Abstract: The present invention relates to materials and methods for the identification of agents that regulate glycine transport in or out of cells, particularly in or out of neuronal and neuronal-associated cells. Such materials include non-mammalian cells having transfected therein a glycine transporter. The methods relate to the manipulation of such cells such that agents are identified that cause intake or outflow of glycine with respect to a given glycine transporter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tongue thrust habit oral corrective device designed to be retained by the posterior teeth and to train the tongue to avoid thrusting against the front teeth during swallowing, the device comprising: a teeth-fitting segment adapted to fit under at least the upper first posterior teeth; a palatal bridge extending from the teeth-fitting segment and adapted to avoid contacting the palate; and a downward projection adapted to create, with the teeth-fitting segment and the upper projection, a rearwardly opening pouch or channel in which the user's tongue is engulfed at a central location within the mouth so that the tip of the tongue is positioned properly and accurately for initiating a normal swallow.

Abstract: The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the major cause of non-A, non-B vital hepatitis. The most striking feature of HCV induced liver disease is its tendency toward chronicity and slowly progressive liver cell injury. HLA Class I-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses are considered to be a sine qua non for the effective clearance of vital infections. However, the characteristics of HCV-specific cytotoxic effector cells and identification of their cognate target antigens remains to be elucidated. This invention discloses novel HCV-derived peptides that are recognized by patient CTL. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were obtained from HLA-A2 positive patients with chronic HCV infection and stimulated with HCV-derived peptides. Effector cells were tested for their ability to lyse HLA-A2-matched target cells sensitized either with a peptide or a vaccinia virus construct containing HCV sequences. Immunogenic HCV CTL peptides were identified in the putative core protein and nonstructural proteins (e.

Abstract: The invention provides a binding device extraction tool suitable for use in tight quarters that is made up of: (a) a coupling device for attaching an inertial impact tool for creating a force along a force axis; (b) a substantially cylindrical hollow gripping tube having a central axis parallel or co-extensive with a third axis that is orthogonal to the force axis; (c) a first slot having sufficient diameter to allow the insertion of the head of the binding device; and (d) a gripping slot positioned along a radial arc of the gripping tube, the gripping slot connected to the first slot and having dimensions suitable to allow the shaft of the binding device to slide from the first slot to the second slot so that the binding device is engaged at a curved surface of the gripping tube, wherein the diameter of the second slot is selected to grasp the head of the binding device, and wherein the binding device can be grasped with an angular offset between the binding device and the force axis.

Abstract: Provided is a chair comprising: a support platform; a central support column attached to the support platform and orthogonal thereto; a reciprocating gear integral to the support column, the gear having coupled thereto a first axle extending upwards and a second axle extending downwards; an arm attached to the second axle; and a seat attached to the first axle, wherein when the first axle is rotated about its central axis in one direction the gear reciprocates that motion so that the second axle rotates about its central axis in the reverse direction. Generally, an appliance such as a mirror will be attached to the arm, thereby providing a chair that allows a user to sit first in the chair with the appliance positioned behind the user and then rotate the seat of the chair while the appliance counter-rotates until it is in a useful position towards the front of the user.

Abstract: Gamma lactones with 9 carbon atoms, saturated or unsaturated and mixtures thereof, in natural form, are obtained by:A) culturing a microorganism selected from the group comprising Pichia ohmeri and Pichia stipitis or both of these in a substrate comprising an unsaturated C.sub.18 hydroxy-acid with the hydroxyl in position C.sub.13 to obtain a mixture comprising gamma nonanolide;or, alternatively,B) subjecting to lipoxygenation a substrate comprising an acid selected from the group comprising linoleic acid and linolenic acid or mixtures thereof anddistilling the product of lipoxygenation in a current of steam to obtain a mixture comprising an unsaturated gamma lactone that is gamma-2-nonenolide, gamma-2,6-nonadienolide or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: NO synthetase inhibitors intended to reduce the consumption of alcohol or to prevent excessive alcohol consumption in patients exhibiting an alcohol behavioral dependency are disclosed Among the cerebral NO synthetase inhibitors, L-nitroarginine may be particularly mentioned.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing cis-3-hexen-1-ol from an unsaturated fatty acid, in which said synthesis is carried out from the latter by the combined action of a natural system of enzyme(s) allowing the oxidation of said fatty acid to cis-3-hexenal and of a yeast allowing the reduction of cis-3-hexenal to cis-3-hexenol in a culture medium. According to a first characteristic of the present invention, the enzymatic system consists of a plant mass obtained by grinding leaves harvested whole without predilacerating them. According to a second characteristic of the present invention, the enzymatic system is introduced in the form of a ground cellular product obtained by grinding followed by cell disintegration. Finally, advantageously, a reagent chosen from a ferrous cation, acetylsalicylic acid, chlorophyll B and the enzyme catalase, makes it possible to increase the yields of cis-3-hexenol.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to transgenic plant cells and plants. In particular, the present invention relates to 1) a method of selecting for a transgenic plant cell comprising transforming one or more plant cells with a tfdA gene; 2) a plant cell comprising a tfdA gene wherein said plant cell is free of other foreign marker genes; and 3) a sweetgum plant cell comprising a tfdA gene.

Abstract: A pressure controller of the type using pulse width modulated apply and release solenoid valves (80, 82) connected to an outlet port (74) of the controller overcomes the technical problem of poor control stability by using a digital control loop (98, 100, 76, 78) which utilizes stored bias characteristics representing the variation with pressure of the value (n.sub.o) of the pulse width modulation signal at which each valve initiates flow (n.sub.o). These values are determined in a characterisation step conducted with the controller off-line. The values may be modified during on-line operation of the controller by monitoring the stability of the controller or other signals representing the opening and closing of the valves.

Abstract: A food composition of the type containing a cookie or a chocolate shell and a filling based on a dairy product wherein the filling is fermented and contains live lactic acid bacteria, has a water activity (Aw) of between 0.75 and 0.81 and wherein the fat content of the filling is such that it makes it possible to obtain a water-in-oil type emulsion.

Abstract: A lancet device includes a body within which is slidably located a trigger and fixedly located a base. The base contains, in an armed position, the lance with its needle and a spring affixed to the lance. The trigger includes a mechanism to release the lance during use.In a preferred embodiment, the lancet device of the present invention is self-activated by the finger (or other body part) to be pierced. Depression of the trigger with the finger releases the lance and the spring so that the needle protrudes through an orifice in the end of the trigger and pierces the tissue. Because the spring is held in a pre-armed position, release of the spring is consistent, and reproducibility of incision is well controlled.

Abstract: A foldable toothbrush is formed from front (2) and rear (4) parts that are hingeably connected. The front part, containing the brush portion (6), has a cavity (8) for storing toothpaste. The cavity communicates with the brush portion through holes (16). The rear wall of the cavity is a slide member (22) that can slidably move forward to compress the cavity and force toothpaste through the communication holes. The rear part has a thruster 36 that is connected to a pusher (40) and is slidably confined to a track (28, 30, 44). When the foldable toothbrush is unfolded, the user can engage pusher (40) to move thruster (36) into the front part to engage the slide member (22) to push toothpaste through holes (26). The pusher (40) can then be disengaged from the front part and the toothbrush can be folded.