Abstract: A method and apparatus of electrode interfaces for stimulating neurons and nerve cells that provides micro-fabricated electrode interfaces configured for conformal placement adjacent to neuron, nerves and neural tissue to thereby allow the neuron, nerves and neural tissue to grow around the electrode interfaces and allow for the creation depending on configuration of local or far electrical fields and current flows to stimulate them.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and compositions for producing Factor VIII proteins. Such methods include introducing into a cell a nucleic acid molecule encoding a Factor VIII protein operably linked to a promoter, wherein the promoter is characterized by the ability to produce commercially viable Factor VIII protein; and incubating the cell under conditions for producing commercially viable Factor VIII protein. Also provided are nucleic acid molecules which encode a Factor VIII protein operably linked to a Chinese hamster elongation factor 1-? (CHEF1) promoter, which may be used in the methods provided herein.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for sterilizing biological materials to reduce the level of one or more biological contaminants or pathogens therein, such as viruses, bacterial (including inter- and intracellular bacteria, such as mycoplasmas, ureaplasmas, nanobacteria, chlamydia, rickettsias), yeasts, molds, fungi, single or multicellular parasites, and/or prions or similar agents responsible. These methods involve the use of alpha-keto acids in methods of sterilizing biological materials with irradiation.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for sterilizing tissue to reduce the level of one or more active biological contaminants or pathogens therein, such as viruses, bacteria, (including inter- and intracellular bacteria, such as mycoplasmas, ureaplasmas, nanobacteria, chlamydia, rickettsias), yeasts, molds, fungi, prions or similar agents responsible, alone or in combination, for TSEs and/or single or multicellular parasites. The methods involve sterilizing one or more tissues with irradiation.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and compositions for producing Factor VIII proteins. Such methods include introducing into a cell a nucleic acid molecule encoding a Factor VIII protein operably linked to a promoter, wherein the promoter is characterized by the ability to produce commercially viable Factor VIII protein; and incubating the cell under conditions for producing commercially viable Factor VIII protein. Also provided are nucleic acid molecules which encode a Factor VIII protein operably linked to a Chinese hamster elongation factor 1-? (CHEF1) promoter, which may be used in the methods provided herein.

Abstract: The invention relates to commercially viable methods for producing biologically active vitamin K dependent proteins, particularly Factor IX. Factor IX is produced at a level of at least about 15 mg/L and is at least 25% biologically active. The method relies upon co-expression of one or more of paired basic amino acid converting enzyme (PACE), vitamin K dependent epoxide reductase (VKOR) and vitamin K dependent ?-glutamyl carboxylase (VKGC) at a preferred ratio so that the vitamin K dependent protein is efficiently produced and processed by a recombinant cell.

Abstract: Recombinant Factor IX characterized by a high percentage of active protein can be obtained in the milk of transgenic animals that incorporate chimeric DNA molecules according to the present invention. Transgenic animals of the present invention are produced by introducing into developing embryos DNA that encodes Factor IX, such that the foreign DNA is stably incorporated in the DNA of germ line cells of the mature animal. Particularly efficient expression was accomplished using a chimeric construct comprising a mammary gland specific promoter, Factor IX cDNA that lacked the complete or any portion of the 5?-untranslated and 3?-untranslated region, which is substituted with a 5-? and 3?-end of the mouse whey acidic protein gene. In vitro cell cultures of cells explanted from the transgenic mammal of the invention and methods of producing Factor IX from such said culture and methods of treating hemophilia B are also described.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for sterilizing biological materials to reduce the level of active biological contaminants or pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, nanobacteria, yeasts, molds, mycoplasmas, ureaplasmas, prions and parasites. These methods involve the use of dipeptide stabilizers in methods of sterilizing biological materials with irradiation.

Abstract: A transgenic, non-human mammalian animal is capable of expressing a heterologous gene for human or other recombinant physiologically functional fibrinogen holoprotein or individual subunit chain polypeptides thereof or a modified or fusion fibrinogen in mammary glands of the animals and secreting the expressed product into a body fluid. Methodology employing such a mammal yields recombinant physiologically functional fibrinogens, subunit chain polypeptides thereof, and modified or fusion fibrinogens.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for sterilizing preparations of digestive enzymes to reduce the level of one or more active biological contaminants or pathogens therein, such as viruses, bacteria (including inter- and intracellular bacteria, such as mycoplasmas, ureaplasmas, nanobacteria, chlamydia, rickettsias), yeasts, molds, fungi, prions or similar agents responsible, alone or in combination, for TSEs and/or single or multicellular parasites. These methods involve sterilizing preparations of digestive enzymes, such as trypsin, ?-galactosidase and iduronate-2-sulfatase, with irradiation.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for sterilizing preparation of monoclonal immunoglobulins to reduce the level of active biological contaminants such as viruses, bacteria, yeasts, molds, mycoplasmas, prions and parasites.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for sterilizing biological materials to reduce the level of one or more biological contaminants or pathogens therein, such as viruses, bacteria (including inter- and intracellular bacteria, such as mycoplasmas, ureaplasmas, nanobacteria, chlamydia, rickettsias), yeasts, molds, fungi, single or multicellular parasites, and/or prions or similar agents responsible, alone or in combination, for TSEs. These methods involve the use of stabilizer mixtures in methods of sterilizing biological materials with irradiation.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for sterilizing preparations of urokinase to reduce the level therein of one or more active biological contaminants or pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria (including inter- and intracellular bacteria, such as mycoplasmas, ureaplasmas, nanobacteria, chlamydia and rickettsias), yeasts, molds, fungi, single or multicellular parasites, and prions or similar agents responsible, alone or in combination, for TSEs. These methods involve sterilizing preparations of urokinase with irradiation.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for sterilizing preparations of digestive enzymes to reduce the level of one or more active biological contaminants or pathogens therein, such as viruses, bacteria (including inter- and intracellular bacteria, such as mycoplasmas, ureaplasmas, nanobacteria, chlamydia, rickettsias), yeasts, molds, fungi, prions or similar agents responsible, alone or in combination, for TSEs and/or single or multicellular parasites. These methods involve sterilizing preparations of digestive enzymes, such as trypsin, ?-galactosidase and iduronate-2-sulfatase, with irradiation.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for sterilizing preparations of glycosidases to reduce the level therein of one or more active biological contaminants or pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria (including inter- and intracellular bacteria, such as mycoplasmas, ureaplasmas, nanobacteria, chlamydia, rickettsias), yeasts, molds, fungi, single or multicellular parasites, prions or similar agents responsible, alone or in combination, for TSEs. These methods involve sterilizing preparations of glycosidases, such as alpha-glucosidase or alpha-galactosidase, with irradiation.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for sterilizing biological products to reduce the level of active biological contaminants such as viruses, bacteria, yeasts, molds, mycoplasmas and parasites.

Abstract: A method to determine the systematic error of an instrument that measures features of a semiconductor wafer includes the following sequential steps. Collecting sensor data from measurement runs on front and back surfaces of a wafer while the wafer is oriented at different angles to the instrument for each run, yielding a front data set and a back data set for each angle. Then organizing the data in each set into a wafer-fixed coordinate frame. Reflecting all back surface data about a diameter of the wafer creates a reflected back data set. Subtracting the reflected back data from the front data for each wafer angle, and dividing the result by two, yields an averaged wafer shape for each load angle. Adding the reflected back data to the front data and dividing the result by two, yields an instrument signature for each load angle. The symmetric corrector is calculated by taking the average over all instrument signatures at each load angle.

Abstract: A method of producing a protein that degrades or detoxifies organic material is described. This method involves producing a non-human transgenic animal that produces such protein in its urine, and has stably integrated into its genome an exogenous gene encoding a protein that is detectable in the urine. Thus, a non-human transgenic animal that produced such protein in its urine, and a method of degrading or detoxifying organic materials also is described. Also a facility comprising a non-human transgenic animal that produce in its urine a protein that degrades or detoxifies organic material and a structure containing such animal is described. A method of altering a substance naturally found in urine is described. A DNA construct used in producing the non-human transgenic animal also is described.

Abstract: A method to determine the systematic error of an instrument that measures features of a semiconductor wafer includes the following sequential steps. Collecting sensor data from measurement runs on front and back surfaces of a wafer while the wafer is oriented at different angles to the instrument for each run, yielding a front data set and a back data set for each angle. Then organizing the data in each set into a wafer-fixed coordinate frame. Reflecting all back surface data about a diameter of the wafer creates a reflected back data set. Subtracting the reflected back data from the front data for each wafer angle, and dividing the result by two, yields an averaged wafer shape for each load angle. Adding the reflected back data to the front data and dividing the result by two, yields an instrument signature for each load angle. The symmetric corrector is calculated by taking the average over all instrument signatures at each load angle.

Abstract: A testing system with real time/off line functionality allocation is disclosed. The real time functions are limited to movement of objects to be tested through the testing stations, operation of sensors to gather raw data, and storage of the raw data. The off line functions include removing artifacts in the raw data, analyzing the raw data according to various rules, and controlling the sorting of the tested objects according to the analysis. By limiting the real time processing to a few essential elements necessary for operation of the testing line, the testing line can proceed even if the off line functions are not operating.