Abstract: In recognition of the need to develop novel therapeutic agents, the present invention provides novel histone deacetylase inhibitors. These compounds include an ester bond making them sensitive to deactivation by esterases. Therefore, these compounds are particularly useful in the treatment of skin disorders. When the compounds reaches the bloodstream, an esterase or an enzyme with esterase activity cleaves the compound into biologically inactive fragments or fragments with greatly reduced activity Ideally these degradation products exhibit a short serum and/or systemic half-life and are eliminated rapidly. These compounds and pharmaceutical compositions thereof are particularly useful in treating cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, neurofibromatosis, psoriasis, hair loss, skin pigmentation, and dermatitis, for example. The present invention also provides methods for preparing compounds of the invention and intermediates thereto.

Abstract: In recognition of the need to develop novel therapeutic agents and efficient methods for the synthesis thereof, the present invention provides novel bifunctional, trifunctional, or multifunctional compounds for inhibiting histone deacetylases, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and derivatives thereof. The present invention further provides methods for treating disorders regulated by histone deacetylase activity (e.g., proliferative diseases, cancer, inflammatory diseases, protozoal infections, hair loss, etc.) comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an inventive compound to a subject in need thereof. The present invention also provides methods for preparing compounds of the invention.

Abstract: In recognition of the need to develop novel therapeutic agents and efficient methods for the synthesis thereof, the present invention provides novel inhibitors of histone deacetylases, tubulin deacetylases, and/or aggresome inhibitors, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and derivatives thereof. The inventive compounds fall into two classes—“isotubacin” class and “isoisotubacin” class—all of which include a 1,3-dioxane core. The present invention further provides methods for treating disorders regulated by histone deacetylase activity, tubulin deacetylase activity, and/or the aggresome (e.g., proliferative diseases, cancer, inflammatory diseases, protozoal infections, protein degradation disorders, protein deposition disorders, etc.) comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an inventive compound to a subject in need thereof. The present invention also provides methods for preparing compounds of the invention.

Abstract: An actuator for use in adjusting a device by means of a Bowden cable includes a housing and an input shaft mounted in the housing and rotatable on a first axis. The shaft has an eccentric portion centered on a second axis laterally offset from the first axis, while a gear track defined by, or fixed in relation to, the housing is concentric with the first axis. A gear is rotatable on the eccentric portion and drivingly engaged with teeth of the gear track. A pulley member rotatably mounted on the input shaft is rotatable with rotation of the gear and is adapted for securing an end of a wire of a Bowden cable. With rotation of the input shaft on the first axis, the gear is caused by the eccentric to orbit around the first axis. In so orbiting the gear is caused by its engagement with the gear track to rotate on the second axis and thereby rotate the pulley member for longitudinally advancing or retracting the wire of the Bowden cable relative to the sheath of a Bowden cable.

Abstract: An adjustable lumbar support, for use in the back rest of a seat, includes a flexible band which in use extends longitudinally across the back rest so that opposite ends of the band are adjacent respective opposite sides of the back rest and further includes adjusting means operable to vary the extent to which the flexible band is able to curve rearwardly relative to the seat back rest. The flexible band includes a plurality of elongate members which are spaced along, and extend transversely with respect to, the longitudinal extent of the band, and a respective resiliently compressible bridging element joining together successive elongate members.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a decorative structure, for example a decorative glass sheet for a window panel. The method includes positioning a mould, having a contoured surface formed of a substantially inelastic material, against a sheet to form a mould cavity between the sheet and the mould; introducing a curable resin into the mould cavity; curing the resin to form a resin layer having a decorative surface which corresponds to the contoured surface of the mould; and releasing the mould to leave a laminate which comprises the resin layer adhered to the sheet.

Abstract: A moulded plastics clamp (14) for attaching strap (16) of a lumbar support to an upright of a seat for a vehicle comprises two portions (20, 22) reinforced by ribs (52-53) and integrally joined by flexible portion (24). To engage clamp (14), portion (24) is flexed so that ridged concave sections (26, 28) enclose and contactthe upright, projection (60) being received in a hole therein. During engagement, surfaces (34, 36) on extension sections (30, 32) are guided into proximity, if not contact, by engagement of complementary tapering webs (42) and recesses (44) so that apertures (38, 40) align to receive a bolt to tighten clamp (14). Extension section (30) includes flanges (50) between which section (32) locates to prevent relative lateral movement between sections (30, 32).

Abstract: A method is provided for achieving an enhanced finish on a sputter target surface that results in good film uniformity, low particle counts, and little to no bum-in time. The method involves chemically etching the surface of the sputter target by immersing the surface one or more times in an etching solution, with intermediate rinsing steps. The result is a surface substantially free of mechanical deformation that exhibits a surface similar to a sputtered target with a surface roughness of 10-30 &mgr;in.

Abstract: A system for reducing Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) produced by motors which are powered by Pulse Width Modulation (PWM). It is believed that the PWM induces radiation at the PWM frequency and harmonics. The invention shields power cables which carry the PWM pulsed current, and provides capacitive shunting of one of the cables to ground.