Abstract: A new and distinct Mandevilla plant denominated ‘Sawaranored5134’. It has upright and vining plant habit, relatively small glossy foliage, freely branching habit, freely flowering habit. The plant is in full flower around Mother's Day.

Abstract: A new cultivar of Weigela florida, ‘Wings of Fire’, characterized by its bronze colored foliage from early summer to fall, its compact plant habit of medium stature, its large broad leaves, its red stems, and its resistance to wind and rain damage.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Helichrysum plant named ‘Harvest Fire’ that originated as a controlled cross. The new variety is distinguished from Helicyrhsum bracteatum (Vent.) and all other members of the genera known to the inventor by: the color of it inflorescence and buds, in combination with the ability of its immature inflorescence to develop under indoor light conditions, the resistance of its stems to bending, the resistance of its leaves to scorching, a very compact growth habit, and the ability of its lower buds to develop when the upper inflorescence is cut off without the plant becoming excessively large. The new variety further possesses the following commercially and aesthetically desirable characteristics of resistance to the rood disease Pythium, its puberlent leaves, its ability to grow well in pots, and the ease with which it can be forced to flower for sale in the autumn, and its long-lasting inflorescences.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Campanula portenschlagiana plant named ‘PKMP07’, characterized by having compact, upright plant habit; dense and bushy plant form mainly due to more upright stems; vigorous growth habit and no need for chemical growth retardation; greater number of flowers per plant, large upright violet flowers, no need for vernalization; and pollen-free.

Abstract: A new distinct cultivar of Campanula plant named ‘WHITE ROYAL’ characteristics by it's upright and compact plant habit with a dense and bushy plant form; vigorous growth rate and no need for chemical growth retardation; many uniform and white flowers and dark green leaves; and good flower longevity on plant.

Abstract: A new distinct cultivar of Gentiana scabra plant named ‘GENTO’, characterized by (1) upright to outward, compact and uniform plant habit; (2) moderate vigor; (3) globular plant shape, measuring about 11 cm in height and 20 cm in diameter; (4) uniform and freely branching with both basal and lateral branching; (5) yellow-green, RHS 146B, stems, measuring about 8 cm in length and 2 mm in diameter, and strong in strength that can support flowers without drooping; (6) about 35-45 flowers per plant, each flower measuring about 45 mm in depth and about 35 mm to 4- mm in diameter, and with a mature, upper petal surface color of violet-blue, RHS 96B, with small stains of yellow-green, RHS 144A; and (7) earlier production time to produce flowering plant.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Tiarella plant characterized by large palmately-lobed leaves, with the terminal lobe the longest, a trailing habit, broad, dark brown markings following the veins, and excellent vigor.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for completing the commissioning of a subsea pipeline by purging with a compressed gas to dewater and dry the line wherein the operation is done on the seabed. More specifically, the method is carried out with a subsea vechicle (hereinafter “SV”) that powers pumps located on the seabed or are carried by the SV to inject/remove chemical, dewater, and dry, the pipeline. The present invention may be part of the commissioning of a new or old pipeline or a new portion of a pipeline in which a purging of the line with a compressed gas and drying of the line is required. After commissioning, product flows through the pipeline.

Abstract: This invention provides a dynamical quantity sensor having a novel structure, wherein first beams 3, 4, 5, 6 are extended from side walls of a recess 2 of a substrate 1, and an intermediate support member 7 is disposed on the first beams 3, 4, 5, 6. Second beams 8, 9, 10, 11 extending in a direction crossing substantially perpendicularly the first beams 3, 4, 5, 6 are disposed on the intermediate support member 7, and a weight 12 is disposed on the second beams 8, 9, 10, 11. Opposing electrodes 17 and 19 and opposing electrodes 18 and 20 are used as electrodes for excitation, and opposing electrodes 13 and 15 and opposing electrodes 14 and 16 are used as electrodes for detecting an angular velocity. The movement of the weight 12 resulting from the application of the angular velocity is detected.

Abstract: This invention is directed to improve a wear resistance and a damage resistance required for a rail of a sharply curved zone of a heavy load railway, comprising more than 0.85 to 1.20% of C, 0.10 to 1.00% of Si, 0.40 to 1.50% of Mn and if necessary, at least one member selected from the group consisting of Cr, Mo, V, Nb, Co and B, and retaining high temperature of hot rolling or a steel rail heated to a high temperature for the purpose of heat-treatment, the present invention provides a pearlitic steel rail having a good wear resistance and a good damage resistance, and a method of producing the same, wherein a head portion of the steel rail is acceleratedly cooled at a rate of 1° to 10° C./sec from an austenite zone temperature to a cooling stop temperature of 700° to 500° C. so that the hardness of the head portion is at least Hv 320 within the range of a 20 mm depth.

Abstract: A plastic conveyor belt module with a unitary sideguard. The sideguard extends upward perpendicularly from the top conveying surface of a plastic module body. The sideguard extends longitudinally along the conveying surface with a leading edge laterally offset from a trailing edge. Wedge-shaped indentations formed at the leading and trailing edges allow the sideguards of leading and trailing belt modules in a conveyor belt to mesh and to overlap without interference as the belt backflexes.

Abstract: An excitation system for heating food, water, or both in airplanes uses induction heating. The system includes at least one load circuit including an inductor that is excited with a load circuit AC voltage, a load circuit alternating current, or both the load circuit AC voltage and the load circuit alternating current. The load circuit AC voltage, the load circuit alternating current, or both the load circuit AC voltage and the load circuit alternating current are generated from an AC voltage signal that is amplitude-modulated with a frequency of a mains AC voltage from a voltage supply. The frequency of the AC voltage signal can be predetermined.

Abstract: On implementation of the invention provides a stackable chip-scale package for improving memory density that may be mounted within a limited area or module. A novel staggered routing scheme enables the use of the same trace routing at every level of the stacked architecture for efficiently accessing individual memory devices in a chip-scale package stack. The use of a ball grid array chip-scale package architecture in combination with thermally compatible materials decreases the risk of thermal cracking while improving heat dissipation. Moreover, this architecture permits mounting support components, such as capacitors and resistors, on the chip-scale package.

Abstract: An occupant knee protection system for a vehicle (10) has an airbag (11), which is folded and stored in a part of a vehicle, inflate and deploy in front of the occupant's knees by gas supplied from an inflator (12), so as to protect the occupant's knees. The airbag (11) has in its inside a tether (11c) (gas flow dividing portion whose front and rear end portions are connected to front and rear walls (11a, 11b) of the airbag (11), both walls being arranged in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, so as to appropriately regulate a longitudinal thickness (D) of the airbag (11)) for dividing a gas flow from the inflator (12) in right and left directions of the vehicle.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus includes a first liquid crystal display panel, a second liquid crystal display panel smaller in area than the first liquid crystal display panel. A flat backlight has an optical waveguide and a point light source placed near one side surface portion of the optical waveguide, and is placed between the first liquid crystal display panel and the second liquid crystal display panel. One reflecting layer is placed at least between the flat backlight and the second liquid crystal display panel.

Abstract: Polygonal data input in a first step is subjected to evaluation in which all edges of the polygon data are ranked in importance on the basis of a volume change caused by removal of that edge. The edges are sorted on the basis of an evaluation value in a third step. In a fourth step, the edge of a small evaluation value is determined to be an edge of a small influence on the general shape and is removed. In a fifth step, a new vertex is determined from the loss of vertex by the edge removal. In a sixth step, a movement of texture coordinates and a removal of the texture after the edge removal are executed on the basis of the area change of the texture due to the edge removal by a predetermined evaluating function. In a seventh step, by repeating the processes in the second to sixth steps, a polygon model approximated to a desired layer can be obtained.

Abstract: A method for illumination-independent change detection in a pair of original registered gray images based on blob extraction. Blobs are extracted from the two original images and their negatives, using an enhanced blob extraction algorithm based on connectivity analysis along gray-levels. Blobs extracted from the first original and negative images are compared with blobs extracted from the second original and negative images to determine whether each blob has a corresponding blob, i.e. whether it is a matched or unmatched blob. All unmatched blobs are tested for significance as “blobs of change” using a fitness measure based on either a ratio of saliency gradients, or a product of this ratio and a gradient distribution measure.

Abstract: This invention provides a novel wavelength-separating-routing (WSR) apparatus that uses a diffraction grating to separate a multi-wavelength optical signal by wavelength into multiple spectral channels, which are then focused onto an array of corresponding channel micromirrors. The channel micromirrors are individually controllable and continuously pivotable to reflect the spectral channels into selected output ports. As such, the inventive WSR apparatus is capable of routing the spectral channels on a channel-by-channel basis and coupling any spectral channel into any one of the output ports. The WSR apparatus of the present invention may be further equipped with servo-control and spectral power-management capabilities, thereby maintaining the coupling efficiencies of the spectral channels into the output ports at desired values.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for accomplishing a requested operation selectively based upon features of other equipment between equippments connected through a digital interface such as the IEEE 1394.

Abstract: A transonic turbine blade. Expansion waves are generated by a lifting surface on the blade. The expansion waves extend downstream, through a shock generated at the trailing edge of an adjacent blade. The invention increases the strength of the shock, thereby attenuating the expansion waves passing through the shock. One stratagem for increasing the shock is to reduce the aerodynamic load of the trailing edge generating the shock.

Abstract: A compressor includes a normally open discharge valve assembly for controlling compressed refrigerant flow from the discharge chamber through the compression members. This controlling of flow results in an increased performance for the compressor by reducing recompression volume and the elimination of reverse rotation at shut down. The discharge valve assembly includes a valve seat, a valve plate and a valve stop secured within a recess formed within the compressor with a wave ring retainer. The valve stop and the valve seat include a contoured surface that is engaged by the valve plate when it opens and closes. The contoured surface controls the movement of the valve plate.

Abstract: A liquid crystal dispensing apparatus and a method of controlling a liquid crystal dropping amount are provided to drop liquid crystal onto a substrate corresponding to at least one unit panel area. In one aspect, the apparatus uses a liquid crystal dispensing unit to dispense liquid crystal. The liquid crystal dispensing unit includes a nozzle having a discharging hole through which the liquid crystal is dropped onto the substrate, a needle moveable between a down position in which the needle blocks the discharging hole and an up position in which the needle is separated from the discharging hole, a spring member to bias the needle toward the down position, and a solenoid coil to provide a magnetic force to move the needle to the up position. The dropping amount liquid crystal dispensing unit may be electrically controlled by controlling the solenoid coil or by controlling a gas pressure used to drive the liquid crystal through the discharging hole.

Abstract: The present invention provides adenoviral vectors comprising cell status-specific transcriptional regulatory elements which confer cell status-specific transcriptional regulation on an adenoviral gene. A “cell status” is generally a reversible physiological and/or environmental state. The invention further provides compositions and host cells comprising the vectors, as well as methods of using the vectors.

Abstract: A mobile communication system includes a plurality of radio base stations forming respective radio zones and a mobile station selecting a wait zone and a base station to which a request for a message channel is to be issued. Each of the plurality of radio base stations is assigned an order of priority. Information relating to the order of priority is used by the mobile station to select a wait zone and a base station to which a request for a message channel is to be issued.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds of Formula I or II, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or prodrug, thereof: which inhibit serine protease activity, particularly the activity of hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3-NS4A protease. Consequently, the compounds of the present invention interfere with the life cycle of the hepatitis C virus and are also useful as antiviral agents. The present invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the aforementioned compounds for administration to a subject suffering from HCV infection. The invention also relates to methods of treating an HCV infection in a subject by administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compounds of the present invention.

Abstract: This invention provides compounds of formula I having the structure wherein G1, G2, R1, R4, Z, n, and X are defined in the specification or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof which are useful as antineoplastic agents and in the treatment of polycystic kidney disease.

Abstract: A composition including 2-hexyl cyanoacrylate and gold is useful in treating arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and other body lumens to be blocked.

Abstract: An implant includes a pressure sensor, a controller for acquiring pressure data from the sensor, and an acoustic transducer for converting energy between electrical energy and acoustic energy. A capacitor is coupled to the acoustic transducer for storing electrical energy converted by the transducer and/or for providing electrical energy to operate the implant. The acoustic transducer may operate alternatively or simultaneously as an energy exchanger or an acoustic transmitter. During use, the implant is implanted within a patient's body, and an external transducer transmits a first acoustic signal into the patient's body, to energize the capacitor. The implant then obtains pressure data, and transmits a second acoustic signal to the external transducer, the second acoustic signal including the pressure data.

Abstract: A seal for use in a surgical instrument to provide a gas-tight seal with an instrument passed through the seal. The seal can form a gas-tight seal with an instrument having a diameter within a wide range of diameters. The seal comprises a seal body, an instrument seal, and a laterally-compliant seal mounting device. The seal body includes a bore through which the instrument is passed. The instrument seal is made of an elastic material and is disposed substantially perpendicular to the axis defined by the bore in the seal body. The instrument seal includes an instrument port through which the instrument is passed. The laterally-compliant seal mounting device mounts the instrument seal to the seal body, forms a gas-tight seal between the instrument seal and the seal body, and allows the instrument seal to move freely laterally in response to lateral movement of the instrument.

Abstract: An endovascular bypass graft includes a tubular member, a first expandable mesh stent attached to one end of the tubular member, and a second expandable mesh stent attached to an opposite end of the tubular member. The second stent is provided with a plurality of fenestrations. The graft is inserted into a principal blood vessel such as the aorta and positioned in the vessel so that the fenestrations are aligned with junctions with ancillary blood vessels. The graft is attached to the principal blood vessel so that the fenestrations remain aligned with the respective junctions, thereby allowing blood flow between the principal vessel and the auxiliary vessels through the respective junctions upon completion of the bypass operation.

Abstract: A hair transplantation method and apparatus utilizes a robot, which includes a robotic arm, having a hair follicle effector associated with the robotic arm.

Abstract: There is a variety of media that may be inserted into a reading or writing device, such as CD's, USB drives, floppy disks, memory sticks, and many other devices. Media is inserted into a media reading or writing device that is in communication with a computer or network device. Upon insertion of the media, a number of metadata regarding that media is available to the computer. The trustworthy calculator is typically a plug-in software module that processes each piece of volume metadata and applies a weighed score, resulting in a Trustworthy Factor. A scoring matrix denotes ranges of values of the Trustworthy Factor into a Level of Trust Zone. Based on the Level of Trust Zone, appropriate action handlers may direct the computer to disallow the mounting of the media, may require specific authentication action to take place prior to allowing a mount of the media, or may indicate that the media may be mounted without further authentication.

Abstract: An energy absorbing device suitable for wearing by humans, or for use in a prosthetic device or robot is provided. The device including support structures which may conform to the contours of limbs, and have the capability of being removeably attached to the limbs. Plates are attached, either fixedly or slideably, to the support structures and adjacent ends of plates may be joined with a flexible link. As the limbs flex at a joint, the slideably attached plate slides to accommodate the rotational motion between the limbs at the joint.

Abstract: A disposable collar protector having an improved structure that allows for rapid and form fitting placement over a wearer's outer collar in surrounding relation with the neck is disclosed. A generally circular, thin sheet of flexible, preferably plastic, structure that includes a notches and cutouts that allow the device to be rapidly deployed into a collar protector while being placed around a person's neck. A radial slit originating at a peripheral edge and leading to a vertex of a generally triangular cutout. Additional slits further form a plurality of generally triangular flaps that may be tucked over the wearer's collar. The peripheral edge further preferably includes opposed peripheral notches that allow the collar protector to drape over the wearer's shoulders. The present invention thus provides an inexpensive and disposable collar protector for use during cosmetology procedures.

Abstract: An athletic garment including a panel designed to reduce frictional and pressure drag around an appendage of an athlete competing in a high-speed event, such as running and cycling. The panel is positioned to encircle the appendage, and is provided with regions having different surface texture roughnesses. The leading edge of the panel includes texture designed to enhance the laminar boundary layer, while the adjacent portion of the panel includes texture intended to trip the boundary layer to turbulent flow. The drag-reducing panel may be the cuff of a sock, a sleeve, wristband, a headband, or the like.

Abstract: A system for placing a disposable sweatband on a variety of hats comprises the steps of attaching an adhesive tape with a backing paper to at least one longitudinal edge of the sweatband, for affixing to the hat in use. The adhesive tape can also be formed as an inner flap of the sweatband.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a garment (such as a short, shirt, pants and other garments) having a stretchable section preferably of neoprene, that provides for improved comfort and wearability. The other panels or fabric portions of the garment may be constructed of a relatively less stretchable or even a relatively inelastic material, and the stretchable portion is positioned in an “area of flex” of the garment (so that the stretchable portion can “stretch” when the wearer rotates limbs extending into the garment). Related methods are disclosed for garment fabrication and the like.

Abstract: A women's waistless and seamless clothing adherable underwear includes an oval pad made of a soft absorbent material, wherein the pad has double sided strips of adhesive tape with removable peel-off cover strips to attach to the inside crotch area of low slung clothing pants, such as tight pants, leotards or dungaree jeans facing upward to the skin and crotch of the wearer. The material is preferably a soft, non-woven, absorbent material. The underwear is particularly suited for women who wear tight pants, or low waist hip hugger pants, which widely reveal waist bands and seams of panty underwear, or expose underwear waist bands. The underwear is minimally intrusive and is attractive for women who like to wear jeans without underwear but who fear bacterial infection or exposure to clothing dyes or irritating stitching.

Abstract: A protective helmet, which includes a motion restrictor device, is disclosed which has at least one strut member associated with the helmet and a harness assembly, and the at least one strut member includes a locking assembly associated with the strut member, which upon a predetermined force being sensed by a force sensor or a predetermined amount of or rate of acceleration being sensed by an acceleration sensor, stops substantially all relative motion between the ends of the strut member and the predetermined force is substantially transferred from the helmet to the harness assembly.

Abstract: Swimming or diving goggles includes a lens unit including two viewing sections. A front face of each viewing section is a portion of a peripheral face of a cone. The cone has an apex and a bottom face, and the peripheral face extends between the apex and the bottom face. A spacing from a top face of each viewing section to a vertical axis passing through a center of the bottom face in the thickness direction is smaller than a spacing from a bottom face of the viewing section to the vertical axis in the thickness direction. A normal plane perpendicular to each of the two viewing sections is at an acute angle with the vertical axis. Each viewing section is a curved face in a circumferential direction about the vertical axis. A frame mechanism is coupled to the lens unit and in intimate contact with eye sockets of a wearer.