Abstract: The presently disclosed inventive concept(s) include inhibitors of antiplasmin cleaving enzyme (APCE) and fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAP) which can be used in various therapies related to disorders of fibrin and ?2-antiplasmin and abnormal cell proliferation. The presently disclosed inventive concept(s) also include substrates of APCE and FAP, which may be used, for example, in screening methods for identifying such inhibitors. The presently disclosed inventive concept(s) further include, but are not limited to, methods of treating or inhibiting atherosclerosis and thrombus disorders by altering the ratios of types of plasma ?2-antiplasmin and to methods of treating conditions involving abnormal cell proliferation such as cancers.

Abstract: Inhibitors of fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAP) and Prolyl Oligopeptidase (POP) are disclosed, along with their use in various therapies related to conditions, diseases, and disorders involving abnormal cell proliferation such as malignancies and angiogenesis, and in neural disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. Stalk portions of the inhibitor molecules, and substrates of FAP and POP, are also disclosed and may be used, for example, in screening methods for identifying such inhibitors.

Abstract: Inhibitors of fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAP) and Prolyl Oligopeptidase (POP) are disclosed, along with their use in various therapies related to conditions, diseases, and disorders involving abnormal cell proliferation such as malignancies and angiogenesis, and in neural disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. Stalk portions of the inhibitor molecules, and substrates of FAP and POP, are also disclosed and may be used, for example, in screening methods for identifying such inhibitors.

Abstract: Inhibitors of fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAP) and Prolyl Oligopeptidase (POP) are disclosed, along with their use in various therapies related to conditions, diseases, and disorders involving abnormal cell proliferation such as malignancies and angiogenesis, and in neural disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. Stalk portions of the inhibitor molecules, and substrates of FAP and POP, are also disclosed and may be used, for example, in screening methods for identifying such inhibitors.

Abstract: The presently disclosed inventive concept(s) include inhibitors of antiplasmin cleaving enzyme (APCE) and fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAP) which can be used in various therapies related to disorders of fibrin and ?2-antiplasmin and abnormal cell proliferation. The presently disclosed inventive concept(s) also include substrates of APCE and FAP, which may be used, for example, in screening methods for identifying such inhibitors. The presently disclosed inventive concept(s) further include, but are not limited to, methods of treating or inhibiting atherosclerosis and thrombus disorders by altering the ratios of types of plasma ?2-antiplasmin and to methods of treating conditions involving abnormal cell proliferation such as cancers.

Abstract: The presently disclosed and claimed inventive concepts include inhibitors of antiplasmin cleaving enzyme (APCE) and fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAP) which can be used in various therapies related to disorders of fibrin and ?2-antiplasmin and abnormal cell proliferation. The presently disclosed and claimed inventive concepts also include substrates of APCE and FAP, which may be used, for example, in screening methods for identifying such inhibitors. The presently disclosed and claimed inventive concepts further include, but are not limited to, methods of treating or inhibiting atherosclerosis and thrombus disorders by altering the ratios of types of plasma ?2-antiplasmin and to methods of treating conditions involving abnormal cell proliferation such as cancers.

Abstract: The presently disclosed and claimed inventive concepts include inhibitors of antiplasmin cleaving enzyme (APCE) and fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAP) which can be used in various therapies related to disorders of fibrin and ?2-antiplasmin and abnormal cell proliferation. The presently disclosed and claimed inventive concepts also include substrates of APCE and FAP, which may be used, for example, in screening methods for identifying such inhibitors. The presently disclosed and claimed inventive concepts further include, but are not limited to, methods of treating or inhibiting atherosclerosis and thrombus disorders by altering the ratios of types of plasma ?2-antiplasmin and to methods of treating conditions involving abnormal cell proliferation such as cancers.

Abstract: Inhibitors of fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAP) and Prolyl Oligopeptidase (POP) are disclosed, along with their use in various therapies related to conditions, diseases, and disorders involving abnormal cell proliferation such as malignancies and angiogenesis, and in neural disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. Stalk portions of the inhibitor molecules, and substrates of FAP and POP, are also disclosed and may be used, for example, in screening methods for identifying such inhibitors.

Abstract: The presently disclosed and claimed inventive concepts include inhibitors of antiplasmin cleaving enzyme (APCE) and fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAP) which can be used in various therapies related to disorders of fibrin and ?2-antiplasmin and abnormal cell proliferation. The presently disclosed and claimed inventive concepts also include substrates of APCE and FAP, which may be used, for example, in screening methods for identifying such inhibitors. The presently disclosed and claimed inventive concepts further include, but are not limited to, methods of treating or inhibiting atherosclerosis and thrombus disorders by altering the ratios of types of plasma ?2-antiplasmin and to methods of treating conditions involving abnormal cell proliferation such as cancers.

Abstract: The presently disclosed and claimed inventive concepts include inhibitors of antiplasmin cleaving enzyme (APCE) and fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAP) which can be used in various therapies related to disorders of fibrin and ?2-antiplasmin and abnormal cell proliferation. The presently disclosed and claimed inventive concepts also include substrates of APCE and FAP, which may be used, for example, in screening methods for identifying such inhibitors. The presently disclosed and claimed inventive concepts further include, but are not limited to, methods of treating or inhibiting atherosclerosis and thrombus disorders by altering the ratios of types of plasma ?2-antiplasmin and to methods of treating conditions involving abnormal cell proliferation such as cancers.

Abstract: Human ?2-antiplasmin (?2AP) is the major inhibitor of the proteolytic enzyme plasmin that digests fibrin. Two forms of ?2AP circulate in human plasma: a 464-residue protein, which we have termed “pro”-form, or ?2APpro, and an N-terminally-shortened 452-residue “activated”-form, or ?2APact. The latter becomes crosslinked to fibrin by activated factor XIII about 5-fold more rapidly than ?2APpro and makes fibrin resistant to digestion by plasmin. A new human plasma proteinase has been identified herein that cleaves the Pro12-Asn13 bond of ?2APpro to yield ?2APact. This enzyme is identified herein as Antiplasmin Cleaving Enzyme (APCE).

Abstract: Human &agr;2-antiplasmin (&agr;2AP) is the major inhibitor of the proteolytic enzyme plasmin that digests fibrin. Two forms of &agr;2AP circulate in human plasma: a 464-residue protein, which we have termed “pro”-form, or &agr;2APpro, and an N-terminally-shortened 452-residue “activated”-form, or &agr;2APact. The latter becomes crosslinked to fibrin by activated factor XIII about 5-fold more rapidly than &agr;2APpro and makes fibrin resistant to digestion by plasmin. A new human plasma proteinase has been identified herein that cleaves the Pro12-Asn13 bond of &agr;2APpro to yield &agr;2APact. This enzyme is identified herein as Antiplasmin Cleaving Enzyme (APCE).

Abstract: A composite modular optical fiber ribbon structure has one or more separate sub-ribbons, each encased in a first matrix having a relatively high elastic modulus at room temperature. The sub-ribbons are assembled in a planar array which is encased in a second matrix having a relatively low elastic modulus at room temperature.

Abstract: A composite modular optical fiber ribbon structure has one or more separate sub-ribbons, each encased in a first matrix having a relatively high elastic modulus at room temperature. The sub-ribbons are assembled in a planar array which is encased in a second matrix having a relatively low elastic modulus at room temperature.

Abstract: A variable fiber count optical fiber cable core is disclosed. The cable core is intended for use as a part of an optical fiber cable, the optical fiber cable having an elongate cylindrical core tube formed about a longitudinal axis, and within which the cable core is received. The cable core comprises a stack of a plurality of variable fiber count optical fiber units formed about the longitudinal axis of the core tube, and housed therein. The stack of the optical fiber units will comprise at least a first optical fiber unit having a first predetermined number of fibers therein, and at least a second optical fiber unit having a second predetermined number of optical fibers therein, where the first and second predetermined numbers of optical fibers differ from one another within the stack of optical fiber units.

Abstract: This invention relates to an engraving method and apparatus for engraving a cylinder for printing an intaglio pattern on a web of material. The engraver comprises a driver for rotatably driving the cylinder and a controller for controlling the operation of the engraver and for generating an intaglio engraving signal corresponding to the predetermined intaglio pattern. The engraver also comprises an engraving head comprising a stylus having a generally flat cutting edge or surface. The engraving head also is capable of engraving at response times of less than 200-300 microseconds, thereby enabling the engraving head to engrave the intaglio pattern on the cylinder during the rotation of the cylinder in response to the intaglio engraving signal. The apparatus and method also comprise a fine line boost routine for facilitating engraving fine areas or lines of the intaglio pattern. There is also provided apparatus and method for controlling ink flow in large engraved areas or intaglio trenches.

Abstract: The invention is characterized in that it comprises a toolpath generating routine and system for generating a plurality of control points directly from image data representing an image to be engraved. The control points are used to generate a toolpath which, in turn, will be used to energize an engraving head such that a tool or stylus will engrave a pattern of engraved areas in response to the toolpath. An engraving system and method for engraving at least one engraved area is shown having an engraving head tuner for tuning an engraving head such that the frequency characteristic of the engraving head defines a substantially constant gain for frequencies less than a predetermined frequency.

Abstract: An alignment sleeve (66) for holding two conically shaped portions (30--30) of plugs (24--24) each of which terminates an optical fiber (25) includes two conically shaped cavities (68, 70) communicating through a common minimal diameter plane (72). After the sleeve has been molded, a tool (100) faced with an abrasive material is inserted into each cavity of the sleeve and turned rotatably while a force is applied in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tool. This causes material to be removed from the walls defining the cavities so that when the two plugs are inserted into the cavities, the axes of the fibers will be aligned coaxially and the end faces of the fibers will have a predetermined separation. The apparatus of this invention also may be used to adjust a length measurement of plugs. This is accomplished by inserting a plug into a conically shaped cavity of a tool.

Abstract: A bonded optical fiber array (20) includes a parallel coplanar array of longitudinally extending contacting optical fibers (22--22). Each optical fiber is enclosed in inner and outer layers of coating materials and is provided with a color identifier. The inner layer is comprised of a UV curable bonding material having a modulus in the range of about 1 M Pa. For mechanical protection, the outer layer is a UV curable bonding material having a modulus in the range of about 1 GPa. When the optical fibers are disposed in the parallel array, interstices are created between the fibers and between the fibers and an envelope which is spaced no further than about 25 .mu.m at its closest point to each fiber. A UV curable matrix bonding material which has a modulus having a value less than that of the outer coating layer on the fiber and more than that of the inner coating layer fills the interstices, extends to the peripheral line which defines the envelope and bonds together the optical fibers.

Abstract: An alignment sleeve (66) for holding two conically shaped portions (30-30) of plugs (24-24) each of which terminates an optical fiber (25) includes two conically shaped cavities (68, 70) communicating through a common minimal diameter plane (72). After the sleeve has been molded, a tool (100) faced with an abrasive material is inserted into each cavity of the sleeve and turned rotatably while a force is applied in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tool. This causes material to be removed from the walls defining the cavities so that when the two plugs are inserted into the cavities, the axes of the fibers will be aligned coaxially and the end faces of the fibers will have a predetermined separation. The methods of this invention also may be used to adjust a length measurement of plugs. This is accomplished by inserting a plug into a conically shaped cavity of a tool.