Abstract: An electrolyte for a lithium battery includes a non-aqueous organic solvent, lithium salts, and an additive compound of formula (1): where X is selected from the group consisting of an alkyl, an alkoxy, a halogen, and an electron withdrawing group. The lithium battery having the electrolyte shows improved electrochemical properties, such as capacity at high rate and safety characteristics compared to a battery including the conventional non-aqueous electrolyte which does not include the additive compound.

Abstract: The use of at least two electrolyte salts in a lithium secondary battery provides improved battery performance such as long cycle life of high discharge capacity and high capacity retention.

Abstract: In a method of producing a photomask blank, comprising a thin film forming step of forming, on a rectangular substrate, a thin film for causing an optical change in exposure light, a resist application step of applying a positive resist on the thin film, a baking step of heat treating the resist applied on the thin film, and a removing step of removing a resist film formed in a portion of the edge of the substrate, the removing step is carried out by exposing the resist film in the portion of the edge of the substrate after the resist application step and before the heat treating step so that, upon development subsequently carried out in the removing step, a difference in solubility or dissolving speed in a developer is obtained between an exposed area and an unexposed area and by selectively supplying the developer to the exposed area.

Abstract: The invention provides a positive-working photosensitive resin composition comprising an alkali soluble resin (A), a diazoquinone compound (B) and a compound (C) which contains a —CH2OH group but not a phenolic hydroxyl group, a method for producing a pattern-formed resin film using the composition, a semiconductor device and a display device using the composition, and a method for producing the semiconductor device and the display device.

Abstract: Silicon-containing layers for electrophotographic photoreceptors which have high mechanical strength, improved electrophotographic characteristics and improved image deletion characteristics even under conditions of high temperature and high humidity are provided. Such silicon-containing layers include silicon-containing compounds, which may be cross-linked, and siloxane-containing antioxidants that can be selected from hindered phenol antioxidants, hindered amine antioxidants, thioether antioxidants and phosphite antioxidants. Electrophotographic photoreceptors and electrophotographic imaging apparatuses containing such silicon-containing layers are also provided.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising a support, an interlayer containing inorganic particle and a photosensitive layer is disclosed. The photosensitive layer contains a mixture of compounds represented by Formula (1) having different n and (Rp+Rs) is not more than 99%, wherein Rp is a ratio of a component having the maximum content in the mixture and Rs is a ratio of a component having the content next to the maximum content in percent. X—(CTM-group)n—Y ??(1) In the formula, CTM-group is a charge transfer group; X and Y are each a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a mono-valent organic group; and n is an integer of from 0 to 10, provided that n is an integer of from 1 to 10 when both X and Y are hydrogen atom or a halogen atom. A processing cartridge comprising the electrophotographic photoreceptor is also disclosed.

Abstract: A photo conductor has a protective surface layer whereon at least a carrier generation layer and a carrier transport layer are provided onto a conductive base. The protective surface layer includes a first protective surface layer using a hydrocarbon gas-based amorphous carbon with an ion implantation layer, and a second protective surface layer using a hydrocarbon gas-based amorphous carbon without an ion implantation layer.

Abstract: A powder is de-aerated in a collector and then transferred to a chamber via a valve. The chamber may then be injected with a low-pressure air stream carrying an additive for mixing with the de-aerated powder. The mixing of the powder with the air and additive stream may occur in the valve and/or chamber. After mixing of the powder with the air and additive stream, the mixed powder and additive may be further mixed in the chamber and/or second valve prior to transferring the mixed powder and additive to a holding container or other processing device.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical recording medium, comprising a polymer alloy forming a phase-separated domain structure of a coating object, and a volatile substance interacting with the polymer alloy. The volatile substance in a vapor state is deposited on the surface of specific phase-separated domain, and dispersedly infiltrated into the phase-separated domain. The phase-separated domain and the volatile substance chemically interact with each other. The optical recording medium is operable to perform optical recording by utilizing change in the transmittance, reflectance, refractive index or surface potential thereof in response to irradiation of ultraviolet light, visible light, or infrared light from outside. The present invention can provide an optical recording medium suitable for high-density recording in a wide wavelength range.

Abstract: An optical information-recording medium which contains a dye having at least two chromophores bonded to each other without any conjugated bond intervening between those chromophores.

Abstract: This invention provides an undercoating layer material and a filler material containing a resin component having at least a substituent group which is capable of releasing a terminal group to form a sulfonic acid residue upon application of predetermined energy, and a solvent. The resin component has at least a repeating unit represented by formula (1): wherein n is an integer of 1 or more, X represents a C1 to C10 linear or branched alkyl chain, an aromatic or alicyclic alkyl chain or an alkyl ester chain, and Y is a substituent group forming a sulfonic acid residue upon application of predetermined energy.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing electrodes of a plasma display panel includes providing a front transparent substrate including transparent electrodes on the front transparent substrate, coating a black photosensitive paste film and a main photosensitive conductive paste film of negative-working type on the transparent electrodes, exposing the black photosensitive paste film and main photosensitive conductive paste film to define bus electrodes on the transparent electrodes, wherein exposure energy acting on main regions of the bus electrodes is greater than exposure energy acting on edge regions of the bus electrodes, developing the black photosensitive paste film and main photosensitive conductive paste film to form the bus electrodes, in which a thickness of the edge regions of the bus electrodes is less than a thickness of the main regions of the bus electrodes, and firing the black photosensitive paste film and main photosensitive conductive paste film.

Abstract: SU-8 photoresist compositions are modified to improve their adhesion properties by adding 1% to 6% of an adhesion promoter selected from the group consisting of glycidoxypropanetrimethoxysilane, mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane, and aminopropyltrimethoxysilane. SU-8 photoresist compositions are modified to improve their resistance to cracking and film stress by adding 0.5% to 3% of a plasticizer selected from the group consisting of dialkylphthalates, dialkylmalonates, dialkylsebacates, dialkyladipates, and diglycidyl hexahydrophthalates. The improvements can be obtained simultaneously by adding both the adhesion promoter and the plasticizer to SU-8 photoresist compositions.

Abstract: The invention provides a silver halide color photographic photosensitive material including a substrate and photographic layers containing a yellow color-developing blue light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, a magenta color-developing green light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, a cyan color-developing red light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer and a non-photosensitive hydrophilic colloid layer, wherein a total gelatin coating amount in the photographic layers is within a range from 3 to 6 g/m2 and/or a total silver coating amount in the photographic layers is within a range from 0.2 to 0.5 g/m2, the yellow color-developing blue light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer includes a silver halide emulsion having silver halide grains which have a sphere-equivalent diameter of no more than 0.6 ?m and a silver chloride content of at least 90 mol %, and an image forming method utilizing the photosensitive material.

Abstract: A photothermographic material having, on at least one side of a support, an image forming layer containing at least a photosensitive silver halide, a non-photosensitive organic silver salt, a reducing agent, and a binder, and at least one non-photosensitive layer which is disposed on the same side as the image forming layer and farther from the support than the image forming layer, wherein (1) 50% by weight or more of the binder is a polymer latex having a monomer component having an acid group, and (2) the polymer latex has a core/shell structure having a core part and a shell part, and the monomer component having an acid group in the core part is 2 mol % to 20 mol % of a total amount of the monomer component having an acid group in the polymer latex. The invention provides a photothermographic material which exhibits excellent image uniformity with low fog.

Abstract: A silver halide emulsion comprising silver halide grains covered with two dye layers in combination. The two dye layers comprises an inner dye layer adjoining to the silver halide grain, and containing at least one sensitizing dye capable of spectrally sensitizing silver halide, and an outer dye layer adjoining to the inner dye layer, and containing at least two dyes. The light absorption energy of the outer dye layer is equal to or higher than that of the inner dye layer, an energy-releasing wavelength of the outer dye layer overlaps with an energy-absorbing wavelength of the inner dye layer, the sensitizing dyes constituting the inner dye layer include an anion and/or betaine dyes, the dyes constituting the outer dye layer include an anion and cation dyes, and the anion dye is more than the cation dye in terms of an addition amount and/or an adsorption amount.

Abstract: To provide a silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material having higher sensitivity and higher contrast and free of reciprocity failure over a wide range of exposure illuminance, A silver halide emulsion comprising a silver halide grain containing at least two metal complexes each giving an average electron releasing time of 10?5 to 3 seconds, the ratio in the average electron releasing time between these two metal complexes being at least 3 times or more and in these metal complexes, the content of the metal complex having a shorter average electron releasing time being 3 times or more as the molar ratio to the content of the metal complex having a longer average electron releasing time.

Abstract: The present invention features methods for transplanting organs, tissues and individual cells. Also featured are methods for maintaining cells in vitro and for enhancing survival and/or function of cells following transplantation. The methods include the administration of carbon monoxide in an amount sufficient to enhance cell survival and/or function.

Abstract: A method for the discovery of compounds suitable for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of obesity, in which the ability of the test compounds to inhibit de novo lipogenesis in mammals and/or man is determined. The use of compounds which are capable of inhibiting de novo lipogenesis in mammals, and which are substantially free of effects directed towards the CNS, for the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of obesity, as well as for the treatment and/or inhibition of obesity, are also described.

Abstract: Diagnostic markers for breast cancer referred to herein breast cancer specific genes or BCSGs are provided. Also provided are methods for using BCSGs to detect, diagnose, monitor, stage, prognosticate, image and treat breast cancer. Antibodies which specifically bind BCSGs and methods of using these antibodies to image and treat breast cancer are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates composite core/shell nanoparticles and a two-step method for their preparation. The present invention further relates to biomolecule-core/shell nanoparticle conjugates and methods for their preparation. The invention also relates to methods of detection of biomolecules comprising the biomolecule or specific binding substance-core/shell nanoparticle conjugates.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of regulating the destruction of mRNA molecules containing an AU-rich element (ARE), for example, methods of stimulating the degradation of an mRNA molecule encoding TNF-?, and methods of inhibiting the degradation of an mRNA molecule encoding GM-CSF. Also provided are methods for identifying compounds that regulate the destruction of mRNA molecules containing AREs.

Abstract: The subject invention concerns materials and methods for detecting the interaction of CFTR proteins. In one embodiment, the method can be used to determine whether one CFTR polypeptide interacts with a second CFTR polypeptide. The subject invention also concerns materials and methods for screening for drugs or compositions that can restore or enhance interaction of CFTR proteins containing mutation(s) that reduce or prevent dimerization of the proteins. The assay of the present invention can be used to screen a large number of compounds in a high throughput format. The subject invention also pertains to host cells useful in the methods of the invention. The subject invention also concerns compositions and methods for treating patients afflicted with cystic fibrosis.

Abstract: Methods and materials for studying the effects of a newly identified human gene, APOAV, and the corresponding mouse gene apoAV. The sequences of the genes are given, and transgenic animals which either contain the gene or have the endogenous gene knocked out are described. In addition, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the gene are described and characterized. It is demonstrated that certain SNPs are associated with diseases involving lipids and triglycerides and other metabolic diseases. These SNPs may be used alone or with SNPs from other genes to study individual risk factors. Methods for intervention in lipid diseases, including the screening of drugs to treat lipid-related or diabetic diseases are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for performing primer extension reactions, including employment of amplification primers having 5? tags to incorporate into amplicons variant nucleotides of interest from target nucleic acids at known ratios, with or without sequences surrounding the variant nucleotides of interest. The invention provides identifying the variant nucleotides generated from the target nucleic acid and generated from the 5? tags, comparing the results, evaluating the efficiency of the primer extension reactions, and monitoring the efficacy of such reactions. The invention accounts for DNA sequence and experimental variables that may affect efficiency of incorporation of nucleotides, and provides a reference point for the interpretation of polymorphisms. The invention also provides methods of breeding scrapie-resistant sheep populations.

Abstract: The methods and apparatus disclosed herein concern nucleic acid sequencing by enhanced Raman spectroscopy. In certain embodiments of the invention, nucleotides are covalently attached to Raman labels before incorporation into a nucleic acid. In other embodiments, unlabeled nucleic acids are used. Exonuclease treatment of the nucleic acid results in the release of labeled or unlabeled nucleotides that are detected by Raman spectroscopy. In alternative embodiments of the invention, nucleotides released from a nucleic acid by exonuclease treatment are covalently cross-linked to nanoparticles and detected by surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), surface enhanced resonance Raman spectroscopy (SERRS) and/or coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS). Other embodiments of the invention concern apparatus for nucleic acid sequencing.

Abstract: The invention provides for polynucleotides and vectors comprising at least two tag sequences. The invention also provides for polynucleotides and vectors comprising a streptavidin binding peptide sequence and a calmodulin binding peptide sequence. The invention also provides for polynucleotides and vectors wherein a gene of interest is fused in frame to at least two tag sequences, for example, a streptavidin binding peptide sequence and a calmodulin binding peptide sequence. The invention also provides for the chimeric proteins encoded by these polynucleotides. The invention also provides for methods of using the polynucleotides of the invention for detecting and/isolating protein complexes or identifying a binding partner for a protein of interest.

Abstract: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the gene encoding micromolar calcium activated neutral protease (mu-calpain) effect meat tenderness in bovine. These SNPs correspond to position 18 of exon 9 of Seq. ID No. 3, position 17 of exon 14 of Seq. ID No. 4, and position 185 on intron 19 of Seq. ID No. 4, of the CAPN1 gene encoding mu-calpain. Alleles wherein the SNP at position 18 of exon 9 encodes alanine at amino acid 316 of bovine mu-calpain, the SNP at position 17 on exon 14 encodes valine at amino acid 530 of bovine mu-calpain, and the SNP at position 185 on intron 19 is an cytosine, are all indicative of increased meat tenderness. Any one or all of these SNPs may be used as markers for selecting bovines having superior meat tenderness, and selecting animals for breeding purposes.

Abstract: A novel method of pyrophosphorolysis activated polymerization (PAP) has been developed. In PAP, pyrophosphorolysis and polymerization by DNA polymerase are coupled serially for each amplification by using an activatable oligonucleotide P* that has a non-extendible 3?-deoxynucleotide at its 3? terminus. PAP can be applied for exponential amplification or for linear amplification. PAP can be applied to amplification of a rare allele in admixture with one or more wild-type alleles by using an activatable oligonucleotide P* that is an exact match at its 3? end for the rare allele but has a mismatch at or near its 3? terminus for the wild-type allele. PAP is inhibited by a mismatch in the 3? specific sequence as far as 16 nucleotides away from the 3? terminus. PAP can greatly increase the specificity of detection of an extremely rare mutant allele in the presence of the wild-type allele.

Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant bovine parainfluenza virus (bPIV) cDNA or RNA which may be used to express heterologous gene products in appropriate host cell systems and/or to rescue negative strand RNA recombinant viruses that express, package, and/or present the heterologous gene product. The chimeric viruses and expression products may advantageously be used in vaccine formulations including vaccines against a broad range of pathogens and antigens.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the production of ?-3 and/or ?-6 fatty acids in oleaginous yeast. Thus, desaturases and elongases able to catalyze the conversion of linoleic acid (LA) to ?-linolenic acid (GLA); ?-linoleic acid (ALA) to stearidonic acid (STA); GLA to dihomo-?-linoleic acid (DGLA); STA to eicosatetraenoic acid (ETA); DGLA to arachidonic acid (ARA); ETA to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA); DGLA to ETA; EPA to docosapentaenoic acid (DPA); and ARA to EPA have been introduced into the genome of Yarrowia for synthesis of ARA and EPA.

Abstract: This invention has as its object a method for detecting catalytic activity of a sample, characterized in that it comprises: the incubation of a substrate (S) with the sample that may have the catalytic activity that it is desired to detect, the addition of a reagent (X) that can react either with a chemical group of unconsumed substrate (S) or with a chemical group of product (P) that is formed after an incubation period with the sample, the addition of a developer (R) that can react with reagent (X), and the detection of the transformation of developer (R).

Abstract: Disclosed are new methods comprising the use of in situ hybridization to detect abnormal nucleic acid sequence copy numbers in one or more genomes wherein repetitive sequences that bind to multiple loci in a reference chromosome spread are either substantially removed and/or their hybridization signals suppressed. The invention termed Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH) provides for methods of determining the relative number of copies of nucleic acid sequences in one or more subject genomes or portions thereof (for example, a tumor cell) as a function of the location of those sequences in a reference genome (for example, a normal human genome). The intensity(ies) of the signals from each labeled subject nucleic acid and/or the differences in the ratios between different signals from the labeled subject nucleic acid sequences are compared to determine the relative copy numbers of the nucleic acid sequences in the one or more subject genomes as a function of position along the reference chromosome spread.

Abstract: Systems and methods for analysis of polymers, e.g., polynucleotides, are provided. The systems are capable of analyzing a polymer at a specified rate. One such analysis system includes a structure having a nanopore aperture and a molecular motor, e.g., a polymerase, adjacent the nanopore aperture.

Abstract: A method of determining the length of a polynucleotide target is provided. With this method, a target is first hybridized to an array of first probes having different, determined lengths, resulting in the formation of duplexes between the polynucleotide target and the first probes. These duplexes have a single stranded section of target if the target is longer than the first probe it is in a duplex with. Next, a second probe having a determined length is hybridized to these duplexes. If the length of the target is greater than the length of the first probe it is displaced during this hybridization step by the process of branch migration. In contrast, if the length of the target is less than or equal to the length of the first probe, it is not displaced. Thus, the length of the polynucleotide target can be determined.

Abstract: A therapeutic agent for fibromyalgia containing an extract from inflamed tissue inoculated with vaccinia virus as an active ingredient, use of the extract from inflamed tissue inoculated with vaccinia virus as the active ingredient for producing a medicinal composition for treating fibromyalgia, and a method of treating fibromyalgia which comprises administering a medicinal composition containing the extract from inflamed tissue inoculated with vaccinia virus as the active ingredient to a patient. The therapeutic agent containing the extract from inflamed tissue inoculated with vaccinia virus as the active ingredient is a novel therapeutic agent for fibromyalgia, no efficacious therapeutic agent for which has been known heretofore. Moreover, it is very useful as an effective drug having high safety with scarcely any side effects.

Abstract: A method of producing antibodies comprising the step of encoding a peptide sequence from a Domain I perlecan splice variant, wherein the peptide sequence is used to produce anti-peptide antibodies.

Abstract: The present invention is a substantially purified sortase-transamidase enzyme from Gram-positive bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus.

Abstract: Intermolecular binding can be detected by formation of a “paratope” which results in an immediate generation of a signal. The substances to be tested for interaction are bound to demitopes, wherein said demitopes are components of a paratope which binds a reporter which provides said signal when bound. Known interactions measured in this way can also be employed to screen for compounds which interfere with the interactions. In addition to testing for individual interactions, the interaction of a compound with a library or library×library interactions can also be determined and the effect of potentially interfering substances evaluated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel human orphan nuclear receptor that binds to a cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase (CYP) promoter and that is activated by compounds that induce CYP gene expression. The invention further relates to nucleic acid sequences encoding such a receptor, to methods of making the receptor and to methods of using the receptor and nucleic acid sequences encoding same. The invention also relates to non-human animals transformed to express the human receptor and to methods of using such animals to screen compounds for drug interactions and toxicities.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and kits for predicting recurrence of tumor or cancer in a mammal by calculating the ratio of the amount of Survivin to the amount of pro-apoptosis factor (PAF) in a physiological sample.

Abstract: The present invention is based upon the finding that the protein p300 has acetylation activity which is directed to the retinoblastoma tumour suppressor protein pRb by the presence in the cell of the adenovirus E1A protein. This represents a target for modulators of the cell cycle, to which end the invention provides an assay for a modulator of acetylation of pRb by p300, which comprises: a) bringing into contact a p300 protein a pRb protein and a putative modulator compound under conditions where the p300 protein, in the absence of said modulator is capable of acetylating the pRb protein; b) providing conditions for acetylation of said pRb protein; and c) measuring the degree of inhibition of acetylation caused by said modulator compound.

Abstract: Skin cholesterol is measured by applying an adhesive tape onto a selected area of the skin to adhere the tape to the selected skin area and stripping the tape off the selected skin area to obtain a sample representative of the outer stratum corneum layer of the skin, the sample adhering to the tape so as to have exposed skin constituents. The sample is assayed using a detector reagent that specifically binds to cholesterol and in addition has an indicator component that allows quantitation of the amount of cholesterol present in the exposed skin constituents.

Abstract: A method for in situ detection of viable pathogenic bacteria in a selective medium by measuring cathodic peak current of oxygen on cyclic voltammograms during bacterial proliferation with an electrochemical voltammetric analyzer. The rapid oxygen consumption at a time during the growth of bacteria resulted in a sharp decline of the cathodic peak current curves. The detection times (threshold values) obtained from the cathodic peak current curve were inversely related to the concentrations of the pathogenic bacteria in the medium. This method for detection of pathogenic bacteria is more sensitive than nucleic acid-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods and any of antibody-based methods such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technology, electrochemical immunoassays, immunosensors, and it has a sensitivity similar to conventional culture methods and impedimetric methods but is more rapid than both of them.

Abstract: Synthetic versions of a full length and termini truncated humanized green fluorescent protein based on Ptilosarcus gurneyi are disclosed which have been modified to the favored or most favored codons for mammalian expression systems. The disclosed encoded protein has 239 amino acid residues compared with the wild type Ptilosarcus gurneyi which has 238 amino acids. In the present invention, a valine residue has been added at the second position from the amino terminus and codon preference bias has been changed in a majority of the wild type codons of Ptilosarcus gurneyi fluorescent protein. The humanized Ptilosarcus gurneyi green fluorescent protein is useful as a fluorescent tag for monitoring the activities of its fusion partners using imaging based approaches.

Abstract: A mammalian polypeptide designated Inhibitory PAS Domain Protein (IPAS) is useful for the inhibition of angiogenesis and/or tumor progression. Screening methods exist to identify compounds potentially useful as medicaments for the treatment of medical conditions related to angiogenesis or tumor progression.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in part, to a polypeptide domain having reduced immunogenicity that is capable of inducing trimers in heterologous polypeptides, fusion polypeptides comprising the trimer inducing domain, nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides of the invention and methods of making and using the same.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved methods for amplifying a nucleic acid molecule. More specifically, the invention provides methods for nucleic acid amplification which use primers having equivalent priming efficiency.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for producing trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline, which is useful as a raw material for medicines or as an additive to foods. In the process, L-proline is converted into trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline in the presence of an enzyme source which is derived from a microorganism belonging to the genus Dactylosporangium, Amycolatopsis or Streptomyces and which catalyzes the hydroxylation of L-proline into trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline, a divalent iron ion and 2-ketoglutaric acid, in an aqueous medium, and the produced trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline is collected from the aqueous medium. In addition, the present invention is directed to a process for producing trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline, wherein the L-proline biosynthesis activity of the host cell of the transformant is reinforced.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for the fermentative production of sulfur-containing fine chemicals, in particular L-methionine, by using bacteria which express a nucleotide sequence coding for a methionine synthase (metA) gene.