Abstract: The present invention relates to a peptide comprising the sequence R1—X1—X2—X3—X4—R2, wherein X1 is selected from the group consisting of N, Q, D and S; X2 is selected from the group consisting of V, I and L; X3 is selected from the group consisting of R and K; and X4 is selected from the group consisting of V, I, L and F; R1 is a hydrogen or a peptide of 1 to 6 amino acids, an acyl or an aryl group; and R2 is a peptide of 1 to 3 amino acids, a hydroxide or an amide. The invention also relates to partial or full retro-inverso peptides comprising the above sequences The invention also relates to peptide-substrate combination comprising a substrate suitable for cell growth and the peptide of the invention, and to a vascular graft and an artificial blood vessel comprising the peptide-substrate combination. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition and a peptide conjugate comprising the peptide of the invention.

Abstract: Described herein is the discovery that cell and tissue survival can be dramatically increased following radiation exposure through inhibition of the interaction between TSP-1 and CD47. This effect is shown using antisense molecules, peptides, and antibodies, which can now be used as radioprotectant agents. These agents find application in minimizing, reducing and/or preventing tissue damage following intentional and accidental radiation exposure, as well as increasing the therapeutic efficacy of radiation therapies by protecting non-target tissue from incidental radiation damage and by increasing tumor ablation following radiation treatment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a peptide comprising the sequence R1—X1—X2—X3—X4—R2, wherein X1 is selected from the group consisting of N, Q, D and S; X2 is selected from the group consisting of V, I and L; X1 is selected from the group consisting of R and K; and X4 is selected from the group consisting of V, I, L and F; R1 is a hydrogen or a peptide of 1 to 6 amino acids, and acyl or an aryl group; and R2 is a peptide of 1 to 3 amino acids, a hydroxide or an amide. The invention also relates to partial or full retro-inverso peptides comprising the above sequences. The invention also relates to peptide-substrate combination comprising a substrate suitable for cell growth and the peptide of the invention, and to a vascular graft and an artificial blood vessel comprising the peptide-substrate combination. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition and a peptide conjugate comprising the peptide of the invention.

Abstract: Method of diagnosing cancer in a mammal comprising assaying a test sample from the mammal for an increased level of semenogelin, wherein the increased level of semenogelin in the test sample is diagnostic for the cancer; methods of prognosticating and assessing the effectiveness of treatment of a cancer in a mammal based on the level of semenogelin in a test sample; a composition comprising (a) an immune-response inducing effective amount of (i) semenogelin or polypeptide fragment thereof or (ii) antibody thereto or (b) a recombinant vector encoding and expressing an immune-response inducing effective amount of (i) or (ii); a method of inducing an immune response to a cancer in a mammal comprising administering to the mammal the foregoing composition.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and methods for preventing, ameliorating, and/or reducing tissue ischemia and/or tissue damage due to ischemia, increasing blood vessel diameter, blood flow and tissue perfusion in the presence of vascular disease including peripheral vascular disease, atherosclerotic vascular disease, coronary artery disease, stroke and influencing other conditions, by suppressing CD47 and/or blocking TSP1 and/or CD47 activity or interaction. Influencing the interaction of CD47-TSP1 in blood vessels allows for control of blood vessel diameter and blood flow, and permits modification of blood pressure and cardiac function. Under conditions of decreased blood flow, for instance through injury or atherosclerosis, blocking TSP1-CD47 interaction allows blood vessels to dilate and increases blood flow, tissue perfusion and tissue survival. This in turn reduces or prevents tissue necrosis and death.

Abstract: Method of diagnosing cancer in a male mammal comprising obtaining and assaying a test sample for an increased level of semenogelin; method of diagnosing cancer in a female mammal comprising obtaining and assaying a test sample for the presence of semenogelin; methods of prognosticating and assessing the effectiveness of treatment of a cancer in a mammal comprising measuring the level of semenogelin in a test sample; method of inducing an immune response to a cancer in a mammal comprising administering to the mammal a composition comprising (a) an immune-response inducing effective amount of (i) semenogelin or (ii) antibody thereto or (b) a recombinant vector encoding and expressing an immune-response inducing effective amount of (i) or (ii); and composition comprising a carrier and (a) an immune-response inducing effective amount of (i) a polypeptide of any of SEQ ID NOS:1-27 or (ii) antibody thereto or (b) a recombinant vector encoding and expressing an immune-response inducing effective amount of (i) or (ii

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the production of biliverdin. In particular, the invention concerns methods for producing biliverdin in yeast, especially Candida albicans, and other microorganisms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a peptide comprising the sequence R1-X1-X2-X3-X4-R2, wherein X1 is selected from the group consisting of N, Q, D and S; X2 is selected from the group consisting of V, I and L; X1 is selected from the group consisting of R and K; and X4 is selected from the group consisting of V, I, L and F; R1 is a hydrogen or a peptide of 1 to 6 amino acids, and acyl or an aryl group; and R2 is a peptide of 1 to 3 amino acids, a hydroxide or an amide. The invention also relates to partial or full retro-inverso peptides comprising the above sequences. The invention also relates to peptide-substrate combination comprising a substrate suitable for cell growth and the peptide of the invention, and to a vascular graft and an artificial blood vessel comprising the peptide-substrate combination. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition and a peptide conjugate comprising the peptide of the invention.

Abstract: Three hemoglobin-response genes in the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans are disclosed. The expression of these genes is specifically induced when the organism is exposed to hemoglobin during disseminated infections. The invention relates to the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of these hemoglobin-response genes. The invention also relates to diagnostic methods, kits and compositions which employ the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a peptide comprising the sequence R1-X1-X2-X3-X4-R2, wherein X1 is selected from the group consisting of N, Q, D and S; X2 is selected from the group consisting of V, I and L; X3 is selected from the group consisting of R and K; and X4 is selected from the group consisting of V, I, L and F; R1 is a hydrogen or a peptide of 1 to 6 amino acids, and acyl or an aryl group; and R2 is a peptide of 1 to 3 amino acids, a hydroxide or an amide. The invention also relates to partial or full retro-inverso peptides comprising the above sequences. The invention also relates to peptide-substrate combination comprising a substrate suitable for cell growth and the peptide of the invention, and to a vascular graft and an artificial blood vessel comprising the peptide-substrate combination. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition and a peptide conjugate comprising the peptide of the invention.

Abstract: An information storage system includes a transducer having a loop of ferromagnetic material with pole tips separated by an nonferromagnetic gap located adjacent to a medium such as a rigid disk. During writing the separation between the pole tips and the media layer of the disk is a small fraction of the gap separation. Due to the small separation between the pole tips and the media layer, the magnetic field generated by the transducer and felt by the media has a larger perpendicular than longitudinal component, favoring perpendicular recording over longitudinal recording. The media may have an easy axis of magnetization oriented substantially along the perpendicular direction, so that perpendicular data storage is energetically favored. The transducer may also include a magnetoresistive sensor for reading magnetic information from the disk.

Abstract: Three hemoglobin-response genes in the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans are disclosed. The expression of these genes is specifically induced when the organism is exposed to hemoglobin during disseminated infections. The invention relates to the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of these hemoglobin-response genes. The invention also relates to diagnostic methods, kits and compositions which employ the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of the invention.

Abstract: Method of diagnosing cancer in a male mammal comprising obtaining and assaying a test sample for an increased level of semenogelin method of diagnostic cancer in a female mammal comprising obtaining and assaying a test sample for the presence of semenogelin methods of prognosticating and assessing the effectiveness of treatment of a cancer in a mammal comprising measuring the level of semenogelin in a test sample method of inducing an immune response to a cancer in a mammal comprising administering to the mammal a composition comprising (a) an immune-response inducing effective amount of (i) semenogelin or (ii) antibody thereto or (b) a recombinant vector encoding and expressing an immune-response inducing effective amount of (i) or (ii); and composition comprising a carrier and (a) an immune-response inducing effective amount of (i) a polypeptide of any of SEQ ID NOS:1-27 or (ii) antibody thereto or (b) a recombinant vector encoding and expressing an immune-response inducing effective amount of (i) or (ii).

Abstract: A transducer for a hard disk drive system has a planar magnetic core and a pair of poletips that project transversely from the core for sliding contact with the disk during reading and writing. The transducer is formed entirely of thin films in the shape of a low profile table having three legs that slide on the disk, the poletips being exposed at a bottom of one of the legs for high resolution communication with the disk, the throat height of the poletips affording sufficient tolerance to allow for wear. The legs elevate the transducer from the disk sufficiently to minimize lifting by a thin air layer that moves with the spinning disk which, in combination with the small size of the thin film head allows a low load and a flexible beam and gimbal to hold the transducer to the disk.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating kidney or renal diseases/conditions in a subject by administering to the subject a pharmaceutically effective amount of a purified LAP peptide, a TSP-1 type 1 repeat peptide, or a fragment thereof to interfere with the activation process of TGF-&bgr; by thrombospondin-1 to reduce and/or prevent renal damage. The present invention further provides a method of improving renal function in a subject having impaired renal function by administering to the subject a pharmaceutically effective amount of a purified LAP peptide, a TSP-1 type 1 repeat peptide, or a fragment thereof.

Abstract: An information storage system includes a transducer having a loop of ferromagnetic material with pole tips separated by an nonferromagnetic gap located adjacent to a medium such as a rigid disk. During writing the separation between the pole tips and the media layer of the disk is a small fraction of the gap separation. Due to the small separation between the pole tips and the media layer, the magnetic field generated by the transducer and felt by the media has a larger perpendicular than longitudinal component, favoring perpendicular recording over longitudinal recording. The media may have an easy axis of magnetization oriented substantially along the perpendicular direction, so that perpendicular data storage is energetically favored. The transducer may also include a magnetoresistive sensor for reading magnetic information from the disk.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of stimulating TGF-&bgr; activity, comprising contacting latent TGF-&bgr; with an amount of an activating peptide from TSP effective to convert latent TGF-&bgr; to active TGF-&bgr;. Also provided is a method of inhibiting the stimulation of TGF-&bgr; activity, comprising contacting latent TGF-&bgr; with an amount of an inhibiting peptide from TSP effective to inhibit conversion of latent of TGF-&bgr; to active TGF-&bgr;. The invention also provides a method of enhancing wound healing, comprising the step of administering to the wound site an amount of an activating peptide from TSP effective to convert latent TGF-&bgr; to active TGF-&bgr;, the activation of TGF-&bgr; resulting in enhanced wound healing.

Abstract: An information storage system having a ring head sliding on a rigid magnetic storage disk in such close proximity that the magnetic field felt by the media layer or layers of the disk has a larger perpendicular than longitudinal component so that data is stored in a perpendicular mode. The head to media separation during writing of data to the media is a small fraction of the amagnetic gap separating the poletips of the head. Reading of data may be inductive or may be via a magnetoresistive sensor which is coupled to the magnetically permeable core of the ring head far from the poletips. The media preferably has a high perpendicular anisotropy.

Abstract: A method of forming and handling an array of micro-devices such as thin film devices that enables simultaneous mass handling and processing of these thin film devices. A plurality of micro-devices and links are simultaneously formed on a wafer, with the links interconnecting the micro-devices for maintaining a unitary array structure. A matrix of magnetic strips is then formed to impart added overall tensile strength to the array. The magnetic strips are secured to the links and form a planar support grid therewith. The array of micro-devices is then released from the wafer and lifted therefrom by means of a magnetic pick-up tool. Using the pick-up tool, the array is transferred onto a magnetic chuck which securely retains the array. Conductive wires are bonded to a row of micro-devices which are then separated from the array into individual micro-devices.

Abstract: An information storage system having a ring head in such close proximity to a rigid magnetic storage disk that the magnetic field felt by the media layer or layers of the disk has a larger perpendicular than longitudinal component so that data is stored in a perpendicular mode. Reading of data is accomplished with a magnetoresistive sensor which may be coupled to the magnetically permeable core of the ring head far from the poletips, which may contact the disk. The media preferably has a high perpendicular anisotropy, and may be formed in a plurality of films with crystalline structures traversing the films.