Abstract: The present invention provides methods for reducing, preventing or delaying the development of tolerance to certain drugs that target G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR). The methods are generally carried out by co-administering with the drug an agonist for the drug-target GPCR that promotes the endocytosis of the targetted receptor. The methods are particularly useful for drugs that target the opioid receptors, for example morphine. The present invention also provides compositions comprising a drug and an agonist that are advantageous in preventing the development of tolerance to the drug that can develop when the drug is administered alone.

Abstract: A method for indirectly assessing the gesture, posture or movement of a body part of a person includes transmitting an ultrasound signal into the soft tissue, particularly the muscle, of body part and manipulating the reflected ultrasound signal to obtain parameter data. The parameter data is compared to reference information to obtain gesture, posture or movement information for the body part. Apparatus includes an ultrasound transmitter and receiver for transmitting, a signal processor, and a processor for storing reference information and determining gesture, posture or movement information for the body part.

Abstract: A device including a housing, a writing tip connected to the housing, a writing surface position indicator, a processor in the housing, a memory device in the housing connected to the processor, and a sensor in the housing and cooperative with the writing surface position indicator. The device may be used to record writings and drawings applied to a surface by a user, to transmit that data to a remote device, to download data from remote devices, and to otherwise communicate with remote devices.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is disclosed that includes one or more blocks of switching logic (comprised of transistors) connected between a power supply and a common node. A control transistor connects the common node to ground. The control transistor has a higher threshold voltage level than the voltage threshold level(s) of the transistors that comprise the switching logic blocks. A bias generator provides a positive bias to the body of the control transistor when the control transistor is “on.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manipulating, effecting interaction of, photochemically transforming and/or sorting small dielectric particles or other materials. The apparatus and method involves use of one or more diffractive optical elements which each receive a laser beam and form a plurality of laser beams. These laser beams are operated on by a telescope lens system and then an objective lens element to create an array of optical traps for manipulating, effecting interaction of, photochemically transforming and/or sorting small dielectric particles or other materials.

Abstract: Recombinant bacteria containing nucleotide sequences encoding Streptococcus thermophilus phage helicase and primase genes expressed in the antisense orientation and methods of making and using the same are disclosed. Replication of bacteriophage infecting this bacterial cell, can be inhibited or decreased by constitutively expressing, the antisense oligonucleotide encoding for S. thermophilus phage helicase or primase.

Abstract: A sensor is capable of detecting clear or opaque materials. The sensor can be disposed around a clear tube which carries a material such as liquid. The sensor utilizes a thin beam light source and a wide area photo detector. A window comparator determines the presence or absence of a material such as liquid.

Abstract: An organic light emitting device is provided. The device includes an anode, a cathode, and an emissive layer disposed between the anode and the cathode. The emissive layer includes material having the structure: M is a metal having an atomic weight greater than 40, m is at least 1, n is at least zero, R″ is H or any substituent, X is an ancillary ligand, and A is selected from the group consisting of aryl and heteroaryl rings, and B is an aryl ring. A material including the photoactive ligand of the above material is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward an apparatus and method for determining localized strain in a target body by identifying sets of features in reflected echo sequences and by comparing sets of features to determine time shift values between features.

Abstract: The surface of a high molecular weight polymer such as high molecular weight polyethylene is modified in a localized manner by treatment with a plasma gas. The treatment produces a variety of useful results, depending on the gas used and the treatment conditions. One such result is crosslinking of the polymer in a localized manner at the surface to improve the durability of the surface against detrimental processes such as reorientation and alignment of the crystalline lamellae parallel to the contact surface which renders the surface susceptible to disintegration into particles. Another result is the chemical transformation of the surface for purposes such as increasing the hydrophilic or hydrophobic nature of the surface or coupling functional groups to the surface.

Abstract: This invention comprises a new process for developing high regression rate propellants for application to hybrid rockets and solid fuel ramjets. The process involves the use of a criterion to identify propellants which form an unstable liquid layer on the melting surface of the propellant. Entrainment of droplets from the unstable liquid-gas interface can substantially increase propellant mass transfer leading to much higher surface regression rates over those that can be achieved with conventional hybrid propellants. The main reason is that entrainment is not limited by heat transfer to the propellant from the combustion zone. The process has been used to identify a new class of non-cryogenic hybrid fuels whose regression rate characteristics can be tailored for a given mission. The fuel can be used as the basis for a simpler hybrid rocket design with reduced cost, reduced complexity and increased performance.

Abstract: A food preparation device such as toaster includes a chassis, a heating element, and a carriage for directly or indirectly supporting a food item. The carriage is movable with respect to the chassis to move the food item to or from a cooking position adjacent to the heating element. A Shape Memory Alloy resistance member is connected between the carriage and the chassis. Electric circuitry controls voltage/current to the Shape Memory Alloy resistance member to selectively heat the resistance member and alter its shape to move the carriage to or from the cooking position.

Abstract: More specifically, gallium nitride semiconductor layers may be fabricated by etching an underlying gallium nitride layer on a sapphire substrate, to define at least one post in the underlying gallium nitride layer and at least one trench in the underlying gallium nitride layer. The at least one post includes a gallium nitride top and a gallium nitride sidewall. The at least one trench includes a trench floor. The gallium nitride sidewalls are laterally grown into the at least one trench, to thereby form a gallium nitride semiconductor layer. However, prior to performing the laterally growing step, the sapphire substrate and/or the underlying gallium nitride layer is treated to prevent growth of gallium nitride from the trench floor from interfering with the lateral growth of the gallium nitride sidewalls of the at least one post into the at least one trench.

Abstract: The invention provides lipophilic phosphonoacid/nucleoside conjugates that exhibit exceptional antiviral activity, including activity against drug-resistant HIV strains. Compounds of the invention include phosphonoacid/nucleoside conjugates where the carboxyl group and phosphonyl groups of the phosphonacid are esterified whereby the compound contains at least one lipophilic group and at least one nucleoside group.

Abstract: A method for enhancing resist sensitivity and resolution based on influencing the effects of photoacid drift and diffusion by an externally applied electric field that may optionally include a direct current offset bias is disclosed. An electric field applied to the resist film during post exposure bake (PEB) enhances photoacid drift in the direction of the applied electric field, reduces bake time, and results in less undesired diffusion. Electric-field enhanced PEB can reduce PEB time by about 30%, and at the same time, improve the sharpness of 2D corners and increase the verticality of resist sidewalls. Electric-field-enhanced PEB also significantly improves the tolerance of over-exposure and provides better critical dimension control. It is estimated that the lateral acid diffusion length is reduced by about 50%. An apparatus for carrying out the aforementioned method is also provided.

Abstract: A monitor provides analog conditioning circuitry for supplying a symmetrical high speed analog output signal generated from inverted and non-inverted digital data to imagers for a display of the monitor. The circuitry includes an upper bias amplifier for generating a precision upper DC offset signal. a lower bias amplifier for generating a precision lower DC offset signal, a switch for alternating selection of a precision DC offset signal with each frame, and a summing amplifier for adding the selected precision DC offset signal to a high speed analog signal provided by a digital-to-analog converter. Selection of the precision DC offset signal is controlled by an inversion signal provided to the switch from an inversion bit of a display controller. The digital data inversion is controlled by inversion circuitry within the display controller. The analog conditioning circuitry thus provides a single gain path and also provides low speed signal paths decoupled from a high speed signal path.

Abstract: A method is described for improving the pharmacokinetics of a drug in a subject, by co-administering oligomers, preferably PMO's (phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligonucleotides), antisense to RNAs encoding drug-metabolizing enzymes, particularly p450 enzymes. The oligomers reduce production of the drug-metabolizing enzymes, which extends drug half-life and effectiveness and/or decreases drug toxicity.

Abstract: Methods for detecting gold and quantitating gold in ore samples utilizing a gold-specific protein are provided, including methods for multiple sample handling. Also provided are methods for extracting gold from mineral suspensions utilizing a magnetic mineral binding reagent and gold-specific protein, or hydrophobic reagent and gold-specific protein in conjunction with a flotation reagent.

Abstract: The method of immunotherapy of the present invention involves the regulation of the T cell immune response through the activation or suppression/inactivation of the CD28 pathway. Induction of activated T cell lymphokine production occurs upon stimulatory binding of the CD28 surface receptor molecule, even in the presence of conventional immunosuppressants. Inhibition of CD28 receptor binding to an appropriate stimulatory ligand or inactivation of the CD28 signal transduction pathway through other means down-regulates CD28-pathway related T cell lymphokine production and its resulting effects.

Abstract: A non-crystalline oxide is represented by the formula: ABO4 wherein A is an element selected from Group IIIA of the periodic table; and B is an element selected from Group VB of the periodic table.