Abstract: The present invention provides a method of predicting antipsychotic response to drug therapy comprising testing a sample obtained from a subject for the presence of a polymorphism in the dopamine D2 receptor gene DRD2, wherein the presence of the rs1079598T allele, the rs1125394A allele or both is predictive of the subject being susceptible to drug therapy.

Abstract: Methods and kits for assessing the susceptibility of a patient to antidepressant-induced mania are described. The method involves testing a sample from a patient for the presence of the s variant of the 5HTTLPR polymorphism in the 5HTT gene. The presence of this s variant indicates that the patient is more susceptible to antidepressant-induced mania.

Abstract: Methods and kits for determining susceptibility of a patient to bipolar disorders are described. The method comprises the steps of: (a) obtaining a sample from a patient; and (b) testing the sample for the presence of a polymorphism selected from (i) a 2 repeat allele in the variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) region of the DRD4 gene and (ii) a 4 repeat allele in the VNTR region of the DRD4 gene, wherein the presence of the 2 repeat allele indicates that the patient is less susceptible to a bipolar disorder and the presence of the 4 repeat allele indicates that the patient is more susceptible to a bipolar disorder.

Abstract: Methods and kits for assessing the susceptibility of a patient to antidepressant-induced mania are described. The method involves testing a sample from a patient for the presence of the s variant of the 5HTTLPR polymorphism in the 5HTT gene. The presence of this s variant indicates that the patient is more susceptible to antidepressant-induced mania.

Abstract: A boat launching device. The boat launching device is portable and attaches to the front of a vehicle so that the driver has a front view while launching the boat into the water. The boat launching device includes a first link member that is connected to a second link member. The link members are attached to the front of a vehicle and to a boat trailer. The link members are detachable from each other after use and may be stored on the boat trailer.

Abstract: Methods and kits for determining susceptibility of a patient to bipolar disorders are described. The method comprises the steps of: (a) obtaining a sample from a patient; and (b) testing the sample for the presence of a polymorphism selected from (i) a 2 repeat allele in the variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) region of the DRD4 gene and (ii) a 4 repeat allele in the VNTR region of the DRD4 gene, wherein the presence of the 2 repeat allele indicates that the patient is less susceptible to a bipolar disorder and the presence of the 4 repeat allele indicates that the patient is more susceptible to a bipolar disorder.

Abstract: An improved geometric propellant loading configuration for high velocity, large or medium caliber projectile ammunition is disclosed. The propellant system includes several mutually contiguous extrudable stick shapes that in concert result in highly efficient use of propellant load space. The system reduces loading, assembling and packing (LAP) labor and overall cost, yet provides a dense pattern to increase propellant load and high perforation to improve burning progressivity over prior stick loads and more reliable and improved ballistic performance.

Abstract: A propellant load arrangement for a large caliber ammunition cartridge case accommodating a ballistic projectile includes a plurality of relatively flat shaped segments of propellant assembled face to face in an ordered arrangement. The faces of the segments of the arrangement are optionally parallel or perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge case and essentially occupy the entire available propellant volume of the case. The outer peripheral geometry of each segment of the ordered arrangement is shaped to match the corresponding cartridge casing interior geometry and each segment of the ordered arrangement also has a shaped central interior recess opening as required of a geometry matching the corresponding geometry of any interfering internal cartridge part and any projectile geometry present. Relatively cool-burning segments can be combined with relatively hot-burning segments in stratified arrangements to provide a cooler boundary layer and reduce tube erosion.

Abstract: A multi-piece ammunition round includes an aft cartridge, a forward cartridge, and a projectile disposed in an end-to-end nested, serial arrangement. The aft and forward cartridges each contain a charge of propellant. The projectile contains a high explosive filler and a projectile fuze. The round also includes a propellant-primer electrical ignition interconnect arrangement associated with the aft and forward cartridges.

Abstract: A containment bag has two sections. A forward section with one end secured positively in the sabot-obturator interface region during the assembly of the sabot, obturator, projectile and casing adapter. The other end of the forward section has a circumferential securing band, for example a band of loops of the type marketed under the trademark Velcro. An aft bag section is secured to the cartridge casing at one end in a conventional manner and the other end has a circumferential securing band; Velcro hooks for example. The bands join the two sections of the bag together when the cartridge casing is brought into position to be bonded to the cartridge adapter.

Abstract: A control system compensates for temperature dependent propellant burning characteristics by adjusting the chamber volume available to the propellant in an ammunition round. The control system includes a control tube housing, a piston assembly slidably mounted relative to the housing for movement through a drive stroke and being drivingly coupled to a trailing end of the projectile, and components responsive to the temperature of the round for adjusting the length of the drive stroke of the piston assembly in proportion to the temperature and thereby adjusting the position of the projectile and volume of the chamber in proportion to the temperature of the round.