Abstract: The present invention relates to improved methods for the treatment or prevention of disease with gene therapy or vaccines comprising host optimized GM-CSF nucleic acid sequences. More particularly, the invention provides methods for codon optimized GM-CSF with enhanced expression and adjuvant activity ex vivo and in vivo. The present invention also provides for methods of optimizing homologous gene expression ex vivo and in vitro or in transgenic animals.

Abstract: A method for removing silicon oxide from a surface of a substrate is disclosed. The method includes depositing material onto the silicon oxide (110) and heating the substrate surface to a sufficient temperature to form volatile compounds including the silicon oxide and the deposited material (120). The method also includes heating the surface to a sufficient temperature to remove any remaining deposited material (130).

Abstract: High quality epitaxial layers of monocrystalline perovskite materials (18) can be grown overlying monocrystalline substrates (12) such as gallium arsenide wafers by forming a metal template layer (16) on the monocrystalline substrate. The structure includes a metal-containing layer (16) to mitigate unwanted oxidation of underlying layers and a low-temperature seed layer (19) that prevents degradation of an epitaxial layer (14) during growth of the perovskite layer (18).

Abstract: An exemplary system and method for providing a microwave regime, frequency-agile device is disclosed as comprising inter alia: a low-loss, insulating substrate (200); a layer of SiO2 (210) over the surface of said substrate; and a layer of BST (220) deposited over the SiO2 layer (210). Disclosed features and specifications may be variously controlled, configured, adapted or otherwise optionally modified to further improve or otherwise optimize frequency response or other material characteristics. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention representatively provide for integrated high-efficiency, low-loss microwave components that may be readily incorporated with existing technologies for the improvement of frequency response, device package form factors, weights and/or other manufacturing, device or material performance metrics.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of using compositions for stimulate an immunological response against cancer. The method comprising contacting colloidal metal with a tumor cell in an aqueous solution to form a colloidal metal-protein complex, separating the colloidal metal-protein complex from other cellular components, and administering a therapeutically effective amount of the colloidal metal-protein complexes to a tumor-bearing subject. The present invention further relates to a composition which is made by contacting colloidal metal with a cell in an aqueous solution to form a colloidal metal-protein complex, and separating the colloidal metal-protein complex from other cellular components.

Abstract: A method for removing silicon oxide from a surface of a substrate is disclosed. The method includes depositing material onto the silicon oxide (110) and heating the substrate surface to a sufficient temperature to form volatile compounds including the silicon oxide and the deposited material (120). The method also includes heating the surface to a sufficient temperature to remove any remaining deposited material (130).

Abstract: A ferromagnetic semiconductor structure is provided. The structure includes a monocrystalline semiconductor substrate and a doped titanium oxide anatase layer overlying the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: High quality epitaxial layers of monocrystalline oxide materials (24) can be grown overlying monocrystalline substrates (22) such as large silicon wafers. The monocrystalline oxide layer (24) comprises a layer of monocrystalline oxide spaced apart from the silicon wafer by an amorphous interface layer (28) of silicon oxide. The amorphous interface layer serves as a decoupling layer between the substrate and the buffer layer so that the substrate and the buffer is crystal-graphically, chemically, and dielectrically decoupled. In addition, high quality epitaxial accommodating buffer layers may be formed overlying vicinal substrates using a low pressure, low temperature, alkaline-earth metal-rich process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved methods for the treatment or prevention of disease with gene therapy or vaccines comprising host optimized GM-CSF nucleic acid sequences. More particularly, the invention provides methods for codon optimized GM-CSF with enhanced expression and adjuvant activity ex vivo and in vivo. The present invention also provides for methods of optimizing homologous gene expression ex vivo and in vitro or in transgenic animals.

Abstract: High quality monocrystalline metal oxide layers are grown on a monocrystalline substrate such as a silicon wafer. The monocrystalline metal oxide is grown on the silicon substrate at a temperature low enough to prevent deleterious and simultaneous oxidation of the silicon substrate. After a layer of 1-3 monolayers of the monocrystalline oxide is grown, the growth is stopped and the crystal quality of that layer is improved by a higher temperature anneal. Following the anneal, the thickness of the layer can be increased by restarting the low temperature growth. An amorphous silicon oxide layer can be grown at the interface between the monocrystalline metal oxide layer and the silicon substrate after the thickness of the monocrystalline oxide reaches a few monolayers.

Abstract: Cell transfection compositions including an amphipathic compound and an enzyme inhibitor such as a histone deacetylase inhibitor for delivery of genetic material into cells are provided. The cell transfection compositions can express high levels of an encoding protein with minium cytotoxicity. Exemplary histone deacetylase inhibitors include trichostatin A (TSA), FR901464, FR901228, trapoxin A (TPX). The amphipathic compounds can be cationic compounds, neutral compounds or combinations thereof. The enzyme inhibitor can be encapsulated in a liposome formed by the amphipathic compound or the enzyme inhibitor can be mixed with a pre-formed liposome of the amphipathic compound.

Abstract: A method for producing quantum dots. The method includes cleaning an oxide substrate and separately cleaning a metal source. The substrate is then heated and exposed to the source in an oxygen environment. This causes metal oxide quantum dots to form on the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: Lipids and compositions of lipids that can be used as lipid aggregates (i.e., liposomes) for the delivery of macromolecules and other compounds into cells are provided.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for heavy metal phytoremediation, including plants which are genetically engineered to overexpress glutamylcysteine synthetase (ECS) and thereby provide enhanced heavy metal accumulation. In various embodiments, the plants comprise a gene encoding ECS operably linked to a heterologous promoter, the plant is a member of the Brassicaceae family. In general, the methods comprise the steps of growing such plants in a medium such as soil or water comprising a heavy metal, under conditions wherein ECS is overexpressed, whereby the plant provides enhanced accumulation of the heavy metal, whereby the heavy metal content of the medium is decreased.

Abstract: The present invention provides a drug delivery vehicle that can improve the pharmacokinetics of pharmacological agents. The invention relates to a multifunctional carrier capable of delivering a carried material such as a pharmacological agent or genetic material to a recipient. The multifunctional carrier includes a multifunctional core and a plurality of adduct molecules bonded thereto. The molecular carrier has surface functional groups which can be associated with a carried material. The carried material can be associated with the molecular carrier through covalent interactions or ionic interactions. The polyvalent core can be ethylene-diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) or succinic acid. The invention also relates to methods for producing and using such molecules.

Abstract: A method for producing quantum dots. The method includes cleaning an oxide substrate and separately cleaning a metal source. The substrate is then heated and exposed to the source in an oxygen environment. This causes metal oxide quantum dots to form on the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A method and compositions for modulating an immune system response to an antigen in a mammal are disclosed. The method comprises administering to the mammal a conjugate comprising substantially particle-free hyaluronic acid (HA), or a polymer analogue thereof, covalently linked to a peptide that comprises a T cell epitope, or a plurality of epitopes. Typically, the epitope is defined by a sequence of at least about eight amino acids of the antigen.

Abstract: A stable oxidized structure and an improved method of making such a structure, including an improved method of making an interfacial template for growing a crystalline metal oxide structure, are disclosed. The improved method comprises the steps of providing a substrate with a clean surface and depositing a metal on the surface at a high temperature under a vacuum to form a metal-substrate compound layer on the surface with a thickness of less than one monolayer. The compound layer is then oxidized by exposing the compound layer to essentially oxygen at a low partial pressure and low temperature. The method may further comprise the step of annealing the surface while under a vacuum to further stabilize the oxidized film structure. A crystalline metal oxide structure may be subsequently epitaxially grown by using the oxidized film structure as an interfacial template and depositing on the interfacial template at least one layer of a crystalline metal oxide.

Abstract: An internal curing composition for concrete includes a glycol and a wax. The glycol is preferably polyethylene glycol and the wax is preferably paraffin wax. When added to concrete, the composition facilitates the curing of concrete to a low porosity, high compressive strength product.

Abstract: Techniques for producing and supplying various voltage levels within a memory system having multiple memory blocks (e.g., memory chips) are described. The various voltage levels can be produced by voltage generation circuitry (e.g., charge pump and/or regulator circuitry) within the memory system. The various voltage levels can be supplied to the multiple memory blocks through a power bus. According to one aspect, charge pump and/or regulator circuits are provided within at most one of the memory blocks of a memory system (unless back-ups are provided for fault tolerance), and a power bus is used to distribute the generated voltage levels to other of the memory blocks. According to another aspect, a memory controller generates multiple supply voltage levels that are distributed (e.g., via a power bus) to each of the memory blocks.