Abstract: A fluidized bed reactor for removing phosphorus and nitrogen from wastewater has a column comprising a number of sections. The diameter of the column changes stepwise between the sections. A flow velocity in excess of 100 cm/min is maintained in a lowermost one of the sections and lower flow velocities are maintained in subsequent sections. A struvite supersaturation ratio is controlled in part by recycling wastewater from an outlet of the column. Struvite pellets are removed periodically from the bottom of the column.

Abstract: The invention provides anti-14-3-3 eta antibodies that specifically bind to the human 14-3-3 eta protein isoform in its natural configuration while exhibiting selectivity over human 14-3-3 alpha, beta, delta, epsilon, gamma, tau, and zeta protein isoforms. Methods, kits and pharmaceutical compositions comprising said specific anti-14-3-3 eta antibodies are further provided for the diagnosis and treatment of arthritis.

Abstract: This invention provides compositions comprising a hydrophobic drug, a biocompatible micelle forming polymer, and a biocompatible low molecular weight, water-soluble polymer. Also provided are devices for injection of such compositions and for the use of such compositions to form hydrophobic drug containing micelles within the body of a patient.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polypeptide, called EspA, which is secreted by pathogenic E. coli, such as the enteropathogenic (SPEC) and enterohemorrhagic (EHEC) E. coli. The invention also provides isolated nucleic acid sequences encoding EspA polypeptide, EspA peptides, a recombinant method for producing recombinant EspA, antibodies which bind to EspA, and a kit for the detection of EspA-producing E. coli.

Abstract: Immuno-adjuvant photodynamic therapy to treat and prevent metastatic cancer is effected using photosensitizers in combination with immuno-adjuvants to destroy metastatic tumor cells.

Abstract: A method of leaching copper from copper sulphide-containing concentrates, such as chalcopyrite, includes using pyrite as a catalyst for ferric reduction in order to eliminate passivation of the chalcopyrite surface, the process being carried out under conditions whereby the pyrite is not materially oxidized, for example by maintaining the operating solution potential at a suitable level. The leaching is carried out in an acidic sulphate medium and may include oxidation by oxygen-containing gas. The leached copper is then recovered, for example by solvent extraction and electrowinning. The leaching process can result in the virtually complete extraction of copper at atmospheric pressure in as little as four hours.

Abstract: Therapeutic agents which target heat shock protein (hsp) 27 in vivo are used to provide treatment to individuals, particularly human individuals, suffering from prostate cancer and other cancers that overexpress hsp27. A therapeutic agent, for example an antisense oligonucleotide or RNAi nucleotide inhibitor with sequence specificity for hsp27 mRNA, for example human hsp27 mRNA, is administered to an individual suffering from prostate cancer or some other cancer expressing elevated levels of hsp 27 in a therapeutically effective amount. The therapeutic agent is suitably formulated into a pharmaceutical composition which includes a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and packaged in dosage unit form. A preferred dosage unit form is an injectable dosage unit form.

Abstract: A vaccine composition for combating Pox viridae viral infections in living organisms such as mammals (including humans) comprises TAP-1 and/or TAP-2 to augment the antigen processing capability of infected cells and hence their immunogenicity. The composition may be used alone or, preferably, as an immunogenicity-enhancing adjuvant with a pox antigen-based vaccine, especially in the treatment or prophylaxis of viral infections such as smallpox.

Abstract: A self-calibration method and apparatus for on-axis rotary encoders comprising the steps of: receiving output signals from a detector during a spindle-free response period, the signals including a plurality of data sets wherein each data set comprises the periods between sampling events occurring in one revolution of the encoder at an angular speed, selecting a data set pair from the output signals, wherein the data set pair contains two linearly uncorrelated data sets; defining a model of the angular distances between each sampling event occurring in one revolution of the encoder as a function of one or more damping coefficients and the periods between each sampling event as contained in the data set pair; solving the model for the angular distances for the data set pair using circular closure and dynamic reversal techniques; and establishing an encoder error map using the selected solved angular distances from the model.

Abstract: Methods and kits for detecting cancer and monitoring cancer progression are described. The method involves analyzing a sample containing nucleic acids or proteins from a patient for decreased expression of endoglycan and/or increased expression of podocalyxin.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and kits for obtaining a prognosis for a patient having or at risk of developing an inflammatory condition. The method generally comprises determining a protein C promoter genotype of a patient for a polymorphism in the protein C promoter region of the patient, comparing the determined genotype with known genotypes for the polymorphism that correspond with the ability of the patient to recover from the inflammatory condition and identifying patients based on their prognosis. The invention also provides for methods of identifying other polymorphisms that correspond with the ability of the patient to recover from the inflammatory condition.

Abstract: RNAi sequences that are useful as therapeutics in the treatment of cancers of various types, including prostate cancer, sarcomas such as osteosarcoma, renal cell carcinoma, breast cancer, bladder cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, ovarian cancer, anaplastic large cell lymphoma and melanoma; and Alzheimer's disease. These sequences target clusterin, IGFBP-5, IGFBP-2, both IGFBP-2 and -5 simultaneously, Mitf, and B-raf. The invention further provides for the use of these RNAi sequences in the treatment of cancers of various types, including prostate cancer, sarcomas such as osteosarcoma, renal cell carcinoma, breast cancer, bladder cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, ovarian cancer, anaplastic large cell lymphoma and melanoma; and Alzheimer's disease, and a method of treating such conditions through the administration of the RNA molecules with RNAi activity to an individual, including a human individual in need of such treatment.

Abstract: Inhibitors of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) are provided as are pharmaceutical compositions containing such inhibitors as well as the use of such inhibitors and compositions for the treatment of a condition in a mammalian subject characterized by pathology of the IDO-mediated tryptophan metabolic pathway. Such conditions may involve suppression of T-cell mediated immune response or may directly result from depletion of tryptophan or accumulation of a product of tryptophan degradation. Specific disease conditions include cataracts, age-related yellowing in the eye, neurodegenerative disorders, mood disorders, cancer and various bacterial/viral infections. IDO inhibitors of this invention are substituted naphthalene and anthracene diones. Novel compounds of this invention include the following taurine-substituted naphthaquinone structure.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and corresponding fuel injector for injecting gaseous and liquid fuel into an engine. The method comprises delivering a liquid fuel to a fuel injector, delivering a pressurized gaseous fuel to the fuel injector, entraining the liquid fuel within the gaseous fuel within a chamber of the fuel injector and injecting the gaseous fuel and atomized liquid fuel into the combustion chamber. The liquid fuel can be passed through and dispensed from a needle into a chamber in the injector nozzle where it is entrained in the gaseous fuel during an injection event. The liquid/gas mass ratio is controlled by the needle movement, hydraulic resistances or electronic valves so that the majority of the liquid is injected during the first part of the gas injection. The injector can be used for late cycle direct injection of natural gas, or any number of gaseous fuel blends combined with many liquid fuels such as diesel, biodiesel and DME.

Abstract: This invention relates to derivatives of hemiasterlin or Geodiamolide G having anti-mitotic activities and useful in treating cancer. These derivatives are represented by general formula I, wherein Y, n, R1, R2, R3, R6, R7, R70, R71, R72, R74, and R75 are as defined in the specification.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel calcium phosphate coated implantable medical devices, and electrophoretic deposition processes for making same. A process of coating an implantable medical device with a calcium phosphate coating comprising: (a) pretreating a substrate with an alkaline solution; (b) preparing a slurry comprising a solvent and a defined size range of calcium phosphate particles; (c) immersing the pretreated substrate in the slurry; and (d) coating the calcium phosphate particles onto the pretreated substrate by electrophoretic deposition.

Abstract: A reflective display having a plurality of transparent hemi-beads (120), each having a reflective region (80) surrounding a non-reflective region (82). Each hemi-bead has an associated light absorptive fluid droplet (122) having a normally relaxed shape contacting the non-reflective region, thereby frustrating total internal reflection of light rays at the droplet/hemi-bead interface. An electrical potential is selectably applied across selected droplets. Application of the electrical potential across a droplet deforms the droplet away from the hemi-bead associated with the droplet, such that light rays (158) incident on the non-reflective region are refracted toward substrate (124) and reflected back through hemi-bead (120) in an approximately opposite direction (166); and such that light rays (162) incident on the reflective region are semi-retro-reflected (168). Removal of the electrical potential allows the droplet to resume the relaxed shape.

Abstract: A polypeptide, called Tir (for translocated intimin receptor, which is secreted by attaching and effacing pathogens, such as the enteropathogenic (EPEC) and enterohemorrhagic (EHEC) E. coli. These bacterial pathogens inserts their own receptors into mammalian cell surfaces, to which the bacterial pathogen then adheres to trigger additional host signaling events and actin nucleation. Diagnosis of disease caused by pathogenic E. coli can be performed by the use of antibodies which bind to Tir to detect the protein or the use of nucleic acid probes for detection of nucleic acids encoding Tir polypeptide. Isolated nucleic acid sequences encoding Tir polypeptide, Tir peptides, a recombinant method for producing recombinant Tir, antibodies which bind to Tir, and a kit for the detection of Tir-producing E. coli are provided. A method of immunizing a host with Tir to induce a protective immune response to Tir or a second polypeptide of interst is also provided.

Abstract: Stent grafts are provided comprising an endoluminal stent and a graft, wherein the stent graft releases an agent which induces the in vivo adhesion of the stent graft to vessel walls, or, otherwise induces or accelerates an in vivo fibrotic reaction causing said stent graft to adhere to vessel wall. Also provided are methods for making and using such stent grafts.

Abstract: Described herein are a method and apparatus for determining viscoelastic parameters of a tissue. A vibration signal is applied to the tissue and displacements at a plurality of locations within the tissue are measured at a plurality of times. The viscoelastic parameters of the tissue, including elasticity and viscosity, can then be determined by fitting a finite element model of the tissue to the vibration signal and the measured displacements and by solving for the viscoelastic parameters of the model. A value for density of each element of the model is selected and the absolute values for the viscoelastic parameters of each of the elements in the model is determined. Alternatively, the difference in relaxation-times between two locations within the tissue can be determined from the difference in phases of the strains at the two locations.