Abstract: Provided are compositions and methods that involve cancer cells which are modified so that they can form orthotopic tumors in a non-human mammal, and wherein metastasis of the tumor can be controlled. The cancer cells, which may be human cancer cells, are modified so that expression of a human chemokine receptor can be modulated. Modulating expression of the human chemokine receptor allows selective initiation of metastasis. Kits which contain the modified cancer cells are provided. A method for identifying agents which can inhibit metastasis using non-human mammals having orthotopic tumors formed using the modified cancer cells is also included.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for parsing signomial and geometric programs, referred to herein as “the Parser”. Signomial and Geometric programming is a unique class of mathematical problems that is useful in the study of optimization problems. The Parser is a program designed to recognize and parse both signomial and geometric programs such that they may be accepted and solved by signomial and geometric program solvers. The Parser accepts an optimization problem from a user in the form of algebraic expressions. The Parser can then identify the problem as a signomial program and can further determine if it reduces to a geometric program. If either a signomial or geometric program exists, the Parser converts the algebraic expressions to a compact numeric format that can be accepted by a computer-aided solver. In the case of a geometric program, the solver may find a global solution to the optimization problem. However, in the case of signomial program, the solver may only find a local solution.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for parsing signomial and geometric programs, referred to herein as “the Parser”. Signomial and Geometric programming is a unique class of mathematical problems that is useful in the study of optimization problems. The Parser is a program designed to recognize and parse both signomial and geometric programs such that they may be accepted and solved by signomial and geometric program solvers. The Parser accepts an optimization problem from a user in the form of algebraic expressions. The Parser can then identify the problem as a signomial program and can further determine if it reduces to a geometric program. If either a signomial or geometric program exists, the Parser converts the algebraic expressions to a compact numeric format that can be accepted by a computer-aided solver. In the case of a geometric program, the solver may find a global solution to the optimization problem. However, in the case of signomial program, the solver may only find a local solution.

Abstract: A method is described that involves automatically laying out a circuit structure in software by describing in a software environment the placement of a gate structure relative to a diffusion region. The gate structure has: 1) a pair of gate fingers that project over the diffusion region along a y axis; and, 2) a landing area for receiving multiple contacts from a metal 1 layer. The method also involves running a pair of source fingers at a metal 1 layer over the diffusion area and along the y axis. The pair of source fingers are outside the pair of gate fingers and are an extension of a metal 1 source wire running along an x axis. The method also involves placing a metal 1 gate pad layer over the landing area.

Abstract: A method is described that involves retrieving a generic layout description of a circuit structure from a first database that stores a plurality of generic layout descriptions. The method also involves retrieving a foundry design rule profile of a semiconductor manufacturing process from a second database that stores a plurality of semiconductor manufacturing process design rule profiles.

Abstract: A method is described that involves automatically laying out a circuit structure in software by describing in a software environment the placement of a gate structure relative to a diffusion region. The gate structure has: 1) a pair of gate fingers that project over the diffusion region along a y axis; and, 2) a landing area for receiving multiple contacts from a metal 1 layer. The method also involves running a pair of source fingers at a metal 1 layer over the diffusion area and along the y axis. The pair of source fingers are outside the pair of gate fingers and are an extension of a metal 1 source wire running along an x axis. The method also involves placing a metal 1 gate pad layer over the landing area.