Abstract: A transformable balcony table capable of attachment to a balcony rail includes a primary table assembly including a table top having a rear edge and a pair of side edges extending forwardly from the rear edge so as to form an apex opposite the rear edge The primary table assembly includes a mounting portion extending downwardly from the rear edge of the table top and defining a plurality of holes. A first stability member having a proximal end is removably coupled to the bottom surface and extends downwardly and rearwardly to a distal end. A fastener is selectively inserted through the slots of the mounting portion for coupling the mounting portion to the balcony rail. The balcony table includes a first and second leaf selectively coupled to respective side edges of the table top, the leaves transforming the table from two eating places to four.

Abstract: A transformable balcony table capable of attachment to a balcony rail includes a primary table assembly including a table top having a rear edge and a pair of side edges extending forwardly from the rear edge so as to form an apex opposite the rear edge The primary table assembly includes a mounting portion extending downwardly from the rear edge of the table top and defining a plurality of holes. A first stability member having a proximal end is removably coupled to the bottom surface and extends downwardly and rearwardly to a distal end. A fastener is selectively inserted through the slots of the mounting portion for coupling the mounting portion to the balcony rail. The balcony table includes a first and second leaf selectively coupled to respective side edges of the table top, the leaves transforming the table from two eating places to four.

Abstract: This invention relates to a protein, termed INPIONCH1, herein identified as a 5-HT3 receptor and to the use of this protein and nucleic acid sequence from the encoding gene in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of disease.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods directed at screening or characterizing compounds that modulate the activity of calcium channels in cells preferably, calcium-release activated channels in cells. The compositions and methods can be used to produce inhibitors or activators of said channel, which represent leads or candidate therapeutic drugs for treating various pathological conditions. More specifically, the method comprises (a) contacting a test compound and a calcium channel activator, preferably an Icrac activator with a population of calcium channel expressing cells, preferably Icrac expressing cells containing a reporter construct comprising a reporter gene under the control of a NFAT-inducible promoter, and (b) determining the activity of the test compound on the calcium release-activated channel by assessing the reporter gene expression in said cells.

Abstract: A simple and highly efficient method for cloning cDNAs from mammalian expression libraries based on transient expression in mammalian host cells has been discovered. Novel expression vectors allowing highly efficient construction of mammalian cDNA libraries are disclosed. The cloning method of the invention which has been used to clone genes for cell surface antigens of human lymphocytes, has general application in gene cloning. Cell surface antigens cloned according to the present invention have been purified, and the nucleotide and amino acid sequences determined. These antigens have diagnostic and therapeutic utility in immune-mediated infections in mammals, including humans.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods directed at screening or characterizing compounds that modulate the activity of calcium channels in cells preferably, calcium-release activated channels in cells. The compositions and methods can be used to produce inhibitors or activators of said channel, which represent leads or candidate therapeutic drugs for treating various pathological conditions. More specifically, the method comprises (a) contacting a test compound and a calcium channel activator, preferably an Icrac activator with a population of calcium channel expressing cells, preferably Icrac expressing cells containing a reporter construct comprising a reporter gene under the control of a NFAT-inducible promoter, and (b) determining the activity of the test compound on the calcium release-activated channel by assessing the reporter gene expression in said cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the identification of a capacitative calcium channel homologue for the immune system activation, and its use to report and to modulate modulate the activity of immune cells in vitro, ex vivo or in vivo. This invention more specifically discloses that a Mlsn1 gene product, represents a capacitative calcium channel in immune cells such as macrophages, monocytes, T-cells, B-cells and mast-cells. This invention is a proven identification of a gene expressing a capacitative calcium channel in immune cells, and can be used in various compositions and methods for monitoring or modulating an immune response in a subject. The present invention can be used to develop biomarkers for immune system activation or inflammatory responses or to screen for specific immune system activity altering drugs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods directed at screening or characterizing compounds that modulate the activity of calcium channels in cells preferably, calcium-release activated channels in cells. The compositions and methods can be used to produce inhibitors or activators of said channel, which represent leads or candidate therapeutic drugs for treating various pathological conditions. More specifically, the method comprises (a) contacting a test compound and a calcium channel activator, preferably an Icrac activator with a population of calcium channel expressing cells, preferably Icrac expressing cells containing a reporter construct comprising a reporter gene under the control of a NFAT-inducible promoter, and (b) determining the activity of the test compound on the calcium release-activated channel by assessing the reporter gene expression in said cells.

Abstract: A simple and highly efficient method for cloning cDNAs from mammalian expression libraries based on transient expression in mammalian host cells has been discovered. The present invention specifically provides the CD40 cDNA sequence.

Abstract: Printing apparatus and method particularly suited to provide a hardcopy of an image produced by medical imaging equipment or the like. The method produces an area modulation hardcopy having a large number of gray levels per area modulation cell (pixel) and a strong density sensitivity. Pixel areas are modulated in patterns consisting of pels which in turn are made up of subpels referred to as slices which are preferably added to minimum sized pels by pulse width modulating two different sized printing radiation beams.

Abstract: Printing apparatus and method particularly suited to provide a hardcopy of an image which is produced by medical imaging equipment or the like. The apparatus produces hardcopy consisting of pixels whose size can be changed by area modulation to suit image tonal content and detail while still maintaining a large number of gray levels per area modulation cell (pixel). Preferably, the same area modulation patterns representing pixel tonal values are used for printing pixels of different sizes.

Abstract: A video identification system for producing photo print identification cards having subject portrait, subject signature and subject related data in respective areas of the card as well as a data record including individual-specific data, an image of the subject, and an image of the signature of the subject. A personal computer controls the system to produce the identification card and the data record. The system includes a frame grabber which grabs a frame by only storing the 768 active video samples of each line of an NTSC signal for two consecutive fields. System operation may not be initiated without first having a supervisor unlock the personal computer and input a particular password. Further, each additional system operator must input their particular identification number into the personal computer whereby system security is maintained.