Abstract: A toy includes a housing, a plurality of buttons arranged to initiate playback of a tune or other sounds, a transparent enclosure containing a plurality of balls, an agitator extending into the enclosure, a motor mounted within the housing for causing the agitator to oscillate and propel balls that encounter the agitator against the walls of the enclosure, a sound generator and speaker, and control circuitry for causing the sound generator to play selected sounds upon pressing of one of the buttons, and for intermittently activating the agitator during playback of the sounds. The housing of the toy may be arranged to resemble a piano, and the buttons may be configured to resemble keys of the piano.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bioactive molecule, herein referred to as the CD8+ suppressor molecule, that is produced by the CD8+ subset of human T-lymphocytes and suppresses type-1 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) replication through inhibition of viral transcription. The invention relates to isolation of clonal CD8+ cells lines that produce the antiviral activity and the development of an assay system for detection of the antiviral activity. The clonal cell lines and the assay system, described herein, may be utilized to purify, characterize and clone the CD8+ suppressor molecule. The CD8+ suppressor molecule may have therapeutic applications for treatment of diseases associated with HIV-1 infection.

Abstract: A toy vehicle designed to run on land is powered, at least in part, by a water jet. If the water jet propulsion system is auxiliary to a main propulsion system, the main propulsion system may be a compressed air piston engine, in which case pressurization of the air supply for the piston engine and pressurization of the water tank that supplies the water jet may advantageously be achieved by using a common hand pump, and the waterjet propulsion system as well as a sound effects system may be linked to the motor drive shaft to achieve simultaneous actuation of the motor, the water jet, and corresponding sound effects.

Abstract: An electrically-powered element of a product is intermittently activated prior to sale of the product in order to attract attention to the product. The electrically powered element may be a lighting element, a sound effects device, or a motor included in the product as part of the normal design of the product, for use following sale of the product. The circuit that causes the intermittent activation may be arranged to be disconnected or deactivated following sale of the product.

Abstract: Another aspect of the present invention provides a method of providing a best bid and a best offer to a buyer, including receiving one or more offers to sell a commodity according to a predetermined contract at one or more specified prices. The specified prices are adjusted based on shipping costs associated with a destination specified by the buyer. A best offer is determined from the adjusted prices. A source location is determined corresponding to the best offer price. One or more bids are received to purchase the commodity. A best bid is determined corresponding to the source location. The best bid is adjusted based on the shipping cost between the source location and the destination and the adjusted best bid and the best offer are transferred to the buyer over a computer network for display by a networked host. The shipping cost may be computed as a function of the distance between the destination and the source location.

Abstract: A device suitable for use as a child's toy includes a housing having a window through which is visible a medium on which are displayed changing scenes. A plurality of lights are positioned behind the medium and selectively illuminated to provide animation effects. Different portions of the medium may be selectively illuminated as the scenes are changed in order to vary the animation effects. The medium may be in the form of an at least partially translucent scroll, on which is printed a series of different scenes and which may be moved by a motor, spring, or other winding mechanism arranged to advance the scroll so that a different complete scene appears in the window each time the scroll is advanced.

Abstract: A device suitable for use as a child's toy includes a housing having a window through which is visible a medium on which are displayed changing scenes. A plurality of lights are positioned behind the medium and selectively illuminated to provide animation effects. Different portions of the medium may be selectively illuminated as the scenes are changed in order to vary the animation effects. The medium may be in the form of an at least partially translucent scroll, on which is printed a series of different scenes and which may be moved by a motor, spring, or other winding mechanism arranged to advance the scroll so that a different complete scene appears in the window each time the scroll is advanced.

Abstract: A diving stick of the type which, after being tossed into a swimming pool, sinks to the bottom while maintaining an upright posture so that it can easily be grasped by a diver, includes a soft malleable outer body designed to prevent accidental impalement, and provisions for enabling the diving stick to sink and maintain an upright posture at the bottom of the pool despite the buoyancy of the soft malleable material.

Abstract: A toy includes a main body which, in a first orientation, resembles a water gun and, in a second orientation, resembles a vehicle. Within the main body is an air/water reservoir which may be filled with water, the reservoir being in communication with a source of air pressured by a hand-pump to cause water to be forcibly expelled from the reservoir upon opening a valve at a water outlet of the reservoir. The water outlet is controlled by a trigger mechanism which, when the toy is in the first orientation, resembles the trigger of a gun and permits opening and closing ofthe valve to occur upon pulling and release of the trigger. In the second orientation, the trigger mechanism is latched upon pulling the trigger in order to permit continued expulsion of water upon release of the trigger so that the expulsion of water serves to propel the vehicle.

Abstract: A diving stick of the type which, after being tossed into a swimming pool, sinks to the bottom while maintaining an upright posture so that it can easily be grasped by a diver, includes a soft malleable outer body designed to prevent accidental impalement, and provisions for enabling the diving stick to sink and maintain an upright posture at the bottom of the pool despite the buoyancy of the soft malleable material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bioactive molecule, herein referred to as the CD8.sup.+ suppressor molecule, that is produced by the CD8.sup.+ subset of human T-lymphocytes and suppresses type-1 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) replication through inhibition of viral transcription. The invention relates to isolation of clonal CD8.sup.+ cells lines that produce the antiviral activity and the development of an assay system for detection of the antiviral activity. The clonal cell lines and the assay system, described herein, may be utilized to purify, characterize and clone the CD8.sup.+ suppressor molecule. The CD8.sup.+ suppressor molecule may have therapeutic applications for treatment of diseases associated with HIV-1 infection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bioactive molecule, herein referred to as the CD8.sup.+ suppressor molecule, that is produced by the CD8.sup.+ subset of human T-lymphocytes and suppresses type-1 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) replication through inhibition of viral transcription. The invention relates to isolation of clonal CD8.sup.+ cells lines that produce the antiviral activity and the development of an assay system for detection of the antiviral activity. The clonal cell lines and the assay system, described herein, may be utilized to purify, characterize and clone the CD8.sup.+ suppressor molecule. The CD8.sup.+ suppressor molecule may have therapeutic applications for treatment of diseases associated with HIV-1 infection.

Abstract: Analysis, planning and interrelated modifications of a software system across modular architectural, language and documentation levels are automated and facilitated by use of the Change Assistant (CA). CA automatically analyzes the impact of the intended change on all levels, identifying related changes that may be needed to achieve the programmer's goal. When the plan is finalized and approved, CA automatically performs the change, modifying the code, as needed, to make it consistent with the changed architecture. Thereby, the need for human intervention in maintaining software is significantly reduced and the possibility of error minimized.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bioactive molecule, herein referred to as the CD8.sup.+ suppressor molecule, that is produced by the CD8.sup.+ subset of human T-lymphocytes and suppresses type-1 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) replication through inhibition of viral transcription. The invention relates to isolation of clonal CD8.sup.+ cells lines that produce the antiviral activity and the development of an assay system for detection of the antiviral activity. The clonal cell lines and the assay system, described herein, may be utilized to purify, characterize and clone the CD8.sup.+ suppressor molecule. The CD8.sup.+ suppressor molecule may have therapeutic applications for treatment of diseases associated with HIV-1 infection.

Abstract: A transparent yttrium oxide ceramic is made by densifying a yttrium oxide powder without addition of dopants. The yttrium oxide powder is consolidated into a body of a predetermined shape and sintered to a density such that any remaining porosity is sealed from the surrounding atmosphere. The closed porosity body is then subjected to an elevated pressure and temperature to provide the body with substantially 100% of theoretical density. The resulting body has substantial transparency over the wavelength range of 0.6 .mu.m to 7 .mu.m.