Abstract: A device and method for manipulating a direction of motion of current carriers are presented. The device comprises a structure containing a two-dimensional gas of current carriers configured to define at least one region of inhomogeneity which is characterized by a substantially varying value of at least one parameter from the following: a spin-orbit coupling constant, density of the spin carriers, and a mobility of the gas. The device may be configured and operable to perform spin manipulation of a flux of the spin carrying current carriers to provide at least one of the following types of deviation of said spin-carrying current carriers: spin dependent refraction, spin dependent reflection and spin dependent diffraction on desired deviation angles of a direction of motion of the spin-carrying current carriers being incident on said at least one region of inhomogeneity.

Abstract: A method and system are presented for producing an output coherent anti-stokes Raman scattering (CARS) signal of a medium. The method comprises generation of a unitary optical excitation pulse that carries a pump photon, a Stokes photon and a probe photon; and inducing a CARS process in the medium by exciting the medium by the at least one such unitary optical excitation pulse.

Abstract: Interleukin-18 binding proteins which are capable of binding IL-18 and of modulating and/or blocking IL-18 activity are provided. Methods for the isolation and recombinant production, DNAs encoding them. DNA vectors expressing them, vectors useful for their expression in humans and other mammals, antibodies against them are also provided. Therapeutic uses of IL-18 binding proteins and further inhibitors of IL-18 are also provided according to the invention.

Abstract: A method and device are provided for automatically generating a key and a conjugate key to be used in an optical code division multiple access system. The method comprises applying a down conversion process to pump input light to thereby produce down converted broadband signal and idler fields that are complex conjugates of each other. The signal and idler fields thus serve as the key and its conjugate. Also provided according to the invention is a method for use in coding/decoding a signal in an optical code division multiple access system.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of IL6RIL6 chimera in the treatment and prevention of neurological diseases and disorders.

Abstract: The present invention concerns genetically stable transformed Lemnaceae plants and methods for their transformation by Agrobacterium cells. The present invention further concerns a method for regeneration of plants from calli, utilizing low sucrose media and products of interest produce from said plants. The present invention further concerns booster media for use in the above methods.

Abstract: A method and device are presented for measuring the electrical properties of a specimen. The specimen is excited with high energy radiation to cause emission of internal charged particles from the specimen. Electrical power is supplied to a circuit, that is formed by the specimen and any added component connected to a back contact of the specimen. The electric power supply includes at least one of the following: irradiating the circuit with low energy charged particles; subjecting the circuit to an external field of the kind affecting the flux of emitted internal charged particles, and supplying a bias voltage to the back contact of the specimen. During the power supply to the specimen, at least one of the following is carried out: an electric current through the specimen is measured, and the emitted charged particles are analyzed versus their energy (using a contactless voltmeter) which provides local potential values at chemical entities of the specimen.

Abstract: An auto-focusing method and device are presented for determining an in-focus position of a sample supported on a substrate plate made of a material transparent with respect to incident electromagnetic radiation. The method utilizes an optical system capable of directing incident electromagnetic radiation towards the sample and collecting reflections of the incident electromagnetic radiation that are to be detected. A focal plane of an objective lens arrangement is located at a predetermined distance from a surface of the substrate, which is opposite to the sample-supporting surface of the substrate. A continuous displacement of the focal plane relative to the substrate along the optical axis of the objective lens arrangement is provided, while concurrently directing the incident radiation towards the sample through the objective lens arrangement to thereby focus the incident radiation to a location at the focal plane of the objective lens arrangement.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are presented for obtaining inorganic fullerene-like nanostructures. A metal oxide is evaporated at predetermined temperature conditions, and is swept towards a reacting zone, to which first and second gas phase reacting agents are concurrently swept. The evaporated metal oxide thus interacts with the first reacting agent and is converted into metal suboxide nanoparticles in the gas phase. The condensing metal suboxide nanoparticles interact with the second reacting agent in the gas phase resulting in substantially pure phase of the inorganic fullerene-like nanoparticles.

Abstract: A solar receiver (2) comprises a housing (4) defining a receiver chamber (12) and an aperture (14); a window (16) mounted in the aperture (14); at least two inlet means (17) axially spaced from the window (16) and positioned at different distances therefrom for the injection into the receiver chamber (12) of different flows of workind fluid; an outlet means (18) for the ejection of the working fluid out of the receiver chamber (12); and absorption control means for the provision of the different flows of the working fluid with different capability to absorb solar radiation

Abstract: Recombinant DNA encoding Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) Inhibitory Protein, or an active fragment thereof, is obtained. The TNF Inhibitory Protein has the ability to inhibit: (a) the binding of TNF to its receptors, and (b) the cytotoxic effect of TNF. TNF Inhibitory Protein and salts, functional derivatives and active fractions thereof can be used to antagonize the deleterious effects of TNF by eliminating TNF from the body, and to reduce the cytotoxic activity of TNF by binding to TNF and thereby to inhibit the binding of TNF to its receptors. The DNA may be in an expression vector. Host cells transfected with such an expression vector may be used to produce the TNF Inhibitory Protein.

Abstract: An auto-focusing method and device are presented for determining an in-focus position of a sample supported on a substrate plate made of a material transparent with respect to incident electromagnetic radiation. The method utilizes an optical system capable of directing incident electromagnetic radiation towards the sample and collecting reflections of the incident electromagnetic radiation that are to be detected. A focal plane of an objective lens arrangement is located at a predetermined distance from a surface of the substrate, which is opposite to the sample-supporting surface of the substrate. A continuous displacement of the focal plane relative to the substrate along the optical axis of the objective lens arrangement is provided, while concurrently directing the incident radiation towards the sample through the objective lens arrangement to thereby focus the incident radiation to a location at the focal plane of the objective lens arrangement.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for preparing a metal carbene complex of formula (I): wherein M is a transition metal atom selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, rhodium, iron, cobalt, osmium and iridium; L denotes neutral donor ligands ligated to said metal, such groups being the same or different; X is an anionic ligand; R1 and R2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted C1-C20 alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted C2-C20 alkenyl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heterocycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl, substituted or unsubstituted vinyl, a is 2 or 3 and b is 1 or 2, such process comprising reacting a sulfur ylide of the formula Ar2S?CR1R2 or its precursor with an appropriate metal complex comprising a transition metal atom selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, rhodium, iron, cobalt, osmium and iridium, said metal complex being also

Abstract: A method for secure multi-party function evaluation with a non-limiting application to the holding of auctions. The outcome of an auction can be determined by an auctioneer without learning any information about the bids, except for the bid which determines the clearing price, and without learning any information about the bidders, except for the winning bidder. The security of this information is maintained even after the conclusion of the auction. Moreover, the bidders can individually and privately verify that the auction was conducted correctly, thereby establishing a mechanism for trust. The method is well-suited to the holding of privacy-protected auctions over computer networks because of its high efficiency, requiring only a single round of interactive communication without any communication among the bidders. Furthermore, the bulk of the computation and data communication or the protocol can be done in advance of the auction itself, and is adaptable to distribution via stored media.

Abstract: There are provided polypeptides which bind to caspase-8. Production and use of such polypeptides is also provided, as well as DNA encoding them, and vectors and host cells having such DNA.

Abstract: A method and system are presented for producing an output coherent anti-stokes Raman scattering (CARS) signal of a medium. The method comprises generation of a unitary optical excitation pulse that carries a pump photon, a Stokes photon and a probe photon; and inducing a CARS process in the medium by exciting the medium by the at least one such unitary optical excitation pulse.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the catalytic epoxidation of an alkene comprising a transition metal substituted polyoxofluorometalate and molecular oxygen with the alkene. The invention also includes transition metal substituted polyoxofluorometalates of the formula Qq[NaH2(TM)(H2O)M17F6O55]q and the molecular structure depicted in FIG. 1, where M is Mo, W, Nb, V or combinations thereof, TM is selected from Ti, V, Cr, Mn Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn and the noble metals Ru, Pd, Rh, Ir, Os and Pt,, and Q is a countercation countering the charge q−, and a process for preparing such polyoxofluorometalates.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the catalytic epoxidation of an alkene comprising contacting a transition metal substituted polyoxofluorometalate and molecular oxygen with said alkene.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the catalytic epoxidation of an alkene comprising contacting a transition metal substituted polyoxofluorometalate and molecular oxygen with said alkene.

Abstract: Recombinant DNA encoding Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) Inhibitory Protein, or an active fragment thereof, is obtained. The TNF Inhibitory Protein has the ability to inhibit: (a) the binding of TNF to its receptors, and (b) the cytotoxic effect of TNF. TNF Inhibitory Protein and salts, functional derivatives and active fractions thereof can be used to antagonize the deleterious effects of TNF by eliminating TNF from the body, and to reduce the cytotoxic activity of TNF by binding to TNF and thereby to inhibit the binding of TNF to its receptors. The DNA may be in an expression vector. Host cells transfected with such an expression vector may be used to produce the TNF Inhibitory Protein.