Abstract: Inhibitors of casein kinase 2 are described that have been found to arrest uncontrolled cell proliferation, thereby suggesting their use in cancer treatment strategies. Specific applications include treating breast cancer, colon cancer, melanoma, chronic myelogenous leukemia, bladder cancer, renal cancer, and brain cancer. Various methods and compositions utilizing the inhibitors are described.

Abstract: An electrical energy generating system converts wind power to electrical power with a wind deflecting structure that divides wind impinging on the structure into two separate accelerated flow paths. One or more turbines are positioned in proximity to the wind deflecting structure such that a portion of the vanes of the turbine is placed within one of the accelerated flow paths. An energy converter is coupled to the turbine that converts rotary motion of the turbine into electricity.

Abstract: Multiple designs, systems, methods and processes for controlling a system or plant using an extended active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) based controller are presented. The extended ADRC controller accepts sensor information from the plant. The sensor information is used in conjunction with an extended state observer in combination with a predictor that estimates and predicts the current state of the plant and a co-joined estimate of the system disturbances and system dynamics. The extended state observer estimates and predictions are used in conjunction with a control law that generates an input to the system based in part on the extended state observer estimates and predictions as well as a desired trajectory for the plant to follow.

Abstract: A wind harnessing system comprises a substantially grooved shell disposed about a rigid frame. The grooved shell can be constructed of lightweight shell panels connected to one another and to the frame. Alternatively, the grooved shell can be constructed of inflatable shell sections.

Abstract: Electrodes comprising ruthenium oxide nanoparticles are disclosed. The ruthenium oxide nanoparticles are located within the electrode or as a coating thereon. The electrode is especially suited for measuring the presence and/or concentration of nitric oxide in a sample.

Abstract: A method for producing a control output is described. The method includes identifying an error signal and decomposing the error signal into a plurality of signal components. The signal components are determined based on a plurality of orthogonal functions representing multi-resolution decomposition properties. The method further includes transforming each signal component. The transformed signal components are summed to determine a control signal.

Abstract: A wind harnessing system comprises a substantially helical structure including at least a portion of a spiraling groove and at least one energy converter positioned at least partially within the portion of the spiraling groove. In other embodiments, wind grooves formed by adjacent bands which are fixed with respect to one another, carry energy converters which are moveable with respect to these fixed bands.

Abstract: The invention provides a drug delivery vehicle for inhalation by a patient. The drug delivery vehicle comprises biocompatible particles between 0.1 and 1.0 microns in diameter, that are loaded with one or more drugs and which are crosslinked together to form agglomerates. The agglomerates can also provide for delivery of contrast-enhancing agents for clinical imaging. The invention also provides methods of making the inventive agglomerates, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the agglomerates, and methods for delivering drugs or contrast-enhancing agents to a patient by inhalation of pharmaceutical compositions containing the agglomerates.

Abstract: Peptides derived from amino acids 307 to 356 of the human blood coagulation factor Va are provided. Such peptides comprise: i) a length of between 3 and 50 amino acids, ii) a minimum of 3 contiguous amino acids from the 307–356 heavy chain region of factor Va, excluding peptide segments comprising amino acids 311 to 325 and amino acids 321 to 335, iii) optional additional amino acids at one or both ends of the contiguous amino acids such that the entire peptide is at least 60% identical to a sequence within 307 to 356 of factor Va, and iv) have an IC50 of between 50 nM to 500 ?M for inhibition of prothrombinase. The present invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more prothrombinase-inhibiting peptide segments. The present invention also provides administration of the pharmaceutical composition to human subjects for the purpose of preventing thrombotic disorders.

Abstract: Peptides derived from amino acids 307 to 356 of the human blood coagulation factor Va are provided. Such peptides comprise: i) a length of between 3 and 50 amino acids, ii) a minimum of 3 contiguous amino acids from the 307-356 heavy chain region of factor Va, excluding peptide segments comprising amino acids 311 to 325 and amino acids 321 to 335, iii) optional additional amino acids at one or both ends of the contiguous amino acids such that the entire peptide is at least 60% identical to a sequence within 307 to 356 of factor Va, and iv) have an IC50 of between 50 nM to 500 &mgr;M for inhibition of prothrombinase. The present invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more prothrombinase-inhibiting peptide segments. The present invention also provides administration of the pharmaceutical composition to human subjects for the purpose of preventing thrombotic disorders.

Abstract: A high-temperature, non-catalytic, infrared heater is formed within a housing having a bottom and at least one side lined with a refractory material. The burner includes a burner surface area and is positioned within the housing. A re-radiating surface is positioned above the burner and comprises a mesh having a re-radiating surface area greater than the burner surface area with the re-radiating surface operating between approximately 400° F. and 2200° F.

Abstract: The mass resolution and accuracy of delayed extraction matrix assisted desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry is improved by spatially separating the electric field used for driving extraction/acceleration from the sample being analyzed.

Abstract: An article includes a silicon-containing substrate and a modified mullite coating. The modified mullite coating comprises mullite and a modifier component that reduces cracks in the modified mullite coating. The article can further comprise a thermal barrier coating applied to the modified mullite coating. The modified mullite coating functions as a bond coating between the external environmental/thermal barrier coating and the silicon-containing substrate. In a method of forming an article, a silicon-containing substrate is formed and a modified mullite coating is applied. The modified mullite coating comprises mullite and a modifier component that reduces cracks in the modified mullite coating.

Abstract: The VSET method comprises: providing a polynucleotide acid sample comprising at least one target site, and a first region of nucleotides immediately adjacent to the target site; preferably genomic DNA; preferably amplifying the polynucleotide; then combining the polynucleotide sample with: three dideoxynucletides selected from the group of ddGTP, ddATP, ddCTP, and ddTTP; and one deoxynucleotide selected from the group consisting of and dGTP, dATP, dCTP, and dTTP wherein the nucleotide of the deoxynucleotide is not the same as the nucleotide in the dideoxynulceotide; and a mini-sequencing primer complementary to the first region of nucleotides; extending the mini-sequencing primer with a dideoxynucletide or deoxynulceotide whose base is complementary to the base at the target site, to provide extension products; and then identifying the extension products, preferably by (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polyurethane foam spray guns and disposable, attachable nozzles. The spray gun has at least two barrels and metering chambers containing continuous passageways defined by inner bores. Each inner bore can have at least one ramp-shaped slot for controlled metering of a resin. Within each barrel and metering chamber is a plunger. At the front end of the plunger but not the tip is an O-ring that aids in the control of the metering of each resin. At the mid-section of the plunger is at least one O-ring that aids in the prevention of leakage within the spray gun. Both the plunger tip and the discharge opening of each barrel/metering chamber are narrowed/conical. The nozzle contains a one-way valve to prevent the crossover of the resins. The nozzle's tip has different shapes depending on the structure of the foam product desired.

Abstract: A high-temperature, non-catalytic, infrared heater is formed within a housing having a bottom and at least one side lined with a refractory material. The burner includes a burner surface area and is positioned within the housing. A re-radiating surface is positioned above the burner and comprises a mesh having a re-radiating surface area greater than the burner surface area with the re-radiating surface operating between approximately 400° F. and 2200°F.

Abstract: A front mounted attachment for sewer cleaning vehicles consisting of four-bar linkage assemblies and hydraulic cylinders. The tray supporting the discharge hose storage reel has three positions; a driving position, a use position and a maintenance position. The four-bar linkage assemblies include a ground, a crank, a connecting rod and a follower. The tray using the four-bar linkage assemblies and hydraulic cylinders is raised and lowered along an axis vertical to the ground. The tray does not move to and away from the vehicle.

Abstract: A device for measuring residual stress in ferromagnetic and non-ferromagnetic metal objects. The device having four electrically identical induction coils which form a four terminal alternating current bridge circuit. There is a fine wire shield formed of fingers for shielding the coils from stray capacitance. The bridge having four coil terminals. Two diagonally opposite coil terminals are connected to a variable frequency constant voltage generator. The other two diagonally opposite coil terminals are connected to a low noise broad band preamplifier. The preamplifier amplifies any unbalance in the bridge. There is a double pole double throw switch connected to two coil terminals which are diagonally opposite each other. Connected to the preamplifier is an amplifier. The amplifier is connected to a phase detector which is connected to a computer. The phase detector detects in phase and quadrature component signals.

Abstract: A novel test method enables physical properties in ferromagnetic metals to be more reliably measured with induced eddy current flow. An adverse Barkhausen effect is prevented during the test measurements to enable detection of extremely small conductivity changes in the particular ferromagnetic metal object being tested.

Abstract: An improved method is disclosed to provide a ceramic article with a protective coating which resists mechanical wear at elevated temperatures up to 500.degree. C. and higher. The coating is formed by first treating the ceramic article's surface with transition metal ions deposited at ambient temperatures, thereafter depositing a mixture containing said transition metal ions and a polymer-forming organic reactant on the treated ceramic article surface at ambient temperatures, and heating the ceramic article to at least 300.degree. C. for polymerization of the organic reactant. Ceramic articles provided with such protective coating include silicon carbide, silicon nitride and vitreous silica.