Abstract: A method of case hardening an article formed of titanium, zirconium or an alloy of titanium and/or zirconium is disclosed. First, the article is heat-treated in an oxidizing atmosphere at a temperature in the range of 700 to 1000° C. so as to form an oxide layer on the article. Then, the article is further heat-treated in a vacuum or in a neutral or inert atmosphere at a temperature in the range of 700 to 1000° C. so as to cause oxygen from the oxide layer to diffuse into the article.

Abstract: Devices useful in the delivery of DNA encoding neurotrophic agents, anti-fibrotic agents, and related compositions are disclosed herein for use in the treatment of central and/or peripheral nervous system injury. Methods of making and using the disclosed devices and DNA are also described. In various embodiments, the invention also discloses compositions and devices that may further include a targeting agent, such as a polypeptide that is reactive with an FGF receptor (e.g., bFGF), or another ligand that binds to cell surface receptors on neuronal cells, or a support cell. The invention also discloses methods of promoting neuronal survival and regeneration via transfection of an axon as it grows through a device or composition of the present invention, or via transfection of a repair cell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to gene therapy. In particular, therapeutic agents, therapeutic gene products, and compositions are disclosed. Various systems and methods useful in targeting and delivering non-native nucleotide sequences to specific cells are disclosed, wherein virus-antibody-ligand conjugates are used to facilitate targeting and delivery.

Abstract: An active &bgr;-endorphin fragment or an analog of such a fragment is provided to a patient for alleviating the effect of muscle-wasting disease and for inhibiting or reducing leakage of an enzyme from a living muscle. The &bgr;-endorphin fragment is selected from &bgr;-endorphin (30, 31), &bgr;-endorphin (29-31), &bgr;-endorphin (28-31) and stabilized analogs thereof.

Abstract: Devices useful in the delivery of DNA encoding neurotrophic agents, anti-fibrotic agents, and related compositions are disclosed herein for use in the treatment of central and/or peripheral nervous system injury. Methods of making and using the disclosed devices and DNA are also described. In various embodiments, the invention also discloses compositions and devices that may further include a targeting agent, such as a polypeptide that is reactive with an FGF receptor (e.g., bFGF), or another ligand that binds to cell surface receptors on neuronal cells, or a support cell. The invention also discloses methods of promoting neuronal survival and regeneration via transfection of an axon as it grows through a device or composition of the present invention, or via transfection of a repair cell.

Abstract: A method of reducing intra-ocular pressure (IOP) in a patient afflicted with elevated IOP is disclosed. The method comprises the step of administering (preferably topically to an afflicted eye) to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a &bgr;-HSD-1 inhibitor.

Abstract: A high resolution patterning method of a resist layer is disclosed by patternwise irradiation of a resist layer with electron beam utilizing a polysubstituted triphenylene compound as the electron beam resist material, which is graphitized and made insoluble in both polar and non-polar organic solvents for electron doses greater than 2×10−3 C/cm2, and which undergoes cleavage of the adduct chains and extensive de-aromatization of the triphenylene core therefore enhancing the solubility in polar solvents only for electron doses between 3×10−4 and 2×10−3 C/cm2. The thus formed positive or negative tone resist layer is highly resistant against dry etching to ensure the utility of the method in fine patterning work for the manufacture of semiconductor devices.

Abstract: This invention, in one aspect, relates to a method of applying a corrosion-resistant coating on an article and is particularly, but not exclusively, concerned with a method of applying a corrosion-resistant coating on an Nd—Fe—B magnet. In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method of applying a coherent coating on the surfaces of the particles of a powder. Such powder may be one which is susceptible to oxidative corrosion and/or one which is used to form a magnet (e.g Nd—Fe—B powder).

Abstract: Austenitic stainless steel articles are treated to produce a hardened surface layer thereon by plasma heat-treating the articles at a temperature in the range of 300 to 600° C. and at a pressure in the range of 100 to 1500 Pa in a carbon-containing treatment atmosphere so as to introduce carbon interstitially into the austenite phase in a surface layer on the article.

Abstract: The tribological behavior of titanium or titanium alloy article is improved by gaseous oxidation of the article at a temperature in the range of 500 to 725° C. for 0.5 to 100 hours, the temperature and time being selected such as to produce an adherent surface compound layer containing at least 50% by weight of oxides of titanium having a rutile structure and a thickness of 0.2 to 2 &mgr;m on a solid solution-strengthened diffusion zone wherein the diffusing element is oxygen and the diffusion zone has a depth of 5 to 50 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A high-resolution patterning method of a resist layer is disclosed by patternwise irradiation of the resist layer with electron beams utilizing a methanofullerene compound as the electron beam resist material, which is graphitized and made insoluble in an organic solvent by the electron beam irradiation in a dose of, for example, 1.times.10.sup.-4 C/cm.sup.2 or larger. The thus formed resist layer is highly resistant against dry etching to ensure utilizability of the method in the fine patterning work for the manufacture of semiconductor devices.

Abstract: A mass selector is disclosed for separating particles in a particle beam according to mass. The selector has a pair of first eletrodes (12, 14) defining an elongate first path (16) for the passage of a focused particle beam. A pair of second electrodes (24, 26) are spaced from the pair of first electrodes (12, 14) and define an elongate second path (28) for separated particles. The first and second paths (16, 28) are mutually parallel. A first voltage pulse is applied across the first electrodes (12, 14) so that the particles in a portion of the beam which is in the first path (16) are accelerated transversely of their direction of movement along said first path toward said second path. A second voltage pulse is applied across the second electrodes (24, 26) so that particles which have been accelerated by said first voltage pulse and which have entered said second path (28) are decelerated transversely of their direction of movement along said second path.

Abstract: The use of a) an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor such as Captopril or Enalapril, b) an angiotensin II-receptor antagonist such as Saralasin or Losartan, or c) a renin inhibitor, such as Remikiren or [N-(pyridyl-3-propionyl)-phenylalanyl-histidyl-(3S,4S) ACHPA-isoleucylamino]-2-methyl-2-dihydroxy-1,3-propane, for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of uterine fibroids is disclosed. The ACE inhibitor may be used concomitantly or sequentially with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist such as Buserelin or Goserelin.

Abstract: Barium, strontium and/or rare earth metal hexaferrite powder of low coercivity can be produced by subjecting a barium, strontium and/or rare earth metal hexaferrite powder to carburising, nitriding, carbonitriding, hydriding or carbohydriding conditions without undue loss of saturation magnetisation. High coercivity powder can be produced by calcining the low coercivity powder (FIG. 1). High remanence and high saturation magnetisation powder can be produced by mechanically alloying of a Sr--, Ba and/or rare earth metal hexaferrite powder with iron powder (FIG. 12).

Abstract: Hot metal is circulated by an R-H unit in a closed loop path through first and second hearths and chambers. Titaniferous material containing iron oxide is introduced into the first hearth and the iron oxide therein is reduced in a heating zone in the first hearth to iron to produce titania slag having a reduced iron content which is removed in chamber before the hot metal passes via an underflow weir into chamber at which coal is added and a proportion of hot metal is removed. The addition of coal is such that more than 2% by weight of carbon dissolves in the hot metal in the second hearth. Coal ash slag is removed at chamber, while the hot metal containing the dissolved carbon is recirculated to the first hearth.

Abstract: A highway pavement has a multi-layer structure (20) interposed between the subbase (24) and the subgrade (22). The multi-layer structure is also suitable for use in railway pavements. The multi-layer structure (20) comprises upper and lower flexible sheet materials (14; 10) and an intermediate load-spreading layer formed of a multiplicity of load-spreading elements (12) held together in the desired preset relationship so that gaps are provided between adjacent elements (12) for passage of water. The upper flexible sheet material (14) is water permeable. The lower flexible sheet material (10) is either (a) substantially water impermeable but provided with perforations (16) or slits therethrough at locations which open into the gaps between the load-spreading elements (12), or (b) water vapour permeable but substantially impermeable to liquid water, or (c) substantially impermeable to liquid water and water vapour. In some embodiments the upper sheet material (14) may be omitted.

Abstract: A titanium alloy product having good tribological properties without the need to introduce an alloying element into the surface is produced by casting or casting and forging a titanium alloy consisting of 2 to 15% by weight silicon or 5 to 15% by weight nickel, 0 to 7% by weight of at least one strengthening element selected from aluminum, tin, zirconium, chromium, manganese, iron, molybdenum and niobium, and 0 to 2% by weight of a surface improving alloying element selected from boron, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and zirconium, the balance apart from impurities and incidental ingredients being titanium. Such alloy is then surface treated by surface melting and rapid solidification so as to produce a hard, wear-resistant surface layer without substantially affecting the bulk properties of the alloy.

Abstract: A dental wedge for propping open the mount of a patient to facilitate oral examination and treatment has an elongate portion which in use, is inserted between the jaws of a patient. The wedge further has a pair of oppositely directed flanges extended laterally from the elongate portion at or near the distal end of the latter. The flanges serve to limit insertion of the elongate portion into the mouth of the patient. The elongate portion is hollow to enable insertion of a finger of the person carrying out examination and treatment.

Abstract: A disposable assay device for assaying a sample has a body (10) including a reaction chamber (12) which contains or is adapted to receive an assay reagent sensitive to a component (e.g. nicotine metabolite) being assayed for in the sample. A sample collector/dispenser (20) has a sample collecting chamber (22) closed by an elastic membrane (24) and a downwardly projecting sampling and piercing tube (28), to enable a predetermined quantity of sample to be dispensed into the reaction chamber (12). The body (10) and the collector/dispenser (20) are non-detachably engageable together by engagement of rib (34) on collector/dispenser (20) with lip (18) on the body (10). A seal (32) seals the assembly to prevent leakage of the contents after use.

Abstract: Copper and or nickel sulfide ore concentrates of high intrinsic value are oxygen smelted by introducing such concentrates via feeds (32) into a closed loop extraction circuit in which a molten sulphide carrier composition is forcibly circulated by an R-H unit (14) through lower hearth (10) at which feed of the concentrates takes place, and upper hearth (12) at which controlled oxidation with technically pure oxygen through top lances (4) takes place to oxidize copper sulphide and iron sulphide in the concentrate to iron oxide. Copper is removed via line (42). Slag containing iron oxide is discharged via weir (22) into a secondary circuit in hearths (24 and 28). Carbonaceous reductant added to the slag in (28) reduces the iron oxide in the slag to hot iron product.