Abstract: A method for treatment or prophylaxis of a bipolar disorder disease state, by administration of an anti-fungal composition that includes at least one of the bacilli (1) Bacillus subtilis, (2) Bacillus coagulans, and (3) Enterococcus faecium.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hook (10), which may for example be used with a crane to lift heavy loads. In one embodiment, the hook may have a load-bearing portion (12) and an arm portion (14) where the arm portion can pivot relative to the load-bearing portion between open and closed configurations and may have a locking mechanism (20, 21, 29, 30, 32) that can lock the arm portion with respect to the load-bearing portion in the open configuration of the hook, in which configuration the arm portion and the load-bearing portion together define a discontinuous boundary. The hook may also be provided with a suspension portion (74), and the suspension portion, the load-bearing portion and the arm portion may be pivotally coupled with respect to each other.

Abstract: This invention relates to silicon precursor compositions for forming silicon-containing films by low temperature (e.g., <550° C.) chemical vapor deposition processes for fabrication of ULSI devices and device structures. Such silicon precursor compositions comprise at least a silane or disilane derivative that is substituted with at least one alkylhydrazine functional groups and is free of halogen substitutes.

Abstract: A multi-step method for depositing ruthenium thin films having high conductivity and superior adherence to the substrate is described. The method includes the deposition of a ruthenium nucleation layer followed by the deposition of a highly conductive ruthenium upper layer. Both layers are deposited using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) employing low deposition rates.

Abstract: A process system adapted for processing of or with a material therein. The process system includes: a sampling region for the material; an infrared photometric monitor constructed and arranged to transmit infrared radiation through the sampling region and to responsively generate an output signal correlative of the material in the sampling region, based on its interaction with the infrared radiation; and process control means arranged to receive the output of the infrared photometric monitor and to responsively control one or more process conditions in and/or affecting the process system.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the identification of a protease prodomain that is capable of binding a corresponding protease with high affinity. The protease prodomain of the present invention is fused to a second protein to form a protease prodomain fusion protein. The presence of a protease prodomain protein in a fusion protein allows for easy and selective purification of the second protein by incubation with the corresponding protease.

Abstract: This invention relates to silicon precursor compositions for forming silicon-containing films by low temperature (e.g., <300° C.) chemical vapor deposition processes for fabrication of ULSI devices and device structures. Such silicon precursor compositions comprise at least one disilane derivative compound that is fully substituted with alkylamino and/or dialkylamino functional groups.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for identifying inhibitors of RNA-target molecule interactions are provided as well as identifying inhibitors that block the role of tRNA in protein synthesis. The methods involve forming a mixture comprising a tRNA fragment molecule containing a modified nucleotide, a target molecule capable of binding to the tRNA fragment, and a test compound. The mixture is incubated under conditions that allow binding of the tRNA and the target molecule in the absence of the test compound. Assays can then be performed that detect whether or not the test compound inhibits the binding of the tRNA molecule and the target molecule. High throughput assays are also provided.

Abstract: An adsorbent having porosity expanded by contact with a first agent effecting such expansion and a pressurized second agent effecting transport of the first agent into the porosity, wherein the adsorbent subsequent to removal of the first and second agents retains expanded porosity. The adsorbent can be made by an associated method in which materials such as water, ethers, alcohols, organic solvent media, or inorganic solvent media can be utilized as the first agent for swelling of the porosity, and helium, argon, krypton, xenon, neon, or other inert gases can be employed as the pressurized second agent for transport of both agents into the porosity of the adsorbent, subsequent to which the agents can be removed to yield an adsorbent of increased capacity for sorbable fluids, e.g., organometallic compounds, hydrides, halides and acid gases.

Abstract: Barium, strontium, tantalum and lanthanum precursor compositions useful for atomic layer deposition (ALD) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of titanate thin films. The precursors have the formula M(Cp)2, wherein M is strontium, barium, tantalum or lanthanum, and Cp is cyclopentadienyl, of the formula wherein each of R1-R5 is the same as or different from one another, with each being independently selected from among hydrogen, C1-C12 alkyl, C1-C12 amino, C6-C10 aryl, C1-C12 alkoxy, C3-C6 alkylsilyl, C2-C12 alkenyl, R1R2R3NNR3, wherein R1, R2 and R3 may be the same as or different from one another and each is independently selected from hydrogen and C1-C6 alkyl, and pendant ligands including functional group(s) providing further coordination to the metal center M. The precursors of the above formula are useful to achieve uniform coating of high dielectric constant materials in the manufacture of flash memory and other microelectronic devices.

Abstract: A probiotic composition including the bacilli (1) Bacillus subtilis, (2) Bacillus coagulans, and (3) Enterococcus faecium. The composition may further include a carrier medium, such as fructo-oligo-saccharides (FOS), as incorporated in a dose form such as a pill, capsule, powder or sachet. The compositions of the disclosure may be usefully employed as health or nutritional supplements, food additives, or therapeutic agents for combating a wide variety of physiological disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome, autism, and fibromyalgia.

Abstract: A system and methodology for communication between a service provider and a service recipient relating to services is described, such that for a particular task or project, interaction and feedback between the respective service provider and service recipient is provided by the system in a manner that enables service recipient satisfaction to be accurately communicated to the service provider and documented by the service recipient. The system is modifiable and customizable to facilitate communication between a service provider and a service recipient in various industries.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new pharmaceutical composition, a method of treatment of infection and also a process to prepare the composition. The infectious complications are important causes of morbidity and mortality. Hospital acquired pneumonia (HAP) remains the most severe nosocomial infection in intensive care units. Beta-lactams alone are always considered inadequate when P. aeruginosa and/or methicillin-resistant S. aureus are implicated as pathogens or copathognes. The present invention provides the desired empirical therapy for control of all bacterial infections. The invention provides antibiotic combination products for delivering at least two different antibiotics, through parenteral dosage form comprising protein-synthesis-inhibiting antibiotic which is amikacin or its sulphate salt and non-protein-synthesis-inhibiting antibiotic which is cefepime or its hydrochloride salt. The invention provides a total solution, against multiresistant P. aeruginosa, or Acinetobacter spp.

Abstract: A cartridge (120) secured to either a nozzle (110) and/or adaptor unit wherein the nozzle or adaptor unit comprises a substantially annular portion (135) adapted to fit snugly around an end of the cartridge (120) wherein the substantially annular portion (135) acts as a seal against any leakage from the cartridge (120).

Abstract: A channeled metal clad fiber comprises one or more surface channels that extend along directions substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of such fiber. Metal clad fibers may include multiple protective layers, and one or more protective layers may contain multiple conductors therein. A microfibrous fuel cell structure includes a hollow microfibrous membrane separator having an electrolyte medium therein and defining a bore side and a shell side. An inner current collector formed of a channeled metal clad or unclad metal fiber, and an inner electrocatalyst layer are positioned at the bore side of such fuel cell, and an outer current collector and an outer electrocatalyst layer are positioned at the shell side thereof. Surface channels on the inner current collector provide inner fluid passages for passing a fuel-containing or an oxidant-containing fluid through the microfibrous fuel cell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a collapsible artificial ski slope assembly (10) and, in particular, but not exclusively, to a collapsible artificial ski slope assembly which can be moved between deployed and storage positions.

Abstract: A mounting structure for installation at a corporeal port opening. The mounting structure includes a reentrant tube on an exterior surface of which is disposed at least one balloon, with a proximal everted portion of the tubing extending from the distal portion of the tubing, with a gas flow passage associated with the tubing, for selective inflation of the balloon. A vacuum thermoforming process for making such mounting structure is described. The mounting structure is useful employed for anchoring of a therapeutic device such as an ostomy bag at a corresponding port of the body, with the balloon(s) of the device providing effective anchoring of the mounting structure and permitting the mounting structure to be comfortably worn by a patient during therapeutic intervention.

Abstract: Precursors useful for vapor phase deposition processes, e.g., CVD/ALD, to form metal-containing films on substrates. The precursors include, in one class, a central metal atom M to which is coordinated at least one ligand of formula (I): wherein: R1, R2 and R3 are each independently H or ogano moieties; and G1 is an electron donor arm substituent that increases the coordination of the ligand to the central metal atom M; wherein when G1 is aminoalkyl, the substituents on the amino nitrogen are not alkyl, fluoroalkyl, cycloaliphatic, or aryl, and are not connected to form a ring structure containing carbon, oxygen or nitrogen atoms. Also disclosed are ketoester, malonate and other precursors adapted for forming metal-containing films on substrates, suitable for use in the manufacture of microelectronic device products such as semiconductor devices and flat panel displays.

Abstract: A background image is generated based on a captured image. A data cluster is formed in pixel blocks of the background image using at least one feature of pixels in the pixel blocks. A data cluster formed in each pixel block includes a data distribution having a mean value and a standard deviation from the mean value. After generating the background image, each pixel of a subsequent captured image is compared with the data cluster of a pixel block of the background image to generate a first discrepancy value. A pixel of a subsequent image is compared with a data distribution of another adjacent pixel block of the background image to generate a second discrepancy value. Based on the discrepancy values, the pixels of the subsequent image are regarded as background or foreground pixels in a binary map, in which connected foreground pixels are marked to form a foreground object.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an expression vector which can effectively express target proteins or peptides on the surface of cells using an outer membrane protein (FadL) of E. coli as a surface anchoring motif. Also, the present invention relates to microorganisms transformed with the expression vector, and a method for stably expressing large amounts of target proteins on the surface of cells by culturing the transformed microorganisms. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a production method of protein arrays, a production method of antibodies, and a bioconversion method, the methods being characterized by using target proteins which have been expressed on the cell surface by the inventive method. In addition, the present invention relates to a method for improving target proteins by the inventive surface expression method. The present invention allows target proteins with normal functions to be expressed on an outer cell membrane.