Abstract: A particular sequence of ultrasound transmissions and corresponding echo receptions enables the production of Amplitude Modulated (AM) and Amplitude Modulated Phase Inverted (AMPI) signals that are temporally balanced. Temporal balancing significantly reduces tissue artifacts caused by movement of tissue during acquisition of the ultrasound echoes. Additionally, in combining the selected echo signals to produce the AM5 and AMPI signals, and optionally a Phase Inverted (PI) signal, each of the echo signals is equally weighted to facilitate an amplitude balance that avoids different echoes affecting the produced AM, AMPI, and PI signals differently.

Abstract: Systems and methods for preprocessing three dimensional (3D) data prior to generating inverted renders are disclosed herein. The preprocessing may include segmenting the 3D data to remove portions of the data associated with noise such that those portions do not appear in the generated render. The segmentation may include applying a mask to the 3D data. The mask may be generated by sorting data points in the 3D data set into a first set or a second set. In some examples, the 3D data may be filtered prior to generating the mask. In some examples, the mask may be adjusted based on feature recognition. The preprocessing may allow the visualization of hypoechoic regions of interest in a volume.

Abstract: An Electrically Floating, Near Vertical Incidence, Skywave (NVIS) Antenna comprising an antenna element, a floating ground element, and a grounding element. At least part of said floating ground element is positioned between said antenna element and said grounding element. The antenna is separated from the floating ground element and the grounding element by one or more electrical insulators. The floating ground element is separated from said antenna and said grounding element by one or more electrical insulators.

Abstract: A laser device includes a virtual source configured to aim laser energy that originates from a true source. The virtual source has a vertical rotational axis during vertical motion of the virtual source and the vertical axis passes through an exit point from which the laser energy emanates independent of virtual source position. The emanating laser energy is collinear with an orientation line. The laser device includes a virtual source manipulation mechanism that positions the virtual source. The manipulation mechanism has a center of lateral pivot approximately coincident with a lateral index and a center of vertical pivot approximately coincident with a vertical index. The vertical index and lateral index intersect at an index origin. The virtual source and manipulation mechanism auto align the orientation line through the index origin during virtual source motion.

Abstract: A laser device includes a target position, an optical component separated a distance J from the target position, and a laser energy source separated a distance H from the optical component, distance H being greater than distance J. A laser source manipulation mechanism exhibits a mechanical resolution of positioning the laser source. The mechanical resolution is less than a spatial resolution of laser energy at the target position as directed through the optical component. A vertical and a lateral index that intersect at an origin can be defined for the optical component. The manipulation mechanism can auto align laser aim through the origin during laser source motion. The laser source manipulation mechanism can include a mechanical index. The mechanical index can include a pivot point for laser source lateral motion and a reference point for laser source vertical motion.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are described for the preparation of bioactive agents entrapped in lipid vesicles the bilayers of which comprise a salt form of an organic acid derivative of a sterol, such as the tris-salt form of a sterol hemisuccinate, and to bompositions comprising a mixtue of tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane salt of cholesteryl hemisuccinate with either an antifungal compound or a peptide. These compositions have various applications in vivo.

Abstract: A composition having equal to or greater than about 97 percent by weight phosphatidylcholine and about equal to or less than about 3 percent by weight to about 0.5% sphingomylin and equal to or less than about 0.5% lysophosphatidylcholine (undetectable by UV at 205 nm) has been found to result in liposomes having improved stability. Methods for preparing the composition are disclosed whereby the phospholipids are extracted and then purified using silica chromatography.

Abstract: A reduced fat chocolate preparation comprising lipid vesicles is disclosed. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing the reduced fat chocolate preparation. The chocolate has less fat than regular chocolate and a higher percentage of water.

Abstract: A composition having equal to or greater than about 97 percent by weight phosphatidylcholine and about equal to or less than about 3 percent by weight to about 0.5% sphingomylin and equal to or less than about 0.5% lysophosphatidylcholine (undetectable by UV at 205 nm) has been found to result in liposomes having improved stability. Methods for preparing the composition are disclosed whereby the phospholipids are extracted and then purified using silica chromatography.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are described for the preparation of alpha-tocopherol vesicles, the bilayers of which comprise a salt form of an organic acid derivative of alpha-tocopherol such as the Tris salt form of alpha-tocopherol hemisuccinate. The method is rapid and efficient and does not require the use of organic solvents. The alpha-tocopherol vesicles may be used to entrap compounds which are insoluble in aqueous solutions. Such preparations are especially useful for entrapping bioactive agents of limited solubility, thus enabling administration in vivo.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are described for the preparation of bioactive agents entrapped in lipid vesicles the bilayers of which comprise a salt form of an organic acid derivative of a sterol, such as the tris-salt form of a sterol hemisuccinate, and to compositions comprising a mixture of tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane salt of cholesteryl hemisuccinate with either an antifungal compound or a peptide. These compositions have various applications in vivo.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are described for the preparation of alpha-tocopherol vesicles, the bilayers of which comprise a salt form of an organic acid derivative of alpha-tocopherol such as the Tris salt form of alpha-tocopherol hemisuccinate. The method is rapid and efficient and does not require the use of organic solvents. The alpha-tocopherol vesicles may be used to entrap compounds which are insoluble in aqueous solutions. Such preparations are especially useful for entrapping bioactive agents of limited solubility, thus enabling administration in vivo.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are described for the preparation of bioactive agents entrapped in lipid vesicles the bilayers of which comprise a salt form of an organic acid derivative of a sterol, such as the tris-salt form of a sterol hemisuccinate, and to bompositions comprising a mixture of tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane salt of cholesteryl hemisuccinate with either an antifungal compound or a peptide. These compositions have various applications in vivo.

Abstract: A pharmacological agent-lipid solution preparation comprising a lipophilic pharmacological agent, a desalted charged lipid and an aqueous-miscible lipid solvent such that upon introduction into an aqueous medium a suspension of lipid aggregates associated with the pharmacological agent are formed, and methods of manufacture and use.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel liposomes and liposome-like structures (vesicles) comprising an amount of a derivatized sterol either alone or in combination with additional liposome-forming lipids.Sterols such as cholesterol or other lipids, to which numerous charged or neutral groups are attached, may be used to prepare liposomes and liposome-like structures such as micelles, reverse micelles and hexagonal phases, suspensions of multilamellar vesicles or small unilamellar vesicles. The novel liposomes of the present invention may be prepared with or without the use of organic solvents. These vesicles may entrap compounds varying in polarity and solubility in water and other solvents.

Abstract: A process for the separation and purification of individual phospholipids, especially phosphatidylcholine or lecithin and phosphatidylethanolaine, from mixtures containing members of the sub-class of phosphatides, incorporating methods of solvent extraction appropriate to the scale of the sample and utilizing an acetonitrile, acetonitrile-hydrocarbon, or acetonitrile-fluorocarbon solvent, which exhibit differential solubility properties towards the individual phospholipids.

Abstract: Preparations of drugs in admixture with certain ligands are described which, when administered to animals or humans, are less toxic than conventional drug preparations. Although the toxicity of the drug-ligand preparations described is greatly reduced, the drug retains pharmacological activity.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are described for the preparation of alpha-tocopherol vesicles, the bilayers of which comprise a salt form of an organic acid derivative of alpha-tocopherol such as the Tris salt form of alpha-tocopherol hemisuccinate. The method is rapid and efficient and does not require the use of organic solvents. The alpha-tocopherol vesicles may be used to entrap compounds which are insoluble in aqueous solutions. Such preparations are especially useful for entrapping bioactive agents of limited solubility, thus enabling administration in vivo.

Abstract: Preparations of drugs in admixture with certain ligands are described which, when administered to animals or humans, are less toxic than conventional drug preparations. Although the toxicity of the drug-ligand preparations described is greatly reduced, the drug retains pharmacological activity.

Abstract: Steroidal liposomes comprising a bioactive agent and method for their administration are disclosed, the bilayers of said steroidal liposomes comprising a salt form of a carboxylic acid derivative of a sterol, a salt form of a polycarboxylic acid derivative of a sterol, a salt form of a hydroxy carboxylic acid derivative of a sterol, a salt form of an amino acid derivative of a sterol or a salt form of a poly (amino acid) derivative of a sterol; or a salt form of an organic acid derivative of cholesterol, a vitamin D, a phytosterol, or a steroidal hormone.