Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for treatment and/or prevention of diabetes or pre-diabetes. In particular, the invention provides compositions and methods for the treatment and/or prevention of diabetes or pre-diabetes, based on the use of angiotensin-(1-7) peptides, functional equivalents thereof, and/or angiotensin (1-7) agonists.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the treatment of peripheral vascular disease (PVD). In particular, the invention provides compositions and methods for treatment of critical limb ischemia, and related diseases, disorders or conditions, based on the use of angiotensin-(1-7) peptides or functional equivalents, analogs or derivatives, angiotensin-(1-7) receptor agonists, ACE2 and/or ACE2 activators.

Abstract: A phantom for a quantitative ultrasound device is provided. The phantom includes a hollow casing, a first acoustic element disposed within the hollow casing, the first acoustic element simulating a broadband ultrasonic attenuation (BUA) of an exemplary bone; and a second acoustic element disposed within the hollow casing, the second acoustic element altering a speed of an ultrasonic signal transmitted through the phantom, the second acoustic element being disposed in-line with the first acoustic element. The phantom also includes a third acoustic element disposed within the hollow casing, the third acoustic element forming an acoustic coupling agent between the first acoustic element and the second acoustic element. A method of fabricating a phantom is also described herein.

Abstract: An electronic phantom and method for electronically controlling a phantom for a quantitative ultrasound device are provided. The electronic phantom includes a housing, a first transducer element within the housing configured to receive an ultrasonic signal from a quantitative ultrasound device and a second transducer element within the housing connected to the first transducer element. The second transducer element is configured to transmit a modified ultrasonic sound wave to the quantitative ultrasound device based on the received ultrasonic signal. The first and second transducer elements are positioned in a back to back configuration within the housing.

Abstract: A method and system for fault management in virtual computing environments are provided. The system includes: a monitor of fault events from virtual machines and host devices in a virtual computing environment and a monitor of situation events in the virtual computing environment wherein the situation events refer to a virtual machine name and a host device name. A universal faults component determines if a fault event affects both virtual machines and host devices and a correlating component correlates fault events relating to virtual machines and host devices as relating to the same problem. Host machine fault events correlated to a problem are marked as a root event and virtual machine fault events correlated to a problem are marked as symptoms with a link to the root event.

Abstract: This embodiment relates to athletic footwear devices, more particularly, athletic footwear, soles, insoles, inserts and slip-ons. They incorporate the use of natural or manmade materials therein, that are strategically produced for height, length and severe drop off shape (FIGS. 10, 10a). They are strategically placed at areas of the foot which will avail the user of the ability to enhance the Second-Class Lever of the feet. By engaging this lever, the fulcrum and the phalanges will increase their ability to walk or run faster, and jump higher. As another embodiment (FIGS. 12, 13a) the device is provided as an independent insert that is produced at the strategic height, length and shape and can be inserted into an existing footwear device. (FIGS. 14, 15a) An additional embodiment is directed to the form of a slip-on footwear device (FIG. 16). which can be worn on the foot and used independently, or first become attached to the foot and then inserted into an existing athletic footwear device (FIGS.

Abstract: This invention relates to the discovery of prodrugs of 3-or 5-substituted analogues of the selective platelet lowering agent anagrelide which have reduced potential for cardiovascular side-effects and which should therefore lead to improved patient compliance and safety in the treatment of myeloproliferative diseases. More specifically, the present invention relates to prodrugs of certain imidazoquinazoline derivatives which have utility as platelet lowering agents in humans. The compounds of the present invention function by inhibiting the formation of blood platelets. An example of a compound of the present invention is methyl 2-(2-amino-5,6- dichloroquinazolin-3 (4H)-yl)-2-methylpropanoate or the 3,3-demethyl anagrelide open-ringed analog.

Abstract: Carbamate linked prodrugs of meptazinol and other opioid analgesics are provided. The prodrug moiety may comprise a single amino acid or short peptide. Additionally, the present invention relates to methods for reducing gastrointestinal side effects in a subject, the gastrointestinal side effects being associated with the administration of an opioid analgesic. The methods comprise orally administering an opioid prodrug or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof to a subject, wherein the opioid pro-drug is comprised of an opioid analgesic covalently bonded through a carbamate linkage to a prodrug moiety, and wherein upon oral administration, the prodrug or pharmaceutically acceptable salt minimizes at least one gastrointestinal side effect associated with oral administration of the opioid analgesic alone. Compositions for use with the method are also provided.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for application profiling in a multi-device data storage array. In accordance with various embodiments, a storage array is formed of independent data storage devices that form a fast pool and a slow pool of said devices, such as solid-state drives (SSDs) and hard disc drives (HDDs). A controller is adapted to migrate a distributed data set stored across a first plurality of the devices in the slow pool to a second plurality of said devices in the fast pool. The controller carries out the migration responsive to a hint that a selected application is about to be executed that utilizes the distributed data set, and responsive to a return on investment (ROI) determination that an estimated cost of said migration will be outweighed by an overall improved data transfer capacity of the storage array over a predetermined minimum payback period of time.

Abstract: A hierarchical compression tester and associated method stored in a computer readable medium employs a grid-based storage capacity wherein a storage unit is defined by a grouping of data blocks. Each data block is stored in one of a plurality of storage devices. Each stored data block has a data portion and a data integrity field (DIF) including a data reliability qualifier (DRQ) indicating whether the respective data portion is valid. The tester also has a logical device allocation map that includes a storage unit descriptor array that identifies one or more storage units corresponding to a selected logical address. The logical device allocation map has a DIF array that identifies whether any of the data blocks in the one or more storage units corresponding to the selected logical address includes invalid data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to prodrugs of a wide variety of drugs and pharmaceutical compositions containing such prodrugs. Methods for minimizing locally mediated (from within the gut lumen) adverse gastrointestinal events associated with the underivatised drug and increasing the sustainment of plasma drug levels with the aforementioned prodrugs are also provided. Thus, the present invention relates to the use of prodrugs of a wide diversity of drugs (other than opioids) to transiently inactivate them and so reduce directly, locally mediated adverse gastrointestinal (GI) side-effects normally evident after administration of the parent compound. Additionally, such prodrugs may confer improved pharmacokinetics.

Abstract: The present invention concerns prodrugs of mexiletine (and mexiletine's active metabolite) pharmaceutical compositions containing such prodrugs. Methods for treating myotonic conditions, while reducing the inherent adverse GI side effects associated with mexiletine, increasing the bioavailability of mexiletine, and improving the pharmacokinetic reproducibility of mexiletine with the aforementioned prodrugs are also provided.

Abstract: Prodrugs of galantamine or its 3-hydroxy metabolite with amino acids or short peptides, pharmaceutical compositions containing such prodrugs and methods for treating a memory or cognition disorder with the galantamine prodrugs are provided herein. Prodrugs having side chains of valine, phenylalanine, tyrosine or para amino benzoic acid and mono-, di- and tripeptides thereof are preferred. Additionally, methods for avoiding or minimizing the adverse gastrointestinal side effects associated with galantamine administration, as well as improving the pharmacokinetics of galantamine are provided herein.

Abstract: The invention is a composition that is suitable for reducing sulfur species from products produced by petroleum refining processes, especially gasoline products produced by fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) processes. The composition comprises zeolite, yttrium, and at least one element selected from the group consisting of zinc, magnesium and manganese, wherein the yttrium and element are present as cations. The yttrium and zinc are preferably present as cations that have been exchanged onto the zeolite. The zeolite is preferably a zeolite Y.

Abstract: Prodrugs of guanfacine with amino acids or short peptides, pharmaceutical compositions containing such prodrugs and a method for providing therapeutic benefit in the treatment of ADHD/ODD (attention deficient hyperactivity disorder and oppositional defiance disorder) with guanfacine prodrugs are provided herein. Additionally, methods for minimizing or avoiding the adverse gastrointestinal side effects associated with guanfacine administration, as well as improving the pharmacokinetics of guanfacine are provided herein.

Abstract: In one aspect, an x-ray scanning device is provided. The x-ray scanning device comprises a target adapted to convert electron-beam (e-beam) energy into x-ray energy, a detector array positioned to detect at least some x-rays emitted from the target, and a conveyer mechanism adapted to convey items to be inspected through an inspection region formed by the target and the detector array, wherein the target and the detector array are rotated out of alignment with each other such that x-rays emitted from the target impinge on diametrically positioned detectors of the detector array without passing through near-side detectors of the detector array.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for managing data in a multi-device data storage array. In accordance with various embodiments, a storage array of independent data storage devices are arranged to form a fast pool and a slow pool of said devices. A controller is adapted to migrate a distributed data set stored across a first plurality of said devices in the slow pool to a second plurality of said devices in the fast pool. The migration is carried out responsive to a return on investment (ROI) determination by the controller that an estimated cost of said migration will be outweighed by an overall improved data transfer capacity of the storage array over a predetermined minimum payback period of time. In some embodiments, the fast pool is formed from a plurality of solid-state drives (SSDs) and the slow pool is formed from a plurality of hard disc drives (HDD).

Abstract: In one aspect, an x-ray scanning device is provided. The x-ray scanning device comprises a target adapted to convert electron-beam (e-beam) energy into x-ray energy, a detector array positioned to detect at least some x-rays emitted from the target, and a conveyer mechanism adapted to convey items to be inspected through an inspection region formed by the target and the detector array, wherein the target and the detector array are rotated out of alignment with each other such that x-rays emitted from the target impinge on diametrically positioned detectors of the detector array without passing through near-side detectors of the detector array.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to certain catalyst compositions and processes that are capable of reducing sulfur compounds normally found as part of the gasoline fraction streams of fluid catalytic cracking processes. The present invention is a cracking catalyst composition comprising a zeolite in combination with a Lewis Acid containing component, wherein the cracking catalyst composition comprises 0.2% Na2O or less. It has been found that sulfur compounds in hydrocarbon feeds to fluid catalytic cracking processes can be reduced by at least 15% compared to the same composition, which does not comprise the aforementioned Lewis Acid containing component.

Abstract: A process for fluid catalytically cracking a hydrocarbon feedstock containing at least one bio-renewable feed fraction using a rare earth metal oxide-containing, high zeolite-to-matrix surface area ratio catalyst is disclosed. The catalyst comprising a zeolite, preferably a Y-type zeolite, a matrix, at least 1 wt % of a rare earth metal oxide, based on the total weight of the catalyst. The zeolite surface area-to-matrix surface area ratio of the catalyst is at least 2, preferably greater than 2.