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: A moisture vapor permeable, water impermeable composite sheet material is provided which is suitable for use as a housewrap material, and is also useful for other applications such as tarpaulins, or as covers for automobile, boats, patio furniture or the like. The composite sheet material includes a nonwoven substrate and an extrusion-coated polyolefin film layer overlying one surface of the substrate. The nonwoven substrate is comprised of polymeric fibers randomly disposed and bonded to one another to form a high tenacity nonwoven web. The nonwoven substrate has a grab tensile strength of at least 178 Newtons (40 pounds) in at least one of the machine direction (MD) or the cross-machine direction (CD). The extrusion coated polyolefin film layer is intimately bonded to the nonwoven substrate. The film layer has micropores formed therein to impart to the composite sheet material a moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) of at least 35 g/m2/24 hr. at 50% relative humidity and 23° C.

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

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: 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: 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 process for the removal of sterols, specifically cholesterol, from a triglyceride oil, preferably a marine triglyceride oil, said process comprising contacting an oil with an adsorbent, specifically TRIS YL™, clay or a mixture thereof, heating the mixture to 100° C. to 210° C., preferably 150° C. to 170° C., preferably for a time period of greater than one minute and optionally at a pressure less than 133 Pa, preferably less than 1.33 Pa.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for optical imaging and patterning based on a magnetically controlled ferrofluid are described. One such system includes a substrate and an active region including multiple magnetic field generators. The active region is positioned adjacent to the substrate. The system includes a ferrofluid positioned on the substrate adjacent the active region within a range of a magnetic field of the multiple magnetic field generators. The ferrofluid is distributed across multiple ferrofluid regions. Each magnetic field generator is aligned with a corresponding ferrofluid region.

Abstract: Technologies are described for implementing a system that schedules background workflows in a storage system. Historical load statistics can be analyzed to estimate the preferred times in the future during which to schedule background workflows. After collecting load statistics related to the storage system, natural cyclical patterns in the load data can be determined as the predominant periodicities of the load data are selected from peaks in an autocorrelation of the collected data. A linear predictor may be formed as a weighted sum of the historical data sampled at the determined periodicities. Error minimization, such as the method of least squares, may be used to determine the values of the weighting in order to minimize an error between the load predictor and the measured load. Predicting future loads can improve the scheduling of background operations by avoiding conflicts with normal system operations.

Abstract: An intervertebral implant with a central axis, a top part, a bottom part, a joint comprising a joint part and a joint shell, and a joining means. The top part has a top apposed surface that is suitable for placing it on a vertebra situated above it; The bottom part has a bottom apposed surface, that is suitable for placing it on a vertebra situated below it. One of the two parts is operatively associated with a convex joint part and the other part to a matching joint shell. The joint part and the joint shell are mounted against one another in a sliding manner such that the top part and the bottom part can rotate relative to one another at least about one axis of rotation. The joining means holds the top part and the bottom part together without impairing the capability of the joint to pivot while allowing a clearance between the joint part and the joint shell.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method of reversing or preventing a target cell's resistance to a death receptor agonist. Also provided are methods of screening for biomarkers resistance of and monitoring resistance to death receptor agonists. Also provided are methods of selectively inducing apoptosis in a target cell, treating a subject with cancer, autoimmune or inflammatory diseases, comprising administering compositions provided herein. Further provided are compositions comprising agents that modulate CARD containing proteins.

Abstract: A process for separating a sperm type from a sperm population by electrophoresis comprising subjecting the sperm population to an electric potential such that a sperm type is separated from a sperm population through an ion-permeable barrier.

Abstract: Technologies for high capacity storage servers with thin provisioning can support an increased storage capacity and an increased number of snapshots within a data storage system while maintaining a reduced memory footprint. Flexible virtual address translation can support both direct, and indirect, translation from a virtual address to an address in physical storage. A data structure, referred to as a volume table, may be provided for supporting the virtual to physical address translation. Multiple volume tables for the various volumes within a data storage system can be stored together in a global volume table. Granularities of storage allocation units, such as territories, provisions, and chunks can be reduced to improve efficiencies in the operation of the storage system. Processes for handling volume and snapshot I/O operations with various data structures can contribute to improved efficiencies while supporting increased storage capacities and an increased number of snapshots.

Abstract: The invention features new helper virus-free methods for making herpesvirus amplicon particles that can be used in immunotherapies, including those for treating any number of infectious diseases and cancers (including chronic lymphocytic leukemia, other cancers in which blood cells become malignant, lymphomas (e.g. Hodgkin's lymphoma or non-Hodgkin's type lymphomas). Described herein are methods of making helper virus-free HSV amplicon particles; cells that contain those particles (e.g., packaging cell lines or patients' cells, infected in vivo or ex vivo); particles produced according to those methods; and methods of treating a patient with an hf-HSV particle made according to those methods.