Abstract: The invention relates to a light emitting device consisting of one or more light sources coupled to a light guide containing diffuser particles having a refractive index close to the refractive index of the core of the light guide. The diffuser particles cause a scattering of the light emitted from the light sources so that light emitted from the light emitting device has colour variation imperceptible to the human eye and small and gradual variations in intensity.

Abstract: Injuries to the central nervous system, particularly spinal cord injuries, are treated by administering a purine nucleoside or analog to the patient and, optionally, electrically stimulating the site of injury.

Abstract: Peptide inhibitors of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) having an amino acid sequence motif of XZXXXS(p)X, wherein S(p)=phosphorylated serine or phosphorylated threonine, X=any amino acid, and Z=any amino acid except serine or threonine. These inhibitors, which are about 7 to 20 amino acids long, are specific for GSK-3 and strongly inhibit the enzyme with an IC50 of about 150 ?M. Also provided are methods of treating biological conditions mediated by GSK-3 activity, such as potentiating insulin signaling in a subject, treating or preventing type 2 diabetes in a patient, and treating Alzheimer's Disease by administering peptide inhibitors. Compositions of these peptide inhibitors and pharmaceutically acceptable carriers are also provided, as is a method for identifying inhibitors of GSK-3. The invention further relates to a computer-assisted method of structure based drug design of GSK-3 inhibitors using a three-dimensional structure of a peptide substrate of GSK-3.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of a compound of formula (VI): in which R2 is an optionally substituted C1–C6 alkyl; R4 is H, OH, an optionally substituted C1–C6 alkyl or an optionally substituted C1–C6 alkoxy; R5 is an optionally substituted aryl, an optionally substituted aralkyl, or an optionally substituted alkyl; and R6 is H or an optionally substituted C1–C6 alkyl; the method including the step of subjecting a ketone of formula (V) in which R2, R4 and R5 are as defined above, to reductive amination with an amine of formula R3NH2 in which R3 is an optionally substituted alkyl, and a reductant to form the compound of formula (VI), wherein the reaction is conducted in the presence of a supercritical fluid or a liquefied gas.

Abstract: This invention discloses a constitutive promoter for expression of foreign or endogenous coding sequences in plants, including dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous plants. The invention also discloses a chimeric nucleic acid construct comprising the promoter of the invention operably linked to a foreign or endogenous polynucleotide that codes for a protein of interest or a transcript capable of modulating expression of a target gene. The invention further discloses transformed plant cells, as well as differentiated plants and plant parts, containing the construct. Methods for diagnosis and treatment of viral infections, especially badnaviral infections, are also disclosed.

Abstract: Peptide inhibitors of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) having an amino acid sequence motif of XZXXXS(p)X, wherein S(p)=phosphorylated serine or phosphorylated threonine, X=any amino acid, and Z=any amino acid except serine or threonine. These inhibitors, which are about 7 to 20 amino acids long, are specific for GSK-3 and strongly inhibit the enzyme with an IC50 of about 150 ?M. Also provided are methods of treating biological conditions mediated by GSK-3 activity, such as potentiating insulin signaling in a subject, treating or preventing type 2 diabetes in a patient, and treating Alzheimer's Disease by administering peptide inhibitors. Compositions of these peptide inhibitors and pharmaceutically acceptable carriers are also provided, as is a method for identifying inhibitors of GSK-3. The invention further relates to a computer-assisted method of structure based drug design of GSK-3 inhibitors using a three-dimensional structure of a peptide substrate of GSK-3.

Abstract: This invention relates to rotary pumps adapted, but not exclusively, for use as artificial hearts or ventricular assist devices and, in particular, discloses in preferred forms a seal-less shaft-less pump featuring open or closed (shrouded) impeller blades with the edges of the blades used as hydrodynamic thrust bearings and with electromagnetic torque provided by the interaction between magnets embedded in the blades and a rotating current pattern generated in coils fixed relative to the pump housing.

Abstract: An instant-start ballast for a multiple gas discharge lamp fixture has a single half-bridge inverter that is used to drive at least two series resonant output circuits. Each series resonant output circuit is used to drive two gas discharge lamps. A single output voltage limiting circuit is provided with a microprocessor that monitors the combined output voltages of the series resonant output circuits and uses a single voltage limiting transistor to control the output voltages of the circuits. A capacitor is associated with each gas discharge lamp socket in the fixture such that a voltage across the capacitor indicates that a lamp has been installed in the socket associated with the capacitor. The ignition sequence will only be initiated if the capacitor voltages indicate that a lamp has been installed in each socket of a fixture.

Abstract: Peptides having at least 2 amino acids and no more than 15 amino acids are provided. The peptides comprise amino acid sequence X-Y or Y-X, wherein X is an aromatic amino acid and Y is any amino acid other than glycine. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions and kits including such peptides as well as methods using same for diagnosing and treating amyloid associated diseases.

Abstract: Radiolabeled fluorinated compounds useful for imaging in the diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease are disclosed. Methods and kits for their synthesis are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electronic ballast has a resonant tank circuit that includes a tank inductor and a tank capacitor connected in series. Lossless sampling of the output voltage of the electronic ballast is achieved by monitoring the voltage across a sampling capacitor placed in series with the tank capacitor. A resistive and capacitive filter is used to filter the monitored voltage such that it can be accurately received by a microcontroller. A resistor is connected in series with the sampling capacitor to produce an open circuit output voltage control signal that is used by the microcontroller to limit the open circuit output voltage. A cable compensation circuit is utilized to minimize variations in the open circuit voltage due to the connecting and disconnecting of a cable to the ballast output terminals.

Abstract: An improved high input voltage instant start electronic ballast uses a substantially lossless snubber circuit. The substantially lossless snubber circuit is incorporated into the ballast to reduce turn off losses and increase the efficiency of the ballast. The snubber circuit includes two capacitors connected in parallel with respect to the two switching transistors or FETS in the inverter of the ballast. A series-resonant lamp voltage sensing circuit is also provided that uses a voltage dividing capacitor to accomplish lossless monitoring of the open circuit voltage of the ballast. A cable compensation circuit minimizes variations in the open circuit voltage due to the connecting and disconnecting of a cable to the ballast by limiting the turn on times of the transistors during high voltage conditions.

Abstract: An electronic ballast uses a voltage sampling circuit and a voltage control circuit to limit the open circuit voltage of the ballast. A lamp voltage sensing circuit is provided that uses a voltage dividing capacitor to accomplish lossless monitoring of the open circuit voltage of the ballast. A resistor placed in series with the sampling capacitor is used to create a voltage that turns a control transistor off and on. The control transistor produces a gating signal trimming signal that a half bridge driver uses to alter the gating signals provided to the inverter transistors of the ballast. A cable compensation circuit is included that minimizes variations in the open circuit voltage due to the connecting and disconnecting of a cable to the ballast by turning the control transistor off and on.

Abstract: A method is described for generating an impedance image of the chest, in which electrical data of the chest is acquired, and a finite volume method is used to calculate an impedance image from the electrical data, using an analytical expression for the Jacobian.

Abstract: A process for producing alumina from bauxite is described in which bauxite is treated with an alkali to form a mixture comprising a solution of aluminum-containing ions and alumina trihydrate is precipitated from the solution. The process comprises treatment of the solution before or after the precipitation step with a layered double hydroxide in order to remove impurities from the solution by intercalation into the layers in the double hydroxide. The double hydroxide may contain layers of the formula: [LiAl2(OH)6]+.

Abstract: A power conversion system includes a first converter having a DC side and an AC side and a second converter having a DC side and an AC side. The DC sides of the converters are connected in series with a battery connected in parallel across the DC side of the first converter. The AC sides of the converters are connected in parallel across an AC voltage grid. A DC generating power source is coupled across the DC sides of both converters. The first converter is bi-directional with the second converter being either an inverter providing DC to AC conversion or alternately a bi-directional inverter.

Abstract: In only two steps and in 65% overall yield, natural trioxane artemisinin (I) was converted on gram scale into C-10-carba trioxane dimer (3). This new, very stable dimer was then transformed easily in one additional step into four different dimers (4-7). Alcohol and diol dimers (4 and 5) and ketone dimer (7) are 10 times more antimalarially potent in vitro than artemisinin (1), and alcohol and diol dimers (4 and 5) are strongly inhibitory but not cytotoxic toward several human cancer cell lines. Water-soluble carboxylic acid derivatives (8a-10c and 12) were easily prepared from dimers (4-6); they are thermally stable even at 60° C. for 24 hours, are more orally efficacious as antimalarials than either artelinic acid or sodium artesunate, and have potent and selective anticancer activities.

Abstract: A new family of antimicrobial proteins is described. Prototype proteins can be isolated from Macadamia integrifolia as well as other plant species. DNA encoding the protein is also described as well as DNA constructs which can be used to express the antimicrobial protein or to introduce the antimicrobial protein into a plant. Compositions comprising the antimicrobial protein or the antimicrobial protein per se can be administered to plants or mammalian animals to combat microbial infestation.

Abstract: Novel conjugates that are capable of inhibiting GSK-3 activity, a process of producing same, pharmaceutical compositions including same and methods of using same in the treatment of GSK-3 mediated conditions are disclosed. Methods of treating affective disorders using GSK-3 inhibitors are further disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of synthesis of a substituted or unsubstituted carbinol compound, comprising the steps of subjecting the corresponding substituted or unsubstituted aromatic aldehyde to acyloin condensation mediated by yeast in the presence of either (a) a supereritical fluid or (b) a liquefied gas, and recovering the carbinol compound. Preferably the yeast is Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In a particularly preferred embodiment the aromatic aldehyde is benzaldehyde and the carbinol is phenylacetylcarbinol, according to the reaction (I): in which the benzaldehyde, the pyruvic acid, or both may optionally be substituted.