Abstract: The present invention is directed to the isolation and use of super-infective, tumor-specific vectors that are strains of parasites including, but not limited to bacteria, fungi and protists. In certain embodiments the parasites include, but are not limited to, the bacterium Salmonella spp., such as Salmonella typhimurium, the bacterium Mycobacterium avium and the protozoan Leishmania amazonensis. In other embodiments, the present invention is concerned with the isolation of super-infective, tumor-specific, suicide gene-containing strains of parasites for use in treatment of solid tumors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a purified, easily produced poly-&bgr;-1→4-N-acetylglucosamine (p-GlcNAc) polysaccharide species. The p-GlcNAc of the invention is a polymer of high molecular weight whose constituent monosaccharide sugars are attached in a &bgr;-1→4 conformation, and which is free of proteins, and substantially free of single amino acids, and other organic and inorganic contaminants. In addition, derivatives and reformulations of p-GlcNAc are described. The present invention further relates to methods for the purification of the p-GlcNAc of the invention from microalgae, preferably diatom, starting sources. Still further, the invention relates to methods for the derivatization and reformulation of the p-GlcNAc. Additionally, the present invention relates to the uses of pure p-GlcNAc, its derivatives, and/or its reformulations.

Abstract: There is a time delay between the moment of fuel injection and the moment when air with the injected fuel is drawn into cylinders. At the time of fuel injection, air-mass that will be drawn into cylinders after the delay time is estimated on the basis of expectation values of throttle opening, air-mass drawn into an intake-manifold, and intake-manifold pressure. Fuel amount is in turn calculated based on the estimated air-mass.

Abstract: A clock signal desired to be transmitted to various components of the electronic system is combined with a noise signal to generate a spread spectrum clock signal which, in turn, is distributed with an associated reference signal to selected components of the system using two-channel communication links. A receiving circuit within each of the selected components recovers the original clock signal from the spread spectrum clock signal and its associated reference signal. In one embodiment, the clock signal is combined with the noise signal in an exclusive-OR logic gate to generate a spread spectrum clock signal which is distributed to receiving components using a first channel. The noise signal is transmitted as the reference signal using the second channel. The two channel signals are combined in an exclusive-OR gate of one or more receiving circuits to recover the clock signal.

Abstract: A position tracking system for a plurality of mobile tractors and trailers includes an unique electronic identifier for each of a plurality of trailers. For each tractor of a plurality of tractors, the position tracking system includes a navigation system for determining a current position of the tractor, an electronic identifier reader for acquiring the electronic identifier of a trailer coupled to the tractor, and a position-reporting subsystem for reporting to a remote system the current position of the tractor and the electronic identifier of the trailer coupled to the tractor. In addition, the position tracking system includes, at each facility of a plurality of fixed-location facilities, one or more electronic identifier readers for acquiring the electronic identifier of one or more trailers located within the facility, and a trailer-presence reporting subsystem for reporting to the remote system the presence of the one or more trailers located within the facility.

Abstract: An engine ladder frame with minimized noise and vibrations, improved stability of the oil filter, and reduced air in the oil flowing from the cylinder head to the oil pan. Inside an elongate rectangular outer block, three partitioning walls are formed equidistantly, so as to form four crank chambers. The crank chambers respectively have bottom faces which are not perforated or open but are completely closed. On the side parts of the bottom faces, there are respectively formed oil flow faces which gradually become deeper in the direction of the revolutions of the crankshaft. Among the oil flow faces, those of the first, second and third crank chambers have oil drain holes respectively at their ends. Thus the bottoms of the crank chambers are closed so as to close the space between the cylinder block and the oil pan, resulting in the reduction of the noise and vibrations.

Abstract: A shape memory alloy step drive mechanism includes at least one shape memory alloy element (1) with a fixed end, the other end being connected to one end of a lever (2). The lever (2) is provided with a pawl (4) which is located to move on the teeth of a ratchet wheel (5) mounted on a main shaft (6) along with the lever (2). A stopper pin (7) is provided which also guides the pawl (4) on the ratchet wheel (5). A bias spring (9) is provided on a mandril on the main shaft (6) for returning the lever (2) to its original position. A detent wheel (8) with at least one detent lever (10) is mounted on the main shaft (6) to provide the detent torque required to hold the main shaft (6) in position when the lever (2) returns to its original position. A pair of support brackets (11) are provided for supporting and holding the various components together in an assembly.

Abstract: Compounds that modulate the estrogen receptor (ER) are disclosed, as well as pharmaceutical compositions containing the same. In a specific embodiment, the compounds are selective modulators for ER-&bgr; over ER-&agr;. Methods are disclosed for modulating ER-&bgr; in cell and/or tissues expressing the same, including cells and/or tissue that preferentially express ER-&bgr;. More generally, methods for treating estrogen-related conditions are also disclosed, including conditions such as is breast cancer, testicular cancer, osteoporosis, endometriosis, cardiovascular disease, hypercholesterolemia, prostatic hypertrophy, prostatic carcinomas, obesity, hot flashes, skin effects, mood swings, memory loss, urinary incontinence, hairloss, cataracts, natural hormonal imbalances, and adverse reproductive effects associated with exposure to environmental chemicals.

Abstract: The change in the circular birefringence of a sample is measured by passing a light beam comprised of a left circularly polarized (LCP) wave and a right circularly polarized (RCP) wave through a sample and measuring the change in the phase difference between the RCP and LCP waves.

Abstract: When a reflective wave reflected from a preceding object is received, the reflective wave being of an original radar beam scanned at a variable vertical angle, the vertical angle is detected, an absolute speed of the preceding object is calculated based on a vehicle speed and a relative speed calculated from the reflective wave, and accordingly a driving environment is determined based on the vertical angle and the absolute speed.

Abstract: A bus system for use with addressable memory has a global bus of uni-directional signal lines. The global bus has a first end and a second end. A master device transmits data to and receives data from the global bus. First and second global bus terminators are coupled to the first and second ends of the global bus, respectively. One or more subsystems are connected in parallel to each other and to the master device via the global bus. Each subsystem includes a local bus, one or more slave devices coupled to the local bus, a write buffer that receives incoming signals from the master device via the global bus and transmits the incoming signals to the one or more slave devices via the local bus, and a read buffer that receives outgoing signals from the one or more slave devices via the local bus and transmits the outgoing signals to the master device via the global bus.

Abstract: A postage printing system enables users to generate postage indicia and print mail pieces at client computers. Upon user determination of a mail piece print failure, a mail metering application on the client computer sends reprint request to an authorizing authority at a remote location. The reprint request includes information identifying an account for printing a postage indicia. A server computer used by the authorizing authority receives the reprint request from a client computer and evaluates the request. When the account is verified and other criteria are satisfied, a reply is sent to the client computer that includes a reprint authorization. Otherwise, a negative reply is sent to the client computer that does not include the reprint authorization. Upon receiving a reprint authorization from the authorizing authority, the client computer prints a replacement mail piece with the postage indicia.

Abstract: A method for performing a transaction without the use of spoken communication is disclosed. The method consists of providing at least one transactional flash card having information about the transaction and the transaction goal displayed on the card in text understandable to the user and different text understandable to the party from whom the user wishes to purchase goods or services. The method may include displaying such a flash card in printed form, or on a personal electronic device. The method may further include providing flash cards having inquiries about price, payment methods, or shipping terms. Also disclosed are transactional flash cards used with the method.

Abstract: In an intermediate coating composition comprising high-acid-value polyester resin, low-acid-value polyester resin, melamine resin containing an imino group and pigments, a ratio (AV1/AV2) of acid value (AV1) of high-acid-value polyester resin to that (AV2) of low-acid-value polyester resin is adjusted to be 1.25-5. A method for forming multilayered coating films using this intermediate coating composition and multilayered coating films prepared using said method are provided, wherein, by specifying the acid value of resins and type of cross-linking agents in the intermediate coating, said multilayered coating films formed even under short-time baking conditions is excellent in its appearance and adhesiveness to the top coating, and said intermediate coating composition is able to maintain its storage stability excellent so as to be capable of shortening the coating processes.

Abstract: In order to reduce confusion about a displayed absolute altitude and to enhance reliability and correctness, the present invention provides a display method of an altitude display apparatus for displaying an absolute altitude wherein an initial atmospheric pressure is detected, and an absolute altitude is calculated and displayed based on a pressure difference between the initial atmospheric pressure and a current atmospheric pressure if the detected initial atmospheric pressure is larger than a predetermined atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: The present invention is a novel cytokine protein called IL-12 or Cytotoxic Lymphocyte Maturation Factor (CLMF) which is produced and synthesized by human NC-37 B lymphoblastoid cells (American Type Culture Collection, Rockville, Md.). CLMF synergistically induces with low concentrations of IL-2 the cytolytic activity of Lymphokine Activated Killer (LAK) cells, and CLMF is capable of stimulating T-cell growth. Also claimed are the cloned gene for CLMF, its recombination in a suitable vector, the transformed cells containing said vector, the recombinant protein produced by the transformed cells and antibodies to CLMF.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a titratable dosage transdermal delivery system for systemic delivery of a therapeutic agent or drug. The system comprises a plurality of patch units that are connected along one or more borders. The plurality of patch units are divisible into units along the one or more borders having one or more lines of separation. Each patch unit is surrounded by a border. The therapeutic patch has at least a backing layer and a therapeutic agent comprising layer. The dosage of therapeutic agent delivered to a patient is proportional to the number of patch unit applied per treatment. The system enables systemic administration of a titratable dosage of therapeutic agent, adjustable by the patient under the direction of a physician, through the skin or mucosa. Moreover, the invention relates to a method of making the titratable dosage transdermal delivery system.

Abstract: The wafer clamping apparatus is disclosed including a cam rotatably coupled to a base plate. The cam is configured to couple with a robot arm. The clamping apparatus also includes a rotating clamp mechanism rotatably coupled to the base plate about a single fixed point. A biasing mechanism, coupled to the rotating clamp mechanism, urges the rotating clamp mechanism towards a clamped position. The rotating clamp mechanism is configured to interact with the cam to engage and disengage the rotating clamp mechanism from the clamped position. The rotating clamp mechanism preferably comprises a hub rotatably coupled to the base plate and a clamping arm and cam follower extending from the hub. The clamping arm is configured to clamp a wafer when the rotating clamp mechanism is in the clamped position, while the cam follower is configured to interact with the cam.

Abstract: Bus communications are optimized by adjusting signal characteristics in accordance with one or more topography dependent parameters. In a bus transmitter, a transmit signal characteristic is adjusted in accordance with a topography dependent parameter. A port in the bus transmitter receives the topography dependent parameter for later use by the parameter adjustment circuitry. The parameter adjustment circuitry adjusts a parameter control signal in accordance with the topography dependent parameter, which is coupled to the output driver. Prior to driving an output signal onto a bus, the output driver adjusts the transmit signal characteristic in accordance with the parameter control signal. In a bus receiver, a receive signal characteristic is adjusted in response to a topography dependent parameter. A port associated with the bus receiver receives the topography dependent parameter and stores it in a register.

Abstract: N-deacetyl-thiocolchicine and 10-deacetyl-baccatin III derivatives of formula (I) wherein R and n have the meanings specified in the disclosure, are valuable antitumoral drugs.