Abstract: The invention features devices and methods for detecting, enriching, and analyzing circulating tumor cells and other particles. The invention further features methods of diagnosing a condition, e.g., cancer, in a subject by analyzing a cellular sample from the subject.

Abstract: The invention provides methods employing iterative cycles of recombination and selection/screening for evolution of whole cells and organisms toward acquisition of desired properties. Examples of such properties include enhanced recombinogenicity, genome copy number, and capacity for expression and/or secretion of proteins and secondary metabolites.

Abstract: The invention features devices and methods for detecting, enriching, and analyzing circulating tumor cells and other particles. The invention further features methods of diagnosing a condition, e.g., cancer, in a subject by analyzing a cellular sample from the subject.

Abstract: The invention features devices and methods for detecting, enriching, and analyzing circulating tumor cells and other particles. The invention further features methods of diagnosing a condition, e.g., cancer, in a subject by analyzing a cellular sample from the subject.

Abstract: The invention provides methods employing iterative cycles of recombination and selection/screening for evolution of whole cells and organisms toward acquisition of desired properties Examples of such properties include enhanced recombinogenicity, genome copy number, and capacity for expression and/or secretion of proteins and secondary metabolites.

Abstract: A superconducting cable with hybrid conductor unit is provided, which includes a cable former, a conductor unit, an adiabatic envelope, a dielectric layer, screening layer and protective encloser characterized in that the hybrid conductor unit is formed from a combination of superconductor layers, normal metal conductor layers, and superconductor-normal metal mixed layers. As compared with a typical superconductor cable having the same power transmission capacity, the hybrid superconductor cable has the following advantages: simplify the fabrication process; reduce the manufacturing cost; enhance the cable's mechanical strength and increase the cable's ability to withstand over flow current and quench. The hybrid superconductor cable lays the foundation for superconductor cable's industrialization.

Abstract: The present motion detector unit effectively suppresses harmonic frequencies and is cost-effective to build. The motion detector unit includes a main casing which houses the main microwave circuit board (3). Enclosing the casing and the circuit board (3) is a cover. An antenna circuit board is attached to the bottom side of the main casing. The cover has partitioning walls at the bottom side of the cover which press against the main microwave circuit board (3) when the cover is enclosed over the casing. The circuit on the main microwave circuit board (3) includes a microwave oscillator for producing an oscillatory signal. The oscillator is coupled to a ground and to a filter which is a low-pass filter with a relatively wide stop bandwidth. The filter is then coupled to a transmitting antenna. A power supply is routed through the transmission antenna and provides DC voltage to the microwave oscillator. The oscillator is further coupled to a mixer.

Abstract: The invention provides methods employing iterative cycles of recombination and selection/screening for evolution of whole cells and organisms toward acquisition of desired properties Examples of such properties include enhanced recombinogenicity, genome copy number, and capacity for expression and/or secretion of proteins and secondary metabolites

Abstract: Improved superconducting thin films are provided having very high T.sub.c (zero) and J.sub.c values, on the order of greater than or equal to 120K and 10.sup.5 A/cm.sup.2 or greater, respectively. The films of the invention are adapted for deposit and support on a compatible substrate, and include a superconductive material, most preferably Tl.sub.2 Ba.sub.2 Ca.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.10, with up to about 10% elemental gold admixed with the superconductive material. The preferred method for fabricating the thin film superconductors comprises first forming a non-superconducting precursor film on a compatible substrate which is placed in contact with an unsintered bulk body containing thallium; the substrate with precursor film are sintered with the bulk body to form the desired superconductor material.

Abstract: High T.sub.c superconducting magnetic shields are provided, together with a method of fabricating such shields, wherein the shields exhibit very high critical applied magnetic field values of at least about 50 Gauss at 77 K. In fabrication procedures, a particulate superconducting ceramic oxide (24) (e.g., thallium 2223) is placed within an uniaxial die assembly (10) and subjected to compression while the die is heated via an external heating jacket (26). After formation of a self-sustaining body (24a), the die (10) is additionally heated via the jacket (26). External heating of the die (10) with the superconducting material therein reduces internal stresses within the shield body.

Abstract: Improved superconducting oxides are provided having the general formula (Hg.sub.1-x Tl.sub.x)Ba.sub.2 Ca.sub.n-1 Cu.sub.n O.sub.2n+2+.alpha. where x is from about 0.05-0.5 and n is 1, 2, 3 or 4, and .alpha. is an oxygen enrichment factor. The Tl-doped oxides exhibit very high T.sub.c and J.sub.c values.

Abstract: A high temperature superconducting system comprising M--R--Tl--Sr--Cu--O wherein: M is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of Hg, Pb, K, and Al; and R represents rare earth metals. In one embodiment, a composition forms a 93K superconducting phase having the composition: M--R--Tl--Sr--Cu--O wherein: M is selected from the group consisting of Hg and Al; and R is a rare earth metal. In another embodiment, the composition comprises M--R--Tl--Sr--Cu--O wherein: M is selected from the group of Pb and/or K; and R is a rare earth metal.

Abstract: Composite bulk superconducting materials having desirable physical, measured transport current density and high T.sub.c superconducting characteristics are provided which comprise a first matrix of superconducting ceramic oxide crystalline grains with a second matrix of elemental metal (gold, silver, palladium and tin) situated within the interstices between the crystalline grains. Preferably, each matrix is a continuous phase within the composite material, with the ceramic oxide preferably being present at a level of at least about 80% by weight, whereas the elemental metal is present at a level of up to about 20% by weight. In fabrication procedures, a precursor superconducting ceramic oxide is first prepared and reduced to a fine powder size; this is mixed with powdered elemental metal, and the mixture is compressed using high compaction pressures on the order of 14 tons/cm.sup.2 or greater to form a body, which is then sintered to yield the composite.

Abstract: An improved technique for the fabrication of thallium-based superconducting oxides, and particularly Tl:Ba:Ca:Cu:O 2223 oxides, is described which allows production of very pure superconductors (>95% 2223 phase) having excellent structural characteristics. The method of the invention involves first forming a self-sustaining body of starting oxides and subjecting this body to a sintering technique wherein the temperature of the body is gradually raised to a maximum level of about 850.degree.-930.degree. C., followed by maintaining the body at this temperature for a period of about 48 hours. The body is then slowly cooled to avoid distortion and loss of superconducting character. Most preferably, the sintering is a two-stage operation, wherein the body is first heated a relatively low rate (e.g., 1.degree.-10.degree. C./min.) to a temperature of about 650.degree.-750.degree. C., followed by faster heating at a higher rate to achieve the maximum sintering temperature.