Abstract: Mononuclear phagocytes are reservoirs, vehicles of dissemination, and targets for persistent HIV infection. However, not all MP population equally support viral growth. Such differential replication is typified by the greater ability of placental macrophages (PM), as compared to blood borne monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM), to restrict viral replication. A SELDI-TOF protein peak with an m/z of 11,100 identified as cystatin B (CSTB), was significantly lower in uninfected and HIV-infected PM than in MDM. HIV replication can be reduced by down regulating the expression of Cystatin B.

Abstract: A high sensitivity strain sensor that utilizes a micro-scale cavity built in a multi-layer structure, with a pair of interdigitalized capacitor incorporated on one of the layers, is described in this document. The device's capacitance changes produced by unattended deformations of the cavity can be used to measure the associated strain without using any movable electrodes. The sensor can be remotely energized from a radio frequency wave sent by a reader antenna to construct a battery-free wireless instrument. Changes on the sensor's resonant frequency are remotely detected so that a strain level is measured from fluctuations in the received signal. This detection method provides a simple, reliable and sensitive technique to measure small strain changes down to the pico-scale. Materials with a highly strain-dependant permittivity are integrated in the sensor to enhance its sensitivity. The proposed sensor consists of a simple planar structure.

Abstract: A novel compound showing anti-tumor properties was synthesized by reacting Cp2TiCl2 with maltol (3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4-pyrone) and a pH of 5.4, leading to a complete replacement of Cp and chloride ligands affording, Ti(maltolato)2(OH)2. The further crystallization of Ti(maltolato)2(OH)2 at pH of 8.4 leads to the formation of the novel anti-tumor compound [Ti4(maltolato)8(?-O4)].

Abstract: The invention provides a pharmaceutical composition which comprises a pharmaceutical carrier and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of cobaltocene-octamethyl, stigmastan-3,5 -diene,galaxolide, benzyl salicylate, eucalyptol, and ?-pinene. Also provided is a method of preparing a composition having antimicrobial activity comprising extracting a plant material in an organic solvent, contacting the extracted material to a chromatographic column, and eluting from the chromatographic column with a mobile polar phase to obtain a composition. The plant material is from Mammea Americana, Marchantaceae polymorpha, or Callistemon citrinus. Also provided is a method of inhibiting the growth of a mycobacterium, comprising administering a composition comprising a carrier and at least one compound selected from among cobaltocene-octamethyl, stigmastan, 3,5-diene, friedelin, galaxolide, benzyl salicylate, eucalyptol, and ?-pinene.

Abstract: A contrast agent having a metal core and an inert shell forming a single cluster is disclosed. The metal core is iron-based and has an octa-nuclear structure. It is surrounded by a cluster of pyrazolate groups. Ligands can be attached to the cluster to provide water solubility and to target specific tissues or provide specific contrast properties.

Abstract: The invention provides a pharmaceutical composition which comprises a pharmaceutical carrier and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of cobaltocene-octamethyl, stigmastan- 3,5 -diene, galoxolide, benzyl salicylate, eucalyptol, and ?-pinene. Also provided is a method of preparing a composition having antimicrobial activity comprising extracting a plant material in an organic solvent, contacting the extracted material to a chromatographic column, and eluting from the chromatographic column with a mobile polar phase to obtain a composition. The plant material is from Mammea Americana, Marchantaceae polymorpha, or Callistemon citrinus. Also provided is a method of inhibiting the growth of a mycobacterium, comprising administering a composition comprising a carrier and at least one compound selected from among cobaltocene-octamethyl, stigmastan, 3,5 -diene, friedelin, galoxolide, benzyl salicylate, eucalyptol, and ?-pinene.

Abstract: A branched nanostructure is synthesized. A porous material, with pores having a diameter of approximately 1 ?m or less, is placed in a vacuum. It is irradiated with an electron beam. This causes a trunk to grow from the porous material and further causes branches to grow from the trunk.

Abstract: Degradable polyimides are prepared in high yield by polymerizing a monomer containing at least two anhydride groups, and a monomer containing at least two primary amine groups and at least one acidic group, in bulk or in a solvent. The polyimides are very strong in terms of their mechanical properties, yet degradable under standard physiological conditions.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting angiogenesis, including: administering a nucleoside, such as tunicamycin, in an amount effective to inhibit angiogenesis, to a patient in need of such treatment. A method for inhibiting angiogenesis, including: administering a nucleoside, which comprises glucosamine, in an amount effective to inhibit angiogenesis, to a patient in need of such treatment; wherein the nucleoside is administered for a period of time, subsequently the administration of the nucleoside is suspended for a period of time of at least about 1 week, and subsequently the administration of the nucleoside is resumed.

Abstract: Measurement in the frequency range 3 mHz–106 Hz of the dielectric characteristics of emeraldine base polyaniline dissolved in 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP) and cast into bulk free-standing polymer films shows features similar to those reported by others and which are a result of microphase separation into reduced and oxidized repeat units. However, upon confinement into the cylindrical pores, of average diameter 20 nm, of a porous membrane such features of microphase separation do not occur. The microphase separation observed in the bulk polymer is suppressed by strong pinning of the charge carriers due to interactions of the polymer with pore walls together with constrained chain packing and a non-uniform rate of evaporation of the NMP solvent from the pores. This enhances the bulk conductivity after doping by reducing the internal intra-chain disorder introduced by microphase separation.

Abstract: SrBi2Nb2O9 (SBN) thin films are deposited on Pt/TiO2/SiO2/Si substrates using off-axis pulsed laser deposition technique. Off-axis laser ablation avoids plasma damaging of the surface of SBN thin films and is favorable to grow films along the polarization axis (a–b plane). SBN thin films are grown at 350° C. substrate temperature, with 5 mm away from the plasma focus, and annealed at 750° C. for 1 hour in oxygen ambient. These SBN thin films exhibited giant remnant polarization (Pr) of 50 ?C/cm2 with coercive field of 190 kV/cm. The fatigue endurance of these SBN thin films was measured at 400 kV/cm and showed minimal (<20%) polarization degradation of up to 1010 switching cycles. The leakage current density of SBN thin films was found to be about 2×107 up to an applied field of 100 kV/cm. The above-mentioned properties of off-axis deposited SBN thin films, makes it a good material for NVRAM devices.

Abstract: A stable, wide-bandgap (approximately 6 eV) ZnO/MgO multilayer thin film is fabricated using pulsed-laser deposition on c-plane Al2O3 substrates. Layers of ZnO alternate with layers of MgO. The thickness of MgO is a constant of approximately 1 nm; the thicknesses of ZnO layers vary from approximately 0.75 to 2.5 nm. Abrupt structural transitions from hexagonal to cubic phase follow a decrease in the thickness of ZnO sublayers within this range. The band gap of the thin films is also influenced by the crystalline structure of multilayer stacks. Thin films with hexagonal and cubic structure have band-gap values of 3.5 and 6 eV, respectively. In the hexagonal phase, Mg content of the films is approximately 40%; in the cubic phase Mg content is approximately 60%. The thin films are stable and their structural and optical properties are unaffected by annealing at 750° C.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an Fe(III) complex comprising a redox-active metal cluster in a chemically inert shell. The inventive complex has electron transfer and paramagnetic properties.

Abstract: A macroscopic version of the Scanning Force Microscope is described. It consists of a cantilever under the influence of external forces, which mimic the tip-sample interactions. The use of this piece of equipment is threefold. First, it serves as direct way to understand the parts and functions of the Scanning Force Microscope, and thus it is effectively used as an instructional tool. Second, due to its large size, it allows for simple measurements of applied forces and parameters that define the state of motion of the system. This information, in turn, serves to compare the interaction forces with the reconstructed ones, which cannot be done directly with the standard microscopic set up. Third, it provides a kinematics method to non-destructively measure elastic constants of materials, such as Young's and shear modules, with special application for brittle materials.

Abstract: A sampling probe includes a housing, a cover and a guide. The housing defines a trough having an opening, at least a portion of the opening being in an insertion direction of the probe. The cover is axially movable with respect to the housing between an open position in which a substance is allowed to pass into the trough and a closed position in which the cover covers the opening to retain a predetermined volume of the substance in the trough. The cover is flexible. The guide is configured to guide axial movement of the cover between the open and closed positions. The guide is configured to direct the cover in a curved path.

Abstract: The present invention provides organic single crystal films of less than 20 &mgr;m, and devices and methods of making such films. The crystal films are useful in electro-optical applications and can be provided as part of an electro-optical device which provides strength, durability, and relative ease of manipulation of the mono-crystalline films during and after crystal growth.

Abstract: The invention provides a pharmaceutical composition which comprises a pharmaceutical carrier and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of cobaltacene-octgomet, stigmastan-3,5-diene, galoxolide, benzyl salicylate, eucalyptol, and &agr;-pinene. Also provided is a method of preparing a composition having antimicrobial activity comprising extracting a plant material in an organic solvent, contacting the extracted material to a chromatographic column, and eluting from the chromatographic column with a mobile polar phase to obtain a composition. The plant material is from Mammea Americana, Marchantaceae polymorpha, or Callistemon citrinus. Also provided is a method of inhibiting the growth of a mycobacterium, comprising administering a composition comprising a carrier and at least one compound selected from among cobaltacene-octgomet, stigmastan, 3,5-diene, friedelin, galoxolide, benzyl salicylate, eucalyptol, and &agr;-pinene.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a complex comprising a redox-active metal cluster in a chemically inert shell. The inventive complex has the formula M8(&mgr;4-E)4(&mgr;-L)12X, where M is chosen from a transition metal, a lanthanide, an actinide and mixtures thereof; E is a chalcogenide; L is a bridging ligand; and X is a terminal ligand. The chemically inert shell enables the complex to exhibit structural stability over several oxidation states, and to exhibit reversible electrochemical reduction properties. A single reactor method of making this complex from simple starting materials is also disclosed. The active center further allows the octanuclear complex to be used in making supercluster assemblies that have electron transfer properties or in making contrasting agents for MRI applications, for example.

Abstract: A design of a compact solar air conditioning system especially suited for tropical climates includes an air-cooled single-effect absorption machine driven by an array of high performance flat-plate collectors along with a thermal storage tank. The absorption machine uses lithium-bromide as a refrigerant and a water-based absorption fluid. The operation of the compact solar air conditioning system is determined by an optimal control strategy.

Abstract: A solar powered air conditioning system includes an absorption machine coupled to three primary loops. A heat loop provides energy to the absorption machine. A cooling tower loop exhausts heat from the absorption machine. A chilled water loop is used to draw heat from a room or building. The heat loop provides energy from a boiler and/or from a number of solar collectors. In one mode of operation, the solar collectors circulate through a storage tank. The flow through the solar collectors is regulated to maximize energy collection.