Abstract: One form of the present invention is directed to a method of remyelinating demyelinated axons by treating the demyelinated axons with oligodendrocyte progenitor cells under conditions which permit remyelination of the axons. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of treating a subject having a condition mediated by a loss of myelin or a loss of oligodendrocytes by administering to the subject oligodendrocyte progenitor cells under conditions effective to treat the condition mediated by a loss of myelin or a loss of oligodendrocytes. A further aspect of the present invention relates to an in vitro method of identifying and separating oligodendrocyte progenitor cells from a mixed population containing other mammalian brain or spinal cord cell types. This further aspect of the present invention involves removing neurons and neuronal progenitor cells from the mixed population to produce a treated mixed population.

Abstract: A delivery device, e.g. an inhaler, includes a rotatable metering member adapted to dispense a measured amount of material, a material delivery passage and a material delivery orifice and at least one actuator member adapted to move the metering member from a material retaining position to a material dispensing position. In a magazine including a plurality of metering members, the actuator and metering members may operate in a radial direction. A plurality of rotatable magazines may be utilized in the delivery device. The delivery device may be used to deliver a single or a combination therapy.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for the application of material to form a layer of an organic electroluminescent device. The material is sputter deposited typically from at least one target of material held in respect to a magnetron in a coating chamber. The magnetrons used can be unbalanced magnetrons and/or are provided with other magnetrons and/or magnet arrays in a closed field configuration. The material is found to be deposited in a manner which prevents or minimises damage to the device and hence reduces or removes the need for a barrier layer to be applied.

Abstract: A method, computer readable medium, and a system for reconstituting a virtual snapshot of files in a file virtualization system includes forming at a file virtualization device a virtual snapshot that includes a plurality of physical snapshots associated with one or more file storage devices participating in the virtual snapshot, receiving a request for performing an operation on one or more physical snapshots in the plurality of physical snapshots, providing the one or more physical snapshots in response to the request for performing the operation when the one or more physical snapshots exists in the virtual snapshot, and reconstituting the virtual snapshot by including the one or more physical snapshots to form a reconstituted virtual snapshot in response to the request for performing the operation when the one or more physical snapshots do not exist in the virtual snapshot.

Abstract: The invention discloses methods for sequential protein isolation and purification from a biological sample by affinity chromatography. Affinity chromatography is conducted using ligands or ligand support complexes that selectively and specifically bind to proteins in the biological sample. The ligands or ligand support complexes were contacted sequentially in a predetermined order with the biological sample to allow each ligand or ligand-support complex to sequentially bind a protein from the biological sample.

Abstract: This invention relates to a carotenoid composition comprising the carotenoid as particles of size smaller than 100 nanometers in an oil medium, a method of preparing the composition by milling the carotenoid in an oil medium, and therapeutic compositions containing the carotenoid.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of increasing bone strength in an animal, preferably a mammal. In one aspect, the methods provided by the invention involve administering to the animal strontium and a phytase enzyme. In another aspect, methods are provided for treating or preventing osteoporosis in a subject, the method comprising administering to said individual a phytase enzyme and strontium. Also encompassed are animal feed compositions comprising a phytase enzyme and supplemental strontium and a dietary supplement composition for administration to a human, the composition comprising a phytase enzyme and supplemental strontium.

Abstract: A switched file system, also termed a file switch, is logically positioned between client computers and file servers in a computer network. The file switch distributes user files among multiple file servers using aggregated file, transaction and directory mechanisms. The file switch distributes and aggregates the client data files in accordance with a predetermined set of aggregation rules. Each rule can be modified independently of the other rules. Different aggregation rules can be used for different types of files, thereby adapting the characteristics of the switched file system to the intended use and to the expected or historical access patterns for different data files.

Abstract: A method of assessing growth hormone deficiency in a human or animal subject, the method comprising administering orally to the subject EP 1572 (Formula I) or EP 1573 (Formula II), obtaining a post-administration sample from the subject, determining the level of growth hormone in the sample and assessing whether the level of growth hormone in the sample is indicative of growth hormone deficiency in the subject. Preferably, the GH level in the sample is measured by immunoassay. Also disclosed is a kit of parts constituting a diagnostic kit comprising: (a) EP 1572 or EP 1573 formulated for oral administration; and (b) means for determining the level of growth hormone in a sample.

Abstract: In a switched file system, a file switching device is logically positioned between clients and file servers and communicates with the clients and the file servers using standard network file protocols. The file switching device appears as a server to the client devices and as a client to the file servers. The file switching device aggregates storage from multiple file servers into a global filesystem and presents a global namespace to the client devices. The file switching device typically supports a “native” mode for integrating legacy files into the global namespace and an “extended” mode for actively managing files across one or more file servers. Typically, native-mode files may be accessed directly or indirectly via the file switching device, while extended-mode files may be accessed only through the file switching device. The file switching device may manage file storage using various types of rules, e.g., for managing multiple storage tiers or for applying different types of encoding schemes to files.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and kits for the quantitative analysis of in vivo mutation frequencies of the Pig-A gene in individuals exposed to a genotoxicant, particularly using peripheral blood samples of vertebrates.

Abstract: A humidification chamber for use in a breathing circuit to humidify gases before inhalation is disclosed. The humidification chamber is adapted to contain a volume of liquid, and includes a gas inlet port, a gas outlet port, and a fluid inlet for introducing liquid into the humidification chamber. The fluid inlet is provided with a primary valve seat and a secondary valve seat. An actuating member engages the primary valve seat when liquid within the humidification chamber is at or above a predetermined acceptable level. The actuating member is deformable in response to an increase in liquid level above the predetermined acceptable level to a deformed configuration in engagement with the secondary valve to prevent liquid from flowing through the fluid inlet into the humidification chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for changing laboratory animal cages wherein the apparatus includes at least one seat, of which receives a cage having a lid. The seat is provided with a mechanical system configured to pick and lift the lid.

Abstract: A humidification chamber (10) for use in a breathing circuit to humidify gases before inhalation is disclosed. The humidification chamber (10) is adapted to contain a volume of liquid (20), and comprises a gas inlet port (16), a gas outlet port (16) and a fluid inlet (30) for introducing liquid into the humidification chamber (10). The fluid inlet (30) is provided with a filter member (60) including a plurality of exit apertures for enabling flow of liquid through the filter member (60). The filter member (60) also defines a collection chamber (69) that is disposed below the exit apertures, in use, such that foreign objects in the liquid that are unable to pass through the exit apertures fall under the influence of gravity into the collection chamber (69).

Abstract: A process for forming a porous nanoscale membrane is described. The process involves applying a nanoscale film to one side of a substrate, where the nanoscale film includes a semiconductor material; masking an opposite side of the substrate; etching the substrate, beginning from the masked opposite side of the substrate and continuing until a passage is formed through the substrate, thereby exposing the film on both sides thereof to form a membrane; and then simultaneously forming a plurality of randomly spaced pores in the membrane. The resulting porous nanoscale membranes, characterized by substantially smooth surfaces, high pore densities, and high aspect ratio dimensions, can be used in filtration devices, microfluidic devices, fuel cell membranes, and as electron microscopy substrates.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method of producing an integral multilayered porous membrane by simultaneously co-casting a plurality of polymer solutions onto a support to form a multilayered liquid sheet and immersing the sheet into a liquid coagulation bath to effect phase separation and form a porous membrane. The support can be a temporary support or form an integrated support for the membrane. The plurality of layers may be of the same polymer or different, same concentration or viscosity or different and may be subjected to the same processing conditions or different ones to form unique structures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recombinant factor VIII that is characterized by one or more mutations within a region surrounding an activated protein C cleavage site, which one or more mutations result in a reduced rate of inactivation by activated protein C. Isolated nucleic acid molecules, recombinant expression vectors, and host cells suitable for expression of the recombinant factor VIII are also disclosed. The recombinant factor VIII can be used for the treatment of clotting disorders, such as hemophilia A.

Abstract: Load sharing clusters in which each node is responsible for one or more non-overlapping subset(s) of the cluster namespace and will process only those requests that access file or directory objects in the partitioned namespace that the node controls while redirecting requests designated for other nodes. A non-overlapping subset may be migrated from a source node to a destination node, for example, for load sharing or hotspot mitigation. Migration typically includes maintaining a file virtualization link from the destination node to the source node to permit forwarding of requests by the destination node to the source node during migration of metadata and then migration of data from the source node. After migration is complete, the file virtualization link is broken and the destination node services requests for the non-overlapping subset from the migrated metadata and data.

Abstract: An Asset Health Management system monitors and analyzes the health of a component of an asset. A sensor network, with one or more sensors operably coupled to an asset component, collects sensor data associated with operating characteristics of the asset component. A processing node (a System Health Node) includes one or more modules, i.e., software functions, and one or more configuration files. The processing node processes the sensor data with the one or more modules according to the one or more configuration files and determines health information corresponding to the asset component. The one or more modules receive and transmit input and output data, respectively, via data streams that organize the input and output data, e.g., according to time stamps and that may be cached. The health information may be displayed on user interfaces and/or may be transmitted over an information network to external systems.