Abstract: A peptide comprising the amino acid sequence RMFPNAPYL (SEQ ID NO:1) or a portion or variant thereof provided that the peptide is not intact human WT-1 polypeptide or a peptide comprising the amino acid sequence CMTWNQMNL (SEQ ID NO:2) or a portion or variant thereof provided that the peptide is not intact human WT-1 polypeptide or a peptide comprising the amino acid sequence HLMPFPGPLL (SEQ ID NO:3) or a portion or variant thereof provided that the peptide is not intact human gata-1 polypeptide, and polynucleotides encoding these peptides. The peptides and polynucleotides are useful as cancer vaccines.

Abstract: The invention relates to a catheter device including an optical fiber whose distal end is disposed within a hollow tube with a sharp or needle shaped distal end, which can penetrate tissue. The distal end of the optical fiber and the hollow tube are configured so as to emit, by refraction (total internal reflection) or reflection from a metal surface, laser energy at an angle of about 80° to about 90° relative to the longitudinal axis of the optical fiber and hollow tube. The hollow tube is mounted to a housing and may be surrounded by a sheath.

Abstract: A porous solid ion exchange wafer having a combination of a biomolecule capture-resin and an ion-exchange resin forming a charged capture resin within said wafer. Also disclosed is a porous solid ion exchange wafer having a combination of a biomolecule capture-resin and an ion-exchange resin forming a charged capture resin within said wafer containing a biomolecule with a tag. A separate bioreactor is also disclosed incorporating the wafer described above.

Abstract: An activated electrode for a non-aqueous electrochemical cell is disclosed with a precursor of a lithium metal oxide with the formula xLi2MnO3.(1?x)LiMn2?yMyO4 for 0<x<1 and 0?y<1 in which the Li2MnO3 and LiMn2?yMyO4 components have layered and spinel-type structures, respectively, and in which M is one or more metal cations. The electrode is activated by removing lithia, or lithium and lithia, from the precursor. A cell and battery are also disclosed incorporating the disclosed positive electrode.

Abstract: A communication system for a vehicle traveling over a road surface is provided with at least one detector for sensing speed detection signals impinging on the vehicle, to monitor the speed of the vehicle or a nearby vehicle. A radiofrequency transmitter communicates the detector output to a receiver adjacent the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The receiver controls one or more annunciators to output one or more annunciator indications to the system user. The radiofrequency transmitter in one embodiment directs transmissions along a ground skip path, reflecting information over the road surface so as to enter the receiver located in or near a passenger compartment of the vehicle. A wireless control unit provides indication of system operating status and allows a user to input commands to the system.

Abstract: A method of stabilizing nuclear material is disclosed. Oxides or halides of actinides and/or transuranics (TRUs) and/or hydrocarbons and/or acids contaminated with actinides and/or TRUs are treated by adjusting the pH of the nuclear material to not less than about 5 and adding sufficient MgO to convert fluorides present to MgF2; alumina is added in an amount sufficient to absorb substantially all hydrocarbon liquid present, after which a binder including MgO and KH2PO4 is added to the treated nuclear material to form a slurry. Additional MgO may be added. A crystalline radioactive material is also disclosed having a binder of the reaction product of calcined MgO and KH2PO4 and a radioactive material of the oxides and/or halides of actinides and/or transuranics (TRUs). Acids contaminated with actinides and/or TRUs, and/or actinides and/or TRUs with or without oils and/or greases may be encapsulated and stabilized by the binder.

Abstract: Gurmarin containing compositions are useful for modulation of glucose metabolism and the treatment of diabetes. Glucose metabolism in a human patient is regulated by isolated gurmarin-containing dosage forms that contain optionally a non-metabolizable polysaccharide such as the exudate of Sterculia urens.

Abstract: Disclosed are multi-purpose alkali-swellable and alkali soluble associative polymers, which are the polymerization product of a monomer mixture comprising: (a) at least one acidic vinyl monomer; (b) at least one nonionic vinyl monomer; (c) a first associative monomer having a first hydrophobic end group; (d) a monomer selected from the group consisting of a second associative monomer having a second hydrophobic end, a semihydrophobic monomer and a combination thereof; and, optionally, (e) one or more crosslinking monomers or chain transfer agents. When monomer (d) is an associative monomer, the first and second hydrophobic end groups of monomers (c) and (d) have significantly different hydrophobic and/or steric character from one another. The multi-purpose associative polymers surprisingly provide desirable Theological and aesthetic properties in aqueous media.

Abstract: Phase stable, pumpable, liquid, high solids, aqueous monoalkanolamide surfactant emulsions are disclosed for use as cold mixable monoalkanolamide delivery systems for separately prepared aqueous formulations containing at least one principal surfactant. The monoalkanolamide surfactant emulsions comprise at least one monoalkanolamide characterized in its unemulsified form by having an amide content of at least about 85% and by being substantially solid and water insoluble at a temperature below about 30° C., and at least one monoalkanolamide emulsifying surfactant and, surprisingly, remain homogeneous, pourable, and pumpable at a total solids content of at least 20 weight percent at a temperature in the range of about zero ° C. to about 30° C.

Abstract: A DNA vaccine effective for eliciting an immune response against cells that present a carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) comprises a DNA operably encoding a CEA and a DNA operably encoding a CD40 ligand, SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO: 2, respectively, or its homotrimer, CD40LT. The DNA vaccine can be incorporated in a delivery vector such as an attenuated live bacterium or virus, or a liposome carrier. In a method embodiment, the DNA vaccine is administered orally to a mammal, such as a human, to elicit an immune response against CEA presenting cells such as colon cancer cells. A preferred method embodiment includes the additional step of treating the mammal with recombinant antibody fusion protein huKS1/4-IL2 to enhance the immune response effectiveness of the vaccine.

Abstract: A window covering having a plurality of panels comprising a head rail and a plurality of panels suspended from the head rail by a securement member and at least one opening member is provided. Each of the plurality of panels is collapsible and includes a pair of opposed longitudinal regions. A bottom rail may also be provided and suspended from the head rail such that the plurality of panels are located between the head rail and the bottom rail.

Abstract: A method of controlling the coordinate sensitivity in a superconducting microbolometer employs localized light, heating or magnetic field effects to form normal or mixed state regions on a superconducting film and to control the spatial location. Electron beam lithography and wet chemical etching were applied as pattern transfer processes in epitaxial Y—Ba—Cu—O films. Two different sensor designs were tested: (i) a 3 millimeter long and 40 micrometer wide stripe and (ii) a 1.25 millimeters long, and 50 micron wide meandering-like structure. Scanning the laser beam along the stripe leads to physical displacement of the sensitive area, and, therefore, may be used as a basis for imaging over a broad spectral range. Forming the superconducting film as a meandering structure provides the equivalent of a two-dimensional detector array. Advantages of this approach are simplicity of detector fabrication, and simplicity of the read-out process requiring only two electrical terminals.

Abstract: An isolated, water-soluble polypeptide fragment of human tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase is useful for the inhibition of angiogenesis. The polypeptide has the amino acid residue sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 12, or an angiogenesis inhibiting fragment thereof, the fragment including at least one of amino acid residue signature sequences HVGH (SEQ ID NO:10) and KMSAS (SEQ ID NO:11). Methods of using the polypeptide to inhibit angiogenesis are also provided.