Abstract: An improved device for placing and removing ceiling displays. The device includes an installation head with one or more seats that house ferromagnetic metal snap rings or a ferromagnetic material insert capable of attaching to magnetic mounting elements able to support a ceiling display from the metal components of an acoustical ceiling or the like. Furthermore, in conjunction with a handle extending from the head, multiple magnetic elements can be suspended from an elevated ceiling. Multiple seats allow receipt of a ceiling display of substantial width with multiple magnetic mounting elements. Consequently, the system allows for convenient and efficient placement and removal of ceiling displays in an efficient, safe, and convenient manner.

Abstract: A method of producing a mercury-free corrosion resistant dendritic zinc alloy powder is provided. According to the method an electrolytic cell is prepared that contains an aqueous alkaline electrolyte with a preselected concentration of dissolved zinc cations and optionally the cations of one or more soluble inhibitor metals. The cell also contains a non-zinc adherent cathode, a first anode, and a second anode. The second anode comprises an inhibitor metal, the salts of which are only sparingly soluble in the alkaline electrolyte. For example, the second anode may comprise a minor anode of indium or bismuth interposed between the first or major anode and the cathode. A first voltage between the first anode and cathode is then applied to establish a desired cathode current density and the deposition of dendritic zinc and optional soluble inhibitor metals on the cathode.

Abstract: A system and method for performing selected optical measurements on a sample is provided utilizing an optical coherence domain reflectometer which includes a diffraction grating. A broad band light source produces light having a short coherence length. A beamsplitter splits the light into a signal beam and a reference beam. A reference mirror is disposed to receive the reference beam. A lens brings the signal beam to focus on the sample. A diffraction grating receives reflections from the sample and from the reference mirror, the reflections being incident on the diffraction grating with respect to said diffraction grating normal such that a positive diffraction order from one of the reflections and a negative diffraction order from the other one of the reflections and a negative diffraction order from the other one of the reflections propagate along a common path.

Abstract: Compounds are described which have efflux pump inhibitor activity. Also described are methods of using such efflux pump inhibitor compounds and pharmaceutical compositions which include such compounds.

Abstract: A machine for cleaning containers has inside and outside arrays of nozzles arranged to spray a cleaning solution onto containers supported on a spinning rotor. Used cleaning solution is diverted to a reclaim tank for reuse, thereby allowing low-cost cleaning with concentrated chemicals, and with the creation of less liquid waste requiring disposal. In a method for removing contaminants from flat media or silicon wafer containers or carriers, a mixture of surfactant and de-ionized water is sprayed onto containers on a spinning rotor. The used cleaning solution is collected, filtered and reused.

Abstract: Connecting to a home page via the Internet, selecting the mode of use of the battery desired by the user, downloading the charging characteristics which match the selected mode of use, and reading the charging characteristics into a EEPROM of charging device 30. Because of this, the optimal charging characteristics can be matched with the desires of the user and read into the EEPROM of the charging device.

Abstract: An optical-quality plastic part is provided having a PET polarizing film formed to contour with the optical requirements of the plastic construct without jeopardizing its optical, mechanical or cosmetic properties.

Abstract: A mobile communication system having a layered architecture communicates user and signaling data among components of the communication system in the form of information elements which are encapsulated within packets and which may be passed across one or more system interfaces. The mobile communication system may comprises mobile user stations, base stations, and base station controllers and operates as a transparent data pipeline between application end users, such as a telephone service, connected at base station controllers and mobile user stations. Each system interface functions as a communication channel between system components, providing the lower layers of a layered communication system architecture. In a particular embodiment, the interface between the base station and the user stations is a TDMA interface, and the interface between a base radio transceiver and a line card processor comprises a dual-port RAM which is used as a shared resource across the interface.

Abstract: A PCMCIA compatible memory card having a serial communication interface is provided. The serial communication interface includes a controller, a serial transceiver, and a serial communication port. Coupled between the controller and the serial communication port, the transceiver enables the controller to send or receive data through the serial communication port. Nonvolatile memory on the card is accessible by the controller. A cable connects the serial communication port of the memory card to a serial communication port of an external host computer. The controller operates in accordance with commands received from the host computer through the serial communication port of the card for sending data read from memory of the card to the computer, writing data to memory of the card received from the computer, loading a file into memory of the card received from the computer, erasing data from memory of the card, or verifying data in memory on the card.

Abstract: Various three, four and five terminal power supply control packages for controlling delivery of power from a source to a load in both single and dual switch transformer coupled power converters are disclosed. By way of example, a three-terminal control package has a first terminal for coupling to a primary winding of a transformer, a second terminal for coupling to a ground reference and a third terminal for coupling to a source of operating power. An internal power switch has an input coupled to the first terminal, an output coupled to the second terminal, and an activation gate. The package includes pulse train control circuitry coupled to the power switch activation gate and responsive to an error signal for driving the power switch, the error signal derived from an internally generated compensation signal corresponding to an expected voltage loss between the source and the load.

Abstract: A device for the topical delivery of nitric oxide gas to an infected area of skin includes a source of nitric oxide gas, a bathing unit, a flow control valve, and a vacuum unit. The bathing unit is adapted to surround the area of the infected skin and form a substantially air-tight seal with the skin surface. The bathing unit is also in fluidic communication with the source of nitric oxide. The flow control valve is positioned downstream of the source of nitric oxide and upstream of the bathing unit. The flow control valve controls the amount of nitric oxide gas that is delivered to the bathing unit. The vacuum unit is positioned downstream of the bathing unit and is used to withdraw gas from the bathing unit. Application of nitric oxide gas to the infected area of skin reduces pathogen levels in the infected area and promotes the healing process.

Abstract: A screen includes two or three layers of woven metal screen cloth. The coarsest of these layers includes threads which are woven into the cloth with surfaces which are fusible below a temperature at which the other layers of screen cloth are heat effected. These woven threads may include each of the threads in the coarse screen cloth with the coated threads being wire with fusible polypropylene or polyethylene coatings. The coarse screen cloth may include a woven metal screen with woven elements which are either coated with fusible material or are solidly of fusible material woven periodically therethrough in at least one direction. Screens are laminated with one or two fine mesh screens heated on the woven screen cloth with fusible surfaces to locate the fusible material in the finer cloths.

Abstract: A flash memory controller translates between manufacturer-specific protocols to allow the flash memories of one manufacturer to be used transparently in a host system programmed for the memory devices of different manufacturer. According to the invention, the controller indicates the manufacturer's ID code the host system requires irrespective of the flash memories used. The scheme employed permits translation even when there is no one-to-one correspondence between the parts of the different protocols being used.

Abstract: An elixir to aid in the coagulation and flocculation of metal precipitates in wastewater, and to aid in their settling out of the wastewater solution, comprising: 1) a first anionic polymer with a high molecular weight and a high charge density, 2) a second anionic polymer with a high molecular weight, 3) a liquid emulsion anionic flocculant with a high molecular weight and a high charge density, and 4) water.

Abstract: A dry powder inhaler has a dispersion chamber containing beads. A dose of dry powder is released into the chamber, or into an inlet tangentially joining into the chamber. As the patient inhales on a nosepiece or mouthpiece, air moves circularly through the dispersion chamber to drive the beads. The beads roll, bounce, and collide repeatedly with the drug particles on the chamber surfaces or on the beads. The smaller active drug particles are separated from the larger carrier particles and from each other, and a powder aerosol is created and inhaled by the patient. The beads are preferably lightweight, so that they can be rapidly accelerated and moved, even with nominal inspiration. The flow resistance of the inhaler is also reduced via the beads, allowing greater air flow and powder dispersion, without any increased effort by the patient.

Abstract: A plurality of conductors and an electrical component are disposed on a substrate, wherein the electrical component has a plurality of leads that are connected to the conductors on the substrate by a plurality of bond wires. A damping material is then situated in contact with the plurality of bond wires, the damping material chosen so that the plurality of bond wires can move in relation to the damping material. The damping material may be a viscous liquid kept in contact with the bond wires by a containing lid attached to the substrate. Alternatively, the damping material may be a colloidal mixture involving a liquid or an elastomer.

Abstract: Workpieces requiring low levels of contamination, such as semiconductor wafers, are loaded into a workpiece support or holder within a process chamber. The process chamber has a drain opening, slot or edge. The chamber is closed via a door. A process or rinsing liquid is introduced into the chamber. The liquid rises to a level so that the workpieces are immersed in the liquid. The chamber slowly pivots or rotates to move the drain opening down to the level of the liquid. The liquid drains out through the drain opening. The drain opening is kept near the surface of the liquid to drain off liquid at a uniform rate. An organic solvent vapor is introduced above the liquid to reduce or prevent droplets of liquid from remaining on the workpieces as the liquid drains off. An outer chamber may be provided around the process chamber to provide increased control of the process environment.

Abstract: This invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treating alopecia and promoting hair growth using an N-oxide of a heterocyclic ester, amide, thioester, or ketone.

Abstract: A disk drive 100 capable of receiving a cartridge 20 having a disk 42 with a diameter of about 3.5 inches which can contain at least 105 megabytes of data includes an operating mechanism 112 for initiating and controlling the positioning of an actuator arm 176 upon which is mounted a read/write transducer 178, the position of a spindle motor 224 which is used to spin up the disk 42 contained in the cartridge 20 to an operating speed, the locking of the cartridge 20 in the disk drive 100 in an operating mode and the ejection of the cartridge 20 from the drive 100. The operating mechanism 112 can function to eject the cartridge 20 whether or not the drive 100 is powered up in order to be able to remove the cartridge 20 and transport it to another disk drive 100 or to a secured location.