Abstract: A new and distinct Mandevilla variety characterized by red to red-purple double flowers having five parted outer corolla and inner five parted ring of petaloids.

Abstract: Selection M0107-4 is a new Mentha piperita plant that has more resistance to Verticillium wilt and mint rust than existing peppermint varieties. The essential oil produced by this plant resembles typical peppermint oil in component composition, but differs in the typical ratio of components. The oil is milder than typical peppermint oil organoleptically because it has a lower Menthol and higher Menthone content. The plant starts growth early in the spring, has vigorous growth until flowering and matures later than Mitcham type peppermint.

Abstract: A distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant named ‘Elves Bells’, characterized by its upright and spreading and/or weeping plant habit; very freely clumping growth habit; dark green, succulent, irregularly-serrated, oblanceolate foliage; and large elongated urceolate dull purplish red flowers arranged in loose terminal cymes.

Abstract: A distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant named ‘Lisa Burgundy’, characterized by its large and numerous double inflorescences that are about 8.2 cm in diameter; dark reddish purple ray florets; mostly upright, mounded and uniform growth habit; dark green leaves; and strong peduncles that hold inflorescences about the foliage.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of verbena, named Verbena ‘Freebie Purple’, that is characterized by: a) Fast rooting; b) Vigorous prostate growth; c) Floriferous and long blooming; d) Good tolerance to high and low temperature extremes; and e) Unique violet-purple flower color.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Carnation plant named ‘White Campari’, characterized by its white-colored flowers; upright and mounded plant habit; good basal branching with about 10 lateral branches developing after pinching; dark green leaves; rapid growth rate; fragrant flowers; and good postproduction longevity.

Abstract: A distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Centella’, characterized by its small, daisy-type inflorescences that are about 4 cm in diameter; attractive golden yellow ray florets; disc florets that when immature are dark red and when mature are dark yellow; numerous inflorescences per stem; large leaves; and good postproduction longevity with inflorescences maintaining good substance and color for about three weeks in an interior environment after one week of cool storage.

Abstract: A triaxial force sensor using a hemispherical target supported by a compliant element such as a spring or an elastomer supported by a rigid support member. The sensor includes a plurality of ultrasonic transducers disposed in a plane at equal intervals about the target and vertically and laterally offset from the target. The transducers are oriented at an oblique angle to the plane, and aimed at the target in its rest position. The target is displaced by sufficient force applied to elastically deform the compliant element, which displacement alters the transit times of ultrasonic signals from the transducers which are reflected from the target. If at least three sensor units are employed non-colinearly, the six force-torque components, Fx, Fy, Fz, Mx, My, Mz, can be determined from the pulse transit times, the speed-of-sound in the medium or media between the transducers and the target, the deformation response of the compliant element, and the known geometry and spacing of the transducers.

Abstract: A soil sampling system includes a rig for driving a drive casing, a sample barrel, and sample liners simultaneously into soil to be sampled. The rig includes mechanisms for driving the casing, barrel, and lining in three modes: hydraulic hammer, continuous pressure, and vibration. The three drive mechanisms can be operated singly or in any combination. After the casing, barrel, and liners are advanced a selected depth into the soil, the barrel and liners are removed. The drive casing remains in the soil. New sample liners are put into the sample barrel, and an inner rod is attached to the sample barrel. The sample barrel is then replaced into the drive casing, and extensions are attached to the drive casing. The drive casing, including extensions, and the sample barrels, along with sample liners and inner rod, are driven further down into the soil.

Abstract: Improved integrity of a payment system for paying for services or goods, for example, telephone facilities, through use of electronic payment cards. In any session to increase a card balance, a “flag” is placed (“1”) on the payment card which indicates that the session must not be interrupted. After completion, the flag is removed again (“0”). A session to pay for the product or the service or to increase the balance can only be established if the flag is absent (“0”) indicating that the last session to increase the balance was correctly completed. If, on the other hand, the flag is still “1” at the start of a session, a correction routine is first performed in which the previous session to increase the balance is then correctly concluded to prevent the flag being removed by fraud, the flag can only be removed by a central system (PSTN/ABS) through issurance of an authorized instruction.

Abstract: A shade assembly for a vehicle windshield includes an axle secured at its ends to two side brackets attachable at the windshield top at two opposite sides of the windshield. The axle is also supported at its middle portion by an intermediate bracket secured to the top of the windshield. Two hollow cylindrical shafts are arranged between the intermediate bracket and the two side brackets, respectively, for rotation about respective sections of the axle. Two flexible shade members made of a tinted and polarized flexible plastic material are secured to the two hollow shafts, respectively, at one of their opposite longitudinal edges so as to be unwound and rewound upon respective rotation of the hollow shafts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to An apparatus for converting cathode ray tube (CRT) data to a dual panel data stream to be utilized. The present invention includes a frame buffer system for displaying data on a dual panel display, which comprises an upper and lower panel. The frame buffer system receives CRT data and displays panel refresh data in which one CRT frame generates one panel refresh frame four panel refresh frames. Through the use of this system, An increased number of gray level patterns can be provided, thereby increasing image resolution and quality.

Abstract: A HDTV receiver which is improved in its overall performance and is simplified in its configuration, by improving a symbol timing restoring circuit, includes a tuner for selecting a necessary channel from input signals via an antenna, an IF processing & carrier restoring portion for performing an IF process & carrier restoration from the output of the tuner, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for converting the output of the IF processing & carrier restoring portion into a digital signal, a timing restoring portion for restoring a timing from the output of the ADC, a 2:1 down-sampler for 2:1 down-sampling the output of the ADC, a sync detector for detecting a sync from the output of the 2:1 down-sampler, a channel equalizer for performing a channel equalization from the output of the 2:1 down-sampler, a phase controller for correcting the phase error from the output of the channel equalizer, an optimal viterbi decoder for performing a viterbi decoding operation from the output of the phase contr

Abstract: The marked contact lens has at least one microlens optical marking element integrally formed on the surface of the contact lens in a peripheral area thereof. The microlens marking elements are of shallow depth, yet focus light to appear as relatively bright (or dark) marking objects. The marking elements may be spherical or cylindrical microlens formations. The dimensions of the microlenses are chosen so as to avoid any irritation when worn by the user. The marking objects identify the lens source, proper orientation or, in the case of soft lenses, inversion.

Abstract: A method of processing data having one of four voltage levels stored in a DRAM cell is comprised of sensing whether or not the data voltage is above or below a voltage level midway between a highest and a lowest of the four levels, setting the voltage on a reference line higher than the lowest and lower than the next highest of the four levels in the event the data voltage is below the midway voltage level, and setting the voltage on the reference line higher than the second highest and lower than the highest of the four levels in the event the data voltage is above the midway point, and sensing whether the data voltage is higher or lower than the reference line, whereby which of the four levels the data occupies is read.

Abstract: A system and method of answering incoming calls are disclosed in which, if the resource (18)(19) desired by the caller is not then available, a robot controller (14) will inform the caller when a call back to the caller can be made. The callback time can be suggested by the robot controller (14) or the caller can request a specific callback time. The robot controller (14) ascertains and verifies the caller's call back identity and stores the number of the identity in a callback queue (11) along with such other pertinent information as the callback time, the caller's name and the required resource. At the appropriate time, the robot controller (14) removes the information from the callback queue (11), places the call and connects the desired resource (18)(19).

Abstract: A pumping device controlling an amount of liquid passing through a length of tubing accommodated in the pumping device. The pumping device includes inlet and outlet valves located adjacent opposed sides of a tube deforming device. The valves are controllable for restricting the flow of liquid through the tubing, and the deforming device is such that the tubing is first deformed in one direction and then in another direction which tends to restore the original cross-sectional shape of the tubing.

Abstract: A process and a system for the continuous manufacture of polymeric foams. Reactive chemical components and additives comprising a low boiling blowing agent are mixed under pressure; the mixture is then frothed before chemical reaction takes place by feeding the mixture through a pressure equalizing and frothing device having a pressure-drop zone opening into a frothing cavity having an output aperture to discharge the froth onto a moving substrate.

Abstract: Non-aqueous electrochemical cells with improved performance can be fabricated by employing anodes comprising a composition having graphite particles that have a BET method specific surface area of about 6 to about 12 m2/g and a crystallite height Lc of about 100 nm to about 120 nm, and wherein at least 90% (wt) of the graphite particles are less than 16 &mgr;m in size; a cathode; and a non-aqueous electrolyte containing a solvent and salt that is interposed between the anode and cathode. When employed in an electrochemical cell, the anode can attain a specific electrode capacity of at least 300 mAhr/g. The electrochemical cell has a cycle life of greater than 1500 cycles, and has a first cycle capacity loss of only about 10% to about 15%.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel adenosine derivatives having the formula (I): wherein R is a lower alkyl group; R′ is hydrogen or a lower alkyl group; X is a cycloalkyl group, an alkyl group having at least one hydroxy group, an alkyl group having at least one phenyl group, a bicycloalkyl group, a naphthylalkyl group, an acenaphthylenylalkyl group or a group of the formula (II) or (III); Z is hydrogen, a hydroxy group or a lower alkoxy group, Q is hydrogen or a hydroxy group, A is —CH2—, —O—, —S— or shows a direct connection; Y is —(CH2)n— or shows a direct connection; n is an integer of 1 to 3; and the broken line is a double bond or a single bond. and pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which are useful as antihypertensive agents.

Abstract: The invention relates to thiophene compounds of formula: wherein: X1, X2, Y1 and Y2, which are identical or different, each represents hydrogen or halogen, (C1-C5)-alkyl or alkoxy, or trifluoromethyl, X1 and Y1, which are identical or different, each represents C1-C5 alkoxy, X2 and Y2 each represents hydrogen, R1 represents hydrogen or (C1-C5)-alkyl, A represents a straight (C1-C5)-hydrocarbon chain of which each carbon atom is optionally mono- or di-substituted by a (C1-C5)-alkyl, and R2 represents hydrogen, (C1-C6)-alkyl, cyclohexyl or benzyl; and their physiologically tolerable salts. The products of the invention may be used as anti-inflammatory agents.

Abstract: A sports pad for use by a contact sports player, such as a football player, provides a protective pad which improves the ability of the wearer of the sports pad to hold on to a ball, such as a football. The sports pad includes a tubular member which defines first and second opposed open ends and has a padded section. A high friction surface is provided on the tubular member, which extends from the first open end to the second open end and at least over a non-padded section of the tubular member. Preferably, the high friction surface is formed form a high friction material, such as vinyl material, a PVC material, a rubber material, a neoprene material, or a latex material. The high friction surface may include projections formed from the high friction material.

Abstract: A protective garment of the type typically worn by fire fighters with improved water resistance is disclosed. In particular, the present invention is directed to an outer shell material for protective garments that is made from a fire resistant material coated with a durable water resistant coating. The durable water resistant coating is applied to the outer shell in a manner so that the coating will not degrade when exposed to normal wear and tear and even after the garment has been laundered repeatedly. Protective garments constructed in the past typically lost most of their water repellency after being laundered as little as five cycles. It has been discovered that water resistant coatings applied according to the process of the present invention, on the other hand, can survive at least 30 laundry cycles, and in many applications at least 50 laundry cycles without significantly degrading.