element associated therewith. The heating element is capable of providing sufficient thermal energy to dissociate molecular clusters of vaporized chemical material. This provides monomeric or dimeric chemical elements for use in a deposition process such as during semiconductor device fabrication.

Abstract: A method of modeling 3D first-order scatter, non-uniform attenuation, and 3D system geometric point response in an ML-EM algorithm to reconstruction SPECT data is provided. It includes performing an initial slice-to-slice blurring operation (112) on a volume of estimated emission source data. The volume of estimated emission source data is represented by a 3D array of voxels. A voxel-by-voxel multiplying (114) of the results from the initial slice-to-slice blurring operation (112) by a volume of attenuation coefficients yields a volume of effective scatter source data (116). The volume of effective scatter source data (116) is voxel-by-voxel added (118) to the volume of estimated emission source data to produce a volume of combined estimated emission and scatter source data. Finally, a secondary slice-to-slice blurring operation (120) is performed on the volume of combined estimated emission and scatter source data.

Abstract: Transgenic mice are genetically engineered for a deficiency in endoglin production. These mice may have a homozygous or hemizygous disruption of the endogenous endoglin gene. Homozygous mice exhibit a lack of endoglin production. The failure to produce endoglin results in arrested development of the vascular system of the mouse and no survival beyond E11.5. These mice and cells derived therefrom provide useful reagents for understanding the development and pathology of the mammalian vascular system.

Abstract: A specific region of the maize mitochondrial genome has been found to have unique sequence in each of four different cytotypes: NA and NB (male fertile), S and C (male sterile). Specific primers allow PCR reactions to amplify, identify and measure each unique sequence. Using the method, said lots can be analyzed for contaminating cytotypes and unidentified cultivars can be typed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the identification of novel nucleic acid molecules and proteins encoded by such nucleic acid molecules or degenerate variants thereof, that participate in the differentiation and/or function of intracellular vesicles. The nucleic acid molecules of the present invention represent the genes corresponding to the mammalian bg gene, a gene that, when mutated, is responsible or the human Chediak-Higashi syndrome.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing improved high power laser beams. An elongated reflector with a highly-reflective surface is utilized with a laser beam emitter, such as a broad area diode laser, a diode laser bar, or a diode laser array. The laser beams reflect off of the highly-reflective surface which is curved substantially parabolically. The reflected beams are collimated or otherwise shaped and/or coupled by manipulation of the size and shape of the elongated reflector and the placement of the laser beam emitter in association therewith. A system of lenses or mirrors may be used in conjunction with the reflecting apparatus to achieve enhanced beam quality. One-dimensional and two-dimensional laser arrays can also be fabricated utilizing a substrate containing laser beam emitters in communication with one or more grooves formed in the substrate, with parabolic reflecting surfaces formed in the grooves or with optical reflector members placed in the grooves.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a high power density solid oxide fuel cell having a cathode, electrolyte and graded porous anode. The graded porosity of the anode allows easy transport of fuel gases thereby minimizing concentration polarization. Power densities of about 1.8 W/cm2 at 800° C. and about 0.8 W/cm2 at about 650° C. have been achieved with graded porous anodes as thick as 0.75 mm. These fuel cells having a graded porous anode are more durable and mechanically reliable than those found in the art.

Abstract: A high-yield process for converting lignin into reformulated, partially oxygenated gasoline compositions of high quality is provided. The process is a two-stage catalytic reaction process that produces a reformulated, partially oxygenated gasoline product with a controlled amount of aromatics. In the first stage of the process, a lignin feed material is subjected to a base-catalyzed depolymerization reaction, followed by a selective hydrocracking reaction which utilizes a superacid catalyst to produce a high oxygen-content depolymerized lignin product mainly composed of alkylated phenols, alkylated alkoxyphenols, and alkylbenzenes.

Abstract: A micromachined system for electrical field-flow fractionation of small test fluid samples is provided. The system includes a microchannel device comprising a first substrate having a planar inner surface with an electrode formed thereon. A second substrate having a planar inner surface with an electrode formed thereon is positioned over the first substrate so that the respective electrodes face each other. An insulating intermediate layer is interposed between the first and second substrates. The intermediate layer is patterned to form opposing sidewalls of at least one microchannel, with the electrodes on the substrates defining opposing continuous boundaries along the length of the microchannel. Inlet and outlet ports are formed in one or both substrates for allowing fluid flow into and out of the microchannel. The microchannel device can be fabricated with single or multiple microchannels therein for processing single or multiple test fluids.

Abstract: Raman spectrometer for analyzing the chemical composition of sample streams using an external cavity laser light source is disclosed. The laser provides an effective light source useful in continuously analyzing a sample stream containing petroleum products, aqueous or biological fluids, or solid slurries. The light is introduced into a bundle of optical fibers connected to a Raman sample cell. The Raman sample cell is configured to allow continuous sample flow therethrough. Scattered light from the sample cell preferably exits the optical fibers as a linear optical signal. A Raman spectrometer passes the optical signal through an excitation wavelength filter, an optical slit, and a volume holographic transmission grating with an aberration correction device before transmitting the optical signal to a charge coupled device array which converts the optical signal into a electronic signal.

Abstract: Catalytic derivatives of novel Group 4 metal complexes wherein the metal is in the +2, +3, or +4 formal oxidation state containing two ligand groups bound by .pi.-electrons, at least one of which is a cyclic or noncyclic, non-aromatic, anionic, dienyl ligand group and having a bridged ligand structure, and the use thereof as catalysts for polymerizing addition polymerizable monomers are disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing improved high power laser beams. An elongated reflector with a highly-reflective inner surface is utilized with a laser beam emitter, such as a broad area diode laser, a diode laser bar, or a diode laser array. The laser beams disperse and reflect off of the highly-reflective inner surface which is curved substantially parabolically. The inner surface is coated with a highly reflective material such as aluminum or nickel. The reflected beams are collimated, and can be shaped and/or coupled by manipulation of the size and shape of the elongated reflector and the placement of the laser beam emitter in association therewith. A system of lenses and/or mirrors in conjunction with a non-linear crystal can also be utilized with the present invention.

Abstract: A process for converting lignin into high-quality reformulated hydrocarbon gasoline compositions in high yields is disclosed. The process is a two-stage, catalytic reaction process that produces a reformulated hydrocarbon gasoline product with a controlled amount of aromatics. In the first stage, a lignin material is subjected to a base-catalyzed depolymerization reaction in the presence of a supercritical alcohol as a reaction medium, to thereby produce a depolymerized lignin product. In the second stage, the depolymerized lignin product is subjected to a sequential two-step hydroprocessing reaction to produce a reformulated hydrocarbon gasoline product. In the first hydroprocessing step, the depolymerized lignin is contacted with a hydrodeoxygenation catalyst to produce a hydrodeoxygenated intermediate product.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the identification of novel nucleic acid molecules and proteins encoded by such nucleic acid molecules or degenerate variants thereof, that participate in the differentiation and/or function of intracellular vesicles. The nucleic acid molecules of the present invention represent the genes corresponding to the mammalian bg gene, a gene that, when mutated, is responsible for the human Chediak-Higashi syndrome.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for preparing devices having hollow metallic microchannels on a surface of a planar substrate. More specifically, the present invention is directed to methods for preparing devices having surface metallic microchannels with a range of widths and heights selected to provide efficient flow characteristics and having thick and, thus, strong and durable channel walls. In addition, the methods of the present invention are compatible with standard integrated circuit fabrication techniques and, because the microchannels are formed upon the surface of the substrate without degrading the surface planarity, these techniques can be used to incorporate electronic circuitry into the microchannel-containing devices. For purposes of this application, the term "microchannel" refers to enclosed or partially enclosed channels having heights within the range from about 2 to about 200 micrometers (.mu.m) and widths within the range of about 10 micrometers to about 2 millimeters.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a new and useful method and apparatus for use in determining the levels of macular pigments in the tissue of live subjects. Specifically, the method and apparatus of the present invention provide a non-invasive, rapid, and objective determination of the macular carotenoid levels, and in turn, offer valuable diagnostic information applicable to large populations. The present invention measures the levels of macular carotenoid pigments, as well as other retinal materials. Monochromatic laser light is projected onto a retina, preferably in the macular area. A very sensitive detection system then detects light scattered from the retina. The majority of the light is scattered elastically at the same wavelength of the laser in a manner known as Rayleigh scattering. A very small fraction of laser light is scattered inclastically at a wavelength different from that of the laser in a manner known as Raman scattering.

Abstract: A human gene termed APC is disclosed. Methods and kits are provided for assessing mutations of the APC gene in hum tissues and body samples. APC mutations are found in familial adenomatous polyposis patients as wel as in sporadic colorectal cancer patents. APC is expressed in most normal tissue. These results suggest that APC is a tumor suppressor.