Abstract: The present invention provides anti-angiogenic compositions and methods, based on gene delivery vectors that include the coding sequence for an anti-angiogenic compound.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for encoding video data in a manner which significantly reduces the computation performed by the video encoder and the video decoder without suffering any degradation in the perceived quality of the compressed video data. In particular, apparatus and methods are provided for determining which blocks might be zeroed out after quantization. This determination is performed after motion estimation, the classification of the frame as either an I frame, P frame, or a B frame, and the determination of a quantization step size (QP) for the block, but before DCT. If a given block is determined to be a “zero” quantized block, then the DCT, quantization, zig-zag scan and variable length coding steps are omitted, and a variable length code output is provided indicating that the block B is a “zero” quantized block.

Abstract: A test key includes a substrate, a deep trench capacitor formed in the substrate, and at least one active region defined on the substrate. The active region comprises a first region, a second region and an ion well. A thermal oxide layer is formed in the first region. A top-thin oxide layer is formed in the second region. The second region overlaps with the deep trench capacitor. At least one word line partially overlapping with the top-thin oxide layer. The ion well is electrically connected with a polysilicon electrode of the deep trench capacitor. The thermal oxide layer within the first region does not overlap with any word line.

Abstract: A ramp wherein the amount of deformation in the front end edges of guiding parts caused by thermal expansion. The ramp includes at least two guiding parts individually formed for each suspension arm and made of a polymeric material having a small friction coefficient for guiding the suspension arm by sliding into a accommodation zone, and a guide supporting member made of a material having a thermal expansion coefficient smaller than that of the polymeric material of the guiding part for supporting each guiding part at a predetermined position. The guide supporting member has guide support holes which are located in zones to be contacted with the associated guiding parts, are not contacted with associated recording disks, and are engaged with the associated guiding parts at such positions that distances to the front end edges of the guiding parts become shortest. Each of the guiding parts has a projection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel member of the NK family of homeobox genes. In particular, isolated nucleic acid molecules are provided encoding the human NK-3 prostate specific gene 1 (NKX3.1) protein. NKX3.1 polypeptides are also provided as are vectors, host cells and recombinant methods for producing the same. The invention further relates to screening methods for identifying agonists and antagonists of NKX3.1 activity. Also provided are diagnostic methods for detecting prostate cancer and other cancers and therapeutic methods for prostate cancer and other cancers.

Abstract: Methods and structures are provided that enhance attitude control during gyroscope substitutions by insuring that a spacecraft's attitude control system does not drive its absolute-attitude sensors out of their capture ranges. In a method embodiment, an operational process-noise covariance Q of a Kalman filter is temporarily replaced with a substantially greater interim process-noise covariance Q. This replacement increases the weight given to the most recent attitude measurements and hastens the reduction of attitude errors and gyroscope bias errors. The error effect of the substituted gyroscopes is reduced and the absolute-attitude sensors are not driven out of their capture range. In another method embodiment, this replacement is preceded by the temporary replacement of an operational measurement-noise variance R with a substantially larger interim measurement-noise variance R to reduce transients during the gyroscope substitutions.

Abstract: A keyboard with a numbers of keys disposed on the base is capable of showing the three-dimensional characters. Each key includes a shell and a three-dimensional character embedded in the shell. Combined with an illuminant module positioned between the base and keys for providing the light source, the three-dimensional characters can be shown clearly and distinguishably by utilizing the color contrast relation with light between the light-colored transparent three-dimensional characters and dark-colored or opaque shells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition useful as a cosmetic containing at least one structuring polymer with a polymer skeleton having at least one hydrocarbon-based repeating unit with at least one hetero atom and at least one polyester resin.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a process for regenerating titanium-containing catalysts, characterized in that a deactivated catalyst is treated in an acidic solution having a pH value of ≦3, and then dried and calcined. The process is simple in procedure and can make the catalytic activity, selectivity and stability of the regenerated catalyst be recovered to the level of its fresh catalyst.

Abstract: Methods and structures are provided for reducing pointing errors &zgr; of satellite antennas and for generating broad field-of-view satellite attitude acquisition patterns. In one method embodiment, satellite transmit beams have estimated pointing attitudes &bgr; and are transmitted to overlap on a ground-based receiving terminal which has a known terminal location &lgr; and which measures received signal strengths &agr;. Pointing errors &zgr; of the transmit beams are then determined from the estimated pointing attitudes &bgr;, the terminal location &lgr; and the signal strengths &agr; and the pointing errors &zgr; are subsequently reduced by revising the pointing attitudes &bgr;. Other method embodiments utilize known signal-strength functions and antenna signals with known signal parameters such as frequencies and/or modulations.

Abstract: Human choline acetyltransferase polypeptide and DNA (RNA) encoding such polypeptide and a procedure for producing such polypeptide by recombinant techniques is disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for utilizing such polypeptide for the treatment of cognitive and neurological deficiencies or mental disturbances such as degenerative nervous system disorders, for example, Alzheimer's Disease, ALS and other cholinergic defects, and antagonists for treating Parkinson's Disease and other disorders relating to an over-expression of acetylcholine. Also disclosed are diagnostic methods for detecting a mutation in the human Choline Acetyltransferase nucleic acid sequence.

Abstract: A charge pump for a flash memory. The charge pump includes: a current-guiding circuit having a first, a second, and a third output; and a first, a second, and a third charge unit. The current-guiding circuit has two diode-connected transistors respectively connected between the first and the second outputs, and the second and the third outputs. Each of the charge units, for storing charge, has two ends. The first, the second, and the third charge units respectively have one end connected to the first, the second, and the third outputs, and the other end of the third charge unit is connected to the first output.

Abstract: This invention discloses a method for avoiding microscratch in interlevel dielectric layer chemical mechanical polishing process. There is step height difference on surface of the interlevel dielectric layer between the memory array and the logic device, so, the interlevel dielectric layer over the memory array is etched to form a sidewall and a corner. As a key step of this invention, a dielectric layer is capped over the interlevel dielectric layer to smooth the corner and avoid microscratch thereon when performing chemical mechanical polishing process.

Abstract: A six mask-steps method for fabricating liquid crystal display is described. A driving area and a pixel area are defined by a first mask step. Gates on the driving/pixel area and upper electrodes of capacitors on the pixel area are defined by a second mask step. Then, using the gates and the upper electrodes as a mask, a source/drain, channel region and lower electrode are formed in the driving/pixel area by an ion-doping process. A second insulation layer is formed and covers the insulation substrate. A plurality of first openings is formed by the third mask step and the gate and the source/drain are exposed. A second conductive layer is formed and covers the second insulation layer and the first opening is filled. Then, the second conductive layer is patterned, and a source/drain line is formed and contacts electrically with the source/drain by the fourth mask step. A dielectric layer is formed and covers the second insulation layer and the second conductive layer; the dielectric layer has a planar surface.

Abstract: Methods and structures are provided that enhance attitude control during gyroscope substitutions by insuring that a spacecraft's attitude control system does not drive its absolute-attitude sensors out of their capture ranges. In a method embodiment, an operational process-noise covariance Q of a Kalman filter is temporarily replaced with a substantially greater interim process-noise covariance Q. This replacement increases the weight given to the most recent attitude measurements and hastens the reduction of attitude errors and gyroscope bias errors. The error effect of the substituted gyroscopes is reduced and the absolute-attitude sensors are not driven out of their capture range. In another method embodiment, this replacement is preceded by the temporary replacement of an operational measurement-noise variance R with a substantially larger interim measurement-noise variance R to reduce transients during the gyroscope substitutions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel member of the NK family of homeobox genes. In particular, isolated nucleic acid molecules are provided encoding the human NK-3 prostate specific gene 1 (NKX3.1) protein. NKX3.1 polypeptides are also provided as are vectors, host cells and recombinant methods for producing the same. The invention further relates to screening methods for identifying agonists and antagonists of NKX3.1 activity. Also provided are diagnostic methods for detecting prostate cancer and other cancers and therapeutic methods for prostate cancer and other cancers.

Abstract: Human choline acetyltransferase polypeptide and DNA (RNA) encoding such polypeptide and a procedure for producing such polypeptide by recombinant techniques is disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for utilizing such polypeptide for the treatment of cognitive and neurological deficiencies or mental disturbances such as degenerative nervous system disorders, for example, Alzheimer's Disease, ALS and other cholinergic defects, and antagonists for treating Parkinson's Disease and other disorders relating to an over-expression of acetylcholine. Also disclosed are diagnostic methods for detecting a mutation in the human Choline Acetyltransferase nucleic acid sequence.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calibrating rate sensor measurements to compensate for rate sensor scale factor non-linearities. An outer loop compensator compares current rate sensor scale factor estimates with the current scale factor non-linearity compensation, and deviations from the current non-linearity compensation are corrected in an updated compensation.