Abstract: An open flow helium cryostat system for cooling a sample crystal to be examined using X-ray diffraction, neutron diffraction, or a similar method. The cryostat system including a primary helium supply to provide a first stream of liquid helium onto the sample crystal and a secondary helium supply to provide a second stream of gaseous helium around at least a portion of the primary helium supply at a temperature warmer than the first stream of liquid helium to prevent the formation of ice on the sample crystal.

Abstract: A circuit for heating energy storage devices such as batteries is provided. The circuit includes a pair of switches connected in a half-bridge configuration. Unidirectional current conduction devices are connected in parallel with each switch. A series resonant element for storing energy is connected from the energy storage device to the pair of switches. An energy storage device for intermediate storage of energy is connected in a loop with the series resonant element and one of the switches. The energy storage device which is being heated is connected in a loop with the series resonant element and the other switch. Energy from the heated energy storage device is transferred to the switched network and then recirculated back to the battery. The flow of energy through the battery causes internal power dissipation due to electrical to chemical conversion inefficiencies. The dissipated power causes the internal temperature of the battery to increase.

Abstract: An electronic battery equalization circuit that equalizes the voltages of a plurality of series connected batteries in a battery pack. The current waveform is in the shape of a ramp for providing zero current switching. The transformer has a primary winding circuit and at least one secondary winding circuit. In one embodiment, each secondary winding circuit is connected to a different pair of batteries. The equalizing current is provided to the lowest voltage batteries in one half of the battery pack during one half of the charging cycle. The equalizing current is then provided to the lowest voltage batteries in the other half of the battery pack during the other half of the charging cycle. In another embodiment, each secondary winding circuit is connected to a different single battery. The equalizing current is supplied to a lowest voltage battery in the battery pack during each half of the switching cycle.

Abstract: This invention relates to the use of a family of chiral .alpha.-substituted benzylamine reagents during chemical synthesis. Specifically, the reagents can be used in an auxiliary manner to deliver either a substituted or unsubstituted nitrogen atom while simultaneously bestowing an asymmetric bias toward the formation and separation of the diastereomeric intermediates that result from reaction of the reagents with racemic substrates also having one or more asymmetric atoms. The chiral auxiliary portion of the reagents can then be readily removed at some later and convenient stage of the overall synthetic scheme. The initial nitrogen-delivery reaction, asymmetric separation procedures, and removal of the chiral auxiliary can all be conducted under routine experimental conditions, including the final debenzylation, such that the overall method is adaptable to large-scale chemistry.

Abstract: A method of electroless plating at least one homogeneous metal coating in a predetermined pattern on a solid substrate surface having pendant hydroxy groups. The method includes the steps of providing a first monatomic metal layer in a predetermined pattern on the solid substrate surface having pendent hydroxy groups and then immersing the solid substrate surface in a bath containing a chemical reducing agent to build up the at least one homogeneous metal coating only on the monatomic metal layer.

Abstract: An implantable bioartificial pancreas device having an islet chamber containing glucose responsive and insulin-secreting islets of Langerhans or similar hormone secreting cells, one or more vascularizing chambers open to surrounding tissue, a semi-permeable membrane between the islet and vascularizing chambers that allows passage of small molecules including insulin, oxygen and glucose and does not allow passage of agents of the immune system such as white cells and antibodies, the vascularizing chambers containing a growth factor soaked fibrous or foam matrix having a porosity of about 40 to 95%, the matrix providing small capillary growth and preventing the blood from clotting in the lower chamber.

Abstract: A long range surface plasmon resonance sensor for use in biological, biochemical or chemical testing. The sensor includes a first dielectric medium and a second dielectric medium having an index of refraction approximately matching the first dielectric medium. A double-grating structure is located between the first dielectric medium and the second dielectric medium. A beam of electromagnetic radiation is introduced into the second dielectric medium in a manner which causes long range surface plasmon resonance to occur such that the beam of radiation suffers attenuated total reflection. The characteristics of the resonance dependent upon the reaction between the bonding layer and the targeted bonding molecule are then detected.

Abstract: A battery charger control system and method for maximizing output power to a battery. This is achieved by ensuring operation at either the maximum allowable input current or the thermal limit imposed by the battery charger using an on-line controller. In the invention, the thermal limit is determined by the junction temperatures of the two main IGBT's. Because direct measurement of these temperatures is impractical, they must be calculated by a computer algorithm that uses various on-line measurements. Test results for a 8 kW battery charger indicate reduction in the bulk charging time from conventional battery chargers of about 26% when charging a set of NiFe batteries.

Abstract: An improved four-bar knee joint mechanism for use in knee disarticulation prosthesis is shown, including a coupler link forming a negative angle with the horizontal when said knee joint mechanism is in its stance position, an anterior link, a fixed link in a horizontal position when said knee joint is in the extended or stance position, and a posterior link, the dimensions of the links and the angle the coupler link makes with the horizontal being chosen to optimize the instant center of the mechanism.

Abstract: Purified imines of porphyrins, chlorins, bateriochlorins, chlorophylls, bacteriochlorophylls, purpurins, reduced purpurins, verdins, Diels Alder adducts, benzochlorins and metal complexes of the foregoing imines are disclosed. The formulas of the benzochlorinimines and of the benzochlorinimine metal complexes are set forth below: ##STR1## In specific examples, M in the metal complexes is a copper cation that is complexed with two of the nitrogens of the benzochlorinimine R' and R"" are methyl, and R1 through R8 are ethyl.

Abstract: A compound having nonlinear optical properties of the general formula:Ar.sup.1 CR.sup.1 .dbd.CR.sup.2 (Ar.sup.2 CR.sup.3 .dbd.CR.sup.4).sub.n Ar.sup.3 (I)wherein, n represents a whole number; R.sup.1, R.sup.1, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 groups are independently selected from H, branched aliphatic, straight chain aliphatic, branched silane or straight chain silane; Ar.sup.1 and Ar.sup.3 are aromatic radicals having a substituent in at least one position adjacent to a site of attachment of the C.dbd.C double bond and having at least one electron withdrawing or electron donating substituent in at least one of the remaining positions; Ar.sup.2 is an aromatic radical having a substituent in at least one position adjacent to a site of attachment of the C.dbd.C double bond; with the proviso that the substituent in at least one position adjacent to the site of attachment of the C.dbd.C double bond and R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 groups are sufficiently large to cause Ar.sup.1, Ar.sup.2 and Ar.sup.

Abstract: A muscarinic agonist compound having the formula (I) or (II) below or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: ##STR1## where R is (trans) 3-methyl-2-penten-4-ynyl, (cis)3-methyl-2-penten-4-ynyl, 2-butynyl, 2-methylbutenyl, 3-methylpropynyl, phenylpropynyl, butynyl; or ##STR2## where R' is butynyl.

Abstract: Families of Diels Alder adducts and of metal complexes of Diels Alder adducts, which are useful as particularly active compounds for use in photodynamic therapy, are disclosed. The Diels Alder adducts and a preferred family of metal complexes have the structures of Formulas 1, 2, 3 and 4, below: ##STR1## where R1, R2, R3 and R4 can be the same or different, and each is methyl, ethyl or an amino acid moiety which is a part of an amide produced by reaction between an amine function of a naturally occurring amino acid and a carbonyl function of the adduct, R5, R6 and R7 can be the same or different, and each is ethyl or an amino acid moiety which is a part of an amide produced by reaction between an amine function of a naturally occurring amino acid and a carbonyl function of the adduct, M comprises metal cation.

Abstract: A method of delivering a medicament to the surface of a cancer cell and transferring the medicament into the cancer cell using an activated plasminogen activator material such as a plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 or type-2 (PAI-1, PAI-2). The medicament is coupled to PAI-1 or PAI-2 to form a reaction product that is coupled with the urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) that is bound to the cell surface by the uPA receptor (uPAR). The medicament is coupled to PAI-1 or PAI-2 (for example, using a preserving agent such as saporin) in such a way that the medicament does not interfere with active sites responsible for binding to uPA or LRP proteins responsible for the internalization of the plasminogen activator material/conjugated medicament. The conjugated medicament prevents the conversion of the plasminogen activator inhibitor material into its latent inactive form. The resulting complex is internalized into the cancer cell to deliver the medicament within the cell.

Abstract: An implantable bioartificial pancreas device having an islet chamber containing glucose responsive and insulin-secreting islets of Langerhans or similar hormone secreting cells, one or more vascularizing chambers open to surrounding tissue, a semi-permeable membrane between the islet and vascularizing chambers that allows passage of small molecules including insulin, oxygen and glucose and does not allow passage of agents of the immune system such as white cells and antibodies, the vascularizing chambers containing a growth factor soaked fibrous or foam matrix having a porosity of about 40 to 95%, the matrix providing small capillary growth and preventing the blood from clotting in the lower chamber.

Abstract: Boron-zirconium 1,1,-dimetallic organic compounds useful in organic synthesis such as the preparation of alpha-borobromanes. The boron-zirconium compounds include boron and zirconiun, and in particular the synthesis, structure and reactivity of E-chlorobis(cyclopentadienyl)- [1-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolane-2-yl)-3,3-dimethylbutenyl]zirc onium (IV). The boron-zirconium 1,1-dimetallic compound is used as a polymerization catalyst to polymerize alpha-olefins such as styrene.

Abstract: An electronic battery equalization circuit that equalizes the voltages of a plurality of series connected batteries in a battery pack. The current waveform is in the shape of a ramp for providing zero current switching. The ramp converter power circuit has at least one semiconductor device and a transformer coupled to the equalizing voltage supply source. The transformer has a primary winding circuit and at least one secondary winding circuit. In one embodiment, each secondary winding circuit is connected to a different pair of batteries. The equalizing current is provided to the lowest voltage batteries in one half of the battery pack during one half of the charging cycle. The equalizing current is then provided to the lowest voltage batteries in the other half of the battery pack during the other half of the charging cycle. In another embodiment, each secondary winding circuit is connected to a different single battery.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel process for the preparation of highly potent histamine receptor antagonists, in particular histamine H.sub.3 -receptor antagonists. Also disclosed is a novel process for the preparation of intermediates useful in the preparation of histamine receptor antagonists, in particular H.sub.3 -receptor antagonists.

Abstract: Diazolyl compounds having activity as histamine H3-receptor antagonists, pharmaceutical compositions and methods of using such compounds for treating cognitive disorder or attention or arousal deficit.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel compounds having activity as histamine H.sub.3 -receptor antagonists. The novel compounds include 4-imidazolyl-N-substituted pyrrolidines, piperidines, and cycloheptimides. The preferred compounds are 4-imidazolyl-N-(cycloalkyl/aryl-alkyl-carbonyl) piperidines such as 4-(1-cyclohexylvaleryol-4-piperidyl)-1H-imidazole.