Abstract: Compositions and methods for protecting neural tissue (e.g., neurons) from anoxia and spreading depression (SD) involve inhibiting the cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) pathway. It was discovered that the PKG pathway plays a crucial role in regulating SD and tolerance to anoxia in the central nervous system (CNS). Inhibition of the PKG pathway greatly reduces SD and increases tolerance to anoxia (i.e., hypoxia), while activation of the pathway exacerbates SD pathology. The compositions and methods can be used to treat any condition associated with SD or anoxia, including stroke, spinal cord injury, neurogenerative disease, dizziness, headaches, and migraines.

Abstract: The subject invention provides novel compositions of biologically active macrolide compounds which can advantageously be used in blocking cellular proliferation, treatment of cancer, treatment of fungal infections and control of spoilage of food, cosmetic and other consumer items.

Abstract: A cube-based three-dimensional interactive system is provided for visualization and retrieval of video data. The system includes at least one interactive cube having eight nodes, each node being linked to a specific data item. The data items on the nodes are organized in space or time. Textual information about a respective data item appears upon traversing the corresponding node and the data items opens up upon selection. The interactive cube can be expanded to include more than eight nodes, such as 12 or 18 nodes.

Abstract: Isolation, synthesis and therapeutic use of conotoxin and conophan compounds and related compositions including a new class of conopeptides including the modified amino acid D-?-hydro-oxyvalinie (D-Hyv=V*) are described herein. These isolated peptides are the first known example of a naturally occurring polypeptide chain containing D-Hyv. The active peptides, termed ?-Hydroxyconophans are heavily hydroxylated small peptides. These peptides contain a definitive structural motif which is a double modification of the polypeptide chain (?-D-OH-Hyv-Trp).

Abstract: Compositions and methods for reducing neovascularization. Purified nucleic acid constructs and vectors encoding an anti-angiogenic protein operably linked to a GFAP promoter. Vectors can include at least one hypoxia regulated element, enhancer element and silencer element. Gene therapy methods for reducing, delaying or preventing neovascularization based on the nucleic acid constructs and vectors.

Abstract: The invention relates to the discovery that in an animal model of Parkinson's disease (PD), administration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) to rodents having 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced PD restored the function of dopamine neurons. In these animals, G-CSF treatment increased the number of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra (SN), G-CSF treatment partially restored the nigrostriatal pathway, and G-CSF restored the function of dopamine to the level before MPTP treatment. The invention also relates to the discovery that treatment of a human patient with corticobasilar ganglionic degeneration, a rare progressive neurological disorder characterized by Parkinsonism and coritcal dysfunction, with G-CSF resulted in a significant improvement in the patient's Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale evaluations as well as measures of activity of daily living.

Abstract: A self contained integrated mooring system configured to contain items within a payload container in a water body is disclosed. The self contained integrated mooring system may include components for conveniently collecting and storing the components of the self contained integrated mooring system. The self contained integrated mooring system may be formed from the payload container, a mooring line handling and storage module, an anchor and a system container in a single system that eliminates having to work and rework anchor lines on a deck of a boat.

Abstract: A visual image retrieval system is provided. The system includes an image database for storing images. The system also includes a preprocessor communicatively linked to the image database for segmenting the images and generating based upon segmented images a region-of-interest (ROI) extraction output. Additionally, the system includes an ROI feature extraction module for computing ROI feature vectors based upon the output, and a global feature extraction module for computing global feature vectors based upon the output. The system further includes an ROI feature vectors database for storing the ROI feature vectors, and a global feature vectors database for storing the global feature vectors. The system also includes a perceptually-relevant image search machine (PRISM) interface for displaying query images and retrieved images, the retrieved images being retrieved in response to a user selecting at least one displayed query image.

Abstract: The invention provides small molecules that act as catalytic antioxidants and methods of use thereof. The compounds can repeatedly bind and destroy reactive oxygen species by serving as substates for enzymes of the methionine sulfoxide reductase (Msr) class. Some embodiments of the catalytic antioxidant compounds are derived from drugs with anti-inflammatory activity due to inhibition of cyclooxygenase enzymes.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing signals representative of an image of a scene including the following steps: providing an image sensor with a lenticular lens pattern thereon, and projecting the image onto the image sensor via the lenticular lens pattern, the image sensor having a pixel element pattern and the lenticular lens pattern being diagonally oriented with respect to said pixel element pattern; and producing image-representative signals by reading out signals from the pixel elements of the image sensor.

Abstract: Synthetic triple-helical peptides (THPs) are used for the design and synthesis of triple-helical transition state analog inhibitors. These inhibitors feature a phosphonate ester or phosphinic moiety in place of the scissle bond. These groups inhibit MMPs, and methods been developed for their convenient incorporation within a peptide sequence by solid-phase methods.

Abstract: The NSAID, sulindac and/or its metabolites and derivatives, in combination with hydrogen peroxide or another oxidizing agent, such as arsenic trioxide that generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), significantly enhances the killing of cancer cells. This effect occurs at concentrations of each compound that individually have little or no activity directed against cancer cells. A skin cream has been developed and used to treat skin cancer and precancerous skin growths that effectively removes the lesions with no effect on surrounding normal skin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for processing acoustic signals, such as music and speech. The method involves nonlinear frequency analysis of an incoming acoustic signal. In one aspect, a network of nonlinear oscillators, each with a distinct frequency, is applied to process the signal. The frequency, amplitude, and phase of each signal component are identified. In addition, nonlinearities in the network recover components that are not present or not fully resolvable in the input signal. In another aspect, a modification of the nonlinear oscillator network is used to track changing frequency components of an input signal.

Abstract: An enzyme having diterpene cyclase activity has been purified from P. elisabethae using a series of chromatography steps. The purified enzyme has an apparent molecular weight of about 47 kilodaltons and an isoelectric point of about 5.1. The purifed enzyme catalyzed the cyclization of geranyl geranyl diphosphate to elisabethatriene.

Abstract: A composition and method for the preparation of micro-particles of chitin (a naturally occurring polymer of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine), the characterization of chitin micro-particles as an immune adjuvant and the use of chitin micro-particles to enhance protective immunity against intracellular infectious agents and diseases as well as to inhibit allergic responses and diseases.

Abstract: A system for authenticating access to a data processing device or database is provided. The system includes a comparison module for comparing an attempt identifier with an account identifier, and a state-determining module for determining a state variable associated with at least one of the attempt identifier and the account identifier. The state-determining module determines the state variable by incrementing the state variable if the attempt identifier does not match the account identifier and if the state variable is less than a predetermined upper bound threshold, decrementing the state variable if the attempt identifier does match the account identifier and if the state variable is greater than a predetermined lower bound threshold, and authenticating the attempt identifier if the attempt identifier does match the account identifier and if the state variable equals the predetermined lower bound threshold.

Abstract: A method for producing electronic video signals representative of color images of a scene, includes the following steps: providing a sensor having a color filter thereover; providing a motion picture film camera type of lens system that focuses light from the image onto the color filter and sensor; and producing electronic video signals from the output of the sensor; the sensor including a sensor array having alternate lines offset by half a pixel spacing, and diagonally coupled pixels on successive lines, and the color filter having repeating R, G, and B patterns offset on successive lines so that R pixels are arranged diagonally, G pixels are arranged diagonally, and B pixels are arranged diagonally.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing progressive scan signals representative of an image of a scene, including the following steps: providing an image sensor onto which the image is projected, the image sensor having a diagonal pixel pattern; producing frame pairs as follows: during one frame of a frame pair, outputting pixel values alternately from successive adjacent line pairs of the sensor, starting at an odd numbered line, and, during the other frame of a frame pair, outputting pixel values alternately from successive adjacent line pairs of the sensor, starting at an even numbered line.

Abstract: The invention provides small molecules that act as catalytic antioxidants and methods of use thereof. The compounds can repeatedly bind and destroy reactive oxygen species by serving as substates for enzymes of the methionine sulfoxide reductase (Msr) class. Some embodiments of the catalytic antioxidant compounds are derived from drugs with anti-inflammatory activity due to inhibition of cyclooxygenase enzymes.

Abstract: A method for producing electronic video signals representative of a focused moveable image includs the following steps: providing a charge coupled device, masking substantially less than half of the lines of the device to form a masked storage area and a substantially larger unmasked sensing area; disposing the sensing area in the path of the image; providing a shutter for periodically blocking the image from the sensing area; and providing clocking signals to the device to shift sensed lines of the image from the sensing area to the storage area and to clock image representative electronic video signals out of the device.