Abstract: A nasally administered cannabinoid semi-solid or viscous liquid composition; nasal methods for administering the nasal pharmaceutical compositions; methods for manufacturing the nasal pharmaceutical compositions; and nasal methods of treating diseases treatable by the nasal pharmaceutical compositions formulated with a cannabinoid or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A stent retractor/distractor includes a radially flexibly enlargeable, pipe-shaped sheath which is divided up in the circumferential direction in at least two sections, namely one stiffening section and one enlarging section with differing radial flexibilities, which are connected with each other in one piece of material. The stent retractor/distractor defined in that way is made on the whole by a laser or water jet cutting procedure, preferably from a pipe blank.

Abstract: A surgical retractor system includes a substantially tubular retractor having several segments which can be irreversibly severed from one another to carry out a length adaptation of the retractor. A segment is subdivided into an expanding section and a plate section of differing radial flexibility and connected to each other in a one-piece material bond to allow plastic radial expansion of the retractor. An extractor can be operated to bring about plastic radial constriction of the retractor contrary to the radial expansion of the retractor. The extractor is prepared to cooperate with the plate section to bring about radial constriction of the retractor. A surgical instrument for removing a distractor or retractor from an opening includes at least one handle section defining a handle's longitudinal axis and at least one operating section defining a longitudinal effective axis, which are coupled to each other by a connecting section.

Abstract: Disclosed are materials and methods for treating diseases of the mammalian eye, and in particular, Usher syndrome 1B (USH1B). The invention provides AAV-based, dual-vector systems that facilitate the expression of full-length proteins whose coding sequences exceed that of the polynucleotide packaging capacity of an individual AAV vector. In one embodiment, vector systems are provided that include i) a first AAV vector polynucleotide that includes an inverted terminal repeat at each end of the polynucleotide and a suitable promoter followed by a partial coding sequence that encodes an N-terminal portion of a full-length polypeptide; and ii) a second AAV vector polynucleotide that includes an inverted terminal repeat at each end of the polynucleotide and a partial coding sequence that encodes a C-terminal portion of a full-length polypeptide, optionally followed by a polyadenylation (pA) signal sequence.

Abstract: A surgical retractor system includes a substantially tubular retractor having several segments which can be irreversibly severed from one another to carry out a length adaptation of the retractor. A segment is subdivided into an expanding section and a plate section of differing radial flexibility and connected to each other in a one-piece material bond to allow plastic radial expansion of the retractor. An extractor can be operated to bring about plastic radial constriction of the retractor contrary to the radial expansion of the retractor. The extractor is prepared to cooperate with the plate section to bring about radial constriction of the retractor. A surgical instrument for removing a distractor or retractor from an opening includes at least one handle section defining a handle's longitudinal axis and at least one operating section defining a longitudinal effective axis, which are coupled to each other by a connecting section.

Abstract: A stent retractor/distractor includes a radially flexibly enlargeable, pipe-shaped sheath which is divided up in the circumferential direction in at least two sections, namely one stiffening section and one enlarging section with differing radial flexibilities, which are connected with each other in one piece of material. The stent retractor/distractor defined in that way is made on the whole by a laser or water jet cutting procedure, preferably from a pipe blank.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to the automated testing of a system that includes software or hardware components. In some embodiments, a testing framework generates a set of test cases for a system under test using a grammar. Each test case may perform an action, such as provide an input to the system under test, and result in an output from the system under test. The inputs and outputs are then compared to the expected results to determine whether the system under test is performing correctly. The data can then be interpreted in the grammar system or used as input to a fault isolation engine to determine anomalies in the system under test. Based on identified faults, one or more mitigation techniques may be implemented in an automated fashion.

Abstract: The subject invention concerns materials and methods for providing for cone cell specific expression of a polynucleotide in a human or animal. One aspect of the invention concerns a polynucleotide promoter sequence that directs expression of an operably linked polynucleotide in cone cells. In one embodiment, a polynucleotide of the invention comprises a nucleotide sequence of an interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) gene that is positioned upstream of a promoter nucleotide sequence of a cone transducin alpha-subunit (GNAT2) gene. Another aspect of the subject invention concerns methods for expressing a selected polynucleotide in cone cells. The selected polynucleotide can be provided in a polynucleotide of the invention wherein the selected polynucleotide is operably linked to a polynucleotide promoter sequence of the invention. In one embodiment, the selected polynucleotide sequence is provided in a polynucleotide vector of the invention.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to the automated testing of a system that includes software or hardware components. In some embodiments, a testing framework generates a set of test cases for a system under test using a grammar. Each test case may perform an action, such as provide an input to the system under test, and result in an output from the system under test. The inputs and outputs are then compared to the expected results to determine whether the system under test is performing correctly. The data can then be interpreted in the grammar system or used as input to a fault isolation engine to determine anomalies in the system under test. Based on identified faults, one or more mitigation techniques may be implemented in an automated fashion.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to the automated testing of a system that includes software or hardware components. In some embodiments, a testing framework generates a set of test cases for a system under test using a grammar Each test case may perform an action, such as provide an input to the system under test, and result in an output from the system under test. The inputs and outputs are then compared to the expected results to determine whether the system under test is performing correctly. The data can then be interpreted in the grammar system or used as input to a fault isolation engine to determine anomalies in the system under test. Based on identified faults, one or more mitigation techniques may be implemented in an automated fashion.

Abstract: The subject invention concerns materials and methods for providing for cone cell specific expression of a polynucleotide in a human or animal. One aspect of the invention concerns a polynucleotide promoter sequence that directs expression of an operably linked polynucleotide in cone cells. In one embodiment, a polynucleotide of the invention comprises a nucleotide sequence of an interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) gene that is positioned upstream of a promoter nucleotide sequence of a cone transducin alpha-subunit (GNAT2) gene. Another aspect of the subject invention concerns methods for expressing a selected polynucleotide in cone cells. The selected polynucleotide can be provided in a polynucleotide of the invention wherein the selected polynucleotide is operably linked to a polynucleotide promoter sequence of the invention. In one embodiment, the selected polynucleotide sequence is provided in a polynucleotide vector of the invention.

Abstract: Disclosed are materials and methods for treating diseases of the mammalian eye, and in particular, Usher syndrome 1B (USH1B). The invention provides AAV-based, dual-vector systems that facilitate the expression of full-length proteins whose coding sequences exceed that of the polynucleotide packaging capacity of an individual AAV vector. In one embodiment, vector systems are provided that include i) a first AAV vector polynucleotide that includes an inverted terminal repeat at each end of the polynucleotide and a suitable promoter followed by a partial coding sequence that encodes an N-terminal portion of a full-length polypeptide; and ii) a second AAV vector polynucleotide that includes an inverted terminal repeat at each end of the polynucleotide and a partial coding sequence that encodes a C-terminal portion of a full-length polypeptide, optionally followed by a polyadenylation (pA) signal sequence.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to the automated testing of a system that includes software or hardware components. In some embodiments, a testing framework generates a set of test cases for a system under test using a grammar Each test case may perform an action, such as provide an input to the system under test, and result in an output from the system under test. The inputs and outputs are then compared to the expected results to determine whether the system under test is performing correctly. The data can then be interpreted in the grammar system or used as input to a fault isolation engine to determine anomalies in the system under test. Based on identified faults, one or more mitigation techniques may be implemented in an automated fashion.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pick-up vehicle, a swivel device for use in a pick-up vehicle for loading and unloading. The pick-up vehicle includes a swivel device including at least one swivel arm having a curved and/or bent section along its length. A swivel axis of the swivel device is located between the rear wall and wheel wells and includes swivel arms located on both sides of the cargo bed. The at least one connecting bridge is positioned to couple swivel arms to form a swivel yoke. Swivel device includes two swivel axes located one behind the other at a same height relative to the cargo bed, such that a swivel arm is swivelably coupled around one of the two swivel axes, and the swivel arms are coupled together through the at least one movable connection piece, thereby forming a parallelogram-like swivel arm structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an absorbent hygiene article, comprising (a) a stiff element which stiffens on contact with body fluids, or (b) a gas element which forms a gas on contact with body fluids, or both as an indicator and (c) At least one hygiene article component, wherein the stiff element or the gas element which forms a gas or both are in contact with the hygiene article component.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pick-up vehicle, a swivel device for use in a pick-up vehicle for loading and unloading. The pick-up vehicle includes a swivel device including at least one swivel arm having a curved and/or bent section along its length. A swivel axis of the swivel device is located between the rear wall and wheel wells and includes swivel arms located on both sides of the cargo bed. The at least one connecting bridge is positioned to couple swivel arms to form a swivel yoke. Swivel device includes two swivel axes located one behind the other at a same height relative to the cargo bed, such that a swivel arm is swivelably coupled around one of the two swivel axes, and the swivel arms are coupled together through the at least one movable connection piece, thereby forming a parallelogram-like swivel arm structure.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pick-up vehicle, a swivel device for use in a pick-up vehicle for loading and unloading. The pick-up vehicle includes a swivel device including at least one swivel arm having a curved and/or bent section along its length. A swivel axis of the swivel device is located between the rear wall and wheel wells and includes swivel arms located on both sides of the cargo bed. The at least one connecting bridge is positioned to couple swivel arms to form a swivel yoke. Swivel device includes two swivel axes located one behind the other at a same height relative to the cargo bed, such that a swivel arm is swivelably coupled around one of the two swivel axes, and the swivel arms are coupled together through the at least one movable connection piece, thereby forming a parallelogram-like swivel arm structure.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pick-up vehicle, a swivel device for use in a pick-up vehicle for loading and unloading. The pick-up vehicle includes a swivel device including at least one swivel arm having a curved and/or bent section along its length. A swivel axis of the swivel device is located between the rear wall and wheel wells and includes swivel arms located on both sides of the cargo bed. The at least one connecting bridge is positioned to couple swivel arms to form a swivel yoke. Swivel device includes two swivel axes located one behind the other at a same height relative to the cargo bed, such that a swivel arm is swivelably coupled around one of the two swivel axes, and the swivel arms are coupled together through the at least one movable connection piece, thereby forming a parallelogram-like swivel arm structure.

Abstract: Pick-up vehicle having an open cargo bed coupled to a passenger cab, side walls, a rear wall, and wheel wells located one of inside and outside of the cargo bed. The pick-up vehicle includes a swivel device adapted for loading and unloading the open cargo bed. The swivel device includes at least one swivel arm, at least one connecting bridge, and at least one movable connection piece. A swivel axis of the swivel device is located between the rear wall and the wheel wells. The at least one swivel arm includes swivel arms located on both sides of the cargo bed, and the at least one connecting bridge is positioned to couple the swivel arms to form a swivel yoke. The swivel device also includes two swivel axes located one behind the other in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. A swivel arm is swivelably coupled around one of the two swivel axes, and the swivel arms are coupled together through the at least one movable connection piece, thereby forming a parallelogram-like swivel arm structure.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of reducing the content of a particular substance in molten steel, which includes placing the molten steel and a quantity of slag in a refractory container, submerging a refractory rotor into the molten steel beneath the slag, and rotating the rotor about its axis at a speed sufficient to draw part of the interface between the molten steel and the slag down to the upper face of the rotor. The rotor has downwardly and outwardly extending passageways through which the slag is pumped during rotation of the rotor, whereby the interface area between the slag and the molten steel is increased. During such rotation, the slag is treated from above with a material which preferentially reacts with said particular substance to remove the same from the molten steel.