Abstract: A process is provided for the preparation of albumin which has extremely low levels of or is essentially free of colorants, metal ions, human proteins, host proteins, fragments of albumin, polymers or aggregates of albumin and viruses, and which is essentially non-glycated, relatively high in free thiol and with an intact C-terminus. The process comprises passing albumin (preferably expressed and secreted by transformed yeast) through positive mode cation exchange and then positive mode anion exchange chromatography. Other steps may also be employed, ultrafiltration, gel permeation chromatography, affinity chromatography binding the albumin by using blue dyes) and affinity chromatography binding contaminants by using an aminophenylboronic acid resin. Elution of albumin, with a compound having affinity for albumin, from a material having no specific affinity for albumin is also disclosed, as is removal of ammonium ions with a counter-ion.

Abstract: A device for separating ions from a fluid stream is disclosed. The device includes multiple chambers in fluid communication with one another. A first chamber has an inlet, and a last chamber has an outlet. The inlets and outlets of intermediate chambers are connected to one another so that fluid flows in a circular pattern through each chamber. A magnetic field extends through the chambers perpendicular to the flow. The magnetic field induces a force on the ions, moving ions of one polarity to ward the center of the chambers and ions of the opposite polarity toward the periphery of the chambers. Each chamber has an outlet for drawing fluid from the chamber center. The circulation direction reverses in each chamber allowing both positive and negative ions to exit via the outlets. Fluid of reduced ion concentration exits the outlet channel.

Abstract: A performance monitor includes at least one Monitor Mode Control Register (MMCR) and plural Performance Control Monitors (PMCs). Each PMC is controlled by the MMCR to pair or group the PMCs so that the overflow from one PMC can be directed to its pair/group. By coupling the PMCs so that overflow from one can be directed to another, the effective size of the counters can be increased.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for invalidating session data stored in a database. In accordance with the invention, http sessions stored in the database are allowed to remain in the database without real time testing for session time out. Instead, invalid (or timed out) sessions remain in the database until a specified time. At that specified time, all http sessions are invalidated without actually testing them for time out. Alternately, each session can be individually tested for time out and only those sessions which have actually timed out are removed from the database or otherwise invalidated.

Abstract: An insecticide of formula 1 and the agriculturally acceptable salts thereof, wherein: R1 is selected from the group consisting of: the group OR5 wherein R5 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, heterocyclic and substituted heterocyclic; the group —NR6OH wherein R6 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, carbocyclic and substituted carbocyclic; the group NR7R8 wherein R7 and R8 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl and carbocyclic; and the group wherein R1 is linked to R2 to form a diradical bridging group; R2 and R3 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, carbocyclic, substituted carbocyclic, aryl, substituted aryl, acyl and substituted acyl; and A is a diradical linking group which has a molecular weight of preferably

Abstract: A vehicle switch apparatus for increasing space for other switches and ensuring operation of a switch when the switch must be felt for in order to be operated. The vehicle switch apparatus includes a paddle that has a front surface facing the driver and a rear surface opposite to the front surface. A push switch is arranged near the rear surface of the paddle and includes an operation portion operated by the driver. The paddle has a window for enabling the driver to visually check operation of the operation portion.

Abstract: An encoder for stably detecting the amount of movement of an object. The encoder includes an LED for emitting light toward a rotor plate including slits. An optical sensor generates an ON signal when the amount of emitted light passing through the slits exceeds a threshold value. A current increasing circuit increases the amount of current flowing through the LED when the optical sensor generates an ON signal.

Abstract: A digital pulse-width-modulation (PWM) generator comprising: an n bit digital magnitude comparator having first and second n bit inputs and an output indicative of the relative values of the signals applied at the first and second inputs; a first n bit digital up/down counter having a count direction input coupled to receive a sign bit of a digital unary input signal, an n bit parallel binary count output connected to the first n bit input of the magnitude comparator, and a clock input; a second n bit counter having a clock input coupled to receive a constant rate clock signal and an n bit parallel binary count output connected to the second n bit input of the magnitude comparator; an AND gate having a first input coupled to receive the constant rate clock signal in frequency divided form and a second input coupled to receive a magnitude portion of the digital unary input signal, and further having an output connected to the clock input of the first counter; and wherein the comparator continually generates an

Abstract: A non-invasive method for determining the articular point of a joint is disclosed. The method uses a surgical navigation system having a stereoscopic cameras which tracks the positions of infrared emitting or reflecting markers attached to appendages on either side of the joint. A movable marker is used to palpate known landmarks on the appendages to determine their positions. The appendages are moved to determine the trajectories of the landmarks relative to the joint. Positional information from the cameras is fed to a data processing system with resident software which uses the positional information and trajectories to mathematically determine the position of the joint articular point according to the laws of kinematics.

Abstract: A method for upgrading one of several computer programs stored on an application server in a distributed computing environment while permitting the application server to continue to service requests for other computer programs. In accordance with the method, the application server is prevented from receiving any new requests for the computer program. The system then waits until all current requests serviced by the application server for that computer program have ended. Then, after acknowledging completion of upgrading of the computer program, the application server is permitted to receive any new requests for the computer program. Apparatuses for carrying out the inventive method are provided.

Abstract: Parties involved in transacting business in an E-marketplace (E-marketplace participants) each identify and submit to the E-marketplace relevant characteristics related to their privacy policy needs. When it is determined that two or more participants are collaborating in a transaction (e.g., a supplier and a shipper; two suppliers; three buyers), the privacy policies of the collaborative group are aggregated to produce a single policy that represents the primary policies of the collaborative transaction being presented by the collaborative group.

Abstract: A fabric article useful for the cushioning surface of a car seat and like items is formed from thick main elastic yarn which is thicker than main stitch yarn, and main inserted yarn which is more bulky and thicker than the main elastic yarn in apparent thickness, are knitted in line in the knitting width direction or in the knitting length direction of a mesh-like base knitted fabric which is knitted up with main stitch yarns by using a warp knitting machine and which have openings which are larger than the needle loops formed from the stitch yarn and extend over plural knitting courses.

Abstract: A time savings information management guide that can direct readers to key resources is disclosed. The processes that readers use to identify resources of interest are integrated into a formal reproducible process for large-scale application. The message mapping technique is a process by which the key ideas (messages) described in information resources, including but not limited to books, articles, abstracts, monographs, advertisements, and scientific posters, are identified, categorized, and quantitatively scored for relevance from the point of view of the reader (i.e., consumer, a doctor, researcher, etc).

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel cathepsin S inhibitors, the pharmaceutically acceptable salts and N-oxides thereof, their uses as therapeutic agents and the methods of their making.

Abstract: A guidance device including a body having multiple reflective fields, and a mounting member for secure mounting to a surface. The body's reflective surfaces may be oriented to reflect approaching light from the top, bottom, left, and right, thereby enhancing its visibility regardless of an approach mode of rescue personnel, and regardless of an orientation in which the guidance device is mounted. The guidance device may include an element capable of absorbing heat to enhance the guidance device's detection by a thermal imaging camera, or be configured to cause emission of light from responsive to detection of light (e.g. from a firefighter's flashlight). One or more guidance devices may be sold as part of a kit that includes an identification marker mountable adjacent an entry door of a building, and instructions for coordinating mounting positions of the identification marker and the guidance device relative to their respective doors.

Abstract: A dental handpiece including a handpiece body with a head mounting seat, with a gas feeding channel, wherewith the seat is adapted to provide a full turn of the head. The head includes a turbine and an gas feeding aperture to the turbine. A micromotor is included having an inlet for feeding gas and a drive shaft for ensuring mechanical drive action. An intermediate gas feeding channel is made on the inner surface of the head mounting seat or on the outer surface of a part of the head. The drive shaft of the micromotor is connected to the head, and the inlet for feeding gas to the micrometer is connected to the gas feeding channel in the body.