Abstract: The invention provides novel polymer nanofiber or microfiber mats or membranes and methods for their preparation via an aqueous, one-step polyelectrolyte complexation and electrospinning of complex coacervates.

Abstract: The present invention relates to microcapsules with a core-shell or matrix morphology stabilized by cross-linked nanoparticles. A process for the preparation of said microcapsules comprising selecting internal crosslinking of a Pickering emulsion is also an object of the invention. Perfumed consumer products, in particular fine fragrance, home and personal care products are also part of the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of phospholipase C zeta in inducing or promoting the activation of oocytes, preferably human oocytes, nuclear transfer embryos, parthenogenic embryos, cross species embryos and during in vitro fertilization. The invention further relates to methods of detecting levels of expression of phospholipase c zeta in sperm as a means of detecting male infertility. The invention also relates to the use of phospholipase C zeta to treat male infertility. Still further the invention relates to the recombinant cells that are engineered to express phospholipase C zeta, preferably under inducible conditions. Also, the invention relates to antibodies specific to phospholipase C zeta, preferably human phospholipase C zeta.

Abstract: The invention features a method for generating new tissue by obtaining a liquid hydrogel-cell composition including a hydrogel and tissue precursor cells; delivering the liquid hydrogel-cell composition into a permeable, biocompatible support structure; and allowing the liquid hydrogel-cell composition to solidify within the support structure and the tissue precursor cells to grow and generate new tissue. The invention also features a tissue forming structure including a permeable, biocompatible support structure having a predetermined shape that corresponds to the shape of desired tissue; and a hydrogel-cell composition at least partially filling the support structure, wherein the hydrogel-cell composition includes a hydrogel and tissue precursor cells. The new tissue forming structure can be used in new methods to generate various tissues (e.g., to treat defective tissue) including new bone, cartilage, and nervous tissue such as spinal cord tissue. The invention also new isolated nervous system stem cells.

Abstract: An improved method of nuclear transfer involving the transplantation of donor cell nuclei into enucleated oocytes of a species different from the donor cell is provided. The resultant nuclear transfer units are useful for the production of isogenic embryonic stem cells, in particular human isogenic embryonic or stem cells. These embryonic or stem-like cells are useful for producing desired differentiated cells and for introduction, removal or modification, of desired genes, e.g., at specific sites of the genome of such cells by homologous recombination. These cells, which may contain a heterologous gene, are especially useful in cell transplantation therapies and for in vitro study of cell differentiation.

Abstract: A system for spectroscopic imaging of bodily tissue in which a scintillation screen and a charged coupled device (CCD) are used to accurately image selected tissue. An x-ray source generates x-rays which pass through a region of a subject's body, forming an x-ray image which reaches the scintillation screen. The scintillation screen reradiates a spatial intensity pattern corresponding to the image, the pattern being detected by a CCD sensor. The image is digitized by the sensor and processed by a controller before being stored as an electronic image. Each image is directed onto an associated respective CCD or amorphous silicon detector to generate individual electronic representations of the separate images.

Abstract: A biomimetic approach utilizing biomolecular self-assembly is described to form nanometer particle size composites for uses, such as, nonlinear optical media. Yeast tRNA was utilized as an ion-exchange/nucleation site within a polymeric matrix (polyacrylamide). Cadmium ion-exchange and subsequent sulfide precipitation resulted in formation of nanometer particle size composites. Illumination of samples with an Argon laster (514 nm) utilizing the Z-scan measurement method resulted in third order nonlinearity &khgr;3 values of +2.7×10−6 esu.