Abstract: A method for providing a financial instrument includes determining an initial account balance associated with a financial instrument based upon an initial deposit amount, wherein the financial instrument includes an account with an account balance that changes over time. The method further includes establishing a first guarantee of a protected value, the protected value including at least an amount based upon the initial account balance growing at a minimum growth rate for a defined period of time or until one or more defined events occur, whichever is sooner; and establishing a second guarantee that a beneficiary may periodically receive a transfer of an amount of money for the life of a designated party, wherein the amount comprises a percentage of the protected value at the time of a particular event, provided that the amount may vary based upon withdrawals from the account in excess of a first particular limit.

Abstract: A method for providing a financial instrument includes determining an initial account balance associated with a financial instrument based upon an initial deposit amount, wherein the financial instrument includes an account with an account balance that changes over time. The method further includes establishing a first guarantee of a protected value, the protected value including at least an amount based upon the initial account balance growing at a minimum growth rate for a defined period of time or until one or more defined events occur, whichever is sooner; and establishing a second guarantee that a beneficiary may periodically receive a transfer of an amount of money for the life of a designated party, wherein the amount comprises a percentage of the protected value at the time of a particular event, provided that the amount may vary based upon withdrawals from the account in excess of a first particular limit.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to generating a smooth muscle cell from another cell, such as a fibroblast, by delivering to the cell serum response factor, a CRP, and a GATA. In specific embodiments, the methods are utilized to generate vascular tissue and/or to repair vascular tissue.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for decreasing the body fat proportion, increasing lean body mass (“LBM”), increasing bone density, or improving the rate of bone healing, or all, of a subject. Overall, the embodiments of the invention can be accomplished by delivering a heterologous nucleic acid sequence encoding GHRH or functional biological equivalent thereof into the cells of the subject and allowing expression of the encoded gene to occur while the modified cells are within the subject. For instance, when such a nucleic acid sequence is delivered into the specific cells of the subject tissue specific constitutive expression is achieved. Furthermore, external regulation of the GHRH or functional biological equivalent thereof gene can be accomplished by utilizing inducible promoters that are regulated by molecular switch molecules, which are given to the subject.

Abstract: A double-inducible system for expressing a transgene, preferably comprising an RU486-inducible system integrated with a CID-inducible system. The invention further comprises a gene expression system for use in in vitro cell culture studies, and a gene expression expression system for use in engineering modified bigenic mice.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the cleavage of serum response factor as it relates to cardiac disease. In specific embodiments, failing cardiac tissue is diagnosed in tissues comprising elevated cleavage of serum response factor. In further specific embodiments, heart failure is associated with cardiac myocyte apoptosis as a result of an increase in cleaved serum response factor, particularly by caspases.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to compositions and methods for plasmid-mediated supplementation. The compositions and methods are useful for treating anemia and other effects that are commonly associated in cancer bearing animals. Overall, the embodiments of the invention can be accomplished by delivering an effective amount of a nucleic acid expression construct that encodes a GHRH or functional biological equivalent thereof into a tissue of an animal and allowing expression of the encoded gene in the animal. For example, when such a nucleic acid sequence is delivered into the specific cells of the animal tissue specific constitutive expression is achieved.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is a method for providing a financial instrument including determining a current account balance for a financial account, calculating a liability ratio for the financial account, and determining whether to transfer at least a portion of the account balance from a variable sub-account to a low-risk sub-account based on the liability ratio.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is a method for providing a financial instrument that includes determining an initial account balance associated with a financial instrument, establishing a first guarantee of a protected value, the protected value including at least an amount based upon the initial account balance growing at a minimum positive growth rate, establishing a second guarantee that a beneficiary may receive a transfer of an amount of money, and establishing an agreement to allow at least a portion of the account balance to be transferred from one or more selected investments to one or more alternative investments in response to a triggering event.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is a method for providing a financial instrument including determining a current account balance for a financial account and on a first periodic basis: determining a specified percentage of the value of the financial account, determine the greater of a particular limit and the highest value of the financial account multiplied by the specified percentage on a second periodic basis, and in response to a determination that the highest value of the financial account multiplied by the specified percentage on the second periodic basis is greater than the particular limit, stepping-up the particular limit to equal the highest value of the financial account multiplied by the specified percentage on the second periodic basis.

Abstract: A method for decreasing the body fat proportion, increasing lean body mass, increasing bone density, or improving the rate of bone healing, or all, of a subject. Embodiments of the invention include delivering a heterologous nucleic acid sequence encoding GHRH or functional biological equivalent thereof into the cells of the subject and allowing expression of the encoded gene to occur while the modified cells are within the subject.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to compositions and methods for plasmid-mediated supplementation. The compositions and method are useful for retarding the growth of the tumor, and retarding cachexia, wasting, anemia and other effects that are commonly associated in cancer bearing animals. Overall, the embodiments of the invention can be accomplished by delivering an effective amount of a nucleic acid expression construct that encodes a GHRH or functional biological equivalent thereof into a tissue of an animal and allowing expression of the encoded. gene in the animal. For example, when such a nucleic acid sequence is delivered into the specific cells of the tissue specific constitutive expression is achieved.

Abstract: Inadequate growth due to deficiencies in growth hormone (GR), growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH), or genetic diseases can be ameliorated utilizing recombinant protein therapy with a novel GHRH analog having a sequence (SEQ ID NO:1). Also included is (1) a method of treating growth hormone-related deficiencies associated with the growth hormone pathway; (2) a method for treating growth hormone-related deficiencies associated with genetic disease; (3) a method to improve growth performance in an animal; (4) a method of treating an animal having a growth deficiency disease; (5) a method of increasing the efficiency of an animal used for food; and (6) a method to enhance growth in an animal.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the cleavage of serum response factor as it relates to cardiac disease. In specific embodiments, failing cardiac tissue is diagnosed in tissues comprising elevated cleavage of serum response factor. In further specific embodiments, heart failure is associated with cardiac myocyte apoptosis as a result of an increase in cleaved serum response factor, particularly by caspases.

Abstract: Transgenes driven by naturally occurring cardiac promoters have relatively low levels of cardiac transgenic gene expression, and have consequently limited the use of cardiac muscle as a target for plasmid mediated gene supplementation. However, by randomly assembling motifs of E-box, MEF-2, TEF-1 and SRE elements, cardiac-specific synthetic promoter recombinant libraries have been produced. By screening hundreds of resultant clones for transcriptional activity both in vitro and in vivo, a few cardiac-specific synthetic promoters were discovered comprising a transcriptional potency that greatly exceeds the transcriptional levels obtained from natural myogenic and viral gene promoters. These promoters are used to direct the expression of desirable genes in nucleic acid expression constructs specifically to cardiac cells.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for decreasing the body fat proportion, increasing lean body mass (“LBM”), increasing bone density, or improving the rate of bone healing, or all, of a subject. Overall, the embodiments of the invention can be accomplished by delivering a heterologous nucleic acid sequence encoding GHRH or functional biological equivalent thereof into the cells of the subject and allowing expression of the encoded gene to occur while the modified cells are within the subject. For instance, when such a nucleic acid sequence is delivered into the specific cells of the subject tissue specific constitutive expression is achieved. Furthermore, external regulation of the GHRH or functional biological equivalent thereof gene can be accomplished by utilizing inducible promoters that are regulated by molecular switch molecules, which are given to the subject.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to compositions and methods for plasmid-mediated supplementation. The compositions and method are useful for retarding the growth of the tumor, and retarding cachexia, wasting, anemia and other effects that are commonly associated in cancer bearing animals. Overall, the embodiments of the invention can be accomplished by delivering an effective amount of a nucleic acid expression construct that encodes a GHRH or functional biological equivalent thereof into a tissue of an animal and allowing expression of the encoded gene in the animal. For example, when such a nucleic acid sequence is delivered into the specific cells of the animal tissue specific constitutive expression is achieved. Furthermore, external regulation of the GHRH or functional biological equivalent thereof gene can be accomplished by utilizing inducible promoters that are regulated by molecular switch molecules, which are given to the animal.

Abstract: Inadequate growth due to deficiencies in growth hormone (GR), growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH), or genetic diseases can be ameliorated utilizing recombinant protein therapy with a novel GHRH analog having a sequence (SEQ ID NO:1). Also included is (1) a method of treating growth hormone-related deficiencies associated with the growth hormone pathway; (2) a method for treating growth hormone-related deficiencies associated with genetic disease; (3) a method to improve growth performance in an animal; (4) a method of treating an animal having a growth deficiency disease; (5) a method of increasing the efficiency of an animal used for food; and. (6) a method to enhance growth in an animal.

Abstract: Inadequate growth due to deficiencies in growth hormone (GR), growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH), or genetic diseases can be ameliorated utilizing recombinant protein therapy with a novel GHRH analog having a sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1). Also included is (1) a method of treating growth hormone-related deficiencies associated with the growth hormone pathway; (2) a method for treating growth hormone-related deficiencies associated with genetic disease; (3) a method to improve growth performance in an animal; (4) a method of treating an animal having a growth deficiency disease; (5) a method of increasing the efficiency of an animal used for food; and, (6) a method to enhance growth in an animal.

Abstract: Inadequate growth due to deficiencies in growth hormone (GR), growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH), or genetic diseases can be ameliorated utilizing recombinant protein therapy with a novel GHRH analog having a sequence (SEQ ID NO:1). Also included is (1) a method of treating growth hormone-related deficiencies associated with the growth hormone pathway; (2) a method for treating growth hormone-related deficiencies associated with genetic disease; (3) a method to improve growth performance in an animal; (4) a method of treating an animal having a growth deficiency disease; (5) a method of increasing the efficiency of an animal used for food; and, (6) a method to enhance growth in an animal.