Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing lactic acid from a medium containing an alkaline earth-metal salt of lactic acid, comprising (a) reacting a conjugated base of an alkali metal from a subsequent step with the medium to form a water soluble alkali metal lactate salt and a basic compound of the alkaline earth metal; (b) separating the water soluble alkali metal lactate salt and the basic compound of the alkaline earth-metal; (c) splitting the water soluble alkali metal lactate to form a conjugated alkali metal base and a lactic acid product, which product is selected from the group consisting of lactic acid; and (d) separating the conjugated alkali metal base and the lactic acid product; (e) reusing the separated conjugated alkali metal base or the product in the step (a); and (f) reusing the basic compound of the alkaline earth metal, separated in step (b) to form an alkaline earth metal salt of lactic acid.

Abstract: Undesirable vibrations are controlled in a mechanical structure by confining the vibrations to one or more specified areas of the structure. Vibration confinement is achieved using a confinement device which effectively applies both translational and torsional forces to the structure. The strength of the translational and torsional forces, and the position of the confinement device are chosen by the designer to select a vibrational energy confinement region. Judicious selection of the confinement region permits the structure to avoid the transfer of vibrational energy to particularly sensitive portions of the structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nano-sized self-assembled structured concentrates and their use as effective suitable carriers for transferring active components into the human body. The nano-sized self-assembled concentrates are composed of an aqueous phase, an oil phase, a surfactant a co-solvent and co-surfactant. The formed nano-sized self-assembled structured concentrates may be in the form of an aqueous continuous phase, an oil continuous phase or a bicontinuous phase, and may thus be diluted to any desired extent in either oil or water maintaining their structure and the active material comprised within the nano-sized self-assembled structured concentrates.

Abstract: A process for producing dried meat is disclosed. First, a raw meat is sliced into a sliced meat having a thickness less than 1 cm. Then, the sliced meat is allowed to release salt soluble protein in an amount of 1.5 to 5.5 wt % of the total weight of the sliced meat. Then, the sliced meat is reformed into a reformed meat loaf. Finally, the reformed meat loaf is frozen, sliced, dried, and baked to obtain a reformed dried meat. The manual cost can be effectively saved and the chance of pollution can be reduced. Also, the obtained reformed dried meat has fibrous properties, and the appearance and eating quality are very close to those of the dried meat product obtained from conventional processes.

Abstract: Systems are disclosed for generating left and right panoramic mosaic images for use in facilitating panoramic stereoscopic viewing of a scene, and for displaying stereoscopic panoramic images to a viewer. The left and right panoramic image generators generate the left and right panoramic mosaic images from a series of images recorded or otherwise generated corresponding to respective angular or other positions, each image having a respective left and right image portion, and mosaics portions of those images together to form the respective left and right panoramic images. The display system displays a stereoscopic panoramic image to a viewer by displaying left and right panoramic images such that each is viewed by a respective one of the viewer's eyes.

Abstract: The design and the synthesis of backbone cyclic peptide analogs which functionally mimic the nuclear localization signal (NLS) region of macromolecules is disclosed. The principles of the invention are exemplified for the NLS sequences of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 proteins MA, Vpr, Tat and NLS-like sequences of HIV-1 protein Vif. We disclose the discovery of a novel, highly potent backbone cyclic peptide, designated BCvir, which inhibits nuclear import with an IC50 value of 35 nM. This inhibitory potency is to be compared to 12 &mgr;M exhibited by the linear parent HIV-1 MA NLS peptide. BCvir also reduced HIV-1 production by 75% in infected non-dividing cultured human T-cells and was relatively resistant to tryptic digestion. These properties render backbone cyclic peptide analogs of NLS or NLS-like sequences as candidates for novel drugs based on blocking nuclear import of viral genomes.

Abstract: The invention provides an electroflocculation process for producing potable water from impure water, comprising forming trivalent ions in situ by electrolysis of metallic electrodes (16) selected from the group consisting of metallic aluminum electrodes and metallic iron electrodes, wherein water to be treated is caused to ascend sequentially through apertures (22) provided in a stack of parallel metallic plates (16) serving as said electrodes, each plate being charged with a polarity opposite to plates adjacent thereto, apertures of adjacent plates being vertically misaligned, whereby turbulent flow and mixing is created by the sequential passage of said water to be treated from the aperture of the lowest of said plates to the apertures of the plates thereabove to exit from the highest of said plates.

Abstract: Antibodies to Tumor Necrosis Factor receptors (TNF-Rs) which inhibit the cytocidal effect of TNF but not its binding to the TNF-Rs, and ligands interacting with other receptors of the TNF/NGF family, are provided together with methods of producing them. The antibodies preferably bind to the fourth cysteine rich domain of the p75 TNF receptor or to the region between said fourth cysteine rich domain and the cell membrane.

Abstract: Novel isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides associated with the synthesis of plant cell wall polysaccharides are provided, together with genetic constructs comprising such sequences. Methods for using such constructs for the modulation of polysaccharide content in plants are also disclosed, together with transgenic plants comprising such constructs.

Abstract: A card shuffler is disclosed having a card output portion that is easily connectable to either a first output card receiver or a second output card receiver. The first output card receiver enables the dealer to remove cards one at a time from the shuffler. The second output card receiver enables the dealer to remove a group of cards at a time from the shuffler.

Abstract: A boomerang is made from a flat sheet material, and includes a plurality of blades connected to a central body by a plurality of interconnecting portions, and angularly displaced from one another about a center point. Each blade includes leading and trailing edges that are symmetrical relative to a middle line. Each interconnecting portion extends along a radial axis which intersects the middle line to form an obtuse included angle therewith. Each blade has a bent line that is positioned between the middle line and the trailing edge thereof, and cooperates with the trailing edge to define a bent portion which faces towards the leading edge and which forms an obtuse included angle with a horizontal plane. Varying the position of the bent lines and the included angles of the bent portions can change flight patterns and flight range of the boomerang.

Abstract: The invention provides a DNA molecule encoding transglutaminase of Streptoverticillium ladakanum, the encoded transglutaminase and the use of the transglutaminase in industrial process.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the cloning, sequencing and expression of homologous immunoreactive 28-kDa protein genes, p28-1, -2, -3, -5, -6, -7, -9, from a polymorphic multiple gene family of Ehrlichia canis. Further disclosed is a multigene locus encoding all nine homologous 28-kDa protein genes of Ehrlichia canis. Recombinant Ehrlichia canis 28-kDa proteins react with convalescent phase antiserum from an E. canis-infected dog, and may be useful in the development of vaccines and serodiagnostics that are particularly effective for disease prevention and serodiagnosis.

Abstract: The present invention relates the use of certain cannabidiol derivatives and of their dimethyl heptyl homologs (CBD-DMH) in the treatment of nausea, in particular chemotherapy-induced nausea, and of anti vomiting activity. The present invention relates also to the use of said cannabidiol derivatives being part of a pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for tracking a target. A signal from the target is received using a directional antenna and is digitized to provide a time series of samples. The samples are transformed, preferably by a wavelet transform. A signature of the target is identified in some of the transformed samples and a direction to the target is determined from others of the transformed samples. Target identification and target direction determination are iterated, with the identification being based on the most recently determined direction, and with the direction determination being based on the most recent identification, until a termination criterion is satisfied. Using wavelet transforms gives the antenna an effective beamwidth twenty percent narrower than the antenna aperture.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of increasing the cellular expression of a gene in a biological tissue after delivery of said gene to an animal, comprising the step of: administering to said animal a pharmacologically effective dose of a glucocorticoid in an amount sufficient to increase the cellular expression of said gene. Also provided is a various method of treating a pathophysiological state in a human by increasing cellular expression of a gene after delivery of said gene into a biological tissue of an animal in need of such treatment, comprising the step of: administering to said animal a pharmacologically effective dose of a glucocorticoid in an amount sufficient to increase the cellular expression of said gene.

Abstract: A method and composition for treating a dry eye condition by topically applying to the eye surfaces an emulsion forming a tear film that acts to lubricate the eye and to inhibit evaporation therefrom. The emulsion is constituted by water in which is dispersed a mixture that includes a phospholipid, a non-polar oil, a non-toxic emulsifying agent and a polar lipid that imparts a net positive charge to the film that is distributed throughout the film, causing the film to be electrostatically attracted to the anionic surface of the eye whereby the film adheres thereto and cannot be washed away. Includable in the mixture is a non-soluble therapeutic agent, such as cyclosporin which is effective against an eye disease and is delivered to the eye by the film.

Abstract: Apparatus for computational adaptive imaging comprises the following: an image information acquirer, which provides information relating to the refractive characteristics in a three-dimensional imaged volume; a ray tracer, which uses the information relating to the refractive characteristics to trace a multiplicity of rays from a multiplicity of locations in the three-dimensional imaged volume through the three-dimensional imaged volume, thereby providing a location dependent point spread function; and a deconvolver, which uses the location dependent point spread function, to provide an output image corrected for distortions due to variations in the refractive characteristics in the three-dimensional imaged volume.

Abstract: The present invention provides proteins capable of modulating or mediating the FAS receptor ligand or TNF effect on cells carrying FAS receptor or p55 receptor by binding or interacting with MORT-1 protein, which in turn binds to the intracellular domain of the FAS receptor or to another protein TRADD which binds to the p55 receptor. In addition, peptide inhibitors that interfere with the proteolytic activity of MORT-1-binding proteins having proteolytic activity are provided, as well as a method of designing them.

Abstract: Novel isolated polynucleotides associated with the lignin biosynthetic pathway are provided, together with constructs including such sequences. Methods for the modulation of lignin content, lignin structure and lignin composition in target organisms are also disclosed, the methods comprising incorporating one or more of the polynucleotides of the present invention into the genome of a target organism.