Abstract: A light source assembly comprises a dielectric body having an exterior surface and a light source mounted coaxially proximate an end of the dielectric body. A first electrical lead of the light source provides an electrical lead at an end of the dielectric body distal the solid state light source and a second electrical lead thereof provides an electrical lead at the periphery of the dielectric body. A resilient member improves electrical contact of the second electrical lead at the periphery.

Abstract: A tensioner comprises inner and outer collars engaging a blade holder and a housing. A torsion spring between the collars tensions a blade. One of the collars engages the housing, such as by a locking handle, for fixing the spring tension. The housing may serve to shield the tensioner from debris.

Abstract: An ion mobility spectrometer is described in which the reaction-ionization chamber and/or the ion drift chamber are constructed with one or more single-piece glass tubes. The inner surface of the tube is rendered electrically conductive by thermal and/or chemical treatment thereof. The glass tube(s) are used in place of the stack assemblies of metal and ceramic annular components that typically used in such devices. The use of the glass tube(s) provides a significant reduction in the number of parts used in such spectrometers, simplification in their manufacture, and improvements in their performance and reliability.

Abstract: A method for reading ballots comprises reading/imaging each ballot transported on a transport path including reading/imaging orientation indicia and a jurisdiction identifier thereof and voting selections marked thereon; determining from the orientation indicia the orientation of each ballot; processing the jurisdiction identifier for each ballot for selecting a template; and recording the voting selections marked on each ballot in accordance with the selected template and the determined orientation of the ballot.

Abstract: A seat track mechanism for a vehicle seat, comprises a pair of substantially parallel movable rails attached to the vehicle seat, a pair of substantially parallel stationary rails attached to a floor section of a vehicle, the movable rails being combined with the stationary rails so as to be slidable along the stationary rails, and shutter members for covering the stationary rails, the shutter members being movably supported to the stationary rails so as to pass around one ends of the stationary rails, around the other ends of the stationary rails, and then under bottom portions of the stationary rails, the shutter members having openings, and the movable rails being combined with the stationary rails through the openings of the shutter members.

Abstract: A one piece tongue stabilizing device formed of a resiliently flexible material and comprises a body having a hollow interior within which the end of a user's tongue fits and is held by negative pressure. The body of the device comprises an entry portion having an opening to the hollow interior of the device and a bulb portion connected by a narrower diameter neck portion. Tabs extend from the bulb portion which in use engage the exterior of the user's face around the user's mouth or between the user's teeth and lips, to hold the tongue forward to assist in opening user's airway and reducing snoring. A major benefit of the device of the invention is that it does not require specialist fitting or the taking of upper and lower jaw impressions of the patient to produce a tailored device for the patient.

Abstract: Disclosed is a class of compounds which inhibit the enzymatic conversion of fructose-lysine into fructose-lysine-3-phosphate in an ATP dependent reaction in a newly discovered metabolic pathway. According to the normal functioning on this pathway, fructose-lysine-3-phosphate (FL3P) is broken down to form free lysine, inorganic phosphate and 3-deoxyglucosone (3DG), the latter being a reactive protein modifying agent. 3DG can be detoxified by reduction to 3-deoxyfructose (3DF), or it can react with endogenous proteins to form advanced glycation end-product modified proteins (AGE-proteins). Also disclosed are therapeutic methods of using such inhibitors to treat glycogen storage diseases, including Fanconi's syndrome, as well as other pathological conditions resulting from the formation of AGE-proteins.

Abstract: A seat back frame for a vehicle seat includes first and second side members spaced apart from each other, each of the first and second side members being made of ultra-high tensile strength steel, the first side member having a first longitudinal body of a substantially U-shape in cross-section, the first longitudinal body comprising a pair of first spaced apart flange sections and a first main plate section interconnecting the first spaced apart flange sections, the first side member having a first upper region and a first lower region, the second side member having a second longitudinal body of a substantially U-shape in cross-section, the second longitudinal body comprising a pair of second spaced apart flange sections and a second main plate section interconnecting the second spaced apart flange sections, the second side member having a second upper region and a second lower region, an upper member arranged between the first and second upper regions of the first and second side members, the upper member b

Abstract: A game board device for directing body movements in games, exercise, or physical therapy. It employs a support frame of side-by-side modular units of relatively the same size and shape supporting a continuous matrix of contact surfaces supported in a common plane. The contact surfaces in the adjacent frames are arranged in a coordinated matrix of adjacent surfaces that are illuminatable in various colors. The contact surfaces are illuminated normally one at a time so as to cue sequential steps in a random pattern and at varying speeds in a game or predetermined patterns and adjustable speeds in exercise or therapy. Control of the sequential illumination may be manually or by a program by manually operated device or by computer. It is preferred that the individual frames be hindged to permit folding for storage and transportation.

Abstract: A composition for facilitating delivery of biological agents, comprising a supramolecular complex including as constituents a block copolymer, having at least one nonionic, water soluble segment and at least one polyionic segment, and at least one charged surfactant having hydrophobic groups, the charge of the surfactant being opposite to that of the polyionic segment of the block copolymer. The constituents of the complex are bound by interaction between the opposite charges thereof and between surfactant hydrophobic groups. The complex may include an anionic surfactant having a biological activity, in which case the net charge of such anionic surfactant is no more than about 10.

Abstract: A recliner mechanism includes a housing, a cover having first gear teeth, latches movably arranged in the housing, the latches having inducting pins and second gear teeth, a cam disc having guide holes, the guide holes having first and second hole end portions, the inducting pins being inserted through the guide holes, an actuating shaft, the cam and the cam disc being integrally mounted on the actuating shaft, the cover being combined with the housing in a face-to-face relation with the housing so as to be rotatable relative to the housing, springs arranged in the housing for urging the cam so as to cause the second gear teeth of the latches to be engaged with the first gear teeth of the cover, a memory disc having controlling holes formed therein and spaced apart protruding pieces protruding therefrom, the controlling holes having first and second hole portions and middle hole portions, the inducting pins being inserted in the middle hole portions, and an applying plate mounted on the actuating shaft, the a

Abstract: A bin blender for mixing particulate solid materials, comprises a closable bin for containing the materials and having a non-circular cross-sectional shape, mounted for rotation of the bin about an axis extending across the interior of the bin, and an internal baffle extending within the bin at an angle of less than about 45° to the axis of rotation of the bin.

Abstract: A method for controlling operations of power seats for a vehicle, comprises the steps of moving a first seat toward a second seat by a first reversible motor, causing a seat cushion of the first seat to be tipped up, by a second reversible motor, relative to a seat back of the first seat which stands up, sensing loads which are applied to the first and second reversible motors, once stopping the driving of the first reversible motor, when excessive load of the first reversible motor is sensed during the movement of the first seat toward the second seat, thereafter returning the first seat to a position at which the excessive load of the first reversible motor is not sensed and stopping the movement of the first seat, once stopping the tipping-up of the seat cushion, when excessive load of the second reversible motor is sensed during the tipping-up of the seat cushion, and thereafter returning the seat cushion to an original posture thereof and stopping the movement of the seat cushion.

Abstract: A fabric cover generally corresponds to the shape of a selected table top and, when placed on the table top, exposes the table top, or any covering thereon beyond the peripheral edges of the fabric cover. Loop extensions periodically extend outward from the periphery of the fabric cover, at least to the edge of the table top and provide loops spaced from the periphery of the fabric cover for receiving ties. At least one decorative tie is fed through the loops and around the table top in decorative way so that adjacent ends of ties may be connected together in a decorative way between adjacent loop extensions. Various decorative detail may be added to the fabric cover and/or the extensions, such as embroidery or cut-outs, which may be left open or have an insert extending across part or all of the cut-out.

Abstract: A means of neutralizing the excess charge on workpieces, such as semiconductor wafers, that results from ion-implantation processes, wherein the excess positive charge on a small area of the workpiece surface is locally sensed, and in response, an appropriate dose of charge-compensating electrons is delivered from an electron emission source to the area of excess charge on the workpiece. A charge-sensing probe and a voltage-controlled electron generator array are configurationally and operatively coupled in a closed feedback loop, and are made to scan the surface of the workpiece, in close but non-contacting proximity to the workpiece. Arrays of charge-sensing probes and electron generator arrays can be configured for rapid coverage of the implanted areas of the workpiece. The present invention has significant advantages over other methods, such as plasma and electron showers and plasma flood systems, for neutralizing the excess charge due to ion implantation.

Abstract: The voting apparatus, system and method of the invention provides at least two independently means for recording and counting votes, i.e. one associated with the voting apparatus and one separate therefrom. A preferred voting apparatus, system and method provides triple data redundancy in that each vote is recorded by three independent and verifiable means: i.e. by recording in an electronic memory included in each voting machine or system, by recording in the memory of a smart card separate from the voting machine or system, and by a confirmatory printed record for each voter. The invention utilizes a voting session identifier to provide transparency of each and every vote and to maintain the anonymity of each and every vote and voter.

Abstract: A replaceable, electronically-isolated, MCP-based spectrometer detector cartridge with enhanced sensitivity is disclosed. A coating on the MCP that enhances the secondary electron emissivity characteristics of the MCP is selected from aluminum oxide (Al2O3), magnesium oxide (MgO), tin oxide (SnO2), quartz (SiO2), barium flouride (BaF2), rubidium tin (Rb3Sn), berrylium oxide (BeO), diamond and combinations thereof. A mass detector is electro-optically isolated the from a charge collector with a method of detecting a particle including accelerating the particle with a voltage, converting the particle into a multiplicity of electrons and converting the multiplicity of electrons into a multiplicity of photons. The photons then are converted back into electrons which are summed into a charge pulse. A detector also is provided.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a computer-aided method for the provision, identification and description of molecules exhibiting a desired behaviour, more particularly in the pharmaceutical sector, employing a molecular modelling step, a combinatorial library building step and a step of selecting potentially useful molecules, said method including a step whereby the candidate molecules are filtered using a dynamic filter representing constraints of conformational variations which the molecules must satisfy in order to exhibit said activity.