Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a portable/wearable device as well as application or a software program to be downloaded onto a mobile device or computer. The present invention is intended to measure sound intensity/level and provide an alert signal to remind user(s) or crowds (i.e groups of people) that they are speaking too loud or making too much noise. Furthermore, optionally, the device may play a pre-selected music or pre-recorded message when the sound level threshold is exceeded, which can encourage all of the users to use the bio-feedback of the present invention to relax when they see the visual que such as the light color changes, hear the music, message or produced from the device. Another object of the present invention is to help people to know whether his/her voice is loud enough to be heard by people who have hearing impairment.

Abstract: A process of reducing the sulfur content of gasoline product comprising at least three concurrent steps: a) passing input fluid comprising pollutant through at least one adsorber to produce a polluted adsorber and a purified fluid stream which leaves the adsorber, stopping the flow into said adsorber to leave residual fluid therein, and separating said residual fluid therein said adsorber to leave the polluted adsorber of reduced residual fluid content, b) heating a polluted adsorber with a heated regeneration gas to produce a hot adsorber and cooler regeneration gas, c) contacting a heated adsorber with a regeneration gas (of a lower temperature than that of said adsorber) to produce a cooler adsorber and a warmer regeneration gas, which gas is further heated to produce said heated regeneration gas which is pass to step b), said process comprising at least 3 adsorber, at least one of which being subjected to step a) at least one different adsorber to step b) and at least one further different adsorber being

Abstract: The measurement of multiple membrane affinities of test compounds, methods and compositions useful for acquiring data characteristic of such affinities, and a method and system for using such data alone or in combination with other molecular descriptors for the prediction of biological activity are described. The numerical values characteristic of biologically relevant interaction of test compounds with membrane mimetic surfaces are compared with corresponding values of one or more control compounds having a known biological activity. Probable biological activity of a test compound is identified with those control compounds whose multiple membrane interaction values most closely correlate to those of the test compound.

Abstract: A drug-binding substrate formed or identified using a drug substance having a predetermined biological activity is used to screen and identify test compounds likely to exhibit the predetermined biological activity. The potential biologically active test compounds are identified by their specific binding to the drug-binding substrates as detected by any of a wide variety of techniques using labeled or unlabeled assay components. In one embodiment a monoclonal antibody raised against a drug substance is used as a drug-binding substrate to identify and isolate test compounds in a natural product extract or a combinatorial chemical library. Preferably the monoclonal antibody is characterized by its ability to bind specifically to at least one other drug substance having the same or similar biological activity as the drug substance against which it was raised. The invention finds use inter alia in drug discovery protocols, in toxicity profiling of drug substances and in assaying commercial natural products.

Abstract: This invention relates to a high efficiency chromatographic system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a chromatographic system for determining the physicochemical properties of one or more compounds using at least two chromatographic units in eluent flow communication with one eluent analyzer via an intermediate eluent switch. The present chromatographic system allows determination of physicochemical properties through the use of multiple chromatographic units in communication with one eluent analyzer via an eluent switch.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for improving the efficiency of a drug containing a free carboxy group, the improvement comprising esterifying said carboxy group to the hydroxy group of the glycerol portion of a glycerolphospholipid ester having the formula: or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof wherein one of R1 and R2 is hydrogen and the other is hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl fatty acid acyl group having 4-26 carbon atoms or a hydrocarbyl heteroatom fatty acid acyl group having 3-25 carbon atoms, or and R is a naturally occurring polar head group characteristic of a glycerophospholipid isolated from endogenous sources; R3 is hydrogen or lower alkyl and R4 is hydrogen, hydrocarbyl containing from 1-18 carbon atoms in a principal chain and up to a total of 23 carbon atoms, said principal chain may contain 1-5 double bonds or 1-2 triple bonds; phenyl which may be unsubstituted or substituted with lower alkyl; naphthyl which may be unsubstituted or substituted with low

Abstract: A method and system for implementing discovery research is described. Pharmacokinetic and other relevant properties of proposed biologically active drug substances are estimated based at least in part on empirically defined correlations of structures/properties of biologically effective known substances with their respective affinities for multiple membrane mimetic surfaces. Computer implemented structure similarity or substructure searching coupled with use of a database including compound structures values corresponding to drug affinities for membrane mimetic surfaces, and pharmacokinetic data provides a powerful tool for discovery research.

Abstract: A method is described for identifying compounds in a complex mixture exhibiting a predetermined characteristic. The mixture is separated into fractions using at least two unique sets of separation parameters to produce at least two series of separation parameter dependent fractions. In one embodiment the mixtures are separated chromatographically using unique sets of separation parameters and the fractions are analyzed spectroscopically to provide data indicative of the component compounds and the fractions are analyzed in synchronously combined fractions, for the predetermined characteristic. The spectroscopic data for the fractions exhibiting the predetermined characteristic are compared to identify compound(s) common to the fractions exhibiting the characteristic.

Abstract: Methods are provided for identifying the taxonomical classification and probable biological function of the endogenous target macromolecule of a test drug substance by comparing the membrane surface affinities of the test drug substance with compounds having a known classification.

Abstract: Methods are provided for determining a dissociation constant for each one of at least a portion of a set of compounds. The methods include contacting a solution of the set of compounds with a membrane mimetic surface exhibiting a non-specific compound-dependent affinity for at least the portion of the compounds. A parameter dependent on the non-specific affinity of the surface for each one of at least the portion of the set of compounds in the test solution is measured and used to calculate the dissociation constant.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and a process capable of reducing the sulphur content of the gasoline product resulting from the cracking of a high molecular weight hydrocarbon feed comprising sulphur which comprises at least three concurrent steps: (a) passing input fluid comprising pollutant through at least one adsorber to produce a polluted adsorber and a purified fluid stream (of reduced pollutant content), which leaves the adsorber, stopping the flow into said adsorber to leave residual fluid therein, and separating said residual fluid from said adsorber to leave the polluted adsorber of reduced residual fluid content, (0) heating a polluted adsorber with a heated regeneration gas to produce a hot adsorher (of reduced polutant content) and cooler regeneration gas (of increased pollutant content), (c) contacting a heated adsorher (of reduced pollutant content) with a regeneration gas (of a lower temperature than that of said adsorber) to produce a cooler adsorber and a warmer regeneration gas, w

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for improving the efficiency of a drug containing a free carboxy group, the improvement comprising esterifying said carboxy group to the hydroxy group of the glycerol portion of a glycerolphospholipid ester having the formula: ##STR1## or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof wherein one of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is hydrogen and the other is hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl fatty acid acyl group having 4-26 carbon atoms or a hydrocarbyl heteroatom fatty acid acyl group having 3-25 carbon atoms, or ##STR2## and R is a naturally occurring polar head group characteristic of a glycerophospholipid isolated from endogenous sources;R.sub.3 is hydrogen or lower alkyl andR.sub.

Abstract: Methods and materials are described for the preparation of novel immobilized membrane compositions. The described compositions are useful for evaluating membrane association charcteristics of chemical compounds, and as a chromatographic support material for separation/purification of biomolecules and particularly those expressed by genetically transformed cells as novel hybrid proteins having covalently bound membrane-binding peptides. Novel phospholipid carboxylates are useful intermediates for the preparation of chromatography supports having surfaces formed as covalently bound artificial membranes which simulate natural cellular membranes. The immobilized membrane compositions are adapted for use in chromatographic systems to study interactions of biologically active substances with membranes in vitro.

Abstract: A membrane mimetic structure having a hydrophilic outer portion and a hydrophobic inner portion is covalently bound to a surface having reactive functional groups. The membrane mimetic structure consists essentially of adjacent amphiphilic molecules independently covalently bound to the surface. The structures can be applied to surfaces and should find application in a wide variety of disciplines requiring surfaces exhibiting properties of biological membranes.

Abstract: Light sensitive liposomes are provided which release their contents on demand in response to irradiation with an appropriate wavelength of light. Substantially all the liposome contents can be released within about 60 seconds.Preferred embodiments of the light sensitive liposomes include lipids having at least one retinoyl group and being a structural component of the lipid membrane.

Abstract: This invention describes a process for separating a biologically active polypeptide or protein in the form of its precursor from a mixture containing said precursor and impurities, which comprises contacting said precursor with a resin containing immobilized metal ions, said precursor comprising the biologically active polypeptide or protein covalently linked directly or indirectly to an immobilized metal ion chelating peptide, binding said precursor to said resin, and selectively eluting said precursor from said resin. Such precursor compounds are also described.