Abstract: The present invention provides assays for identifying the levels of both protease sensitive and protease resistant conformers of PrPSc in a sample. In a preferred embodiment, the assay comprises determining levels of total PrPSc in a sample, subjecting the PrPSc fraction to treatment with a protease that selectively hydrolyzes the protease sensitive PrPSc (sPrPSc) conformers, and quantifying the levels of sPrPSc in the sample. The ability to detect sPrPSc allows early detection of prions, since the PrPSc in easily accessible biological samples such as blood is predominantly sPrPSc. The ratio of sPrPSc to rPrPSc also allows the identification of a particular prion strain in an infected sample.

Abstract: The present invention relates to radiochromic imaging methods for generating a permanent colored spatial representation of an irradiation pattern wherein the intensity of the color in the image correlates to the dose level of irradiation, and more particularly to a method that provides representations of the quantity and position of radiolabelled polymeric materials separated by chromatographic techniques and furthermore, to a method that provides a two or three dimensional colored image correlating to a dosimetric pattern supplied by an external or embedded source.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for the prevention and/or treatment of vascular restenosis, the methods comprising administering to individuals in need thereof, an effective amount of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug alone or in combination with other conventional therapies to induce apoptosis, reduce proliferation, induce quiescence, inhibit cell migration, or influence cell differentiation of the cells in the vascular wall and or/induce hypolipidemia.

Abstract: A method of illumination and illumination apparatus are provided in a biochip reader. Illumination is provided by a non-collimated laser source or a light emitting diode (LED). The light is directed to opposing sides of a glass substrate by a pair of optical fiber bundles. The glass substrate carries a bioarray. Each of the optical fiber bundles are splayed out to make a fan, the fan being one fiber thick and defining a line of optical fiber faces. This process randomizes any non-uniformity in the illumination source, creating a more uniform illumination source. A respective divergent diffuser engages each row of optical fiber faces coupling and diffusing light substantially evenly through the opposing sides of the glass substrate to illuminate the bioarray supported by the glass substrate. The glass substrate functions as a secondary light guide. The divergent diffusers separate the optical fiber faces from the edges of the glass substrate, protecting the optical fibers from mechanical damage.

Abstract: A computer-controlled apparatus and method for producing metallic parts by laser melting selected regions of a layer(s) of metal powder at a target area are disclosed. The system includes devices for preheating and maintaining a relatively high temperature, e.g. 400° C., of the metal powder so as to join the metal powder together with relatively low laser power, e.g. a 200W CO2 laser. A major powder depositing mechanism with a scraper and a depositing system for a secondary powder are included in the apparatus that allows the powders to be delivered to the target area for selective melting. The metal powder is preheated at either a dispensing cylinder or the target area through thermal conduction and/or is also heated by a heating plate positioned above the platform through radiation. The corresponding machine structures, such as a motion system and a working chamber, are designed to be able to withstand and operated under the high temperature environment.

Abstract: A method for generating and amplifying closed circular DNA having a specific sequence in vitro in a cell-free system is disclosed. Prior to the invention of this method, closed circular DNA could only be amplified in vivo in appropriate host cells. The essence of the method is the inclusion of a thermostable DNA ligase in a PCR reaction. This procedure is referred to as ligation-during-amplification (LDA), in which the fully extended DNA strands are ligated by the DNA ligase and used as templates for subsequent amplification. Closed circular DNA having a specific sequence can be selectively amplified exponentially by the use of two sequence-specific primers in the LDA reaction. In addition, one or more site-specific mutations can be introduced into a closed circular DNA by the use of one or more mutagenic primers in the LDA reaction. Various thermostable DNA polymerases and thermostable ligases can be used for LDA amplification.

Abstract: The invention provides novel retroviral vectors that have enhanced transcription termination structures. The termination structures comprise one or several heterologous upstream transcription termination enhancer (UE) sequences, or one or more additional copies of endogenous UE sequences operably associated with the 3′ LTR polyadenylation signal. The retroviral vectors of the invention have various improved properties over conventional vectors, including stronger gene expression, enhanced vector titer and reduced interference with host cell gene expression resulting from read-through of vector initiated transcriptional events.

Abstract: The present invention near field scanning optical microscope NSOM, and related method thereof, provides a high resolution image of a sample in aqueous solution without damaging the sample. This attribute will greatly expand the applications and utility of a NSOM in biomedicine, among other fields. Moreover, the NSOM can be further extended to include signals other than light. In operation, a pipette is filled with an electrolyte solution (aqueous solution) and lowered through the reservoir toward the surface of the sample while the current between the electrode inside the pipette and the electrode in the reservoir is monitored. As the tip of the pipette approaches the surface, the ion current decreases because the space through which ions can flow is reduced. The pipette is then scanned laterally over the surface and the path of the tip pipette follows the topography of the surface.

Abstract: A method to assess oxidative stress in vivo includes the steps of measuring an amount of neuroprostanes in a biological sample before the ex vivo development of neuroprostanes in a sample, comparing the measured amount of neuroprostanes with a control and assessing oxidative stress in vivo based on this comparison. There is also provided a marker for oxidated stress by an increase of neuroprostanes in a biological sample compared to a control sample. A diagnostic tool for determining the presence of a neurodegenerative disease provides for determining an increased amount of neuroprostanes in a biological sample compared to that of a control sample.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are disclosed which facilitate purification of oligomers and other compounds. The disclosed compositions are silyl compositions that can be directly coupled, or coupled through a linking group, to a compound of interest, preferably to an oligomer at the end of oligomer synthesis. The silicon atom includes between one and three sidechains that function as capture tags. In one embodiment, the capture tags are lipophilic, which allows a derivatized oligomer to be separated from failure sequences by reverse phase chromatography. In another embodiment, the capture tags are compounds with a known affinity for other compounds, which other compounds are preferably associated with a solid support to allow chromatographic separation. Examples include haptens, antibodies, and ligands. Biotin, which can bind to or interact with a streptavidin-bound solid support, is a preferred capture tag of this type.

Abstract: The presence of a pathologic process in a lung of a mammal is detected by applying exhaled gas of a mammal to an electronic nose. Data derived from the electronic nose is used to determine whether a pathologic process is present in the lung of the mammal. The pathologic process may be a lung infection such as pneumonia.

Abstract: A method of oxidizing primary and secondary alcohols to an aldehyde or ketone using a fluorous sulfoxide or a fluorous sulfide is disclosed. The method includes regenerating and recycling the fluorous sulfoxide.

Abstract: The present invention provides a ZnO based tunable surface acoustic wave (SAW), preferably monolithically integrated tunable SAW (MITSAW) device. The MITSAW comprises a ZnO/Mgx Zn1−xO quantum well structure and piezoelectric ZnO thin film epitaxially grown on R-plane sapphire ((01{overscore (1)}2)Al2O3) substrate using MOCVD. R-plane sapphire provides in-plane anisotropy in the ZnO layer as the c-axis of ZnO lies in the growth plane. A two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) is placed in the delay path of the SAW device and interacts with the lateral electric field resulting in ohmic loss which attenuates and slows the surface acoustic wave. This mechanism is used to tune the acoustic velocity. The high coupling coefficients offered by the ZnO/R-(Al2O3) system allows large velocity tuning. ZnO based MITSAW is used for chemical and biochemical sensors, offers excellent manufacturability, high yield and low cost. Such SAW sensors have a “resettable” sensing mechanism.

Abstract: This invention relates to organic based spintronic devices, and electronic devices comprising them, including spin valves, spin tunnel junctions, spin transistors and spin light-emitting devices. New polymer-, organic- and molecular-based electronic devices in which the electron spin degree of freedom controls the electric current to enhance device performance. Polymer-, organic-, and molecular-based spintronic devices have enhanced functionality, ease of manufacture, are less costly than inorganic ones. The long spin coherence times due to the weak spin-orbit interaction of carbon and other low atomic number atoms that comprise organic materials make them ideal for exploiting the concepts of spin quantum devices. The hopping mechanism of charge transport that dominates in semiconducting polymers (vs. band transport in crystalline inorganic semiconductors) enhances spin-magneto sensitivity and reduces the expected power loss.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of using a microbe containing a polypeptide that degrades, preferably detoxifies, a compound that is present in the environment. Preferably, the polypeptide is a hydrolase and the compound is at least one s-triazine. The present invention also provides a microbe containing a polypeptide that degrades, preferably detoxifies, a compound that is present in the environment.

Abstract: The invention pertains to the genetically down regulating a lignin pathway p-coumarate Co-enzyme A ligase (CCL) in trees.

Abstract: There is disclosed a device for multiparallel synthesis or screening of a chemical library that includes at least one, and preferably more than one, plate with a two-dimensional or three-dimensional array of wells. Openings are provided in the side walls between at least some of the wells, through which the fluid can flow between adjacent wells. At least one inlet for each plate is provided whereby fluids can be introduced into the array of wells in each plate and flow between adjacent wells in each of the plates through the openings in the side walls.

Abstract: The present invention discloses gradients and methods of forming gradients. The gradients can form a component of a molecular machine, such as those disclosed herein. The molecular machines of the present invention can perform a range of tasks including nanoparticle heterostructure assembly, derivatization of a nanoparticle and synthesis of biomolecules, to name just a few applications.

Abstract: A system for the compression and decompression of image files is provided. A library of basic waveforms is produced by applying selected digital initialization codes to a chaotic system. Each basic waveform is in one-to-one correspondence with an initialization code. A weighted sum of selected basic waveforms is used to approximate each slice of an image. The basic waveforms are then discarded and only the weighting factors and the corresponding initialization codes are stored in a compressed image file. When the compressed image file is decompressed for playback, the stored initialization codes are stripped out and applied to a similar chaotic system to regenerate the basic waveforms, which are recombined according to the stored weighting factors to produce an approximation of the original image slice.

Abstract: The invention relates to the individualization of therapy on the basis of a phenotypic profile of an individual. More specifically, the present invention relates to the use of metabolic phenotyping for the individualization of treatment with antipsychotic agents.