Abstract: In a tiltable arc furnace in which a furnace vessel (2) and a portal (4) for an electrode lifting and pivoting apparatus are arranged on a platform (1 and 3) of a furnace cradle which is tiltable by a tilting apparatus and which includes two mutually spaced cradle runner skids (16) which each run on a respective support path (17), wherein the furnace vessel (2) is arranged on a first platform region which is between the cradle runner skids (16) and the portal (4) is arranged on a second platform region which is outside the cradle runner skids (16) the two platform regions are in the form of separate platform portions (1, 3) which are connected together by a hinge pivot (13), the portal platform portion (3) carrying the portal (4) is supported by way of a further cradle runner skid (20) on a further rolling path (21) and is tiltable by the tilting apparatus synchronously with the vessel platform portion (1) carrying the furnace vessel (2).

Abstract: A method for determining the pulsatile flow characteristics in fluid flow driven by a periodic pressure disturbance includes the step of evaluating the spectrum of a signal representative of the vortices generated by a vortex flowmeter. Because of the periodic pressure disturbance, the signal is an FM signal in which a carrier, having a frequency corresponding to the vortex-shedding frequency in the absence of pulsating flow, is modulated by the periodic pressure disturbance. The pulsation frequency and amplitude are then estimated on the basis of the separation between adjacent sidebands of the spectrum of the FM signal and the relative amplitudes of the sidebands.

Abstract: The invention provides novel polypeptides which are associated with the transcription complex NF-AT, polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides, antibodies which are reactive with such polypeptides, polynucleotide hybridization probes and PCR amplification probes for detecting polynucleotides which encode such polypeptides, transgenes which encode such polypeptides, homologous targeting constructs that encode such polypeptides and/or homologously integrate in or near endogenous genes encoding such polypeptides, nonhuman transgenic animals which comprise functionally disrupted endogenous genes that normally encode such polypeptides, and transgenic nonhuman animals which comprise transgenes encoding such polypeptides.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for engineering and selecting an active protease able to cleave a user-defined target amino acid sequence. The method is useful for designing proteases for medical therapeutics and industrial applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microwave pulse generator for generating microwave pulses with a pulse duration in the nanosecond range. The microwave pulse generator includes a pulse generator for generating control pulses of a constant pulse duration and a microwave oscillator generating microwave oscillations. The microwave oscillator includes a transistor amplifier, to which a frequency-determining resonant circuit and an ohmic device for reducing the resonant Q-value are connected in such a way that a control pulse of the pulse generator applied to an input terminal of the transistor amplifier causes the microwave oscillator to produce a microwave oscillation that can be tapped at an output terminal of the microwave oscillator, wherein the microwave oscillation follows at least approximately the temporal course of the control pulse.

Abstract: Compositions and methods using same for the treatment of diabetes its sequelae and pre-diabetic conditions are provided. Invention compositions include the anti-diabetic agent metformin, and bioavailable sources of one or more of chromium, vanadium and magnesium. Also provided are pharmaceutical agents containing invention compositions and methods for administering such agents.

Abstract: Biodegradable polymers are described comprising the recurring monomeric units shown in formula I or II: wherein X is —O— or —NR′—, where R′ is H or alkyl; L is a branched or straight chain aliphatic group having from 1-20 carbon atoms; M1 and M2 are each independently (1) a branched or straight chain aliphatic group having from 1-20 carbon atoms; or (2) a branched or straight chain, oxy-, carboxy- or amino-aliphatic group having from 1-20 carbon atoms; Y is —O—, —S— or —NR′—, where R′ is H or alkyl; R is H, alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, heterocyclic or heterocycloxy; the molar ratio of x:y is about 1; the molar ratio n:(x or y) is between about 200:1 and 1:200; and the molar ratio q:r is between about 1:99 and 99:1; wherein said biodegradable polymer is biocompatible before and upon biodegradat.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and pharmaceutical preparations that inhibit the growth of bacterial microorganisms, via a non-lytic mechanism. Additionally, the present invention provides methods and pharmaceutical preparations that kill bacterial microorganisms, via a non-lytic mechanism.

Abstract: A test device is described for testing an electromagnetic quantity, such as a voltage or a magnetic field. The test device includes a housing, a sensor arranged in the housing and sensing the electromagnetic quantity, a processing circuit for processing to signals received from the sensor, display elements for displaying the signals processed by the processing unit, a galvanic element for supplying power to the test device, an illuminator for illuminating an area to be tested, and a switch for activating the illuminator. The test device has a small footprint and does not require an external light source even under difficult lighting conditions.

Abstract: The present invention provides bicyclic metabotropic glutamate receptor ligands, as well as compositions comprising such ligands, and and methods for their use.

Abstract: A projection screen, having a projection surface formed of at least two segments, of which at least two segments are sound radiating segments capable of radiating sound waves from the projection surface and designed to reproduce different frequency ranges.

Abstract: A flash unit comprising a flash light source (2) and a projector lens (8) positioned to project light from the flash source onto a subject. In a preferred embodiment there are two flash light sources for projecting patterned and unpatterned light respectively on to the subject, and a circuit is provided to trigger the two flash sources with a predetermined time interval therebetween.

Abstract: A method for processing a search query uses the results of a search performed on a high quality, controlled database to assess the relevance of documents retrieved from a search of an uncontrolled public database having documents of highly variable quality. The method includes the steps of parsing the search query and then searching the authoritative database to generate authoritative database results. The search query is also used to search the public database, thereby generating public database results. The quality or relevance of the public database results are then quantified on the basis of the authoritative database results, thereby generating a quality index. The results from both the authoritative and the public databases are then ranked on the basis of this quality index.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to novel inhibitors of DNA glycosylases. The invention is based at least in part on the observation that specific substituted pyrrolidines, and analogs thereof, are capable of specifically inhibiting DNA glycosylases, e.g., as transition state analogs, and consequently are useful for modulation of DNA repair. Such compounds can, for example, be used for treating subjects having a disorder associated with excessive cell proliferation, such as in the treatment of various cancers. Furthermore, these glycosylase inhibitors can be used as anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal agents.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for stereoselective cycloaddition reactions which generally comprises a cycloaddition reaction between a pair of substrates, each either chiral or prochiral, that contain reactive &pgr;-systems, in the presence of a non-racemic chiral catalyst, to produce a stereoisomerically enriched product. The present invention also relates to novel asymmetric catalyst complexes comprising a metal and an asymmetric tridentate ligand.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an apparatus and a method for reducing noise, in particular RIN noise, in optical sensors, in particular fiber-optic sensors. The optical sensor produces a sensor output signal representing a physical quantity to be measured and also contains a first noise component, which is detected by a first detector. A separate detector detects an input light noise component of the input light source of the optical sensor and produces a second noise component. The second noise component is electronically processed and time-delayed or phase shifted by a time delay which substantially correspond to the time delay experienced by the sensor input light traversing the optical sensor. The time-delayed processed signal is then subtracted from the sensor output signal to produce a reduced noise optical sensor signal corresponding to the measured physical quantity.

Abstract: A self-protecting heating system comprises an electrically conductive medium, an alternating current source and at least two electrodes. The alternating current source is in contact with at least one electrode at each pole, and the electrodes are in electrical contact with the electrically conductive medium. The electrodes are made of passive metals or passive alloys. The electrically conductive medium may be an aqueous solution or water. The system is preferably provided with a thermostat that disconnects the electrical power from the electrodes once a desired temperature has been reached.

Abstract: A spoolable composite member having a sensor and an energy conductor embedded in the composite member. The spoolable composite member is capable of being spooled onto a reel for storage and for use in oil field applications. The spoolable tube exhibits unique anistropic characteristics that provide improved burst and collapse pressures, increased tensile strength, compression strength, and load carrying capacity, while still remaining sufficiently bendable to be spooled onto a reel in an open bore configuration. The spoolable composite tube can include an inner protective layer, an inner pressure barrier layer, an interface layer, fiber composite layers, an outer pressure barrier layer, and an outer protective layer.