Abstract: 1-Deoxybaccatin III, 1-deoxytaxol and 1-deoxy taxol analogs and method for the preparation thereof.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for sequencing multiple target polynucleotide segments in parallel, and to compositions and kits therefor. In the method, a plurality of sample polynucleotide fragments are used to form a mixture of different-length sequencing fragments. The sequencing fragments are complementary to at least two different sample fragments, wherein (1) each sequencing fragment terminates at a predefined end with a known base or bases, and (2) each sequencing fragment contains an identifier tag sequence that identifies the sample fragment to which the sequencing fragment corresponds. The sequencing fragments are then separated on the basis of size to produce a plurality of resolved, size-separated bands. Resolved bands are collected in separate aliquots, which, in a preferred embodiment, are then subjected to an amplification step to amplify the complements of the tag sequences in each aliquot, and preferably, the tag sequences too. Amplification is preferably by PCR.

Abstract: A treatment system is provided for liquefied livestock waste contained in a slurry pit of a livestock confinement building or lagoon. Waste slurry is pumped through a sonication chamber where it is treated with ultrasound and energy density. The configuration of sonicator probes, the duration of treatment, and the sonication chamber design subject the animal waster therein to maximum sonic cavitation. The treatment should be such that the particle size of the waste is sufficiently reduced to suspend or dissolve the particles permanently, which greatly enhances the speed of biodegradation. Where the pits are under confinement buildings, the waste slurry may be recycled after treatment back into the slurry pit. In other cases, the waste slurry may be treated and then passed to a transient storage tank for trapping methane, and then to a lagoon, or passed directly to a lagoon.

Abstract: Glycosylated or nonglycosylated proteins of the formula FSH&bgr;-(linker1)n1-LH&bgr;(1-X)-(linker2)n2-&agr; wherein FSH&bgr; is a vertebrate follicle stimulating hormone &bgr; subunit or a variant thereof; LH&bgr;(1-X) refer's to a &bgr; subunit of a vertebrate luteinizing hormone containing positions 1-X where X is an integer of 114-121 or a variant thereof; each “linker” is a hydrophilic, flexible amino acid sequence containing 1-100 amino acid residues; each n is a 0 or 1; and &agr; is the &agr; subunit of a vertebrate glycoprotein hormone or a variant thereof are useful in protocols to enhance fertility in humans and in animals.

Abstract: Methods are described for depositing a film or discontinuous layer of discrete clusters, of material (e.g., metals, metal mixtures or alloys, metal oxides, or semiconductors) on the surface of a substrate, e.g., a patterned silicon wafer, by i) dissolving a precursor of the material into a supercritical or near-supercritical solvent to form a supercritical or near-supercritical solution; ii) exposing the substrate to the solution, under conditions at which the precursor is stable in the solution; and iii) mixing a reaction reagent into the solution under conditions that initiate a chemical reaction involving the precursor, thereby depositing the material onto the solid substrate, while maintaining supercritical or near-supercritical conditions. The invention also includes similar methods for depositing material particles into porous solids, and films of materials on substrates or porous solids having material particles deposited in them.

Abstract: A synthetic device for cornea augmentation and replacement that increases corneal epithelium cell adhesion and migration. Using tethered extracellular matrix proteins (ECMPs), corneal growth factors, and other ligand-specific corneal enhancer species (e.g., laminin, fibronectin, substance P, fibronectin adhesion-promoting peptide sequence, FAP, and insulin-like growth factor-1 [IGF-1]) on the polymeric surface of an artificial cornea, the epithelial cell response can be significantly enhanced. Other proteins of interest include, but are not limited to, k-laminin, talin, integrin, kalinin, fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and TGF-&bgr;. By tethering a combination of corneal enhancer molecules, a more natural environment can be created.

Abstract: The present invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding I&kgr;B kinase (IKK) catalytic subunit polypeptides, which are associated with an IKK serine protein kinase that phosphorylates a protein (I&kgr;B) that inhibits the activity of the NF-&kgr;B transcription factor, vectors comprising such nucleic acid molecules and host cells containing such vectors. In addition, the invention provides nucleotide sequences that can bind to a nucleic acid molecule of the invention, such nucleotide sequences being useful as probes or as antisense molecules. The invention also provides isolated IKK catalytic subunits, which can phosphorylate an I&kgr;B protein, and peptide portions of such IKK subunit. In addition, the invention provides anti-IKK antibodies, which specifically bind to an IKK complex or an IKK catalytic subunit, and IKK-binding fragments of such antibodies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of thioredoxin as, inter alia, a cell growth stimulator, as well as a screen for agents that are useful in reducing or preventing thioredoxin-associated apoptosis inhibition and agents that are useful in inhibiting thioredoxin stimulated cell growth.

Abstract: A method of multicasting video to multiple client nodes via intermediate nodes that includes accessing video information descriptive of the video to be multicast, accessing information describing a distribution tree of nodes from a source of the video to the multiple clients nodes via one or more internetwork nodes, accessing rate constraints of nodes in the distribution tree, accessing buffer allocations of the nodes in the distribution tree, and determining one or more smoothed transmission schedules for each node in the distribution tree based on the accessed video information, the accessed information describing the distribution tree, the accessed rate constraints of nodes in the distribution tree, and the accessed buffer allocations of the nodes in the distribution tree, the one or more transmission schedules describing the transmission of video data to one or more children nodes.

Abstract: Prostasin protein has been found to be a useful marker for determination of the invasiveness of and as a means to treat human carcinomas. Using RT-PCR and western blot analyses, prostasin protein and mRNA expression were found in normal human prostate epithelial cells and the human prostate cancer cell line LNCaP, but not in the highly invasive human prostate cancer cell lines DU-145 and PC-3. Imunohistochemistry studies of human prostate cancer specimens revealed a down-regulation of prostasin in high-grade tumors. Using RT-PCR and western blot analyses, prostasin protein and mRNA expression were found in a non-invasive human breast cancer cell line, MCF-7, while invasive human breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-435s were found not to express either the prostasin protein or the mRNA. A non-invasive human breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-453, was shown to express prostasin mRNA but not prostasin protein.

Abstract: A bioconjugate including a nanoparticle covalently linked to a biological vector molecule. The nanoparticle is a generally radioactive metal ion and most typically a metal sulfide or metal oxide. The biological vector molecule is typically a monoclonal antibody or fragment of a monoclonal antibody or a peptide having a known affinity to cancer cells. One or more additional, different biological moieties may be covalently linked to the nanoparticle in addition to the biological vector molecule to enhance its activity. The bioconjugate of the present invention has utility as an effective radiopharmaceutical to deliver a radiolabel in tumor treatment.

Abstract: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are common leukemias in both children and adults. Current treatment strategies are inadequate and often result in patient toxicity and relapse. Accordingly, the need exists for a T-cell-specific immunotoxin with sufficient stability and efficacy to eliminate cell populations associated with various T-cell malignancies. The present invention addresses this concern by providing a biotherapeutic agent (e.g., an immunoconjugate or immunotoxin) comprising a monoclonal antibody (MoAb TXU-7) specific to mammalian T-cell/myeloid antigen CD7 linked to the pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP). The CD7 antigen is expressed on human T-lineage lymphoid cells and leukemic progenitor cells in T-lineage lymphoid malignancies. PAP is a member of the hemitoxin group of toxins and inactivates ribosomes by the removal of a single adenosine from the conserved loop sequence found near the 3′ terminus of all larger RNAs.

Abstract: A method of converting metal-containing or metal alloy-containing compounds into a metal or metal alloy by rapidly heating the metal-containing or metal alloy-containing compound to an elevated temperature to instigate conversion and holding the metal-containing or metal alloy-containing compound at the elevated temperature for a time sufficient to effect formation of the metal or metal alloy is an efficient and economical method of producing metals and metal alloys.

Abstract: A sequential decoder for decoding convolutional code is provided. The sequential decoder includes a computing device comprising a Fano technique. The Fano technique includes a plurality of variables that are normalized to change a point of reference of the technique. One of the variables is a current node metric. The variables are normalized such that the current node metric is set to approximately zero. Methods for using this decoder in applications that include periodic, hard deadlines such as real-time applications are also presented.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for increasing the usefulness, sensitivity and specificity of tests that measure memory and facets of memory, including learning, retention, recall and/or recognition. Specifically, the sensitivity and specificity of such tests are enhanced by selectively weighting the value of specific items recalled by the test subject, either by weighting such items within any specific testing trial or across numerous testing trials. Also disclosed are various methods of reducing ceiling effects in memory tests. The invention also provides improved tests which employ item-specific weighting for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease and other dementia characterized by memory impairment, as well as a method of screening for and evaluating the efficacy of potential therapeutics directed to the treatment of such dementia.

Abstract: A composition in unit dosage form for the inhibition, prevention or treatment of inflammatory bowel disease comprising an effective amount of a compound having the formula: and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier therefor.

Abstract: Protein macromolecular dyes, A(B)b are disclosed, wherein A are protein macromolecules including natural protein macromolecules and modified natural protein macromolecules such as casein, gelatin and fur-protein; B are dyes including azo dyes, azo metal complex dyes and anthraquinone dyes which can react with the amino groups of the natural and modified protein macromolecules; b are integers between 1˜2500. The protein macromolecular dyes have excellent properties of crosslinking ability, better dyeing fastness, fixation ration than conventional dyes and the function of normal macromolecules such as compatibility, abilities of filling and forming membranes. They may be used in dyeing protein materials such as leather, wool and silk.

Abstract: Tissue engineering devices with enhanced cell adhesion, cell proliferation and directional growth are provided which are prepared from nonwoven nanofibril matrices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods involving IKK&ggr; mutants. In particular, the present invention provides methods and compositions, including transgenic animals, suitable for use in determining means to treat, control, and/or prevent incontinentia pigmenti (IP). The present invention also provides methods to detect the presence of mutations in the IKK&ggr; gene and protein.

Abstract: We propose modifying the error-diffusion method for transforming a grey-scale image into a halftone image, so that binary data is hidden in the resulting halftone image. Simultaneously, a second halftone image is generated by error diffusion, not storing the hidden data. The hidden binary data is typically a binary image, and the dark regions of this binary image can be seen when the two halftone images are overlaid.