Abstract: An arthroplastic implant for a basilar joint of a hand of a patient includes a body having a distal surface and a proximal surface opposite therefrom. The distal surface is to be positioned adjacent a first metacarpal bone at the basilar joint of the hand of the patient. The arthroplastic implant also includes a shield extending outwardly from the distal surface of the body to shield adjacent portions of the first metacarpal bone and a second metacarpal bone of the hand of the patient.

Abstract: A bone fixation device may include a primary bone plate. The primary bone plate may include an elongate member having a first fastener-receiving passageway therein to receive a first fastener to anchor the primary bone plate to a long bone of a patient, and an enlarged head member extending from the elongate member and having a secondary bone plate-receiving passageway therein. The bone fixation device may also include a secondary bone plate received in the secondary bone plate-receiving passageway and having a second fastener-receiving passageway therein to receive a second fastener to anchor the secondary bone plate to fractured end portions of the long bone of the patient.

Abstract: An arthroplastic implant is for a basilar joint of a hand of a patient. The arthroplastic implant may include a body having a distal surface and a proximal surface opposite therefrom with the distal surface to be positioned adjacent a first metacarpal bone at the basilar joint of the hand of the patient. The arthroplastic implant may also include an anchor peg extending outwardly from the body to anchor the body within the basilar joint of the hand of the patient.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include a bone plate and/or a bone plate system. The bone plate includes an elongate body, which body includes a distal portion and a proximal portion. The proximal portion includes at least one projection extending there from, which projection is configured for contacting a bone portion, e.g., a fractured bone portion, so as to aid in the reduction thereof. In some variations, the proximal portion includes a plurality of projections, e.g., reduction aids. Methods of using such a bone plate having reduction aids by itself, or in conjunction with a second bone plate, for the reduction, restoration and treatment of a bone fracture are also provided.

Abstract: The disclosure includes a bone plate extender and extension system. The system includes a first bone plate extender and may additionally include a bone fixation element and/or an additional bone plate. The bone plate extender may be affixed to a bone portion at one end, for instance, a fractured bone portion, via a bone fixation element, and associated with a second bone plate at an opposite end, so as to facilitate alignment and stabilization of the bone and thereby correct and treat a bone fracture. The bone plate extender may include an extended body, which includes a bone plate engagement portion, a bone fixation portion, and an intercalating portion there between. In certain variations, the extended body is planar, and in certain variations the extended body is angled, curved or arced. Methods of using such bone plate extension systems for the reduction, restoration and treatment of bone fractures are also provided.

Abstract: A bone plate system is provided herein. The system may include a first and a second bone plate, which plates may be affixed to one or more bone portions and each other, so as to align and stabilize the bone and correct a bone fracture. A first bone plate is provided which includes both a bone contacting and a top surface, one of which corresponds to a primary plane. The first bone plate may be configured to engage a bone portion and a secondary plate. A secondary bone plate is provided, which plate is configured to engage the first plate. The secondary plate includes a bone contacting surface, which corresponds to one or more planes or an arc that are provided at an angle or substantially perpendicular to the primary plane. Methods of using such bone plating systems for the reduction, restoration and treatment of bone fractures are provided.

Abstract: Novel IL-1-R intracellular ligand proteins are disclosed. Polynucleotides encoding the IL-1-R intracellular ligand protein are also disclosed, along with vectors, host cells, and methods of making the IL-1-R intracellular ligand protein. Pharmaceutical compositions containing the IL-1-R intracellular ligand protein, methods of treating inflammatory conditions, and methods of inhibiting IL-1-R intracellular domain binding are also disclosed. Methods of identifying inhibitors of IL-1-R intracellular domain binding and inhibitors identified by such methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Novel TNF receptor death domain (“TNF-R1-DD”) ligand proteins are disclosed. Polynucleotides encoding the TNF-R1-DD ligand protein are also disclosed, along with vectors, host cells, and methods of making the TNF-R1-DD ligand protein. Pharmaceutical compositions containing the TNF-R1-DD ligand protein, methods of treating inflammatory conditions, and methods of inhibiting TNF-R death domain binding are also disclosed. Methods of identifying inhibitors of TNF-R death domain binding and inhibitors identified by such methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electronic messaging system for both participating institutions and nonparticpating institutions and their populations. When an institution is participating in the system of the present invention, both message senders and recipients are authenticated and known and verified before any communication can take place. Messages for institutions not currently participating in the system are converted to printed mail for delivery to the non-participating institution using traditional postal systems. The present invention also teaches novel message processing techniques that take advantage of the electronic format of the messages to provide automated security and translation and/or transliteration services and further teaches the novel feature of marking incoming messages with a code to assist in accurately and secure delivery of reply messages to the appropriate party.

Abstract: A frame unit for tensioning a printing screen, the frame unit comprising a frame including at least one frame member, the at least one frame member comprising: a supporting frame element; at least one engagement element for engaging a fitted printing screen to tension the same, wherein the at least one engagement element comprises a body which is pivotally coupled to the supporting frame element such that the at least one engagement element is pivotable in one, tensioning sense to tension a fitted printing screen and the other, opposite sense to adopt a configuration in which a printing screen can be fitted to or removed from the frame unit, a first, engagement arm extending from the body for engaging a fitted printing screen, and a second, biasing arm extending from the body to which a biasing force is applied to bias the at least one engagement element to pivot in the tensioning sense; and at least one biasing element operative to apply a biasing force to the biasing arm of the at least one engagement eleme

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and device to record and visualize drawing and writing movements during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of brain activity. The system includes a touch-sensitive tablet, an elevated mounting platform, a stylus, and a controller box, as well as the necessary cabling and software. All equipment residing inside the magnet room is non-ferromagnetic and does not interfere with scanner operation and does not affect fMRI data quality. Individuals lying inside the scanner interact with device in a natural, intuitive way, similar to writing with pen and paper. Drawing motions captured by the tablet are displayed through a pair of fMRI-compatible goggles or by using a projector and screen. Other visual stimuli can be concurrently presented with the drawing motions for the purpose of assessing specific aspects of human behavior. The system allows for a plurality of experiments to be performed, all while brain activity is measured and recorded.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition useful in the treatment or prevention of transgenic xenograft rejection comprising immunosuppressant compounds selected from the group consisting of an IL-2 transcription inhibitor and immunosuppressant compounds that immunosuppress for B-cell-mediated or antibody-mediated rejection of xenografts, and pharmaceutically acceptable diluents or carriers, and a method of preventing hyperacute rejection, reducing early graft damage, improving early xenograft function and promoting long term survival of said transgenic xenografts comprising the steps of i) contacting the body fluid removed from a human recipient with a xenoantigenic material which is bound to a biocompatible solid support, ii) reintroducing the treated body fluid into the recipient, and iii) treating the recipient with said pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process wherein a feedstock or stream comprising steam cracker tar is passed to a vacuum pipestill. A deasphalted cut of tar is obtained as an overhead (or sidestream) and a heavy tar asphaltenic product is obtained as bottoms. In preferred embodiments, at least a portion of the bottoms product is sent to a partial oxidation unit (POX) wherein syn gas may be obtained as a product, and/or at least a portion of the bottoms product is used to produce a light product stream in a coker unit, such as coker naphtha and/or or coker gas oil. In another preferred embodiment at least a portion of the overheads product is added to refinery fuel oil pools and in yet another preferred embodiment at least a portion of the overheads product is mixed with locally combusted materials to lower soot make. Two or more of the aforementioned preferred embodiments may be combined.

Abstract: A process is described for producing deasphalted steam cracker tar comprising feeding steam cracker tar to a vacuum pipestill (VPS) including a flash zone separated from a zone comprising trays by at least one annular entrainment ring and obtaining as an overheads a deasphalted tar product and as a bottoms an asphaltenic heavy tar product. Also according to the invention, there is a system for the upgrading of tar comprising said VPS with at least one annular entrainment ring.

Abstract: An activated carbon-metal oxide matrix is disclosed. The activated carbon-metal oxide matrix may be obtained by a method including the steps of: preoxidizing a carbon material, grinding the preoxidized carbon material; mixing the ground preoxidized material with a metal oxide to form a carbon mixture; extruding the carbon mixture; carbonizing and activating the extrudate. The activated carbon-metal oxide matrix may be used to remove odorous compounds, acidic gases, and volatile organic compounds from a gas.

Abstract: A comminuting apparatus has a coaxial throwing wheel and impact rotor, the throwing wheel preferably comprising a plurality of channels for conducting particles from a central axis inlet to a plurality of particle exits to impact the impact rotor. The throwing wheel can be an assembly of wear-resistant inserts forming the channels. Flow channels through the throwing wheel can be configured, such as converging towards the particle exits to minimize energy loss during acceleration of the particles. Further, the comminuting apparatus can include a housing for ready access to the throwing wheel and impact rotor. A two-part housing is reversibly separable for accessing the comminuting chamber, throwing wheel and impact rotor within.

Abstract: An electronic messaging system for both participating institutions and nonparticpating institutions and their populations. When an institution is participating in the system of the present invention, both message senders and recipients are authenticated and known and verified before any communication can take place. Messages for institutions not currently participating in the system are converted to printed mail for delivery to the non-participating institution using traditional postal systems. The present invention also teaches novel message processing techniques that take advantage of the electronic format of the messages to provide automated security and translation and/or transliteration services and further teaches the novel feature of marking incoming messages with a code to assist in accurately and secure delivery of reply messages to the appropriate party.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods, reagents and apparatus for detecting protein isoforms (e.g., those due to alternative splicing, or different disease protein isoforms or degradation products) in a sample, including using combinations of capture agents, each combination being unique to the splicing variant to be detected/measured.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods, reagents and apparatus for detecting protein isoforms (e.g., those due to alternative splicing, or different disease protein isoforms or degradation products) in a sample, including using combinations of capture agents to identify the isoforms to be detected/measured.

Abstract: Methods and systems for designing an experiment using a computer to determine whether the experiment is a true experiment are described. These approaches allow a user who is unsophisticated in the complexities of true experimental design to design and deploy an experiment that produces substantially confound-free results and can be used to determine and quantify any causal relationship between independent and dependent variables. The computer may select one or more independent and/or dependent variables of the experiment or may assist the user in selection of independent and/or dependent variables. Formation of control and treatment groups, randomization and/or blocking to reduce the effects of confounding variables may be performed by the computer with or without input from the user.