Abstract: An electroluminescent device in which the intensity of the light emission is enhanced by photopumping with radiation from a radiation source of a suitable photon energy. The photopumping radiation from the radiation source interacts with the wide band-gap semiconductor forming the electroluminescent device so as to, when the device is electrically biased to provide light emission, generate additional carriers that enhance the intensity of the light emission from a light-emitting element present in the wide band-gap semiconductor. A waveguide structure may be integrated into a substrate carrying the electroluminescent device for transferring the radiation from the radiation source to the electroluminescent device. Multiple electroluminescent devices may be arranged in pixels for forming a flat panel display in which certain of the devices are photopumped with radiation.

Abstract: Multi-color light-emissive displays in which the constituent light-emissive devices providing the multiple colors are laterally integrated on the surface of a substrate. The light-emissive devices, typically emitting light by electroluminescence, are arranged such that adjacent devices emit light of a differing wavelength or color. The semiconductor phosphor material forming the active element of each light-emissive device is laterally defined by a lift-off technique in which a patterned layer of a sacrificial material is formed on the substrate, a layer of the semiconductor phosphor material is deposited, and the sacrificial layer is removed to leave semiconductor phosphor material on the substrate in selected locations defined by the pattern. The lift-off technique is iterated to successively fabricate active elements for light-emissive devices of each differing wavelength constituting the multi-color display.

Abstract: Light emissive devices incorporating a low-reflectance black or color dielectric layer into their layered structure for improving the contrast of the emitted light. The black or color dielectric layer comprises a layer of a dielectric material having a network of passageways, such as pores or grain boundaries, and a colorant, such as black ink particles of a black ink additive, color ink particles of a color ink additive, or active particles of an organic dye, which is dispersed within the network of passageways. The presence of the colorant in the network of passageways significantly reduces the reflectivity of the dielectric layer. The light emissive devices of the present invention are applicable to improve the display contrast in various flat panel display technologies.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of using the apparatus to prepare a biocompatible biodegradable matrix capable of supporting cells to form an implantable or engraftable surgical device. A matrix-forming fluid is contained within a chamber defined by top and bottom surfaces of a thermally conductive material and spacers defining the thickness of the matrix. The chamber is then cooled to freeze the solution at a controlled rate, resulting in a matrix with a desired and uniform thickness having symmetric and uniform reticulations. The apparatus and method reproducibly forms such a matrix, which may be populated with cells for transplantation and engraftment into a wound.

Abstract: A device, and method of making the device, capable of therapeutic treatment and/or for in vitro testing of human skin. The device may be used on skin wounds for burned, injured, or diseased skin, and provides structures and functions as in normal uninjured skin, such as barrier function, which is a definitive property of normal skin. The device contains cultured dermal and epidermal cells on a biocompatible, biodegradable reticulated matrix. All or part of the cells may be autologous, from the recipient of the cultured skin device, which advantageously eliminates concerns of tissue compatibility. The cells may also be modified genetically to provide one or more factors to facilitate healing of the engrafted skin replacement, such as an angiogenic factor to stimulate growth of blood vessels.

Abstract: An orally administrable therapeutic protein is provided by combining the therapeutic protein with a stabilizing agent in an aqueous solution. The solution is coated onto nonpareils and microencapsulated with a water emulsifiable enteric coating composition. The microcapsules are orally administered. The coating protects the protein as it passes through the stomach. Upon reaching the small intestines, the basic pH of the intestinal juices will dissolve the coating, allowing the protein to be released and induce antigen specific immune response which has the specificity of the native molecule. The stabilizing agent protects the therapeutic protein from denaturation during the encapsulation process.

Abstract: An actuation system for assisting the operation of the natural heart comprises a framework for interfacing with a natural heart, through the wall of the heart, which includes an internal framework element configured to be positioned within the interior volume of a heart and an external framework element configured to be positioned proximate an exterior surface of the heart. The internal framework is flexibly suspended with respect to the external frame. An actuator system is coupled to the framework and configured to engage an exterior surface of the heart. The actuator system comprises an actuator band extending along a portion of a heart wall exterior surface. The actuator band is selectively movable between an actuated state and a relaxed state and is operable, when in the actuated state, to assume a predetermined shape and thereby indent a portion of the heart wall to effect a reduction in the volume of the heart.

Abstract: Patients having several neurological diseases have been shown to have elevated levels of axonally-derived proteins (i.e. tau and neurofilament proteins) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and in brain tissue. Three monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) recognizing CSF tau proteins were developed. The MAbs were found to label a ladder of 30 kD to 50 kD tau proteins in CSF from patients with disease states producing axonal damage such as head trauma or CNS tumor but not in CSF from controls. High levels of tau protein in CSF were shown to be diagnostic of axonal degeneration in head trauma. An ELISA assay was developed with these MAbs to aid in the diagnosis of patients with axonal damage.

Abstract: A system for studying a beating explanted heart comprises a fluid inflow circuit configured for coupling to an explanted heart to direct fluid for flowing into a ventricle of the heart, and a fluid outflow circuit configured for coupling to an explanted heart to direct fluid flowing out of the ventricle of the beating heart. A flow meter coupled with the inflow circuit measures the inflow rate of fluid into the heart ventricle and a flow meter coupled with the outflow circuit measures the outflow rate of fluid out of the heart ventricle. A processing system converts the inflow and outflow rates into incremental volume changes in the volume of the heart ventricle and adds and subtracts the incremental volume changes from a relative volume of the heart ventricle to study volume changes in the explanted heart while it is beating.

Abstract: The present invention comprises novel materials comprising composite high-Tc superconductors which contain a dispersion of precipitates and structural defects and thereby exhibit enhanced flux pinning and enhanced critical current in the superconducting state, and novel nanophase orientation processes for their preparation.

Abstract: The DTF optical memory makes use of the property of dielectric thin film interference to create multi-color pixels and serve as a multi-level optical memory device. The fabrication of the device comprises a dielectric thin film deposited on a substrate that is micro-milled utilizing focused ion beam (FIB) technology. Such micro-milling creates pixels of varying depth that when exposed to a broad-band light source create distinct colors caused by the properties of thin film interference and superposition of reflected light from the broad band source, thus creating an effective optical memory device that may be detected using a color CCD camera or a photo-detector array. Accurate creation and detection of discrete colors allows accurate digital encoding and direct storage of color image in a format of sub-micron pixel array. The robustness of the DTF optical memory device allows operation under harsh environmental conditions, including high temperatures and radiation.

Abstract: A method and system for determining a spatially local index of refraction in optical materials is provided. Light, including a near-field intensity, is collected above a surface of the material. A probe is oscillated at a plurality of frequencies and in a substantially perpendicular manner relative to the surface of the material to detect the near-field intensity of the light. A distance of the probe from the surface of the material is modulated. Based on a ratio of the near-field intensity of the light detected at the plurality of frequencies, the local index of refraction is determined.

Abstract: A geometric reconfiguration assembly for the natural heart having a collar configured for surrounding the natural heart. The collar can include a plurality of supports configured for positioning on the epicardial surface of the heart. Supports can be joined with connectors that can permit or provide slight deformation of the assembly. An external shell or skin portion can be provided around the supports an/or connectors.

Abstract: A robust Reference Interval estimator determines a Reference Interval from a data sample as small as 20 skewed data samples, even in the presence of outlier samples. This ability avoids expensive tests to increase the data sample or allows calculation of a Reference Interval when only a small cohort for sampling is available. First, a set of data samples are power transformed to remove a non-Gaussian skew to the set. Then, the Tukey approach is used to identify an outlier cutoff and the set of data samples are truncated to remove outlier data samples that are beyond the outlier cutoff. The truncated set of data samples are then used to compute the Reference Interval. The truncated sets of data samples are then also power transformed to compute the Reference Interval.

Abstract: A promising approach for the therapeutic treatment of brain tumors utilizes replication-competent, neuroattenuated herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) mutants. This approach requires mutation of HSV-1 to eliminate killing of normal, non-dividing cells of the brain (e.g., neurons). The present invention discloses methods for killing malignant brain tumor cells in vivo entails providing replication competent herpes simplex virus vectors to tumor cells. A replication competent herpes simplex virus vector, with defective expression of the gamma 34.5 gene and the uracil DNA glycosylase (UNG) gene, specifically destroys tumor cells, is hypersensitive to anti-viral agents, and is not neurovirulent.

Abstract: Light emissive devices incorporating a low-reflectance black or color dielectric layer into their layered structure for improving the contrast of the emitted light. The black or color dielectric layer comprises a layer of a dielectric material having a network of passageways, such as pores or grain boundaries, and a colorant, such as black ink particles of a black ink additive, color ink particles of a color ink additive, or active particles of an organic dye, which is dispersed within the network of passageways. The presence of the colorant in the network of passageways significantly reduces the reflectivity of the dielectric layer. The light emissive devices of the present invention are applicable to improve the display contrast in various flat panel display technologies.

Abstract: The invention concerns polymorphisms in the &bgr;1- and the &bgr;2-adrenergic receptors. The invention also pertains to methods and molecules for detecting such polymorphisms. The invention further pertains to the use of such molecules and methods in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment selection for cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and diabetes.

Abstract: Elastomeric seals, including O-rings, may have chemically resistant thin films applied by the technique of plasma polymerization to the surface of the elastomer, enhancing wear resistance and environmental resistance without changing the physical properties of the elastomer. The films may be a silane polymer applied by plasma deposition in a radio frequency/microwave dual power source reactor.

Abstract: Wide band gap semiconductor materials doped with rare earths or other light emitting metal form alternating current electroluminescent devices. The semiconductors are preferably gallium nitride, indium nitride or aluminum nitride and the electric luminescent device may have an upper and lower thin coat of a dielectric material in turn connected to alternating current electrodes.

Abstract: Wide band gap semiconductor materials doped with rare earth form alternating current electroluminescent devices. The semiconductors are preferably gallium nitride, indium nitride or aluminum nitride and the electric luminescent device may have an upper and lower thin coat of a dielectric material in turn connected to alternating current electrodes. In a preferred embodiment, the electroluminescent device is formed on a glass substrate coated with a thick film of dielectric. The dielectric can be applied as a gel and heat treated after coating the semiconductor material to form a light emitting device.