Abstract: The invention comprises an organotitanium precursor formed from a &bgr;-ketoester and a titanium glycolate, and dimer precursors formed from a reaction of the above organotitanium precursor with alcohol, which are used as sources of titanium dioxide for metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD).

Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleic acid sequences encoding ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and to the proteins, peptides, and derivatives produced therefrom. In various embodiments of the invention, the nucleic acid sequences, proteins, and peptides of the invention may be used in the treatment of a variety of neurological diseases and disorders, including Alzheimer's disease. In a specific embodiment of the invention, CNTF may be used to support the growth of spinal cord neurons, thereby providing a method of treating spinal cord damage caused by trauma infarction, infection, nutritional deficiency or toxic agents. The present invention also relates to a novel method for producing substantilly pure CNTF. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising effective amounts of CNTF gene products which may be used in the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of neurologial diseases and disorders.

Abstract: A Global Positioning System receiver includes an intermediate frequency (IF) processor configured to downconvert broadcast signal to generate a first channel signal which is further downconverted to recover a PRN signal by an angle rotator. The receiver further includes a signal generator configured to generate N gated PRN signals. The N gated PRN signals are generated based on a local replica PRN signal time-divided by M intervals within a chip period of the local replica PRN signal. N and M are positive integers. A number of correlators is also provided. Each of which the correlators are configured to multiply a respective one of N gated PRN signals with the PRN signal to generate a number of correlation values. The correlation values are utilized to monitor distortions in the broadcast signal and/or to track the carrier frequency signal. Further, a corresponding method is also provided.

Abstract: A holder for supporting and holding at least one article relative to and spaced apart from a support surface is provided. The holder includes a receptacle, a clamp configured to couple the receptacle to the support surface, and a coupling arm coupled between the receptacle and the clamp. The coupling arm is coupled to the receptacle at a receptacle coupling joint, and the coupling arm is coupled to said clamp at a clamp coupling joint. Both the receptacle coupling joint and the clamp coupling joint permit movement in more than one plane. Preferably, at least one of the coupling joints is a ball joint.

Abstract: The present invention provides peptides and peptide analogues that mimic the structural and pharmacological properties of human ApoA-I. The peptides and peptide analogues are useful to treat a variety of disorders associated with dyslipidemia.

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: The present invention provides methods of identifying hot-spot residues for one or both members of a receptor-ligand complex of interest. Further provided are methods of using receptor hot-spot residues to identify compounds that functionally bind a receptor in a manner that mimics the binding of a known ligand for the receptor.

Abstract: A wavelet transform system and an inverse wavelet transform system are disclosed that respectively implement a wavelet transform and an inverse wavelet transform. Semi-orthogonal standard wavelets are used as the basic wavelets in the wavelet transform and the inverse wavelet transform. As a result, two finite sequences of decomposition coefficients are used for decomposition in the wavelet transform. Furthermore, two finite sequences of reconstruction coefficients that are derived from the two finite sequences of decomposition coefficients are used for reconstruction in the inverse wavelet transform. The finite sequences of decomposition and reconstruction coefficients are not infinite sequences of coefficients that have been truncated. Furthermore, in one embodiment, downsampling is not used in the wavelet transform and upsampling is not used in the inverse wavelet transform.

Abstract: The invention relates to emergency-deceleration condition transducers, including an insulation house made by insulation material, which defines a closed arc hollow groove. Said arc hollow groove is filled with some mercury. Said mercury in the arc groove will be moved for front and behind along the arc surface when the traveling speed is changed during the motor vehicle travailing, so that the electrodes spaced will be turned on/turned off to produce corresponding condition signal. The invention relates still to emergency brake lamps using the emergency-deceleration condition transducers, the turning on/off of the lamps will be carried out automatically without effects by driver mistaking operating, so the accident of vehicle striking from behind can be effectively avoided.

Abstract: The inventive electronic information key system comprises at least one electronic information key and a locking device unlocked with the electronic information key. The electronic information key includes: an ID code storage having a plurality of memory areas, each storing different ID codes; a body, resin-treated, for installing the ID code storage; and a contact, mounted on the body and electrically connected to the ID code storage. The locking device includes: a key holder for electrically contacting the contact of the electronic information key; a registered ID code storage for storing values corresponding to the ID codes stored in any one of the plurality of memory areas of the ID code storage of the electronic information key; a controller for comparing the ID codes stored in an area of the ID code storage with the ID codes stored in the registered ID code storage to thereby verify whether the electronic information key is duly operating, when the contact electrically contacts the key holder.

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for stabilizing and or maintaining adjacent bone portions in predetermined desired relationships and for constraining one, two or three-dimensional motion and/or rotation of the adjacent bone portions. Prostheses according to the present invention include cooperating magnetic arrays, preferably with plural magnets generating composite magnetic fields with predetermined field characteristics. The predetermined field characteristics are selected to interact such that the magnetic arrays on opposing prosthetic components cooperate to urge the bone portions into predetermined desired relationship and to constrain relative motion between the adjacent bone portions in various dimensions, e.g., rotation, flexion and/or extension thereof. Such magnetic constraint permits absorption and/or release of stress generated by externally applied forces.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel bis-sulfonamides represented, for example, by formula I below and a pure diastereomer, a mixture of diastereomers, a diastereomeric racemate, a mixture of diastereomeric racemates and meso-forms and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R1 represents aryl; aryl-lower alkyl; aryl-lower alkenyl; heteroaryl; or heteroaryl-lower alkyl; and R2 represents lower alkyl; trifluoromethyl; lower alkoxy-lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; lower alkynyl; aryl; aryl-lower alkyl; aryl-lower alkenyl; heterocyclyl; heterocyclyl-lower alkyl; heteroaryl; heteroaryl-lower alkyl; cycloalkyl; or cycloalkyl-lower alkyl. The present invention also relates to a process for manufacturing those compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing one or more of those compounds as endothelin antagonists, and a method of treating a subject having a disorder involving endothelin with the compounds of the invention.

Abstract: Disclosed is a coating composition for DACROTIZED™ film comprising Cr-containing inorganic acid, Ni carbonate, reductant, surfactant and water which has excellent corrosion resistance, weather resistance and chemical resistance thus being widely applicable to anticorrosion treatments of metals such as various alloys, sintering metals, and the like.

Abstract: A method for reducing the communication overhead over the interface bus to the memory devices for refresh operations. This is done by refreshing multiple banks in response to a single command. Multibank refresh is made possible by varying the current profile for the row sense and row precharge currents during a refresh operation, as compared to normal memory access. Unlike normal memory accesses, data is not needed, and a fast access time is not required. This allows the current to be spread using different circuitry for driving the current to lessen current spikes. The spread current is still maintained within the timing of a normal memory access.

Abstract: A pipette tip member having an elongated tubular receptacle with a protrusion on an inner surface of the receptacle, and a recess on the inner surface adjacent the protrusion. The tip member has a generally conical shape and the protrusion extends around the inner surface to form an annular sealing ring. The protrusion has a V-shaped axial cross section with edges that intersect at an angle between about 30° and about 120°. The recess has a generally circular axial cross section and the recess is disposed proximal to the protrusion in the axial direction. The recess depth is about as great as the protrusion height. A method of forming a pipette tip member is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides biological fertilizer compositions that comprise yeast cells and swine manure. The yeast cells of the invention have an enhanced ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen, decompose phosphorus minerals and compounds, decompose potassium minerals and compounds, decompose complex carbon compounds, overproduce growth factors, overproduce ATP, decompose undesirable chemicals, suppress growth of pathogenic microorganisms, or reduce undesirable odor. The biological fertilizer composition of the invention can replace mineral fertilizers in supplying nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to crop plants. Methods of manufacturing biological fertilizer compositions, and methods of uses are also encompassed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry named ‘Driscoll El Capitan’. The variety is similar to the varieties Coronado and San Miguel. The variety is distinguished from ‘Coronado’ and ‘San Miguel’, in that ‘Driscoll El Capitan’ has an obtuse terminal leaflet teeth shape, medium to dense petiole pubescence, medium to strong anthocyanin coloration, cordate fruit shape, marked difference in shape between primary and secondary fruits, large hollow center size, and time of flowering is mid-December.