Abstract: An acidic polysaccharide isolated from aqueous extracts of Angelica gigas Nakai roots is disclosed. The compound has both immunostimulatory and anti-neoplastic activity. The compound is comprised primarily of galacturonic acid, arabinose and galactose along with traces of xylose, rhamnose amd mannose. The molecular weight of the compound is about 10,000 Daltons.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a low profile magnetic device comprises a crelenated ferrite body having first and second conductive paths winding around the body. Current applied to one of the conductive windings can adjust the threshold current level in the other conductive winding at which the inductance characteristic changes to a relatively constant inductance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for displaying a condition of air flow to or from a ventilated rack of animal cages in which a damper is coupled between the ventilated rack and an air inlet or exhaust outlet. Air pressure is measured within the damper. A condition of the measured pressure is visually displayed. The display can include a plurality of color coded portions for indicating that the condition is within or outside of a preferred operating range, thereby providing a visual assurance that the ventilated rack of animal cages is maintaining a barrier condition. In addition, the display can indicate a value of the measured pressure or a flow rate. When the display indicates that the condition of the air flow is outside of the preferred operating range, the damper can be manually or automatically adjusted to enable the preferred operating range to be obtained. A barrier condition of the rack is maintained when the preferred operating range is maintained.

Abstract: In a method for producing acrylic acid by the steps of a reaction of catalytic gas phase oxidation, absorbing the acrylic acid with an absorbent, and dehydrating the acrylic acid-containing aqueous solution, the method is characterized that the step of dehydration comprises adding and an azeotropic solvent, distilling the resultant mixture, and adjusting the acrylic acid concentration at the top of the column in the range of 0.06-0.80 wt. %, thereby preventing the bottoms of the azeotropic dehydration column from substantially containing the azeotropic solvent and water. As results, the acrylic acid is kept from forming a polymer in any of the distillation columns involved in the production, and effective utilization of acrylic acid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for adaptively compensating for channel or system variations in which adaptive compensation is used in the receiver of a digital communication system. The transmitter of the digital communication system includes precoding. The adaptive receiver compensation mitigates the interferences not removed by the transmitter precoder. In an embodiment of the invention, the adaptive compensation can be performed using an adaptive feedforward filter (FFF) and a feedback filter (FBF) in the receiver. The FBF output is generated based on previous values of estimates of the transmitted precoded sequence. The determined value of the FBF coefficients can be periodically relayed to the transmitter to update the precoder coefficients of the transmitter. Alternatively, the value of the FBF coefficients can be relayed to the transmitter after the value of the coefficients exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for simulating static load of a connection to a ventilated rack of animal cages when at least one of the racks are not connected to a central ventilation system. Accordingly, the device assures that the ventilation system is balanced when one or more of the ventilated racks are removed from their respective air supply or exhaust drops of the central ventilation system. The device includes a pair of spring biased legs which automatically close when a rack is removed from the central air system. The legs have an outwardly curved shape at one end forming an opening between the first and second leg. In the closed position, ends of the legs are adjacent to one another such that the distance between the legs is reduced, thereby creating a partial obstruction to air flow in the connection which is identical to the static load created by the ventilated rack.

Abstract: A hot pressing method involves the simultaneous application of high pressure (1.5-8 GPa) at a relatively low temperature (0.2-0.6 Tm) High compaction pressure causes particle deformation, such that the green density increases with pressure up to a maximum at about 8 GPa. Low sintering temperature mitigates grain growth during the consolidation process. Another factor that promotes densification is the occurrence of a pressure-induced phase transformation (typically from a metastable structure to a more stable structure), accompanied by a significant reduction in free volume for example greater than about 1 to about 2 vol. %. Such transformation-assisted consolidation has been successfully applied to produce sintered oxide and non-oxide bulk nanocrystalline ceramics having a grain size less than 100 nm, starting with even finer-scale ceramic nanopowders. Under appropriate high pressure conditions, a sintered grain size can be realized that is actually smaller than the original powder particle size.

Abstract: Compositions for oral delivery having a biological agent or protein, peptide, or derivative thereof, and a poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxypropylene) block copolymer. The compositions are useful in oral delivery of numerous agents. The invention also encompasses methods of treatment using the same.

Abstract: 1-Oxo- and 1,3-dioxoisoindolines substituted in the 4- or 5-position of the indoline ring reduce the levels of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF&agr; in a mammal. A typical embodiment is 4-(4-amino-1,3-dioxoisoindolin-2-yl)-4-carbamoylbutanoic acid.