Abstract: A portion of a concentric bipolar microelectrode sensor is attached to an inflatable balloon of a catheter. Another portion of the concentric bipolar microelectrode sensor is also attached to a body of the catheter. The inflatable balloon is guided to become in proximity of a tissue. The inflatable balloon is then inflated. The inflation increases the likelihood of contact between microelectrodes of the concentric bipolar microelectrode sensor with the tissue. A voltage is supplied to the microelectrodes. The tissue's impedance is accordingly measured over a frequency range. A disease of the tissue, such as a lesion, is diagnosed based on the measured impedance.

Abstract: A portion of a concentric bipolar microelectrode sensor is attached to an inflatable balloon of a catheter. Another portion of the concentric bipolar microelectrode sensor is also attached to a body of the catheter. The inflatable balloon is guided to become in proximity of a tissue. The inflatable balloon is then inflated. The inflation increases the likelihood of contact between microelectrodes of the concentric bipolar microelectrode sensor with the tissue. A voltage is supplied to the microelectrodes. The tissue's impedance is accordingly measured over a frequency range. A disease of the tissue, such as a lesion, is diagnosed based on the measured impedance.

Abstract: The invention provides a clothing matching system and a method for generating at least an outfit suggestion comprising the steps of determining a colour classification of a user, providing a plurality of articles of clothing, selecting a dress code based on the user preference and generating at least one outfit suggestion based on the colour classification of the user, the plurality of clothing items and the selected dress code.

Abstract: Analogs of 4-[(E)-2-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-2-napthalenyl)-1-propenyl]benzoic acid and methods of manufacture and use thereof, such as for use in cancer prevention and treatment.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of fabricating a self-peeling nickel foil from a silicon wafer. The method includes forming a template of silicon by electrochemically etching a portion of the Si wafer to create a porous Si portion with pores of a desired depth. Then electrolessly plating nickel into the template, wherein the porous silicon portion is converted into a porous nickel portion and continuing the electroless plating until the internal tensile stress at an interface of the porous nickel portion and the silicon wafer is great enough to self-peel the porous nickel portion from the silicon wafer creating a nickel foil.

Abstract: A computational method system, and computer program are provided for inferring functional links from genome sequences. One method is based on the observation that some pairs of proteins A′ and B′ have homologs in another organism fused into a single protein chain AB. A trans-genome comparison of sequences can reveal these AB sequences, which are Rosetta Stone sequences because they decipher an interaction between A′ and B. Another method compares the genomic sequence of two or more organisms to create a phylogenetic profile for each protein indicating its presence or absence across all the genomes. The profile provides information regarding functional links between different families of proteins. In yet another method a combination of the above two methods is used to predict functional links.

Abstract: An antigenic preparation is provided which contains a 63 Kd outer membrane protein from Leptospira which can be used immunologically as a vaccine for leptospirosis caused by this organism. Also provided in the invention are polynucleotides encoding the protein and antibodies which bind the protein which are useful in the diagnosis and treatment of leptospirosis.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the observation that CD1 functions to present foreign and autoimmune antigens to a select subpopulation of T-cells. Based on this observation, the present invention provides methods for detecting the presence of a CD1-presented antigen in a sample, methods for purifying CD1-presented antigens, vaccines containing CD1-presented antigens, methods of blocking CD1 antigen presentation, methods of identifying and/or isolating CD1 blocking agents, methods of inducing CD1 expression, and T-cell lines for use in the methods disclosed herein. The CD1-presented antigens of the invention, unlike MHC-presented antigens, are non-polypeptide hydrophobic antigens. In particular, a CD1-presented antigen isolated from several mycobacterial species is a lipoarabinomannan (LAM).

Abstract: A device and method for the therapeutic management of intracranial vascular aneurysms are provided involving the use of intravascular balloon catheters that can directly image the aneurysm and that can occlude the entire lumen of the aneurysm sac using liquid sealing agents. The intracranial catheters, according to the present invention, have various configurations designed to treat aneurysms regardless of the aneurysm's neck size and at different locations within the intracranial vascular system.

Abstract: A protein consisting essentially of purified oligodendrocyte-specific protein or purified biologically active variants thereof, or a combination of purified oligodendrocyte-specific protein and biologically active variants thereof. A purified and isolated peptide having the sequence Ala-Lys-Tyr-Arg-Arg-Ala-Gln-Leu-Ala-Gly residues 115-124 of SEQ ID NO:2. A device for identifying an epitope region of a peptide, protein, or protein homologue of interest comprising a polypropylene membrane having a plurality of sequentially oriented peptide spots, each spot containing a peptide having an amino acid sequence where the amino acid sequences of the peptides on the peptide spots sequentially progress through the amino acid sequence of the peptide, protein, or protein homologue of interest. A method of diagnosing multiple sclerosis and a method of treating multiple sclerosis.

Abstract: A method for determining whether a compound inhibits apoptosis induction in neural cells expressing a FALS-associated sod-1 mutant. A neural cell culture is provided having a plurality of neural cells expressing a FALS-associated sod-1 mutant, wherein through the expression of the sod-1 mutant, the neural cells have a low resistance to apoptosis induction. The neural cell culture is treated with a substance to form a modified cell culture and apoptosis is induced in the modified cell culture. The modified cell culture is then assayed to determine whether it has a higher resistance to apoptosis induction than the untreated neural cell culture. The method is useful in screening substances for use as potential drugs for treating ALS.

Abstract: Peptide-based compounds containing six invariant cysteine residues are useful as preservatives and in preventing, treating, or ameliorating microbial infection in animals and plants. These compounds are of the formulas: ##STR1## wherein each B.sub.i is a basic amino acid and the N-terminal acylated and/or C-terminal amidated or esterified forms thereof, either in optionally --SH stabilized linear or in cystine-bridged form.