Abstract:
A compound for delivering a non-cytotoxic therapeutic moiety into nerve cells, the compound having the general formula: B-L-TM where: B is a binding agent capable of selectively binding to a nerve cell surface receptor and mediating absorption of the compound by the nerve cell; TM is a therapeutic moiety which has a non-cytotoxic therapeutic effect when absorbed by a nerve cell; and L is a linker coupling B to TM.
Abstract:
An air-launched aircraft includes deployable wings, elevons, and vertical fins that deploy from a fuselage during flight. The aircraft may include a control system for operating the elevons, a communication system, and batteries for powering the systems. In addition, the aircraft may include a payload module that mates with an interface in the fuselage. The payload module may include any of a variety of payloads, including cameras, sensors, and/or radar emitters. The aircraft may be powered or unpowered, and may be very small, for example, less than on the order of 10 kg (22 pounds). The aircraft may be employed at a low cost for any of a wide variety of functions, such as surveillance, or as a decoy. The deployable surfaces of the aircraft may be configured to deploy in a pre-determined order, allowing the aircraft automatically to enter controlled flight after being launched in a tumbling mode.
Abstract:
A process for making a ribbed light weight composite mirror unit. Preferred embodiments are silicon carbide composite structures. Preferred structures comprise a front smooth silicon carbide surface supported by a silicon carbide ribbed back support. The ribbed back support may be produce by milling out portions of SiC block or by the joining of multiple simple shapes to form the ribbed support. At least the smooth front SiC surface is produced using a chemical vapor composite process as described in the Background Section. These include very large mirrors that resist gravitational sagging and smaller scanning and stepping mirrors that can be pointed quickly and accurately with minimal hysteresis. Preferred milling techniques include precision water jet milling. Special bonding techniques are described to produce ribbed support from multiple parts.
Abstract:
A projectile tracking system for acquiring and precisely tracking a projectile in flight in order to reveal the source from which the projectile was fired. The source is revealed by the back projection of a 3-dimensional track file. In preferred embodiments the system is installed on a vehicle, such as an un-manned blimp or other aircraft, road vehicle or ship, for locating and destroying small arms fire directed at the vehicle. A kill system may also be included on the vehicle to destroy the source of the projectile.
Abstract:
An apparatus for providing an electrical bias to a substrate in a processing system is described. The apparatus generally includes a conductive annular body defining a central opening. The conductive annular body may have a substrate seating surface adapted to receive the substrate and a plurality of scallops formed on a surface opposing the substrate seating surface. A plurality of electrical contacts may be formed on the substrate seating surface opposite the plurality of scallops. The electrical contacts may be adapted to engage a plating surface of the substrate.
Abstract:
A method for improving intracellular administration of a therapeutic agent is provided comprising: contacting cells with a compound comprising a charged derivative of a therapeutic agent having a therapeutic activity, the charged derivative being conjugated to a protein having a biological activity of being transported across a cell membrane into a cell; and having the cell transport the compound into the cell where the cell metabolizes at least a portion of the compound to form a charged metabolite product that possesses the therapeutic activity of the therapeutic agent, the charged metabolite product being less prone to being transported across the cell membrane out of the cell relative to the compound and less prone to being transported across the cell membrane out of the cell relative to the therapeutic agent.
Abstract:
A disposable stabilization and applanation device for reconfiguring the cornea of an eye for ophthalmic laser surgery, includes an applanation lens that is disposed in a particular spatial position with respect to an incident laser beam. The applanation lens is inserted into the central opening of an attachment ring and applanates the eye in response to pressure from a lens cone. The attachment ring is coupled to the eye and includes a skirt which surrounds the applanation lens and extends outwardly therefrom to define a chamber. The skirt is formed with a groove which defines a suction channel between the attachment ring skirt and the corneal surface of an eye. A vacuum source is connected and fluid communication with the suction channel and is selectively activated to create a partial vacuum in the channel.
Abstract:
Compositions and methods for preventing, treating and detecting leishmaniasis and stimulating immune responses in patients are disclosed. The compounds provided include polypeptides that contain at least an immunogenic portion of one or more Leishmania antigens, or a variant thereof. Vaccines and pharmaceutical compositions comprising such polypeptides, or polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides, are also provided and may be used, for example, for the prevention and therapy of leishmaniasis, as well as for the detection of Leishmania infection.
Abstract:
Compositions and methods for preventing, treating and detecting leishmaniasis and stimulating immune responses in patients are disclosed. The compounds provided include polypeptides that contain at least an immunogenic portion of one or more Leishmania antigens, or a variant thereof. Vaccines and pharmaceutical compositions comprising such polypeptides, or polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides, are also provided and may be used, for example, for the prevention and therapy of leishmaniasis, as well as for the detection of Leishmania infection.
Abstract:
A multi-section support rail has a first section with an outer circumferential wall, a parallel inner circumferential wall and a transverse web extending longitudinally therealong, a second section hollow tubular section with an outer circumferential wall and a parallel inner circumferential wall. The outer circumferential walls are substantially identical dimensionally. The sections are joined at mating surfaces,. The joined sections are pre-bent at the second section and then hydroformed to a final desired shape. The transverse web retains the extruded dimensions throughout the hydroforming process.