Abstract: The present invention provides a novel class of macrocyclic compounds, which are useful as cysteine protease inhibitors. Also provided are novel intermediates and methods of preparing the compounds. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds. The compounds and compositions are useful in methods of treating or preventing one or more diseases associated with cysteine protease activity, particularly those associated with calpain activity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel class of macrocyclic compounds, which are useful as cysteine protease inhibitors. Also provided are novel intermediates and methods of preparing the compounds. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds. The compounds and compositions are useful in methods of treating or preventing one or more diseases associated with cysteine protease activity, particularly those associated with calpain activity.

Abstract: The present invention provides Schottky-like and ohmic contacts comprising metal oxides on zinc oxide substrates and a method of forming such contacts. The metal oxide Schottky-like and ohmic contacts may be formed on zinc oxide substrates using various deposition and lift-off photolithographic techniques. The barrier heights of the metal oxide Schottky-like contacts are significantly higher than those for plain metals and their ideality factors are very close to the image force controlled limit. The contacts may have application in diodes, power electronics, FET transistors and related structures, and in various optoelectronic devices, such as UV photodetectors.

Abstract: A method of selecting bulk wood units for chemical pulping in alkaline conditions which consists of establishing a reference scale by selecting a test sample, measuring the acoustic velocity through each sample units, selecting acoustic velocity bands from the sample results, processing the sample units using known chemical pulping processes, measuring the percentage pulp yield, and then using the measured pulp yields and acoustic velocities to produce a reference scale; measuring the acoustic velocity through each of the units, comparing the velocity measurement for each unit against the reference scale, and then dividing the tested units into subgroups according to the predicted yield in chemical pulping.