Abstract: An antibacterial &bgr;-peptide having the following formula: wherein R1 is H, an alkyl group including 1-4 carbon atoms, phenyl, heteroaryl, or an alkyl-aryl; R2 is an amine-containing alkyl group having the formula —(CH2)mNH2, wherein m=1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, (CH2)xNHC═NHNH2 wherein x is 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, a pyridyl, an alkylpryidyl, an amidine-substituted benzyl, a phenyl group, or a cyclic amidine; R3 is H, an alkyl group including 1-4 carbon atoms, phenyl, heteroaryl, or an alkyl-aryl; X is —NH2, —OH, —NHR, or OR where R is alkyl, aryl or acyl groups either free or polymer-supported, a carboxamide, a substituted carboxamide, or a polymer; Y is H, an alkyl group, an acyl group, an acyl-terminated polymer, a sulphonamide, an ether, a urea, a urethane, or a polymer; and n is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for evacuating a chamber, for example in vacuum glazing, that is enclosed in part by a glass wall that includes an evacuation port. An evacuating head is employed and is arranged to cover the port and a portion of the glass wall that surrounds the port. The evacuating head has a first cavity that communicates with the port and at least one further cavity that surrounds the first cavity. The first and further cavities are connected by conduits to respective vacuum pumps, which apply differential negative pressure to the first and further cavities, and the chamber is evacuated by way of the first cavity. Evacuation of the chamber may be effected whilst the glazing is subjected to high temperature out-gassing.

Abstract: Method for the prevention of colonic adenomas in mammals at risk of developing them by administering to such mammals an effective colonic adenoma preventive amount of ursodiol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt conjugation product thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of inhibiting carcinoma progression wherein matriptase plays a role in a subject in need of such inhibition including administering to a subject an effective amount of a compound comprising two positively charged groups, which are the same or different. The groups are linked by a chemical group having a length of between 5 and 30 A, and preferably between 15 and 24 A. Diagnostic methods based on matriptase action and therapeutic methods involving inhibition of matriptase activity are provided.

Abstract: Thin films are produced by a method wherein a material is heated in a furnace placed inside a vacuum system. An inert gas is flown over/through the heated material. The vapors of the material are entrained in the carrier gas which is then directed onto a substrate heated to a temperature below that of the furnace temperature and placed in close proximity to the exit of the furnace.

Abstract: Process for the catalytic copolymerisation (ROMP) of strained activated cyclic olefins comprising contacting an activated strained mono (poly)cyclic olefin monomer of formula with at least 1 wt % of an activated strained di (poly)cyclic olefin monomer of formula in the presence of a catalyst or an initiating agent wherein the group represents a strained (poly)cyclic olefin, tail Y and spacer X comprise preferably electron withdrawing and property modulating groups whereby the monomers form a copolymer comprising the repeating unit and at least 1 wt % of the unit which is adapted for subsequent cross linking of respective copolymer chains in the presence of heat and catalyst to form an amount of a cross linked copolymer comprising the unit, and polymeric products obtained thereby, novel monomers and intermediates, a method for selecting monomers for reaction a method for the preparation of shaped produc

Abstract: Sequenced pulses of light from an excitation laser with at least two resonator cavities with separate output couplers are directed through a light modulator and a first polarzing analyzer. A portion of the light not rejected by the first polarizing analyzer is transported through a first optical fiber into a first ignitor laser rod in an ignitor laser. Another portion of the light is rejected by the first polarizing analyzer and directed through a halfwave plate into a second polarization analyzer. A first portion of the output of the second polarization analyzer passes through the second polarization analyzer to a second, oscillator, laser rod in the ignitor laser. A second portion of the output of the second polarization analyzer is redirected by the second polarization analyzer to a second optical fiber which delays the beam before the beam is combined with output of the first ignitor laser rod.

Abstract: Monomeric and dimeric anti-cancer drug aldehyde conjugate compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Specifically, monomeric and dimeric aldehyde conjugates of 1-2, dihetero-substituted anti-cancer drugs, including monomeric and dimeric aldehyde conjugates of anthracyclines, are provided. Also provided are pro-drugs which, after administration, release monomeric aldehyde conjugates. Further provided are pharmaceutical and therapeutic compositions containing anti-cancer drug aldehyde conjugates and methods of treating cancer using the aldehyde conjugates.

Abstract: Antigenic rare outer membrane proteins of Spirochaetaceae are obtained from organisms extracted from infected tissue by a novel process of isolation utilizing a discontinuous Ficoll gradient separation, release of outer membrane in a low isotonic and low pH buffer and identification of outer membrane by use of a lipid soluble dye. Four antigenic rare outer membrane proteins of T. pallidum subsp. pallidum useful in diagnosis and prophylaxis of syphilis are provided. Also provided is the amino acid sequence of a rare outer membrane protein of T. pallidum subsp. pallidum and the nucleotide sequence encoding it.

Abstract: A method, system, computer readable medium and apparatus for computerized detection of lung nodules in computer tomography images, by which mask images are created such that subtractions of the mask image from a targeted CT section image reveal or highlight small lung nodules in the target CT section. The mask image is created utilizing the targeted CT section image along with other CT section images generated from the same CT scan. Based on these other section CT images and the targeted CT section image, a mask image can be created that is very similar to the target CT section image, but without the presence of small lung nodules. When the mask image is subtracted from the targeted CT section image, the differences between the mask images and the CT section images reveal small lung nodules. The mask image may be created by linear interpolation or a morphological filtered image.

Abstract: Methods are provided for restoring wild-type p53 gene function to a cell. Such methods include gene therapy. Typically, this will stop tumor cells from proliferating.

Abstract: A method for reducing or preventing the effects of inflammation arising from injured tissue, which method comprises the steps of: a. bringing the injured tissue, or pre-injured tissue, into contact with a photosensitizing agent capable of penetrating into the tissue, resulting in the desired degree of biodistribution in less than one hour; and b. exposing the tissue thus contacted to light having a wavelength absorbed by the photosensitizing agent for a time sufficient to reduce or prevent inflammation in the exposed tissue, but not so long as to cause necrosis or erythema of the exposed tissue, or a pharmaceutical composition or an article for reducing or preventing the effects of inflammation arising from injured tissue. The composition comprises: a. from about 1 &mgr;g/mL to about 2 mg/mL of a photosensitizing agent capable of penetrating into the injured tissue, or pre-injured tissue, resulting in the desired degree of biodistribution less than one hour; and b. a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: Isolated mammalian nucleic acid molecules encoding receptor protein tyrosine kinases expressed in primitive hematopoietic cells and not expressed in mature hematopoietic cells are provided. Also included are the receptors encoded by such nucleic acid molecules; the nucleic acid molecules encoding receptor protein tyrosine kinases having the sequences shown in FIG. 1a (murine flk-2), FIG. 1b (human flk-2) and FIG. 2 (murine flk-1); the receptor protein tyrosine kinases having the amino acid sequences shown in FIG. 1a, FIG. 1b and FIG. 2; ligands for the receptors; nucleic acid sequences that encode the ligands; and methods of stimulating the proliferation and/or differentiation of primitive mammalian hematopoietic stem cells comprising contacting the stem cells with a ligand that binds to a receptor protein tyrosine kinase expressed in primitive mammalian hematopoietic cells and not expressed in mature hematopoietic cells.

Abstract: A system for use in imaging a subject and determining a position relative to a body of a patient. A base is fixed in relation to the subject. An imaging probe is configured to scan the subject and provide scan images of the subject. An array of receivers is in communication with the base and the imaging probe. A first plurality of reference points is fixed in relation to the base and in communication with the array. A second plurality of reference points is fixed in relation to the imaging probe and in communication with the array. A processor in communication with the imaging probe and the array calculates the position in the scan images corresponding to the position of the imaging probe relative to the subject.

Abstract: A microwave and millimeter-wave electric-field mapping system based on electro-optic sampling has been developed using micromachined Gallium Arsenide crystals mounted on gradient index lenses and single-mode optical fibers. The probes are able to detect three orthogonal polarizations of electric fields and, due to the flexibility and size of the optical fiber, can be positioned not only from the extreme near-field to the far-field regions of microwave and millimeter-wave structures, but also inside of enclosures such as waveguides and packages. A microwave electric-field-mapping system based on micromachined GaAs electro-optic sampling probes mounted on gradient index lenses and single-mode optical fibers can extract field images from the interior of an enclosed microwave cavity.

Abstract: The present invention features methods for diagnosing, detecting, monitoring and determining the prognosis of Epstein Barr virus associated cancers apart from head, neck and lymphoid malignancies in a patient by detecting or measuring EBV DNA present in the serum or plasma of the patient. The present invention also features diagnostic kits comprising suitable reagents for detecting EBV DNA in the serum or plasma of a patient.

Abstract: Near infrared imaging using elastic light scattering and tissue autofluorescence are explored for medical applications. The approach involves imaging using cross-polarized elastic light scattering and tissue autofluorescence in the Near Infra-Red (NIR) coupled with image processing and inter-image operations to differentiate human tissue components.

Abstract: Near infrared imaging using elastic light scattering and tissue autofluorescence and utilizing interior examination techniques and equipment are explored for medical applications. The approach involves imaging using cross-polarized elastic light scattering and/or tissue autofluorescence in the Near Infra-Red (NIR) coupled with image processing and inter-image operations to differentiate human tissue components.

Abstract: The present invention provides plant fiber expansion (FE) genes that encode FE polypeptides, such as phosphoenol pyruvate carboxylase (PEPcase), expansin, endoglucanase, xyloglucan endoglycosyltransferase (XET), and pectin methyl esterase (PME). The invention further provides fiber-specific promoters. Still further, the invention provides molecular strategies for modulating fiber quality and yield in fiber producing plants by modulating expression of FE genes or mutant forms of FE genes.

Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for measuring an energy differential that correlates to quantitative measurement of an amount mass of an applied localized material. Such a system and method remains compatible with other methods of analysis, such as, for example, quantitating the elemental or isotopic content, identifying the material, or using the material in biochemical analysis.