Abstract: Methods are provided that include, but are not limited to, methods of treating guar splits comprising: exposing guar splits to a treatment chemical to create treated guar splits, wherein the treatment chemical comprises at least one treatment chemical selected from the group consisting of: an aqueous salt solution; a caustic solution, and a derivatizing agent; and grinding the treated guar splits to create ground, treated guar splits.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus of reducing stress during stent manufacture. Particularly, the invention is directed to a method and apparatus for expanding a stent using primarily radial loads thereby reducing the stresses that are generated due to the axial loads applied during loading of the stent onto a mandrel or other expansion device. The method of the invention provides for the stepwise expansion of shape memory stents, while reducing the overall stresses that the stent encounters, and thereby improving manufacturing yields due to fractured struts during expansion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery of a novel molecular pathway involved in long-term hyperexcitability of sensory neurons, which, in higher animals, is associated with persistent pain. It is based on the discovery that, following injury to an axon of a neuron, an increase in nitric oxide synthase activity results in increased nitric oxide production, which, in turn, activates guanylyl cyclase, thereby increasing levels of cGMP. Increased cGMP results in activation of protein kinase G (“PKG”), which then is retrogradely transported along the axon to the neuron cell body, where it phosphorylates MAPKerk.

Abstract: Methods and systems for mutual authentication and personalizing a transaction device, such as a payment, transaction, or identity card. Successively generated one time codes are calculated by a first and second entity. One of the codes is transmitted to the second entity, which verifies the code is proper, then encrypts a second one time code using a third one time code and transmits the encrypted data to the first entity. The first entity decrypts the data using the third one time code, verifies the encrypted second one time code is proper, thereby mutually authenticating, and establishing a shared encryption key for subsequent communications, including transmission of personalization data.

Abstract: System and methods for effectively and efficiently cementing a casing annulus are disclosed. A packer system includes an outer case, a landing collar within the outer case and a slidable shifting sleeve coupled to the landing collar. The landing collar and the shifting sleeve are movable. A connecter coupled to the shifting sleeve and is movable in a movement slot with the shifting sleeve. A rubber element is coupled at one end to the connector and is on an outside surface of the outer case. The displacement of the connector in the movement slot compresses the rubber element.

Abstract: A catheter for delivering a stent includes an outer tube having a proximal end, a distal end and a wall defining a lumen; an inner tube disposed within the outer tube and defining a lumen for a guidewire, wherein a portion of a length of the inner tube is wrapped around with a spiral-shaped wire; a balloon sealingly connected to the inner tube and the outer tube adjacent the distal ends thereof, the balloon defining an interior volume and having an exterior surface; and a marker made from a wire of a highly radiopaque and ductile material, wherein the wire is wrapped in a plurality of at least partially overlapping layers such that the marker is flexible along the length of the catheter.

Abstract: Stent designs for use in peripheral vessels, such as the carotid arteries, are disclosed. The stents consist of a plurality of radially expandable cylindrical elements generally aligned on a common longitudinal stent axis and interconnected by one or more interconnecting members placed so that the stent is flexible in a longitudinal direction. The cylindrical elements are generally serpentine wave pattern transverse to the longitudinal axis between alternating valley portion and peak portions, the valley portion including alternating double-curved portions and U-shaped portions. The interconnecting members are attached to the double-curved portions to connect a cylindrical element to an adjacent cylindrical element and interconnecting members are attached to the U-shaped portions to connect the cylindrical element to the other adjacent cylindrical element. The designs include an eight crown and six crown stent which exhibit flexibility and sufficient radial strength to support the vessel.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides isolated monoclonal antibodies, particularly human monoclonal antibodies that specifically bind to BTLA with high affinity. Nucleic acid molecules encoding the antibodies of the disclosure, expression vectors, host cells and methods for expressing the antibodies of the disclosure are also provided. Immunoconjugates, bispecific molecules and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the antibodies of the disclosure are also provided. The disclosure also provides methods for detecting BTLA, as well as methods for treating various diseases, including cancer and infectious diseases, using anti-BTLA antibodies.

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising dexmedetomidine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof wherein the composition is formulated as a liquid for parenteral administration to a subject, and wherein the composition is disposed within a sealed container as a premixture. The pharmaceutical compositions can be used, for example, in perioperative care of a patient or for sedation.

Abstract: A method of cementing involves introducing a pipe string into a well bore such that an annulus is defined between the pipe string and a wall of the well bore, and introducing a cement composition into the annulus. The cement composition includes cement, water, and an auto-sealing component. An annular structure, coupled to the pipe string, comprises an expandable material.

Abstract: A method for space management of a workspace provided on a display includes defining a first data structure of full-space rectangles present on the workspace, wherein at least a portion of the full-space rectangles are permitted to overlap. A second data structure of largest empty-space rectangles available on the workspace is also defined to complete the representation of the workspace. The methods include performing an operation on at least one full-space rectangle on the workspace and redefining the first data structure and the second data structure in accordance with the workspace resulting from the operation performed. The operations can include adding a new full-space rectangle, moving an existing full-space rectangle and deleting an existing full full-space rectangle from the workspace. Generally, the workspace is a display device coupled to an electronic device such as a personal computer, personal digital assistant, electronic book viewer and the like.

Abstract: The invention provides transgene constructs for expressing chimeric antibodies, and transgenic non-human host animals carrying such constructs, wherein the chimeric antibodies comprise human variable regions and constant regions of the non-human transgenic host animal. The presence of immunoglobulin constant regions of the host animal allows for generation of improved antibodies in such transgenic host animals. Subsequently, the chimeric antibodies can be readily converted to fully human antibodies using recombinant DNA techniques. Thus, the invention provides compositions and methods for generating human antibodies in which chimeric antibodies raised in vivo in transgenic mice are used as intermediates and then converted to fully human antibodies in vitro.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to an intraluminal catheter device for use in angioplasty and delivery of a therapeutic agent. Particularly, the present invention is directed to a catheter having an expandable member having a therapeutic agent disposed thereon and a fibrous matrix covering for delivering a therapeutic agent and methods of using the same.

Abstract: Of the many methods and compositions provided herein, in one embodiment, the invention provides a method comprising: providing an oil-wet well bore surface; providing a surfactant wash treatment fluid that comprises an acid-compatible surfactant, an acid and/or an acid-generating component, and an aqueous fluid; contacting the oil-wet well bore surface with the surfactant wash treatment fluid; allowing the oil-wet well bore surface to become water-wet; and producing fluids from the formation. In another embodiment, the invention provides a surfactant wash treatment fluid for use in a subterranean formation comprising an aqueous fluid, an acid-compatible surfactant, an acid and/or an acid-generating component.

Abstract: Polymeric bag includes first and second opposing body panels attached to each other along a pair of opposing sides and a bottom bridging the sides, a reclosable fastener extending along a mouth formed opposite the bottom, a pressure relief opening defined in the first body panel, and a pressure relief valve attached to the first body panel. The valve includes a cover member to cover the opening. The cover member includes an upper layer and a lower layer, the lower layer including a first portion attached to the body panel and a second portion contiguous with the first portion but not attached to the body panel. The upper layer has a first end hingedly connected to the second portion of the lower layer on a first side of the pressure relief opening, and the upper layer has a second end fixedly attached on a second side of the pressure relief opening opposite the first side with the upper layer covering the pressure relief opening.

Abstract: A container comprises a clamshell-like shape. The container includes a hinge positioned low on a viewing face and opens high on the rear end. The interior of the container is shaped so as to present its contents at a desirable viewing angle, the container intended to provide an unobstructed view through the viewing face. The container may comprise a closing mechanism at the rear end to hold the container closed. The container can contain products for sale, including cookies, slices of pound cake, other baked goods, and other products.

Abstract: Techniques for generating utility-based descriptors from compressed multimedia information are disclosed. A preferred method includes the steps of receiving least a segment of compressed multimedia information, determining two or more portions of utility based descriptor information based on one or more adaptation operations, each corresponding to a unique target rate, adapting the compressed multimedia segment by each the portions of utility based descriptor information to generate adapted multimedia segments, using a quality management method to generate measurement for each adapted multimedia segment, and generating a utility based descriptors based on the portions of utility based descriptor information and corresponding quality measurements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to roofing materials for roofs, sidewalls and other exterior surfaces exposed to the weather such as, but not limited to, asphaltic and non-asphaltic roofing materials, wherein color coated metal flakes cover up to 100% of the weathering surface of the roofing materials. The metal flakes are coated with a colored coating material by fluidizing the flakes in an air stream, spraying pressurized air and colored coating material, and curing the coated metal flakes. The present invention also relates to methods of making roofing materials.

Abstract: A drug composition containing as a drug substance a polymeric guanidine derivative based on a diamine containing oxyalkylene chains between two amino groups, with the guanidine derivative representing a product of polycondensation between a guanidine acid addition salt and a diamine containing polyalkylene chains between two amino groups, as well as the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.