Abstract: Novel calcium free subtilisin mutants are taught, in particular subtilisins which have been mutated to eliminate amino acids 75-83 and part or all of amino acids 1-22 (the N-terminal region) and which retain enzymatic activity and stability. Recombinant methods for producing the same and recombinant DNA encoding for such subtilisin mutants are also provided.

Abstract: Methods of construction for acoustic and electrically amplified stringed musical instruments. The invention further relates to acoustic and electrically amplified stringed musical instruments comprising fiber-reinforced resin composite materials, where the instruments are provided with a sound-damping interior coating.

Abstract: For a crankshaft of a motor with two outputs, which are braced against each other on a common shaft section by means of an essentially axial directed bracing force, measures are suggested, which deflect the axially directed bracing force into a bracing force with a radial component, that acts on at least one output.

Abstract: A dry preunit (10), includes a plurality of cells (110, 112, 114) in a true bipolar configuration, which are stacked and bonded together, to impart to the device an integral and unitary construction. Each cell (114) includes two electrically conductive electrodes (111A, 111B) that are spaced apart by a predetermined distance. The cell (114) also includes two identical dielectric gaskets (121, 123) that are interposed, in registration with each other, between the electrodes (111A, 11B), for separating and electrically insulating these electrodes. When the electrodes (111A, 111B), and the gaskets (121, 123) are bonded together, at least one fill gap (130) is formed for each cell. Each cell (114) also includes a porous and conductive coating layer (119, 120) that is formed on one surface of each electrode. The coating layer (119) includes a set of closely spaced-apart peripheral microprotrusions (125), and a set of distally spaced-apart central microprotrusions (127).

Abstract: Synergistic combinations of guanosine nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitors such as abacavir with inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase inhibitors such as mycophenolates, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such combinations, and therapeutic methods comprising administering the synergistic combinations to subjects in need thereof, for treating a viral infection, such as an HIV-1 infection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polypeptides exhibiting antibiotic, and anti-viral and anti-cancer effects. In particular, the invention relates to modified T4 lysozyme, polypeptides comprising fragments of T4 lysozyme and to the production and use thereof. The fields of application for this invention are wide-ranging, and include, for example, human and veterinary uses, resistance cultivation in plants and prevention of bacterial and/or fungal-mediated food spoilage.

Abstract: Disclosed is a polyimide coated shape memory material suitable for thermomechanical treatment to shape-set the material into the desired configuration and activate shape memory properties. The polyimide coating is subjected to a curing regime that imparts higher heat resistance in the polyimide coating to withstand the elevated temperatures required during the shape-setting treatment.

Abstract: A reinforced vitreous carbon composite suitable for use in the formation of wear-resistant assemblies, such as joint prosthetic devices, bearings, current collectors, sealing components, brake linings, electrical motor brushes, and other tribological products. The reinforced composite is formed by impregnating a metal reinforcement structure with a furfuryl alcohol resin, and polymerizing the resin while thermally managing the polymerization process, to produce a poly(furfuryl) alcohol continuous phase that is isotropic, homogeneous and essentially completely void-free, e.g., in a bulk composite form having dimensions greater than 25 millimeters in each of the x, y and z directions thereof.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for abatement of effluent from multi-component metal oxides deposited by CVD processes using metal source reagent liquid solutions which comprise at least one metal coordination complex including a metal to which is coordinatively bound at least one ligand in a stable complex and a suitable solvent medium for that metal coordination complex e.g., a metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) process for forming barium strontium titanate (BST) thin films on substrates. The effluent is sorptively treated to remove precursor species and MOCVD process by-products from the effluent. An endpoint detector such as a quartz microbalance detector may be employed to detect incipient breakthrough conditions in the sorptive treatment unit.

Abstract: A system for storage and dispensing of a sorbate fluid, in which a sorbate fluid is sorptively retained on a sorbent medium and desorption of sorbate fluid from the sorbent medium is facilitated by inputting energy to the sorbent medium including one or more of the following energy input modes: (a) thermal energy input including inductive heating of the sorbent medium, resistive heating of the sorbent medium and/or chemical reaction heating of the sorbent medium; (b) photonic energy input to the sorbent medium; (c) particle bombardment of the sorbent medium; (d) mechanical energy input to the sorbent medium; and (e) application of a chemical potential differential to the sorbate fluid on the sorbent medium.

Abstract: Corrosion management componentry for use in fibrous electrochemical systems for generation/conversion of energy. Fibrous structures are provided for enhanced resistance to oxidative degradation of microcell-based high voltage, high power density fuel cell and battery systems.

Abstract: Methods and combinations of an agent that promotes DNA synthesis in a virally-targeted cell and a nucleoside analogue having antiviral activity are provided for treating a viral infection in a subject in need thereof. Such compositions are particularly effective where the subject has resistance to a nucleoside analogue, where the subject has resting cellular reservoirs of such a virus, or to induce a post-treatment period of replication incompetence of such a virus.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for treating pollutants in a gaseous stream. The apparatus comprises tubular inlets for mixing a gas stream with other oxidative and inert gases for mixture and flame production within a reaction chamber. The reaction chamber is heated by heating elements and has an interior wall with orifices through which heated air enters into the central reaction chamber. The oxidized gases are treated also for particles removal by flowing through a packed bed. The packed bed is cooled and its upper portion with air inlets to enhance condensation and particle growth in the bed. The treated gas stream is also scrubbed in a continuous regenerative scrubber comprising at least two vertically separated beds in which one bed can be regenerated while the other is operative so that the flow may be continuously passed through the bed.

Abstract: An inflatable structure comprising an inflation compartment defining an enclosed interior volume and an anti-reflux valve having an outlet end positioned in the interior volume. The anti-reflux valve includes an elongate inflation passage including opposedly facing film layers that are bonded to one another at their edges to form an interior gas flow channel. The elongate inflation passage is bonded to the inflatable compartment to form an opening for introduction of gas into the passage, for inflation of the inflation compartment, and arranged so that upon termination of gas flow into the interior volume, after pressure in the interior volume has been raised above exterior pressure on the inflatable compartment, gas pressure in the interior volume collapses the opposedly facing film layers against one another to form a seal against the interior volume gas pressure and maintain the inflation compartment in an inflated state.

Abstract: A method for producing porous structures in which a liquid or pasty mixture of substances is brought at least partially to solidification and subsequently freeze-dried.

Abstract: A high efficiency recirculating marine aquaculture process for producing fish at variable yield densities of up to 60 kg/meter3 of the aquaculture tank, including fish that spawn under short photoperiods such as gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) as well as fish that spawn under long photoperiods such as striped bass (Morone saxatilis). The process involves broodstock conditioning, spawning/reproduction, larval growth, nursery, and adult grow-out operations. The process is characterized by high-rate growth at optimal process conditions requiring less than 10% daily water exchange, thereby enabling effluent waste from the system to be discharged to a municipal sewer after disinfection treatment, which in turn permits siting of the aquaculture process facility in urban/suburban locations where aquaculture processes have been previously infeasible.

Abstract: Microcell structures and assemblies utilized for electrochemical generation/conversion of energy, in which high voltage, high power density outputs are produced for applications such as fuel cell and battery systems, with high efficiency extraction of heat produced in electrochemical reaction. The superior efficacy of thermal management achieved by the invention permits highly compact, small footprint electrochemical cells to be usefully employed in a variety of vehicular, consumer and industrial applications.

Abstract: For a crankshaft of a motor with two outputs, which are braced against each other on a common shaft section by means of an essentially axial directed bracing force, measures are suggested, which deflect the axially directed bracing force into a bracing force with a radial component, that acts on at least one output.

Abstract: The invention relates to therapeutic compositions and methods for treating and preventing infection by an immunodeficiency virus, particularly HIV infection, using chemokine proteins, nucleic acids and/or derivatives or analogs thereof.

Abstract: A strong, lightweight structural system wherein curved structural elements are tangentially joined. Compressive forces are distributed in a near continuous manner throughout the matrix, and tensile forces are present primarily to brace, support and pre-stress the compression net. The system is scalable from molecular through architectural levels, and finds many applications in dome shaped and spherical structures. The structural system also provides a force interaction model that is applicable to a broad array of real and theoretical problems.