Abstract: The invention discloses a family of neuronal migration-inducing, proliferation-promoting and neurite outgrowth promoting factors, termed NRP compounds, and provides compositions and methods for the use of NRP compounds in the treatment of brain injury and neurodegenerative disease. NRP-1 compounds induce neurons and neuroblasts to proliferate and migrate into areas of damage caused by acute brain injury or chronic neurodegenerative disease, such as stroke, trauma, nervous system infections, demyelinating diseases, dementias, and metabolic disorders. NRP compounds may be administered directly to a subject or to a subject's cells by a variety of means including orally, intraperitoneally, intravascularly, and directly into the nervous system of a patient.

Abstract: A method for synchronising data between a receiving computer and a sending computer by way of a computer network or the like, wherein the sending computer has a source file and the receiving computer has a reference file. The source file is arranged at the sending computer into a sequence of data blocks, each block comprising a predetermined number of data units (e.g. bytes), and a source key value is computed for each block in the source file, and the source key values are transmitted to the receiving computer. At the receiving computer, the source key values are compared with reference key values computed for each predetermined number of contiguous data units in the reference file to determine matches between source key values and reference key values. Then, based on indications of which source keys do not have matching reference keys, specific data blocks are transmitted from the source file corresponding to the unmatched source keys.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for increasing viral titre in a sample. The methods utilize specific binding members such as lectins and antibodies to bind the virus particles such that they can be concentrated. The invention further provides methods for isolating viral particles from a sample, e.g. blood. There is also provided materials and methods for targeting viral particles to particular tissues using antibodies or paramagnetic particles.

Abstract: A thermal spray or welding apparatus including a cored wire electrode with a sheath and a multiplex powder composite. The composite comprises micron-sized particles and sub-micron sized particles, including nano-scale particles, the particles mechanically cooperating to promote smooth powder flow, which facilitates compaction of the cored wire electrode. The invention also includes a method of manufacture of the apparatus including the cored wire electrode and its method of use to deposit a low porosity coating with high levels of alloyed refractory elements that is adherent and low in oxide content.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system in method implemented in a data storage system that provides a status corresponding to a command initiated by a host server to the host server within a guaranteed maximum command response time. In one aspect, the system and method of the present invention accomplish this by associating a time stamp with the command before it is distributed to a number of data storage devices to be executed. The progress of the command's execution is monitored at an interval less than the maximum command response time. If the present invention determines that the command will not complete within the maximum command response time, the system method of the present invention sends a corresponding status to the host server.

Abstract: The present invention ensures system configuration data structure coherency across multiple controllers in a data storage system. To accomplish this, a controller that detects any change in the system configuration of the data storage system, must first reserve a predetermined device before it can modify its own system configuration data structure, and before it can notify any other controllers of the change, such that they can modify their respective system configuration data structures. After such modifications the detecting controller will release the reservation of the predetermined device. In this manner, updates to each respective controller's system configuration data structure are synchronized, ensuring system configuration data structure coherency across multiple controllers in the data storage system.

Abstract: A multiplex powder composite for use in a cored wire electrode to be deployed in a thermal spray or welding apparatus. The composite comprises micron-sized particles and sub-micron-sized particles, including nano-scale particles, the particles mechanically cooperating to promote smooth powder flow, which facilitates compaction of the cored wire electrode.

Abstract: A treatment process is disclosed for reducing the concentration of pathogenic microorganisms in a volume of wastewater that contains a substantial concentration of pathogenic microorganisms less than about 10 microns in size, less than about 5 microns in size, and less than about 0.1 microns in size. The process includes adding an agglomerate-promoting agent, such as a coagulant chemical, to the volume of wastewater such that the solids aggregates form in the volume of wastewater and include the pathogenic microorganisms. The volume of wastewater is then passed through a filter cloth membrane to separate greater than about 50.0% of the pathogenic microorganisms less than 10 microns in size from the volume of wastewater, to separate up to about 99.9% of the pathogenic microorganisms less than about 5 microns in size, and to separate up to about 99% of the pathogenic microorganisms less than about 0.1 microns in size.

Abstract: A tactile aid for deaf individuals includes a conveniently wearable array of vibration transducers mounted on a flexible carrier strip so as to be positionally biased toward the individuals's skin. Each transducer includes an enclosed magnetically vibratable cantilevered beam, an angled mounting slot to effect the positional bias mounting on the strip, and contact pads rather than conventional pin connectors to both reduce mass and facilitate electrical connection to contact pads on carrier strips in the form of printed circuit boards. Received acoustic signals are processed in at least first and second formant circuits each sub-divided into plural sub-bands corresponding to the number of transducers. In each formant circuit the corresponding formant frequency and amplitude are measured, averaged over a predetermined number of cycles, and a voltage corresponding to the measured amplitude is provided on a corresponding sub-hand channel to pulse width modulate a pulse train employed to excite the transducers.