Abstract: The present invention is to provide a cathode catalyst capable of increasing the initial capacity, decreasing the charging voltage and improving the capacity retention of a rechargeable metal-air battery, and a rechargeable metal-air battery having high initial capacity, excellent charge-discharge efficiency, and excellent capacity retention. A cathode catalyst for a rechargeable metal-air battery comprising NiFe2O4, and a rechargeable metal-air battery comprising an air cathode containing at least NiFe2O4, an anode containing at least a negative-electrode active material and an electrolyte interposed between the air cathode and the anode.

Abstract: The invention relates to the identification and use of gene expression profiles with clinical relevance to the treatment of cellular proliferative disorders, especially those mediated by aberrant Notch signaling using a Notch signaling inhibitor. In particular, the invention provides the identities of genes, whose individual or cumulative expression patterns may be useful in various assays. The gene expression profiles, whether embodied in nucleic acid expression, protein expression, or other expression formats, may be used to select subjects afflicted with a Notch mediated cancer who will likely respond to treatment with a gamma-secretase inhibitor or another Notch inhibiting agent. The same markers may be used in the classification of patients being treated with other Notch inhibitors. The methods may further comprise providing diagnostic, prognostic, or predictive information based on the classifying step. The methods may further comprise selecting a treatment based on the classifying step.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the key roles played by Hedgehog proteins in the regulation of homeostasis of the adult intestinal epithelium. Ihh is expressed in the adult mammalian colon and provides a lineage-instructive signal and regulates colonic epithelial morphogenesis in a compartmental fashion. Loss of Ihh expression precedes morphological change in colon tumorigenesis, i.e. carcinogenesis, and Ihh was absent in HT-29 colon carcinoma cells. Treatment of cancerous HT-29 cells with exogenous Hedgehog protein restored their differentiation. Ihh thus plays a pivotal role in the maintenance of colonic epithelial homeostasis in the differentiation of the GI tract cells and is essential for the enrolment of these GI tract cells on the Death program thus maintaining homeostasis to avoid or treat carcinogenesis. In addition, in gastric cancer expression of Shh is lost and loss of Shh expression precedes morphological changes in the parietal cells of the stomach.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for allowing the industrial use of a high-concentration supply of an organometallic composition, such as an alkyllithium composition, with processes requiring low-concentration organometallic feeds by blending a supply of organometallic with a supply of hydrocarbon solvent, analyzing the concentration of organometallic within the blend using spectroscopic analysis to determine the concentration of organometallic, communicating the concentration value to a control apparatus which compares the actual concentration value with a previously determined desired concentration value and, adjusting the rate of supply of the organometallic, the rate of supply of the hydrocarbon solvent, or the rate of supply of both the organometallic and the solvent to obtain a blended organometallic stream of the desired concentration.