Abstract: A storage media is disclosed and comprises a storage body and a readable indelible mark formed in the body such that portions thereof are indelibly altered. The mark is read by writing first data to the body in the region of the mark, and reading second data from the body in such region. The written first data is not accepted where the portions of the body are indelibly altered. Accordingly, the read second data corresponds to the written first data with segments thereof missing. The missing segments of the first data correspond to the portions of the body indelibly altered. In a preferred embodiment, the storage media comprises a magnetic rotatable disk having a substantially planar substrate and a magnetizable layer deposited thereon. The reading and writing are therefore performed magnetically.

Abstract: Methods of identifying resistance to Hepatitis B infection are disclosed, as well as peptides capable of modifying immune response and methods of treating Hepatitis B.

Abstract: An apparatus for evaluating perfusion adjacent a skin surface includes a housing having first an second interior regions. The housing is configured to engage the skin surface. The apparatus also includes a plunger located in the first region of the housing for applying pressure to a first zone of the skin surface, a vacuum connection coupled to the second region of the housing to permit suction to be applied to the second region of the housing and to a second zone of the skin surface, a first temperature sensor for generating an output signal related to the temperature of the first zone of the skin surface, a second temperature sensor for generating an output signal related to the temperature of the second zone of the skin surface, and a processor circuit coupled to the first and second temperature sensors for determining a differential temperature between the first and second zones of the skin surface to provide an indication of perfusion adjacent the skin surface.

Abstract: Multiplexers are used to generate synchronized slave clocks from a common master clock. A first multiplexer and a second multiplexer generate a first slave clock and a second slave clock, respectively, from the common master clock. A third multiplexer and a fourth multiplexer are configured as a divide-by-n circuit for providing a third slave clock that is a divided version of the second slave clock. A fifth multiplexer provides a matching delay to preserve the synchronization between the first slave clock and the other slave clocks. A sixth multiplexer is used to select between the second slave clock and the third slave clock in response to a select signal. A flip-flop may be used to provide the select signal and to guard against false selection of slave clocks.

Abstract: The use of an IFN-&agr; subtype is provided for the preparation of a medicament to enhance the T-cell immune response in therapy of cancer, bacterial or parasitic infection or systemic viral infection amongst other disease conditions. Also provided are pharmaceutical formulations which include such sub-types of IFN-&agr; and methods of treatment, including treatment of cancer, bacterial or parasitic infection or systemic viral infection amongst other disease conditions.

Abstract: Modified baculovirus particles containing prophylactic and/or therapeutic nucleic acid are provided, together with their use in treating liver conditions such as viral infections.

Abstract: A bed having a foot prop on an adjustable length deck foot section and a mattress with a length and thickness adjustable foot section and a thickness adjustable heel section. The adjustability of the deck and the mattress allows sizing of the bed to the occupant as well as heel management. The foot prop is also adjustable.

Abstract: A variable acousto-optic spectrum projector is disclosed. The invention may include a radiation source, an entrance slit, a lens or mirror, a Bragg cell, an arbitrary function generator for driving a transducer of the Bragg cell, another lens or mirror, an exit slit, and a collimating lens. In a first embodiment of the invention, the Bragg cell comprises a Tl3AsSe3 crystal and emits light in the 7 to 11 &mgr;m range (long-wave infrared) with a spectral resolution of between 4.5 and 7 cm−1. In a second embodiment of the invention, the Bragg cell comprises a TeO2 crystal and emits light in the 420 to 720 nm range (visible) with a spectral resolution of between 50 and 80 cm−1.

Abstract: A cartridgeless data storage disk for a data storage disk drive has a latent irradiance marker. A light source illuminates the marker and the marker emits irradiance as phosphorescence. A photosensor detects the emitted irradiance, and the decay time is determined. The decay time is checked to provide identification of different types or generations of cartridgeless data storage disks.

Abstract: A sequence of the FMR-1 gene is disclosed. This sequence and related probes, cosmids and unique repeats are used to detect X-linked diseases and especially the fragile X syndrome. Also, methods using methylation-sensitive restriction endonuclease and PCR primer probes were used to detect X-linked disease.

Abstract: A bed including a frame, an articulating deck on the frame having head, seat, and foot deck sections, and a mattress on the deck. The deck foot section and mattress foot portion have a first length when the foot section is in the up position and a second length shorter than said first length when the foot section is in the down position. A first driver varies the length of the deck foot section, and a second driver moves the foot section relative to said seat section between the generally horizontal up position and the generally vertically downwardly extending down position.

Abstract: A compound of Formula (I): ##STR1## or pharmaceutical acceptable salts thereof wherein X is NR.sub.1 ; R.sub.1 is H, C.sub.1-6 alkyl optionally substituted with one or more OH, CN, or halo, or R.sub.1 is --(CH.sub.2).sub.h -aryl, --COR.sub.1-1, --COOR.sub.1-2, --CO--(CH.sub.2).sub.h --COR.sub.1-1, C.sub.1-6 alkyl sulfonyl, --SO.sub.2 --(CH.sub.2).sub.h -aryl, or --(CO).sub.i --Het; R.sub.2 is H, C.sub.1-6 alkyl, --(CH.sub.2).sub.h -aryl, or halo; R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are independently H or halo; R.sub.5 is H, C.sub.1-12 alkyl optionally substituted with one or more halo, C.sub.3-12 cycloalkyl, C.sub.1-6 alkoxy; m and n taken together are 1 or 2. The compounds are useful antimicrobial agents.

Abstract: The data acquisition film medium is a gridwork of lines applied to read the distribution and population of insects captured on sticky material on a substrate. The data acquisition gridwork of lines may be applied to the substrate under the sticky material or may be applied to a separate transparent data acquisition film which is applied over the sticky material and insects captured thereon after use of the substrate with its sticky material. The separate transparent data acquisition medium may be in panels to cover the sticky material on capture glueboards, on either one side or both sides of the glueboard, may be in bag form for receiving the glueboards, may be on a roll with tear-off edge, may be wrapped around a single-sided or double-sided glueboard, or may be a long length of film to apply onto a long length of substrate carrying sticky material in an advancing manner in an insect light trap.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a polynucleotide of interest, comprising providing one or more sets of consecutive oligonucleotide primers differing within each set by one base at the growing end therof; annealing a single strand of the polynucleotide or a fragment of the polynucleotide to the oligonucleotide primers under hybridization conditions; subjecting the primers to single base extension reactions with a polymerase and terminating nucleotides, the terminating nucleotides being mutually distinguishable; and observing the location and identity of each terminating nucleotide to thereby analyze the sequence or a part of the nucleotide sequence of the polynucleotide of interest, is disclosed. An apparatus comprising a solid support to which is attached at defined locations thereon one or more sets of consecutive oligonucleotide primers differing within each set by one base at the growing end thereof is also described.

Abstract: A contactless process for detecting electrical patterns on the outer surface of a member comprising providing a member having a charge pattern on an outer surface, repetitively measuring the charge pattern on the outer surface of the member with an electrostatic voltmeter probe maintained at a substantially constant distance from the surface, the distance between the probe and the imaging member being slightly greater than the minimum distance at which Paschen breakdown will occur to form a parallel plate capacitor with a gas between the probe and the surface, the frequency of repetition being selected to cause all time dependent signals to fall out of phase by a predetermined amount, and averaging the out of phase time dependent signals over a sufficient number of measuring repetitions to eliminate the time dependent signals. In one embodiment, the contactless process detects surface potential charge patterns in an electrostatographic imaging member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an intervertebral prosthetic disk. The prosthesis includes a male component with a support plate, an attachment element allowing fixation to a vertebra, and an articulating projection defining a concave lower surface. The prosthesis also includes a female component with a support plate, an attachment element allowing fixation to a vertebra, and a circular pocket with a flat bottom and angled walls suitable for receiving the articulating projection. A generally hemispheric bearing is provided between the male and female components. The hemispheric bearing includes an upper convex surface for cooperating with the concave lower surface of the articulating projection of the male component and a flat lower surface for cooperating with the flat bottom surface of the circular pocket of the female component.

Abstract: A repair of a butterfly valve having metal seat includes de-watering of the valve, and movement of the disc to the open position. As in the prior art, the extant (usually brass) valve seat is machine in situ and capped with a stainless steel substitute seat having relatively low slope in the range of 10.degree. to 20.degree. with respect to the closing valve disc. The valve disc edge and valve disc edge caps are removed. A new valve flap seal clamp and relatively hard rubber seal (in the range of 70.+-.5 shore) is inserted. The new valve seal edge clamp has a profile to completely capture the inserted rubber valve seal edge and assure that all elastic extrusion occurs only to and toward the refurbished valve seat. This elastic extrusion necks down and decreases in cross-section toward the edge of the disc of the valve. When the clamp is compressed, the elastic section of the rubber valve seal is extruded to extend to and toward the valve seat.