Abstract: The present invention relates generally to growth factors and more particularly to growth factors which are capable of stimulating or otherwise facilitating formation of insulin-secreting cells. The identification of these growth factors permits the development of protocols to culture cells in vitro for transplantation into mammalian and in particular human subjects with insulin-dependent type 1 diabetes or related conditions. It is further contemplated that the endogenous expression of growth factors required for the development of insulin-producing cells may be manipulated in vivo, by the appropriate administration of agents including genetic agents capable of regulating the expression of growth factors in pancreatic duct epithelial cells. The growth factors ray also be administered to subjects with type 1 diabetes to stimulate the proliferation and differentiation of pancreatic cells into insulin-secreting cells.

Abstract: A safety release mechanism for snowboards functions with standard contemporary snowboarding boots and bindings. Bindings that would normally be fastened to the snowboard are instead both fastened to a single binding support platform. A platform retention assembly, fastened to the snowboard, includes preloaded compliant members that form interfaces with contours on the binding support platform. The interfaces prevent the binding support platform from separating from the snowboard except when a force or torque applied to the snowboard exceeds a set threshold. The platform retention assembly also includes firm features that contact firm mating features on the binding support platform to prevent translation of the binding support platform relative to the platform retention assembly in the plane of the snowboard. The firm features and the firm mating features are arranged such that the contacts between them, when projected onto the plane of the snowboard, are all tangent about one mutual center point.

Abstract: Polymer foams and films for delivery of therapeutic agents to and through nasal, oral or vaginal mucosa and cornified or non-cornified epithelium of labia and scrotum. Polymer foams or absorbable or non-absorbable films containing a therapeutic agent incorporated therein wherein said agent is released from said foams or films upon placement of said foam or film on the surface epithelium of nasal, oral, or vaginal labia or scrotum. The foam or the film has a controllable rate of gelling, swelling and degradation and is preformed into a device or is applied as a coating to a surface of a more complex drug delivery system.

Abstract: A data processor and storage system which comprises a data processor, a cache memory and a main memory is arranged so that the addressing of the main memory produces a multiplicity of spaced aliases, the multiplicity being greater than the set-associativity of the cache memory. The cache memory may be a multiple way set associative cache memory with the system including a round robin allocator for controlling the storing of successive data items in the different ways of the set associative cache. The cache may also be a direct mapped cache having single way set-associativity so that the round robin allocator is not required. The system may also include a direct memory access (DMA) device for copying data items into the memory. The memory may be a buffer memory which is divided into a plurality of packet buffers.

Abstract: Large quantities of soluble multimers of human papillomavirus L1 proteins can be produced in bacterial expression systems and used as therapeutic and diagnostic tools. L1 multimers can be used in immunogenic vaccine compositions, as diagnostic reagents, and as tools for mapping cell surface receptor interactions.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and compositions for vaginal delivery of bisphosphonates. A targeted site delivery of bisphosphonates to the vagina using a medicated intravaginal device comprising a bisphosphonate composition formulated for transvaginal delivery. A method for treatment of osteoporosis and related bone and skeleton diseases, for prevention of bone breakdown and loss of bone mass and strength by intravaginal administration of bisphosphonates to the vagina and transvaginal delivery of bisphosphonates to the general circulation.

Abstract: HHPDZ65 polypeptides and polynucleotides and methods for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for utilizing HHPDZ65 polypeptides and polynucleotides in therapy, and diagnostic assays for such.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for providing a user with confirmation of the origin of a Web site and related information including the steps of registering a Web site with an assuring 3rd party, saving the registration on a registration server, entering in a database the Web site's Internet domain name and cross-referencing it to the registration data, retrieving the Web site's domain with an Internet browser, and either (1) using a client application tool to call for registration data for the domain name via a secure SSL connection with the registration server, determining if the domain has been registered, and returning and displaying registration data for the domain name as a confirmed identity, or (2) calling a program on the registration server in response to an HTML tag on the domain via a secure SSL connection and passing it the domain name, determining if the domain has been registered, determining if the domain name has been registered, and returning and displaying registration data fo

Abstract: A disc drive is disclosed that includes textured features on the disc surface and a slider. The slider texture can include one or more features oriented in a first direction, and the disc can include one or more features oriented in a second direction. The first and second directions are selected such that the second direction includes a component that is perpendicular to the first direction. The orientation of the features facilitates the provision of matrix of contact points between the slider and the disc surface.

Abstract: A combination therapy of administering to a patient at least one selectin inhibitor and at least one immunosuppressant is employed in methods for modulating the patient's immune response, and in treatment regimens for organ and tissue transplant rejections and various inflammatory disorders. In some embodiments, the selectin inhibitor is an antibody to L-selectin or P-selectin such as a Dreg series of monoclonal antibody, or a functional fragment thereof, or SLex or a SLex derivative or mimetic, and the immunosuppressant is cyclosporin A.

Abstract: A disc storage system includes a rotating disc and a transducer. The transducer is carried on a slider which is supported by an armature. The armature is used to move the slider radially across the disc surface whereby information may be read from or written to the disc surface of the transducer. The slider includes an air bearing surface which faces the disc surface. As the disc rotates, the air bearing surface causes the slider to “fly” over the disc surface. Pads are provided on the air bearing surface to improve operational characteristics of the system and texturing is provided to a landing zone region on the disc surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pharmacological evaluation test (PET) model for evaluating candidate compounds for physiological and pharmacological effects in a single animal. Test systems and pharmacological functions which can be assessed using the present invention include but are not limited to: central nervous system (e.g., behavioral, neurologic and autonomic overt effects using, for example, a modified Irwin profile); cardiovascular and central nervous systems (e.g., blood pressure, heart rate, motility using, for example, a telemetric system); pulmonary system (e.g., frequency and tidal volume using, for example, a chamber plethysmograph technique); renal function (e.g.

Abstract: A testing device for fiber optic system devices includes a fiber optic loop support that holds a single-mode optical fiber such that an empirically determined loss characteristic associated therewith is unvarying from use to use. In particular, an optical fiber forms a loop, and the loop is supported within a rigid slotted housing. The housing effectively precludes bending losses. Additionally, the housing is small and portable so that field testing may also be performed.

Abstract: A testing device for fiber optic system devices includes a fiber optic loop support that holds a single-mode optical fiber such that an empirically determined loss characteristic associated therewith is unvarying from use to use. In particular, an optical fiber forms a loop, and the loop is supported within a rigid slotted housing. The housing effectively precludes bending losses. Additionally, the housing is small and portable so that field testing may also be performed.

Abstract: A data processor and storage system which comprises a data processor, a cache memory and a main memory is arranged so that the addressing of the main memory produces a multiplicity of spaced aliases, the multiplicity being greater than the set-associativity of the cache memory

Abstract: An interface between a wireless node and a network node includes an encapsulator for temporarily converting data frames into Ethernet frames for the link between the two nodes and de-encapsulating the Ethernet frames before the data is processed at the network node

Abstract: Devices, methods, and compositions for treating vaginal fungal, bacterial, viral and parasitic infections by intravaginal or transvaginal administration of therapeutic and/or palliative antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral or parasiticidal drugs to the vagina or to the uterus.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to growth factors and more particularly to growth factors which are capable of stimulating or otherwise facilitating formation of insulin-secreting cells. The identification of these growth factors permits the development of protocols to culture cells in vitro for transplantation into mammalian and in particular human subjects with insulin-dependent type 1 diabetes or related conditions. It is further contemplated that the endogenous expression of growth factors required for the development of insulin-producing cells may be manipulated in vivo, by the appropriate administration of agents including genetic agents capable of regulating the expression of growth factors in pancreatic duct epithelial cells. The growth factors ray also be administered to subjects with type 1 diabetes to stimulate the proliferation and differentiation of pancreatic cells into insulin-secreting cells.

Abstract: A socket connector has a single socket including fiber optic terminals 10 and wire terminals 12 and is adapted to receive alternatively in respectively inverted positions either a first plug connector for cooperation with the fiber optic terminals or a second plug connector for cooperation with the wire terminals, in each case without engagement with the terminals with which the plug should not cooperate. The connector includes respective latching slots 7 and 11 in opposite walls 5 and 3 for the respective plug connectors.

Abstract: A communications system includes a wireless telephone having a PC card rotatably and electrically coupled therewith. The PC card has a Type Two form factor. The system further includes a discrete, independently operably PIM. The PIM comprises a housing having a display screen mounted thereon and encloses electronic circuitry. The housing bounds a card slot. The card slot is configured to removably receive the PC card such that the wireless telephone is electrically coupled with the PIM when the PC card is received within the card slot.