Abstract: The present invention provides compounds of formula (I); or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein the variables are defined as herein. The present invention provides a method for manufacturing the compounds of formula (I), their therapeutic uses, combinations with other of pharmacologically active agents, and a pharmaceutical compositions.

Abstract: Mutifocal diffractive lenses are generally designed with concentric annular zones comprising blazed steps of equal area. Trifocal diffractive lenses differ in the intensity of light that they diffract into each of their three different powers. Usually, this light distribution has been adjusted by varying the step heights of the blazed steps within the annular zones. This invention discloses a trifocal diffractive lens wherein the equal area annular zones are further subdivided into two sub-zones wherein each sub-zone comprises a discrete blazed step. The sub-zones of this invention may be of unequal area. This allows the light distribution at its focal powers to be adjusted by varying not only the step heights of the blazed steps of the sub-zones, but also the relative areas of the sub-zones. The present invention allows for an increased flexibility in the design of multifocal diffractive lenses.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound of formula I: a method for manufacturing the compounds of the invention, and its therapeutic uses. The present invention further provides a combination of pharmacologically active agents and a pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound of formula I; a method for manufacturing the compounds of the invention, and its therapeutic uses. The present invention further provides a combination of pharmacologically active agents and a pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound of formula I; a method for manufacturing the compounds of the invention, and its therapeutic uses. The present invention further provides a combination of pharmacologically active agents and a pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: Mutifocal diffractive lenses are generally designed with concentric annular zones comprising blazed steps of equal area. Trifocal diffractive lenses differ in the intensity of light that they diffract into each of their three different powers. Usually, this light distribution has been adjusted by varying the step heights of the blazed steps within the annular zones. This invention discloses a trifocal diffractive lens wherein the equal area annular zones are further subdivided into two sub-zones wherein each sub-zone comprises a discrete blazed step. The sub-zones of this invention may be of unequal area. This allows the light distribution at its focal powers to be adjusted by varying not only the step heights of the blazed steps of the sub-zones, but also the relative areas of the sub-zones. The present invention allows for an increased flexibility in the design of multifocal diffractive lenses.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds of formula (I); or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein the variables are defined as herein. The present invention provides a method for manufacturing the compounds of formula (I), their therapeutic uses, combinations with other of pharmacologically active agents, and a pharmaceutical compositions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound of formula I; a method for manufacturing the compounds of the invention, and its therapeutic uses. The present invention further provides a combination of pharmacologically active agents and a pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound of formula I; a method for manufacturing the compounds of the invention, and its therapeutic uses. The present invention further provides a combination of pharmacologically active agents and a pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: Disclosed is a large capacity piece of luggage that complies with the maximum size requirements of the airlines with a plurality of special features. These include an infinitely variable position handle used to either pull or push the luggage on two large curb climbing wheels. The handle can rotate in a horizontal plane from one of its supporting vertical members to provide a temporary closet rod for hanging clothes from hangers. The handle also includes hooks to hang clothes from. Also included is a telescoping integral luggage cart with steerable auxiliary wheels. Other features include fixed, but removable identification plaques that are externally visible, an externally visible large figure digital travel alarm clock, an integral fold out table disposed within the cover of the luggage and supported thereby, and an externally accessible freshen kit and utility drawer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel garment bag having a cantilevered support arm under which is an open ended slot that can be placed onto a closet bar to the lateral centerline of the garment bag to contain garments supported on conventional hangers. The hangers can be slid on the closet bar without being removed therefrom into the garment bag adjacent to the cantilevered support arm. Each hanger supporting a garment is also slid over a retaining strap attached to the garment bag so that when packing is complete, the retainer strap can be placed around the hanger hooks and attached through a hook and loop fastener to the garment bag. There is included at least one spine as a part of the garment bag. The spine is comprised of a series of ribs, each rib of which contains tracks and clips. Tracks allow for horizontal movement of the clips along the rib so the clips can be positioned for attachment to lateral edges of garments. This is to minimize wrinkling when the garment bag is closed and moved about in travel.

Abstract: Disclosed is an airline carry on bag having a considerable number of features. Two of its most unique are a hinged door that includes a lounge chair, and a movable compartment divider to allow separation of laundry from clean clothes. It is movable so that more and more of the interior accommodates laundry and less and less accommodates clean clothes as the journey progresses.

Abstract: Novel and nonobvious compounds that function, alone or in combination, as nuclear hormone receptors for the stimulation and/or improvement of murine, mammalian skin. Specifically, beta-ionol analog and fatty acid analog compounds that are believed to function as RXR, RAR and/or PPAR receptor ligands to encourage skin differentiation and discourage excess skin proliferation. The present invention further relates to one or more products, consumer and otherwise, comprising the novel, nuclear hormone receptor ligands disclosed herein.

Abstract: The present invention discloses improved methods for the treatment of autoimmune diseases using .beta.-adrenergic agonists, and particularly, .beta..sub.2 -adrenergic agonists. The treatment of animals with either EAE or EAN using the .beta..sub.2 -adrenergic agonist terbutaline significantly suppressed clinical disease. A Phase I safety treatment trial with terbutaline was conducted in MS patients. Twenty-four patients were treated for 4 weeks. No obvious side effects were observed. At 4 weeks, 15 of the 24 patients improved on neurologic rating scale and 17 patients reported subjective improvement. Treatment of rats with EAMG, an animal model of tThe government may own rights in the present invention pursuant to NIH grants 2 RO1 NS18413-07A1 and PO1NS-24575-03.

Abstract: A capacitance-type fluid level sensing system, method, and device is disclosed for determining the amount of fluid in a container, for example, a disposable plastic bag used for intravenous (i.v.) injection or collection of waste from a human body (catheter). In one illustrated embodiment, conductive plates are disposed on the outside of the plastic bag and connected to a circuit for detecting any change in the capacitance of the capacitor formed thereby. In another embodiment, the conductive plates are integrally constructed as part of a surface of the electronic device housing, such that the fluid level can be detected when the housing is affixed directly to the outside of the bag. Alternative annunciation, detection, flow rate calculation, display, and housing features are shown in various embodiments.

Abstract: Compositions of salts of water-soluble, carboxyl-containing polymers and surface active agents, deposited on polymerization reactor surfaces exposed to polymerization mixtures, substantially reduce or eliminate undesirable polymer build-up on reactor surfaces during aqueous polymerization of vinylidene monomers, even when the amount of carboxyl-containing polymers deposited on the reactor surfaces is very small.

Abstract: Anionic water soluble carboxyl-containing polymers, deposited and dried on polymerization reactor surfaces exposed to polymerization mixtures, substantially reduce or eliminate undesirable polymer build-up on reactor surfaces during aqueous polymerization of vinylidene monomers, even when the amount of carboxyl-containing polymers deposited on the reactor surfaces is in an amount as small as at least one ppm of monomers being polymerized, providing a layer on the polymerization surfaces as thin as about 0.1 to about one or more microns in thickness.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the polymerization of vinyl monomers either alone or copolymerized with ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable monomers having a terminal CH.sub.2 .dbd.C< grouping using a free-radical yielding catalyst or catalyst system, wherein the polymerization reaction is effectively stopped by the addition to the reaction mixture of a shortstopping agent, such as, for example, 4,4'-thiodiphenol (TDP).

Abstract: This invention relates to a polymerization reaction vessel having a coating on the inner surfaces thereof resulting from applying thereto an aqueous coating composition containing the reaction product of a thiodiphenol, or a derivative thereof, with a bleaching agent or material, such as, for example, sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). When polymerizing olefinic monomers, such as vinyl halides, vinylidene halides, and vinylidene monomers having at least one terminal CH.sub.2 .dbd.C< group, and mixtures thereof, polymer buildup on the inner surfaces of the reaction vessel is substantially reduced. Multiple charges or batches of polymer can be made in said internally coated reaction vessel without opening the same between charges thus preventing the escape of unreacted monomer(s) to the surrounding atmosphere.

Abstract: Carboxyl or carboxyl salt containing polymers are prepared by polymerizing carboxyl containing monomers wherein greater than one percent of the carboxyl groups are neutralized with an alkali, ammonia or an amine, optionally copolymerized with other vinylidene monomers containing at least one terminal CH.sub.2 .dbd.CH< group dissolved in a solvent for the monomers which is a non-solvent for the polymer with a free radical catalyst, so that the resulting polymer is obtained suspended as a fine, readily recoverable substantially non-swollen fine powder. The solvents used are moderately to strongly hydrogen bonded and have solubility parameters of from about 8 to 15.