Abstract: A golf prosthesis assisting an upper extremity amputee to swing a golf club. In one embodiment, the prosthesis comprises first and second prosthetic sockets in which the amputee's limbs are received. An extension pylon extends from the first prosthetic socket towards the golf club. The second prosthetic socket is attached to the extension pylon, thereby assisting the amputee in keeping shoulders, back and hips in proper alignment during back swing and return swing. There is also a more complete transfer of energy into the swing from the shoulders, back and legs. A wrist terminal device connects the extension pylon to the golf club. The wrist terminal device emulates cocking and release of the wrists during a conventional golf swing. The wrist terminal device provides a club holder firmly holding the golf club, and a rotary joint advantageously restrained from rotation in all but a preselected plane.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to screening for an agent that inhibits the effect of a neurotoxin from a plaque component activated mononuclear phagocyte on a neuron. In addition, the present invention is directed to methods of screening for agents that inhibit mononuclear phagocyte-plaque component complex formation, plaque component activation of a mononuclear phagocyte, plaque component induced neurotoxicity of a mononuclear phagocyte. An agent obtained by the method of screening for an agent that inhibits mononuclear phagocyte-plaque component complex formation and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the agent are embodied by the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to screening for an agent that inhibits the effect of a neurotoxin from a plaque component activated mononuclear phagocyte on a neuron. In addition, the present invention is directed to methods of screening for agents that inhibit mononuclear phagocyte-plaque component complex formation, plaque component activation of a mononuclear phagocyte, plaque component induced neurotoxicity of a mononuclear phagocyte. An agent obtained by the method of screening for an agent that inhibits mononuclear phagocyte-plaque component complex formation and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the agent are embodied by the present invention.

Abstract: A hydratable, highly absorbent keratin solid fiber or powder capable of absorbing a large weight excess of water may be produced by partially oxidizing hair keratin disulfide bonds to sulfonic acid residues and reacting the sulfonic acid residues with a cation. The neutralized suspension can be filtered, washed, and dried, leaving keratin solid which can be shredded into fibers and further ground into powder. Addition of water to the solid produces a hydrogel. The powder or hydrogel may be useful as an absorbent material, as a therapeutic for skin, or as an excipient. The keratin materials can be incorporated into nonwoven films. The hydrogel may be used as biocompatible viscoelastic filler for implant applications. Both the hydrogel and nonwoven materials are also suitable for use as tissue engineering scaffolds.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel compositions and methods for using the S(+) enantiomer of desmethylselegiline (N-methyl-N-(prop-2-ynyl)-2-aminophenylpropane), for the treatment of selegiline-responsive diseases and conditions. Diseases and conditions responsive to selegiline include those produced by neuronal degeneration or neuronal trauma and those due to immune system dysfunction. Effective dosages are a daily dose of at least about 0.015 mg/kg of body weight.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to screening for an agent that inhibits the effect of a neurotoxin from a plaque component activated mononuclear phagocyte on a neuron. In addition, the present invention is directed to methods of screening for agents that inhibit mononuclear phagocyte-plaque component complex formation, plaque component activation of a mononuclear phagocyte, plaque component induced neurotoxicity of a mononuclear phagocyte. An agent obtained by the method of screening for an agent that inhibits mononuclear phagocyte-plaque component complex formation and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the agent are embodied by the present invention.

Abstract: Methods for producing thin keratin films, sheets, and bulk materials, and products formed using these methods. One method includes providing hair, reducing the hair such that the disulfide linkages are broken and free cysteine thiol groups formed, separating out a more soluble keratin fraction in solution, forming a thin layer from the more soluble fraction, and air drying the keratin fraction in the presence of oxygen, thereby forming new disulfide bonds imparting strength to the resulting thin keratin film. One method includes reducing hair by heating the hair under nitrogen in an ammonium hydroxide and ammonium thioglycolate solution followed by centrifuging and collecting the supernatant containing the more soluble keratin fraction. The more soluble keratin in this method is precipitated using HCI, removed, and resuspended in ammonium hydroxide. The keratin solution thus formed is poured onto a flat surface and allowed to air dry into a thin keratin film.

Abstract: A bicycle wheel rim includes a rim body with annular left and right tire retaining walls, an annular spoke mounting wall, and a tire retaining cavity. The tire retaining walls are spaced apart from each other. Each of the tire retaining walls has a radial inner edge proximate to a central axis of the rim body, and a radial out edge distal to the central axis. The spoke mounting wall interconnects the radial inner edges of the tire retaining walls, and is formed with a set of spoke mounting holes. The tire retaining cavity is formed between the tire retaining walls, and is configured to have two opposite lateral cavity parts and an intermediate cavity part between the lateral cavity parts. The lateral cavity parts are deeper than the intermediate cavity part with respect to the radial out edges of the tire retaining walls.

Abstract: An absolute position detector that interprets, rather than avoids, abnormal sensory states. Different combinations of sensors in an array are activated as a marker travels along a path. The current activation/deactivation state of the array is converted into a digital signal that is reliably indicative of the current absolute position of the marker along the path. In a preferred embodiment, a dynamic magnetic field is provided whose current condition represents the current absolute position of a moving marker. As the marker moves, the condition of the field changes to activate different groups of Hall Effect devices in an array. The activated groups may comprise one or more Hall Effect devices in the array, depending on the condition of the field as created by the position of the marker. The current activation/deactivation state of the array is then converted, advantageously via truth table logic, into a digital signal representative of the current position of the marker.

Abstract: Methods and pharmaceutical compositions for using desmethylselegiline. In particular, the present invention provides novel compositions and methods for using desmethylselegiline for selegiline-responsive diseases and conditions. Diseases and conditions responsive to selegiline include those produced by neuronal degeneration or neuronal trauma and those due to immune system dysfunction. Desmethylselegiline is the R-(−) enantiomer of N-methyl-N-(prop-2-ynyl)-2-aminophenylpropane. Claimed compositions include both the R-(−) isomer and mixtures of the R-(−) and S(+) isomers. Pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts may also be used. Effective dosages are a daily dose of at least about 0.015 mg/kg of body weight.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel compositions and methods for using the S-(+) enantiomer of desmethylselegiline (N-methyl-N-(prop-2-ynyl)-2-aminophenylpropane), for the treatment of selegiline-responsive diseases and conditions. Diseases and conditions responsive to selegiline include those produced by neuronal degeneration or neuronal trauma and those due to immune system dysfunction. Effective dosages are a daily dose of at least about 0.0015 mg/kg of body weight.

Abstract: Initially, a table in the database is baselined. The baselining function is usually built into the database system program which manages the database itself. This baselining procedure generates storage information like the number of rows in the table, the average length of a row, the number of chained/migrated rows, and the average free space per page in the table. This storage information is transferred to a monitoring routine via a transaction log. The monitoring routine accepts the storage information for the table. Next, the monitoring routine monitors the transaction log for entries which alter the storage information initially passed to it. At some point, an entity may wish to know the current storage information for the table. When this occurs, a message is passed to the monitoring routine, and the monitoring routine transfers the storage information to the requesting entity, without accessing the database.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to compositions containing a combination of a herb from the genus Symphytum together with a herb from the genus Equisetum. These compositions can be extracted and the extract used to alleviate symptoms associated with mycoplasma infection.

Abstract: An infant warmer has a bed assembly for supporting a baby born prematurely and a heat source with controls capable of maintaining the infant's body temperature within a desired range. The bed assembly is suitably supported to hold the infant at a convenient elevation. A light shield rests on the bed assembly and is adapted to block light from directly entering the eyes of the infant.

Abstract: A multi-port injection/selection valve utilizes a ferrule cluster to connect tubes or capillaries to a common port in the valve. The use of micro ferrule clusters, as opposed to conventional connectors such as nuts and/or bolts, permits the capillary ends to be positioned in extremely close proximity to the valve rotor and to each other, thus minimizing the volume between two capillaries when they are in brought into fluid communication with each other.

Abstract: A keratin hydrogel which can be used as a wound dressing and cell scaffolding. The keratin hydrogel is formed from clean, washed hair by partially oxidizing a significant percentage of disulfide linkages to form cysteic acid groups, while some disulfide linkages remain intact. The partially oxidized hair is treated with a reducing agent, thereby reducing most of the remaining disulfide linkages to cysteine-thioglycollate disulfide and cysteine groups. A soluble fraction of hair is collected and oxidized, such that the reduced sulfur groups are allowed to reform disulfide linkages, thereby binding the keratin together. The cysteic acid groups remain, providing hydrophilic sites within the hydrogel. A higher degree of partial oxidation results in a greater abundance of hydrophilic cysteic acid groups in the hydrogel.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel compositions and methods for using the S(+) enantiomer of desmethylselegiline (N-methyl-N-(prop-2-ynyl)-2-aminophenylpropane), for the treatment of selegiline-responsive diseases and conditions. Diseases and conditions responsive to selegiline include those produced by neuronal degeneration or neuronal trauma and those due to immune system dysfunction. Effective dosages are a daily dose of at least about 0.015 mg/kg of body weight.

Abstract: Waste from confined animal feeding/growing operation is flushed from barn and routed to an enclosed anaerobic digester. A liquid portion of the digested waste is further treated with aerobic digestion and then clarified liquid is used to flush the barn and restart the cycle. High water volume used for frequent flushing of the barn combined with enclosed anaerobic digestion leads to control of odors.

Abstract: A method of DNA library screening includes homologous recombination in E. coli utilizing lambda phage recombination functions. Inserting a positive selection marker such as antibiotic resistance into the target sequence by homologous recombination facilitates isolation of target sequences and requires only about 58-100 base pairs of total homology, thus allowing the use of synthetic fragments of DNA for targeting. DNA vector is designed for genomic library construction that features a novel genetic selection for inserts, automatic subcloning of isolated genomic clones and the presence of a negative selection marker adjacent to the genomic inserts to facilitate later gene targeting.

Abstract: A pen includes a vertical pen barrel, a mounting seat mounted fixedly on a top end of the pen barrel, and a molded metal unitary unit. The unit includes a pen top disposed swingably on the seat, and a pen clip extending integrally and downwardly from the pen top. The clip has a clamping end, which is movable relative to the pen barrel between a clamping position, where the clamping end presses against the pen barrel, and a releasing position, where the clamping end is spaced apart from the pen barrel. A biasing unit biases the clip to the clamping position.