Abstract: Methods are disclosed for identifying histamine receptor modulators that affect mast cell or basophil chemotaxis, and the use of such histamine H4 receptor modulators for the prevention, treatment, induction, or other desired modulation of asthma and/or allergic responses, or diseases and/or conditions that are modulated, affected or caused by asthma or allergic responses. Also disclosed is the use of histamine H4 receptor modulators for the prevention, treatment, induction, or other desired modulation of mast cell or basophil chemotactic responses, such as migration to a particular site, or diseases and/or conditions that are modulated, affected or caused by mast cell or basophil chemotaxis.

Abstract: An automated system that conducts, monitors, and validates a cell-line-based biological experiment including one or more treatment compounds or other external stimuli. In one preferred embodiment, the system comprises two principal subsystems, and optionally accessory subsystems. A first principal subsystem is an automated laboratory experiment manager for designing the biological experiment, for constructing an assay plate used to conduct the biological experiment, and for managing one or more of the processes that constitute the biological experiment. A second principal subsystem is an automated data analysis manager for analyzing images, for instance produced by the image production system, to detect image data including biological markers and objects, for analyzing the resulting image data to produce biological data, and for analyzing the biological data to produce biological phenotypes and treatment compound signatures.

Abstract: The invention provides isolated nucleic acids molecules, designated PCIP nucleic acid molecules, which encode proteins that bind potassium channels and modulate potassium channel mediated activities. The invention also provides antisense nucleic acid molecules, recombinant expression vectors containing PCIP nucleic acid molecules, host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced, and nonhuman transgenic animals in which a PCIP gene has been introduced or disrupted. The invention still further provides isolated PCIP proteins, fusion proteins, antigenic peptides and anti-PCIP antibodies. Diagnostic methods utilizing compositions of the invention are also provided.

Abstract: A method for adjusting the brightness of an LCD display has the steps of: (a) dividing an adjustable brightness range of the LCD display into three stages, a high brightness stage, a normal brightness stage and a low brightness stage, (b) determining which stage of said three stages has corresponded to a brightness adjust command, (c) adjusting luminance intensity of an LCD panel or luminance intensity of a lamp based on the brightness adjust command. An apparatus for performing the method has a microprocessor to receive the brightness adjust command, a PWM unit coupled to the microprocessor to adjust the current intensity of the lamp, and a voltage level controller coupled to the microprocessor to adjust the voltage level applied on the LCD panel.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for preventing damage to a chamber wall by a baffle plate in a semiconductor fabrication system during a semiconductor fabrication operation is disclosed herein. An electrostatic chuck is associated with the semiconductor fabrication system. A gauge for measuring a gap between said baffle plate and the chamber wall can be utilized to prevent damage to the chamber wall by the baffle plate during a movement of the electrostatic chunk during the semiconductor fabrication operation. Such a semiconductor fabrication operation can comprise, for example, a wet cleaning semiconductor operation.

Abstract: The invention provides isolated nucleic acids molecules, designated PCIP nucleic acid molecules, which encode proteins that bind potassium channels and modulate potassium channel mediated activities. The invention also provides antisense nucleic acid molecules, recombinant expression vectors containing PCIP nucleic acid molecules, host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced, and nonhuman transgenic animals in which a PCIP gene has been introduced or disrupted. The invention still further provides isolated PCIP proteins, fusion proteins, antigenic peptides and anti-PCIP antibodies. Diagnostic methods utilizing compositions of the invention are also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides isolated nucleic acids molecules, designated PCIP nucleic acid molecules, which encode proteins that bind potassium channels and modulate potassium channel mediated activities. The invention also provides antisense nucleic acid molecules, recombinant expression vectors containing PCIP nucleic acid molecules, host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced, and nonhuman transgenic animals in which a PCIP gene has been introduced or disrupted. The invention still further provides isolated PCIP proteins, fusion proteins, antigenic peptides and anti-PCIP antibodies. Diagnostic methods utilizing compositions of the invention are also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides isolated nucleic acids molecules, designated PCIP nucleic acid molecules, which encode proteins that bind potassium channels and modulate potassium channel mediated activities. The invention also provides antisense nucleic acid molecules, recombinant expression vectors containing PCIP nucleic acid molecules, host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced, and nonhuman transgenic animals in which a PCIP gene has been introduced or disrupted. The invention still further provides isolated PCIP proteins, fusion proteins, antigenic peptides and anti-PCIP antibodies. Diagnostic methods utilizing compositions of the invention are also provided.

Abstract: A coating apparatus and method for applying a coating to a workpiece, comprising:a vessel to contain molten metal;an induction coil disposed about said vessel; and,temperature regulation means;wherein, in use, said induction coil induces a magnetic field within said vessel such that a meniscus of molten metal is formed above said vessel, through which said workpiece is passed for coating, whilst said temperature regulation means regulates temperature of said molten metal and/or controls the meniscus height of said meniscus.

Abstract: Analysis of the culture media of p40-transfected COS cells indicated the presence of 40 kDa monomers and 80 kDa disulfide-linked homodimers. Examination of partially purified p40 recombinant proteins demonstrated that only the homodimer but not the monomer binds to the IL-12 receptor. Partially purified 80 kDa homodimer inhibited [.sup.125 I]IL-12 binding to PHA-activated human lymphoblasts with an IC.sub.50 of 80 ng/ml, which is similar to the IC.sub.50 value (20 ng/ml) for the human IL-12 heterodimer. Although neither the 40 kDa monomer nor the 80 kDa dimer could stimulate human PHA-blast proliferation, the 80 kDa dimer inhibited IL-12-induced proliferation in a dose-dependent manner with an IC.sub.50 of 1 .mu.g/ml. The IL-12 p40 subunit contains the essential epitopes for receptor binding, but they are only active when p40 is covalently associated with a second protein such as p35 or p40. When p40 is associated with the p35 subunit, the heterodimer acts as an agonist mediating biologic activity.