Abstract: Provided herein are methods for determining the level of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtype-1 (M1 receptor) anticholinergic activity in a blood serum sample. The methods include radioactive methods and non-radioactive methods. The method comprises the steps of removing protein from the blood serum sample by treatment with perchloric acid (PCA) to produce a PCA-treated serum sample, incubating the PCA-treated serum sample with a membrane preparation from cultured cells expressing the M1 receptor and an M1 receptor ligand; detecting an amount of binding of the M1 receptor ligand to the M1 receptor and comparing the amount of binding to a standard to determine the level of M1 receptor anticholinergic activity in the blood serum sample. Alternatively, the method may comprise loading calcium sensitive dye into the cells and testing serum from a subject in a fluorescence assay to determine the anticholinergic activity relative to a sample known to contain little to no anticholinergic activity.

Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) devices, such as silicon carbide (SiC) power devices (e.g., MOSFETs, IGBTs, etc.) In an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a gate oxide layer disposed on top of a semiconductor layer. The semiconductor device also includes a gate electrode having a tapered sidewall. Further, the gate electrode includes a polysilicon layer disposed on top of the gate oxide layer and a metal silicide layer disposed on top of the polysilicon layer.

Abstract: Video conversion technology, in which a first stream of video content is accessed and multiple, different layers are extracted from the first stream of the video content. Each of the multiple, different layers are separately processed to convert the multiple, different layers into modified layers that each have a higher resolution. The modified layers are reassembled into a second stream of the video content that has a higher resolution than the first stream of the video content.

Abstract: Video conversion technology, in which a first stream of video content is accessed and multiple, different layers are extracted from the first stream of the video content. Each of the multiple, different layers are separately processed to convert the multiple, different layers into modified layers that each have a higher resolution. The modified layers are reassembled into a second stream of the video content that has a higher resolution than the first stream of the video content.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for determining the level of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtype-(M1 receptor) anticholinergic activity in a blood serum sample, the method comprising the steps of removing protein from the blood serum sample by treatment with perchloric acid (PCA) to produce a PCA-treated serum sample; incubating the PCA-treated serum sample with a membrane preparation from cultured cells expressing the M1 receptor and an M1 receptor ligand; detecting an amount of binding of the M1 receptor ligand to the M1 receptor and comparing the amount of binding to a standard to determine the level of M1 receptor anticholinergic activity in the blood serum sample. Also provided are kits for performing the method.

Abstract: Video conversion technology, in which a first stream of video content is accessed and multiple, different layers are extracted from the first stream of the video content. Each of the multiple, different layers are separately processed to convert the multiple, different layers into modified layers that each have a higher resolution. The modified layers are reassembled into a second stream of the video content that has a higher resolution than the first stream of the video content.

Abstract: Video conversion technology, in which a first stream of video content is accessed and multiple, different layers are extracted from the first stream of the video content. Each of the multiple, different layers are separately processed to convert the multiple, different layers into modified layers that each have a higher resolution. The modified layers are reassembled into a second stream of the video content that has a higher resolution than the first stream of the video content.

Abstract: Video conversion technology, in which a first stream of video content is accessed and multiple, different layers are extracted from the first stream of the video content. Each of the multiple, different layers are separately processed to convert the multiple, different layers into modified layers that each have a higher resolution. The modified layers are reassembled into a second stream of the video content that has a higher resolution than the first stream of the video content.

Abstract: Video conversion technology, in which a first stream of video content is accessed and multiple, different layers are extracted from the first stream of the video content. Each of the multiple, different layers are separately processed to convert the multiple, different layers into modified layers that each have a higher resolution. The modified layers are reassembled into a second stream of the video content that has a higher resolution than the first stream of the video content.

Abstract: Video conversion technology, in which a first stream of video content is accessed and multiple, different layers are extracted from the first stream of the video content. Each of the multiple, different layers are separately processed to convert the multiple, different layers into modified layers that each have a higher resolution. The modified layers are reassembled into a second stream of the video content that has a higher resolution than the first stream of the video content.

Abstract: Video conversion technology, in which a first stream of video content is accessed and multiple, different layers are extracted from the first stream of the video content. Each of the multiple, different layers are separately processed to convert the multiple, different layers into modified layers that each have a higher resolution. The modified layers are reassembled into a second stream of the video content that has a higher resolution than the first stream of the video content.

Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) devices, such as silicon carbide (SiC) power devices (e.g., MOSFETs, IGBTs, etc.) In an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a gate oxide layer disposed on top of a semiconductor layer. The semiconductor device also includes a gate electrode having a tapered sidewall. Further, the gate electrode includes a polysilicon layer disposed on top of the gate oxide layer and a metal silicide layer disposed on top of the polysilicon layer.

Abstract: A dilator apparatus having a body having a proximal end and a distal end and a longitudinal axis defined therethrough, and a dilation member coupled to the distal end of the body, the dilation member having a dilation body and a first distal nose coupled to the dilation body. Further, the width of the dilation body is larger than a width of the first distal nose.

Abstract: In order to install a reinforcement around a cylindrical underground pipeline, an excavation coffer is laid on the ground above the pipeline, at the same time placing transversely to the pipeline front and rear faces of the coffer, each having along its lower edge an indentation of a shape adapted to the cylindrical shape of the cylindrical pipeline, the coffer is buried in the ground substantially until the indentations are brought up against the pipeline, soil material is removed between the front and rear faces of the coffer in order to give access to an upper part of the wall of the pipeline, a duct in the form of an arc of a circle is engaged under the pipeline, at the same time being pushed along the lower part of the wall of the pipeline, a prestressing reinforcement is threaded into this duct, and the armature is clamped and anchored around the pipeline.

Abstract: In order to install a reinforcement around a cylindrical underground pipeline, an excavation coffer is laid on the ground above the pipeline, at the same time placing transversely to the pipeline front and rear faces of the coffer, each having along its lower edge an indentation of a shape adapted to the cylindrical shape of the cylindrical pipeline, the coffer is buried in the ground substantially until the indentations are brought up against the pipeline, soil material is removed between the front and rear faces of the coffer in order to give access to an upper part of the wall of the pipeline, a duct in the form of an arc of a circle is engaged under the pipeline, at the same time being pushed along the lower part of the wall of the pipeline, a prestressing reinforcement is threaded into this duct, and the armature is clamped and anchored around the pipeline.

Abstract: A supervisory signal for a derived channel data reporting system is implemented as a tone having a frequency capable of transmission using a telephone signal communicating network, including networks incorporating digital equipment, at an attenuated level. The tone preferably has a frequency of from 200 Hz to 300 Hz, and is capable of operating in conjunction with biphase modulated (BPSK), frequency shift keyed (FSK) and multi-tone modulated (MLT) polling systems. Such frequencies are effectively communicated by conventional digital loop carrier systems, despite a limited frequency range, and are of a sufficient magnitude to be detected by the derived channel data reporting system.

Abstract: A railroad tie and an assembly thereof with at least one tie plate wherein the wooden tie has rabbetted recesses formed in the top face thereof to receive the tie plates and these recesses are characterized by each having precut or machined grooves for receiving ridges projecting from the bottom of the tie plate. The assembly includes a wooden tie having a rabbetted recess formed in the top face and adjacent each end thereof, each recess has a flat intermediate face having a pair of grooves machined or precut therein and laterally spaced from each other lengthwise of the tie, and a tie plate seating in each recess and having a pair of ridges projecting from the bottom thereof and engaging into the corresponding grooves.