Abstract: This invention pertains to the discovery of a class of reagents that effectively form intramolecular disulfide bonds in peptides. Intermolecular disulfide linkage formation is low or essentially non-existent. In addition, preferred reagents of this invention are relatively mild and do not oxidize “vulnerable” residues in the subject peptide(s). In addition the reagents and reaction products are safe and essentially non-toxic. One particularly preferred reagent is [Pt(en)2Cl2]2+ where en is ethylenediamine.

Abstract: The present invention features biarsenical molecules. Target sequences that specifically react with the biarsenical molecules are also included. The present invention also features kits that include biarsenical molecules and target sequences. Tetraarsenical molecules are also featured in the invention.

Abstract: A model-based Fault Detection and Isolation (FDI) method and system for monitoring the overall performance in a vehicle system based on a hierarchical structure is disclosed. The FDI scheme uses the available sensors in a vehicle system and divides them into subsystems of smaller dimensions containing one or more modules that are related or interconnected. The same module may appear in a different subsystem, but the set of all subsystems does not have to contain all of the modules. For this structure, an FDI scheme comprising several detector units is created. Each detector unit receives information from the sensors and outputs a residual that is sent to a high-level detector unit which processes the data and performs the residual evaluation for the selected subsystem. Finally, each subsystem outputs a decision that is sent to a supervisor hazard detector performing the final diagnosis.

Abstract: Manipulation of DNA and cells/spores using dielectrophoretic (DEP) forces to perform sample preparation protocols for polymerized chain reaction (PCR) based assays for various applications. This is accomplished by movement of particles using sequentially activated dielectrophoretic particle trapping. DEP forces induce a dipole in particles, and these particles can be trapped in non-uniform fields. The particles can be trapped in the high field strength region of one set of electrodes. By switching off this field and switching on an adjacent electrodes, particles can be moved down a channel with little or no flow.

Abstract: Disclosed are antibodies that block the binding of fibronectin protein to fibronectin. Also disclosed are site specifically-mutated and truncated peptide epitopes derived from the fnbA and fnbB genes of Staphylococcus aureus, the fnba and fnbB genes of Streptococcus dysgalactiae, and the sfb gene of Streptococcus pyogenes, and nucleic acid segments encoding these peptides and epitopes. The anti-(fibronectin binding site) antibodies, peptides and epitopes that give rise to antibodies that block the binding of fibronectin binding proteins to fibronectin, and DNA segments encoding these proteins and are of use in various screening, diagnostic and therapeutic applications including active and passive immunization and methods for the prevention of streptococcal and staphylococcal colonization in animals or humans. These. DNA segments and the peptides derived therefrom are proposed to be of use directly in the preparation of vaccines and also for use as carrier proteins in vaccine formulations.

Abstract: The present invention provides a variety of methods that are based on stereoselective epoxidation of an olefin by an epoxidizing agent derived from a reaction between an oxidizing agent and a chiral ketone. For example, present invention provides methods for producing an epoxide from an olefin, for increasing a relative concentration of at least one stereoisomer of an olefin, and for stereoselectively producing an &agr;-acyloxy carbonyl compound. Preferably, the chiral ketone is of the formula: or a derivative thereof which is capable of converting to the chiral ketone of Formula I under the reaction conditions, where a, b, n, X, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are those defined herein.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting the translation of bacterial mRNA is disclosed. The method comprises overexpressing in a bacterium an mRNA which contains a sequence which is complementary to the anti-downstream box region of the 16S rRNA. RNA and DNA constructs for the overexpression of the mRNA of the invention are disclosed. Further, there are disclosed isolated DNA constructs that direct the prolonged expression of a heterologous gene in a cold-shocked bacterium at reduced temperature. The construct can comprise a promoter region of a cold-shocked inducible gene. The replication vehicle comprising such DNA constructs and a method for overexpressing a heterologous gene in a bacterium transformed with such a replication vehicle are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention provides modified recombinant Ad vectors (e.g., AdE1− vectors) undergoing defined homologous recombination in order to create predictably rearranged genomic derivatives in a host cell. Genomic rearrangements can be achieved, for example, by incorporating two IR sequences within one vector genome and enabling genomic rearrangement by coinfection with two parental vectors of one type (also referred to herein as a one vector system) or by homologous recombination of overlapping regions in two distinct types of parental vectors (with or without IR sequences) and enabling genomic rearrangement only upon coinfection of the host cell with the two distinct parental vectors (also referred to herein as two vector system).

Abstract: A lighting simulation process for simulating the lighting of a subject at a location in a scene. Scene illumination data is created that specifies the illumination that the scene provides at the location at which the subject is to be simulated from a plurality of spatial directions. Subject illumination data is created that specifies the appearance of the subject when illuminated from a plurality of different spatial directions. The subject is then illuminated as if at the location in the scene by combing the scene illumination data with the subject illumination data.

Abstract: A method for transferring an epitaxy layer is provided. The method includes steps of (a) providing a first substrate, (b) forming a first epitaxy layer on the first substrate, (c) forming a masking layer having at least a pattern on the first epitaxy layer, (d) forming a second epitaxy layer on the masking layer, (e) bonding a second substrate to the second epitaxy layer, and (f) removing the masking layer and separating the second epitaxy layer from the first epitaxy layer, thereby the second epitaxy layer being transferred to the second substrate.

Abstract: Compounds of the saframycin-ecteinascidin series with cytotoxic properties having the following general formula, their uses and synthesis, are disclosed: wherein R1 and R4 is H, a C1 to C4 alkyl group, or an acyl group; wherein R2 is an ether, ester, amide, or a phthalimide group; wherein R3 is ═O, OH, an ether group, an acyl group such as OC(O)Me, OC(O)Bn and OC(O)Et, or a sulfide group; wherein R5 is H, halogen, OH, an ether group, an acyl group, or an amide group; wherein R6 is ═O, OH, OCH3, CN, or an acyloxy group; wherein R7, is ═O, OH, halogen, an ether group, or an acyl group; wherein R8 and R9 are independently H, CH3, OCH3, OC2H5, CF3, halogen such as Br and F, or R8 and R9 are joined together as a methylenedioxy group, or other five or six membered ring; wherein R10 and R11 are independently CH3, OCH3, OC2H5, SCH3, or SC2H5; wherein R12 is H, a C1 to C4 alkyl group, or an acyl group; and wherein the chiral center marked * has the R or the S configuration.

Abstract: The invention provides an isolated gene encoding Mch3, or functional fragment thereof. Also provided is an isolated nucleic acid sequence encoding Mch3 or functional fragment thereof. The gene or nucleic acid sequence can be single or double stranded nucleic acids corresponding to coding or non-coding strands of the Mch3 nucleotide sequence. An isolated Mch3 polypeptide or functional fragment thereof is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention is an optical signal processing apparatus which centers around an active optical filter. The active optical lattice filter permits ultra-high bandwidth signal processing of optical signals. The filter utilizes a lattice arrangement of optical amplifiers and interfaces which feed and reinforce each other. The lattice sections are constructed of a semiconductive material so that the device may be used as an optoelectronic component of an optical communications system. A control voltage is applied to each optical amplifier thereby enabling a user to electronically control and tune the optical transfer function of the device. The lattice parameters may be adjusted to produce an tunable oscillation to produce a precision optical line frequency. Precision optical line frequencies are useful in dense wavelength division multiplexers. Also, the lattice parameters may be adjusted to produce very high-Q optical filters are needed to construct dense wavelength division demultiplexers.

Abstract: The change in the circular birefringence of a sample is measured by passing a light beam comprised of a left circularly polarized (LCP) wave and a right circularly polarized (RCP) wave through a sample and measuring the change in the phase difference between the RCP and LCP waves.

Abstract: A high-surface-area (greater than 600 m2/g), large-pore (pore size diameter greater than 6.5 angstroms), basic zeolite having a structure such as an alkali metal cation-exchanged Y-zeolite is employed to convert NOx contained in an oxygen-rich engine exhaust to N2 and O2. Preferably, the invention relates to a two-stage method and apparatus for NOx reduction in an oxygen-rich engine exhaust such as diesel engine exhaust that includes a plasma oxidative stage and a selective reduction stage. The first stage employs a non-thermal plasma treatment of NOx gases in an oxygen-rich exhaust and is intended to convert NO to NO2 in the presence of O2 and added hydrocarbons. The second stage employs a lean-NOx catalyst including the basic zeolite at relatively low temperatures to convert such NO2 to environmentally benign gases that include N2, CO2, and H2O.

Abstract: An antigenic preparation is provided which contains a 31 Kd outer membrane protein from Leptospira which can be used immunologically as a vaccine for leptospirosis caused by this organism.

Abstract: Methods for the treatment of cancers or viral infections in mammals are disclosed that include administration of an N-chlorophenylcarbamate, or an N-chlorophenylthiocarbamate, or a salt thereof. Such compounds may be used in combination with a chemotherapeutic agent and/or a potentiator.

Abstract: A compensated nonlinear optical frequency mixer for compensating the walk-off produced by group velocity mismatch (GVM) between interaction waves. The compensated mixer has a first mixing region in which the interaction waves participate in a non-linear optical mixing process and where walk-off occurs between the interaction waves due to GVM. The compensated mixer is equipped with a frequency selective coupling and time delay structure located after the first mixing region for eliminating the walk-off produced between the interaction waves in the first mixing region by guiding the waves in arms whose lengths differ by a re-synchronization length. A second mixing region is located after the frequency-selective coupling and time delay structure, such that when the waves emerge in phase from the frequency selective coupling and time delay structure they continue to interact efficiently in the second mixing region.

Abstract: Mitochondrial mutations occur as a product of contact of a person with an environmental pollutant. Mitochondrial mutations are readily detectable in body fluids. Measurement of mitochondrial mutations in body fluids can be used as a dosimeter to monitor exposure to the environmental pollutant. Mitochondrial mutations can also be detected in cancer patients. Probes and primers containing mutant mitochondrial sequences can be used to monitor patient condition.

Abstract: Vaccines based on one or more combinations of majorly abundant extracellular products of pathogens and methods for their use and production are presented. The most prevalent or majorly abundant extracellular products of a target pathogen are selected irrespective of their absolute molecular immunogenicity and used as vaccines to stimulate a protective immune response in mammalian hosts against subsequent infection by the target pathogen. The majorly abundant extracellular products may be characterized and distinguished by their respective N-terminal amino acid, amino acid, or DNA sequences. As the vaccines may comprise different combinations of the extracellular products, subunits thereof, or encoding nucleic acids, a broad range of effective immunotherapeutic compositions are provided by the present invention. In addition to other infectious agents, the vaccines so produced can be used to stimulate an effective immune response against intracellular pathogens and in particular Mycobacterium tuberculosis.