Abstract: Electrospinning of materials that are difficult or impossible to process into nanofibers by conventional fiber-forming techniques or by electrospinning are prepared by an electrospinning procedure which uses an electrospinnable outer “shell” fluid around an inner “core” fluid, which may or may not be electrospinnable, to form nanofibers of the inner core fluid having a core/shell morphology. The resulting shell around the nanofiber can remain in place or be removed during post-processing with the core of the fiber remaining intact. The dual-fluid electrospinning process can produce core fibers having diameters less than 100 nm, insulated nanowires, as well as tough, bio-compatible silk fibers. Alternatively, the core can be removed leaving a hollow fiber of the shell fluid.

Abstract: Multi-purpose solutions for contact lens care provide substantial lens wearer/user comfort and/or acceptability, with minimal, if any, corneal epithelial punctate fluorescein staining. Such solutions may include an aqueous liquid medium; an antimicrobial component comprising polyquarternium-1 and a hexamethylene biguanide polymer having a number average molecular weight in the range of from about 4,000 to about 45,000; a surfactant component, preferably a poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxypropylene) block copolymer surfactant, in an effective amount; a buffer component in an effective amount; a viscosity-inducing component, preferably selected from cellulosic derivatives, in an effective amount; and a tonicity component in an effective amount. Such solutions have substantial performance, comfort and acceptability benefits, which, ultimately, lead to ocular health advantages and avoidance of problems caused by contact lens wear.

Abstract: A system and method for converting organic wastes to biodegradable thermoplastic materials including polyhydroxyalkanoates is disclosed, which method includes treating the organic wastes with an acidogenic microbial population to form fermentative organic acids, and polymerization of the organic acids by PHA-producing microbial species to form PHAs. The system includes a first compartment for acidogenesis of organic wastes without oxygen, and a second compartment, for polymer synthesis by enriched cultures of species with oxygen such as R. eutropha, P. oleovorans, or mixtures thereof. The compartments are integrated with barriers that permit mass transfer of organic acids while maintaining different culture conditions in the compartments.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for receiving, storing and using server status information provided by a plurality of management system servers in, for example, a telecommunications network.

Abstract: Multi-puipose solutions for contact lens care provide substantial lens wearer/user comfort and/or acceptability, with minimal, if any, corneal epithelial punctate fluorescein staining. Such solutions may include an aqueous liquid medium; an antimicrobial component comprising polyquarternium-1 and a hexamethylene biguanide polymer having a number average molecular weight in the range of from about 4,000 to about 45,000; a surfactant component, preferably a poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxypropylene) block copolymer surfactant, in an effective amount; a buffer component in an effective amount; a viscosity-inducing component, preferably selected from cellulosic derivatives, in an effective amount; and a tonicity component in an effective amount. Such solutions have substantial performance, comfort and acceptability benefits, which, ultimately, lead to ocular health advantages and avoidance of problems caused by contact lens wear.

Abstract: A multi-purpose contact lens care solution having high activity against fungi and certain bacteria comprising, in liquid aqueous medium, an alkylamine having the following formula, where R1 is a C13-17 alkylamine, and R2 and R3 are each independently H or —CH3, and a non-ionic surfactant. The solution may optionally also include additional antimicrobial components, a buffer component, a viscosity inducing component, a surfactant, taurine, propylene glycol and/or a tonicity component. This solution additionally prevents losses in ocular tissue membrane integrity during contact lens wear.

Abstract: A multi-purpose contact lens care solution having high antimicrobial activity comprising, in an aqueous liquid medium, cetylpyridinium chloride and a non-ionic surfactant. In one embodiment of the invention, the non-ionic surfactant is a poly(oxypropylene)-poly(oxyethylene) block copolymer. The solution may optionally also include additional antimicrobial components, a buffer component, a viscosity inducing component, a surfactant, taurine, propylene glycol and/or a tonicity component. This solution additionally prevents losses in ocular tissue membrane integrity during contact lens wear.

Abstract: Stable oil-in-water emulsions are described which contain a demulcent for the treatment of dry eye such as sodium hyaluronate. The oil-in-water emulsions are stable and have anti-microbial activity sufficient for use as contact lens disinfecting solutions.

Abstract: Multi-purpose solutions for contact lens care provide substantial lens wearer/user comfort and/or acceptability, with minimal, if any, corneal epithelial punctate fluorescein staining. Such solutions may include an aqueous liquid medium; an antimicrobial component comprising polyquarternium-1 and a hexamethylene biguanide polymer having a number average molecular weight in the range of from about 4,000 to about 45,000; a surfactant component, preferably a poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxypropylene) block copolymer surfactant, in an effective amount; a buffer component in an effective amount; a viscosity-inducing component, preferably selected from cellulosic derivatives, in an effective amount; and a tonicity component in an effective amount. Such solutions have substantial performance, comfort and acceptability benefits, which, ultimately, lead to ocular health advantages and avoidance of problems caused by contact lens wear.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for microcontroller debugging. A preferred embodiment microcontroller integrated circuit comprises debug circuitry on the integrated circuit. The debug circuitry is capable of breaking normal instruction execution based on an address breakpoint, a stack pointer breakpoint, or a single step breakpoint. Upon detection of a valid breakpoint, the debug circuitry substitutes a jump to a debug program instruction in place of the next normal application program instruction. The debug program then may provide microcontroller status to a developer, allowing the developer to debug the application program. Upon completion of the debug program, control of the microcontroller is returned to the application program at the point of interruption.

Abstract: Multi-purpose solutions for contact lens care provide substantial lens wearer/user comfort and/or acceptability, with minimal, if any, corneal epithelial punctate fluorescein staining. Such solutions may include an aqueous liquid medium; an antimicrobial component comprising polyquarternium-1 and a hexamethylene biguanide polymer having a number average molecular weight in the range of from about 4,000 to about 45,000; a surfactant component, preferably a poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxypropylene) block copolymer surfactant, in an effective amount; a buffer component in an effective amount; a viscosity-inducing component, preferably selected from cellulosic derivatives, in an effective amount; and a tonicity component in an effective amount. Such solutions have substantial performance, comfort and acceptability benefits, which, ultimately, lead to ocular health advantages and avoidance of problems caused by contact lens wear.

Abstract: A wavelength division multiplexing/demultiplexing device is presented utilizing a polarization-based filter to separate odd and even wavelengths, or upper and lower channels of an input optical signal. The wavelength filter first converts the input signal to a predetermined polarization. A series of birefringent waveplates provide a polarization-dependent optical transmission function such that the polarized beam is decomposed into a first beam component carrying the first spectral band at a first polarization and a second beam component carrying the second spectral band at a second, orthogonal polarization. A beam displacer spatially separates the beam components into a pair of orthogonally-polarized beams. A quarter-wave plate converts these orthogonally-polarized beams into a pair of circularly-polarized beams, which are reflected by a mirror back along parallel optical paths through the quarter-wave plate, beam displacer, and waveplates.

Abstract: Preparation of self-emulsifying compositions which are prepared without mechanical homogenization is described. These self-emulsifying compositions are prepared using one or two surfactants. This provides the advantage of a low weight ratio of emulsifying component to oil component and fewer chemical toxicity concerns, resulting in comfort and safety advantages over emulsions employing more than two emulsifiers. Consequently, the self-emulsifying compositions described are ideally suited for ophthalmic applications including administration of therapeutics to the eye. Self-emulsifying compositions prepared by the disclosed method are described.

Abstract: Preparation of self-emulsifying compositions which are prepared without mechanical homogenization is described. These self-emulsifying compositions are prepared using one or two surfactants. This provides the advantage of a low weight ratio of emulsifying component to oil component and fewer chemical toxicity concerns, resulting in comfort and safety advantages over emulsions employing more than two emulsifiers. Consequently, the self-emulsifying compositions described are ideally suited for ophthalmic applications including administration of therapeutics to the eye. Self-emulsifying compositions prepared by the disclosed method are described.

Abstract: Through global profiling of genes that were expressed soon after p53 expression, we identified a gene termed (JFY1). The protein encoded by (JFY1) was found to be exclusively mitochondrial and to bind to Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL through a BH3 domain. Exogenous expression of (JFY1) resulted in an extremely rapid and profound apoptosis that occurred much earlier than that resulting from exogenous expression of p53. Based on its unique expression patterns, p53-dependence, and biochemical properties,(JFY1) is likely to be a direct mediator of p53-associated apoptosis.

Abstract: Ophthalmic compositions comprising an oil-in-water emulsion, preferably a self-emulsifying oil-in-water emulsion, including an oily component, an aqueous component and a surfactant component. The surfactant component may include three or more surfactants, for example, a polyoxyalkalene alkylene ether, a polyalkylene oxide ether of alkyl alcohol and a polyalkylene oxide ether of alkylphenol. The present compositions may include therapeutic components. Methods of making such compositions and using such compositions, for example, to treat eyes, to treat contact lenses and to provide desired therapeutic effects are provided.

Abstract: An optical add/drop wavelength switch is controllably changed from a bridge state, in which output is identical to input, e.g. a Wavelength Division Multiplexed (WDM) input, and an add/drop state, In which a signal input to an add port is substituted for a particular wavelength subrange of the WDM input, other wavelengths of the WDM input being unchanged. In one embodiment, the wavelength subrange of the WDM signal is given a polarization different from other wavelengths of the WDM, such as by using a stacked waveplate or other optical filter or polarization discriminator. The differently-polarized wavelengths can the be spatially separated, e.g. by a birefringent element or a polarization beam splitter, preferably In a bit-controlled fashion, such as by using a liquid crystal or other polarization controller. Polarization controllers and discriminators can be used similarly to selectably align or combine the add signal with the portion of the WDM signal outside the subrange.

Abstract: A composition for simultaneous cleaning and decontaminating a device. The composition is a per-compound oxidant in an amount effective for decontaminating the device and an enzyme in an amount effective for cleaning the device. The device may be a medical device such as an endoscope or kidney dialyzer and a plurality of devices can be cleaned using the same composition. The composition may additionally contain a corrosion inhibitor in an amount effective to prevent corrosion of a metal, a chelator, a buffer, a dye and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A composition for simultaneous cleaning and decontaminating a device. The composition is a per-compound oxidant in an amount effective for decontaminating the device and an enzyme in an amount effective for cleaning the device. The device may be a medical device such as an endoscope or kidney dialyzer and a plurality of devices can be cleaned using the same composition. The composition may additionally contain a corrosion inhibitor in an amount effective to prevent corrosion of a metal, a chelator, a buffer, a dye and combinations thereof.

Abstract: An optical wavelength division multiplex (WDM) demultiplexer can be provided in substantially passive form. In one embodiment a wavelength filter separates alternate channels to provide a first output containing even-numbered channels and a second output containing odd-numbered channels, each output having channels separated by a bandwidth twice the channel separation bandwidth of the original WDM signal.