Abstract: This invention relates to iodonium salts, acetal copolymers and polymer binders comprising functional groups capable of undergoing cationic or radical polymerization, their method of preparation and their use in the preparation of coating solutions and coatings. This invention also relates to coatings containing the iodonium salts, acetal copolymers and/or polymer binders and to negative working lithographic printing plates comprising these coatings.

Abstract: A contact element and mechanism for use in a connector, the connector comprising a socket adapted for receiving a cable plug comprising a terminal contact. The contact element and mechanism comprise a flexible dielectric substrate and a first conductive strip on a first surface of the substrate. When the plug is inserted into the socket, the terminal contact comes into contact with the conductive strip. There is also provided a compensating connector for interconnection with a cable plug, the plug comprising a plurality of terminal contacts. The connector comprises a socket adapted for receiving the plug, a plurality of contact elements disposed in the socket, each of the contact elements comprising a conductive strip, and a compensation network comprised of a plurality of compensating elements. Each of the compensating elements is located adjacent to one of the contact elements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a highly controlled method of preparation of a microporous biodegradable polymeric article. Firstly, at least one biodegradable polymer A, one polymer B, biodegradable or not, partially or totally immiscible with A, and a compatibilizer C for A and B are selected. Secondly, the selected polymers are melt-blended, thereby preparing a polymer blend, wherein said polymers A and B have an essentially continuous morphology. Thirdly, after cooling, polymer B and compatibilizer C are selectively extracted from the polymer blend by dissolution in a solvent that is a non-solvent of polymer A. The resulting polymeric article has an essentially continuous porosity with a void volume between 10 and 90% and a unimodal diameter distribution set to a predefined unimodal peak location. It can be used in tissue engineering, for controlled release applications or as an implantable medical device.

Abstract: A soil amendment comprising compost and between about 5% and about 30% by weight of an agricultural liming material, wherein at least about 50% of said liming material has an average particle size of about 65 microns or less is described. Methods for using and manufacturing this soil amendment are also described.

Abstract: A method for classifying human subjects having adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) into AIS subgroups, comprising detecting an impairment in the melatonin-signaling pathway in a cell sample from the subject, wherein the impairment is detected by an accumulation of cyclic adenosine 5?-monophosphate (cAMP) in the cell sample as compared to a control sample in the presence of a known melatonin-signaling pathway agonist, wherein the results of the detection step enable the classification of the subject having AIS into an AIS subgroup.

Abstract: A display assembly for displaying items and being mountable to a vertical surface and comprising at least two longitudinal runners and an elongate member. The longitudinal runners are mountable to the vertical surface. Each runner includes elongate-member-mounting elements. The elongate-member-mounting elements of at least one of the runners include a protrusion-receiving element. The elongate member includes one end mountable to one of the runners and an opposite end mountable to the other of the runners. The one end has a moveable protrusion assembly for releasably engaging the protrusion-receiving element. The opposite end is so configured and sized as to be mountable to the elongate-member-mounting elements. The elongate member includes display-member-engaging elements. The moveable protrusion assembly is moveable between a runner-engaging position for engaging the protrusion-receiving element and a runner-disengaging position for disengaging the protrusion-receiving element.

Abstract: A lightning protection device having a grounded Franklin rod and a conductive device attached to the rod and defining a predetermined overall shape of a predetermined size therearound. The lightning protection device is particularly devised to limit the amount of corona discharges under the ambient ground fields associated with lightning storms while the upward leader inception requirements remain unchanged during the descent of a lightning leader. The lightning protection device has a corona inception voltage that is substantially insensitive to contamination from pollution, insects, vermin or water droplets.

Abstract: Methods, reagents and kits are described for the diagnosis of a female reproductive condition, based on the detection of an alteration in a NALP7-encoding nucleic acid or a NALP7 polypeptide, relative to a corresponding wild-type NALP7-encoding nucleic acid or NALP7 polypeptide.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and kits for prognosis of prostate cancer in a subject. The methods comprises: (a) determining the ratio of PCA3 and PSA expression in a urine sample and (b) correlating the value of the PCA3/PSA ratio with the aggressiveness and mortality risk of prostate cancer in the subject. Kits for prognosing prostate cancer are also described. More particularly, the present invention features a method for prognosing prostate cancer in a biological sample of a patient comprising: assessing the amount of a prostate cancer specific PCA3 mRNA and the amount of PSA in the biological sample; determining a ratio value of this amount of prostate cancer specific PCA3 mRNA over the amount of PSA; comparing the ratio value to at least one predetermined cut-off value, wherein a ratio value above the predetermined cut-off value is indicative of a higher risk of mortality of prostate cancer as compared to a ratio value below the predetermined cut-off value.

Abstract: The present invention relates to epilepsy. More particularly, the present invention relates to idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) and to the identification of three genes mapping to chromosome 2, which show mutations in patients with epilepsy. The invention further relates to nucleic acid sequences, and protein sequences of these loci (SCNA) and to the use thereof to assess, diagnose, prognose or treat epilepsy, to predict an epileptic individual's response to medication and to identify agents which modulate the function of the SCNA. The invention also provides screening assays using SCN1A, SCN2A and/or SCN3A which can identify compounds which have therapeutic benefit for epilepsy and related neurological disorders.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the radio frequency emissions of a proximity remote keyless system for permitting or denying remote access to premises of a vehicle. The source power is controlled to thereby control when the vehicle is authorized to start. The proximity remote can thus be left in the vehicle and controlled by another external source. The device of the invention is adapted to be inserted between a battery, which powers the proximity remote, and insulates the battery from an associated battery base contact. The device comprises a conductive contact on opposite sides of an insulating plate and at least one wire connected to each conductive contact. The wires can be connected to an external device, thus allowing external electrical or mechanical control of the proximity remote, with the proximity remote being only able to transmit to the vehicle if the battery is connected to the battery base contact.

Abstract: This invention concerns the discovery of two distinct PCA3 mRNA sequences. One of these sequences corresponds to a short PCA3 mRNA molecule whereas the other PCA3 RNA molecule is longer as it comprises an additional sequence between exon 3 and exon 4a. The short RNA is associated with prostate cancer whereas the long RNA sequence is associated with a non-malignant state of the prostate. Based on the differential expression levels of these two PCA3 RNA sequences, protocols for the diagnosis of prostate disease are provided. The invention also relates to therapeutic approaches to prostate cancer.

Abstract: A system and a method for acquiring information on a product, comprising an Internet unit and a communication device, interacting with the Internet unit; wherein the communication device comprises a bar code symbol reader, the bar code symbol reader reading digital code symbologies on the product, the communication device requests information to the Internet unit using the digital code symbologies, and the communication device makes available information returned in response by the Internet unit.

Abstract: This invention relates to iodonium salts, acetal copolymers and polymer binders comprising functional groups capable of undergoing cationic or radical polymerization, their method of preparation and their use in the preparation of coating solutions and coatings. This invention also relates to coatings containing the iodonium salts, acetal copolymers and/or polymer binders and to negative working lithographic printing plates comprising these coatings.

Abstract: A method comprising: providing a biological sample from a subject (subject sample); and detecting the expression level of each of the markers FGF-2 and CA125 in the subject sample. A kit comprising means for detection of an expression level of each of markers CA125 and FGF-2 in a biological sample from a subject (subject sample), and instructions to use said markers in a method of the present invention.

Abstract: A coupler connector and cross talk reducing network for coupling a first cable and a second cable in electrically conducting relation to each other, the first cable and the second cable respectively terminated by a first modular plug and a second modular plug each comprising respectively a first plurality of contact terminals and a second plurality of contact terminals.

Abstract: A method for terminating a telecommunications cable where the cable comprises a plurality of twisted pairs of wires is disclosed. The method comprises providing an interconnection module comprising a pair of contacts for each of the twisted pairs, aligning the end portions and interconnecting each of the aligned end portions with a corresponding pair of conductive contacts. Aligning comprises arranging the end portions such that when connected to the contact pairs, the twisted pairs remain uncrossed.

Abstract: A connector assembly for reversibly terminating an optical fiber comprises a housing having a cavity extending along a longitudinal axis. An elongate member having a groove extending along a surface thereof is provided within the cavity. An end portion of the fiber is aligned with a fiber stub within the groove such that the stub's splicing face is positioned opposite the fiber's splicing face. A splice anvil is positioned adjacent the member's surface with the anvil's clamping surface overlapping the abutting stub and fiber splicing faces. The clamping mechanism comprises an actuator slideably mounted about the member for movement between a released position and a clamping position in which the inner surface of the actuator displaces the anvil in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and towards the member's surface, the anvil's clamping surface thus bringing a clamping force to bear on the abutting fiber and fiber stub.