Abstract: Compositions are provided which include biodegradable microparticles with entrapped or adsorbed antigens, in combination with submicron oil-in-water emulsions. Also provided are methods of immunization which comprise administering to a vertebrate subject (a) a submicron oil-in-water emulsion, and (b) a therapeutically effective amount of a selected antigen entrapped in a microparticle.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of increasing the absorbency of an absorbent article. The method includes introducing a super-absorbent polymer composition to a paper web in a papermaking process to increase the absorbent capacity of an absorbent article made in the process. The polymer composition includes a super-absorbent polymer and a cross-linking agent applied to the paper web. The paper web is then subjected to heat in a heated drum or a through-air drier to cure or cross-link the super-absorbent polymer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating gas-phase active chemical species suitable for selectively processing one side of a textile or nonwoven material are described. Processing includes etching or stripping coatings, as examples. A low-temperature plasma is used to produce an ionized gas containing radical species, atoms, ions, and electrons, some of which are suitable for removing or modifying the coating. For the purposes of the present invention, the plasma may be generated in a vacuum, or at atmospheric pressure. Dielectric-barrier discharges, atmospheric-pressure plasma jets, micro hollow-cathode discharges, coronas, or plasmas produced by a microwave discharge or laser-supplied energy may be used to generate the required species.

Abstract: A valve body has a channel extending along an axis and an inlet port open to the channel. A sleeve, received about the valve body, overlies the inlet port and is rotatable about the axis relative the body. A nozzle projects radially outward from the sleeve. The nozzle is rotatable with the sleeve into a range of positions in which the nozzle communicates with the inlet port through the sleeve.

Abstract: In one characterization, the present invention relates to a radiation-shielding assembly for holding a container having a radioactive material disposed therein. The assembly may, at least in one regard, be referred to as an elution shield and/or a dispensing shield. The assembly includes a body at least partially defining a cavity. There is at least one opening through the body into the cavity. The assembly may include a cap that at least generally hinders escape of radiation from the assembly through the opening. The cap may be releasably attached to the body in one orientation and may establish non-attached engagement with the body in another orientation. The assembly may include an adjustable spacer system for adapting the assembly for use with containers having different heights.

Abstract: In one characterization, the present invention relates to a radiation-shielding assembly for holding a container having a radioactive material disposed therein. The assembly may, at least in one regard, be referred to as an elution shield and/or a dispensing shield. The assembly includes a body at least partially defining a cavity. There is at least one opening through the body into the cavity. The assembly may include a cap that at least generally hinders escape of radiation from the assembly through the opening. The cap may be releasably attached to the body in one orientation and may establish non-attached engagement with the body in another orientation. The assembly may include an adjustable spacer system for adapting the assembly for use with containers having different heights.

Abstract: In one characterization, the present invention relates to a radiation-shielding assembly for holding a container having a radioactive material disposed therein. The assembly may, at least in one regard, be referred to as an elution shield and/or a dispensing shield. The assembly includes a body at least partially defining a cavity. There is at least one opening through the body into the cavity. The assembly may include a cap that at least generally hinders escape of radiation from the assembly through the opening. The cap may be releasably attached to the body in one orientation and may establish non-attached engagement with the body in another orientation. The assembly may include an adjustable spacer system for adapting the assembly for use with containers having different heights.

Abstract: In one characterization, the present invention relates to a radiation-shielding assembly for holding a container having a radioactive material disposed therein. The assembly may, at least in one regard, be referred to as an elution shield and/or a dispensing shield. The assembly includes a body at least partially defining a cavity. There is at least one opening through the body into the cavity. The assembly may include a cap that at least generally hinders escape of radiation from the assembly through the opening. The cap may be releasably attached to the body in one orientation and may establish non-attached engagement with the body in another orientation. The assembly may include an adjustable spacer system for adapting the assembly for use with containers having different heights.

Abstract: Various sealing structures are used in a front-loading injector, for preventing leakage of spilled fluid from an external surface of a syringe into the vicinity of the drive ram. For example, a sealing gasket may be incorporated into the front face of the injector housing, for mating to the rearward circular edge of the cylindrical body of a syringe. Alternatively, sealing and locking functions may be performed by a single structure on the rearward end of the syringe. Further, leakage may be prevented by including a non-planar sealing flange on the syringe, positioned on the syringe forward of the locking structure, or by a two-piece structure, including a syringe and a separate leakage stopping washer for surrounding the syringe to halt the flow of fluid along the exterior of the syringe. As part of this aspect, or as an independent feature, the syringe may include an annularly discontinuous flange forward of the locking structure, for providing mechanical support for the syringe against the injector.

Abstract: Various sealing structures are used in a front-loading injector, for preventing leakage of spilled fluid from an external surface of a syringe into the vicinity of the drive ram. For example, a sealing gasket may be incorporated into the front face of the injector housing, for mating to the rearward circular edge of the cylindrical body of a syringe. Alternatively, sealing and locking functions may be performed by a single structure on the rearward end of the syringe. Further, leakage may be prevented by including a non-planar sealing flange on the syringe, positioned on the syringe forward of the locking structure, or by a two-piece structure, including a syringe and a separate leakage stopping washer for surrounding the syringe to halt the flow of fluid along the exterior of the syringe. As part of this aspect, or as an independent feature, the syringe may include an annularly discontinuous flange forward of the locking structure, for providing mechanical support for the syringe against the injector.

Abstract: In a multiplexed assay, each molecule of a plurality of molecules is attached to a support matrix with a substrate adapted for attachment and/or synthesis of molecules and an integrally-formed memory device with an optically-encoded identifier to uniquely identify the molecule attached to the substrate. The molecules are exposed to one or more processing conditions then placed within the path of an optical detector adapted to read the optically-encoded identifier and measure biochemical processes on each support matrix. The support matrices may besingulated to be read by the optical detector one at a time.

Abstract: A method of treatment of inflamed, pre-cancerous or cancerous tissue or polyps in a mammalian subject is disclosed. The treatment involves administration of a composition of at least one peptide agonist of a guanylate cyclase receptor and/or other small molecules that enhance intracellular production of cGMP. The at least one peptide agonist of a guanylate cyclase receptor may be administered either alone or in combination with an inhibitor of cGMP-dependent phosphodiesterase. The inhibitor may be a small molecule, peptide, protein or other compound that inhibits the degradation of cGMP. Without requiring a particular mechanism of action, this treatment may restore a healthy balance between proliferation and apoptosis in the subject's population of epithelial cells, and also suppress carcinogenesis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a performance indicator in a high-speed communication system. A plurality of disparate communication status signals with differing formats from a transceiver are combined in a logic module to create a single link quality indicator signal. The link quality indicator signal is used to encode different operational states of the transceiver from fully operational, to marginally operational, to failed. The link quality indicator signal is advantageously employed to drive a LED creating a visual performance indicator.

Abstract: A system and method for efficient uncorrectable error detection in flash memory is described. A microcontroller including a non-volatile flash memory utilizes an Error Correction Code (ECC) having a certain error detection and correction bit strength. The user data is first processed by a hash function and hash data is stored with the user data. Then, the user data and hash data are processed by the ECC system. In detection, the hash ensures that a relatively low bit-strength ECC system did not incorrectly manipulate the user data. Such a hash integrity check provides an efficient, robust detection of incorrectly corrected user data resulting from errors beyond the correction but strength of the ECC system utilized.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for manipulating an elongated flexible shaft of a catheter provide case and reliability of positioning electrodes against or near tissue. Dual-bend flexible distal tips (30) may be used in combination with flat wires. In some embodiments, flat wires which are free to rotate upon initial bending of shaft segments are employed. In some embodiments, one or more transition segments (48) are used to relocate the satellite lumen-to-main lumen transition of pull wires (42, 40) away from a change in shaft stiffness.

Abstract: A decorative cover for embellishing footwear is disclosed, having a cover incorporated with a sock. The cover is worn over the footwear for covering and enhancing it with at least one embellishment. The sock encloses a user's foot and is incorporated with the cover at the top of the sock to prevent the cover slipping down. To hold the cover down over the footwear, a disconnecting strap extends under the arch of the footwear. To hold the cover securely against the footwear, a zippered seam runs along the rear of the cover parallel to a user's leg.

Abstract: In one characterization, the present invention relates to a radiation-shielding assembly for holding a container having a radioactive material disposed therein. The assembly may, at least in one regard, be referred to as an elution shield and/or a dispensing shield. The assembly includes a body at least partially defining a cavity. There is at least one opening through the body into the cavity. The assembly may include a cap that at least generally hinders escape of radiation from the assembly through the opening. The cap may be releasably attached to the body in one orientation and may establish non-attached engagement with the body in another orientation. The assembly may include an adjustable spacer system for adapting the assembly for use with containers having different heights.

Abstract: A method for drying a material such as a polymer hydrogel which passes through a cohesive phase as it dries is disclosed. The method comprises agitating a composition while removing liquid until the solids content of the composition reaches a level at which the composition enters a cohesive phase, halting agitation, removing liquid from the composition in the absence of agitation, and resuming agitation. Practice of the present invention can eliminate the problems associated with adhesion of a material to itself and to process equipment during the cohesive phase.

Abstract: A radiopharmaceutical containment or pig, in certain embodiments, may include a plurality of cavities or chambers to accommodate a syringe and other medical devices. For example, a syringe may be housed in a first chamber of the radiopharmaceutical containment, and a tube coupled to the syringe may be housed in a second chamber and extractable via a passage in the radiopharmaceutical containment. In some embodiments, a user may extract a radiopharmaceutical from the radiopharmaceutical containment without having to remove the syringe from the containment. The radiopharmaceutical containment may include radiation shielding, an aperture to enable a ram of a power injector to engage or interact with a syringe inside the containment, a movable shutter over the aperture, various labels, and/or an integral storage compartment.

Abstract: Disclosed is a solution for an electrochemical process, the solution containing a sulfonic acid and having a low concentration of sulfur compounds, either low or high valence, that are susceptible to reduction and which is intended for use in electrodeposition, batteries, conductive polymers and descaling processes.