Abstract: Disclosed are methods that address providing a subject experiencing, or who has experienced, a headache precursor event and administering dihydroergotamine, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or complex thereof, to the subject by oral inhalation, in an amount effective to pre-empt a subsequent headache in the subject. Also disclosed are compositions that are related to those methods.

Abstract: A compound of formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, processes for preparing such compounds, their use as GPR119 modulators, methods for their therapeutic use, particularly in the treatment of obesity and diabetes mellitus, and pharmaceutical compositions containing them.

Abstract: 4-[4-(2-Adamantylcarbamoyl)-5-tert-butyl-pyrazol-1-yl]benzoic acid and pharmaceutically-acceptable salts thereof and a particular crystalline form of the Agent (Form 1); their use in the inhibition of 11?HSD1, processes for making them and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them are also described.

Abstract: A process for damaging and maintaining damage to the nucleic acids of pathogens such as white blood cells, bacteria and viruses which may be contained in blood or blood components. This process comprises adding to the blood or blood component containing pathogens an effective amount of riboflavin, and exposing the fluid to light of an appropriate wavelength to damage the nucleic acid of the pathogen and to substantially maintain the damage to the pathogenic nucleic acids to allow for subsequent transfusion into a recipient.

Abstract: Described herein are hand-held inhalation devices for use with tidal breathing that deliver powdered active agents to the respiratory system. The inhalation devices deliver a unit dose of the powdered active agent over a series of inhalations during tidal breathing. Methods for using the inhalation devices and kits for inhalation delivery of various active agents are also described.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, and related compositions, that include administering a dose-sparing amount of a formulation that includes inhalation particles to a subject by inhalation; wherein the inhalation particles comprise formoterol fumarate and budesonide, the formoterol fumarate and budesonide being in a distributed encapsulated morphology with respect to one another within said inhalation particles and the formoterol fumarate being in a predetermined mass ratio with regard to the budesonide within said inhalation particles.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell comprising a cathode, an anode and an electrolyte is provided, wherein: the cathode comprises mesoporous nickel having a periodic arrangement of substantially uniformly sized pores of cross-section of the order of 10?8 to 10?9 m; and the anode comprises a mesoporous material having a periodic arrangement of substantially uniformly sized pores of cross-section of the order of 10?8 to 10?9 m and selected from: carbon, cadmium, iron, a palladium/nickel alloy, an iron/titanium alloy, palladium or a mixed metal hydride.

Abstract: A compound of formula (I): and pharmaceutically-acceptable salts thereof wherein the variable groups are defined within; their use in the inhibition of 11?HSD1, processes for making them and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them are also described.

Abstract: A metered does inhaler which includes a canister assembly which has a minimal volume canister and primeless valve to reduce waste, minimize total drug contained therein, and increase the reproducibility of dosage delivered.

Abstract: An inhalation device for administering one or more sedatives via pulmonary delivery for treating a sleep disturbance.

Abstract: Solar concentrators are arranged in an array to define an input aperture such that the solar collector is positionable to face the input aperture of the concentrators skyward. An input axis of rotation extends through the aperture in the skyward direction, and a focus region is smaller than the aperture. Each concentrator includes at least one optical arrangement that is supported for rotation about the input axis for tracking the sun within a predetermined range of positions of the sun using no more than the rotation of the optical arrangement around the input axis. An optical concentrator is described in which a receiving direction extends at an acute angle from an optical axis and in one azimuthal direction outward from the optical axis such that a component of the concentrator is rotatable about the optical axis for alignment to receive input light. A previously unknown inverted off-axis lens is described.

Abstract: Monoclonal anti-myostatin antibodies that preferentially bind myostatin over GDF-11, have strong binding affinity to myostatin and are resistant to chemical degradation. The antibodies of the invention are useful for increasing muscle mass, increasing bone density, or for the treatment or prevention of various disorders in mammalian and avian species.

Abstract: A reconstitution device for storing a first component of a pharmaceutical preparation includes a receptacle, a cap having a first end secured to the receptacle, a second end, and an inner bore having a central aperture. The device further includes a stopper located between the receptacle and the cap, the stopper including a portion capable of being perforated. The device also includes a plunger secured to the second end of the cap, a locking mechanism located in the cap, and an actuating mechanism. The actuating mechanism may prevent the device from inadvertent activation.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for generating a multiplex of a plurality of services (such as a plurality of digitally encoded video streams). In one embodiment, the methods comprise setting a target bitrate for a statistical multiplex, and determining the complexity of the services to be multiplexed. One or more requirements of the services are adjusted so that the multiplex meets a target bitrate. In one variant, the services comprise H.264 encoded and transrated video data streams. Exemplary multiplexing apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A compound of the formula (1) or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt: possess glycogen phosphorylase inhibitory activity and accordingly have value in the treatment of disease states associated with increased glycogen phosphorylase activity such as 2 diabetes. Processes for the manufacture of compounds and pharmaceutical compositions containing them are described.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for splicing multiple video streams together. In one embodiment, two compressed video bit streams having one or more disparate qualities, such as bit rate, format, field parity, etc., are spliced together to form a single video bit stream that is free from any significant artifact. In one variant, a splicing boundary is located (e.g., at an I-frame or P-frame of a first stream), and the second stream spliced in at that point. A correction (e.g., addition or deletion of a frame) is then applied. In one implementation, the process maintains compliance with H.264 requirements.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for processing (e.g., transrating) one or more compressed video bitstreams including mode refinement analysis. In one embodiment, a method of transrating a digital video picture having a plurality of input macroblocks, each input macroblock having at least first and second attributes (e.g., slice type, encoding mode, and a “skipped” mode) is disclosed. In one variant, the method comprises generating an output macroblock corresponding to each input macroblock, with each of the output macroblocks having the first and second attributes. For each output macroblock having a first value for the first attribute (e.g., slice type), the second attribute (e.g., encoding mode) is decided at least in part by evaluating one or more error criteria, the error criteria being responsive to the second attribute of a corresponding input macroblock.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for transcoding one or more compressed video bitstreams. In one embodiment, the method comprises partially decoding an input video bitstream to produce a partially decoded intermediate video bitstream generated without performing a deblocking operation, extracting syntax pass-through information from the input video bitstream, and producing an output video bitstream from the intermediate video bitstream by using, for each macroblock, the macroblock decision from the input video bitstream.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for processing (e.g., transrating) one or more compressed video bitstreams including mode refinement analysis. In one embodiment, a method of transrating a digital video picture having a plurality of input macroblocks, each input macroblock having at least first and second attributes (e.g., slice type, encoding mode, and a “skipped” mode) is disclosed. In one variant, the method comprises generating an output macroblock corresponding to each input macroblock, with each of the output macroblocks having the first and second attributes. For each output macroblock having a first value for the first attribute (e.g., slice type), the second attribute (e.g., encoding mode) is decided at least in part by evaluating one or more error criteria, the error criteria being responsive to the second attribute of a corresponding input macroblock.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for transcoding one or more compressed video bitstreams. In one embodiment, the method comprises partially decoding an input video bitstream to produce a partially decoded intermediate video bitstream generated without performing a deblocking operation, extracting syntax pass-through information from the input video bitstream, and producing an output video bitstream from the intermediate video bitstream by using, for each macroblock, the macroblock decision from the input video bitstream.