Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for measuring one or more optical properties, such as absorbance and refractive index, of a test medium such as a gas, a liquid, or solid material. The method comprises providing a passive optical waveguide loop comprising the test medium, launching in the optical loop an intensity-modulated light at a reference phase, detecting a phase of said light along the optical waveguide loop, and comparing the detected phase of said light along the loop with the reference phase, wherein the comparison provides information about one or more optical properties of the test medium.

Abstract: This invention relates to a resonant gate drive circuit for a power switching device, such as a MOSFET, that uses a center-tapped transformer to increase the driving gate voltage approximately twice as high as the supply voltage. The gate capacitance of the power switching device is charged and discharged by a constant current source, which increases the switching transition speed of the power switch. The circuit is suitable for driving a pair of low side switches with 50% duty cycle or less, such as in a variable frequency resonant converter, push-pull converter, or the like.

Abstract: The invention relates to optical sensors and systems and methods employing the sensors for detecting one or more compounds of interest in a test medium. In one embodiment an optical sensor comprising a long period grating and a solid phase microextraction (SPME) film is exposed to a test medium such that one or more compounds of interest are selectively partitioned into the solid phase microextraction film. At least one optical property of the sensor exposed to the test medium is compared with at least one corresponding optical property of the sensor in absence of the test medium; wherein a difference in the optical property is indicative of one or more compounds of interest in the test medium. The methods and systems may employ long period grating sensors with or without SPME films, and fiber loop ring-down spectroscopy to measure optical properties of the sensor.

Abstract: This invention relates to a spinal facet cap for treating scoliosis, the facet cap comprising a shim portion for inserting into a facet joint of a spine, and an alignment portion for maintaining alignment of the shim portion within the facet joint. The invention also provides a method for treating scoliosis, comprising implanting at least one spinal facet cap into at least one facet joint of a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for determining the structure and/or function of one or more domains of a cation-dependent (and preferably calcium-dependent) polypeptide (particularly a calcium-dependent enzyme, which may be a protease such as calpain) in the presence of one or more cations. The invention further provides methods for identifying a ligand having the ability to bind to one or more ligand-binding domains (LBDs) of a cation-dependent (and preferably calcium-dependent) polypeptide, and ligands identified by these methods. The invention also provides methods of treating or preventing physical disorders in animals using these ligands.

Abstract: This invention provides a thermal energy system comprising a heat exchanger for transferring thermal energy between a source and a load, the heat exchanger having a primary side associated with the source, and a secondary side for conducting a fluid associated with the load, wherein the secondary side of the heat exchanger is passively back-flushed upon consumption of a portion of the fluid. Passive back-flushing prevents fouling of the heat exchanger due to sediments, scale,and mineral deposits which may be present in the circulating fluid.

Abstract: This invention provides methods of enhancing plant growth or yield, comprising exposing soil to hydrogen gas (H2), and growing plants in the soil. The H2 gas employed can be generated by electrolysis of water, produced by H2 evolving microorganisms, and/or produced by legumes. In accordance with the invention, soil can be exposed to H2 and plants then grown in it, or H2 can be applied directly to soil in which plants are already growing. In one embodiment, the invention comprises obtaining an aqueous extract from H2-treated soil, and applying the extract to soil, seeds, and or plant roots.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for a solar collector having intergral control of the the maximum temperature that it can reach, thereby avoiding excessive stagnation temperatures in the collector.

Abstract: This invention relates to thermally crosslinked and photo-crosslinked biodegradable and biocompatible elastomeric polymers. The elastomers can be used for biomedical devices such as needles, stents, catheters, scaffolds for tissue engineering, and implantable drug delivery devices. The photo-crosslinked elastomers are particularly useful for delivery devices for proteins and peptides.

Abstract: This invention relates to an ultrasonic transducer array for non-destructive imaging and inspection of materials, suitable for applications such as bio-medical imaging. According to the invention, the transducer has at least one electrode comprising an array of electrode elements, wherein the elements are not separated by a grooves or kerfs. The grooveless transducer design simplifies transducer construction and permits very high operating frequencies, and hence very high resolution. In one embodiment suitable for producing real-time high resolution 3-dimension images, the invention provides a hybrid transducer comprising two opposed electrodes, one electrode being a grooveless linear array and the second electrode being a grooved linear phased array.

Abstract: This invention provides methods of enhancing plant growth or yield, comprising exposing soil to hydrogen gas (H2), and growing plants in the soil. The H2 gas employed can be generated by electrolysis of water, produced by H2 evolving microorganisms, and/or produced by legumes. In accordance with the invention, soil can be exposed to H2 and plants then grown in it, or H2 can be applied directly to soil in which plants are already growing. In one embodiment, the invention comprises obtaining an aqueous extract from H2-treated soil, and applying the extract to soil, seeds, and or plant roots.

Abstract: A thermal energy system including a heat exchanger for transferring thermal energy between a source and a load, the heat exchanger having a primary side associated with the source, and a secondary side for conducting a fluid associated with the load, wherein the secondary side of the heat exchanger is passively back-flushed upon consumption of a portion of the fluid. Passive back-flushing prevents fouling of the heat exchanger due to sediments, scale, and mineral deposits which may be present in the circulating fluid.

Abstract: The present invention provide a method of treating sexual dysfunction in a female, including the vasculogenic symptoms of delayed vaginal engorgement, diminished vaginal lubrication, pain or discomfort with intercourse (dyspareunia), diminished vaginal sensation, diminished vaginal orgasm, diminished clitoral sensation or diminished clitoral orgasm, or of combating vaginal pain by stimulating peripheral pelvic nerve release of nitric oxide (NO). The method comprises administering to a female in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a compound which acts on a mid-brain pathway to increase blood flow to the ilio-hypogastric-pudendal artery bed and stimulate the release of nitric oxide (NO) from peripheral NANC nerve cells. The preferred compound for the method of this invention is apomorphine or one of its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, or pro-drugs.

Abstract: Methods are provided for preventing or inhibiting adverse cardiovascular effects associated with administration of a sympathetic nervous system antagonist in a subject, in which a subject in need thereof is administered a sympathetic nervous system antagonist and an endothelin antagonist. Methods for improving the efficacy of a sympathetic nervous system antagonist are also provided, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a sympathetic nervous system antagonist together with an endothelin antagonist. Methods of treating prostate cancer or benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) in a subject are also provided, in which a subject in need thereof is administered a sympathetic nervous system antagonist and an endothelin antagonist. The sympathetic nervous system antagonist may be an alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist, a ganglionic blocking agent or another inhibitor of the actions of the sympathetic nervous system.

Abstract: The mechanism of hypertension following acute NO synthase blockage is via endothelin-mediated vasoconstriction. Thus, NO appears to inhibit endothelin activity by blocking its expression and not as a chronic direct acting vasodilator. Administration of an endothelin antagonist to a patient in a ‘normal’ physiological state may result in specific regional vasodilation. This treatment finds utility in the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

Abstract: A method of treating a CNS disorder in a subject in need of such treatment, the method comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of an N′N′-dichlorinated amino acid, peptide, peptidomimetic, amine, or a pharmacologically acceptable analogue or derivative thereof, such that a CNS disorder is treated. An N′N′-dichlorinated amino acid, peptide, peptidomimetic, or amine capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier of a subject when administered thereto.

Abstract: Methods for treating vascular conditions associated with localized imbalance in vascular tone, which are hypothesized to be largely due to elevated endothelin (ET) are provided. The methods involve administration of nitric oxide (NO), agents which are able to provide NO, such as NO donors, agents which activate guanyl cyclase, such as YC-1, or agents which prolong the actions of endogenous NO or cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP; a 2nd messenger molecule), such as phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors. According to the invention, such agents are administered in minimal doses or microdoses by any route known in the art, so as to provide dosages which are about one half to about one twentieth (½ to {fraction (1/20)}) of those known to induce vasodilation in “normal” circulations.

Abstract: The present invention provides, in one embodiment, a method of normalizing the timing of sexual response in a mammal comprising the administration of an amount of a central nervous system sexual response initiator in an amount sufficient to produce genital vasodilation but less than the amount required to produce effective vasocongestive arousal. The method is applicable not only to adjusting or normalizing the timing of sexual response in humans, but in the breeding of valuable commercial animals such as horses, cattle, sheep, swine and the like and domesticated pets such as dogs and go cats. In an alternative embodiment, the present invention provides a method for the prophylactic treatment of long-term tissue degradation in the genital organs comprising the administration to a mammal of a central nervous system sexual response initiator in an amount sufficient to produce genital vasodilation but less than the amount required to produce effective vasocongestive arousal.

Abstract: Compounds and methods for mitigating neurodegeneration, effecting neuroprotection and/or effecting cognition enhancement in a subject are described. Neurological or cognitive conditions are treated by administering to a subject an effective amount of a therapeutic compound comprising a nitrate ester, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof.

Abstract: A polymethacrylate or other bone cement composition having analgesic properties is described. Bone cements containing up to 5% by weight of a local anaesthetic agent, such as lidocaine, have been demonstrated to elute sufficient lidocaine to provide an analgesic effect in vivo.