Abstract: A progesterone regulator capable of modulating the non-genomic action of progesterone and methods of using the progesterone regulator are described. The progesterone regulator is useful for attenuating progesterone's inhibition of apoptosis and for the treatment of patients having a progesterone-responsive tissue disease such as endometriosis or cancer, particularly ovarian cancer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to alternative methods for the production of crystalline silicon compounds and/or alloys such as silicon carbide layers and substrates.

Abstract: The system and method of the present invention provides consumers with credit information including information which can help the consumer evaluate the consumer's credit report or credit worthiness. The present invention can also provide consumers with suggestions to help consumers better their credit rating. The system and method of the present invention also provide consumers with pre-approved credit offers from a consumer-selected group of merchants, where the consumers are anonymous to the merchants, and the merchants do not receive copies of the consumer's credit report. Additional functions of the present invention include allowing users to opt-out or opt-into solicitation lists, and enabling users to automatically monitor their credit report. The present invention offers these services through a third party agent of the consumer which can be accessible to the consumer via the Internet.

Abstract: A pet seat for comparatively small pets which pet seat may be detachably mounted on the console structure of a vehicle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of separating components of a fluid mixture comprising the steps of providing a fluid, providing a sorbent structure (120), sorbing a first component of the fluid, desorbing the first component, and electrokinetically biasing the first component in a direction other than the vector of the fluid mixture.

Abstract: This invention provides certain compounds, methods of their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds, and their use in treating human or animal disorders. The compounds of the invention are useful as modulators of the interaction between the receptor for advanced glycated end products (RAGE) and its ligands, such as advanced glycated end products (AGEs), S100/calgranulin/EN-RAGE, ?-amyloid and amphoterin, and for the management, treatment, control, or as an adjunct treatment for diseases in humans caused by RAGE. Such diseases or disease states include acute and chronic inflammation, the development of diabetic late complications such as increased vascular permeability, nephropathy, atherosclerosis, and retinopathy, the development of Alzheimer's disease, erectile dysfunction, and tumor invasion and metastasis.

Abstract: The invention describes HIV-1 subtype isolate regulatory/accessory genes, and modifications and derivatives thereof. The genes which are described are the tat, nef and rev genes. Consensus amino acid sequences are also disclosed. The invention also relates to a vaccine including two or more of the nucleotide sequences, and nucleotide sequences from the pol and/or gag genes of HIV-1.

Abstract: The present invention determines the resonant frequency of a wireless sensor by adjusting the phase and frequency of an energizing signal until the frequency of the energizing signal matches the resonant frequency of the sensor. The system energizes the sensor with a low duty cycle, gated burst of RF energy having a predetermined frequency. The system receives the ring down response of the sensor and determines the resonant frequency of the sensor, which is used to calculate a physical parameter. The system uses a pair of phase locked loops to adjust the phase and the frequency of the energizing signal. The system identifies false locks by detecting an unwanted beat frequency in the coupled signal, as well as determining whether the coupled signal exhibits pulsatile characteristics that correspond to a periodic physiological characteristic, such as blood pressure.

Abstract: Addressed are couplings for transferring rotational motion from one shaft to another. The couplings may include flexible components and may be designed to accommodate angular, axial, and parallel misalignments. Included as components of the couplings may be hub portions, each having dowel pins and clearance holes, and a center member positioned intermediate the hub portions.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for testing to determine the existence of defects and faults in circuits, devices, and systems such as digital integrated circuits, SRAM memory, mixed signal circuits, and the like. In particular, methods and apparatus are provided for detecting faults in circuits, devices, and systems using input control signals to generate controlled-duration, controlled pulse-width, transient power supply currents in a device under test, where said transient power supply currents are of controllable bandwidth and can be used as observables to determine faulty or defective operation. Additionally, methods and apparatus are provided to permit high bandwidth sensing of transient supply currents as need to preserve the narrow widths of these current pulses. These methods may include autozero techniques to remove supply current leakage current and DC offsets associated with practical current sensing currents.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a dispensing system (for dispensing a product) that helps prevent theft, while also providing a simple, easy to manufacture advancing or pushing system that advances product forward. In certain embodiments, the system comprises a base having a back portion, a platform having a track, a flexible plastic pushing device with a connecting end and a pushing end, wherein the connecting end is attached to the back portion of the base, and wherein the pushing end slides along the platform track to advance product to be dispensed forward, and a hood that covers the base.

Abstract: A sea survival device (1) comprising a container (2) with several shells (3, 4) enclosing respective pneumatic liferafts (5, 6) in the deflated and folded-up state, and inflation means; one half-shell (4) enclosing a liferaft (6) is closed by a closure partition (7); the automatically triggered inflation means are operationally associated with at least the first liferaft (5) in a manner such that said first liferaft (5) is inflated first when the survival device (1) is deployed operationally; and the liferaft (6) is operationally associated with inflation trigger means suitable for trigging inflation thereof only once the first liferaft (5) is inflated.

Abstract: A subjective quality estimating part (11) receives an undeteriorated reference video signal (RI) and a deteriorated video signal (PI) produced from the reference video signal, calculates video signal feature values for both the signals, and according to a difference between the calculated video signal feature values of the signals, estimates a subjective quality of the deteriorated video signal. A feature value calculating part (12) calculates the video signal feature values of the reference video signal. A correction information storing part (13) stores correction information that corresponds to video signal feature values and is used to correct the subjective quality.

Abstract: Systems and methods which facilitate search engine discovery of and/or access to application program content are shown. Declarative code may be provided within the procedural code of a rich Internet application in order to identify various states, and their associated content, of the rich Internet application. A Web crawler may identify content associated with a rich Internet application using the foregoing information. Likewise, direct access to rich Internet application states associated with the identified content may be provided using the foregoing information. A translation module may be provided for interfacing between a Web crawler and a rich Internet application.