Abstract: An activation device for supplying an electrical signal to a lamp in response to an outside force comprising a hollow tube, a ball placed within the hollow tube, the ball of a diameter less than the diameter of said hollow tube, a piezo device including a piezo bender coupled to an end of the hollow tube, wherein the outside force produces movement of the ball such that the ball traverses the tube to strike the piezo bender thereby producing an electrical signal; and means for using said electrical signal to activate the lamp.

Abstract: A video file server includes an integrated cached disk array storage subsystem and a plurality of stream server computers linking the cached disk storage system to the data network for the transfer of video data streams. The video file server further includes a controller server for applying an admission control policy to client requests and assigning stream servers to service the client requests. The stream servers include a real-time scheduler for scheduling isochronous tasks, and supports at least one industry standard network file access protocol and one file access protocol for continuous media file access. The cached disk storage subsystem is responsive to video prefetch commands, and the data specified for a prefetch command for a process are retained in an allocated portion of the cache memory from the time that the cached disk storage subsystem has responded to the prefetch command to the time that the cached disk storage subsystem responds to a fetch command specifying the data for the process.

Abstract: Controlled release devices are shaped and placed in locations through which insects and/or other cold blooded animals generally enter an area or a structure sought to be protected. The controlled release devices include a polymeric matrix and a pesticide contained in the matrix. The pesticide is gradually released out of the matrix to the surface of the device. The pesticide on the surface of the device kills the intruding insects or other cold blooded animals that come in contact with the pesticide. In addition, if the device is in contact with a permeable structure or object, the pesticide released onto the surface of the device is absorbed by such permeable structure or object to provide a barrier to entry by the insects and/or other cold blooded animals.

Abstract: Disclosed are nucleic acid segments comprising synthetically-modified genes encoding Coleopteran-toxic B. thuringiensis .delta.-endotoxins. Also disclosed are methods of using these genes for the recombinant expression of polypeptides, the preparation of vectors containing the genes, and methods for transforming suitable host cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for constructing bottom pads, or bench pads, as well as for padding a pipeline during construction. To pad the bottom of a pipeline, a padder is removably attached to one end of a conventional excavator or other base machine or vehicle, whereby a portion of the padder is inserted in the backfill and extracts padding material of a maximum predetermined size.

Abstract: A common mode signal attenuator includes a magnetic core, and a communications cable having at least one conductor adapted to transmit a communications signal. The communications cable is magnetically coupled to the core to form an inductive element having a magnetic flux path passing through the core. The inductive element has a volt-time capacity of at least about 0.0001 volt-seconds.An electrical transient suppression system includes an electronic device having a ground path, a communications cable, and a magnetic core. The communications cable has at least one conductor adapted to transmit a communications signal and is connected to the electronic device. The communications cable is magnetically coupled to the core to form a common mode signal attenuator having an inductance of about at least 10 times the inductance of the ground path.A method for reducing electrical transients in a communications cable includes magnetically coupling the communications cable to a magnetic core.

Abstract: The invention relates to modified oligonucleotide primers used to adjust the amplification efficiency of an abundant target without affecting the amplification of other targets in a DNA synthesis reaction. The invention may be used in PCR.TM. or any other primer dependent DNA transcription technology.

Abstract: A modified atmosphere package includes first and second compartments separated by a partition member that is substantially permeable to oxygen. The first compartment contains an oxygen scavenger activated with an oxygen scavenger accelerator. The second compartment contains a retail cut of raw meat. Various techniques are employed to rapidly reduce the oxygen level in the second compartment below pigment sensitive levels so that the growth of metmyoglobin is inhibited. Some of these techniques increase the flow of oxygen from the second compartment to the first compartment through the partition member to a level inhibiting the formation of metmyoglobin in the raw meat.

Abstract: Methods and structures for pad reconfiguration to allow intermediate testing during the manufacture of an integrated circuit are disclosed. The methods and structures disclosed are particularly useful in testing an embedded subcircuit, such as a memory array within an embedded chip product. A bond pad reconfiguration etch and other means for reconfiguring a bond pad are also disclosed.

Abstract: It was found that normal human stem cells produce a regulated non-processive telomerase activity, while cancer cells produce a processive telomerase activity. Nucleotide analogs, such as 7-deaza-2'-deoxyquanosine-5'-triphosphate (7-deaza-dGTP) were found to be substrates for processive telomerase and incorporated into telomeric sequence. The incorporation of this nucleotide subsequently affected the processivity of telomerase, converting processive telomerase to non-processive telomerase. The incorporation of this nucleotide analogs was also found to inhibit formation of G-quartets by telomeric sequence. Other methods for converting cancer processive telomerase to the more benign non-processive telomerase include partially cleaving the telomerase RNA.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the temperature of a gasification reactor using an optical pyrometer is disclosed. In one embodiment the apparatus may include a feed injector adapted to receive light conduits. The feed injector (2) includes a feed injector tip (6) having an opening, the feed injector tip being in fluid communication with a feed inlet (8) and a flange connector (4), the flange connector being in optical alignment with the opening of the feed injector tip. A blind flange (10) should be sized to fit on the flange connector of the feed injector and thereby form a gas pressure resistant seal. A pressure sealing gland (12) is fitted in the blind flange such that a light conduit (22a or 22b) can pass through the blind flange and that the receiving end of the light conduit extends into the feed injector such that the light receiving end of the light conduit is in optical alignment with the opening of the feed injector tip.

Abstract: The present invention details methods for the treatment of cancer. In particular it concerns the induction of apoptosis in cancer cells following treatment with inhibitors of DNA repair in combination with p53. Treatment of glioblastoma and breast tumor cells with inhibitors of DNA repair induced growth suppression that was a result of p53-mediated apoptosis. Thus it appears that inhibitors of DNA repair in combination with p53 is involved in restoration of p53-mediated apoptosis.

Abstract: A method of verifying whether unprogrammed antifuses are leaky in a semiconductor memory. The method involves the steps of: connecting the antifuse in series with a node; providing current to the node, the current being sufficient to charge the node from a first to a second voltage; detecting whether the voltage at the node charges to the second voltage, or remains at the first voltage to indicate that the antifuse is leaky; outputting signals indicating the result of the detection; and detecting the voltage at the node remains at the first voltage indicates that the antifuse is leaky. In another embodiment, a method of verfying whether antifuses have been programmed properly in a semiconductor memory.

Abstract: A periodic multi-bit digital signal is synthesized having a frequency that is specified by the frequency of a periodic reference signal that is asynchronous with respect to a sampling clock of the periodic digital signal. In a digital video system, for example, a digital color subcarrier is synthesized and synchronized to a reference frequency of a crystal oscillator that is asynchronous with respect to a digital system clock for the digital video system. The periodic digital signal is generated by an adjustable digital oscillator clocked by the sampling clock. The frequency or phase of the periodic digital signal is compared to the frequency or phase of the periodic reference signal to produce an adjustment value for adjusting the periodic digital signal to synchronize the periodic digital signal with the periodic reference signal. The digital oscillator, for example, generates the periodic digital signal at the sampling rate by periodically incrementing an accumulator with the adjustment value.

Abstract: Data processing for novel form of relationship management links, supervises, and balances depositors, marketing agents, financial intermediaries, mortgage brokers, and borrowers in an inflation-adjusted financing program. Funds are deposited in participating financial institutions in return for certificates of deposit yielding a fixed rate of interest, plus principal growth at a yearly rate equal to that year's rate of growth in the Consumer Price Index-All Urban Consumers, All Items. Funds on deposit are loaned to borrower, either directly or through brokers, at a rate calculated by adding three components: a fixed debt service rate, a fixed constant interest rate, and an inflation factor interest rate which reflects the effects of inflation on the outstanding loan balance.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for screening nucleic acids for mutations by analyzing nonrandomly fragmented nucleic acids using mass spectrometric techniques and to procedures for improving mass resolution and mass accuracy of these methods of detecting

Abstract: The present invention provides a planar light beam orientation device comprising a light source, a beam disperser, and a housing coupled to the light source and holding the beam disperser. The housing is configured to have a beam aperture configured to project a planar beam of light therefrom. The planar light beam orientation device of the present invention is capable of projecting a 360.degree. planar beam of light. The device is particularly useful in the orienting and reorienting of dental casts in a dental surveyor.

Abstract: A second stage healing abutment for forming and preserving in the mucosa above a dental implant a transmucosal opening large enough to receive an artificial tooth that faithfully replicates a natural tooth being restored, and a companion transfer coping having identical transmucosal portions for forming in a laboratory model a faithful replica of the transmucosal opening made of a resilient gingiva replicating material in which to fabricate the artificial tooth, and methods of using the same.