Abstract:
A method and system for spectroscopic ellipsometry employing reflective optics to measure a small region of a sample by reflecting radiation (preferably broadband UV, visible, and near infrared radiation) from the region. The system preferably has an autofocus assembly and a processor programmed to determine from the measurements the thickness and/or complex refractive index of a thin film on the sample. Preferably, only reflective optics are employed along the optical path between the polarizer and analyzer, a sample beam reflects with low incidence angle from each component of the reflective optics, the beam is reflectively focused to a small, compact spot on the sample at a range of high incidence angles, and an incidence angle selection element is provided for selecting for measurement only radiation reflected from the sample at a single, selected angle (or narrow range of angles). The focusing mirror preferably has an elliptical shape to reduce off-axis aberrations in the focused beam. Some embodiments include both a spectrophotometer and an ellipsometer integrated together as a single instrument. In such instrument, the spectrophotometer and ellipsometer share a radiation source, and radiation from the source can be focused by either the spectrophotometer or the ellipsometer to the same focal point on a sample. Preferred embodiments of the ellipsometer employ a rotating, minimal-length Rochon prism as a polarizer, and include a spectrometer with an intensified photodiode array to measure reflected radiation from the sample, and a reference channel (in addition to a sample channel which detects radiation reflected from the sample).
Abstract:
This invention provides a hybridoma produced by the fusion of a mouse antibody-producing cell and a mouse myeloma which is designated 1-10F-8A and deposited with the ATCC under Accession Number PTA-279, said hybridoma producing a monoclonal antibody which binds to fullerene C60. This invention provides a mouse monoclonal antibody specific for a fullerene-C60 and produced by the mouse monoclonal antibody-producing hybridoma designated 1-10F-8A. The invention provides the amino acid and encoding nucleic acid sequences of the heavy and light chains of the 1-10F-8A monoclonal antibody. This invention also provides methods of determining a serum concentration of a fullerene in a subject and of purifying a fullerene from a sample.
Abstract:
An apparatus for dissociating gases includes a plasma chamber that may be formed from a metallic material and a transformer having a magnetic core surrounding a portion of the plasma chamber and having a primary winding. The apparatus also includes one or more switching semiconductor devices that are directly coupled to a voltage supply and that have an output coupled to the primary winding of the transformer. The one or more switching semiconductor devices drive current in the primary winding that induces a potential inside the chamber that forms a plasma which completes a secondary circuit of the transformer.
Abstract:
A system for learning and examination training is disclosed. A student can log on the system through a website to review training history, to access a menu of levels of practice examinations of interest to him, and to select training exams on the website. During the examination, the student is able to indicate whether or not help is required at any given point or question. Without regard to whether or not the student believes help is required, all students are subject to a dynamic/interactive evaluation of responses in which a teacher who is on-line with the same website at the time of the student is able to intervene during an examination to invoke help options for the student. In the first instance, the teacher can intervene to change the exam level to either a lower or to a higher one. Among the help options available to a student during an examination within a given level are “auto coach” in which the student is provided with hints and examples; an adaptive question selection in which variations of the same questions are drawn from a database; real time talk support in which the on-line teacher can communicate with the student at the time that this option is invoked; and a multi-solution select option in which a database presents multiple means of problem to accommodate or discover the learning style of the student. The student can be scored, timed and graded in a variety of modes both during and after the examination.
Abstract:
A vehicle theft indicating device for alerting the police and others that the vehicle is stolen. The vehicle theft indicating device includes a light-emitting support member being adapted to be securely attached to a top of a roof of a vehicle; and also includes a light-emitting assembly including a light socket member being securely attached to the light-emitting support member and being adapted to be connected to a power supply, and also including a light-emitting member being disposed in the light socket member, and further including a transmitter for activating the light-emitting member; and further includes a transparent cover being removably disposed over the light-emitting member and being securely attached to the light-emitting support member with fasteners.
Abstract:
An improved toroidal low-field plasma source allows plasma ignition within a wider range of gas conditions than permitted by prior art plasma sources. Power efficiency of the plasma source is improved by automatically adjusting the power delivered to the plasma based on the load to the power supply. The plasma source can be operated over a wider pressure range than allowed by prior art plasma sources. The plasma source can be operated so as to increase the output of atomic species from the source. The plasma source can be operated to increase the etch rate of organic materials. The plasma source can efficiently remove hazardous gas compounds from effluent gas streams by converting them into scrubbable products.
Abstract:
Monoclonal antibodies to cyclosporine A (CsA), a potent immunosuppressant, were generated in Balb/c mice using a novel antigen prepared by linking CsA to a protein carrier via a photoactive cross-linking reagent, 4-benzoylbenzoic acid (BBa). Twenty-two monoclonal anti-CsA antibodies were generated, using CsA-BBa-bovine serum albumin (CsA-BBa-BSA) as the immunogen. Epitope mapping studies were performed using a series of singly substituted CsA derivatives and an antibody was identified that recognizes N-methyl leucine residues 9 and 10 of CsA. This antibody also cross-reacts with the HIV-1 Gag protein. A method for the detection of HIV-1 in patient samples employing this monoclonal antibody is disclosed.
Abstract:
A method of producing a non-erythroid protein in erythrocytes of a transgenic animal using an erythroid-specific promoter includes synthesizing an erythroid-specific globin gene promoter and globin gene locus control region and cloning the promoter and the globin gene locus control region and a gene encoding a non-erythroid protein into a vector to obtain a transgene; introducing the transgene in pronuclear embryos collected from a mammalian animal in vitro; transplanting the pronuclear embryos containing the transgene into oviduct of a female recipient of the mammalian animal to obtain a transgenic animal which then expresses the non-erythroid protein in progenitor cells of erythrocytes; and collecting blood from the transgenic animal and isolating the non-erythroid protein from the erythrocytes. Further disclosed are a transgenic animal expressing a non-erythroid protein in progenitor cells of erythrocytes and an isolated erythrocyte of a non-human transgenic animal containing a human non-erythroid protein encoded by a transgene.
Abstract:
A system for incorporating ferromagnetic materials into several microwave application is described. The system employs a multi-layer substrate. A substrate for receiving microwave signals uses a base layer which has tunable elements and a nanofiber layer which uses magnetic nanotubes. The nanofibers have a high aspect ratio and the nanofiber layer is embedded in the base layer.