Abstract: The present invention provides a method of diagnosing neoplasms having a particular phenotype by using oncolytic viruses that selectively replicate in neoplasms having the particular phenotype. For example, reovirus does not replicate in normal cells. However, reovirus selectively replicate in cells with an activated ras pathway, which leads to death of these cells. Therefore, a cell which becomes neoplastic due to, at least in part, elevated ras pathway activities can be diagnosed by its susceptibility to reovirus replication. This invention can further be applied, using other oncolytic viruses, to the diagnosis and/or treatment of other tumors, such as interferon-sensitive tumors, p53-deficient tumors and Rb-deficient tumors. Kits useful in the diagnosis or treatment disclosed herein are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of increasing neural stem cell numbers or neurogenesis by using prolactin. The method can be practiced in vivo to obtain more neural stem cells in situ, which can in turn produce more neurons or glial cells to compensate for lost or dysfunctional neural cells. The method can also be practiced in vitro to produce a large number of neural stem cells in culture. The cultured stem cells can be used, for example, for transplantation treatment of patients or animals suffering from neurodegenerative diseases or conditions. In addition, since neural stem cells are a source for olfactory neurons, the present invention also provides methods of increasing olfactory neurons and enhancing olfactory functions.

Abstract: The invention is a method of producing an essentially electrically neutral polymer dispersion, comprising a polymerizing one or more monomers in the presence of a nonionic surfactant, wherein the polymerization preferably occurs in the absence of ionic surfactants. The invention also includes methods of producing positively or negatively charged polymer dispersions comprising producing the essentially nonionic polymer dispersion and further adding a cationically-charged or anionically-charged surfactant or electrolyte. The invention further includes dispersions produced by the methods of the invention and polymer films and powders produced from these dispersions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of increasing neural stem cell numbers or neurogenesis by using a pheromone, a luteinizing hormone (LH) and/or a human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG). The method can be practiced in vivo to obtain more neural stem cells in situ, which can in turn produce more neurons or glial cells to compensate for lost or dysfunctional neural cells. The method can also be practiced in vitro to produce a large number of neural stem cells in culture. The cultured stem cells can be used, for example, for transplantation treatment of patients or animals suffering from or suspected of having neurodegenerative diseases or conditions.

Abstract: An expandable interspinous process spacer implant for insertion and/or implantation between a spinous process of a superior vertebral body and a spinous process of an inferior vertebral body, the implant comprising multiple pairs of legs joined in a scissor-like fashion and pivotally coupled to each other by one or more pins, where each leg has multiple slots along its longitudinal axis. The implant further may include a pair of bearing surfaces coupled between the legs via cross pins and a first plate and second plate each of which is coupled to a pair of roller pins disposed between a pair of slots on the legs where rotation of a fastener in the fastener holes of the first and second plate results in the first plate and the second plate being drawn toward each other causing the expansion of the height of the implant.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods related to variable lymphocyte receptors (VLRs).

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for recording media communication. An exemplary method comprises the steps of: receiving an incoming communication from a first communication device; routing the incoming communication to a second communication device in a call center; transmitting media communications associated with the incoming media communication between the first communication device and the second communication device through a media application server; duplicating the media communications via the media application server; transmitting the duplicated media communications via the media application server; and recording the duplicated media communications.

Abstract: IP packets associated with a communication are received at a first network device in an IP recording system. The first network device communicates to other devices in the IP recording network to receive a determination if the IP packets associated with the communication are to be recorded. The first network device may then be instructed to direct the IP packets associated with the communication to a recording device. In some implementations, the IP packets may duplicated, encrypted, re-encoded, compressed, etc. prior to recording.

Abstract: Included are embodiments for recording communications. At least one embodiment of a method includes receiving an invite message relating to a communication between a first communications device and a second communications device, extracting information associated with the communication, and tagging the extracted information from a header, the extracted information being associated with the communication.

Abstract: A method of uniformly transferring luminescent quantum dots onto a substrate, comprising: a) preparing a colloidal suspension of luminescent quantum dots in a hydrophobic solvent, wherein the density of the hydrophobic solvent is from 0.67 g/cm3 to 0.96 g/cm3; b) dispensing the suspension onto a convex aqueous surface; c) allowing the hydrophobic solvent to evaporate; d) contacting the film of luminescent quantum dots with a hydrophobic stamp; and e) depositing the film of luminescent quantum dots onto a substrate with the hydrophobic stamp is described herein. Further described is a method of preparing quantum dot based light emitting diodes.

Abstract: Outputs of an automatic probabilistic event detection system, such as a fact extraction system, a speech-to-text engine or an automatic character recognition system, are matched with comparable results produced manually or by a different system. This comparison allows statistical modeling of the run-time behavior of the event detection system. This model can subsequently be used to give supplemental or replacement data for an output sequence of the system. In particular, the model can effectively calibrate the system for use with data of a particular statistical nature.

Abstract: Communications systems are provided, a representative one of which incorporates: a recorder operative to record information associated with a communication; and a first computer application operative to provide a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface being configured such that, responsive to a user input designating a portion of the communication via the graphical user interface, information corresponding to that portion of the communication and recorded by the recorder is presented to the user, the first computer application being further operative to construct an integrated data stream comprising at least some of the information recorded.

Abstract: The connecting element (1) has the shape of a rod with longitudinal axis (2), a rear end (6), and a front end (7), and serves to span a number of bone anchoring elements (12) implanted in the bone. The connecting element (1) comprises at least one longitudinal slot (5). This provides it with a greater elasticity during implantation so that it can be reversibly deformed. The connecting element can then be stiffened once it has been fixed in the bone anchoring elements (e.g. pedicle screws).

Abstract: Included are embodiments for channel mapping. At least one embodiment of a system includes an initiating component configured to initiate a communication with a communications device, the communications device being coupled to a first extension. Some embodiments include a receiving component configured to receive recording data from a plurality of extensions at a plurality of recording resources, the plurality of extensions including the first extension and at least one other extension. Similarly, some embodiments include a first determining component configured to determine a channel that received the initiated communication.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing alarms from recorders are provided. An exemplary method comprises the steps of: receiving alarm alerts from one or more recorders by a central application module, the alarm alerts being operative to notify a user of a problem associated with the one or more recorders, storing the alarm alerts in an alarm database, and managing the alarm alerts by the central application module so that a user can view the alarm alerts.

Abstract: A video indexing system uses pictures representative of a recorded video program to assist a user in determining the contents of a recorded medium without having to view the program itself. The pictures preferably represent segments of the program which are spaced apart in time, enabling a relatively small number of such pictures to characterize a lengthy program, and are presented in separate windows on the screen of the same device used to display the video program. The pictures may include still or moving imagery. A viewer optionally may select a particular picture with a pointing device, to commence replay of the recorded program from that period in the program, or to recall stored audio information so as to assist in identifying the selection. The picture information may be stored on the same medium as that used to record the video program, or a different medium may be used.

Abstract: Reovirus can be used to selectively remove ras-mediated neoplastic cells from a cellular composition. It is of particular interest to purge autographs which may contain neoplastic cells with reovirus before transplanting the autographs back into the recipient, thereby reducing the risk of introducing or reintroducing neoplastic cells into the recipient.

Abstract: Effective dosing regimens for neural stem cell proliferating and differentiating agents, kits comprising effective dosing regimens for neural stem cell proliferating and differentiating agents, and uses thereof are provided herein. Such kits and methods can be utilized acutely or chronically to treat a neurodegenerative disease or condition. Furthermore, the compositions and methods can be used continuously or intermittently in various dosing regimens.

Abstract: A signal monitoring apparatus and method involving devices for monitoring signals representing communications traffic, devices for identifying at least one predetermined parameter by analyzing the context of the at least one monitoring signal, a device for recording the occurrence of the identified parameter, a device for identifying the traffic stream associated with the identified parameter, a device for analyzing the recorded data relating to the occurrence, and a device, responsive to the analysis of the recorded data, for controlling the handling of communications traffic within the apparatus.

Abstract: A signal monitoring apparatus and method involving devices for monitoring signals representing communications traffic, devices for identifying at least one predetermined parameter by analyzing the context of the at least one monitoring signal, a device for recording the occurrence of the identified parameter, a device for identifying the traffic stream associated with the identified parameter, a device for analyzing the recorded data relating to the occurrence, and a device, responsive to the analysis of the recorded data, for controlling the handling of communications traffic within the apparatus.