Abstract: Novel exendin agonist compounds are provided. These compounds are useful in treating Type I and II diabetes and conditions which would be benefited by lower plasma glucose and delaying and/or slowing gastric emptying.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical system for determining the distribution, environment, or activity of fluorescently labeled reporter molecules in cells for the purpose of screening large numbers of compounds for specific biological activity. The invention involves providing cells containing fluorescent reporter molecules in an array of locations and scanning numerous cells in each location with a fluorescent microscope, converting the optical information into digital data, and utilizing the digital data to determine the distribution, environment or activity of the fluorescently labeled reporter molecules in the cells. The array of locations may be an industry standard 96 well or 384 well microtiter plate or a microplate which is a microplate having a cells in a micropatterned array of locations. The invention includes apparatus and computerized method for processing, displaying and storing the data.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for prevention and treatment of uncontrolled formation of intravascular fibrin clots are provided wherein fibrinolytic or anticoagulant drugs are biocompatibly coupled to red blood cell carriers.

Abstract: Systems and methods of generating updated surgical plans are described herein. In one embodiment, a method of generating an updated surgical plan can include generating a three dimensional (3D) model of a bone, generating a surgical plan based on the 3D model, in which the surgical plan can include: locations on the bone upon which to dispose a fixator and settings of struts of the fixator, disposing the fixator on the bone based on the surgical plan, and, based on data associated with the placement of the fixator disposed on the bone, generating an updated surgical plan including updated settings for the struts.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling temperature of a batch fermenter in a biofuel production process. A nonlinear predictive integrating temperature model for a batch fermentation process is provided that is a function of fermenter level. An objective for the batch fermentation process specifying a target fermenter temperature for the batch fermentation process is received, as is process information for the batch fermentation process, including fermenter level and fermenter temperature. The nonlinear predictive integrating temperature model is executed in accordance with the objective using the process information as input to determine target values for manipulated variables for controlling fermenter temperature of the batch fermentation process. The fermenter temperature for the batch fermentation process is controlled in accordance with the target values to produce biofuel in accordance with the objective, to substantially optimize the end of batch biofuel yield.

Abstract: Methods of determining analyte concentration. The methods use a fraction of the predicted total charge, from analyte electrolysis, instead of using time, for determination of a data collection endpoint. The total charge is then extrapolated from the data collection endpoint. The analyte concentration is determined from the total charge.

Abstract: A method and a device are disclosed for monitoring the synthesis of proteins by the ribosome in real time, in vivo as well as in in-vitro. The ribosome is engineered to carry a donor fluorophore, and tRNA and/or amino acids and/or some other part of the ribosome are either engineered to carry acceptor fluorophores or else their natural fluorescent properties are utilized as acceptors. As the ribosomes mechanism processed the mRNA and tRNA molecules and synthesizes a polypeptide chain, a light source illuminates the ribosome, exciting the donor fluorophores and thereby the acceptor fluorophores whenever these are in sufficient proximity to a donor. The resulting signals are detected and used as a key for real-time database searching and identification of the protein being synthesized. The resulting data can be tabulated and interpreted in different ways. FIG. (1) describes the properties of a FRET pair and the dependence of FRET on pair distance.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and kits for mitigating radiation induced tissue damage, improving the effectiveness of radiation therapy, to support bone marrow transplantation, and promoting megakaryocyte production and mobilization and platelet production, each method comprising the administration of an effective amount of angiotensinogen, angiotensin I (AI), AI analogues, AI fragments and analogues thereof, angiotensin II (AII), AII analogues, AII fragments or analogues thereof or AII AT2 type 2 receptor agonists.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system or method involves accessing a database having a macromolecular structure of a protein, the molecular structure being represented as a set of spheres, retrieving the molecular structure of the protein from the database, and mathematically computing a Euclidean Voronoi diagram representing atoms of the protein from the set of spheres.

Abstract: Methodology for the automated selection and/or optimization of T-cell epitopes is disclosed. The invention provides a data processing system which utilizes sequence-based statistical pattern recognition to compute an epitope selection matrix based on the informational content of epitopes known to bind to a particular major histocompatibility class I allele. The resulting Bayes-corrected scoring matrix is used to predict the relative binding affinities of candidate T-cell epitopes derived from immunologically relevant antigens of self or foreign origin. One aspect of the invention describes an analytical method for identification of modifications in known or predicted T-cell epitopes that confer upon the epitopes the ability to elicit stronger cellular immune response due to more efficient processing and/or presentation to T-cells.

Abstract: A method of predicting whether a peptide present in a biological sample will be detected by analysis with a mass spectrometer. The method uses at least one mass spectrometer to perform repeated analysis of a sample containing peptides from proteins with known amino acids. The method then generates a data set of peptides identified as contained within the sample by the repeated analysis. The method then calculates the probability that a specific peptide in the data set was detected in the repeated analysis. The method then creates a plurality of vectors, where each vector has a plurality of dimensions, and each dimension represents a property of one or more of the amino acids present in each peptide and adjacent peptides in the data set. Using these vectors, the method then generates an algorithm from the plurality of vectors and the calculated probabilities that specific peptides in the data set were detected in the repeated analysis.

Abstract: A computer readable medium holding data of a molecular model of a ligand-gated ion channel receptor and/or a computer system for modeling said receptor are provided by the instant invention. The molecular model can be used to design novel compounds having activity as non-competitive inhibitors of the ion channel. A preferred embodiment of the invention relates to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Compounds having activity as non-competitive inhibitors of ligand-gated ion channel receptors and methods for inhibiting the receptor and treating diseases or disorders mediated by function of the receptor are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for controllably producing silk particles including the steps of designing a particle size, setting parameters to create the particle size except one unknown parameter, calculating the unknown parameter using algorithm, dissolving a silk peptide in a solvent, adding a cleavage agent, and hydrolyzing the peptide to produce the particle in the desired size.

Abstract: This invention provides a conjugate comprising Substance P, or an analog thereof, and a protein, such as Saporin, that inhibits protein synthesis. This invention provides a method of reducing the perception of pain by a subject comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition of the conjugate comprising Substance P, or an analog thereof, and a protein such as Saporin that inhibits protein synthesis, so as to reduce the perception of pain by the subject. This invention provides a method of selectively destroying NK-1R-expressing neuronal cells in a subject comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of the conjugate comprising Substance P, or an analog thereof, and a protein such as Saporin that inhibits protein synthesis, so as to selectively destroy NK-1R-expressing neuronal cells.

Abstract: Methods to create databases of peptides having a desirable property, such as antimicrobial activity, involving analyzing a database of known peptides for a pattern statistically associated with the desirable property are described herein, The set of sequences being analyzed may include sequences of a desired length containing all or substantially all combinations of amino acids that conform to at least one of the set of patterns. Once the database is identified, the database may be processed in a pattern recognition procedure that identifies a set of patterns that may be representative of a peptide having the desirable property. A set of newly generated peptides sequences may then be processed to score these new sequences against the identified patterns to correlate the patterns to the sequences and determine a degree of association or similarity between one or more of the new sequences and the set of identified patterns.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for measuring the concentration of a particular component in a blood sample containing blood cells based on a variable correlated with the concentration of the particular component. In the present invention, a concentration (S) in blood plasma obtained by removing blood cell components from the blood sample, a concentration (DI) in the blood sample computed by a differential method and a concentration (EP) in the blood sample computed by an equilibrium point method are expressed by a relational expression which is unrelated to the proportion of the blood cell components in the blood sample, and the concentration of the particular component is computed by using the relational expression.

Abstract: Contortrostatin, a homodimeric disintegrin, modulates the adhesion, motility, and invasiveness of integrin expressing tumor cells. When formulated as a pharmaceutically acceptable composition, the proteins can be used to treat patients by inhibiting or disrupting disease processes associated with an integrin binding to an ?v?3 or ?v?5 integrin.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining survival and relapse of a patient undergoing therapy for a tumor by determining a residual cancer burden index based on the bidimensional diameters of a primary tumor bed of said tumor in a resection specimen, the proportion of the primary tumor bed area that contains invasive carcinoma, the number of regional lymph nodes containing metastatic carcinoma, the diameter of the largest metastasis in an regional lymph node; and the fractional reduction in lymph node size with each added positive lymph node.

Abstract: The present invention provides automated methods for cell body extension analysis, software for carrying out such methods, and detection devices comprising such software.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for structure-based prediction of properties of peptides and peptide analogs in complex with major histocompatibility (MHC) class I and class II molecules. The properties mainly relate to the three-dimensional structure of an MHC/peptide complex and the binding affinity of a peptide for an MHC receptor. The invention further relates to a computer program and a device therefor. The invention further relates to data produced by a method of the invention. The invention further relates to peptides and peptide analogs predicted to bind to target-MHC molecules. The present invention thus relates to the field of immunology, with possible applications in manufacture of vaccinates, de-immunization of proteins, and manufacture of therapeutic agents, especially immunotherapeutic agents.