Abstract: The invention provides novel oligonucleotide-based compounds that individually provide distinct immune response profiles through their interactions as agonists with TLR9. The TLR9 agonists according to the invention are characterized by specific and unique chemical modifications, which provide their distinctive immune response activation profiles.

Abstract: The invention relates to the therapeutic use of immunostimulatory oligonucleotides and/or immunomers in combination with chemotherapeutic agents to provide a synergistic therapeutic effect.

Abstract: The invention relates to the therapeutic use of oligonucleotides or oligonucleotide analogs as immunostimulatory agents in immunotherapy applications. The invention provides methods for enhancing the immune response caused by immunostimulatory oligonucleotide compounds.

Abstract: The invention provides a palindromic immune modulatory nucleic acid. The invention also provides methods for generating, enhancing and modifying the immune response caused by palindromic immune modulatory compounds used for immunotherapy applications.

Abstract: A spinal fixation system having a modular construction to allow universal application to varying spine anatomy and load requirements of individual vertebral attachment members, while reducing requirements for large inventories to optimize spinal fixation. Modularity allows the individual attachment members, once attached optimally to bone, to be attached to a variety of interconnecting structural members optimized for load carrying capacity.

Abstract: The invention provides optimized methods and compositions for enhancing the immune response caused by immunostimulatory compounds used for the treatment of disease such as, but not limited to, treatment of cancer, autoimmune disorders, asthma, respiratory allergies, food allergies and infectious diseases in a patient. The optimized methods according to the invention provide synergy between the therapeutic effects of immunostimulatory oligonucleotides and immunomer compounds in accordance with the invention, and the therapeutic effect of cytokine immunotherapy and/or chemotherapeutic agents and/or radiation.

Abstract: The invention provides new methods for modulating specific CMI-inducing cytokines in vivo. Such new methods result in stimulation of the cytokines IL-6, IL-12 MIP-1? and MCP without substantially inducing undesired cytokines. The methods according to the invention are based upon administration of oligonucleotides containing particular structural motifs which lead to specific cytokine induction.

Abstract: A ladder stand-off includes an extension beam and first and second stand-off sections slidingly mounted on the extension beam, so as to provide an adjustable span. Each stand-off section includes a support beam and an arm fixedly connected to the first support beam. A contact element is pivotally contacted to the outer end of each arm, allowing the device to be used with flat, curved and corner surfaces. The two arms preferably extend in an outward direction so as to be angularly divergent with respect to each other. The device can also be implemented as a ladder stand-off kit having multiple extension beams of different lengths that can be used interchangeably with the two ladder stand-off sections. In this case, the desired extension beam would be assembled with the first and second stand-off sections to form a ladder stand-off.

Abstract: A device for dispensing liquid scent includes a reservoir for containing liquid scent and a reducer tee disposed in an opening in the reservoir. The reducer tee has first, second and third orifices in fluid communication with one another, and the first orifice is located in the reservoir opening so as to be in direct fluid communication with the interior of the reservoir. The device also includes a pump having an inlet and an outlet. A first tube connects the interior of the reservoir to the pump inlet, and a second tube connects the pump outlet to the second orifice. Operation of the pump can be controlled, by a timer for example, so that a predetermined amount of liquid scent is dispensed through the third orifice at a predetermined time. An additional amount of liquid scent is returned to the reservoir via the first orifice.

Abstract: A golf putter in which most of the clubhead mass is distributed at three or more individual or one or more arcuate locations within a “Mass Ring” approximately equidistant from, and as remote as possible from, the clubhead planar center of mass with the clubshaft axis preferably forward of the clubhead center of mass thus maximizing both putter and clubhead planar moment of inertia for improved putter performance during mis-hits. Maximum remote mass is achieved by interconnecting the remote high mass areas (Mass Ring) with the putterface striking area and the putter shaft connection point with a light weight rigid open (see thru) truss system so arranged to enhance the visibility of the Sighting Field and/or aim or Sight Line on the putterhead while preventing undesirable vibration of individual clubhead members.

Abstract: A ladder stand-off includes a beam and two arms fixedly connected to the beam at two spaced apart points between the two ends of the beam. The two arms extend outward from the beam so as to be angularly divergent with respect to each other. A contact element is pivotally connected to a second, outer end of each arm. This arrangement allows the ladder stand-off to be used with flat, curved and corner surfaces. In one embodiment, the ladder stand-off is sized so that the distance between the fixed ends of the arms is less than the width of the ladder, while the distance between the outer ends of the arms is equal to or slightly greater than the width of the ladder. Furthermore, the distance between the outer ends of the arms is less than the length of the beam.

Abstract: A golf putter in which most of the clubhead mass is distributed at three or more prescribed locations within a “Mass Ring” approximately equidistant from, and as remote as possible from, the clubhead planar center of mass with the clubshaft axis preferably forward of the clubhead center of mass thus maximizing both putter and clubhead planar moment of inertia for improved putter performance during mis-hits. Maximum remote mass is achieved by interconnecting the remote high mass areas (Mass Ring) with the putterface striking area and the putter shaft connection point with a light weight rigid open (see thru) truss system so arranged to enhance the Sighting Field and/or sight or aim line on the putterhead while preventing undesirable vibration of individual clubhead members. Such Sighting Field and Sight Line can be further enhanced via use of one of several light weight replaceable and angular adjustable Sighting Fields and/or Sight Lines preferable to an individual golfer.