Abstract: A seashell collecting and crushing apparatus includes a collection device having a hollow body and an inlet for introducing seashells into the hollow body. A fan assembly is operable to provide a suction airstream for drawing seashells into the hollow body. A crusher is positioned to receive seashells from an outlet of the collection device and pulverize the seashells received from the collection device into a fine particulate matter releasable through an outlet of the crusher. The fan assembly and the crusher are driven by a common driving arrangement. A method includes using the apparatus for removing seashells from the beach using the suction airstream to introduce seashells through the inlet into the hollow body, separating the seashells entering the hollow body from the suction airstream, pulverizing the seashells into a fine particulate matter using the crusher and exhausting the fine particulate matter through the outlet of the crusher.

Abstract: An inertial gas-liquid impactor separator and method is provided, including multiple stages and multiple variable flow controllers.

Abstract: A continuous, fully automated and highly productive system for the production of open core elements utilizes a fluting method and related apparatus effective for providing large pitch flutes for the input webs used in forming the core elements. A wide variety of core elements can be produced for uses ranging from large light weight building panels to small light weight packing elements.

Abstract: A cone crusher includes a stationary main shaft and an eccentric that rotates about the main shaft to cause gyrational movement of a head assembly to crush rock within a crushing gap. The cone crusher includes a lower head bushing in contact with an outer surface of the eccentric. The eccentric is formed with a contact pad to enhance the contact between the eccentric and the lower head bushing during a no-load condition. The contact pad includes a contact surface that is recessed from the outer surface of the eccentric to enhance contact during no-load conditions while maintaining full contact between the lower head bushing and the eccentric outer surface during full load, crushing conditions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a set of genes differentially expressed in chemotherapy and radiation resistant tumors useful in predicting response to therapy and assessing risk of local-regional failure, survival and metastasis in cancer patients. Also disclosed are methods for characterizing tumors according to gene expression and kits for use in the methods of the invention.

Abstract: This invention discloses 2-methylene-(17Z)-17(20)-dehydro-19,21-dinor-vitamin D analogs, and specifically 2-methylene-(17Z)-17(20)-dehydro-19,21-dinor-1?, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, and pharmaceutical uses therefor. This compound exhibits relatively high transcription activity as well as pronounced activity in arresting the proliferation of undifferentiated cells and inducing their differentiation to the monocyte thus evidencing use as an anti-cancer agent and for the treatment of skin diseases such as psoriasis as well as skin conditions such as wrinkles, slack skin, dry skin and insufficient sebum secretion. This compound also has significant calcemic activity in vivo having about the same bone calcium mobilization activity and intestinal calcium transport activity as the native hormone 1?,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, and therefore may be used to treat autoimmune disorders or inflammatory diseases in humans as well as renal osteodystrophy. This compound may also be used for the treatment or prevention of obesity.

Abstract: A method for tracking motion and shape changes of a deformable model in a volumetric image sequence. The method is operable to predict the surface of a space from a 3D image, such as cardiac structures from a 3D ultrasound. The shape and position of a deformable model is predicted for each frame of an ultrasound image. Edge detection is then performed for each predicted point on the deformable model perpendicular to the model surface. The distances between the predicted and measured edges for the deformable model are measurements for a Kalman filter. The measurements are coupled with noise values that specify the spatial uncertainty of the edge detection. The measurement data are subsequently summed together in information space and combined with the prediction in the Kalman filter to estimate the position and deformation for the deformable model. The deformable model is then updated to generate an updated surface model.

Abstract: A system for the delivery of a liquid anesthetic agent to a sump of an anesthetic vaporizer includes a filler assembly rotatable about a pivot point. The filler assembly further includes a sump valve that controls fluid communication between the filler assembly and the sump. An adapter is coupled with the filler spout and includes a sealing surface that forms a seal against fluid communication between the anesthetic bottle and the adapter. The filler assembly, the filler spout, and the adapter are rotated about the pivot point along the rail. The rotation of the filler assembly, the filler spout, and the adapter about the pivot point opens the sump valve and the seal between the adapter and the anesthetic bottle.

Abstract: This invention discloses 2-methylene-20(21)-dehydro-19-nor-vitamin D analogs, and specifically 2-methylene-20(21)-dehydro-19-nor-1?,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, and pharmaceutical uses therefor. This compound exhibits relatively high transcription activity as well as pronounced activity in arresting the proliferation of undifferentiated cells and inducing their differentiation to the monocyte thus evidencing use as an anti-cancer agent and for the treatment of skin diseases such as psoriasis as well as skin conditions such as wrinkles, slack skin, dry skin and insufficient sebum secretion. This compound also shows lower activity in vivo on bone calcium mobilization and similar in vivo intestinal calcium transport activity compared to the native hormone 1?,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, and therefore may be used to treat autoimmune disorders or inflammatory diseases in humans as well as renal osteodystrophy. This compound may also be used for the treatment or prevention of obesity.

Abstract: A portable drywall joint compound pump workstation has a joint compound supply reservoir with an open top and closed bottom removably attached to a wheeled framework. The workstation further has a pump assembly including a pump control removably connected to the framework for pumping joint compound from the supply reservoir to a workstation outlet extending from the pump control. The pump assembly includes a high pressure cylinder connected to a valve and quick coupling arrangement which, in turn, is in communication with the supply reservoir through the bottom end thereof. A discharge line extends between the high pressure cylinder and the pump control for feeding joint compound from the supply reservoir to the pump control. A first discharge port is provided on the pump control for continuously feeding a variety of drywall finishing tools. A second discharge port is provided on the pump control for supplying wash down water to clean tools or act as a source of high pressure fluid.

Abstract: A variable resistor network has a coarse resistance network and a fine resistance network connected in series with the coarse network. The coarse resistance network comprises a chain of series-connected resistors any one or more of which may be switched out of the series by individual parallel-connected relays. The fine network comprises a shunt resistor together with a fixed resistor and a series-connected adjustable resistor together connected in parallel with the shunt resistor. A control circuit is arranged to control the relays for the switching of the resistors of the coarse network and also to control adjustment of the adjustable resistor. A chosen resistance value can be set by appropriate switching of the coarse network and adjustment of the adjustable resistor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) within a patient having a naso-enteric tube. The system senses the IAP of the patient by means of a sensing conduit that is filled with a sensing fluid. The sensing fluid in the sensing conduit may be saline, water or feeding solution. After the sensing conduit is filled with the sensing fluid, the sensing conduit is elevated and a portion of the sensing fluid enters the patient. The remaining portion of the sensing fluid is related to the IAP and the IAP may be determined from the height of the sensing fluid within the sensing conduit.

Abstract: A product is provided for forming separable interlocking napkin bands. The product includes a sheet having a plurality of die cut lines extending along a length and a width of the sheet, and a plurality of slits extending from certain of the die cut lines. The die cut lines define a plurality of separable napkin bands that can be separated from one another along the die cut lines, and individually secured into a cylindrical formation by interlocking the slits together. The sheet is adapted to be passed through a printer and desired information is printed on the napkin bands, after which the napkin bands can be separated from one another.

Abstract: 19-nor-vitamin D analogs having an additional dihydrofuran ring connecting the 1?-oxygen and carbon-2 of the A-ring of the analog, and pharmaceutical uses therefore, are described. These compounds exhibit selective in vitro and in vivo activities, making them therapeutic agents for the treatment or prophylaxis of autoimmune diseases, some types of cancers, secondary hyperparathyroidism, psoriasis, or other skin diseases.

Abstract: A wire feed station of a wire processing system draws a supply of wire into the system. The wire feed station includes first and second feed wheels that create a nip to pull the wire through the feed station. A drive assembly is coupled to the first and second feed wheels to cause rotation of the feed wheels. The drive assembly includes first and second drive shafts that are coupled to the first and second feed wheels through a pair of flexible couplings. The flexible couplings allow the first and second feed wheels to move relative to each other to adjust the feed nip. The flexible couplings allow a single drive motor to rotate the first and second feed wheels through a pair of drive shafts without the use of a complex belt or gear assembly.

Abstract: A floating physiological data acquisition system with expandable ECG and EEG. The data acquisition system for obtaining electrophysiological signals from a patient comprises a patient monitor and separate patient side acquisition units connectable to the patient monitor. Each of the patient side acquisition units comprises an analog-to-digital converter, a serial interface communicative towards a serial bus connecting the patient side data acquisition unit with the patient monitor, and a serial interface controller processor. Each of the patient side acquisition units further forms a part of a floating patient applied part of the data acquisition system.

Abstract: A filter is provided by pleated filter media having a plurality of pleats defined by wall segments extending axially along an axial direction along an axis and extending transversely along a transverse direction between first and second sets of pleat tips at first and second sets of axially extending bend lines. The pleated filter media spans laterally along a lateral span along a lateral direction, with the wall segments being spaced from each other by lateral gaps. The pleats have a pleat depth along the transverse direction along the wall segments between the first and second sets of pleat tips. The pleat depth varies as the pleated filter media spans laterally along the lateral direction.

Abstract: An interactive image projecting device that projects an image onto a display surface and controls the projected image based upon movement of the image projecting device or the detection of another image. The image projecting device includes a projector that generates an image from a control unit. The device includes a position indicating emitter that generates a position indicator and an image sensor that is operable to detect the position indicator from either the device including the image sensor or a position indicator from another device. Based upon the sensed position indicator from another device, the control unit operates to modify the image projected from the device such that the image from a first device can interact with an image from a second device. The first and second devices each have a wireless transceiver such that the devices can communicate with each other during operation.

Abstract: A conveyor frame assembly for use with a conveyor belt formed from individual links each joined together at pivot points. The conveyor frame assembly includes a drive assembly that pulls the conveyor belt around a drive roller to transition between the upper and lower runs of the conveyor belt. The drive end includes a support block that encloses the side edges of the conveyor belt as the conveyor belt transitions over the drive sprockets. The side frame members each include a continuous retaining channel having a height greater than the thickness of the conveyor belt. The retaining channels formed on opposite sides of the conveyor frame assembly allow the lower run of the conveyor belt to “tent” by creating an angle between adjacent links of the conveyor belt assembly. The tenting of the lower run of the conveyor belt eliminates catenary sag.

Abstract: A method of producing a security document or article including a substrate (100), which is transparent at least to visible light, and a diffractive optical microstructure (112). The method includes applying an opacifying layer (102) to at least one surface of the transparent substrate (100). An area of the opacifying layer (102) is exposed to laser radiation (108) to ablate apertures (110) in selected portions of the opacifying layer (102), thereby forming a diffractive optical microstructure (112) on the surface of the substrate (100). The laser radiation may be patterned prior to exposing the opacifying layer (102), for example by passing the radiation through a mask (104). Alternatively, a focussed or collimated laser beam (206) may be directed onto the selected portions of the opacifying layer (102). Laser radiation may be directed onto the opacifying layer (102) either directly, or through the transparent substrate (100).