Abstract: Disclosed herein are the cDNA and polypeptide sequences of a novel cytoplasmic post-prolyl dipeptidase, QPP. QPP is expressed in T-cells and in neurons, and functions to protect quiescent cells from apoptotic death. Therefore, QPP can be used as a therapeutic to inhibit apoptotic cell death and as a target in screening for compounds that modulate cell death.

Abstract: The invention relates to the nucleotide sequence from sugarcane ubi9 polyubiquitin gene promoter, which is capable of directing constitutive expression of a nucleic acid sequence of interest that is operably linked to it. The sugarcane ubi9 promoter is useful in regulating expression of a nucleic acid sequence of interest in monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants.

Abstract: A production system and method for producing fluids from a well are presented. The production system may include a submersible pump and a jet pump. The submersible pump may be arranged within the well. The jet pump may be arranged within the well downstream of the submersible pump. The jet pump may include a power fluid intake configured to receive a power fluid and a produced fluid intake configured to receive a produced fluid. The power fluid intake may be in fluid communication with the submersible pump. The produced fluid intake may be in fluid communication with gas within the well. In an embodiment, the produced fluid intake may be in fluid communication with separated gas within an annulus of the well. Beneficially, the system may allow, among other things, a submersible pump and a jet pump to be used in combination in high gas-liquid-ratio wells without installing a gas vent line.

Abstract: A closed loop motion control system employing at least one relaxor actuator which controls the position of a moving member having mass by controlling an electric field applied to the relaxor actuator. The actuator comprises a body of relaxor material dimensionally variable under the influence of the electric field applied in the form of a voltage to electrodes on at least two surfaces of the actuator. The voltage is applied in response to a feedback signal produced by at least one feedback sensor, which may be a displacement sensor or some other type of sensor. Thus, by constantly monitoring the displacement or other variable of the actuator device, the position of the moving member may be precisely controlled.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to immunosupportive, drug sparing diets and methods of using these diets. The compositions and methods disclosed herein increase the bioavailability of pharmaceutical compositions metabolized by the gut P450 isozymes.

Abstract: A gas chromatography system having a computer-controlled pressure controller that delivers pressurized pulses to a column junction point of two series-coupled columns having different stationary-phase chemistries and a method of using the same. Each pressurized pulse causes a differential change in the carrier gas velocities in the two columns, which lasts for the duration of the pressurized pulse. Whereby, the pressurized pulse selectively increases the separation of a component pair that exhibits separation at the exit of the first column, but otherwise co-elutes from the column ensemble.

Abstract: Mesoporous hexagonal, cubic or wormhole aluminosilicates derived from zeolite seeds using an ionic structure directing agent are described. The aluminum in the structures is stable so that the framework of the structures does not collapse when heated in the presence of water or water vapor (steam). The steam stable aluminosilicates can be used as acid catalysts for hydrocarbon conversions, including the fluidized bed catalytic cracking and the hydrocracking of petroleum oils, and other cracking of organic compounds.

Abstract: New polyoxometalate compounds and polymers comprising recurring monomers of those compounds are provided. The compounds are formed by replacing at least one oxide of the starting polyoxometalate with an organoimido (NR) group bonded to the polyoxometalate via a triple bond to the nitrogen atom. The R of the (NR) group comprises a reactive functional group which renders the compound readily polymerizable, alone or with other monomers (e.g., divinylbenzene), to form the inventive polymers. Additionally, a countercation (e.g., bis(tetra-n-butylammonium)) can be mixed with the polyoxometalate compounds in order to neutralize the negative charge thereof as well as to make those compounds more soluble in organic solvents.

Abstract: A method of creating an optical structure within a photosensitive light transmissive material comprising the steps of: (a) exposing a selected region of the material to radiation at a wavelength selected to effect a refractive index change in the material; (b) terminating the exposure to the radiation at a selected fluence; and afterwards (c) exposing at least one portion of the selected region to UV radiation at a level sufficient to vary the refractive index of the material within the selected region to form the optical structure; wherein the fluence is selected such that the optical structure is substantially thermally stable without a requirement for post-processing annealing.

Abstract: A method of detecting the presence of an ion includes contacting a nucleic acid enzyme with a sample suspected of containing the ion, where the enzyme contains a ribonucleotide and is dependent on the ion to produce a product from a substrate, and measuring an amount of the product produced. The ion is Pb2+, and is in the presence of other ions.

Abstract: A method of screening for nucleic acid sequence copy no. in a sample genetic material, the method including introducing a no. of different genetic probes to hybridize with the genetic sample. The probes are flanked by the same or substantially the same primer binding sites thereby enabling amplification of sample-bound probes using a single primer pair and thus the screening of different sequence copy nos. at the same time. Genetic alterations are known to underlie phenotype characteristics including disorders as idiopathic mental retardation and neoplasia.

Abstract: A delta to sigma modulator or analog to digital converter uses a mirrored integrator. (The mirrored integrator has a frequency response function that is a mirror image—about half the Nyquist frequency—of a conventional integrator thus giving infinite gain at the Nyquist frequency.) The input signal is modulated with a chopper signal alternating between +1 and −1. The chopped input signal is added to a feedback signal and applied to the mirrored integrator. It is then quantized and high-pass filtered. The frequency of the input signal is thus shifted from the low-frequency spectrum.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel antithrombotic variants of thrombin or fragments thereof that are capable of proteolytically activating protein C, but which are substantially free of fibrinogen cleavage activity. The present invention further relates to variant polypeptidess that may be cleaved to yield active thrombin variants. The present invention also relates to methods of inhibiting thrombus formation in an animal or human subject by delivering an antithrombotic variant thrombin of the present invention to the blood of the subject. The present invention relates also to methods that use the novel variant thrombins for determining the level of protein C activation in a blood sample, or the thrombogenic potential of a patient.

Abstract: A method of making a compound of Formula VI: wherein Tr is a triphenyl group; R1, R2 and R3 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 alkoxy, aryl, heteroaryl, and arylalkyl; R4 is C2-C6 alkyl, and R5 and R6 are each independently H or C1-C4 alkyl, involves the step of reacting a compound of Formula V: with Tr—OH to produce a compound of Formula VI. The compounds of Formula VI are useful as intermediates in the manufacture of antibiotic agents. Methods of making compounds of Formula V, and intermediates made or used in the foregoing methods, are also described.

Abstract: The phase-shifting point diffraction interferometer (PS/PDI) was developed to address the problem of at-wavelength metrology of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) optical systems. Although extremely accurate, the fact that the PS/PDI is limited to use with coherent EUV sources, such as undulator radiation, is a drawback for its widespread use. An alternative to the PS/PDI, with relaxed coherence requirements, is lateral shearing interferometry (LSI). The use of a cross-grating, carrier-frequency configuration to characterize a large-field 4×-reduction EUV lithography optic is demonstrated. The results obtained are directly compared with PS/PDI measurements. A defocused implementation of the lateral shearing interferometer in which an image-plane filter allows both phase-shifting and Fourier wavefront recovery. The two wavefront recovery methods can be combined in a dual-domain technique providing suppression of noise added by self-interference of high-frequency components in the test-optic wavefront.

Abstract: A method for quantitatively analyzing digital images of approximately elliptical body organs, and in particular, echocardiographic images is provided. In particular, methods are disclosed for obtaining short-axis apical four-chamber views of a heart, and particularly for obtaining high-quality automated images of particular regions of the heart muscle, as viewed along its long axis.

Abstract: An array of micro valves, and the process for its formation, used for control of a fluid flow and having a substrate with a plurality of apertures for directing the fluid to flow from one side to another. A micromechanically formed fluid seal surrounds each aperture along with a valve diaphragm associated with each seal and micromechanically formed to selectively open and close the aperture by making contact with the seal. Electrical contact is made to the valve diaphragms and substrate for selective valve closure or opening. A conduit leads a fluid flow to the underside of the array and a further conduit leads it away from the array after passing through the selectively opened diaphragms.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of increasing or maintaining the blood supply in the penis of a male subject which comprises administering to the subject an amount of vascular endothelial growth factor effective to increase or maintain the blood supply in the subject's penis. This invention provides a method of treating erectile dysfunction in a subject which comprises-administering to the subject an amount of vascular endothelial growth factor effective to increase the blood supply in the subject's penis and thereby treat the subject's erectile dysfunction. This invention provides a method of increasing or maintaining the blood supply in the penis of a subject which comprises introducing a nucleic acid comprising a gene encoding a vascular endothelial growth factor into a suitable cell under conditions such that the nucleic acid expresses vascular endothelial growth factor so as to thereby increase or maintain the blood supply in the subject's penis.

Abstract: The present invention provides for methods of treating and preventing cardiac hypertrophy. Class II HDACs, which are known to participate in regulation of chromatin structure and gene expression, have been shown to have beneficial effects on cardiac hypertrophy. Surprisingly, the present invention demonstrates that HDAC inhibitors inhibit cardiac hypertrophy by inhibiting fetal cardiac gene expression and interfering with sarcomeric organization.