Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a co-cured resin transfer molding manufacturing method includes providing a tool having one or more tooling details and disposing one or more preforms proximate the one or more tooling details. The one or more preforms are either dry or binderized. The method further includes disposing a high permeability medium outwardly from the one or more tooling details, disposing a prepreg skin panel outwardly from the high permeability medium, disposing the one or more tooling details and the prepreg skin panel within the tool, injecting a resin into the one or more preforms, and curing the one or more preforms and the prepreg skin panel.

Abstract: An improved armored plating system having a series of elongate tubes arranged in parallel fashion to form a protective array. Each tube has a rectilinear cross section with slanted sidewalls so that each tube partially overlaps the following tube and is partially overlapped by the previous tube. As such, the protective array may be placed on a curved surface while having no gaps in protection. The protective array is formed as alternating tubes slide past one another from opposing directions. A series of laminated members and an embossed member are slideably inserted into each tube and layered upon one another.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for metering a liquid nutritional supplement provides a liquid dispenser having a body that contains a predetermined number of single dosages of the liquid nutritional supplement, a cap, such as a child-resistant cap, coupled to a neck portion of the body, and a dosage cup coupled to the cap. The dosage cup has at least four axial shoulders on an inside surface thereof that each has an engaging surface adapted to engage axial ridges of the cap. The dosage cup is coupled to the cap such that a force that is greater, by a predetermined amount, than the weight of the dosage cup is required to remove the dosage cup from the cap, and providing the dosage cup with an indicator adapted to indicate one of the single dosages of the liquid nutritional supplement to be consumed by a user for a predetermined time period.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for modulating conception in animals. More particularly, the composition modulates mRNA degradation during gametogenesis and early development. Yet further, the present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions and methods for modulating diseases of the reproductive organs, such as hyperproliferative diseases.

Abstract: Disclosed is a region on human chromosome 1 that provides a genetic basis for absorptive hypercalciuria. The genes, proteins, and other biological materials provided are envisioned for use in diagnostic and therapeutic methods related to absorptive hypercalciuria and osteoporosis with hypercalciuria.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of screening for agonists of an oxycholesterol activator of LXR? transcription, comprising the steps of: introducing a reporter construct and an LXR expression construct into a host cell; treating the host cell with potential LXR-specific ligands; and identifying compounds which activate LXR? transcription. Also provided is a method of screening for antagonists of an oxycholesterol activator of LXR? transcription, comprising the steps of: introducing a reporter construct and an LXR expression construct into a host cell; pretreating the host cell with activators of LXR? transcription; contacting the host cell with potential antagonists of LXR? transcription; and identifying compounds which block the activation the LXR? transcription.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for a digital tuning scheme for continuous-time sigma-delta modulation. The method includes integrating a voltage from a voltage source using a discrete-time integrator to produce a discrete-time integrator output, continuous-time integrating a current from a controllable current source to produce a continuous-time integrator output, quantizing the difference between the continuous-time integrator output and the discrete-time integrator output to produce a quantizer output, controlling a polarity of the controllable current source with the quantizer output, counting the quantizer output to produce a feedback signal, and tuning the controllable current source as a function of the feedback signal.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method which utilizes a fixed base current to control the output voltage instead of a variable base current. In one embodiment, instead of modulating the base current, the converter uses output current to determine the voltage produced at the output. By sinking current out of the DC-to-DC converter, a high output impedance is achieved which, in turn, allows a fairly low modulating current to offer a large change in output voltage. This circuit eliminates at least one of the feedback loops found in existing designs, further increasing stability. As a result of the circuit design, there is achieved a DC-to-DC converter which allows the user to easily define the frequency at which the circuit operates and which is tolerant of component variations.

Abstract: A method and system for, effecting production, approval and downloading of audio programs via the Internet. An order for an audio program is placed by a customer using a personal computer connected by the Internet to a server system. The server system receives the customer order and sends to the customer options for preparing a script and selecting music types that are to be dubbed into the audio program. A draft audio program is prepared by a service provider and downloaded to the server system. The customer accesses the server system and previews the draft audio program. If the customer wants the draft audio program changed, the customer inputs the changes to the server system. A redrafted audio program is prepared and loaded on the server system. This process is repeated until the customer approves an audio program for downloading to a memory device for later reproduction.

Abstract: A novel shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator which responds to changes in ambient temperature. The actuator is capable of operating bidirectionally over a smaller temperature range than conventional SMA actuators by taking advantage of the R-phase characteristics of the SMA material. A coiled SMA spring 14 is provided with an enabled R-phase by limiting recoverable strain in the SMA material to less than about 1 percent. The force of the SMA spring 14 is counteracted by a non-SMA spring 15. The stronger of the two springs 14, 15 controls the position of an actuating element 13, with SMA spring 14 being the stronger spring while in its austenitic phase and being the weaker spring while in its R-phase. Triggering the actuator with entry into the R-phase rather than the martensitic phase during cooling reduces the hysteresis normally associated with an SMA actuator, allowing the actuator to react bidirectionally to smaller changes in ambient temperature.

Abstract: Disclosed is the surprising discovery that a single amino acid provides the demarcation between the immunosuppressive and immunostimulatory properties of the cytokine, IL-10. The present invention thus provides mammalian and human IL-10 genes and polypeptides that have immunosuppressive properties, without immunostimulatory side-effects. Also provided are various methods of using the new IL-10 constructs, both in vitro and in vivo, particularly in sole or combination therapies involving immunosuppression, such as in the treatment of inflammatory diseases and disorders, and in transplantation.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for testing a light emission condition of an exposing head of a type including a plurality of luminous elements arranged along a main scanning direction for forming a linear dot pattern on a print paper. The exposing head is movable relative to the print paper in a sub scanning direction. The emission amounts of the respective luminous elements are compared to each other, based on the densities of respective dots obtained by exposure on the print paper. For allowing more accurate grasping of the light emission of each luminous element, testing target dots are formed by driving luminous elements selected as target elements which are not adjacent each other in the main scanning direction. Further, background dots are formed in the peripheries of the target dots so that the peripheries are completely filled with the background dots having a density higher than that of the target dots.

Abstract: Water-soluble or water-swellable copolymers containing sulfonic groups and based on (meth)acrylamide alkyl sulfonic acids and (meth)acrylamide or N-vinyl compounds are described, as well as their use as additives in aqueous building material mixes or for water-based painting and coating systems. The copolymers of the invention, even when used in relatively small quantities, serve as very effective and highly compatible water retention agents in such building material mixes and surface-coating systems.

Abstract: A acceleration actuated microswitch that accurately detects accelerations in various directions is provided. A mass is supported by first beams in a space defined in a silicon substrate. The mass can be reciprocated in a direction perpendicular to the silicon substrate. A pair of second beams extend from the mass. Each second beam includes an electrode layer. A cover is secured to the silicon substrate. A pair of steps are formed in the inner surface of the cover. A pair of fixed contacts is located on each step. Each pair of contacts faces a corresponding electrode layer. When an acceleration having a certain magnitude is applied to the switch, the first beams are vibrated and the electrode layers contact the steps, which closes the switch.

Abstract: Tumor rejection antigens presented by HLA-B44 molecules are described. These peptides are useful in diagnostic and therapeutic methodologies. The tumor rejection antigens are not derived from tyrosinase, which has previously been identified as a tumor rejection antigen precursor processed to an antigen presented by HLA-B44.