Abstract: An information storage system includes a transducer having a loop of ferromagnetic material with pole tips separated by an nonferromagnetic gap located adjacent to a medium such as a rigid disk. During writing the separation between the pole tips and the media layer of the disk is a small fraction of the gap separation. Due to the small separation between the pole tips and the media layer, the magnetic field generated by the transducer and felt by the media has a larger perpendicular than longitudinal component, favoring perpendicular recording over longitudinal recording. The media may have an easy axis of magnetization oriented substantially along the perpendicular direction, so that perpendicular data storage is energetically favored. The transducer may also include a magnetoresistive sensor for reading magnetic information from the disk.

Abstract: Three hemoglobin-response genes in the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans are disclosed. The expression of these genes is specifically induced when the organism is exposed to hemoglobin during disseminated infections. The invention relates to the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of these hemoglobin-response genes. The invention also relates to diagnostic methods, kits and compositions which employ the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of the invention.

Abstract: Method of diagnosing cancer in a male mammal comprising obtaining and assaying a test sample for an increased level of semenogelin method of diagnostic cancer in a female mammal comprising obtaining and assaying a test sample for the presence of semenogelin methods of prognosticating and assessing the effectiveness of treatment of a cancer in a mammal comprising measuring the level of semenogelin in a test sample method of inducing an immune response to a cancer in a mammal comprising administering to the mammal a composition comprising (a) an immune-response inducing effective amount of (i) semenogelin or (ii) antibody thereto or (b) a recombinant vector encoding and expressing an immune-response inducing effective amount of (i) or (ii); and composition comprising a carrier and (a) an immune-response inducing effective amount of (i) a polypeptide of any of SEQ ID NOS:1-27 or (ii) antibody thereto or (b) a recombinant vector encoding and expressing an immune-response inducing effective amount of (i) or (ii).

Abstract: A transducer for a hard disk drive system has a planar magnetic core and a pair of poletips that project transversely from the core for sliding contact with the disk during reading and writing. The transducer is formed entirely of thin films in the shape of a low profile table having three legs that slide on the disk, the poletips being exposed at a bottom of one of the legs for high resolution communication with the disk, the throat height of the poletips affording sufficient tolerance to allow for wear. The legs elevate the transducer from the disk sufficiently to minimize lifting by a thin air layer that moves with the spinning disk which, in combination with the small size of the thin film head allows a low load and a flexible beam and gimbal to hold the transducer to the disk.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating kidney or renal diseases/conditions in a subject by administering to the subject a pharmaceutically effective amount of a purified LAP peptide, a TSP-1 type 1 repeat peptide, or a fragment thereof to interfere with the activation process of TGF-&bgr; by thrombospondin-1 to reduce and/or prevent renal damage. The present invention further provides a method of improving renal function in a subject having impaired renal function by administering to the subject a pharmaceutically effective amount of a purified LAP peptide, a TSP-1 type 1 repeat peptide, or a fragment thereof.

Abstract: An information storage system includes a transducer having a loop of ferromagnetic material with pole tips separated by an nonferromagnetic gap located adjacent to a medium such as a rigid disk. During writing the separation between the pole tips and the media layer of the disk is a small fraction of the gap separation. Due to the small separation between the pole tips and the media layer, the magnetic field generated by the transducer and felt by the media has a larger perpendicular than longitudinal component, favoring perpendicular recording over longitudinal recording. The media may have an easy axis of magnetization oriented substantially along the perpendicular direction, so that perpendicular data storage is energetically favored. The transducer may also include a magnetoresistive sensor for reading magnetic information from the disk.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of stimulating TGF-&bgr; activity, comprising contacting latent TGF-&bgr; with an amount of an activating peptide from TSP effective to convert latent TGF-&bgr; to active TGF-&bgr;. Also provided is a method of inhibiting the stimulation of TGF-&bgr; activity, comprising contacting latent TGF-&bgr; with an amount of an inhibiting peptide from TSP effective to inhibit conversion of latent of TGF-&bgr; to active TGF-&bgr;. The invention also provides a method of enhancing wound healing, comprising the step of administering to the wound site an amount of an activating peptide from TSP effective to convert latent TGF-&bgr; to active TGF-&bgr;, the activation of TGF-&bgr; resulting in enhanced wound healing.

Abstract: An information storage system having a ring head sliding on a rigid magnetic storage disk in such close proximity that the magnetic field felt by the media layer or layers of the disk has a larger perpendicular than longitudinal component so that data is stored in a perpendicular mode. The head to media separation during writing of data to the media is a small fraction of the amagnetic gap separating the poletips of the head. Reading of data may be inductive or may be via a magnetoresistive sensor which is coupled to the magnetically permeable core of the ring head far from the poletips. The media preferably has a high perpendicular anisotropy.

Abstract: A method of forming and handling an array of micro-devices such as thin film devices that enables simultaneous mass handling and processing of these thin film devices. A plurality of micro-devices and links are simultaneously formed on a wafer, with the links interconnecting the micro-devices for maintaining a unitary array structure. A matrix of magnetic strips is then formed to impart added overall tensile strength to the array. The magnetic strips are secured to the links and form a planar support grid therewith. The array of micro-devices is then released from the wafer and lifted therefrom by means of a magnetic pick-up tool. Using the pick-up tool, the array is transferred onto a magnetic chuck which securely retains the array. Conductive wires are bonded to a row of micro-devices which are then separated from the array into individual micro-devices.

Abstract: An information storage system having a ring head in such close proximity to a rigid magnetic storage disk that the magnetic field felt by the media layer or layers of the disk has a larger perpendicular than longitudinal component so that data is stored in a perpendicular mode. Reading of data is accomplished with a magnetoresistive sensor which may be coupled to the magnetically permeable core of the ring head far from the poletips, which may contact the disk. The media preferably has a high perpendicular anisotropy, and may be formed in a plurality of films with crystalline structures traversing the films.

Abstract: This invention identifies a biologically active group of peptide sequences from Type I repeat units of the extracellular matrix protein, human thrombospondin-1, identical or homologous to the sequence, KRFKQDGGWSHWSPWSSC (SEQ ID NO.30). The biological activities residing with the full sequences, portions thereof, and variants of the full or partial sequences are disclosed. The invention describes how biological activity may be enhanced by covalently linking these peptides to suitable carriers, preferably a branched, water-soluble polymer of low (or absent) toxicity and immunogenicity, such as polysucrose (Ficoll.TM.). The invention describes (1) a method for preparing such conjugates, (2) the use of the defined peptides or their conjugates in blocking or modifying the action on cellular processes of heparin (e.g.

Abstract: A planar thin film magnetic head comprises an insulating substrate, a pair of insulating pedestals formed on the substrate, a top magnetic yoke having a central portion disposed over the substrate and having opposite ends supported on each of the pedestals. A conductor is provided over the top yoke central portion, and an insulating layer is disposed between the conductor and the top magnetic yoke. A bottom magnetic yoke is disposed over the conductor and has a gap in a central portion and opposite ends in contact with the top yoke ends.

Abstract: A method of forming and handling an array of micro-devices such as thin film devices that enables simultaneous mass handling and processing of these thin film devices. A plurality of micro-devices and links are simultaneously formed on a wafer, with the links interconnecting the micro-devices for maintaining a unitary array structure. A matrix of magnetic strips is then formed to impart added overall tensile strength to the array. The magnetic strips are secured to the links and form a planar support grid therewith. The array of micro-devices is then released from the wafer and lifted therefrom by means of a magnetic pick-up tool. Using the pick-up tool, the array is transferred onto a magnetic chuck which securely retains the array. Conductive wires are bonded to a row of micro-devices devices which are then separated from the array into individual micro-devices.

Abstract: Peptides derived from the second type 1 repeat of human endothelial cell thrombospondin which bind to the gelatin-binding domain of fibronectin have been isolated and synthetically produced. The peptides can be used to bind to fibronectin or other related collagen-binding proteins to inhibit fibronectin-dependent cell adhesion to collagen matrices and to inhibit interactions with collagen of other proteins that share homologies with the gelatin-binding domain of fibronectin.

Abstract: This invention identifies a biologically active group of peptide sequences from Type I repeat units of the extracellular matrix protein, human thrombospondin-1, identical or homologous to the sequence, KRFKQDGGWSHWSPWSSC (SEQ ID NO:30). The biological activities residing with the full sequences, portions thereof, and variants of the full or partial sequences are disclosed. The invention describes how biological activity may be enhanced by covalently linking these peptides to suitable carriers, preferably a branched, water-soluble polymer of low (or absent) toxicity and immunogenicity, such as polysucrose (Ficoll.TM.). The invention describes (1) a method for preparing such conjugates, (2) the use of the defined peptides or their conjugates in blocking or modifying the action on cellular processes of heparin (e.g.

Abstract: A diagnostic kit for detecting the presence of microorganisms, comprising an insoluble substrate; and a carbohydrate receptor immobilized on the insoluble substrate, the carbohydrate receptor being capable of adsorbing microorganisms; and a labelled reagent useful for detecting the presence of microorganisms bound to the carbohydrate receptors and a method for detecting the presence of specified microorganisms in a sample, which comprises contacting a sample to be tested with carbohydrate receptors immobilized on an insoluble substrate; and determining the extent of binding of microorganisms in the sample to the carbohydrate receptors by use of a labelled reagent.

Abstract: Peptides derived from the second type 1 repeat of human endothelial cell thrombospondin which bind to the gelatin-binding domain of fibronectin have been isolated and synthetically produced. The peptides can be used to bind to fibronectin or other related collagen-binding proteins to inhibit fibronectin-dependent cell adhesion to collagen matrices and to inhibit interactions with collagen of other proteins that share homologies with the gelatin-binding domain of fibronectin.

Abstract: The invention is a method for detecting pathogenic bacteria by specific binding of the bacteria to GalNAc.beta.1-4Gal sequences found in fucosyl-asialo GM1, asialo GM1 and asialo GM2. An agglutination reaction is disclosed comprising contacting a culture suspected of containing the bacteria with a suspension of a purified carbohydrate compound bound to an insoluble carrier and detecting the presence of perceptible agglutination of the carrier as an indication of the presence of the bacteria. Bacteria which can be detected using the claimed method include Pseudomonas, Haemophilus, Staphylococcus, Klebsiella and Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Abstract: A carbohydrate receptor for pathogenic bacteria is a purified carbohydrate compound that is a member selected from the group consisting of fucosyl-asialo GM1, asialo GM1, and asialo GM2. The receptor can be included in a composition having a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The receptor may be used for purifying, detecting, or removing bacteria from diseased tissue. The structure of the receptor is N-acetylagalctosamine-beta-1-4-galactose-beta-1-4-glucose, abbreviated GalNAc.beta.1-4Gal.beta.1-4Glc. The receptor is present in human and animal tissues as complex molecule and can serve as the attachment site for bacterial infection. For example, fucosyl-asialo GM1, asialo GM1, and asialo GM2 are three biological molecules which occur in cell membranes and contain the carbohydrate receptor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptides from the three type I repeats of human endothelial cell thrombospondin, which bind to sulfated glycoconjugates including heparin and sulfatide. Such peptides are useful in glycoconjugate binding pharmaceutical compositions and in a method for binding glycoconjugates in a subject.