Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for producing a protein oligomer comprising at least two, and preferably three heterodimeric human NC-I-Fc proteins, the method comprising: a) culturing a host cell expressing (i) a fusion protein comprising, from N- to C-terminus, human NC-1 from collagen 18 fused to human IgGI Fc with “knob” mutations, or human IgGI Fc with “knob” mutations fused to human NC-1 from collagen 18, and (ii) human IgGI Fc with “hole” mutations, under conditions which allow the formation of a protein oligomer comprising at least two, and preferably three heterodimeric human NC-1-Fc proteins, and wherein the fusion protein of (i) and the human IgGI Fc with “hole” mutations of (ii) are expressed in a ratio of 2:1 or higher, and b) obtaining the protein oligomer comprising at least two, and preferably three heterodimeric human NC-1-Fc proteins.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a protein oligomer comprising (i) at least two NC-1 monomers of collagen 18 or (ii) at least two endostatin domains of collagen 18 or (iii) at least two N-terminal peptides of the collagen 18 endostatin domain, for use in treating, ameliorating or preventing fibrosis or a fibrosis-associated disease, a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-related disease or a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-related disease.. The invention further relates to the mentioned protein oligomer for use for detecting and/or diagnosing fibrosis or a fibrosis-associated disease, a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-related disease or a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-related disease.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a protein oligomer comprising at least two NC-1 monomers of human collagen 18 or fragments of an NC-1 monomer of human collagen 18 for use in the treatment or prevention of an angiogenesis-related disease. The invention further pertains to a fusion protein comprising a NC-1 monomer of human collagen 18 and a Fc domain of an immunoglobulin. The invention also relates to a fusion protein comprising: a) an endostatin peptide or endostatin-derived peptide and b) the RGD motif and/or PHSRN motif of Fibronectin. The invention further relates to a kit comprising the protein oligomer or fusion proteins of the invention.

Abstract: Lattice structure with piezoelectric behavior characterized in that the lattice structure (1) comprises a periodic succession of unitary cells (10), wherein each unitary cell (10) is made of a dielectric material, is bending or torsion dominated and comprises nanometric structural connectors (11) connected to each other through nodes (12) defining a non-centrosymmetric shape having a topological constraint that induces torsion or bending of said structural connectors (11); and wherein the unitary cells (10) are connected to each other at least in series defining a continuous electric potential accumulation path with two opposed ends (2, 3), the unitary cells (10) being arranged within the lattice structure (1) in a non-centrosymmetric disposition accumulating and conducting without cancellation the electric gradient generated on each unitary cell (10) through the lattice structure (1) to said two opposed ends (2, 3).

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a protein oligomer comprising (i) at least two NC-monomers of collagen 18 or (ii) at least two endostatin domains of collagen 18 or (iii) at least two N-terminal peptides of the collagen 18 endostatin domain, for use in treating, ameliorating or preventing fibrosis or a fibrosis-associated disease, a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-related disease or a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-related disease. The invention further relates to the mentioned protein oligomer for use for detecting and/or diagnosing fibrosis or a fibrosis-associated disease, a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-related disease or a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-related disease.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for producing a protein oligomer comprising at least two, and preferably three heterodimeric human NC-I-Fc proteins, the method comprising: a) culturing a host cell expressing (i) a fusion protein comprising, from N- to C-terminus, human NC-1 from collagen 18 fused to human IgGI Fc with “knob” mutations, or human IgGI Fc with “knob” mutations fused to human NC-1 from collagen 18, and (ii) human IgGI Fc with “hole” mutations, under conditions which allow the formation of a protein oligomer comprising at least two, and preferably three heterodimeric human NC-1-Fc proteins, and wherein the fusion protein of (i) and the human IgGI Fc with “hole” mutations of (ii) are expressed in a ratio of 2:1 or higher, and b) obtaining the protein oligomer comprising at least two, and preferably three heterodimeric human NC-1-Fc proteins.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a protein oligomer comprising (i) at least two NC-monomers of collagen 18 or (ii) at least two endostatin domains of collagen 18 or (iii) at least two N-terminal peptides of the collagen 18 endostatin domain, for use in treating, ameliorating or preventing fibrosis or a fibrosis-associated disease, a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-related disease or a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-related disease. The invention further relates to the mentioned protein oligomer for use for detecting and/or diagnosing fibrosis or a fibrosis-associated disease, a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-related disease or a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-related disease.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a protein oligomer comprising at least two NC-1 monomers of human collagen 18 or fragments of an NC-1 monomer of human collagen 18 for use in the treatment or prevention of an angiogenesis-related disease. The invention further pertains to a fusion protein comprising a NC-1 monomer of human collagen 18 and a Fc domain of an immunoglobulin. The invention also relates to a fusion protein comprising: a) an endostatin peptide or endostatin-derived peptide and b) the RGD motif and/or PHSRN motif of Fibronectin. The invention further relates to a kit comprising the protein oligomer or fusion proteins of the invention.

Abstract: The invention features compositions comprising microRNAs that are differentially regulated in dormant versus fast growing neoplasias, and related methods of using the microRNAs for inducing or prolonging dormancy in a neoplastic cell or otherwise inhibiting the growth of a neoplastic cell.

Abstract: Illustrative embodiments disclose detecting aspectual behavior in unified modeling language artifacts. A computer represents static and dynamic properties of the unified modeling language artifacts in a set of production rules. The computer also creates a set of bit representations of method invocations found in the set of production rules and determines whether common sub-sequences exist in the set of bit representations. The computer identifies a set of aspects within the production rules responsive to a determination that the common sub-sequences exist. Finally, the computer modifies the unified modeling language artifacts.

Abstract: Illustrative embodiments provide a computer implemented method, a data processing system and a computer program product for detecting aspectual behavior in unified modeling language artifacts. In one embodiment, the computer implemented method comprises representing static and dynamic characteristics of the artifacts in a set of production rules and creating a set of bit representations of method invocations found in the set of production rules. The method further comprises determining whether common sub-sequences exist in the set of bit representations and identifying a set of aspects within the production rules responsive to determining the common sub-sequences exist, and modifying the artifacts in accordance with the set of identified aspects.

Abstract: A signaling transfer point (STP) (or Signaling Server Global (SSG)) is described herein which includes a processor and a mapping database that can depending on the direction of a message change the Origination Point Code (OPC) or the Destination Point Code (DPC) and the Circuit Identification Code (CIC) contained in the message. As such, the STP can receive a message from a foreign switch located in another telecommunications network and redirect the message that was originally destined for an old switch, which is in the process being removed or has been removed, to a new switch which now hosts the trunks previously connected to the old switch. The return traffic from the new switch is also processed by the STP so that when the foreign switch receives the message, it will appear like it originated from the old switch. As a result, the user of the STP can transparently consolidate switches without affecting the SS7 database contained in other carrier networks.

Abstract: A signaling transfer point (STP) (or Signaling Server Global (SSG)) is described herein which includes a processor and a mapping database that can depending on the direction of a message change the Origination Point Code (OPC) or the Destination Point Code (DPC) and the Circuit Identification Code (CIC) contained in the message. As such, the STP can receive a message from a foreign switch located in another telecommunications network and redirect the message that was originally destined for an old switch, which is in the process being removed or has been removed, to a new switch which now hosts the trunks previously connected to the old switch. The return traffic from the new switch is also processed by the STP so that when the foreign switch receives the message, it will appear like it originated from the old switch. As a result, the user of the STP can transparently consolidate switches without affecting the SS7 database contained in other carrier networks.

Abstract: A system and method of limiting power consumption in a telecommunications equipment coupled between a plurality of far end subscriber lines and a plurality of near end subscriber lines are provided. The method includes monitoring and determining a number of ringing subscriber lines, comparing the number of ringing subscriber lines to a predetermined ringing threshold, monitoring and determining a number of off-hook subscriber lines, comparing the number of off-hook subscriber lines to a predetermined off-hook threshold, and blocking further ringing and/or off-hook subscriber lines in response to the number of ringing and/or off-hook subscriber lines reaching or exceeding the respective predetermined ringing and off-hook thresholds.