Abstract: A patient interface to deliver a flow of air at a positive pressure with respect to ambient air pressure to an entrance to the patient's airways to ameliorate sleep disordered breathing includes a frame assembly and a cushion assembly configured to removably and repeatably connect to the frame assembly. The frame assembly and the cushion assembly form at least part of a plenum chamber pressurizable to a therapeutic pressure. The cushion assembly comprises a one-piece construction including a seal-forming structure configured to form a seal with a region of a patient's face surrounding the entrance to the patient's airways and a frame connection structure configured to removably and repeatably connect the cushion assembly to the frame assembly. The seal-forming structure comprises a first elastomeric material and the frame connection structure comprises a second elastomeric material, the first elastomeric material comprising a lower durometer or hardness than the second elastomeric material.

Abstract: A patient interface to deliver a flow of air at a positive pressure with respect to ambient air pressure to an entrance to the patient's airways to ameliorate sleep disordered breathing includes a frame assembly and a cushion assembly configured to removably and repeatably connect to the frame assembly. The frame assembly and the cushion assembly form at least part of a plenum chamber pressurizable to a therapeutic pressure. The cushion assembly comprises a one-piece construction including a seal-forming structure configured to form a seal with a region of a patient's face surrounding the entrance to the patient's airways and a frame connection structure configured to removably and repeatably connect the cushion assembly to the frame assembly. The seal-forming structure comprises a first elastomeric material and the frame connection structure comprises a second elastomeric material, the first elastomeric material comprising a lower durometer or hardness than the second elastomeric material.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a polycomponent fibre having a first, fibre forming component comprising a polymer, and a second, component comprising an active ingredient that will selectively reduce or remove components of tobacco smoke. The apparatus has a first reservoir for containing the first component, and a second reservoir for containing the dispersion, second solution or liquid. The dispersion, second solution or liquid includes the second component. The apparatus also has a polycomponent spinnerette adapted to coextrude the first component and the second component to form the polycomponent fibre. The apparatus also includes a first conduit for connecting the first reservoir to the spinnerette, and a second conduit for connecting the second reservoir to the spinnerette.

Abstract: A method for forming a polycomponent fiber comprising a first, fiber-forming component comprising a polymer, and a second, component comprising an active ingredient that will selectively reduce or remove components of tobacco smoke, the method comprising the steps of: i. forming a dispersion, second solution or liquid comprising the second component; and ii. coextruding the first component and the dispersion, second solution or liquid through a jet or aperture to form a fiber comprising a first portion formed from the first component, and a second portion formed from the second component.

Abstract: A method of preparing a crimped tow of cellulose acetate filaments comprising the steps of: a) providing cellulose acetate dope b) forming filaments (23) from the dope c) applying at least one additive to the filaments d) crimping the filaments to form a crimped tow wherein the at least one additive is capable of removing a component from cigarette smoke. Preferably, the component is a Hoffmann analyte. The additive may comprise a solution, liquid, emulsion or particulate material or combinations thereof. Preferably, the additive comprises an acidic compound or an alkaline compound. The additive may comprise malic acid, potassium carbonate, citric acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid, ascorbic acid, polyethyleneimine, cyclodextrin, sodium hydroxide, sulphamic acid, sodium sulphamate, polyvinyl acetate and carboxylated acrylate, carbon, silica, zeolite, clay, alumina, metal, molecular sieves or an ion exchange resin.

Abstract: A process for making a crimped tow of filaments suitable for forming a bale of crimped tow for conversion to cigarette filter rods comprising, presenting an uncrimped tow of filaments in a banded condition, adhesively bonding to the filaments of the banded tow (3), porous particles having absorbent surfaces imparting filtration capacity for tobacco smoke constituents, and crimping the banded tow, wherein the process comprises the steps, of: (i) pre-treating the particles to load them with a material capable of generating a gaseous emission from the particles thus forming pre-treated particles; (ii) applying to the filaments of the banded tow, the pre-treated particles and an adhesive for bonding the particles to the filaments; and subsequently (iii) treating the tow to generate the gaseous emission from the pre-treated particles so as to limit deactivation of the absorbent particle surfaces by the adhesive.

Abstract: A method of preparing a crimped tow of cellulose acetate filaments comprising the steps of: a) providing cellulose acetate dope b) forming filaments (23) from the dope c) applying at least one additive to the filaments d) crimping the filaments to form a crimped tow wherein the at least one additive is capable of removing a component from cigarette smoke. Preferably, the component is a Hoffmann analyte. The additive may comprise a solution, liquid, emulsion or particulate material or combinations thereof. Preferably, the additive comprises an acidic compound or an alkaline compound. The additive may comprise malic acid, potassium carbonate, citric acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid, ascorbic acid, polyethyleneimine, cyclodextrin, sodium hydroxide, sulphamic acid, sodium sulphamate, polyvinyl acetate and carboxylated acrylate, carbon, silica, zeolite, clay, alumina, metal, molecular sieves or an ion exchange resin.

Abstract: A method for forming a polycomponent fibre comprising a first, fibre-forming component comprising a polymer, and a second, component comprising an active ingredient that will selectively reduce or remove components of tobacco smoke, the method comprising the steps of: i. forming a dispersion, second solution or liquid comprising the second component; and ii. coextruding the first component and the dispersion, second solution or liquid through a jet or aperture to form a fibre comprising a first portion formed from the first component, and a second portion formed from the second component.

Abstract: A crimped filament tow, suitable for use in making cigarette filter rods, is made by a process in which porous particles, such as activated carbon particles, are adhered to the filaments by an adhesive. Deactivation of the adsorbent surfaces of the particles by the adhesive is limited by loading the particles with a material, such as water, which can generate a gaseous emission, such as steam, from the particles so as to open up access to the adsorbent interior surfaces of the particles. The filaments, which may be cellulose acetate, may have a cross-section having concave portions, such as are provided by multi-lobal cross-sections, in which the adhered particles may lie to protect them against shedding by abrasion of the filaments against machine surfaces. The particles and the adhesive may be applied to the banded tow at the same time, in the form of a dispersion of the particles in the adhesive, and may be applied directly before the crimping step.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for the therapy and diagnosis of cancer, particularly prostate cancer, are disclosed. Illustrative compositions comprise one or more prostate-specific polypeptides, immunogenic portions thereof, polynucleotides that encode such polypeptides, antigen presenting cell that expresses such polypeptides, and T cells that are specific for cells expressing such polypeptides. The disclosed compositions are useful, for example, in the diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment of diseases, particularly prostate cancer.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for the therapy and diagnosis of cancer, such as prostate cancer, are disclosed. Compositions may comprise one or more prostate-specific proteins, immunogenic portions thereof, or polynucleotides that encode such portions. Alternatively, a therapeutic composition may comprise an antigen presenting cell that expresses a prostate-specific protein, or a T cell that is specific for cells expressing such a protein. Such compositions may be used, for example, for the prevention and treatment of diseases such as prostate cancer. Diagnostic methods based on detecting a prostate-specific protein, or mRNA encoding such a protein, in a sample are also provided.

Abstract: Compounds and methods for the diagnosis and treatment of HSV infection are provided. The compounds comprise polypeptides that contain at least one antigenic portion of an HSV polypeptide and DNA sequences encoding such polypeptides. Pharmaceutical compositions and vaccines comprising such polypeptides or DNA sequences are also provided, together with antibodies directed against such polypeptides. Diagnostic kits are also provided comprising such polypeptides and/or DNA sequences and a suitable detection reagent for the detection of HSV infection in patients and in biological samples.