Abstract: A method for identifying a renal allograft recipient at risk for chronic allograft damage or interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IF/TA) by comparing the transcription level of a preselected gene signature set with the transcription level of a comparison standard, and diagnosing the recipient as being at risk for chronic allograft damage if the transcription level of the preselected gene signature set is significantly higher than the transcription level of the comparison standard.

Abstract: A method for identifying a renal allograft recipient at risk for chronic allograft damage or interstutial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IF/TA) by comparing the transcription level of a preselected gene signature set with the transcription level of a comparison standard, and diagnosing the recipient as being at risk for chronic allograft damage if the transcription level of the preselected gene signature set is significantly higher than the transcription level of the comparison standard.

Abstract: A method for identifying a kidney transplant recipient at an increased risk of developing interstitial fibrosis or tubular atrophy which comprises obtaining a post-transplant urine sample from the kidney transplant recipient; measuring the level of clusterin in the urine sample; comparing the level of clusterin in the patient sample to the level of clusterin in a control sample from the urine of a non-fibrotic kidney transplant recipient; diagnosing a kidney transplant recipient with a clusterin level that is significantly higher than the clusterin level in the control as being at an increased risk of developing interstitial fibrosis or tubular atrophy.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and methods for treating or preventing fibrosis.

Abstract: A method for identifying a kidney transplant recipient at an increased risk of developing interstitial fibrosis or tubular atrophy which comprises obtaining a post-transplant urine sample from the kidney transplant recipient; measuring the level of clusterin in the urine sample; comparing the level of clusterin in the patient sample to the level of clusterin in a control sample from the urine of a non-fibrotic kidney transplant recipient; diagnosing a kidney transplant recipient with a clusterin level that is significantly higher than the clusterin level in the control as being at an increased risk of developing interstitial fibrosis or tubular atrophy.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and methods for treating or preventing fibrosis.

Abstract: A method for identifying a kidney transplant recipient at an increased risk of developing interstitial fibrosis or tubular atrophy which comprises obtaining a post-transplant urine sample from the kidney transplant recipient; measuring the level of clusterin in the urine sample; comparing the level of clusterin in the patient sample to the level of clusterin in a control sample from the urine of a non-fibrotic kidney transplant recipient; diagnosing a kidney transplant recipient with a clusterin level that is significantly higher than the clusterin level in the control as being at an increased risk of developing interstitial fibrosis or tubular atrophy.

Abstract: A passive feedback mechanism by which sound produced by a musical instrument is enhanced by utilizing the reverberations from the sound to dynamically and passively alter the magnetic field in the vicinity of an electronic pickup is disclosed. This is accomplished by utilizing a component or material adhered to the instrument with the property to alter the magnetic field as the material vibrates in response to sound reverberation, one embodiment being a ferromagnetic surface coating. An electromagnetic pickup, sensitive to these variations in the magnetic field, is installed on or within the instrument. The changes in the magnetic field, in response to the music, are captured by the pickup and transformed into an electric signal with thus produce a unique and enhanced sound.

Abstract: A passive feedback mechanism by which sound produced by a musical instrument is enhanced by utilizing the reverberations from the sound to dynamically and passively alter the magnetic field in the vicinity of an electronic pickup is disclosed. This is accomplished by utilizing a component or material adhered to the instrument with the property to alter the magnetic field as the material vibrates in response to sound reverberation, one embodiment being a ferromagnetic surface coating. An electromagnetic pickup, sensitive to these variations in the magnetic field, is installed on or within the instrument. The changes in the magnetic field, in response to the music, are captured by the pickup and transformed into an electric signal with thus produce a unique and enhanced sound.

Abstract: The invention is directed to compositions containing one or more proteases that are beneficial in the treatment of damaged tissue, wounds and inflammation. The compositions of the invention modulate the levels and activity of proteins that are present at wound and inflammation sites and promote the repair of damaged tissue.

Abstract: A method for identifying a kidney transplant recipient at an increased risk of developing interstitial fibrosis or tubular atrophy which comprises obtaining a post-transplant urine sample from the kidney transplant recipient; measuring the level of clusterin in the urine sample; comparing the level of clusterin in the patient sample to the level of clusterin in a control sample from the urine of a non-fibrotic kidney transplant recipient; diagnosing a kidney transplant recipient with a clusterin level that is significantly higher than the clusterin level in the control as being at an increased risk of developing interstitial fibrosis or tubular atrophy.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for reducing or preventing neutrophilic inflammation in a subject comprising selecting a subject with or at risk for neutrophilic inflammation and administering to the subject an agent that inhibits the expression or activity of prolyl endopeptidase. Provided herein are also methods for treatment or prevention of diseases associated with neutrophilic inflammation.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for reducing or preventing neutrophilic inflammation in a subject comprising selecting a subject with or at risk for neutrophilic inflammation and administering to the subject an agent that inhibits the expression or activity of prolyl endopeptidase. Provided herein are also methods for treatment or prevention of diseases associated with neutrophilic inflammation.

Abstract: A low cost, automated film processing system which can replace existing hand dipping development of films, but which is also later expandable in field, to accommodate additional features, should an upgrade to those features be desired. In the preferred embodiment, the design utilizes deep tanks, as defined in the specification, to enable the chemicals to be utilized over an extended period of time. The chemistry utilized in the processor operates at room temperature.

Abstract: A low cost, automated film processing system which can replace existing hand dipping development of films, but which is also later expandable in field, to accommodate additional features, should an upgrade to those features be desired. In the preferred embodiment, the design utilizes deep tanks, as defined in the specification, to enable the chemicals to be utilized over an extended period of time. The chemistry utilized in the processor operates at room temperature.

Abstract: The invention, in one embodiment, is directed to a system and related methods of data analysis. According to one aspect, the invention processes a plurality of records, each of the records having an associated plurality of attributes, the plurality of records being divisible into at least two categories. More particularly, the invention provides a multidimensional array having intersecting first and second axes; assigns each of the attributes as a one dimensional vector aligned along the first axis, and each of the records as a one dimensional vector aligned along the second axis; displays a graphical indication of an occurrence and/or a value of each attribute for each record at an intersection of each record vector with each attribute vector; and manipulates the record vectors and/or the attribute vectors to produce a graphical pattern representative of the at least two categories.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for removing well casing from plugged and abandoned oil wells. The invention includes a unitary platform structure sufficiently small that the structure may be transported by boat to offshore well platforms and be lifted onto the well platform as a single unit. The platform also has a center station with an opening allowing the casing to pass therethrough. The device further includes at least one lifting means, which lifts the well casing through the center station.The present invention will serve many of the purposes of much larger drilling rigs or work over rigs typically employed on oil and gas well platforms. The present invention will be much quicker to transport and requires considerably less set-up time than dig rigs or work over rigs.

Abstract: An in-line valve for mounting within an existing fluid line to temporarily block the flow of fluid downstream from the valve without interrupting the flow of fluid upstream of the valve. Two valve half bodies create a cylindrical aperture therebetween which is complementary to the conduit when securely mounted thereon. Extending through the center of each valve half body is an aperture generally orthogonal to, and passing through, the first aperture. An annular shaft extends through the second aperture which has at least two outer diameters with a shoulder presented at the point of diametric change. Encircling at least a portion of the main shaft is an annular flexible seal with one end abutting the shoulder allowing the smaller diameter of the main shaft to extend therethrough. The cutter abuts the flexible seal such that the seal is interposed between the larger diameter of the main shaft and the cutter.

Abstract: A clothes washing machine of the vertical axis type has a self-cleaning lint filter integral with the spin tub. The spin tub is formed as a unitary piece from plastic material, and includes a central hub and radially outer bottom wall which are interconnected by a plurality of radially extending ribs. The ribs have spaces between them defining an annular gap, and an annular perforated lint filter is secured in the gap. An oscillating agitator within the spin tub has downwardly projecting vanes on the lower outer surface of its skirt portion which, as the agitator oscillates, cooperate with the spin tub ribs to form a pumping action to pump liquid upwardly through the lint filter and out to the interior of the spin tub. When the agitator and spin tub go into a spin mode, the centrifugal force washes the lint on the underside of the lint filter off into the fluid being pumped to drain.

Abstract: A portable highly versatile thermal metal refining apparatus for selectively reclaiming metals from a mixed or combined load of materials having varied melting temperatures. A refining chamber cylindrically shaped about a central axis having oppositely disposed open and closed ends defines an internal reduction cavity loaded through its open end. The chamber cavity is lined with durable glass, enabling successive reduction cycles of different metals without carry-over contamination. Detachable support and drive means mount the refining chamber for operative rotation about the central axis, and pivotal means are provided for controlling the operative pitch of the central axis. Field supply means, operable from available field sources, provide a controlled fuel/air mixture to a burner nozzle at the closed end of the chamber for directing a reducing flame toward a load within the reduction cavity.