Abstract: The present invention provides isolated, genetically modified host cells, where a host cell is genetically modified with a nucleic acid that includes a nucleotide sequence encoding a biosynthetic pathway enzyme. Synthesis of the enzyme in the host cell results in conversion of a substrate for the enzyme into a biosynthetic pathway intermediate, which intermediate is produced in an amount effective to inhibit growth of the genetically modified host cell. The present invention further provides compositions and kits comprising a subject genetically modified host cell. Subject host cells are useful for identifying a gene product having activity in a biosynthetic pathway. The present invention further provides methods of identifying a gene product having activity in a biosynthetic pathway.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the expression and regulating growth factors in chrondrocytes and developing cartilage, particularly granulin-epithelin precursor (GEP). The invention relates to the modulation and manipulation of these growth factors, GEP, and/or the molecules they interact with, for instance COMP, in cartilage disorders, including arthritis. Assays and screening methods for the determination of the expression and activity of GEP, or of GEP-COMP, are provided, including for screening for the presence or extent of cartilage or arthritic disease and for identifying modulators or compounds/agents for treatment or prevention of cartilage or arthritic diseases.

Abstract: A transmission system capable of obtaining an effect of orthogonality among time block codes and an effect of path diversity on a distorted channel is provided. In the transmission system including: a transmitter device transmitting an information signal S[n] multiplied by a code, the code being a time block code constituted by a plurality of time series symbols, the transmitter device multiplying the information signal by a plurality of the time block codes, respectively, multiplexing multiplication results on a time axis and transmitting multiplexed signals; and a receiver device including a reception filter, if an impulse response matrix of a channel is a matrix H, a characteristic of the reception filter is set to be represented by a complex conjugate transpose matrix HH to the matrix H and each of the time block codes is set by an eigen code E_I[n] represented by an eigen vector of a matrix HHH representing a coupled system in which the channel is coupled to the reception filter.

Abstract: Disclosed is a catheter used to pick a sample of a lesion cell tissue existing in the living body, and more particularly a catheter capable of freely coupling or separating a micro biopsy tool and picking a tissue required for an examination just by inserting and extracting the biopsy tool into and from a lesion region when picking the tissue. The catheter can pick a tissue required to diagnose and treat an examinee with a minimal invasion. Accordingly, it is possible to alleviate the examinee's pain and to prevent a perforation from occurring in the picked region when picking the tissue. In addition, according to the catheter of the invention, since the micro biopsy tool can be easily mounted and separated, the catheter can be semi-permanently used by continuously replacing the biopsy tool only.

Abstract: A deformable reflective surface is disclosed that may be used with a retroreflector to provide a modulated retroreflector. The modulated retroreflector may be used in communication systems such as optical laser communication systems wherein an incident beam is reflected back to the source, as modulated by the modulated retroreflector. The deformable reflective surface uniformly reflects or disperses an incident light, depending on a deformation state of the surface. The different states of the deformable reflective surface permits modulation of the reflected beam, based on an input modulation signal that can contain voice or sensor data, for example. A sensor may be used to sense the incident beam and activate the retroreflector. The deformable reflective surface may be arranged to be switched between a diffractive reflective surface and a uniform reflective surface.

Abstract: A metallic article for high temperature applications such as a turbine engine component is protected by a thermal barrier coating system on the article's metallic substrate. The thermal barrier coating system includes a bond coat layer of aluminum containing alloy on the metal substrate, an alumina layer on the bond coat layer and a ceramic thermal barrier layer on the alumina layer. The bond coat layer is doped with elemental barium that enhances the creep resistance of the alumina layer, thus, minimizing spallation of the ceramic thermal barrier layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new class of non-viral transduction vectors that can be used for both in vivo and in vitro applications. The present invention also provides a gene transfer vector that has comparable efficiency to a viral vector without the potential for a life-threatening immune response. Complexes according to the invention or portions thereof, can comprise a cellular delivery molecule or agent that can facilitate the translocation of the complex or portion thereof into cells. In some embodiments, cellular delivery molecules for use in the present invention may comprise one or more polymers of the present invention, e.g., polyamides, dendritic macromolecules and carbohydrate-containing degradable polyesters.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for enhancing memory in animals, including humans by the administration of an effective amount of an atypical form of protein kinase C such as protein kinase M zeta (PKM?) or protein kinase C iota/lambda.

Abstract: A sensor is mounted to a biopsy needle at a location proximate to a tip of the needle. The sensor senses properties of tissue in contact with the sensor and proximate to the tip.

Abstract: Described herein are crosslinked compounds useful in numerous treatments. Described herein are methods of making crosslinked compounds via (1) die oxidative coupling of two or more thiol compounds or (2) by the reaction between at least one thiol compound with at least one thiol-reactive compound.

Abstract: A carbon fabric of high conductivity and high density is formed of oxidized fibers of polypropylene. The oxidized fibers have a carbon content at least 50 wt %, an oxygen content at least 4 wt %, and a limiting oxygen index at least 35%. The carbon fabric is made by preparing a raw fabric obtained from oxidized fibers of polypropylene by weaving and then carbonizing the raw fabric.

Abstract: Bispecific antisense oligonucleotides which consist essentially of a sequence of bases that is complementary to portions of both the gene encoding human IGFBP-2 and the gene encoding human IGFBP-5 are useful in as antisense therapeutics in the treatment of endocrine-regulated cancers.

Abstract: Stocks of infectious rAAV are generated using yeast strains, bacterial strains, and bacteriophages engineered to express the required AAV proteins and harboring rAAV vector sequences. Stocks of rAAV virions of all serotypes and pseudotypes can be generated in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells using the methods described herein.

Abstract: The present invention provides microcantilever hotplate devices which incorporate temperature compensating strain sensors. The microcantilever hotplate devices of the present invention comprise microcantilevers having temperature compensating strain sensors and resistive heaters. The present invention also provides methods for using a microcantilever hotplate for temperature compensated surface stress measurements, chemical/biochemical sensing, measuring various properties of compounds adhered to the microcantilever hotplate surface, or for temperature compensated deflection measurements.

Abstract: External Guide Sequence (EGS) are described that target proteins required for generation and modification of the immunoglobulin and T-cell repertoire that are useful for treatment or prevention of inflammatory or related diseases. Formulations suitable for administration of an EGS for treatment of inflammatory or related disease are described. The formulations may be administered via inhalation, injection, or orally. The formulations may be in the form of an ointment, lotion, cream, gel, drop, suppository, spray, liquid, powder, granule, solution, suspension, capsule, or tablet. Methods of treating inflammatory or related diseases by administering an effective amount of an EGS in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier are also described.

Abstract: Systems and methods of generating a tunable laser beam are disclosed. An example method includes: generating coherent optical beams from a plurality of semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs); combining the coherent optical beams into a combined coherent optical beam; and tuning the combined beam to a selected frequency range to output a coherent optical beam having only the selected frequency range. In some embodiments, the SOAs are arranged in parallel within a resonant cavity, and each coherent optical beam has a different center wavelength that overlaps in bandwidth with another one of the coherent optical beams.

Abstract: Methods, systems and compositions for a green sorption media for bioretention soil amendments in drainfields for on-site waste water systems filled with the green sorption media to foster an anaerobic or anoxic environment saturated. The green sorption media includes one or more recycled materials, including tire crumb, sawdust, orange peel, coconut husks, leaf compost, oyster shell, soy bean hulls and one or more naturally occurring materials including peat, sands, zeolites, and clay. The wastewater filtration system for a passive drainfield includes the green sorption material mixture, a cell including baffled compartments and a riser, the cell filled with green sorption material mixture to provide an alternating cycle of aerobic and anoxic environments, an influent distribution system to distribute the influent over the cell, and a piping system arranged for dosing the cell to sustain the functionality of the green sorption material mixture to remove nutrient content in wastewater.

Abstract: A method for making a reinforcement device for a concrete structure includes the steps of (a) installing a plurality of parallel reinforcement rebars, and (b) embracing the reinforcement rebars with a cable unit by winding the cable unit around the reinforcement rebars. The cable unit has a plurality of wires twisted together.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium for use in digital magnetic recording, which comprises a nonmagnetic substrate having deposited thereon a magnetic layer, wherein with respect to the in-plane direction, the magnetic recording layer comprises a plurality of ferromagnetic regions separated from each other by an antiferromagnetic region. A production method of the magnetic recording medium and a magnetic disc apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for near real-time in-situ soil solution measurements is presented. An outer sleeve is placed in soil where ionic concentrations of organic or inorganic species are to be measured. A porous section connects with the outer sleeve (the porous section initially loaded with distilled water) equilibrates with the solution present in soil pores to form a solution to be measured. The initial distilled water is displaced within the porous section by a removable plunger. After substantial equilibration of the solution to be measured within the apparatus, the plunger is removed and a removable probe replaced. The probe may be an Ion Selective Electrode, or a transflection dip probe. The probe then may be used under computer control for measurement of solution properties. The Ion Selective Electrode may measure nitrate (NO3?) concentrations. The transflection dip probe may be read with spectrometer with an input deuterium light source.