Abstract: A semiconductor wafer manufactured with a precise crystallographic-orientation alignment mark and a method of manufacturing. The method of manufacturing may include forcibly directing a carrier medium containing an abrasive material through a stencil to effect abrasive impact removal of a semiconductor surface in a defined machining area. The abrasive impact removal may be part of an automated machining process.

Abstract: The present invention provides of using multimeric MHC class II/peptide complexes. In one aspect, methods provided for identifying MHC class II-restricted immune epitopes of a predetermined polypeptide antigen. Methods for identifying an immunostimulatory epitope for a predetermined polypeptide antigen are provided. In a related aspect, methods for screening a therapeutic polypeptide agent for an MHC class II epitope are provided. In other aspects, methods for modulating T cells and for determining or monitoring an MHC class II-restricted immune status of a patient are also provided.

Abstract: A method for assessing blood flow in a tissue involving directing a beam through the tissue along overlapping lines of sight and then generating the blood flow data from where the ultrasonic beams overlap to evaluate blood flow in the tissue. More specifically, spatially overlapping beams are generated at a fixed temporal intervals. Spatial overlap allows the spatial distance between overlapping lines-of-sight to be ignored, while moving reflectors within any overlapping line-of-sight will cause detectable changes in range of the moving reflector from one line-of-sight to the next. The rate of motion is determined from the measured change in range and the known time interval between vectors. Processing of data includes alignment of data between lines-of-sight to suppress artifactual motion and a wall filter for isolation of flow-data from stationary structures. An apparatus for assessing blood flow includes a transmission system and a storage system.

Abstract: A modular fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite deck module having one or more hexagonal components and one or more double trapezoidal components. A hexagonal component is a hexagonal cell with all sides being of equal length and forming a hexagonal space. A double trapezoidal component has a top side, a bottom side, a first trapezoid having a first top and a first bottom, and a second trapezoid having a second top and a second bottom. The first and second trapezoidal components are of equal dimensions and configured such that the first trapezoid is inverted resulting in the first top of the first trapezoid is adjacent to the second top of the second trapezoid, thereby creating a center seam and an extensive bonding surface. The double trapezoidal and hexagonal components are made of multiple layers of multi-axial fiber reinforcement and a resin matrix, the layers being continuous throughout the entire shape of the components.

Abstract: A pick up and delivery system for use with mobile robots which have a body with a horizontal upper surface and at least one vertical side. The robot has at least one shelf, each of which contains a stop bar containing a retaining device. The system further uses multiple stations, each of which contain at least one pallet retaining surface to contain at least two pallets. The pallet retaining surfaces are provided with a holding device at the pick up area and a holding device at the delivery area. Pallets are used to retain the items being transferred with each of the pallets having a securing device that interacts with the holding device and retaining device. The strength of the holding device at the pick up area is less than the holding device at the delivery area, with the robot's retaining device having a strength between the strength of the holding devices. The mobile robot picks up a pallet from a first station, and delivers the pallet to a second station.

Abstract: A method of making anisotropic carbon foam material includes de-ashing and hydrogenating bituminous coal, separating asphaltenes from oils contained in the coke precursor, coking the material to create a carbon foam. In one embodiment of the invention, the carbon foam is subsequently graphitized. The pores within the foam material are preferably generally of equal size. The pore size and carbon foam material density may be controlled by (a) altering the percentage volatiles contained within the asphaltenes to be coked, (b) mixing the asphaltenes with different coking precursors which are isotropic in nature, or (c) modifying the pressure under which coking is effected. In another embodiment of the invention, solvent separation is employed on raw bituminous coal and an isotropic carbon foam is provided. The carbon foam materials of the present invention are characterized by having high compressive strength as compared with prior known carbon foam materials.

Abstract: An interconnected distributed network of actuator devices for the control of damping vibrations in mechanical structures. The network includes at least two actuators and at least two impedances arranged in parallel with respective actuators of the at least two actuators. A transmission line connects the parallel arrangement of the at least two actuators and the at least two impedances thereby forming a continuous distributed network.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds having the formula I: X is (C1-C8)alkylene, (C2-C8)alkenylene, (C2-C8)alkynylene, wherein one of the carbon atoms in the alkylene, alkenylene or alkynylene groups is optionally replaced with a group having the formula —O—, —N(R4)C(O)—, —OC(O—, S—, —S(O)—or —SO2—, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds having the formula I. The compounds of the invention are selective antagonists of A2B adenosine receptors (ARs). These compounds and compositions are useful as pharmaceutical agents for treatment of diseases that are mediated by A2B adenosine receptors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel isolated avian hepatitis E virus having a nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 or its complementary strand. The invention further concerns immunogenic compositions comprising this new virus or a recombinant products such as the nucleic acid and vaccines that protect an avian or mammalian species from viral infection or hepatitis-splenomegaly syndrome caused by the hepatitis E virus. Also included in the scope of the invention is a method for propagating, inactivating or attenuating a hepatitis E virus comprising inoculating an embryonated chicken egg with a live, pathogenic hepatitis E virus and recovering the virus or serially passing the pathogenic virus through additional embryonated chicken eggs until the virus is rendered inactivated or attenuated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel felbamate derivatives and their use to treat neurological diseases such as epilepsy and to treat tissue damage resulting form ischemic events. The felbamate derivatives are modified to prevent the formation of metabolites that are believed responsible for the toxicity associated with felbamate therapy.

Abstract: Protein targets for disease intervention through inhibition of nucleic acid metabolism are disclosed. Novel polypeptides for one such target, DNA-dependent ATPase A, and novel polynucleotides encoding DNA-dependent ATPase A are disclosed. Phosphoaminoglycoside compounds which act on such protein targets to inhibit nucleic acid metabolism. In addition, screening assays for identifying compounds that inhibit nucleic acid-dependent ATPase activity, including, but not limited to, DNA-dependent ATPase A, are disclosed. Such compounds are useful in the treatment of diseases, including but not limited to cancer and infectious disease, through disruption of nucleic acid metabolism and induction of apoptosis. Moreover, methods for prevention and treatment of diseases including, but not limited to cancer and infectious disease are disclosed.

Abstract: Chemical structures have been identified which allosterically modify pyrvate kinase and inhibit enzymatic activity. These compounds can be used as pharmaceuticals in the treatment of a wide variety of diseases and disorders where influencing metabolic processes is beneficial, such as the glycolytic pathway, all pathways which use ATP as an energy source, and all pathways which involve 2,3-diphosphoglycerate related to the delivery of oxygen by modifying hemoglobin's oxygen affinity, treatments of tumor and cancer and Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Abstract: Protein targets for disease intervention through inhibition of nucleic acid metabolism are disclosed. Novel polypeptides for one such target, DNA-dependent ATPase A, and novel polynucleotides encoding DNA-dependent ATPase A are disclosed. Phosphoaminoglycoside compounds which act on such protein targets to inhibit nucleic acid metabolism. In addition, screening assays for identifying compounds that inhibit nucleic acid-dependent ATPase activity, including, but not limited to, DNA-dependent ATPase A, are disclosed. Such compounds are useful in the treatment of diseases, including but not limited to cancer and infectious disease, through disruption of nucleic acid metabolism and induction of apoptosis. Moreover, methods for prevention and treatment of diseases including, but not limited to cancer and infectious disease are disclosed.

Abstract: Compounds and methods are provided to treat inflammatory conditions with certain A2A adenosine receptor antagonists.

Abstract: An cervical drug delivery apparatus having an absorbent cylindrical structure with a cervical cap attached to one end. One or more therapeutic agents are applied to the internal surface of the cervical cap. The cervical drug delivery apparatus is housed within an applicator and inserted into a patient's vagina. Upon deployment of the cervical drug delivery apparatus, the cervical cap is automatically positioned over the patient's cervix providing for the direct application of the therapeutic agents on the patient's cervix. Alternative features of the cervical drug delivery apparatus include, a break-away cylindrical structure, a collapsible support structure for the cervical cap, an inflatable means for supporting the cervical cap, and the ability of the cylindrical structure and/or the cervical cap to contain one or more therapeutic agents that can be delivered by outside means.

Abstract: A new type of silica-modified membrane has been developed by the high-temperature, atmospheric-pressure CVD of Vycor glass. The new membrane, Nanosil, showed unprecedented selectivity to hydrogen (100%), without loss of permeability compared to the porous Vycor precursor. The membrane also showed high stability under hydrothermal conditions over prolonged time. The suitability of a Rh/Al2O3 catalyst for the methane reforming with carbon dioxide was also demonstrated. The limitations imposed by thermodynamics on methane conversion have been circumvented by the use of membranes to preferentially remove hydrogen during reaction. The shortcoming of the Knudsen mode of diffusion was overcome by the development of the modified porous glass membrane.

Abstract: Pesticidal and/or antimicrobial biological agent-infected arthropod cadavers are formulated by applying a coating agent once on the surface of the cadaver which either (a) prevents the cadavers from sticking together and/or rupturing or (b) acts as an adhesive for a powder or granule applied to the cadaver to prevent sticking and rupturing. The formulated cadavers maintain or improve infectivity, reproducibility, and survivability. The formulated cadavers can be partially desiccated to improve on shelf-life.

Abstract: A highly-sensitive, rapid response fluorescent probe is based on the affinity of a polymer matrix for an analyte of interest. The probe includes a polymer matrix and a dye immobilized in the matrix. The polymer matrix has an affinity for an analyte of interest and the dye has little or no sensitivity to the analyte of interest when excited by an excitation source in a free state but has significant sensitivity to the analyte of interest when excited by the excitation source when immobilized in the matrix. Sensors incorporating the polymer/fluorophore probes of the present invention have the sensitivity and rapid response needed for detection of chemical agent and biological materials. Sensors using the probes provide sensitivity to Sarin at several hundred parts per trillion in one second or less. That is a notable advance over state-of-the-art detectors that require preconcentration steps, which in turn restrict response times to one minute or more.

Abstract: Compounds which have enhanced affinity and selectivity for 5-HT6 receptors have been identified. These compounds can be used therapeutically in the treatment of mental disorders via administration in a pharmacologically acceptable delivery route to a patient in need thereof, or can be used to identify antagonists of 5-HT6 receptors by well known screening methodologies which could themselves be used in the treatment of mental disorders.

Abstract: A non-human transgenic mammalian animal, as described above, contains an exogenous double stranded DNA sequence stably integrated into the genome of the animal, which comprises cis-acting regulatory units operably linked to a DNA sequence encoding human Factor VIII protein and a signal peptide, where the cis-acting regulatory units are active in mammary gland cells and the signal peptide is active in directing newly expressed Factor VIII into the milk of the animal. The promoter may be a milk protein promoter such as for whey acidic protein, casein, lactalbumin, or beta-lactoglobulin promoter. The transgenic mammals are preferably farm animals, for example, cows, goats, sheep, rabbits and pigs. Concurrent expression of a gene for human von Willebrand's Factor into milk may be used to stabilize newly-secreted Factor VIII.