Abstract: A toy fencing sword that is adapted to also fire its blade tip as a missile and to squirt water. The sword includes an internal piston activated by pulling and pushing the sword's handle to either fire the sword's tip as a missile or to inhale water and squirt it in a powerful stream. The sword is comprised of soft and buoyant materials which make it safe and painless during play and also make it ideally adapted for use in and around water, such as at a swimming pool.

Abstract: Improved transition state analog inhibitors of ricin toxin-A are provided. Methods of using those inhibitors to inhibit ricin toxin-A and to prevent the toxic effects of ricin toxin-A in a mammal are also provided.

Abstract: An absorbent article is provided including a backsheet, a topsheet and an absorbent core disposed therebetween. The diaper includes large rectangular fasteners that stretch in only one direction. At least one longitudinally extending, elasticized inner leg gather is disposed with the topsheet. The inner leg gather includes at least one elastic member for distributing elastic contractile forces. The inner leg gather is joined to the topsheet along a front tackdown zone and a back tackdown zone. The elastic members and tackdown zones extend in a manner sufficient to provide enhanced fit, functionality and waste containment. The unidirectional stretch fasteners and leg gathers are sized in relationship to each other to enable a complete encircling of each leg to form a better leg gasket for waste containment and fit.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a connection device for use in an articulated apparatus comprising two or more tandemly arranged interconnected movable segments, for limiting rotation between two adjoining segments connected by a joint having a single axis of rotation, comprising: a spring assembly comprising one or more helical torsion springs, which assembly has a first end and a second end, configured for placement co-axially along the joint axis of rotation; a stop pin adapted for attachment to one adjoining segment, another stop pin adapted for attachment to the other adjoining segment, each pin moveable around the axis of rotation in fixed relation to the attached segment, wherein the first end of the spring assembly is configured for disengageable connection with the stop pin of one segment, and the second end is configured for disengageable connection with the stop pin of the other segment, such that the degree of rotation by the one segment about the joint axis relative to the other segment is limited

Abstract: A table game system comprises a plurality of playing cards and a card shooter apparatus. The cards include an ultraviolet-ray reaction code comprising at least two sets of code elements that are arranged along one side of a face of the card. The code represents at least the number of a card. The card shooter apparatus includes a card housing for containing the cards, a card guide unit that guides cards pulled out one by one from the card housing, one or more card detecting sensors that detect the existence or non-existence of a card pulled out along a card guiding direction of the card guide unit, and one or more black light sensors that read the ultraviolet-ray reaction code from the card guided by the card guide unit.

Abstract: A vertical drapery panel including a plurality of louvers and a plurality of transparent or translucent spacers. Each of the plurality of spacers is disposed between a respective pair of the plurality of louvers. At least one of the plurality of louvers includes a first vertically oriented louver portion connected to a second vertically oriented louver portion. Each of the first and second louver portions includes a first portion that is substantially opaque and a second portion that is substantially transparent or translucent.

Abstract: This invention provides fluorescently-labeled peptide substrates for protein kinases; methods using the substrates for identifying compounds that inhibit protein kinases, for determining if particular protein kinases are active in cells, for diagnosing diseases, and for preparing compositions; and compositions comprising the substrates.

Abstract: Non-naturally occurring mycobacteria in the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex are provided. These mycobacteria have a deletion of an RD1 region or a region controlling production of a vitamin, and exhibit attenuated virulence in a mammal when compared to the mycobacteria without the deletion. Also provided are non-naturally occurring mycobacteria that have a deletion of a region controlling production of lysine, and mycobacteria comprising two attenuating deletions. Vaccines comprising these mycobacteria are also provided, as are methods of protecting mammals from virulent mycobacteria using the vaccines. Also provided are methods of preparing these vaccines which include the step of deleting an RD1 region or a region controlling production of a vitamin or the amino acids leucine and lysine from a mycobacterium in the M. tuberculosis complex. Embodiments of these mycobacteria, vaccines and methods, encompassing mycobacteria comprising a leucine auxotrophy and a pantothenate auxotrophy, are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an absorbent core for an absorbent article, and more particularly to an absorbent core having zoned absorbency due to specific placement of adhesives or specific lack of adhesive. Such absorbent cores provide the flexibility of creating precise zoning of particular properties throughout the core, and they provide improved comfort and fit.

Abstract: A method for inserting a multi-lumen catheter into a patient is disclosed. The catheter includes an elongated, central, multi-lumen tube portion having a proximal end and a distal end. A distal branch portion includes a plurality of single-lumen distal extension tubes. The proximal first end of each distal extension tube is connected to the distal end of the central tube portion such that the single lumen of each distal extension tube is in fluid communication with one of the plurality of lumens of the central tube portion. A proximal branch portion includes a plurality of single-lumen proximal extension tubes. The distal first end of each proximal extension tube is connected to the proximal end of the central tube portion such that the single lumen of each distal extension tube is in fluid communication with one of the plurality of lumens of the central tube portion.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of identifying an acetyltransferase substrate in a sample that includes the steps of: (a) contacting the sample with (i) a reagent comprising a thiol-containing compound, a halo-acetyl-CoA or a halo-acetyl-pantetheine, and (ii) an acetyltransferase, under conditions suitable for acetyltransferase enzyme activity, and (b) identifying a substrate that has formed a base-stable covalent bond to the reagent, wherein the reagent is labeled with a label and/or the acetyltransferase is labeled with an affinity tag, and the substrate is the acetyltransferase substrate.

Abstract: A stem connecting the handlebars and steerable fork of a cycle has one tube attached to the handlebars and another tube attached to the steerable fork with the tubes capable of being rotated and locked with respect to one another. This arrangement allows for various configurations of the handlebars and fork including the typical riding configuration as well as an alternate configuration where the handlebars are ‘folded’ with respect to the fork. Change in configuration is accomplished without tools by way of a biased locking arrangement for the tubes.

Abstract: A novel compound, 2?/3?-O-acetyl-ADP-ribose, is provided. The compound is a mixture of the 2? and 3? regioisomers of O-acetyl-ADP ribose, and is formed nonenzymatically from 2?-O-acetyl-ADP-ribose, which is the newly discovered product of the reaction of Sir2 enzymes with acetylated peptides and NAD+. Analogs of 2?/3?-O-acetyl-ADP-ribose are also provided. Additionally, methods of preparing 2?/3?-O-acetyl-ADP-ribose, methods of determining whether a test compound is an inhibitor of a Sir2 enzyme, methods of detecting Sir2 activity in a composition, methods of deacetylating an acetylated peptide, and methods of inhibiting the deacetylation of an acetylated peptide are provided. Prodrugs of 2?/3?-O-acetyl-ADP-ribose are also provided.

Abstract: A weapon (104) including a stock, a barrel assembly (105) slidably mounted on said stock whereby, on discharging said weapon, the barrel assembly (105) slidably recoils relative to said stock, and a damper (107) for decelerating the recoiling barrel assembly, wherein said barrel assembly (105) includes a plurality of projectiles axially disposed within a barrel (108) wherein each of said projectiles is associated with a discrete propellant charge for propelling said projectile from the barrel. Suitably the weapon further includes a breech block (109) which slidably recoils relative to said stock and a further damper (106) for decelerating the recoiling breech block.