Author: claimsbot

I claim:

1. A peptide composition consisting essentially of an arginyl-glutamine dipeptide formulated as a nutrient formulation, wherein the arginine residue is the amino terminus of said dipeptide and the glutamine residue is the carboxy terminus of said dipeptide and wherein the dipeptide is present in said composition at a concentration of about 0.1% to about 25% by weight of said formulation.
2. The peptide composition, according to claim 1, wherein said formulation is suitable for enteral administration.
3. The peptide composition, according to claim 1, wherein said formulation is suitable for parenteral administration.
4. The peptide composition, according to claim 1, wherein said nutrient formulation comprises an additive selected from the group consisting of vitamins, minerals, trace elements, fats, monosaccharides and oligosaccharides.
5. The peptide composition, according to claim 4, wherein said monosaccharide is glucose.
6. A method for promoting healthy muscle tissue in a human or animal, said method comprising administering to a human or animal in need of such treatment an effective amount of a dipeptide composition comprising an arginyl-glutamine dipeptide formulated as a nutrient formulation, wherein the arginine residue is the amino terminus of said dipeptide and the glutamine residue is the carboxy terminus of said dipeptide.
7. The method, according to claim 6, wherein said human or animal has undergone, is undergoing, or will undergo physical exertion or training.
8. The method, according to claim 6, wherein said human or animal is in need of maintenance of muscle mass.
9. The method, according to claim 8, wherein said human or animal is hospitalized.
10. The method, according to claim 9, wherein said hospitalized human or animal is a neonate.
11. The method, according to claim 8, wherein said human or animal is subjected to an environment of decreased gravity relative to gravity on earth.
12. A method for promoting an increased mucosal IgA immune response in a human or animal, said method comprising administering to a human or animal an effective amount of a dipeptide composition consisting essentially of an arginyl-glutamine dipeptide formulated as a nutrient formulation, wherein the arginine residue is the amino terminus of said dipeptide and the glutamine residue is the carboxy terminus of said dipeptide.

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. A fluid control system, comprising:
a choke assembly comprising:
a housing having an inlet passage, an axial bore, and a chamber, wherein a portion of the axial bore forms an outlet passage; and
a choke member adapted for movement in the housing to control a flow of a fluid from the inlet passage to the outlet passage;
wherein the fluid applies a force on a first end of the choke member;

a pressure generating device fluidly connected to the chamber and containing a control fluid, wherein the control fluid applies a first force on a second end of the choke member; and
a linear motor configured to apply a second force on the second end of the choke member;
a control system to control the second force applied to the second end of the choke member to, in conjunction with the first force applied to the second end, vary a choke member position intermediate an open position and a closed position, thereby controlling a pressure of the fluid in the inlet passage.
2. The fluid control system of claim 1, further comprising:
a source for supplying the fluid flowing from the inlet passage to the outlet passage;
wherein the pressure generating device fluidly connected to the chamber comprises a pressure diaphragm comprising:
a first fluid zone comprising an inlet fluidly connected to the source for supplying the fluid flowing from the inlet passage to the outlet passage, and an outlet fluidly connected to the inlet passage;
a second fluid zone fluidly connected to the chamber; and
a flexible diaphragm separating the first fluid zone and the second fluid zone;

wherein the flexible diaphragm translates a pressure of the fluid in the first fluid zone to the control fluid in the second fluid zone.
3. The fluid control system of claim 1, wherein the source of control fluid comprises a hydraulic cylinder fluidly connected to the chamber.
4. The fluid control system of claim 1, wherein the linear motor is a tubular linear motor.
5. The fluid control system of claim 1, wherein the linear motor is a flat linear motor.
6. The fluid control system of claim 1, wherein the linear motor is directly coupled to the choke member.
7. The fluid control system of claim 1, wherein the position of the choke member is repeatable.
8. The fluid control system of claim 1, wherein the linear motor comprises a stationary component and a movable component, and wherein the movable component has a velocity between 100 insec and 500 insec.
9. The fluid control system of claim 1, wherein the linear motor is configure to both supplement the force applied by the control fluid and counter a portion of the force applied by the control fluid.
10. A fluid control system, comprising:
a choke assembly comprising:
a housing having an inlet passage, an axial bore, and a chamber, wherein a portion of the axial bore forms an outlet passage; and
a choke member adapted for movement in the housing to control the flow of a fluid from the inlet passage to the outlet passage;
wherein the fluid applies a force on a first end of the choke member;

a pressure generating device fluidly connected to the chamber and containing a control fluid, wherein the control fluid applies a first force on a second end of the choke member; and
a linear motor configured to apply a second force on the second end of the choke member;
a source for supplying the fluid flowing from the inlet passage to the outlet passage;
wherein a difference between the forces applied to the first and second ends of the choke member affects the movement of the choke member in the housing,
wherein the pressure generating device fluidly connected to the chamber comprises a pressure diaphragm comprising:
a first fluid zone comprising an inlet fluidly connected to the source for supplying the fluid flowing from the inlet passage to the outlet passage, and an outlet fluidly connected to the inlet passage;
a second fluid zone fluidly connected to the chamber; and
a flexible diaphragm separating the first fluid zone and the second fluid zone;
wherein the flexible diaphragm translates a pressure of the fluid in the first fluid zone to the control fluid in the second fluid zone.
11. The fluid control system of claim 10, wherein the linear motor generates the second force by electromagnetism.
12. The fluid control system of claim 10, wherein the linear motor maintains pressure around a set point pressure by moving a shuttle of the choke member toward an open or a closed position.
13. A method of controlling one or more operating pressures within a subterranean borehole that includes a choke assembly comprising a housing and a chamber, a choke member, and a pressure generating device fluidly connected to the chamber and containing a control fluid, the method comprising:
applying a force on a first end of a choke member with a fluid;
applying a first force on a second end of the choke member with a control fluid;
while applying the first force, applying a second force on the second end of the choke member with a linear motor;
varying the second force applied to the second end of the choke member to manipulate a choke member position intermediate an open position and a closed position and thereby control a pressure of the fluid in the inlet passage.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the pressure generating device fluidly connected to the chamber comprises a hydraulic cylinder.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the pressure generating device fluidly connected to the chamber comprises a pressure diaphragm comprising:
a first fluid zone comprising an inlet fluidly connected to a source for supplying the fluid flowing from the inlet passage to the outlet passage, and an outlet fluidly connected to the inlet passage;
a second fluid zone fluidly connected to the chamber; and
a flexible diaphragm separating the first fluid zone and the second fluid zone;
wherein the flexible diaphragm translates a pressure of the fluid in the first fluid zone to the control fluid in the second fluid zone.
16. The method of claim 13, wherein the linear motor is a tubular linear motor.
17. The method of claim 13, wherein the linear motor is a flat linear motor.
18. The method of claim 13, wherein the applying a second force comprises supplementing the force applied by the control fluid.
19. The method of claim 13, wherein the applying a second force comprises countering a portion of the force applied by the control fluid.

1. A method for detecting the absence of metastatic cancer comprising the steps of:
i) contacting a subject sample comprising epithelial cells andor lysates of epithelial cells from a primary tumour with a prognostic indicator comprising an antibody or a fragment thereof directed against osteopontin; and
ii) detecting the formation of any complex between the subject sample and prognostic indicator.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the prognostic indicator for metastases comprises an antibody directed against an osteopontin gene product.
3. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the antibody is directed against a peptide derived from osteopontin.
4. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the peptide is derived from the amino acid terminus of osteopontin.
5. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the peptide comprises an amino acid sequence of at least 10 consecutive amino acids of SEQ ID No. 1.
6. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the peptide comprises an amino acid sequence of 14 to 20 consecutive amino acids of SEQ ID No. 1.
7. A method as claimed in any one of claims 5 or 6 wherein the peptide comprises an amino acid sequence which is at least 70% homologous to SEQ ID No. 2.
8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the peptide comprises an amino acid sequence which is at least 90% homologous to SEQ ID No. 2.
9. A method as claimed in any previous claim wherein the method of diagnosis is for metastatic breast cancer.
10. A vaccine against metastatic cancer comprising an antigenic peptide derived from osteopontin.
11. A vaccine as claimed in claim 10, wherein the vaccine is against metastatic breast cancer.
12. A vaccine as claimed in any one of claims 10 or 11 wherein the antigenic peptide is derived from the amino terminus of osteopontin.
13. A vaccine as claimed in any one of claims 11 or 12 wherein the antigenic peptide comprises an amino acid sequence of at least 10 consecutive amino acids of SEQ ID No. 1.
14. A vaccine as claimed in claim 13 wherein the antigenic peptide comprises an amino acid sequence of 14 to 20 consecutive amino acids of SEQ ID No. 1.
15. A vaccine as claimed in any one of claims 13 or 14 wherein the antigenic peptide comprises an amino acid sequence which is at least 80% homologous to SEQ ID No. 2.
16. A vaccine as claimed in claim 15 wherein the antigenic peptide comprises an amino acid sequence which is at least 90% homologous to SEQ ID No. 2.
17. A vaccine as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 16 wherein the antigenic peptide is coupled to a carrier protein.
18. A vaccine as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 17 comprising an adjuvant.
19. A vaccine as claimed in claim 18 wherein the adjuvant is alum or Freund’s Complete.
20. A method for treating metastatic cancer comprising the steps of:
i) diagnosing metastasis as claimed in any one of claims 1-8; and
ii) administering a compound that blocks the expression andor function of osteopontin.
21. A method as claimed in claim 20 wherein the compound is an antibody directed against osteopontin.
22. A method as claimed in claim 20 wherein the compound provides an antisense molecule that blocks translation of the osteopontin mRNAs.
23. A method as claimed in claim 20 wherein the compound provides a nucleic acid molecule that is complementary to the 5 region of the osteopontin gene and blocks transcription.
24. A method as claimed in claim 20 wherein the compound is a small molecule.
25. A method as claimed in claim 24 wherein the compound has a molecular weight which is 2 KDa or less.
26. A kit for diagnosing metastases as claimed in any one of claims 1-9 comprising a prognostic indicator and one or more of a visual indicator.
27. A method of diagnosis for metastatic cancer comprising the steps of:
i) contacting a subject sample comprising epithelial cells andor lysates of epithelial cells from a primary tumour with a prognostic indicator comprising an antibody or a fragment thereof directed against osteopontin; and
ii) detecting the formation of any complex between the subject sample and prognostic indicator.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1-8. (canceled)
9. A process for welding coated sheets, comprising:
producing on at least one side of at least a first sheet at least one topographical change projecting from the surface,
positioning the at least one first sheet and clamping it relative to at least one second sheet, such that at least one topographical change projecting from the surface defines a minimal spacing between the first and second sheets, the spacing being sufficient to allow vaporization products occurring during welding to escape,
checking in the area of the topographical change whether the at least two sheets are in contact with each other via the at least one topographical change projecting from the surface of at least one sheet.
10. The process according to claim 9, wherein the checking occurs within 10 cm from the topographical change.
11. The process according to claim 9, further comprising changing the clamping condition of the sheets when a defect area lacking contact is detected.
12. The process according to claim 9, wherein the checking involves measurement of ultrasound, capacitance, electrical resistance or eddy currents.
13. The process according to claim 9, wherein the checking occurs from one side of the sheets positioned against each other.
14. A device for welding coated sheets, the device including:
a welding device,
a positioning device,
a clamping device,
a device for checking the local contact of the sheets, and
a device for guiding the device for checking the local contact over the sheets.
15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the device for checking the local contact is at least one of a device for measuring ultrasound, capacitance, electrical resistance and eddy currents.
16. The device according to claim 14, wherein the device for guiding the device for checking the local contact over the sheet is a robot.