Abstract: A therapeutic medical article is provided which comprises a medical article, a precursor compound and an activator compound. The medical article is adapted, upon administration to a patient, to release the precursor compound and the activator compound such that the activator compound interacts with the precursor compound and converts the precursor compound into activated form for local delivery. Specific examples of precursor and activator compound pairs include: (a) a nitrosothiol precursor and a nitric oxide donor, (b) plasminogen and plasminogen activator, and (c) fibrinogen and thrombin.

Abstract: A design-timing-determination process for an electronic design automation system approximates the timing of a whole design quickly and on-the-fly. Such allows a scheduling system to construct operation schedules that are ultimately realizable. A timing analysis is applied each time an individual operation is scheduled, and may be called many times to get a single operation scheduled. A graph representing combinational logic is partitioned into a collection of logic trees with nodes that represent gates and terminals, and arcs that represent connections. A compacted model of each logic tree is constructed by replacing them with equivalent trees having no interior nodes. The timing of the original circuit is analyzed along each path from the leaves to the roots. A propagation delay for each path is determined, and such is annotated onto each corresponding arc of the simplified tree.

Abstract: A windshield wiper is moved across a windshield by a linear motor employing an induction effect. A stator is attached to a vehicle and a driver or truck attached to a wiper blade. Either the stator or driver has coils that are actuated to move the driver across the windshield carrying the blade with it. The blade is swept back and forth with the driver.

Abstract: A delay-optimizing technology-mapping process for an electronic design automation system selects the best combination of library devices to use in a forward and a backward sweep of circuit trees representing a design. A technology selection process in an electronic design automation-system comprises the steps of partitioning an original circuit design into a set of corresponding logic trees. Then, ordering the set of corresponding logic trees into an ordered linear list such that each tree-T that drives another ordered tree precedes the other ordered tree, and such that each ordered tree that drives the tree-T precedes the tree-T. Next, sweeping forward in the ordered linear list while computing a set of Pareto-optimal load/arrival curves for each of a plurality of net nodes that match a technology-library element.

Abstract: This invention relates to devices and methods for the local, differential delivery of nitric oxide within the body. The devices include devices having at least two differing nitric oxide donor compounds, such as nitric oxide donor compounds having differing half-lives and nitric oxide donor compounds having different release mechanisms. The devices also include devices having at least two chemically distinct compositions to which nitric oxide donor compounds are adsorbed or attached or within which the donor compounds are disposed. The devices are typically used to increase local nitric oxide concentration in the body upon placement of the medical article at a delivery position on or within a patient.

Abstract: A method for producing a S-nitrosylated species is provided. The method comprises: (a) providing a deoxygenated, alkaline aqueous solution comprising a thiol and a nitrite-bearing species; (b) acidifying the solution by adding acid to the solution while concurrently mixing the solution (e.g., by vigorously stirring the solution) to produce the S-nitrosylated species; and (c) isolating the S-nitrosylated species. The nitrite-bearing species can be, for example, an inorganic nitrite, such as an alkali metal nitrite, or an organic nitrite, such as an alkyl nitrite (e.g., ethyl nitrite, amyl nitrite, isobutyl nitrite or t-butyl nitrite). The thiol is preferably a thiol-containing polysaccharide, a thiol-containing lipoprotein, a thiol-containing amino acid or a thiol-containing protein, and more preferably a thiol-containing polysaccharide such as thiolated cyclodextrin. In many preferred embodiments, the S-nitrosylated species is insoluble in the acidified solution, precipitating upon formation.

Abstract: A thermal radiation shield for cooled portable gamma-ray spectrometers. The thermal radiation shield is located intermediate the vacuum enclosure and detector enclosure, is actively driven, and is useful in reducing the heat load to mechanical cooler and additionally extends the lifetime of the mechanical cooler. The thermal shield is electrically-powered and is particularly useful for portable solid-state gamma-ray detectors or spectrometers that dramatically reduces the cooling power requirements. For example, the operating shield at 260K (40K below room temperature) will decrease the thermal radiation load to the detector by 50%, which makes possible portable battery operation for a mechanically cooled Ge spectrometer.

Abstract: A method for producing a S-nitrosylated species is provided. The method comprises: (a) providing a deoxygenated, alkaline aqueous solution comprising a thiol and a nitrite-bearing species; (b) acidifying the solution by adding acid to the solution while concurrently mixing the solution (e.g., by vigorously stirring the solution) to produce the S-nitrosylated species; and (c) isolating the S-nitrosylated species. The nitrite-bearing species can be, for example, an inorganic nitrite, such as an alkali metal nitrite, or an organic nitrite, such as an alkyl nitrite (e.g., ethyl nitrite, amyl nitrite, isobutyl nitrite or t-butyl nitrite). The thiol is preferably a thiol-containing polysaccharide, a thiol-containing lipoprotein, a thiol-containing amino acid or a thiol-containing protein, and more preferably a thiol-containing polysaccharide such as thiolated cyclodextrin. In many preferred embodiments, the S-nitrosylated species is insoluble in the acidified solution, precipitating upon formation.

Abstract: An optical system includes a curved window, an optical corrector adjacent to a curved inner surface of the window, an optical train positioned such that the optical corrector lies between the curved window and the optical train, a movable optical train support upon which the optical train is mounted, and a sensor disposed to receive an optical ray passing sequentially through the window, the optical corrector, and the optical train. The optical corrector has an inner surface and an outer surface, at least one of which has a shape described by a modified Zernike polynomial surface.

Abstract: An optical system includes a curved window, an asymmetric, scoop-shaped optical corrector adjacent to a curved inner surface of the window, an optical train positioned such that the optical corrector lies between the curved window and the optical train, a movable optical train support upon which the optical train is mounted, and a sensor disposed to receive an optical ray passing sequentially through the window, the optical corrector, and the optical train. The optical corrector has an inner surface and an outer surface, at least one of which has a shape defined by an asymmetric polynomial.

Abstract: A control system is provided for a rolling mill that feeds sheet material from an unwind reel to a rewind reel, passing it between a pair of work rolls. The control system includes a speed sensor for sensing speed of the sheet material and a sensor for measuring material thickness. A force controller controls force exerted on the sheet material by the work rolls. A tension controller controls tension on the unwind reel. A programmed controller is operatively connected to the speed sensor, the force controller and the tension controller, and stores information representing cyclical deviations in thickness of the sheet material and controls the force controller and the tension controller using the stored information and the sensed speed.