Abstract: Methods for the treatment of cholestatic liver disease and reduction and prevention of hepatic injury resulting from cholestasis via administration of a FXR ligand are provided.

Abstract: This method uses a simple relationship to compute total raw coal seam (coalbed) desorbed gas volumes from geophysical logs in a well bore. Laboratory total measured raw coal seam gas desorption volumes on coal core samples are calibrated to geophysical log measurements to obtain the relationship. The relationship has different constants and exponents for coal seams in each geologic basin and depositional setting. The calibrated relationship is applied to geophysical log measurements in cored and non-cored coal seams of the same type in the same basin to obtain a continuous total gas desorption volume estimate over the entire well in order to compute natural gas reserves in place. The method can be applied to coal seams where appropriate geophysical log measurements are available in any well.

Abstract: An electrophoresis system for removing or reducing concentration of a metabolic component from blood or plasma of a subject, the system comprising: (a) a first ion-permeable barrier having a defined pore size and pore size distribution disposed in an electric field area; (b) a second ion-permeable barrier having a defined pore size and pore size distribution disposed between a cathode zone and the first barrier so as to define a treatment chamber therebetween; (c) means adapted for cooling blood or plasma from the subject; (d) means adapted to provide dialysate to the cathode zone and an anode zone; and (e) means adapted to provide blood or plasma from the subject to the treatment chamber; wherein, upon application of the electric potential, a metabolic component from the blood or plasma moves through at least one barrier into at least one of the cathode or anode zones.

Abstract: In a remote data acquisition system a control unit transmits a radio signal simultaneously to a plurality of remote units. Each remote unit receives the radio signal at different times dependent on various system delay factors. A compensating delay is added in each remote unit in order to trigger each remote unit for data acquisition at the same time.

Abstract: There is provided a surface alloyed component which comprises a base alloy with a diffusion barrier layer enriched in silicon and chromium being provided adjacent thereto. An enrichment pool layer is created adjacent the diffusion barrier and contains silicon and chromium and optionally titanium or aluminum. The method comprises depositing a surface alloy on the base alloy at a temperature in the range of 400 to 1000° C. and heat treating the surface alloy at a ramp temperature rate of at least 5C°/minute, preferably 10 to 20° C./minute, to a desired maximum temperature at which the surface alloyed component is maintained for a time sufficient to provide the enrichment pool or the enrichment pool with a diffusion barrier layer. A reactive gas treatment may be used to generate a replenishable protective oxide scale of alumina or chromia on the outermost surface of the surface alloyed component.

Abstract: A spring loaded pay out arrangement for a seat harness securable to a seat, the seat harness being releasably connectable to an occupant harness configured to be worn by an occupant of the seat.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a luminescent screen assembly for a color cathode-ray tube (CRT). The luminescent screen assembly is formed on an interior surface of a faceplate panel of the CRT. The luminescent screen assembly includes an organic conductive (OC) layer overcoated with an organic photoconductive (OPC) layer. Different color-emitting phosphors are sequentially deposited over portions of the OPC layer and fixed with an appropriate fixative to secure the phosphors to the OPC layer, and then filmed to provide a smooth surface upon which a metal layer is applied. Thereafter, the metallized screen is baked to drive-off organic constituents remaining on the screen from the OPC, OC, filming and overspray layers. The organic constituents are removed from the metallized screen by volatilizing the organic materials such that the volume rate of gaseous organic constituents produced is less than the diffusion rate of such gaseous organic constituents through the metal layer.

Abstract: A method that selects one of a plurality of priority schemes for scheduling messages for one of cyclically repeating sets of time slots of a control channel based on at least one of a plurality of characteristics of the state of the control channel. The state of the control channel is all information regarding what has arrived, what is queued, and what has been transmitted. This includes the status of the queues, the messages awaiting transmission, along with their type and the time they have been waiting, the sequence of past transmissions, as well as other information.

Abstract: A web comprised of lyocell fibers. The web may be a homogeneous blend of fibers with lyocell fibers having a length of less than about 6 mm as a portion of the blend.. The web may be a multi layered single ply with lyocell fibers in one or more layers. The web may be composed of multiple plies, with component plies composed of multiple layers. The length and proportion of the lyocell fibers in the respective layers of the component plies may vary intentionally from layer to layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a soft tissue paper product having two outer surfaces, the soft tissue paper product comprising one or more plies of a tissue paper having a total wet tensile strength of at least about 200 g/in; and a chemical softening composition deposited on at least one outer surface of said tissue, said chemical softening composition comprising a polysilicoxane-polyalkyleneoxide copolymer comprising greater than about 30% by weight of polyethyleneoxide macromonomer; wherein the copolymer has a surface tension of less than about 40 mN/m, has a Ross Miles foam height of less than about 60 mm, and has an HLB of greater than about 4.

Abstract: An arrangement and method for switching a single destination data channel to a different destination without losing any data messages. Such a switch is required, for example, when a switch is made to a standby control unit and the messages originally destined for the original active control unit must be sent to the standby. Received messages are drained from the source prior to making the switch. Appropriate data is copied from the active unit to the standby so that the standby unit is in a state to start accepting newly queued messages from the source.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a defibrillation/pacing electrode that comprises an electrode body, a conductor element, and an adhesive layer. When the electrode is in use, electrically conductive gel can be placed between the electrode and the patient's skin to form low impedance contact therebetween. In one embodiment, the electrically conductive gel is contained within a reservoir provided on the body, wherein the electrically conductive gel can be delivered from the reservoir to a patient's skin. In another embodiment, the electrically conductive gel is delivered to the skin through a valve mounted on the top surface of the body. In a further embodiment, the electrically conductive gel is supplied by a plurality of rupturable capsules that are impregnated within the adhesive layer.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for the treatment of microbial infection, and in particular meningococcal disease, comprise a commensal Neisseria or an extract of a commensal Neisseria. Further methods and compositions comprise commensal Neisseria which express genes from virulent strains of Neisseria and/or heterologous gene products from non-neisserial sources. Such compositions are used in vaccine preparations for the treatment of microbial infection.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for the treatment of microbial infection, and in particular meningococcal disease, comprise a commensal Neisseria or an extract of a commensal Neisseria. Further methods and compositions comprise commensal Neisseria which express genes from virulent strains of Neisseria and/or heterologous gene products from non-Neisserial sources. Such compositions are used in vaccine preparations for the treatment of microbial infection.

Abstract: A video apparatus, for instance a video player, comprises a first digital source (e.g. a media player) of a first video digital stream and a video encoder (for generating analogue video signals based on said first video digital stream. The video apparatus also has an input for receiving first analogue video signals comprising synchronization signals.

Abstract: There is provided a surface alloyed component which comprises a base alloy with a diffusion barrier layer enriched in silicon and chromium being provided adjacent thereto. An enrichment pool layer is created adjacent the diffusion barrier and contains silicon and chromium and optionally titanium or aluminum. The method comprises depositing a surface alloy on the base alloy at a temperature in the range of 400 to 1000° C. and heat treating the surface alloy at a ramp temperature rate of at least 5C°/minute, preferably 10 to 20° C./minute, to a desired maximum temperature at which the surface alloyed component is maintained for a time sufficient to provide the enrichment pool or the enrichment pool with a diffusion barrier layer. A reactive gas treatment may be used to generate a replenishable protective oxide scale of alumina or chromia on the outermost surface of the surface alloyed component.

Abstract: A communications node predicts a transmission-departure time of a receive data message from an output upon reception of the receive data message at an input of the communications node. The communications node determines if the receive data message would remain stored within the communications node for a latent duration longer than a waiting-time limit based on the predicted transmission-departure time. The communications node admits the receive data message, for storage in a buffer memory of the communications node for prospective transmission over the output, if the receive data message would be transmitted prior to expiration of the waiting-time limit.

Abstract: An electrophoresis apparatus comprising: a first electrode in a first electrode zone; a second electrode in a second electrode zone, the first electrode disposed relative to the second electrode so as to be adapted to generate an electric field in an electric field area therebetween upon application of an electric potential between the first and second electrodes; a first membrane disposed in the electric field area; a second membrane disposed between the first electrode zone and the first membrane so as to define a first interstitial volume therebetween; wherein at least one membrane being a barrier capable of controlling substantial bulk movement of liquid under the influence of an electric field; means adapted to provide fluids to the electrode zone and the interstitial volume, wherein one of the fluids contains a sample constituent, and wherein upon application of the electric potential, liquid is caused to move from the sample constituent through at least one membrane to an adjacent electrode zone and at

Abstract: A tong as may be used for a continuous circulation system in a wellbore. The tong has a housing with a hollow interior. A plurality of spaced apart jaw assemblies reside within the housing's hollow interior for engaging a portion of a tubular to be gripped and rotated by the tong. A gear wheel is secured to the housing for rotating the housing and the jaw assemblies. The gear wheel includes a toothed outer circumference for mating with teeth of a drive shaft of a driving motor. A gear flange is movably mounted on the gear wheel such that rotation of the gear wheel does not rotate the gear flange.