Abstract: The present invention provides methods for use of IL-21 in combination with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) in treatment of diseases in which inhibition of phosphorylation via TK inhibition and modulation of immune function play a clinically beneficial role. These diseases include, but are not limited to, cancers, such as renal cell carcinoma and metastatic melanoma.

Abstract: An approach is presented for designing a polymeric layer for nanometer scale thermo-mechanical storage devices. Cross-linked polyaryletherketone polymers are used as the recording layers in atomic force data storage devices, giving significantly improved performance when compared to previously reported cross-linked and linear polymers. The cross-linking of the polyaryletherketone polymers may be tuned to match thermal and force parameters required in read-write-erase cycles.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein includes an apparatus and a method for treatment of vaginal prolapse conditions. The apparatus is a graft having a central body portion with at least one strap extending from it. The strap has a bullet needle attached to its end portion and is anchorable to anchoring tissue in the body of a patient. The invention makes use of a delivery device adapted to deploy the graft in a patient. The inventive method includes the steps of making an incision in the vaginal wall of a patient, opening the incision to gain access inside the vagina and pelvic floor area, inserting the inventive apparatus through the incision, and attaching the straps of the apparatus to anchoring tissue in the patient.

Abstract: Nanoporous structures are constructed that have hydrophilic regions separated by hydrophobic regions. The porous, hydrophilic regions have reaction sites suitable for use in a bioassay application and have a higher density of reaction sites than that of a non-porous (2-D) surface. The structure may be made by depositing a layer of a matrix material (e.g., an organosilicate) and a porogen, and then crosslinking the matrix material to form a nanohybrid composite structure. The porogen is decomposed to form pores within the matrix material, and a reactive gas phase species (e.g., ozone) is patternwise directed onto a surface of the matrix material. Ultraviolet light (directed through a mask) activates the gas phase species to form a reactive species that then reacts with the matrix material to make it hydrophilic. The porogen may be decomposed thermally or by exposing it to an oxidizing atmosphere in the presence of ultraviolet light.

Abstract: A cold rolled full hard steel strap usable in a strapping machine has a tensile strength of at least about 125.7 thousand pounds per square inch (KSI) when the strap has a width of about 0.500 inches and a thickness of 0.020 inches. The steel strap is fabricated from a coiled steel formed by hot mill rolling and reduced by cold rolling. The steel strap has a composition of approximately (in weight percent): 0.02 to 0.25 percent carbon, 0.15 to 1.50 percent manganese, 0.01 to 0.12 percent aluminum, 0.04 to 0.03 percent nitrogen, 0.04 to 0.50 percent copper, 0.03 to 0.25 percent nickel, 0.02 to 0.25 percent molybdenum, 0.03 to 0.25 percent chromium, maximum 0.05 percent phosphorous, maximum 0.05 percent sulfur, and maximum 0.25 percent silicon. A method for forming the strap also is disclosed.

Abstract: A method of forming low dielectric contrast structures by imprinting a silsesquioxane based polymerizable composition. The imprinting composition including: one or more polyhedral silsesquioxane oligomers each having one or more polymerizable groups, wherein each of the one or more polymerizable group is bound to a different silicon atom of the one or more polyhedral silsesquioxane oligomers; and one or more polymerizable diluents, the diluents constituting at least 50% by weight of the composition.

Abstract: An approach is presented for designing a polymeric layer for nanometer scale thermo-mechanical storage devices. Cross-linked polyimide oligomers are used as the recording layers in atomic force data storage device, giving significantly improved performance when compared to previously reported cross-linked and linear polymers. The cross-linking of the polyimide oligomers may be tuned to match thermal and force parameters required in read-write-erase cycles. Additionally, the cross-linked polyimide oligomers are suitable for use in nano-scale imaging.

Abstract: Hexose and pentose monosaccharides are degraded to lactic acid and glyceric acid in an aqueous solution in the presence of an excess of a strongly anionic exchange resin, such as AMBERLITE IRN78 and AMBERLITE IRA400. The glyceric acid and lactic acid can be separated from the aqueous solution. Lactic acid and glyceric acid are staple articles of commerce.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to shaped ophthalmic lenses and methods for providing such lenses, including non-powered lenses having non-quadratic surfaces of complementary curvature. Such lenses may have a curvature maximum away from an axis of symmetry and a substantially constant wall thickness. Equations describing and methods of designing such lenses are disclosed including embodiments where two spheres of substantially different curvature are merged in accordance with a weighting function, and adjusted using merit functions.

Abstract: A process for producing organic acid di- or tri-esters, particularly citric acid tri-esters, with the available acid groups esterified using countercurrent reactive distillation using acid catalysts in a structured packing is described. In the reactive distillation an organic acid di- or tri-ester is formed by chemical reaction and purified to its final state within the single column. Organic acid di- or tri-esters are produced at relatively low cost, with less waste production in by-products of the reaction, and in a less complicated manner than prior processes. Organic acid di- and tri-esters have uses as solvents, as plasticizers and in conversion products.

Abstract: A gas phase species (such as ozone, H2O2, or N2O) is photodissociated with ultraviolet light into a reactive species that is patternwise directed (e.g., through a mask) onto a surface of a material, such as an organosilicate. The reactive species reacts with the material to form a polar oxidation product such as —OH, thereby resulting in discrete hydrophilic regions separated from each other by hydrophobic regions. The degree of hydrophilicity of the discrete regions may be tailored by controlling the concentration of the reactive species, the ultraviolet light intensity, the temperature to which the material is heated, and exposure time. End products made with the methods are suitable for use in a biomolecular array.

Abstract: An apparatus for comminuting biological specimens includes a receiving component provided with a drive source, at least one sample retainer configured for accommodating at least one biological specimen and constructed and arranged for engagement in the receiving component. The sample retainer includes a first component configured for receiving a specimen prior to comminution and a second component for receiving the specimen after comminution. In addition, the sample retainer is insertable into the receiving component as a single piece.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a fuel oil (diesel fuel or heating oil) composition which is a mixture of an alkanol tranesterified fatty acid ester triglyceride and an acetal of glycerol is described. The process preferably provides a prestep of the formation of at least some of the alkanol transesterified triglyceride containing the glycerol for use in the formation of the acetal of glycerol. The composition can also be formed from a reaction of 1,1- dimethoxy- or 1,1-diethoxyethane and glycerol to form the acetal in the alkanol transesterified triglyceride.

Abstract: Dielectric compositions comprised of porous polymeric matrices are prepared using nitrogen-containing polymers as pore-generating agents. The compositions are useful in the manufacture of electronic devices such as integrated circuit devices and integrated circuit packaging devices. The dielectric compositions are prepared by admixing a polymeric nitrogenous porogen with a high temperature, thermosetting host polymer in a suitable solvent, heating the admixture to cure the polymer and provide a vitrified matrix, and then decomposing the porogen using heat, radiation, or a chemical reagent effective to degrade the porogen. The highly porous dielectric materials so prepared have an exceptionally low dielectric constant on the order of 2.5 or less, preferably less than about 2.0. Integrated circuit devices and integrated circuit packaging devices manufactured so as to contain the dielectric material of the invention are provided as well.

Abstract: A scratch-off lottery game card that simulates the rules of the game of Bingo. On the card, there is a first set of game indicia of a first type arranged in a grid that has at least one row of cells having a indicia of a second type with a unique one of the indicia of the second type defining a particular column of the grid. There is a second set of game indicia on the card, each a grouping of one of the first and second type of game indicia such that each defines a potential one of the first type of indicia in a column of cells of the grid of first set of game indicia. A set of prize indicators is adjacent the grid of the first set of game indicia thereby defining a row of the grid and indicating the prize for matching a defined row.

Abstract: A progressive ophthalmic lens element including a lens surface having an upper viewing zone having a surface power to achieve a refracting power corresponding to distance vision, a lower viewing zone having a different surface power than the upper viewing zone to achieve a refracting power corresponding to near vision; and an intermediate zone extending across the lens element having a surface power varying from that of the upper viewing zone to that of the lower viewing zone one or more of the upper, intermediate and lower viewing zones being designed optically to reduce or minimise a selected measure of blur for the corresponding range of object distances; and at least a portion of the peripheral region of the surface of the ophthalmic lens element being designed to reduce or minimise one or more surface characteristics known to correlate with the sensation of swim.

Abstract: A low dielectric constant, patterned, nanoporous material and a method of forming the material. The material is formed by depositing a layer onto a substrate, said layer comprising a reactive organosilicate material, a porogen, an initiator, and a solvent; exposing portions of the layer to energy (e.g., thermal energy or electromagnetic radiation) to change the solubility of portions of the organosilicate material with respect to the solvent; selectively removing more soluble portions of the layer to generate a relief pattern; and decomposing the porogen to thereby generate a nanoporous organosilicate layer.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus that minimize the impedance discontinuity between a component and a signal trace is described. The methods and apparatus generally comprise at least one signal trace disposed on a dielectric layer, wherein the signal trace comprises a first width which is wider than a second width, a via connected to the first width of the signal trace, and a component electrically attached to the via, wherein an impedance discontinuity between the signal trace and the component is lowered.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is an apparatus. The apparatus includes a pair of parallel traces on a first level of a PCB (printed circuit board). The apparatus also includes a stub on a second level of the PCB. The stub is parallel to the pair of parallel traces. The stub is physically disconnected from the pair of parallel traces. The stub has a predetermined length based on an expected frequency. The stub is formed of an electrically conductive material.

Abstract: Crosslinked particles are provided that are useful in the manufacture of dielectric materials for use in electronic devices such as integrated circuits. The crosslinked particles are prepared by activating crosslinkable groups on synthetic polymer molecules, where the crosslinkable groups are inert until activated and, when activated, undergo an irreversible intramolecular crosslinking reaction to form crosslinked particles.