Abstract: A method and apparatus for thermal processing of a workpiece is provided. The time taken for a processing gas to be purged, or switched, during one or more processing steps is significantly reduced for thermal processing systems. The thermal processing system includes a heating chamber in accordance with one example embodiment of the present invention. A small-volume workpiece enclosure is disposed about the workpiece. A translation mechanism, e.g., in the form of a positioning assembly, supports the small-volume workpiece enclosure for moving the small-volume workpiece enclosure and the workpiece within the heating chamber. The small-volume workpiece enclosure enables the use of relatively smaller amounts of process (ambient) gases, and decreases the purge time of such gases. The heating chamber can have at least one of a thermal radiation intensity gradient and a temperature gradient for thermally processing the workpiece.

Abstract: Methods for screening a patient for a cancer wherein the methods comprise detecting an HPV in a biopsy from a patient are disclosed. Also disclosed are compositions and products for screening and for treating cancer in a patient, as well as methods of treating a patient afflicted with a cancer.

Abstract: The present invention utilizes AAV as a vector to transfect epithelial cells with an AAV/heterologous gene containing/Neo vector, to form a heterologous protein secreting culture of epithelial cells. This culture is useful for preparing recombinant skin using the organotypic epithelial raft culture system. The sheets of epithelial cells is composed of a stratified sqaumous epithelium composed of a lower layer of immature basal cells and an upper layer of mature keratinized epithelium. The rAAV virus stock prepared without wild type AAV is useful in expressing heterologous protein, however, the maximum production of the heterologous protein was achieved; when the rAAV virus stock contained wild type AAV. This invention discloses that AAV is appropriate for genetically altering skin to secrete new proteins to treat diseases and skin disorders or conditions.

Abstract: The present invention is discloses an improved method of producing infectious papillomavirus in vitro, with a method comprising (a) introducing papillomavirus or papillomavirus DNA or portions thereof necessary for replication, into an epithelial cell; and (b) providing conditions that produce papillomavirus, wherein the conditions comprise not contacting the epithelial cell a fibroblast and does not comprise an organotypic raft culture or a dermal equivalent. The present invention also discloses a papillomavirus infected non-keratinocyte epithelial cell produced by the methods of the present invention. Further, uses of the disclosed method includes detection methods, methods for screening anti-papillomavirus drugs, methods of making recombinant papillomavirus for vaccines and studying the life cycle. Additionally, a method of reducing and assessing the risk of spontaneous abortion is disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining stellar inertial attitude based upon a plurality of stars includes a star tracker and a controller. The star tracker is used to sense the positions of stars and generate signals corresponding to the positions of the stars as seen in its field of view. The controller checks a star catalog and actively determines which stars to track. The controller does this determination in terms of each star's relative geometry. The controller then commands the star tracker to track these stars and uses them to determine the spacecraft attitude.

Abstract: Stellar attitude-control systems and methods are provided with enhanced accuracy because they recognize that important star tracker errors exhibit a boresight symmetry and that these errors can be accurately defined by weighting a measurement-noise covariance matrix R(tn) with variances that are functions of off-boresight angles of detected stars. A method of the invention derives off-boresight angles &thgr; from star-tracker signals of detected stars. These off-boresight angles &thgr; are combined with variance coefficients &agr; to generate off-boresight variances rob(tn) that are functions of the off-boresight angles &thgr; and, in particular, correspond to star tracker color shift errors. A gain matrix K(tn) is then calculated with a weighted measurement-noise covariance matrix R(tn) that includes the off-boresight variances rob(tn). This gain matrix is used to generate an attitude estimate matrix X*(tn) for use in spacecraft attitude control.

Abstract: The present invention utilizes AAV as a vector to transfect epithelial cells with an AAV/heterologous gene containing/Neo vector, to form a heterologous protein secreting culture of epithelial cells. This culture is useful for preparing recombinant skin using the organotypic epithelial raft culture system. The sheets of epithelial cells is composed of a stratified sqaumous epithelium composed of a lower layer of immature basal cells and an upper layer of mature keratinized epithelium. The rAAV virus stock prepared without wild type AAV is useful in expressing heterologous protein, however, the maximum production of the heterologous protein was achieved; when the rAAV virus stock contained wild type AAV. This invention discloses that AAV is appropriate for genetically altering skin to secrete new proteins to treat diseases and skin disorders or conditions.

Abstract: An apparatus for star catalog equalization to enhance attitude determination includes a star tracker, a star catalog and a controller. The star tracker is used to sense the positions of stars and generate signals corresponding to the positions of the stars as seen in its field of view. The star catalog contains star location data that is stored using a primary and multiple secondary arrays sorted by both declination (DEC) and right ascension (RA), respectively. The star location data stored in the star catalog is predetermined by calculating a plurality of desired star locations, associating one of a plurality of stars with each of the plurality of desired star locations based upon a neighborhood association angle to generate an associated plurality of star locations: If an artificial star gap occurs during association, then the neighborhood association angle for reassociation is increased.

Abstract: Methods are provided for dynamically processing successively-generated star tracker data frames and associated valid flags to generate processed star tracker signals that have reduced noise and a probability greater than a selected probability Pslctd of being valid. These methods maintain accurate spacecraft attitude control in the presence of spurious inputs (e.g., impinging protons) that corrupt collected charges in spacecraft star trackers. The methods of the invention enhance the probability of generating valid star tracker signals because they respond to a current frame probability Pfrm by dynamically selecting the largest valid frame combination whose combination probability Pcmb satisfies a selected probability Pslctd. Noise is thus reduced while the probability of finding a valid frame combination is enhanced. Spacecraft structures are also provided for practicing the methods of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an in vitro method for assaying for an inhibitor of the catalytic Group I self-splicing intron reaction in the nuclear rRNA genes of Pheumocystis carinii which comprises the steps of (a) providing a DNA template containing the intron (I) from the 26S rRNA gene in Pneumocystis carinii and a portion of the 5' and 3' flanking exons (E1 and E2, respectively) between nucleotides 1963 and 2267 of 26S rRNA (660 nucleotides of amplified rRNA gene including the group I intron); (b) preparing an RNA precursor by transcription of the DNA template in the presence of labeled nucleoside triphosphates to produce a labeled RNA precursor (E1-I-E2); (c) purifying the RNA precursor; (d) incubating the RNA precursor and the inhibitor in the presence of guanosine triphosphate and magnesium ions; and (e) determining the degree of inhibition by the inhibitor on the intron splicing reaction in the RNA precursor by measuring the amount of labeled splicing intermediates and splicing products.

Abstract: Capacitive coupling between neighboring conductive lines of the semiconductor device is reduced by applying an alternating magnetic field in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the conductive lines.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for diagnosing for Pneumocystis carinii by detecting the presence of a nucleic acid sequence containing the 26S rRNA gene specific for Pneumocystis carinii. More particularly, this invention relates to a method for diagnosing for Pneumocystis carinii which comprises amplifying a sample of DNA from Pneumocystis carinii by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using species specific primers and detecting the PCR products with species specific radioactive or non-radioactive oligonucleotide probes. This invention also relates to a method for diagnosing for various species of Pneumocystis carinii by detecting the presence of a nucleic acid sequence containing the particular 16S or 26S rRNA gene sequence specific for that species of Pneumocystis carinii.

Abstract: Wheel speed values for each of four wheels are collected and analyzed for a statistical variation which would indicate low tire pressure. Prior to analysis, and following reset of the system, calibration factors are determined for each of the wheels to compensate rolling radius variations, and subsequently used to correct all wheel speed values. The corrected speed values are then filtered to exclude values which represent wheel slippage, rough road fluctuations, vehicle cornering, and uphill or downhill travel. When a sufficient number of values have been collected, an F-value is calculated substantially according to the statistical method "analysis of the variance", and the F-value is compared to an empirically determined value corresponding to a predetermined pressure loss. This comparison can provide the basis for a driver warning. Since a larger F-value indicates a larger statistical difference in wheel speeds, the value can be rechecked after a further interval for additional pressure loss.

Abstract: Capacitive coupling between neighboring conductive lines of the semiconductor device is reduced by applying an alternating magnetic field in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the conductive lines.

Abstract: A method for making a mask for optical lithography or other projection printing, wherein the mask is represented by a mask pattern, is disclosed herein. The mask provides a substantially binary output image on the surface of a wafer as light is applied to the mask. Light passes through the mask and onto a wafer at varying intensities, such intensities represented by output intensity values, the threshold values of which produce output images within predetermined constraints. The method includes the steps of defining sampling points which are representative of the binary output image. These sampling points are used in defining local objective functions, which are combined to give a total objective function. The present invention further includes the steps of adjusting the mask pattern to provide for minimization by optimization of the objective function, transferring the mask pattern to a mask generating machine to generate a mask, and generating a mask.