Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a method of treating a neoplastic condition and to agents useful for same. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a method of facilitating the treatment of a solid tumor in a localised manner via the co-administration of particulate material and a cellular toxin. The method of the present invention is useful in a range of therapeutic treatments including the treatment of primary and metastatic tumors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing an aqueous dispersion of polymer encapsulated particulate material, the method comprising: providing a dispersion of the particulate material in a continuous aqueous phase, the dispersion comprising ethylenically unsaturated monomer and a stabiliser for the particulate material; and polymerising the ethylenically unsaturated monomer by non-living free radical polymerisation to form polymer that encapsulates the particulate material, thereby providing the aqueous dispersion of polymer encapsulated particulate material; wherein polymerisation of the ethylenically unsaturated monomer comprises: (a) polymerising a monomer composition that includes ionisable ethylenically unsaturated monomer so as to form a base responsive water swellable non-living polymer layer that encapsulates the particulate material; and (b) polymerising a monomer composition that includes non-ionisable ethylenically unsaturated monomer so as to form an extensible, water and base permeab

Abstract: The present invention relates to polymer microgel beads having a polymeric matrix with nanomagnetic particles dispersed substantially uniformly therethrough, wherein a steric stabilizer is associated with the particles, the steric stabilizer being a polymeric material that (i) forms at least part of the polymeric matrix of the beads, and (ii) comprises a steric stabilizing polymeric segment and an anchoring polymeric segment, wherein the steric stabilizing polymeric segment is different from the anchoring polymeric segment, and wherein the anchoring polymeric segment has an affinity toward the surface of the nanomagnetic particles and secures the stabilizer to the particles.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of polymerizing monomer to form polymer at the surface of solid particulate material, said method comprising: providing a dispersion of said solid particulate material in a continuous hydrophilic liquid phase, said dispersion comprising a hydrophilic RAFT agent as a stabilizer for said solid particulate material, and said continuous hydrophilic liquid phase comprising one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers; and polymerizing said one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers under the control of said hydrophilic RAFT agent to thereby form polymer at the surface of said solid particulate material.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of polymerising monomer to form polymer at the surface of solid particulate material, said method comprising: providing a dispersion of said solid particulate material in a continuous hydrophilic liquid phase, said dispersion comprising a hydrophilic RAFT agent as a stabiliser for said solid particulate material, and said continuous hydrophilic liquid phase comprising one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers; and polymerising said one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers under the control of said hydrophilic RAFT agent to thereby form polymer at the surface of said solid particulate material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polymer microgel beads having a polymeric matrix with nanomagnetic particles dispersed substantially uniformly therethrough, wherein a steric stabiliser is associated with the particles, the steric stabiliser being a polymeric material that (i) does not form part of the polymeric matrix of the beads, and (ii) comprises a steric stabilising polymeric segment and an anchoring polymeric segment, wherein the steric stabilising polymeric segment is different from the anchoring polymeric segment, and wherein the anchoring polymeric segment has an affinity toward the surface of the nanomagnetic particles and secures the stabiliser to the particles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition suitable for administration to a subject, the composition comprising pharmacologically acceptable particulate material dispersed throughout a pharmacologically acceptable liquid carrier, the particulate material being maintained in the dispersed state by a steric stabilizer, wherein the steric stabilizer is a polymeric material comprising a steric stabilizing polymeric segment and an anchoring polymeric segment, one or both of which are derived from one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers that have been polymerized by a living polymerization technique, wherein the steric stabilizing polymeric segment is different from the anchoring polymeric segment, and wherein the anchoring polymeric segment has an affinity toward the surface of the particulate material and secures the stabilizer to the particulate material.

Abstract: A system and method advance human performance in sighting, tracking, recognizing, and reacting to (collectively “engaging”) moving and stationary objects, for example, advancing skill in engaging targets with a firearm. System components include software and hardware that provide target and non-target image stimuli that can be manually or automatically generated as stationary or moving stimuli on a grid pattern. The system includes a database including a plurality of training scenarios, each training scenario including a sequence of stimuli, the sequence of stimuli including targets for the trainee to engage; a display for the presentation of the sequence of stimuli; and a data processor generating the presentation of the sequence of stimuli on the display, providing an operator interface, and providing performance reporting. The sequence of stimuli can include a range of difficulty of engagement, for example, an increasing period, a plateau period, and a final period.

Abstract: The system and method to advance human performance in sighting, tracking, recognizing, and reacting to (collectively “engaging”) moving and stationary stimuli, for example, advancing skill in engaging targets with a firearm. System components include software and hardware that provide target and non-target image stimuli that can be manually or automatically generated as stationary or moving stimuli in a blank, gridded, or a rendered scene environment. The methods including an initial phase providing increasing stimuli rigor, for example, movement speeds and/or reducing the interval between or the time for which stimuli are displayed, a plateau level of stimuli rigor which is above that which any trainee can properly engage the stimuli, and then a reduced stimuli rigor level, for example, the movement speeds and/or increase the interval time to levels at which the trainee properly engages the stimuli.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for shorting together a plurality of electrical leads. The apparatus includes an electrical conductor that extends between first and second ends and a first surface and a second surface facing away from the first surface. The electrical conductor includes a central bight that is disposed between the first and second ends and has a concave contour that defines a portion of the first surface. The electrical conductor also includes first and second bights that have convex contours that define portions of the first surface. The first bight is disposed between the central bight and the first end and the second bight is disposed between the central bight and the second end. The electrical conductor also includes a first and second contact segments that are respectively disposed between the first and second bights and the first and second ends.

Abstract: The system and method to advance human performance in sighting, tracking, recognizing, and reacting to (collectively “engaging”) moving and stationary objects, for example, advancing skill in engaging targets with a firearm. System components include software and hardware that provide target and non-target image stimuli that can be manually or automatically generated as stationary or moving stimuli in a blank or a rendered scene environment. The methods including increase stimuli movement speeds and/or reducing the interval between or the time for which stimuli are displayed until the trainee fails to properly engage the stimuli, then reduce the movement speeds and/or increase the interval time to levels at which the trainee properly engages the stimuli. By repeating training methods with increasing speed, the trainee will be conditioned to achieve proper stimuli engagement with increasingly elevated speed and accuracy.

Abstract: The system and method to advance human performance in sighting, tracking, recognizing, and reacting to (collectively “engaging”) moving and stationary objects, for example, advancing skill in engaging targets with a firearm. System components include software and hardware that provide target and non-target image stimuli that can be manually or automatically generated as stationary or moving stimuli in a blank or a rendered scene environment. The methods including increase stimuli movement speeds and/or reducing the interval between or the time for which stimuli are displayed until the trainee fails to properly engage the stimuli, then reduce the movement speeds and/or increase the interval time to levels at which the trainee properly engages the stimuli. By repeating training methods with increasing speed, the trainee will be conditioned to achieve proper stimuli engagement with increasingly elevated speed and accuracy.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a test instrument and a set of leads having proximal ends coupled with the test instrument is described. The method includes shorting the distal ends of the set of leads during calibration and zeroing the test instrument during the shorting. The shorting includes coupling an electrical conductor with at least two of the distal ends.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of forming polymer on the surface of polymer particles, the method comprising: (i) providing a dispersion comprising a continuous aqueous phase, a dispersed organic phase comprising one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers, and a RAFT agent as a stabiliser for said organic phase; (ii) polymerising the one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers under the control of the RAFT agent to form an aqueous dispersion of seed polymer particles; (iii) crosslinking the seed polymer particles; (iv) swelling the crosslinked seed particles with one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers to form an aqueous dispersion of monomer swollen crosslinked seed polymer particles; (v) increasing the temperature of the monomer swollen crosslinked seed polymer particles to expel at least some of the monomer therein onto the surface of the particles; and polymerising at least the expelled monomer to form polymer on the surface of the particles.

Abstract: It has been discovered that inhibiting mitochondrial respiration in platelets reduces platelet activation or platelet aggregation. Certain heterocyclic compounds significantly reduced one or more platelet functions including clumping, sticking or platelet-stimulated clotting. Thus diseases or disorders mediated by inappropriately high levels of platelet activation or platelet aggregation can be treated by administering a therapeutically effective amount of a heterocyclic compound or nonheterocyclic mitochondrial inhibitor that significantly reduces one or more platelet functions including clumping, sticking or platelet-stimulated clotting, preferably in a reversible manner.

Abstract: An exercise device for strengthening the small muscles and tendons that stabilize the inner and outer parts of the elbow includes a hollow outer housing, an inner housing adapted to slide into and out of the hollow outer housing, a plurality of elastic bands placed inside the interior of the inner housing, a slot located along the sidewalls of the hollow outer housing, a connector secured to the inner housing and passing through the slot of the hollow outer housing, and the inner housing is adapted to slide from a retracted position to an extended position against the resistance provided by one or more elastic bands.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of polymerising monomer to form polymer at the surface of solid particulate material, said method comprising: providing a dispersion of said solid particulate material in a continuous hydrophilic liquid phase, said dispersion comprising a hydrophilic RAFT agent as a stabiliser for said solid particulate material, and said continuous hydrophilic liquid phase comprising one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers; and polymerising said one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers under the control of said hydrophilic RAFT agent to thereby form polymer at the surface of said solid particulate material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polymer microgel beads having a polymeric matrix with nanomagnetic particles dispersed substantially uniformly therethrough, wherein a steric stabiliser is associated with the particles, the steric stabiliser being a polymeric material that (i) does not form part of the polymeric matrix of the beads, and (ii) comprises a steric stabilising polymeric segment and an anchoring polymeric segment, wherein the steric stabilising polymeric segment is different from the anchoring polymeric segment, and wherein the anchoring polymeric segment has an affinity toward the surface of the nanomagnetic particles and secures the stabiliser to the particles.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for shorting together a plurality of electrical leads. The apparatus includes an electrical conductor that extends between first and second ends and a first surface and a second surface facing away from the first surface. The electrical conductor includes a central bight that is disposed between the first and second ends and has a concave contour that defines a portion of the first surface. The electrical conductor also includes first and second bights that have convex contours that define portions of the first surface. The first bight is disposed between the central bight and the first end and the second bight is disposed between the central bight and the second end. The electrical conductor also includes a first and second contact segments that are respectively disposed between the first and second bights and the first and second ends.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition suitable for administration to a subject, the composition comprising pharmacologically acceptable particulate material dispersed throughout a pharmacologically acceptable liquid carrier, the particulate material being maintained in the dispersed state by a steric stabiliser, wherein the steric stabiliser is a polymeric material comprising a steric stabilising polymeric segment and an anchoring polymeric segment, one or both of which are derived from one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers that have been polymerised by a living polymerisation technique, wherein the steric stabilising polymeric segment is different from the anchoring polymeric segment, and wherein the anchoring polymeric segment has an affinity toward the surface of the particulate material and secures the stabiliser to the particulate material.