Abstract: The invention provides methods for reducing circulating levels of antibodies, particularly disease-associated antibodies. The methods entail administering effective amounts of epitope-presenting carriers to an individual. In other embodiments, ex vivo methods for reducing circulating levels of antibodies are provided which employ epitope-presenting carriers.

Abstract: A safety receptacle includes a casing having a top formed with two slots, a pair of rectangular slides arranged within the casing in opposite directions, each of the slides having three sides formed with a plurality of semi-circular projections and another side with a resilient member, each of the slides having a first opening formed with an inclined shoulder and a second opening formed with a flat shoulder, each of the slides further having at top formed with a plurality of protuberances and a bottom formed with a rib, and a bottom cover configured to engage with a bottom of the casing and having a supporting portion for supporting the slides, whereby the safety receptacle can be easily manufactured and assembled.

Abstract: aPL analogs that (a) bind specifically to B cells to which an aPL epitope binds and are disclosed. Optimized analogs lack T cell epitope(s) are useful as conjugates for treating aPL antibody-mediated diseases. Methods of preparing and identifying said analogs, methods of treatment using said analogs, methods and compositions for preparing conjugates of said analogs and diagnostic immunoassays for aPL antibodies are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for increasing the effective processing speed of a parallel decision-feedback equalizer (DFE) by combining block processing and look-ahead techniques in the selection (multiplexing) stage. The present invention extends a parallel DFE by using look-ahead techniques in the selection stage to precompute the effect of previous blocks on each subsequent block, and to thereby remove the serial output dependency. The parallel DFE includes a multiplexor tree structure that selects an appropriate output value for each block and precomputes the effect of previous blocks on each subsequent block. A multiplexing delay algorithm on the order of logN is employed to resolve the output dependency and thus speeds up parallel block processing DFEs. The disclosed DFE architecture can be combined with pipelining to completely eliminate the critical path problem. Pipelining reduces the required critical path timing to one multiplexing time.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to cyclic polypeptides comprising a thioether linkage and methods for their preparation. More particularly, this invention relates to halogenated polypeptides having at least one haloalanine-like amino acid, and methods for their preparation which involve converting the hydroxyl group (i.e., --OH) of a serine-like amino acid to a halo group (i.e., --X where X is Cl, Br, or I) with the aid of a phosphorus-based halogenation reagent such as a triphenylphosphine dihalide (i.e., (C.sub.6 H.sub.5).sub.3 PX.sub.2, wherein X is Cl, Br, or I), a triphenylphosphite dihalide (i.e., (C.sub.6 H.sub.5 O).sub.3 PX.sub.2, wherein X is Cl, Br, or I), or a mixture of triphenylphosphine or triphenylphosphite with a halohydrocarbon (i.e., "halo-conversion").

Abstract: A logic circuit is simulated for mapping and emulation on a field programmable gate array-based platform by mapping one or more of the circuit delays onto delay elements in the FPGA-based platform. The operations of the delay elements are controlled by one or more simulations clocks that are different from any user-specified clocks.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to cyclic polypeptides comprising a thioether linkage and methods for their preparation. More particularly, this invention relates to halogenated polypeptides having at least one haloalanine-like amino acid, and methods for their preparation which involve converting the hydroxyl group (i.e., --OH) of a serine-like amino acid to a halo group (i.e., --X where X is Cl, Br, or I) with the aid of a phosphorus-based halogenation reagent such as a triphenylphosphine dihalide (i.e., (C.sub.6 H.sub.5).sub.3 PX.sub.2, wherein X is Cl, Br, or I), a triphenylphosphite dihalide (i.e., (C.sub.6 H.sub.5 O).sub.3 PX.sub.2, wherein X is Cl, Br, or I), or a mixture of triphenylphosphine or triphenylphosphite with a halohydrocarbon (i.e., "halo-conversion").

Abstract: Novel substrates of phospholipases, lysophospholipases and lipases are disclosed.

Abstract: An under trimming device with inclinedly movable catchers for a multi-needle sewing machine with multiple longitudinally extended loopers comprises a cutting and clamping part, a fixed cutter, a plurality of looper assemblies and a thread push plate, characterized in that: the movable catcher of the cutting and clamping part and the looper form an angle of inclination such that when performing the thread cutting, the movable catcher extends toward the looper at an angle of inclination, and extends into the needle thread loop and the looper thread loop, and when the movable catcher returns to its initial position, the looper thread and the needle thread are cut off sequentially when they pass the fixed cutter, and the free end of the looper thread after being cut is still clamped between the leaf spring and the movable catcher, and the free ends of the cut needle threads are blown sideward in the opposite direction by an air blower to facilitate a next sewing.

Abstract: Convergence of blind fractionally spaced equalizers is improved, and misconvergence is corrected by training the equalizers to detect convergence of one adaptive filter, copying the tap weights of the converged adaptive filter to the other adaptive filters and shifting the tap weights of the other adaptive filters according to the expected phase difference between the respective filters. In a two-dimensional orthogonal modulation scheme the converged weights of a first filter are copied to a second filter and shifted .pi./2. For the two dimensional orthogonal modulation scheme, the probability of a proper convergence can be increased by choosing initial tap weights for the two adaptive filters with a 3.pi./4 phase difference.

Abstract: A milk powder container including a cylindrical bottle formed with threads at a lower end and a threaded neck at an upper portion, the cylindrical bottle having a top end formed with a semi-circular opening and a first semi-circular groove under the top end, a bottom cover threadedly engaged with a bottom of the cylindrical bottle, a control knob having a second semi-circular opening, a protuberance at a bottom adapted to the first semi-circular groove, and a lug at an outer side, an adjusting annular member formed with threads at an inner surface adapted to engage the threaded neck of the cylindrical bottle, a first groove at an upper portion of the inner surface, and a second groove at an outer surface, a retainer ring engaged with the second groove of the adjusting annular member, a cup formed at a lower edge with a flange adapted to fit into the first groove of the adjusting annular member, a longitudinal ear at an outer side with a corresponding slot at an opposite side adapted to receive the lug of said

Abstract: Chemically-defined, non-polymeric valency platform molecules and conjugates comprising chemically-defined valency platform molecules and biological or chemical molecules including polynucleotide duplexes of at least 20 base pairs that have significant binding activity for human lupus anti-dsDNA autoantibodies.

Abstract: This invention relates to a push-control circuit control and display apparatus for multi-purpose power leisure car, and particularly to a display panel including automatic display control circuit and turning-left, turning-right display and buttons; 6-block shift display and buttons; voltage automatic charge warning and LED warning signal buzzer indication and buttons; headlamp button and LED; solenoid brake release LED display and button; horn button, etc. such multiple functions for leisure power car.

Abstract: Chemically-defined, non-polymeric valency platform molecules and conjugates comprising chemically-defined valency platform molecules and biological or chemical molecules including polynucleotide duplexes of at least 20 base pairs that have significant binding activity for human lupus anti-dsDNA autoantibodies.

Abstract: Chemically-defined, non-polymeric valency platform molecules and conjugates comprising chemically-defined valency platform molecules and biological or chemical molecules including polynucleotide duplexes of at least 20 base pairs that have significant binding activity for human lupus anti-dsDNA autoantibodies.

Abstract: An angle adjuster for a car headlamp is provided. The adjuster includes an adjuster stand having two crossed gear holders, a vertical gear holder and a crosswise gear holder. A driving gear with an integrally formed adjusting rod is disposed in the vertical gear holder and a threaded sleeve coupled to an active gear is disposed in the crosswise gear holder. A circular toothed groove is formed along the circumferential edge of the active gear to be driven by the driving gear. The two openings defined by the holders are each covered by a respective one of two slip caps. One end of a bolt is engaged with the threads of the threaded sleeve, and the other end is connected to the body of a headlamp. The screwing in or out of the bolt responsive to rotation of the adjusting rod drives the headlamp to change its tilt, the changed angle being set exactly in a simple and easy manner.