Abstract: The present invention includes an assay useful for identifying inhibitors of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) activity. Particularly, the present invention is directed to a dual HCV assay useful for high throughput screening that quantifies both the amount of HCV RNA replication inhibitory activity associated with a test compound and the amount of cytotoxicity associated with that test compound. The present invention also includes compounds discovered using this assay, compositions containing such compounds and methods of treating Hepatitis C by the administration of such compounds. The present invention also includes reporter assays using enzymes associated with HCV RNA replication, as well as a cell line having ATTC Accession No. PTA-4583.

Abstract: The present invention includes nuclear fertility restorer genes, proteins encoded by those genes and transgenic plants and plant cells containing those genes. More particularly, the nuclear fertility restorer genes can be used to restore fertility in cytoplasmic male-sterile plants such as Brassica napus. Preferably, the nuclear fertility restorer genes are used with the Ogura (ogu) CMS system in Brassica napus.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a device including gate electrodes and asymmetric source and drain regions is formed by employing a semiconductor layer structure. The short channel effect is prevented in the resulting device even though the gate electrodes are of a dimension on the order of nanometers. Additionally, the gate electrodes and asymmetric source and drain regions of the semiconductor device may be precisely formed to have dimensions on the nanometer scale because a semiconductor layer structure is used in the process for manufacturing the semiconductor device.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for making a biodegradable material are disclosed. The apparatus comprises an extruder for forming a foamed starch rod and a heated die for modifying the rod. The rod is fed through the heated die by feeding rollers. A bonding agent application station is located downstream of the heated die and upstream of a packing unit. The method comprises forming a foamed starch rod by extrusion and passing the rod through a heated die. The rods may be formed into sheets or blocks by cutting, the application of bonding agent and adhering the cut rods together.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a device including gate electrodes and asymmetric source and drain regions is formed by employing a semiconductor layer structure. The short channel effect is prevented in the resulting device even though the gate electrodes are of a dimension on the order of nanometers. Additionally, the gate electrodes and asymmetric source and drain regions of the semiconductor device may be precisely formed to have dimensions on the nanometer scale because a semiconductor layer structure is used in the process for manufacturing the semiconductor device.

Abstract: The present invention includes an assay useful for identifying inhibitors of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) activity. Particularly, the present invention is directed to a dual HCV assay useful for high throughput screening that quantifies both the amount of HCV RNA replication inhibitory activity associated with a test compound and the amount of cytotoxicity associated with that test compound. The present invention also includes compounds discovered using this assay, compositions containing such compounds and methods of treating Hepatitis C by the administration of such compounds. The present invention also includes reporter assays using enzymes associated with HCV RNA replication, as well as a cell line having ATTC Accession No. PTA-4583.

Abstract: Piezoelectric transformers have a number of favorable characteristics over traditional electromagnetic tranformers. However, the construction of piezoelectric transformers tends to be complicated, which may result in increasing manufacturing cost. Furthermore, such complex constructions may raise difficulties in the miniaturization of such devices. A ring-shaped piezoelectric transformer is developed in this invention for low voltage applications. One surface of the transformer is covered by two disc or ring-shaped electrodes separated by a ring-shaped separating segment, and the regions covered by the disc or ring-shaped electrodes served as the input and output parts of the transformer. This transformer may be fabricated relatively easily due to its simple structure. Furthermore, its size and thickness may be reduced relatively easily without increasing the difficulty of the fabricating process. The transformer may be used separately or in parallel.

Abstract: Piezoelectric transformers have a number of favorable characteristics over traditional electromagnetic tranformers. However, the construction of piezoelectric transformers tends to be complicated, which may result in increasing manufacturing cost. Furthermore, such complex constructions may raise difficulties in the miniaturization of such devices. A ring-shaped piezoelectric transformer is developed in this invention for low voltage applications. One surface of the transformer is covered by two disc or ring-shaped electrodes separated by a ring-shaped separating segment, and the regions covered by the disc or ring-shaped electrodes served as the input and output parts of the transformer. This transformer may be fabricated relatively easily due to its simple structure. Furthermore, its size and thickness may be reduced relatively easily without increasing the difficulty of the fabricating process. The transformer may be used separately or in parallel.

Abstract: An IEEE Std. 1149.1 boundary scan circuit which is capable of performing built-in self-testing includes a logic circuit, cascaded input boundary-scan cells that form an input boundary-scan register connected to input nodes of the logic circuit, cascaded output boundary-scan cells that form an output boundary-scan register connected to output nodes of the logic circuit, and a test access port system for controlling operation of the input and output boundary-scan cells. The test access port system provides a built-in self-test control signal to the input and output boundary-scan cells when executing built-in self-testing. The input boundary-scan register is reconfigurable to operate as a test pattern generator that provides test patterns to the logic circuit for a predetermined number of clock cycles upon receipt of the built-in self-test control signal.

Abstract: A bicycle power train assembly includes a crank axle, a primary driving sprocket cluster mounted on one end of the crank axle, a rear wheel axle, a primary driven sprocket cluster mounted on one end of the rear wheel axle, a primary drive chain trained between the primary driving and driven sprocket clusters, a secondary driving sprocket mounted on the other end of the crank axle and rotating with the crank axle, a secondary driven sprocket mounted on the other end of the rear wheel axle, a secondary drive chain trained between the secondary driving and driven sprockets, an idle sprocket rotatably mounted on the rear wheel axle, and a ratchet clutch disposed between the rear wheel axle and the secondary driven sprocket to disengage the secondary driven sprocket from the rear wheel axle when the primary drive chain is trained between the primary driving and driven sprocket clusters and to engage the secondary driven sprocket and the rear wheel axle so as to drive rotatably the rear wheel axle when the primary