Abstract: Nucleic acid constructs comprising hypoxia response elements in operable linkage with a coding sequence of a gene of interest, and methods for expressing a nucleic acid sequence using the constructs, are disclosed. In particular, such nucleic acid constructs comprise genes encoding prodrug activation systems or cytokines.

Abstract: Isoxazole estrogen receptor agonist and antagonist compounds having unexpected and surprising activity in modulating estrogen receptor activity are described. In addition, methods and compositions for treating or preventing estrogen receptor-mediated disorders are disclosed. The compounds, methods, and compositions of the invention have utility in preventing or treating estrogen receptor-mediated disorders such as osteoporosis, breast and endometrial cancers, atherosclerosis, and Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: A system and method for dispatching computer system service requests to multiple service providers in a tiered-parallel fashion such that a request can be satisfied in the shortest time possible by the computer, or module, most available to provide valid responses is described. The method is designed to permit a hierarchal ordering, by tiers, of preferred service providers, where the dispatches are performed in parallel as to providers on the same tier and in serial as to providers on subsequent tiers. This invention improves the speed and reliability of response to service requests for data, or objects, across a computer system network with one or more computer processing units.

Abstract: A solid phase substrate derivatized with single stranded nucleic acids having random sequences of nucleotide bases and related method of capturing one or more single stranded nucleic acids by contacting with the solid phase substrate wherein the single stranded nucleic acids anneal to the nucleic acids of the substrate to result in the captured sequences.

Abstract: Substituted 1H-Pyridinyl-2-ones are useful as GABAA-Alpha 2/3 ligands.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing very small changes in the output oscillation of a controlled oscillation circuit, which may be used in a phase locked loop circuit, is accomplished by a phase-shifting controlled oscillator that includes an oscillation circuit and a selection circuit. The oscillation circuit generates a plurality of oscillations that are of approximately the same frequency and are approximately equally phase shifted from one another. The selection circuit is operably coupled to receive the plurality of oscillations and selects one of them to be the output oscillation based on a control signal. The very small change in the output oscillation occurs when the selection circuit, based on the control signal, selects another one of the oscillations to be the output oscillation. When the change happens, a single pulse is stretched by the phase difference between the “old” output oscillation and the “new” output oscillation.

Abstract: A portable computer has the features and benefits of a conventional portable computer and in addition including the added features of two larger than normal speakers, an integral microphone, a infrared transceiver and a touchscreen. The computer, also, has ports for receiving components tailored for disabled personnel including switching ports. The portable computer has a housing with an upper assembly and a lower assembly. The lower assembly has a support rib projects upward from the base and extends from one of the side walls towards the center of the lower assembly. One of the side walls has a reinforcing bar extending from generally the support rib to the front wall. A battery opening is defined by the reinforcing bar, one of the side walls and the front wall. The lower assembly defines a quadruplet of quadrants. The computer has a battery for powering the computer located in a quadrant, the battery quadrant. A hard drive and the power board are in the quadrant adjacent the battery quadrant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cosmetic compositions in the form of a water-in-oil emulsion comprising:(a) discontinuous aqueous phase comprising an aqueous or hydroalcoholic solution of acidic skin care active;(b) continuous oil phase; and(c) pigment which has been coated with organosilicone component selected from a polyorganosiloxane and a silane, and mixtures thereof;characterized in that the aqueous phase has a pH of less than about 6 and the coated pigment has a hydrogen potential of less than about 2.0 ml H.sub.2 /g of coated pigment.The compositions of the invention provide benefits in terms of reducing hydrogen gas generation and improving product stability.

Abstract: A connector (1) including a contact (3) for connecting to a mating half and a locking element (2), the locking element (2) having a locked position preventing connection or disconnection of the contact (3) with the mating half and an unlocked position preventing connection or disconnection, wherein transition between the locked and unlocked positions is governed by a spring means (5) formed as an integral part of the locking element (2), the spring means (5) being unbiased when the locking element (2) is in the locked position.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing (12) and a coupling assembly (35) that has a mateable contact (32) at the front of the housing and a conductor-terminating coupling (34). The coupling has a pair of arms (38, 40) with jaws (48) that are biased toward an axis (37). A holder member (54) has a pair of projections (58, 60) with surfaces that hold the arms in a ready position wherein they have been resiliently deflected away from the axis. When a cable conductor (66) is inserted forwardly (F) through a bore (28) in the housing, the forward tip of the cable presses the coupling assembly forwardly. As the coupling assembly moves forward, the arms are released from the holder members, so the arms can move toward the axis and the jaws (48) on the arms can engage the cable conductor.

Abstract: An adapter for connection of an RF connector to a printed circuit board (PCB), the adapter comprising a plastics body adapted to mate with an RF connector, one or more contacts for electrical connection with the RF connector upon mating therewith and one or more attachment means disposed so as to permit connection to tracks on a printed circuit board, wherein coupling between each contact and an associated attachment means is effected via a conductive layer provided on the surface of the body.

Abstract: A compound of formula (I), or a salt or prodrug thereof, is described, wherein G is attached at position 3 or 4 of the piperidine ring and represents halogen or C.sub.1-6 alkoxy; R1 represents C.sub.3-6 alkenyl, C.sub.3-6 alkynyl, aryl(C.sub.1-6)alkyl or heteroaryl (C.sub.1-6)alkyl, any of which groups may be optionally substituted; processes for its preparation and its use in therapy, particularly in the treatment of migraine.

Abstract: Paper making processes, including microparticulate processes, which utilise bentonite are provided with bentonite in the form of a concentrate, or a dilute dispersion made by diluting the concentrate, wherein the concentrate is a dispersion of 15 to 40% by weight bentonite in water containing citrate and has a viscosity below 5000 cps and is a stable fluid. The concentrates are novel. They are preferably made by mixing alkaline earth bentonite with water and sodium citrate.

Abstract: An interrogator circuit (2) for use with a semi-passive transponder (30) of a type which reflectively modulates an incoming signal (28) is described. The circuit (2) comprises an antenna (4), a transistor (8), a matching network (6) connecting to the antenna (4) to an input of the transistor and means (12, 14) for operating the transistor such that it self-oscillates and radiates power (28) from the antenna (4) and simultaneously acts as a self-oscillating mixer to produce an output (40) which is representative of the modulation of a signal 32 received at the antenna. For an efficient conversion gain the reflection coefficient of the antenna (4) is configured to be low when the circuit is in a stable self-oscillating condition.

Abstract: A coax unit with outer and inner coaxial terminals (21, 22), is held in a housing passageway (11) by coupling elements (14). Each coupling element is formed of sheet metal and lies in the passageway beside the coax unit. The housing passageway has a cross-section that includes opposite part cylindrical sides (56) that are each parts of an imaginary cylinder (59), and has bottom and top extensions (12, 13) that extend beyond the imaginary cylinder. The coax unit is closely positioned by the part cylindrical sides. Each coupling element has a rear portion with a tongue (17) that presses against the coax unit, and each coupling unit forms a finger with a forward portion (60) having a contacting location (62) that presses against a coax mating device (32) that is inserted into the passageway, to electrically connect the outer terminals of the coax unit and of the mating device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting differences between an image update rate and a display update rate and to provide a viable solution that produces minimal adverse visual effects is achieved by first detecting an image delineation from a stream of images. The image delineation is then used to determine the image update rate which is compared to the display update rate to produce a relationship between the two update rates. The relationship is then compared to a plurality of desired relationships to determine if it is sufficiently similar to one or more of the desired relationships. If it is, an image display pattern associated with the desired relationship is used. For example, if the relationship is sufficiently similar to the desired relationship of 1:1, then the image display pattern will be 1111 . . . In other words, the image display pattern would display each received image once.

Abstract: An electrical conductor terminating arrangement such as an electrical connector includes a contact-making element which makes good contact with an electrical conductor in response to axial pressure displacement over the contact-making element of a displaceable element to exert a radial force on the contact-making element and to co-operate therewith for providing ongoing pressure engagement between the contact-making element and the electrical conductor without the need for the continuance of axial pressure on the displaceable element after a predetermined axial displacement of the displaceable element.

Abstract: Alkaline earth bentonite can be activated by the use of sodium citrate or other organic sequestering agent as activator. Dry blends of the activator and the bentonite can be provided.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to wireless networks, and particularly a method and apparatus for assigning carrier frequencies to base station antenna sites.Base stations are represented as a matrix of interconnected nodes and links, the nodes representing carrier frequency sites and the links being dimensioned in accordance with disallowed frequency slots. A first algorithm is used to assign carrier frequencies to the carrier frequency sites in a non-interfering manner resulting in a partial frequency assignment plan. A second algorithm assigns carrier frequencies to the remaining vacant carrier sites in a manner which seeks to minimise the amount of interference. The order in which the carrier sites are assigned carrier frequencies is determined by either a random ordering, an order generated by simulated annealing, or an ordering generated by a genetic algorithm.

Abstract: A device and method for displaying the status of programs or processes in a computer system is described. The device is designed to communicate the status to the user in an intuitive manner with four configurations indicating: process running normally, process running intermittently, process stopped normally, and process halted unexpectedly. The device when properly used by the method combine to form a communications device which clearly and easily communicates to the user of the computer system the operational status of the selected program, routine or process and does so without requiring the allocation of significant continuous processing overhead.