Abstract: A form is disclosed for cooking items, such as pancakes, in a specified shape. The form may include a sidewall defining the specified shape. One or more handles may be attached to the sidewall to facilitate handling of the form. The handles may be configured to be folded and to reduce the amount of heat conducted through them. The form may be constructed by cutting an aluminum alloy material into strips. Holes may be formed in the ends of the strips and the strips may be heated for a specified time to soften them for being formed in the desired shape. The ends of the strips may be joined together using fasteners through the holes. Forms constructed in this manner may reduce the sticking of material to the forms, and the forms may be durable to last for repeated use over a long period of time.

Abstract: A form is disclosed for cooking items, such as pancakes, in a specified shape. The form may include a sidewall defining the specified shape. One or more handles may be attached to the sidewall to facilitate handling of the form. The handles may be configured to be folded and to reduce the amount of heat conducted through them. The form may be constructed by cutting an aluminum alloy material into strips. Holes may be formed in the ends of the strips and the strips may be heated for a specified time to soften them for being formed in the desired shape. The ends of the strips may be joined together using fasteners through the holes. Forms constructed in this manner may reduce the sticking of material to the forms, and the forms may be durable to last for repeated use over a long period of time.

Abstract: This invention relates to diagnostic methods based upon a particular genotype in the Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF?) gene, more specifically, an adenine and guanine (“GA”) at the ?308 site (or AA) rather than the GG at this locus. More specifically, this invention relates to a method for diagnosis of increased risk of death in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and diagnosing pre-disposition or susceptibility to increased risk of death in patients who develop CAP, by screening for the presence of this polymorphism. The invention also relates to compositions for screening for the polymorphism and improved treatment choices for patients having the polymorphism of the present invention. The invention also relates to screening assays and therapeutic and prophylactic methods.

Abstract: A system and method for the soft shift of a transmission connecting a power source to a well stimulation pump through a transmission. When it is desired to change gear ratios in the transmission, the transmission is caused to enter a torque converter mode from a lockup mode. The engine speed is adjusted according to a signal representative of the speed of the transmission output shaft. Once the gear ratio has been changed, the transmission is caused to enter a lockup mode from the torque converter mode.

Abstract: Protein arrays that allow the analysis of differentially expressed proteins in parallel are disclosed. Methods for making such arrays, and their use for screening and/or evaluating the effect of chemical entities, including drug and therapeutic moieties, are described. The arrays can also be used to screen for compounds, peptides, or proteins, which modulate the interaction between a protein and the differentially expressed protein.

Abstract: A data server for use in networks in which media signals are transmitted as digital signals in packet form comprises at least one shelf having at least one card whose purposes are to provide a shelf controller function and a media processor function, together with a plurality of backplane buses. The data server accesses media signals in packet form. Distributed software is distributed in the cards on the shelf, and consists of a modular software architecture having a transport layer, a media processing layer, a session control layer, and a management plane which spans across the other layers. A plurality of digital signal processors has a plurality of dynamically changeable discrete software objects so as to process packets of media data. The management plane provisions and monitors the operations of said data server, and gives alarms in keeping with predetermined criteria. There is at least one connection interface to a packet network from which media signals in media form are received.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new composition, use and method for oral administration to a human or an animal of a physiologically active agent comprising neutralizing agents to increase pH in the digestive system to prevent denaturation, inhibitors of digestive enzymes to substantially prevent enzymatic digestion, and at least uptake-increasing agents which increases intestinal absorption of a physiologically active agent, a drug and/or a nutrient.

Abstract: A hardened process controller is encapsulated within a block of translucent material. Changes in the way the process controller transforms electrical input signals are effected by sending an optical signal through a portion of the translucent block to an optical receiver also encapsulated within the block of translucent material. Included within the block of translucent material is a digital display and electrical componentry selected for low heat output.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for diagnosing diseases associated with a genetic polymorphism in an IL6 gene via determination of the genotype of an IL6 gene at the -174 site are provided. The methods of this invention can be used to diagnose diseases such as pneumonia and septic shock or to diagnosis a predisposition or susceptibility to pneumonia and pneumonia-related sepsis. Also related are methods for the treatment of pneumonia or predisposition or susceptibility to pneumonia or pneumonia-related sepsis. Compositions are also provided for identifying the genetic polymorphism.

Abstract: A method of identifying patients having a predisposition to Type 2 Hypercarbic Respiratory Failure and/or an increased requirement for mechanical ventilation when they have community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) through detection of IL 10 gene polymorphisms at the −1082 site. The method can be used to diagnose predisposition or susceptibility to Type 2 Hypercarbic Respiratory Failure and/or an increased requirement for mechanical ventilation in patients with CAP. Compositions for said diagnosis are provided. Methods of treatment of CAP in such patient are provided, comprising identifying an individual having a predisposition or susceptibility to Type 2 Hypercarbic Respiratory Failure and/or an increased requirement for mechanical ventilation and subsequently treating that individual for such condition.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing a disease associated with a genetic polymorphism in a FcgRII gene comprises determining the genotype of said FcgRII gene in an animal. The method can be used to identify predisposition or susceptibility to bacteremia in patients when they have CAP. Compositions for said diagnosis are provided. Methods of treatment of such patients are provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for the soft shift of a transmission connecting a power source and a driven device. When it is desired to change gear ratios in the transmission, the transmission is caused to enter a torque converter mode from a lockup mode. The engine speed is adjusted according to a signal representative of the speed of the transmission output shaft. Once the gear ratio has been changed, the transmission is caused to enter a lockup mode from the torque converter mode.

Abstract: This invention relates to diagnostic methods based upon a particular genotype in the Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF&agr;) gene, more specifically, an adenine and guanine (“GA”) at the −308 site (or AA) rather than the GG at this locus. More specifically, this invention relates to a method for diagnosis of increased risk of death in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and diagnosing pre-disposition or susceptibility to increased risk of death in patients who develop CAP, by screening for the presence of this polymorphism. The invention also relates to compositions for screening for the polymorphism and improved treatment choices for patients having the polymorphism of the present invention.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing a disease associated with a genetic polymorphism in a TNF&bgr; gene comprises determining the genotype of said TNF&bgr; gene in an animal. The method can be used to diagnose CAP or diagnose predisposition or susceptibility to CAP. Compositions for said diagnosis are provided. Methods of treatment of CAP or predisposition or susceptibility to CAP are provided, comprising identifying an individual having CAP a predisposition or susceptibility to the disease and subsequently treating that individual in accordance with treatments for such conditions as are known to those of skill in the art. Also provided are methods of identifying and diagnosing a predisposition for septic shock, along with methods of treatment.

Abstract: This invention relates to diagnostic methods based upon a particular genotype in the Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF&agr;) gene, more specifically, GA or AA at the −238 site rather than the GG at this locus. More specifically, this invention relates to a method for diagnosis of increased risk of death in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and diagnosing pre-disposition or susceptibility to increased risk of death in patients who develop CAP, by screening for the presence of this polymorphism. The invention also relates to compositions for screening for the polymorphism and improved treatment choices for patients having the polymorphism of the present invention. The invention also relates to screening assays and therapeutic and prophylactic methods.

Abstract: A method for styling hair using a hair styling device which comprises a flat disk made of a flexible plastic material. The flat disk has a central core with an aperture of a size sufficient to permit a tress of hair to be pulled through it, and a plurality of arms radiating from the core. The tress of hair pulled through the aperture is then wound through the plurality of arms in a desired configuration.

Abstract: A lighting structure for intensely illuminating a narrow linear region. A light source emits light into an end of a hollow, elongate light guide. A longitudinal slit light-emitting aperture extends through an external wall of the light guide. A lens is mounted in the aperture. The lens bears a plurality of prisms which extend substantially perpendicular to the slit, on an inwardly directed face of the lens. The lens may be formed of a film material. A mechanism is provided to maintain the lens flat. A diffuser mounted outwardly of the lens bears a plurality of thin striations extending transversely, relative to the longitudinal slit aperture.