1. A cover for a port in a modular system, the cover comprising a dummy module having an outer housing with substantially the same outer dimensions as an operational module that would fit into the port in the modular system, wherein the dummy module includes a printed circuit board within the outer housing, the printed circuit board having substantially the same dimensions as those of a printed circuit board of an operational module.
2. A cover according to claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board includes at least a memory component mounted thereon and electrical conductors on the printed circuit board coupled to the memory component for allowing a controller of the modular system to communicate with the memory component, when the dummy module is in position in the modular system.
3. A cover according to claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board includes resistive termination for containing signals passing thereto from the modular system, when the dummy device is in position in the modular system.
4. A cover according to claim 1, wherein the outer housing comprises an outer housing that could be used to form an operational module.
5. A cover according to claim 1, wherein the outer housing includes an aperture therein, that, in an operational module, would allow an optical connection to be made there through, the aperture of the dummy module being closed off.
6. A cover according to claim 5, wherein the aperture is closed off by means of a plug.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method for preparing a basement membrane comprising:
culturing cells having an ability to form the basement membrane on a support structure with a sugar-chain coat,
wherein the sugar-chain coat has a \u03b2-D-glucopyranosyl non-reducing end or a 2-acetoamide-2-deoxy-\u03b2-D-glucopyranosyl non-reducing end, and
wherein the culturing is under conditions such that the cells are in contact with the support structure with the sugar-chain coat, and the \u03b2-D-glucopyranosyl non-reducing end or 2-acetoamide-2-deoxy-\u03b2-D-glucopyranosyl non-reducing end can localize a receptor on the cells to thereby accumulate basement membrane components onto a basal surface of the cells and form the basement membrane.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising preparing the support structure with the sugar-chain coat comprising coating the support structure with the sugar-chain coat.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the support structure is a fibrous collagen.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the support structure is coated with a polymer having a sugar chain comprising PV-GlcNAc, PV-CA or PV-Lam.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the support structure has opposing surfaces and is coated by the sugar chain on both of its opposing surfaces.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the cells having the ability to form the basement membrane are cultured on both of the opposing surfaces of the support structure.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the cells having an ability to form a basement membrane comprise epithelial cells, endothelial cells or mesenchymal cells.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the cells having an ability to form a basement membrane are co-cultured with fibroblasts.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the cells having an ability to form a basement membrane are cultured in the presence of one or more types of basement membrane components comprising laminin, type IV collagen, heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG), or entactin.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the cells having an ability to form a basement membrane are cultured in the presence of TGF-\u03b2 (transforming growth factor-\u03b2).
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the cells having an ability to form a basement membrane are transfected with one or more genes encoding one or more basement membrane components in order to hyper-express one or more basement membrane components.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein a part of the sugar chain coat is replaced by a basement membrane component.