Abstract: Disclosed are process control systems and methods incorporating a crystal microbalance (CM) (e.g., a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM)) into gas flow line(s) entering and/or exiting a processing chamber. A CM measures the resonance of a quartz crystal sensor contained therein as gas flows over that crystal sensor and can, thereby be used to accurately monitor, in real time, the mass flow rate of the gas. The mass flow rate may indicate that gas contamination has occurred and, in response, a controller can cause the gas flow to stop. Additionally, the mass flow rate may indicate the desired result will not be achieved within the processing chamber and, in response, advanced process control (APC) can be performed (e.g., the controller can adjust the gas flow). CM(s) incorporated into gas flow lines entering and/or exiting a processing chamber can provide precise measurements for process monitoring at minimal cost.

Abstract: A polypeptide, called Tir (for translocated intimin receptor, which is secreted by attaching and effacing pathogens, such as the enteropathogenic (EPEC) and enterohemorrhagic (EHEC) E. coli. These bacterial pathogens inserts their own receptors into mammalian cell surfaces, to which the bacterial pathogen then adheres to trigger additional host signaling events and actin nucleation. Diagnosis of disease caused by pathogenic E. coli can be performed by the use of antibodies which bind to Tir to detect the protein or the use of nucleic acid probes for detection of nucleic acids encoding Tir polypeptide. Isolated nucleic acid sequences encoding Tir polypeptide, Tir peptides, a recombinant method for producing recombinant Tir, antibodies which bind to Tir, and a kit for the detection of Tir-producing E. coli are provided. A method of immunizing a host with Tir to induce a protective immune response to Tir or a second polypeptide of interst is also provided.

Abstract: A polypeptide, called Tir (for translocated intimin receptor, which is secreted by attaching and effacing pathogens, such as the enteropathogenic (EPEC) and enterohemorrhagic (EHEC) E. coli. These bacterial pathogens inserts their own receptors into mammalian cell surfaces, to which the bacterial pathogen then adheres to trigger additional host signaling events and actin nucleation. Diagnosis of disease caused by pathogenic E. coli can be performed by the use of antibodies which bind to Tir to detect the protein or the use of nucleic acid probes for detection of nucleic acids encoding Tir polypeptide. Isolated nucleic acid sequences encoding Tir polypeptide, Tir peptides, a recombinant method for producing recombinant Tir, antibodies which bind to Tir, and a kit for the detection of Tir-producing E. coli are provided. A method of immunizing a host with Tir to induce a protective immune response to Tir or a second polypeptide of interest is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of identifying agents that enhance innate immunity in a subject. The invention further provides a method of selectively supresses sepsis by suppressing expression of a proinflammatory gene while maintaining expression of an anti-inflammatory gene. Also provided are methods of identifying a polynucleotide or pattern of polynucleotides regulated by one or more sepsis or inflammatory inducing agents and inhibited by a peptide is described, methods of identifying a pattern of polynucleotide expression for inhibition of an inflammatory or septic response, and compounds and agents identified by the methods of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of identifying agents that enhance innate immunity in a subject. The invention further provides a method of selectively supressing sepsis by suppressing expression of a proinflammatory gene while maintaining expression of an anti-inflammatory gene. Also provided are methods of identifying a polynucleotide or pattern of polynucleotides regulated by one or more sepsis or inflammatory inducing agents and inhibited by a peptide is described, methods of identifying a pattern of polynucleotide expression for inhibition of an inflammatory or septic response, and compounds and agents identified by the methods of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polypeptide, called EspA, which is secreted by pathogenic E. coli, such as the enteropathogenic (SPEC) and enterohemorrhagic (EHEC) E. coli. The invention also provides isolated nucleic acid sequences encoding EspA polypeptide, EspA peptides, a recombinant method for producing recombinant EspA, antibodies which bind to EspA, and a kit for the detection of EspA-producing E. coli.

Abstract: A peroxide curable fluoroelastomer composition wherein the composition comprises a tetrapolymer whose interpolymerized units consist essentially of units derived from: (1) about 30-40 weight percent vinylidene fluoride, (2) about 30-40 weight percent of the fluorine-containing monomers hexafluoropropylene or pentafluoropropylene, (3) about 25-35 weight percent tetrafluoroethylene and (4) up to 3 mole percent of units, based upon the tetrapolymer, derived from a bromine-containing olefin, with the proviso that enough of such units are present to provide 0.05 weight percent bromine in the tetrapolymer, the units of the bromine-containing olefin are derived from a compound having the formula CX.sub.2 .dbd.CX(CY.sub.2).sub.n (CZ.sub.2).sub.2 Br where X is hydrogen or fluorine, Y is hydrogen, fluorine or chlorine, Z is fluorine or chlorine and n is 0-5 and said fluoroelastomer composition contains at least 1 part per hundred parts tetrapolymer of trimethallylisocyanurate.

Abstract: Copolymers of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluoromethyl perfluorovinyl ether with a cure-site monomer of the formula R.sub.1 CH.dbd.CR.sub.2 R.sub.3 wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently selected from hydrogen and fluorine and R.sub.3 is independently selected from hydrogen, fluorine and alkyl or perfluoroalkyl.