Abstract: The present invention relates to antibodies that immunospecifically bind to human brain natriuretic peptide or a human brain natriuretic peptide fragment with a high binding affinity, methods for producing and selecting said antibodies, immunoassays for human brain natriuretic peptide or a human brain natriuretic peptide fragment that employ said antibodies and therapeutic compositions containing said antibodies.

Abstract: A portable measurement device and method for measuring a parameter value of a battery. The measurement device connects a large resistive load to a battery being tested. The load is connected to the battery through a first set of kelvin connected clamps and a switch. A microprocessor measures open and closed circuit voltages via a second set of kelvin connected jaws. The microprocessor determines voltage drop curve data based on the measure open and closed circuit voltages. The microprocessor compares the voltage drop curve data to voltage drop profile data for a particular parameter to determine the parameter value for the battery.

Abstract: A multithreaded processor with a banked cache is provided. The instruction set includes at least one atomic operation which is executed in the L2 cache if the atomic memory address source data is aligned. The core executing the instruction determines whether the atomic memory address source data is aligned. If it is aligned, the atomic memory address is sent to the bank that contains the atomic memory address source data, and the operation is executed in the bank. In one embodiment, if the instruction is mis-aligned, the operation is executed in the core.

Abstract: Disclosed are pyridazine compounds of the formula I which are useful for inhibiting glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3), methods of making the compounds, compositions containing the compounds, and methods of treatment using the compounds: In formula I indicates a single bond or a double bond; X is O, S or N—R5; R1, R2 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, NH2, NH—C1-C6-alkyl, OH, ?O, (i.e.

Abstract: A filler cell for use in fabricating an integrated circuit. The filler cell couples a power supply rail of an adjacent logic cell to a power supply rail of another adjacent logic cell. The filler cell also has a diode to bleed charge accumulated on the power rails of the adjacent logic cells to the substrate. The diode is reverse biased during normal integrated circuit operation. A method for fabricating an integrated circuit with a power grid. At least one filler cell is placed on the integrated circuit to bleed away charge accumulated on the power grid during the fabrication of the integrated circuit. The filler cell is connected to a supply rail of an adjacent logic cell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a low sodium salt composition and the method used to make it. More particularly, the invention relates to a two step method of making a salt composition. The first step includes contacting a chloride salt with a modifier to form a chloride salt product, mixing the product with a carrier to form a modified chloride salt solution, and spray drying the modified chloride salt solution. The second step includes contacting the dried modified chloride salt with sodium chloride, and grinding the mixture to form a salt composition. The composition includes a combination of sodium chloride and carrier modified chloride salt.

Abstract: The present invention features modified superporous hydrogels (SPHs) and methods for their formation. The SPHs of the present invention are prepared by careful selection of the hydrophobic/hydrophilic reactive ingredients and by harmonizing the foaming and polymerization reactions, which results in the formation of SPHs having a homogeneous structure and favorable physical and mechanical properties, including swelling, strength, ruggedness, and resiliency. The SPHs of the present invention are particularly useful when employed in very harsh swelling environments, such as the low pH environment of the gastric fluid of the stomach, for extended periods of time.

Abstract: A massage device includes a handle engaged to a driving unit having a rotatable output shaft for driving an actuation unit which produces a spiral wave form action in a longitudinal direction is disclosed. The actuation unit includes an arrangement of bearing plates engaged to one another and mounted on the rotatable output shaft. Each of the bearing plates is engaged to a respective rotary ring in a manner that permits a rotating action by the bearing plates while the rotary rings have a slipping action relative to the output shaft in order to produce the spiral wave form action by the massage device.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product that involves receiving and initializing a digital image. Quantization is preformed on the digital image using at least two multiplication operations. Finally, a compressed version of the digital image is presented for viewing and/or storage or transport.

Abstract: A test system including a package with switchable paths. The package may have conductive paths that are selected by switches. The electrically switchable conductive paths may yield increased data without significantly increasing the required testing hardware.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a modulator of a polypeptide having or comprising an amino acid sequence as disclosed herein or of a functional fragment or derivative thereof or of a polynucleotide encoding said polypeptide or fragment or derivative for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for preventing, alleviating or treating diseases or conditions associated with the degeneration or injury of vertebrate nervous tissue, associated with seizures or associated with angiogenic disorders or disorders of the cardio-vascular system.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions, methods, and kits for protecting thermostable DNA polymerase during amplification reactions conducted at a temperature ranging from about 40° C. to greater than 100° C. The composition comprises a thermostable DNA polymerase and an anionic detergent or zwitterionic detergent.

Abstract: A client server arrangement for downloading media content filters from a server device to a client device. The media content filters define portions of a separate audio visual presentation containing potentially objectionable subject matter. Depending on user selections, identified portions of the audio/visual presentation may be skipped and/or muted during play. In one particular implementation, the client device, e.g., a DVD player, is configured to initiate a connection with a server device. Upon successful connection, the server device transmits one or more media content filters to the client device. The client device may be configured to determine whether a particular media content filter is available, to facilitate deletion of some existing media content filters in order to secure adequate memory space, and to ensure that the media player has an active account, before initiating a connection with the server device.

Abstract: A stable power, low electromagnetic interference (EMI) apparatus and method for connecting electronic devices and circuit boards is disclosed. The apparatus involves a capacitor which includes a body member, a set of power terminals and a set of ground terminals connected to the top of the body member. The set of power terminals and the set of ground terminals alternate one with another. As a result of this configuration, a high inductance on the PCB side is achieved. The capacitor further includes a set of terminals connected to the bottom of the body member and includes metal planes within the body member. The metal planes are positioned to electrically connect either the set of power terminals or the set of ground terminals to the set of terminals.

Abstract: A new rocket motor assembly configuration is disclosed. Amine based oxidizer is decomposed in the presence of a metallic catalyst to generate an oxygen rich hot gas stream. The hot gas stream is used to trigger a Magnesium based solid fuel in the combustion chamber. The thrust of the rocket motor may be regulated at multiple points. This design thus offers an IM compliant, thrust-adjustable rocket motor that is of a low hazard classification without compromising its performance.