Abstract: Microfluidic embryo scaled channels for handling and positioning embryos provide the opportunity to evaluate and treat embryos in improved manners Fluid flow is used to move and position embryos within microfluidic channels and channel geometries may be used to place embryos at specific locations. Surface properties and compliance (deformation) properties of embryos are evaluated as a predictor of viability. The microfluidic channels provide the opportunity for fine controls of pressure to conduct various evaluations at forces slightly below which damage to embryos is known to occur.

Abstract: Support apparatus including a base, a receptacle for receiving an object, and a plurality of spaced apart buttresses connected to the base and to the receptacle, the buttresses mounting the receptacle perpendicularly with respect to the base and spaced outwardly therefrom to cause force received by the receptacle from supporting the object to be transferred and distributed to different portions of the base by the buttresses. The support may be grounded to ground supported objects.

Abstract: This invention provides a novel packaging system comprising a packaging frame and one or more suspension membrane suspended from the frame, which membrane comprises a flexible membrane material that forms a pocket area shaped to accept an item. The shape of the pocket area allows the area to be self-sizing to accommodate irregularly shaped objects and a variety of sizes in the same package. The flexible pocket area also minimizes pressure points on the packaged item and keeps the item from contacting other items or potentially damaging surfaces.

Abstract: Novel chimeric nucleic acids, encoding chimeric Borrelia proteins comprising OspC or an antigenic fragment thereof and OspA or an antigenic fragment thereof, are disclosed. Chimeric proteins encoded by the nucleic acid sequences are also disclosed. The chimeric proteins are useful as vaccine immunogens against Lyme borreliosis, as well as for immunodiagnostic reagents.

Abstract: A method and/or system for detecting substances of interest. In specific embodiments, the invention involves a method and/or system using magnetic beads and easily manufactured electrical circuits to detect chemicals and/or substances of interest. In other embodiments, the invention involves a method and/or system for providing a variety of biologic assays. In further embodiments, the invention includes methods and/or systems for an associated device, referred to herein as a dual split-drain transistor.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for identifying compounds that prevents ecdysis. Also provided by the present invention are methods for preventing ecdysis, and for killing insects.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptides which exhibit potent anti-retroviral activity. The peptides of the invention comprise DP178 (SEQ ID:1) peptide corresponding to amino acids 638 to 673 of the HIV-1LAI gp41 protein, and fragments, analogs and homologs of DP178. The invention further relates to the uses of such peptides as inhibitory of human and non-human retroviral, especially HIV, transmission to uninfected cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods, improved cell culture medium and kits for accelerating the generation of tissue equivalents, and for improving the quality of tissue equivalents, by growth in the presence of angiotensinogen, AI, AI analogues, AI fragments and analogues thereof, AII, AII analogues, AII fragments and analogues thereof and/or AII AT2 type 2 receptor agonists.

Abstract: The present invention relates to automated methods, systems, and apparatuses for protein separation and analysis. In particular, the present invention provides an automated system for the separation, identification, and characterization of protein samples. The present invention thus provides improved methods for the separation and analysis of samples containing a plurality of proteins (e.g., cells).

Abstract: This invention provides a novel surgical device well suited to use in laparoscopic or other (e.g. open surgical) procedures. In certain embodiments, the device comprises a surgical probe, including a handle comprising at least one channel passing through the handle; and at least one conduit passing through the handle, where wherein at least one effector element is inserted into or through the channel, which effector element effects one or more surgical functions; and where the conduit comprises a distal conduit port that directs gas out of the conduit to substantially remove debris and/or fluid from a surface disposed proximal to the effector and/or from the effector element.

Abstract: Optical waveguides interconnect optical information processing devices, or connect such devices with other optical communication links such as glass optical fibers. Fluoropolymers consisting of alternating perfluorocyclobutane and aryl ether linkages possess suitable properties for optical waveguides and other devices due to tunability in optical properties of the copolymers. Perfluorocyclobutane (PFCB) copolymer may be employed in solutions that exhibit a high solids content. Such solutions show useful physical properties for optical waveguide devices since the solutions are capable of achieving single step film thicknesses, when applied to a substrate, of greater than about 0.6 microns, and sometimes may achieve a thickness of 10 microns or more.

Abstract: A fabrication method for graded organic junction by adding an interfacial fusing layer between two organic layers is disclosed. Said interfacial fusing layer has its glass transition temperature lower than the neighboring organic layers, and said fusing layer will cause smooth interdiffusion and mixing of neighboring layers to form a graded organic junction when annealing above its glass transition temperature Tg. The process of interdiffusion can be monitored with optical measurement device on real time basis. The light emitting diode (LED) component containing graded organic junction thus produced has higher luminescence efficiency and lower operation voltage in comparison with conventional components.

Abstract: An actuation system for assisting the operation of the natural heart includes an actuator element adapted to be positioned proximate a portion of a heart wall. The actuator element is operable for acting on the heart wall portion to effect a change in the shape of the heart. A shape-limiting element is configured for being positioned proximate a heart wall. The shape-limiting element is operable for flexing to assume a curvature no greater than a predetermined curvature when the heart wall is acted upon and maintaining that predetermined curvature to control the shape of the actuated heart.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds of general formula I or II: 1

Abstract: Compositions and methods for growing new skin, which can be used to repair or replace skin that has been damaged or removed by a variety of insults.

Abstract: This invention relates to a read-only near-field optical disk using a zinc-oxide (ZnO) nano-structured thin film as the localized near-field optical interaction layer. This read-only near-field optical disk is a multi-layered body at least comprising; (a) a transparent substrate with pre-recorded pits or marks; (b) a reflection thin film; (c) a zinc-oxide (ZnO) nano-structured thin film which is capable of causing localized near-field optical interactions; (d) a first and a second protective and spacer layers formed above or below the localized near-field optical interaction layer, which are also made of transparent dielectric material. Ultrahigh density near-field optical readout can be achieved by localized near-field optical interaction between the zinc-oxide (ZnO) nano-structured thin film and the reflection layer on pre-recorded structure.

Abstract: This invention provides novel nitrocellulose-based or Hydrogel-based microarrays and methods of making and using them (1) to detect the presence of one or more agents in a sample, (2) to determine the amount of one or more agents in a sample, (3) to determine whether a subject is afflicted with a disorder, and (4) to determine whether an agent known to specifically bind to a first compound also specifically binds to a second compound. This invention also provides kits which comprise the instant microarrays. This invention further provides antibodies capable of specifically binding to a glycomer present both on the surface of a mammalian macrophage or intestinal epithelial cell, and on a bacterial cell. Finally, this invention provides diagnostic methods using the instant antibodies.

Abstract: A system and method for relocating a subnet to a remote location includes a tether router coupled to an anchor router via a link. The tether router is coupled to a plurality of nodes, each node corresponding to a network address of a plurality of network addresses allocated to a user. The plurality of network addresses is allocated to the user by a lease broker. The link may include a private tunnel for traversing a mechanism that otherwise hinders communication from the tether router to the anchor router, such as a network address translation (NAT) mechanism.

Abstract: A kit for prescreening protein concentration for crystallization includes a multiplicity of vials, a multiplicity of pre-selected reagents, and a multiplicity of sample plates. The reagents and a corresponding multiplicity of samples of the protein in solutions of varying concentrations are placed on sample plates. The sample plates containing the reagents and samples are incubated. After incubation the sample plates are examined to determine which of the sample concentrations are too low and which the sample concentrations are too high. The sample concentrations that are optimal for protein crystallization are selected and used.

Abstract: The poor scalability of existing superscalar processors has been of great concern to the computer engineering community. In particular, the critical-path delays of many components in existing implementations grow quadratically with the issue width and the window size. This patent presents a novel way to reimplement these components and reduce their critical-path delay growth. It then describes an entire processor microarchitecture, called the Ultrascalar processor, that has better critical-path delay growth than existing superscalars. Most of our scalable designs are based on a single circuit, a cyclic segmented parallel prefix (cspp). We observe that processor components typically operate on a wrap-around sequence of instructions, computing some associative property of that sequence. For example, to assign an ALU to the oldest requesting instruction, each instruction in the instruction sequence must be told whether any preceding instructions are requesting an ALU.