Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring a source of data for determining an operating state of a working system. The method includes determining a sensor (or source of data) arrangement associated with monitoring the source of data for a system, activating a method for performing a sequential probability ratio test if the data source includes a single data (sensor) source, activating a second method for performing a regression sequential possibility ratio testing procedure if the arrangement includes a pair of sensors (data sources) with signals which are linearly or non-linearly related; activating a third method for performing a bounded angle ratio test procedure if the sensor arrangement includes multiple sensors and utilizing at least one of the first, second and third methods to accumulate sensor signals and determining the operating state of the system.

Abstract: A method and system for displaying medical images and computer output from various CAD schemes on the images. Images are loaded into the display system and displayed in a main viewing area. The system can display various CAD schemes, such as the automated detection of lung nodules, interstitial infiltrates, and heart size, in the case of a chest image, on the image. The method and system also display interval change (temporal subtraction) between images. Individual abnormality from CAD schemes can be viewed by clicking buttons with minified (postage stamp size) images with CAD annotation rendered into them. The images and results are then shown on a high-speed monitor. Interval change between the current and a previous image can also be chosen by clicking buttons containing minified images. Interval change between any other pair of images for a patient can be selected by choosing from minified subtraction images presented in a two-dimensional array format.

Abstract: A method and computerized automated initial image matching technique for enhancing detection of interval changes between temporally subsequent radiographic images via image subtraction. The method includes the steps of digitizing images, normalizing density and contrast in the digital images, correcting for lateral inclination in the digital images, detecting edges of a same feature in each image, converting the images into low resolution matrices, blurring the low resolution images, segmenting portions of the blurred low resolution matrices based on the detected edges, matching the digital images based on a cross-correlation match between the segmented portions, performing non-linear warping to further match Regions of Interest (ROI), and performing image subtraction between the matched digital images. The low resolution matrices are greater than 64.times.64 in size and are produced by averaging.

Abstract: The present invention provides isolated and purified polynucleotides that encode plant and cyanobacterial polypeptides that participate in the carboxylation of acetyl-CoA. Isolated cyanobacterial and plant polypeptides that catalyze acetyl-CoA carboxylation are also provided. Processes for altering acetyl-CoA carboxylation, increasing herbicide resistance of plants and identifying herbicide resistant variants of acetyl-CoA carboxylase are also provided.

Abstract: A method and system for the computerized registration of radionuclide images with radiographic images, including generating image data from radiographic and radionuclide images of the thorax. Techniques include contouring the lung regions in each type of chest image, scaling and registration of the contours based on location of lung apices, and superimposition after appropriate shifting of the images. Specific applications are given for the automated registration of radionuclide lungs scans with chest radiographs. The method in the example given yields a system that spatially registers and correlates digitized chest radiographs with V/Q scans in order to correlate V/Q functional information with the greater structural detail of chest radiographs. Final output could be the computer-determined contours from each type of image superimposed on any of the original images, or superimposition of the radionuclide image data, which contains high activity, onto the radiographic chest image.

Abstract: A method for preventing or treating opioid induced side effects including dysphoria, pruritus and urinary retention and non-opioid induced changes in gastrointestinal motility. The method comprises administering methylnaltrexone or another quaternary derivative of noroxymorphone to a patient prior to the administration of an opioid or after the onset of side effects induced by the administration of an opioid, wherein the methylnaltrexone or quaternary derivative is administered by the route selected from the group consisting of intravenous, intramuscular, transmucosal, transdermal, and oral administration, preferably administered orally in an enterically coated form.

Abstract: A nonimaging concentrator (or illuminator) of light. The concentrator (or illuminator) has a shape defined by dR/d.phi.=Rtan.alpha. where R is a radius vetor from an origin to a point of reflection of a light edge ray from a reflector surface and .phi. is an angle between the R vector and an exit aperture external point of the concentrator (illuminator) and coordinates (R, .phi.) represent a point on a reflector curve and .alpha. is an angle the light edge ray from an origin point makes with a normal to the reflector curve. The reflector surface allows the light edge ray on the reflector curve to vary as a function of position. In the concentrator an absorber has a shape variable which varies with position along the absorber surface.

Abstract: Disclosed are a variety of compositions and methods for use in specifically targeting the L-selectin or preferably, the E-selectin marker following its cell surface induction, e.g., using ionizing radiation, in tumor vasculature endothelial cells. The compositions and methods described are suitable for use in the delivery of selected agents to tumor vasculature, as may be used in the diagnosis aid therapy of solid tumors.

Abstract: The present invention provides AGT inactivating compounds such as substituted O.sup.6 -benzylguanines of the formula ##STR1## wherein, for example, R.sub.1 is amino, hydroxy, or alkylamino, R.sub.2 is aminoalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, or alkylaminoalkyl, and R.sub.3 is halo, hydroxyalkyl, thiol or alkylthio, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The present invention further provides a method of enhancing the chemotherapeutic treatment of tumor cells in a mammal with an antineoplastic alkylating agent which causes cytotoxic lesions at the O.sup.6 -position of guanine comprising administering to a mammal an effective amount of one of the aforesaid compounds and administering to the mammal an effective amount of an antineoplastic alkylating agent which causes cytotoxic lesions at the O.sup.6 -position of guanine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for casting sheets of metal from molten metal. The apparatus includes a containment structure having an open side, a horizontal alternating magnetic field generating structure and rollers including low reluctance rim structures. The magnetic field and the rollers help contain the molten metal from leaking out of the containment structure.

Abstract: A computerized method and system for the radiographic analysis of bone structure and risk of future fracture with or without the measurement of bone mass. Techniques including texture analysis for use in quantitating the bone structure and risk of future fracture. The texture analysis of the bone structure incorporates directionality information, for example in terms of the angular dependence of the RMS variation and first moment of the power spectrum of a ROI in the bony region of interest. The system also includes using dual energy imaging in order to obtain measures of both bone mass and bone structure with one exam. Specific applications are given for the analysis of regions within the vertebral bodies on conventional spine radiographs. Techniques include novel features that characterize the power spectrum of the bone structure and allow extraction of directionality features with which to characterize the spatial distribution and thickness of the bone trabeculae.

Abstract: The present invention provides 8-substituted O.sup.6 -benzylguanine derivatives which have been found to be effective AGT inactivators, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising such derivatives along with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Thus, for example, the present invention provides a compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is a substituent selected from the group consisting of amino, hydroxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylamino, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 dialkylamino, and C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 acylamino, R.sub.2 is a substituent selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 aminoalkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 dialkylamino alkyl, and C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 pivaloylalkyl, and R.sub.3 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl. The present invention further provides a method of enhancing the chemotherapeutic treatment of tumor cells in a mammal with an antineoplastic alkylating agent which causes cytotoxic lessons at the O.sup.

Abstract: Disclosed are various methods, compositions and screening assays connected with telomerase, including genes encoding the template RNA of S. cerevisiae telomerase and various telomerase-associated polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention provides isolated and purified polynucleotides that encode plant and cyanobacterial polypeptides that participate in the carboxylation of acetyl-CoA. Isolated cyanobacterial and plant polypeptides that catalyze acetyl-CoA carboxylation are also provided. Processes for altering acetyl-CoA carboxylation, increasing herbicide resistance of plants and identifying herbicide resistant variants of acetyl-CoA carboxylase are also provided.

Abstract: A method and pharmaceutical for protecting against mutational damage in mammalian cells, irrespective of the nature of the mutagenic event or source of radiational or chemical insult or the like.

Abstract: A solid/liquid process for the separation and recovery of chaotropic anions from an aqueous solution is disclosed. The solid support comprises separation particles having surface-bonded poly(ethylene glycol) groups, whereas the aqueous solution from which the chaotropic anions are separated contains a poly(ethylene glycol) liquid/liquid biphase-forming amount of a dissolved salt (lyotrope). A solid/liquid phase admixture of separation particles containing bound chaotropic anions in such an aqueous solution is also contemplated, as is a chromatography apparatus containing that solid/liquid phase admixture.

Abstract: A crown ether cesium ion extractant is disclosed as is its synthesis. The crown ether cesium ion extractant is useful for the selective purification of cesium ions from aqueous acidic media, and more particularly useful for the isolation of radioactive cesium-137 from nuclear waste streams. Processes for isolating cesium ions from aqueous acidic media using the crown ether cesium extractant are disclosed as are processes for recycling the crown ether cesium extractant and processes for recovering cesium from a crown ether cesium extractant solution.

Abstract: The binding specificity of the murine OKT3 has been transferred into a human antibody framework in order to reduce its immunogenicity. This "humanized" anti-CD3 mAb (gOKT3-5) was previously shown to retain, in vitro, all the properties of native OKT3, including T cell activation which has been correlated, in vivo, with the severe side-effects observed in transplant recipients after the first administration of the mAb. Disclosed is a single amino acid mutation from a leucine to a glutamic acid at position 235 in the Fc receptor (FcR) binding segment of the gOKT3-5 mAb to produce Glu-235 mAb. Also disclosed is an amino acid mutation from the contiguous phenylalanine at position 234 to a leucine (Leu-234).

Abstract: A method and system for the automated detection of lesions in computed tomographic images, including generating image data from at least one selected portion of an object, for example, from CT images of the thorax. The image data are then analyzed in order to produce the boundary of the thorax. The image data within the thoracic boundary is then further analyzed to produce boundaries of the lung regions using predetermined criteria. Features within the lung regions are then extracted using multi-gray-level thresholding and correlation between resulting multi-level threshold images and between at least adjacent sections. Classification of the features as abnormal lesions or normal anatomic features is then performed using geometric features yielding a likelihood of being an abnormal lesion along with its location in either the 2-D image section or in the 3-D space of the object.

Abstract: The ICP4 protein of herpes simplex virus plays an important role in the transactivation of viral genes. The present invention discloses that ICP4 also has the ability to inhibit apoptosis. This function appears to reside in functional domain distinct from the transactivating function, as indicated by studies using temperature sensitive mutants of ICP4 that transactivating function at elevated temperatures. Also disclosed are methods for inhibition of apoptosis using ICP4 or an ICP4 encoding gene, such as an .alpha.4 gene, methods of inhibiting ICP4's apoptosis-inhibiting function, and methods for the production of recombinant proteins and treatment of HSV infections.