Abstract: A digit support for AR family receivers designed to reside in a gap left between a receiver's pistol grip and trigger guard. The support fills the gap and ideally separates a user's digit from the gap, thereby protecting the user's digit from injury due to prolonged contact with the walls forming said gap. The digit support is easily installed without removal of any components of or attachments to the receiver and in its best mode allows for the simultaneous opening of the receiver's trigger guard. In the best mode, the support is a body molded from a rubber compound having dimensions to fit snugly in the gap left between the trigger guard and the pistol grip. Ideally, the remaining exposed surface extends slightly higher than the depth of the gap and is cylindrically domed. Also in the best mode, the side of the body abutting the trigger guard mount should have a concavity designed to fit around the trigger guard mount so as to encompass said mount.

Abstract: A device, for use in the electrochemical analysis of an analyte in a small volume liquid sample, having a non-conducting substrate (1); a conductive layer, deposited on the substrate, in two parts (2a, 2b), defining a non-conducting gap (8) therebetween; an analyte-specific reagent (5) coated on the conductive layer, on one side of the gap; a reference electrode (3) on the conductive layer, on the other side of the gap; a spacer layer (4) deposited over the conductive layer; a monofilament mesh (6) coated with a surfactant or chaotropic agent, the mesh being laid over the reagent, the reference electrode and the spacer layer; and a second non-conductive layer (7) adhered to the mesh layer, but not coextensive therewith, thereby providing a sample application area (9) on the mesh.

Abstract: A method of analysing a polynucleotide target involves incubating the target with an oligonucleotide probe, generally an array of immobilized oligonucleotide probes, to form a duplex, and using ligase or polymerase to extend one chain of the duplex. A point mutation or variable number tandem repeat section may be analyzed. Arrays of immobilized oligonucleotides are provided for use in the method.

Abstract: Polynucleotide and polypeptide sequences are described. The polypeptide sequences comprise one or more of: (a) a polypeptide having the deduced amino acid sequence translated from the polynucleotide sequence in SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 5 and variants, fragments, homologues, analogues and derivatives thereof; (b) a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2 and variants, fragments, homologues, analogues and derivatives thereof (c) a polypeptide encoded by the cDNA of NCIMB 41110 and variants, fragments, homologues, analogues and derivatives thereof; or (d) a polypeptide which has at least 78% identity to (i) the polypeptide encoded by the polynucleotide of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 5, (ii) the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2, or (iii) the polypeptide encoded by the cDNA of NCIMB 41110. Such polypeptide sequences are, inter alia, useful in the prophylaxis and/or treatment of sexual dysfunction, in particular male erectile dysfunction (MED) or female sexual dysfunction (FSD), preferably female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD).

Abstract: A digit support for AR family receivers designed to reside in a gap left between a receiver's pistol grip and trigger guard. The support fills the gap and ideally separates a user's digit from the gap, thereby protecting the user's digit from injury due to prolonged contact with the walls forming said gap. The digit support is easily installed without removal of any components of or attachments to the receiver and in its best mode allows for the simultaneous opening of the receiver's trigger guard. In the best mode, the support is a body molded from a rubber compound having dimensions to fit snugly in the gap left between the trigger guard and the pistol grip. Ideally, the remaining exposed surface extends slightly higher than the depth of the gap and is cylindrically domed. Also in the best mode, the side of the body abutting the trigger guard mount should have a concavity designed to fit around the trigger guard mount so as to encompass said mount.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system, method, and program for limiting input/output (I/O) requests from an application program to a storage device to facilitate the processing of data in memory. A determination is made as to whether an amount of a set of data in memory exceeds at least one threshold. At least one of multiple paths to the storage device is indicated as blocked to I/O requests from the application program. Each indicated blocked path is available for processing the set of data in memory. An I/O request from the application program is received and a determination is made as to whether the received I/O request intends to access the storage device using one indicated blocked path. The I/O request is denied access to the storage device via the blocked path.

Abstract: A system for automatically generating a mosaic from a plurality of input images. The system sequentially executes an image alignment process, an editing process, and a combining process such that, from a sequence of images, the system automatically produces a seamless mosaic for various applications. Illustrative applications for the mosaic include: (1) a mosaic based display system including an image printing system, (2) a surveillance system and (3) a mosaic based compression system. The mosaic based display system permits a system user to display, manipulate and alter a mosaic. The mosaic based compression system exploits the temporal and spatial redundancy in image sequences and efficiently compresses the image information. The compression system can be used for compressing image information for storage in a storage device or can be used for compressing image information for transmission through a band-limited transmission channel.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein is a process for increasing the achievable concentration of a pharmaceutically active ingredient relative to fill composition viscosity for dosage units. The process is particularly useful in the preparation of soft gelatin capsules containing ibuprofen, naproxen, indomethacin, and acetaminophen, as the pharmaceutically active ingredient. As a result of the process, lesser quantities of composition ingredients other than the pharmaceutically active ingredient are needed to accomplish the same therapeutically effective dosage, thereby significantly increasing the concentration of the pharmaceutically active ingredient resulting in either a reduction in overall fill volume and dosage unit size or an increase in concentration of pharmaceutically active ingredient per dosage form.

Abstract: A method of identifying one or a combination of ligands, e.g. oligonucleotides or analogues, that interact specifically with a target, e.g. a DNA or an RNA molecule having a secondary or tertiary structure. One ligand may be pre-reacted to open up the target for interaction with other ligands forming an array on a solid surface.

Abstract: A process of treating a human or non-human animal cell to introduce heterologous genetic material into said cell and express said material in said cell, comprises (a) providing a recombinant herpesviral vector which is an attenuated or replication-defective and non-transforming mutant herpesvirus, and which carries heterologous genetic material, and (b) transducing human or non-human animal cells selected from: hemopoietic cells, malignant cells related to blood cells, and malignant or non-malignant CD34+cells; by contacting said cells with said virus vector to transduce said cells and express said genetic material. Among applications of the technique is modification of hemopoietic cells by transfer of genes, e.g. to generate tumor immunogens from malignant cells.

Abstract: The invention provides a gene construct encoding a cell targeting moiety and a heterologous prodrug activating enzyme for use as a medicament in a mammalian host wherein the gene construct is capable of expressing the cell targeting moiety and enzyme as a conjugate within a target cell in the mammalian host and wherein the conjugate is directed to leave the cell thereafter for selective localisation at a cell surface antigen recognised by the cell targeting moiety.

Abstract: A system and method for accurately mapping between image coordinates and geo-coordinates, called geo-spatial registration. The system utilizes the imagery and terrain information contained in the geo-spatial database to precisely align geodetically calibrated reference imagery with an input image, e.g., dynamically generated video images, and thus achieve a high accuracy identification of locations within the scene. When a sensor, such as a video camera, images a scene contained in the geo-spatial database, the system recalls a reference image pertaining to the imaged scene. This reference image is aligned very accurately with the sensor's images using a parametric transformation. Thereafter, other information that is associated with the reference image can easily be overlaid upon or otherwise associated with the sensor imagery.

Abstract: An electrode comprises a non-conductive substrate and a conductive layer comprising, in a bonded matrix, graphite particles coated with a noble metal, and carbon particles, wherein the graphite particles are up to 20 &mgr;m is size and have a surface area of 1-50 m2/g. This electrode is capable of measuring low levels of analyte, e.g. glucose in sweat when convined with a layer containing glucose oxidase.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a polynucleotide target involves incubating the target with an oligonucleotide probe, generally an array of immobilised oligonucleotide probes, to form a duplex, and using ligase or polymerase to extend one chain of the duplex. A point mutation or variable number tandem repeat section may be analyzed. Arrays of immobilised oligonucleotides are provided for use in the method.

Abstract: An output buffer provides a stable, predetermined low voltage differential over power supply, temperature, and process variations yet has a high speed of operation. More particularly, a data path of an output buffer includes an emitter-coupled differential amplifier followed by an output section of two level-shifting emitter followers. A predetermined operating current biases the differential amplifier for unsaturated operation and a reference current biases the output section for unsaturated operation. The data path remains unencumbered by compensation circuitry to preserve high speed operation. Instead, a voltage compensator biases the differential amplifier to compensate, at least in part, for variations in a supply voltage. In addition, a variable biasing current to the voltage compensator with a predetermined temperature coefficient may further temperature compensate the differential amplifier.

Abstract: A toilet bowl cleaner in the form of a reusable wand which may be mounted on a support when not in use. The support may include a reservoir for a disinfectant liquid. The lower end of the wand is a push fit into the core of a hollow cylindrical head of absorbent material. When any soiling matter has been removed from the bowl's surfaces by the head, the head is dislodged from the end of the wand by contact with the lip of the bowl to fall by gravity into the bowl, from where it is removed by flushing. An alternative head may be made from a rigid material for scraping hardened matter from the bowl's surface. A device for facilitating removal of the head from the wand is also provided.

Abstract: In an optical system having a detector means and processor means in which imaging data is obtained comprising noisy blurred scene data containing an object to be reconstructed, and noisy blurred background data of the same scene, a method for increasing the spatial resolution of the imaging data produced by the optical system, comprising the steps of converting the imaging data into a first matrix, regularizing the first matrix by performing nth order Tikhonov regularization to the first matrix to provide a regularized pseudo-inverse (RPI) matrix and applying the RPI matrix to the first matrix to provide a reconstructed image of the object.

Abstract: There is disclosed in an optical system having a predetermined Numerical aperture which provides a corresponding level of spatial resolution and having detector means and processor means in which image data is obtained comprising noisy blurred scene data containing an object to be reconstructed, and noisy blurred background data of the same scene, an improved method for increasing the spatial resolution of the imaging data produced by the diffraction limited optical system.

Abstract: An anti-CEA monoclonal antibody, designated 806.077, of murine origin is useful for the diagnosis and therapy of cancer. The antibody complementarity determining regions have the following sequences: heavy chain CDR1 DNYMH, CDR2 WIDPENGDTE YAPKFRG, CDR3 LIYAGYLAMD Y; and light chain CDR1 SASSSVTYMH, CDR2 STSNLAS, CDR3 QQRSTYPLT. The antibody optionally is humanized and can be in the form of a conjugate with either an enzyme, such as carboxypeptidase, or a co-stimulatory molecule such as the extracellular domain of human B7.1.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing at least part of a communications network and particularly for managing a customer network, for example, within an asynchronous transfer mode communications network. A predictor is used to predict parameters such as bandwidth levels and to predict when the parameter(s) will exceed capacity or previously agreed thresholds. These agreed levels may be specified for example in a service level agreement between a service provider and a customer. The predictor also predicts, how much excess there will be and how long this will occur for. This information is provided to the service provider/customer and also can be provided to an agent which comprises a computer system. This agent negotiates on behalf of either the customer (for example) with another agent acting on behalf of the service provider (for example) and in this way new terms for an agreement between the two parties is obtained.