1. A pharmaceutical composition comprising an antagonist of HMGB1 phosphorylation.
2. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1, wherein the antagonist is a protein kinase inhibitor or a protein phosphatase activator.
3. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 2, wherein the protein kinase inhibitor is Protein Kinase C inhibitor.
4. A method of identifying an agent that regulates the phosphorylation of HMGB1, comprising the steps (a) determining the level of the phosphorylated HMGB1 in the presence and absence of said agent; (b) comparing the level of the protein determined in step (a); and (c) identifying said agent as a regulator by the differences in the phosphorylation of HMGB1 activity in the presence or absence of said compound.
5. A method for treating a condition associated with activation of the inflammatory cytokine cascade comprising administering an effective amount of an antagonist of HMGB1 phosphorylation.
6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the condition is sepsis or a related condition.
7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the antagonist is a protein kinase inhibitor or a protein phosphatase activator.
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the protein kinase inhibitor is a protein kinase C inhibitor.
9. A method for diagnosis and or prognosis of the conditions associated with the activation of the inflammatory cascade comprising measuring the concentration of phosphorylated protein HMGB1 in a sample, and comparing that concentration to a standard for phosphorylated protein representative of a normal concentration range of phosphorylated HMGB 1 in a like sample, whereby higher levels of phosphorylated HMGB1 are indicative of the disease.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the sample is a serum sample.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An apparatus for cleaning a surface of a tapered tower, the apparatus comprising:
a semicircular shaped assembly comprising a plurality of spray nozzles and a plurality of rolling members;
at least one contracting member for continually pressing the rolling members of the semicircular shaped assembly toward the tapered tower surface; and
a system for raising and lowering the cleaning apparatus.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a counterweight assembly affixed to the semicircular shaped assembly.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the contracting member comprises a bungee device further comprising a plurality of rolling beads.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one contracting apparatus comprises at least one spring loaded scissor apparatus.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a washing fluid delivery apparatus for providing washing fluid to the plurality of nozzles.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the semicircular shaped member comprises a tube and a fluid fitting.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one brush affixed to the semicircular member in contact with the surface.
8. A system for cleaning a surface of a tapered wind turbine tower, the system comprising:
a semicircular shaped tubular member comprising at least one nozzle and at least one rolling member, the at least one rolling member being in contact with the surface of the tapered wind turbine tower;
a counterweight attached to the semicircular shaped tubular member;
a constricting apparatus for pressing the at least one rolling member to the surface of the tapered wind turbine as the semicircular shaped tubular member is raised and lowered;
a raising and lowering apparatus for raising and lowering the semicircular shaped tubular member.
9. The system of claim 8 wherein the at least one rolling member is configured to provide a constant distance between the at least one nozzle and the tower surface.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein the constant distance is adjustable.
11. The system of claim 8 wherein the constricting apparatus comprises a bungee device further comprising a plurality of rolling beads in contact with the tower surface.
12. The system of claim 8 wherein the constricting apparatus comprises at least one spring loaded scissor apparatus.
13. The system of claim 8 further comprising at least one brush apparatus affixed to the semicircular shaped tubular member, the at least one brush apparatus configured to contact the tower surface.
14. A method for washing an outer surface of a tapered tower, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a semicircular member, the semicircular member comprising at least one spray nozzle and at least one rolling member in contact with the outer surface;
introducing a washing fluid to the at least one spray nozzle;
compressing the semicircular member to the outer surface with an elastic tension device; and
raising or lowering the semicircular member onto the outer surface of the tapered tower.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of introducing the washing fluid comprises delivering the washing fluid to a fitting disposed in the semicircular member, wherein the semicircular member is a tubular structure.
16. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of counterbalancing the semicircular member with weights.
17. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of brushing the tower surface with at least one brush affixed to the semicircular member.
18. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of raising or lowering comprises affixing the semicircular member to a winch.
19. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of introducing the washing fluid comprises providing a high pressure fluid.
20. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of introducing the washing fluid comprises providing a heated washing fluid.
21. The method of claim 14 wherein the elastic tension device comprises at least one member from the group consisting of a bungee cord with rolling beads and a spring loaded scissor apparatus.