Abstract: The invention provides correction of wavefront aberrations of the eye that take into account fluctuations in the aberrations due to biophysical rhythms. Correction is provided for an intermediate value of these fluctuations of the wavefront aberrations. This intermediate value is determined by extrapolating a wavefront measurement to predict the overall variation. The final correction is determined using a weighting scheme derived from the clinical comparisons of the frequency and amplitude components of the variations.

Abstract: Methods for making reagent test strips are provided. In the subject methods, a test strip precursor made up of an elongated support material having a planar surface and a narrow stripe of reagent material positioned along its central axis is cut according to an inter-digitating pattern to produce the plurality of reagent test strips. The initial precursor material may be a tape or in the form of a card. Also provided are the reagent test strips produced by the subject methods and kits that include the same. The subject reagent test strips and kits find use in analyte detection and/or concentration determination assays.

Abstract: A combination entertainment system for providing both jukebox and game entertainment is disclosed. The entertainment system comprises a jukebox subsystem, a dart game subsystem, and a control subsystem that coordinates a jukebox mode of operation and a dart game mode of operation. Also disclosed is a method of operation for the combination jukebox and game entertainment system. The method transfers operation between game, jukebox, and advertisement modes of operation, based on patron input and the current operating mode of the system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to several novel acridone-derived compounds of of formula (I) or (II). These compounds are potent anti-viral agents, useful in the treatment of viral diseases, such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus. In addition, these compounds are anti-neoplastic agents useful in the treatment of various forms of cancer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to several novel acridone-derived compounds of of formula (I) or (II). These compounds are potent anti-viral agents, useful in the treatment of viral diseases, such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus. In addition, these compounds are anti-neoplastic agents useful in the treatment of various forms of cancer. wherein R1 and R2 are independently —H, —OH, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, alkoxy, alkyl, haloalkyl or halogen; n is 2 to 6, X and X′ are independently —N or —NO2; Y and Y′ are independently —N or —CH, or —H; and the double-slash represents a double bond or no bond.

Abstract: A prop to hold a patient on his/her side while in a hospital bed in which a standard-sized hospital pillow is stowed in a rolled condition within a launderable sleeve having a sleeve-attached flap of approximately eight inches tucked beneath the patient's side which allows limited patient rolling movement against the prop which contributes to patient comfort. The eight inch dimension of the flap keeps the prop close to the patient so that more drastic movement which could cause injury does not occur.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to pharmaceutical compositions including a saturated 1,2-dithiaheterocyclic compound having antiviral activity. The present invention also provides a kit containing the pharmaceutical composition and methods of treating or preventing viral disease using the composition, as well as methods for inactivating retrovirus in a body fluid.

Abstract: The present invention provides several classes of compounds which can be used to inactivate retroviruses, such as HIV-1, by attacking the CCHC zinc fingers of the viral nucleocapsid protein and ejecting the zinc therefrom. In addition, kits for identifying compounds that can react with CCHC zinc fingers of the nucleocapsid proteins of a large number of different retroviruses have also been developed. The kits of the present invention describe a set of specific tests and reagents that can be used to screen and identify compounds based on their ability to react with and disrupt retroviral zinc fingers in the viral NC proteins and, in turn, inactivate the retrovirus of interest.

Abstract: A 1/4 wave circuit switch for use in an NMR probe has a housing with a stepped cavity for precisely locating switch components inside. The 1/4 wave circuit switch cooperates with a 1/4 wave tube and is designed to receive either an external capacitor on a capacitor stick for single tune operations or a 1/4 wave center conductor with a threaded tip on a 1/4 wave stick for double tune operations. For single tune operations, the external capacitor comes into contact at one end with a resiliently supported, movable electrical contact and at the other end with a spring clip inside the housing cavity to orient the external capacitor in parallel with the NMR coil. The movable electrical contact is resiliently biased by a pair of crescent washers supported by an insert plug which serves as a positive stop for the travel of the electrical contact.

Abstract: A dual-board host or main printed wiring structure of a circuit module with increased component mounting area is made plug-compatible with a backplane to which single-board host or main boards may be attached with connectors of differing dimensions and pin configurations, the center line of which are offset from each other. The connection sides of the two boards are respectively bonded to a heat sink frame structure having a thickness which corresponds to the connector offset on the backplane such that the total thickness of one of the printed wiring boards, the heat sink frame and the two bonding layers with respect to board to center line distances equals the connector offset on a given backplane. Direct connections to both boards of the dual-board structure can thus be made from the backplane to reduce connection length and reliability relating to a mezzanine board mounted on a single-board host.

Abstract: A multilayer reagent test strip measures the concentration of analyte in a liquid sample that is applied to it. The sample is guided to a number of assay areas arrayed along the strip, where the analyte can react with a reagent to cause a color change. Each assay area also includes an inhibitor for the color-change reaction. The inhibitor concentration increases in successive assay areas; thus, the number of areas that change color is a measure of the analyte concentration. The test strip is particularly adapted for measuring glucose in a whole blood sample. In a preferred embodiment, the sample is guided to the assay areas along a path formed by crushing selected areas of a membrane, and the assay areas are uncrushed areas of the membrane.

Abstract: A method of printing color images which includes the formation of a pattern of three primary color separated halftones of the image from a medium applied to a substrate. The medium is embossed to form a surface relief configuration on each halftone image. Each surface relief configuration reflects one specific primary color at a specific angle. In one embodiment, the medium is applied to a substrate in the pattern of color separated halftone images in a single printing pass by a composite offset printing plate. The medium is then embossed by an embossing plate to create the surface relief configurations thereon. In a second embodiment, the medium is applied to the substrate and embossed by a single plate in a single printing pass. In a third embodiment, the medium is applied to the substrate in a relatively continuous layer and thereafter embossed to simultaneously create a pattern of color separated halftones of the image and a different surface relief configuration on each halftone image.

Abstract: A chemical timer for a direct-reading reagent test strip changes color a predetermined time after a biological fluid is applied to the strip. The strip measures the concentration of an analyte in the fluid. The timer is a dry coating of an indicator, an enzyme-containing reagent that when hydrated can react with glucose to change the color of the indicator, an inhibitor to inhibit the change in color of the indicator, glucose, and optionally, an aldose that does not react with the enzyme in the reagent. Preferably, the reagent and glucose are present in excess in the coating, and the time it takes for the timer color to change can be controlled by the inhibitor concentration. The aldose provides timer stability, probably by interfering with glycosylation by the glucose in the dry state.

Abstract: A process and equipment for generating useful power comprising a special split stream heat recovery boiler 108 in combination with a gas turbine 20 and a steam turbine 80 to form a combined cycle. A steam-injected gas turbine 20 and alternately a condensing steam turbine 116 may be utilized. A topping high temperature and high pressure topping steam turbine 80 optionally may be included. Chemical heat recuperation via natural gas reformation may be incorporated within the boiler 108 to increase cycle efficiency further and to lower NOx formation without excess CO. The heat recovery boiler 206 yields increased efficiency and power output heretofore unexpected for the combined cycle compared to conventional combined cycle equipment.

Abstract: A reagent strip for measuring glucose concentration in a biological fluid containing red blood cells has reduced interference of hematocrit with the glucose measurement. When a biological fluid contacts the strip, it causes, in a reagent impregnated in the strip, a color change which is a measure of the glucose concentration in the fluid. However, the color change is also affected by the red blood cell concentration (hematocrit), thereby reducing the accuracy of the glucose measurement. The hematocrit effect is reduced by adding to the reagent a component, such as imidazole or imidazole and N-acetylglucosamine, for minimizing side reactions of the glucose, or its reaction products, with the fluid.

Abstract: A process is provided for drying raw material that comprises solids and a substantial amount of moisture. The process in its basic form involves the steps of forming the raw material into pellets by extrusion under pressure through a forming die into pellets with the solids compacted into a cohesively secured mass and then drying the pellets thus formed to reduce the moisture to a desired percentage. Raw material that has an excessive amount of moisture such that they cannot be extruded are first mixed with a dry material to reduce the moisture content to the point where they can be extruded.

Abstract: A radial flow chromatograph in which the bed is tightly compressed, or a chromatographic series comprised of a series of several such beds. A process for separating species in a fluid by driving the fluid radially through one or more tightly compressed beds.

Abstract: An apparatus for the detection of surface defects on cylindrical objects which includes means for conveying the objects to be inspected one-by-one each on its end to a first inspection station, means for inspecting the free end of each object as it passes through the first inspection station, means for conveying the objects one-by-one each on its side to a second inspection station the means for tipping the objects from their ends to their sides, means for rotating each object whilst passing it on its side through the second inspection station, means for inspecting the curved surface of each object as it passes through the second inspection station, means for conveying the objects one-by-one to a third inspection station the said means including means for tipping the objects onto their end inspected at the first inspection station and means for inspecting the free end of each object as it passes through the third inspection station.

Abstract: A method of printing color images which includes the formation of a pattern of three primary color separated halftones of the image from a medium applied to a substrate. The medium is embossed to form a surface relief configuration on each halftone image. Each surface relief configuration reflects one specific primary color at a specific angle. In one embodiment, the medium is applied to a substrate in the pattern of color separated halftone images in a single printing pass by a composite offset printing plate. The medium is then embossed by an embossing plate to create the surface relief configurations thereon. In a second embodiment, the medium is applied to the substrate and embossed by a single plate in a single printing pass. In a third embodiment, the medium is applied to the substrate in a relatively continuous layer and thereafter embossed to simultaneously create a pattern of color separated halftones of the image and a different surface relief configuration on each halftone image.