Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for treating diseases such as cancer. The compositions comprise one or more polysaccharides in an admixture with one or more therapeutic agents. This admixture can be administered to a subject in need thereof using any known method of administration. The therapeutic agent, if administered alone, can cause undesirable side-effects in the subject. The polysaccharide component minimizes or eliminates these side effects. The compositions described herein effectuate an enhanced therapeutic effect along with reduced toxicity.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for the delivery and targeting of therapeutics using nanometer sized polysaccharide structures. The methods and compositions described herein afford improved efficacy for pharmaceuticals such as anti-tumor drugs on metastatic tumor. The methods described herein are applicable to all chemotherapeutic agents and are especially useful for poorly soluble (hydrophobic) drugs which when formulated with the present compositions render them deliverable in physiological fluids. The methods and compositions described herein also improve the efficacy of pharmaceutical agents by targeting carbohydrate receptors specific to tumors that mediate endocytosis or enhance delivery of the drug to the ultimate site of action.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for enhancing combustion comprises an enclosure defining an opening for introduction of a gas and openings for the introduction of air, with a nozzle in the opening for introduction of a fuel gas into the enclosure. First and second electrodes are located in the enclosure, the first and second electrodes being coated with dielectric material, and being connected to an electrical power supply. With electrical power applied to the first and second electrodes and with the fuel gas sprayed into the enclosure, an atmospheric pressure plasma created by a dielectric barrier discharge is produced in the enclosure that cracks the fuel gas prior to its mixing with air introduced through the openings for the introduction of air.

Abstract: A rotor for use in turbine applications has a centrifugal compressor having axially disposed spaced apart fins forming passages and an axial turbine having hollow turbine blades interleaved with the fins and through which fluid from the centrifugal compressor flows.

Abstract: A device that uses electrical discharges/nonthermal plasmas in a gaseous medium to activate a fuel or fuel-oxidizer mixture to promote more effective and efficient combustion, in which a dielectric barrier discharge or silent discharge plasma is used to break up larger organic molecules (the fuel) into smaller ones that are more easily and completely combusted. The discharge also creates free radicals that promote more efficient combustion. The device is a cylindrical, coaxial (cylinder in a cylinder) dielectric barrier discharge/silent discharge plasma reactor. It includes two conducting electrodes, one or both of which are covered by a dielectric material. The electrodes are separated by a thin, gas-containing space. A high voltage is applied to the electrodes to create electric discharge streamers in the gas. The discharges are the source of the nonthermal plasma.

Abstract: A client/server system and method for providing a way of repairing software failures as they occur. This system enhances the software architecture of the client device is discussed by detecting a software failure and giving the client the ability to dial up a connection to a repair server designed for supplying repair software. This special diagnostic server takes control of the client device, performs a diagnostic, retrieves log information, and downloads and executes software to repair the failure. The system turns control over from the client device to the repair server to execute commands issued by the repair server. Once the connection to the server is established, all of the intelligence in the diagnostic and repair process is driven by the repair server. This allows the repair server to identify and repair the software failures found in the client device without having to change the software in the client device.

Abstract: The present invention includes maintaining the region of the proximal lens of a laparoscope at greater than ambient temperature in order to prevent fogging during use. Heating is accomplished using commercially available chemical heat packs generally used for heating boots or gloves, or by using electrically powered heating tape. The invention differs from other anti-fogging devices, which either immerse the distal lens region of the laparoscope in a warm fluid or treat this lens with anti-fogging solutions, in that above-ambient temperature is continuously maintained throughout the laparoscope, since it is known that a cool laparoscope fogs when placed in the vicinity of warm, wet patient tissue.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for reducing toxicity of a toxic agent are provided in which a polysaccharide, galactomannan is coadministered with a therapeutic agent in a liquid formulation to a subject to reduce toxicity of the agent for the subject.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for reducing toxicity of a toxic agent are provided in which a polysaccharide, galactomannan is coadministered with a therapeutic agent in a liquid formulation to a subject to reduce toxicity of the agent for the subject.

Abstract: A rotor for use in turbine applications has a centrifugal turbine having axially disposed spaced apart fins forming passages and an axial turbine having hollow turbine blades interleaved with the fins and through which fluid from the centrifugal turbine flows.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical compound and a process for making the compound is provided where the compound includes a therapeutic agent, a spacer and a galactose, the spacer being covalently linked to the therapeutic agent at a first site on the spacer and covalently linked to the galactose by an ether bond at a second site on the spacer to form a conjugate. The conjugate may be used to treat a subject suffering from a medical condition, so as to reduce the side effects associated with the therapeutic agent by administering an effective dose of the conjugate to the subject so that the side effects in the subject are less then they would have been with the unconjugated therapeutic agent.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for reducing toxicity of a toxic agent are provided in which a polysaccharide, galactomannan is coadministered with a therapeutic agent in a liquid formulation to a subject to reduce toxicity of the agent for the subject.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical compound and a process for making the compound is provided where the compound includes a therapeutic agent, a spacer and a galactose, the spacer being covalently linked to the therapeutic agent at a first site on the spacer and covalently linked to the galactose by an ether bond at a second site on the spacer to form a conjugate. The conjugate may be used to treat a subject suffering from a medical condition, so as to reduce the side effects associated with the therapeutic agent by administering an effective dose of the conjugate to the subject so that the side effects in the subject are less then they would have been with the unconjugated therapeutic agent.

Abstract: A self-test electronic assembly performs self-testing, such as diagnostic or run-in testing of components and circuits, based upon internally stored test procedures. The results of self-testing are stored internally to the device, providing valuable information regarding the self-test electronic assembly, both during the manufacturing process, and preferably for ongoing in-situ operation. A test system is preferably linked to one or more self-test electronic assemblies, and provides loopback circuitry for each installed self-test electronic assembly, whereby the self-test electronic assemblies can further test components, circuitry, and security encoding and decoding operation. The preferred test rack also provides efficient and consistent monitoring and quality control over the self-testing of self-test electronic assemblies.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for treating cancer with a formulation are provided in which a polysaccharide, galactomannan, is co-administered with a therapeutic agent to a subject to reduce toxicity and/or enhance efficacy of the agent for the subject.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a gene therapy material which includes a nucleic acid material and a carbohydrate wherein the carbohydrate preferably is a modified pectin. Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a gene therapy material including a nucleic acid material, a carbohydrate material associated with the nucleic acid material, and a protective coating disposed about the carbohydrate material.

Abstract: There has been invented a turbine engine with a single rotor which cools the engine, functions as a radial compressor, pushes air through the engine to the ignition point, and acts as an axial turbine for powering the compressor. The invention engine is designed to use a simple scheme of conventional passage shapes to provide both a radial and axial flow pattern through the single rotor, thereby allowing the radial intake air flow to cool the turbine blades and turbine exhaust gases in an axial flow to be used for energy transfer. In an alternative embodiment, an electric generator is incorporated in the engine to specifically adapt the invention for power generation. Magnets are embedded in the exhaust face of the single rotor proximate to a ring of stationary magnetic cores with windings to provide for the generation of electricity. In this alternative embodiment, the turbine is a radial inflow turbine rather than an axial turbine as used in the first embodiment.

Abstract: Modified polysaccharide compositions and their use for treating subjects with cancer, preventing cancer in high-risk subjects and inhibiting metastasis in a subject are described. The modified polysaccharide includes a saccharide backbone being less than 5% esterified and containing repeating units, wherein each repeating unit has a plurality of uronic acid molecules, each repeating unit having at least one neutral monosaccharide attached thereto, at least one side chain of saccharides attached to the backbone further comprising a plurality of neutral saccharides or saccharide derivatives; and having an average molecule weight in the range of 15 to 60 kD.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a blood cell proliferation assay employing Staphylococcus aureus antigen capable of inducing a proliferative response. The assay finds particular application in testing cattle, including cows and bulls for use in predicting resistance to subclinical or clinical mastitis.

Abstract: The active, galactose binding site of proteins associated with metastatic tumor cells has been identified and sequenced. The polypeptide comprising the active site may be used as an immunotherapeutic agent. Identification of the site makes possible an in vivo diagnostic assay for metastatic cell as well as therapeutic methodologies and materials.