Abstract: A therapeutic food composition for treatment of diabetic patients to diminish fluctuations in blood sugar levels and prevent hypoglycemic episodes, comprising per unit about 20-50 grams of nutrients including slowly absorbed or digested complex carbohydrate, preferably uncooked cornstarch; more rapidly absorbed complex carbohydrate; protein; fat; and at least one sweetening agent, but less than about 3 grams of any simple sugar other than fructose. Fructose may be present in the composition in quantities greater than 3 grams per unit. Diabetic patients may be treated to diminish blood sugar fluctuations and prevent hypoglycemia via the administration of the novel food composition as an evening or pre-bedtime snack or during the daytime hours to patients receiving insulin therapy or engaging in activities that might provoke hypoglycemia.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of detection, a sensor and a test-kit which find application in immunological detection (e.g., immunoassay). The invention provides, inter alia, a method of detection, suitable for use in immunological detection of an entity, which method includes the use of a secondary species (as defined in the specification), the use of a first detectable species, and the use of a second detectable species. The method may include, for example, the use of a primary species, a secondary species, a first detectable species and a second detectable species. The primary species may be, for example, an antibody or a ligand. The secondary species may be, for example, an auxiliary species such as an auxiliary binder or an auxiliary ligand, or a species which has a part which is an auxiliary function. The entity to be detected may be an analyte species as such or may be an entity which carries or includes analytes species.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing a purified extract from Ginkgo biloba leaves by solvent extraction with selected solvents. In the process, a crude or partially purified extract is subjected to solvent extraction with a solvent comprising toluene and n-butanol. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising dimeric flavones and/or polyphenols are also described.

Abstract: A method of treating a patient suffering from antigen-induced asthma who has been challenged with an antigen, or providing chronic treatment to an asthma patient to reduce airway hyperresponsiveness, comprising intrabronchial administration to the patient of a pharmaceutical composition containing in each dose about 0.05 to about 1.0 mg of ultra-low molecular weight heparins (ULMWH), having an average molecular weight of 3,000 daltons or less, per kilogram of patient body weight, Inhalant pharmaceutical compositions for use in the novel treatment method are also provided.

Abstract: An improved highly alkaline hair straightening emulsion and a two component system for preparing the emulsion are provided. The emulsion employs a combination of strong nitrogenous organic base and alkali metal hydroxide in the presence of an alkaline earth metal cation. Neither the amount of the alkali metal hydroxide nor the amount of organic base present in the emulsion is sufficient by itself to effectively permanently straighten naturally curly hair. Alkaline earth metal hydroxides are characteristically ineffective as permanent hair straighteners. However, surprisingly, the combination is effective for achieving permanent straightening of hair within a treatment time of not more than about 30 minutes. In use, the emulsion also substantially avoids scalp skin irritation. Also, hair discoloration and hair breakage are minimized.

Abstract: A biological product comprises a milk ingredient and bacteria including bacterium ferments, bolgarium bacillus, acedofilium bacillius, lactobacterium gelveticum, termofilium streptococum, bacterium kazey.

Abstract: A method of treating natural or synthetic pile or brushed fabrics to reduce marking caused by rubbing or handling the fabrics, while leaving the fabrics with a soft feel and a full, thick hand. The method consists of the application to the fabrics of liquid compositions comprising a) about 80-100% of a water-dispersible, hydrophilic polyester or polyurethane dispersed in an aqueous medium; b) about 0-20% of a carrier of the type used to enhance the penetration of dyes and other materials into the polymer structure of polyester fibers; and c) about 0-10% of a non-rewetting wetting agent.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing a purified extract from Ginkgo biloba leaves by solvent extraction with selected solvents. In the process, a crude or partially purified extract is subjected to solvent extraction with a solvent comprising toluene and n-butanol. Pharmaceutical. compositions comprising dimeric flavones and/or polyphenols are also described.

Abstract: A therapeutic food composition for treatment of diabetic patients to diminish fluctuations in blood sugar levels and prevent hypoglycemic episodes, comprising per unit about 20-50 grams of nutrients including a slowly absorbed or digested complex carbohydrate, preferably cornstarch; a more rapidly absorbed complex carbohydrate; protein; and fat, but substantially no simple sugars. Diabetic patients may be treated to diminish blood sugar fluctuations and prevent hypoglycemia via the administration of the novel food composition as an evening or pre-bedtime snack or during the daytime hours to patients receiving insulin therapy or engaging in activities that might provoke hypoglycemia.

Abstract: A multilevel convertor having a set of series-connected capacitors and a set of associated series-connected switching elements employs a main control loop which controls some aspect of an AC system, e.g. busbar voltage, by controlling the switching times of the switching elements. The convertor also comprises one or more subsidiary control loops for establishing a desired relationship between mean DC voltage levels on the capacitors. The subsidiary control loops combine first signals proportional to DC voltage levels on the capacitors and second signals proportional to tap currents associated with the capacitor nodes to provide signals which modulate the timing of the switching of switching elements connected to those capacitors which are out of balance, while leaving alone the timing of the switching of switching elements associated with those capacitors which have the required voltage across them.

Abstract: A method for assessing the fertilization potential of mammalian spermatozoa comprises the steps of incubating a sperm sample with extracellular ATP, determining the level of acrosine secretion from the sperm and comparing with the level of acrosine secretion from a control sample of sperm not treated with ATP. A kit for performing the assessment of fertilization potential includes sterile culture medium, sterile, preferably lyophilized ATP, sterile culture tubes and acrosine substrate. A method of inducing the acrosome reaction in sperm taken from an infertile mammal also comprises the incubation of the sperm with extracellular ATP in appropriate culture medium. Sperm treated in this manner may be used in conventional artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization procedures.

Abstract: An assembly for supporting trackway sections along which a toy vehicle is driven, includes multiple track support members for supporting single tracks and/or twin tracks, height adaptors for adjusting the height of the trackway sections relative to a support surface, and tilt adaptors for adjusting the angular orientation of the trackway sections relative to the support surface.

Abstract: An audio processor circuit for treating a digitally encoded incoming signal, the circuit comprising circuitry (3, 12) for sampling the encoded signal at two or more sample frequencies, circuitry (8, 13, 38, 40, 46) for calculating from the sampled values a cross-correlation function relevant to a particular time frame, the value of said function serving to control operation of an adaptive algorithm, in which the sampled signal portions are truncated (2, 5) such that only the arithmetic sign bit of each signal portion contributes to the function calculation.

Abstract: A system for generating, in an aircraft, a warning signal whenever the aircraft is on a potentially hazardous course with respect to the terrain and obstacles thereon imminently to be overflown. The system involves the computation of pull-up trajectories which the aircraft could carry out at a reference point (RP) on the current aircraft flight path (FP) forward of the aircraft current position (CP), taking account of uncertainties of at least aircraft position, which trajectories define collectively a region moving notionally forwardly of the aircraft at a spacing ahead of the aircraft which is a function of aircraft velocity and acceleration and aircraft dynamic response to pilot demands and pilot reaction time, and therefore constitutes a region which the aircraft can imminently overfly. A warning signal is produced if any point on the trajectories has a predetermined relationship with data stored in a map data storage means containing height data relating to the region defined by the trajectories.

Abstract: An optical device comprising an optical waveguide (13) on a substrate (11) which over part of its length forms one of a stack (15) of coupled optical waveguide sections of the same length, the stack being of a length such that a light wave of predetermined frequency propagating along the waveguide (13) to enter the stack (15) at one end thereof produces light waves at the other end of the stack which are substantially in phase adjacent each waveguide section. The device finds particular application for coupling light from a substrate waveguide into another waveguide, e.g. an optical fibre (27), off the substrate (11).

Abstract: An adaptor includes an adaptor casing, a circuit board and a cover piece. The adaptor casing includes lower and upper casing halves which are made of plastic and which are coated entirely with a layer of conductive material. A circuit board is disposed in the adaptor casing and has a top surface provided with a switch unit that is aligned with an opening formed in the upper casing half and that extends out of the adaptor casing via the opening, a first edge provided with a first connector, and an opposite second edge provided with a second connector. Each of the first and second connectors has a support plate which closes a respective one of front and rear open ends of the adaptor casing. The support plates and the adaptor casing cooperatively form an enclosure for confining the circuit board therein. The cover piece is made of plastic and is coated entirely with a layer of conductive material. The cover piece is fitted detachably in the opening of the upper casing half.