Abstract: The invention provides an information appliance and a network appliance (or telephone) that function independently as well as with each other as companion appliances. The information appliance stores user information corresponding to a particular user. The telephone is linked to network. In some embodiments, the companion appliances are capable of simultaneously exchanging voice and data messages with devices connected to the network. The appliances are connected to each other physically through a communications port, and exchange data link layer formatted data corresponding to user personalized information, commands from the user, and responses including message status information corresponding to action of the network connected devices. The user information enables the telephone to perform network communications according to user specified settings, and enables the telephone to assume the user specific information appliance network identification.

Abstract: A method is provided for genotyping a target sequence at at least two allelic sites by a 5' nuclease amplification reaction. In one embodiment, the method includes performing a nucleic acid amplification on a target sequence having at least two different allelic sites using a nucleic acid polymerase having 5'.fwdarw.

Abstract: A platform for holding a plurality of modules or printed circuit boards wherein the platform or chassis contains shutters placed over airflow openings in the platform. The shutters are normally closed and are opened by the act of inserting a module into the platform. The shutters are in the closed position in all slots not occupied by a module and are in the open state in all slots populated by a module. The shutters open as the module is inserted and close when the module is removed. The closed shutters prevent airflow from passing through the unpopulated slots and empty space within the platform, thus forcing the airflow to pass through the space in which the modules are present. The platform also comprises a means of controlling the number of fans that are operational in accordance with the number of modules installed in the platform. The fans closest to the modules inserted into the platform are operational while fans close to unpopulated slots are turned off.

Abstract: A modified universal exhaust gas oxygen sensor, referred to herein as a CEGA sensor, is provided which can be used to measure the concentration of a variety of components of a gaseous fuel emission including CO, CO.sub.2, O.sub.2, H.sub.2, and H.sub.2 O. The CEGA sensor employs at least one additional electrode on a ceramic substrate which possess a different catalytic activity relative to the electrodes that normally found on a UEGO sensor. The ceramic substrate may be made of any suitable ceramic and is preferably made of zirconia. The difference in catalytic activity between the additional electrode(s) and the electrodes native to the UEGO sensor create an oxygen gradient which enables a measure of combustion completeness to be calculated. In combination with an air/fuel ratio measured by the sensor, the concentrations of different components in the emission can be calculated.

Abstract: A detector for use in a transcription system comprising: a signal receiver for positioning adjacent a writing surface and for receiving a position signal transmitted from a stylus when the stylus is positioned adjacent the writing surface, the signal receiver producing a timing signal in response to receiving the position signal; and a signal focussing element having a reflecting surface which is shaped and oriented relative to the signal receiver to reflect the position signal transmitted from the stylus onto the signal receiver.

Abstract: The present invention provides a modular architecture for connecting a plurality of telephone lines to a computer network. The invention binds a plurality of network access servers together so that they form a single system image to clients dialing into the plurality of network access servers. The invention operates by providing a tunneling mechanism for communication between the network access servers. The tunneling mechanism facilitates packet re-forwarding so that a call dialed into a physical port in a network access server can be re-forwarded through a logical port in another network access server. This allows a call to be routed through a physical port in a network access server even if no logical port is available in the network access server. Packet re-forwarding also allows multilink connections through physical ports in multiple network access servers to be routed through a single logical port in a network access server.

Abstract: A modified solid support for use in solid phase synthesis which comprises:a solid support having a linker group extending therefrom having the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, fluorine, chlorine, iodine and bromine.

Abstract: Two solutions are provided for optimizing the algorithm used by the local node in calculating the route to a destination node. A first method optimizes the route calculation by associating a port/link information with the PTSEs received by the node. The association is made using the first PTSE to arrive from an originating node. The routing algorithm is then steered to begin routing to a destination using the associated port/link. A second method optimizes the route calculation by utilizing a special PTSE termed a ROUTE.sub.-- PTSE into which is placed the route the PTSE takes upon being flooded from the creating node to the local node. When routing, the local node traverses the DTL already existing in the ROUTE.sub.-- PTSE received from a particular originating node that is the current destination node.

Abstract: A method for printing signs by printing a first ink layer directly on one face of a transparent substrate; applying an intermediate layer over the first ink layer; and printing a second ink layer directly on the intermediate layer.

Abstract: An optical switch utilizing WDM or DWDM techniques for use in both WAN and LAN environments. Each input to the switch is assigned a separate wavelength via a tunable transmitter. The output of the transmitters are input to a star coupler which combines all the optical signals into a single optical output signal. This signal is input to an optical demultiplexor which functions to split the incoming optical signal into a plurality of separate wavelengths with each wavelength steered to a particular output port. The output of each port, corresponding to a particular wavelength, is then converted into an electrical signal by a receiver. Unicast, broadcast and multicast calls are supported. A plurality of unicast connections can be established simultaneously by assigning each tunable transmitter a different wavelength such that all wavelengths are mutually exclusive with each other.

Abstract: A display matrix is provided comprising a plurality of display elements, each display element including a pixel, and a display circuit electrically connected to the pixel and at least partially positioned outside of a footprint of the pixel, the display circuit including a plurality of memory cells, and a selector continuously electrically connected to more than one of the plurality of memory cells, the selector outputting to the pixel data from one memory cell at a time.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical formulation is provided for delivering paclitaxel in vivo comprising: water and micelles comprising paclitaxel and a pharmaceutically-acceptable, water-miscible solubilizer forming the micelles, the solubilizer selected from the group consisting of solubilizers having the general structuresR.sub.1 COOR.sub.2, R.sub.1 CONR.sub.2, and R.sub.1 COR.sub.2,wherein R.sub.1 is a hydrophobic C.sub.3 -C.sub.50 alkane, alkene or alkyne and R.sub.2 is a hydrophilic moiety. The solubilizer is selected such that it does not have a pKa less than about 6.

Abstract: A catheter is provided for performing gene therapy on a selected section of a body lumen. The catheter comprises a distal catheter body including one or more expandable members for occluding sections of the body lumen proximal and/or distal to the selected section of the body lumen; a gene therapy composition delivery lumen connected to one or more gene therapy composition delivery ports at the distal catheter body for delivering a gene therapy composition to the selected section of the body lumen, the gene therapy composition delivery lumen housing a gene therapy agent; a washing lumen connected to one or more washing ports for delivering fluid to wash the selected section of the body lumen; and an ultrasound transducer for delivering ultrasound energy to the selected section of the body lumen.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for performing a lateral flow assay. The method includes depositing a sample on a test strip at an application region, detecting a first detection signal arising from the test strip in the first detection zone, and generating a baseline for the first measurement zone by interpolating between values of the detection signal outside of the first measurement zone and inside of the first detection zone. The method may include locating a beginning boundary and an ending boundary for the first measurement zone on the test strip. Additional detection zones having measurement zones may also be incorporated with the embodiment.

Abstract: A container is provided for the storing of light sensitive exposed storage layer radiation screens. The container includes walls defining an interior volume, an aperture in one of the walls sized to allow entry of a storage layer radiation screen, a screen receiving surface adjacent to the aperture which is shaped to direct a dropped screen into and through the aperture into the interior volume, an interior dark section of the container within which light exterior to the container cannot reach, and an interior guiding section that is shaped to direct a screen dropped through the aperture to come to rest in the interior dark section. A method is provided for storing light sensitive exposed storage layer radiation screens.

Abstract: A kit is provided for testing a gas produced from a sample for an absolute amount of a hydrogen sulfide. The kit includes a vessel for receiving the sample to be tested. The vessel includes one or more gas flow passages through which gas within the vessel can leave the vessel. The kit also includes one or more testing tubes. Each testing tube includes a lumen through which gas can flow. The lumen includes a column of medium observable from outside the testing tube and has a length which changes in appearance in proportion to the amount of hydrogen sulfide which has passed through the testing tube. Graduations are included on the one or more testing tubes for indicating the length of the column of medium whose appearance has changed. The kit also includes a coupling mechanism for coupling the one or more testing tubes with the one or more gas flow passages such that gas leaving the vessel passes through the one or more testing tubes.

Abstract: A method based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and oligonucleotide ligase assay (OLA) reaction is provided for analyzing complex genetic systems in a single reaction vessel. The method involves simultaneously incubating a sample containing one or more target polynucleotides with PCR primers and OLA probes in a single reaction mixture. The presence of variant polynucleotide sequences in the sample is determined by detecting and identifying the products of the OLA reaction.

Abstract: A detector assembly comprising: a first signal receiver for receiving position signals transmitted from a stylus of a transcription system; a second signal receiver for receiving the position signals transmitted from the stylus; and a member coupling the first and second signal receivers, the coupling member being capable of adopting two or more configurations where a distance between the first and second signal receivers changes in at least two of the configurations.

Abstract: An externally guidable intervertebral disc apparatus manipulates disc tissue at a selected location of an intervertebral disc. The apparatus comprises a catheter having a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis. The catheter has an intradiscal section at its distal end. The intradiscal section is extendible into the disc, has sufficient rigidity to be advanceable through the nucleus pulposus and around the annulus fibrosus of the disc under a force applied longitudinally to the proximal end, has sufficient flexibility in a direction of the disc plane to be compliant with the inner wall, and has insufficient penetration ability to be advanceable out through the annulus fibrosus under the applied force. A thermal energy delivery device is located in the intradiscal section for preferentially heating the selected location of the disc. The apparatus is used to locally and controllably heat but not char or burn tissue in a disc. Such heat shrinks the collagen component.

Abstract: A booster comprising a plenty of microbubbles of a gas in a liquid, e.g. about 4.times.10.sup.7 cells/ml of microbubbles of a gas having a diameter of 0.1 to 100 .mu.m in a 3 to 5% human serum albumin solution, and a pharmaceutical liquid composition comprising the booster as set forth above and a medicament, which are useful for the therapy of various diseases together with exposure of ultrasonic, where the therapeutic effects of the medicament is enhanced by the application of ultrasound in the presence of the booster.