Abstract: The invention relates to a high-frequency system for an MR apparatus with a high-frequency coil arrangement comprising a plurality of resonator elements (104), which is connected to a transmit unit (106), where a respective transmit channel (1–8) of the transmit unit (106) is assigned to the resonator elements (104). In order to provide a high-frequency system of this kind at low cost, by means of which a high frequency field can be generated in an examination volume (100) with a field distribution that can be preselected flexibly and variably, the invention proposes that the transmit unit (106) is equipped with a plurality of high-frequency amplifiers (107), the inputs of which can receive low-power transmit signals via a first controllable multiplexer/distributor network (108), in which the output signals of the high-frequency amplifiers (107) can be distributed over the transmit channels (1–8) via a second controllable multiplexer/distributor network (109).

Abstract: A birdcage coil (16) used in conjunction with a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a first conductive loop (81, 581), a second conductive loop (82, 582), and a plurality of first conductor rungs (80, 580) disposed between the first and second conductive loops. A third conductor (83, 83?, 583) is coupled to the second conductive loop at resonance frequencies, such as by second conductor rungs (84, 84?, 584). The birdcage coil also includes switches (590) for switching the birdcage coil at least among: 1) an RF transmit mode to operate as an RF transmit coil; and 2) an RF receive mode to operate as an RF receive coil.

Abstract: The subject of the present invention is a bacterial composition having immunomodulation properties comprising at least one strain selected from the group consisting of Lactobacillus acidophilus PTA-4797, Lactobacillus plantarum PTA-4799, Lactobacillus salivarius PTA-4800, Lactobacillus paracasei PTA-4798, Bifidobacterium bifidum PTA-4801 and Bifidobacterium lactis PTA-4802. An other subject of the invention is an immunomodulation method comprising the step of using the at least one strain selected from the preceding group.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for rating a welding electrode and/or for ranking two or more electrodes with respect to gas tracking effects in gas shielded flux cored arc welding processes. The methods involve performing a standardized welding process using an electrode of interest to create a test weld on a workpiece with a linearly varying contact to work distance in the process, measuring a distance from the beginning of the weld to a point at which gas tracking is first observed, and rating an electrode or ranking several electrodes according to the measured distance.

Abstract: A controller is disclosed for control operations in underground mining, especially for controllers to control support shields. The controller utilizes a central unit with a microprocessor and assigned, programmable memory devices for the storage and processing of software as well as a connector unit with connectors or circuits for communication between the controller and other controllers and/or actuators, sensors or the like, that are to be controlled with the controller. Both the central unit and the connector unit utilize a modular design. A collection of modules with different performances and/or functionalities are provided for both the central unit and the connector unit to form the hardware of a controller. The modules can be combined with one another and coupled together according to a modular concept.

Abstract: A coating device (10) for coating a metal strip (12) in a metal melt (14) includes a shaft (16,18) that is rotatable in the metal melt (14) for guiding the metal strip (12), and a slide bearing (261, 262) for supporting the shaft (16,18). The slide bearing (261, 262) is formed by a bearing housing (32) and a bearing bushing (34) that has several pairs (361–364) of bearing surfaces and is configured so as to be circumferentially closed. The bearing bushing (34) is adapted to be set in selected rotational positions in circumferential direction in the bearing housing (32). A releasable bearing bushing fixing element (40) locks the bushing in each of the selected rotational positions with respect to the bearing housing (32). Thereby, a worn pair (361–364) of bearing surfaces can be simply replaced by a non-worn pair (361–364) of bearing surfaces by a rotation of the bearing bushing.

Abstract: In a database apparatus (10), a critical database server (12) includes a primary server (20) supporting a primary database instance and a secondary server (22) supporting a secondary database instance that mirrors the primary database instance. The secondary server (22) generates an acknowledgment signal (60) indicating that a selected critical database transaction (42) is mirrored at the secondary database instance. A plurality of other servers (14, 16, 18) each support a database. A data replicator (30) communicates with the critical database server (12) and the other servers (14, 16, 18) to replicate the selected critical database transaction (42) on at least one of said plurality of other servers (14, 16, 18) responsive to the acknowledgment signal (60).

Abstract: A method for sizing an overflow chamber (46) in a mold (32) for the die casting of metals is disclosed. The method includes the steps of simulating a pressure of molten metal (30) in a main cavity (42) of the mold (32) and calculating the volume of the overflow chamber (46) from parameters yielded by the pressure simulation. A mold (32) defining overflow chambers (46) is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polymeric a fuel composition comprising (i) a fuel; and (ii) a polymeric compound; wherein the polymeric compound comprises at least one monomer unit of Formula I wherein R1 is H or a C1-10 hydrocarbyl group; wherein L is an optional C1-30 hydrocarbyl linker group; and wherein heterocycle is an optionally substituted heterocyclic ring.

Abstract: A LED symbol signal with LEDs arrayed to correspond to a desired symbol. A mask defines the desired symbol. A diffusion surface on the cover diffuses the display aspect, obscuring the individual LEDs. The mask is spaced a distance from the diffusing surface. The more aggressive the diffusion pattern the closer the mask is spaced to the diffusion pattern. Preferably, the ratio of the pitch of the optical elements to the width of the symbol at the diffusion surface is less than 1:2, preferably less than 1:4, more preferably less than 1:6 and most preferably approximately 1:10.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for characterizing a welding consumable, such as flux or an electrode, and/or for comparing two or more welding consumables for use in narrow gap deep groove welding operations, including creating test welds on fixtures having joint grooves of various angles for a given groove depth, followed by controlled standardized non-aggressive slag removal operations, and quantification of the amount of slag remaining in the groove, wherein the welding consumables are each characterized using the same fixtures, welding conditions, workpiece groove depths, groove angles, and removal operations, to construct a set of results, such as a table or rating, by which the individual welding consumables can be rated and/or a determination can be made as to which of two consumables provides superior performance with respect to ease of removal in deep groove welding operations.

Abstract: An electric arc welder with a waveform generator controlled to create a welding process involving current flow between an electrode and a workpiece wherein the welding process comprises a succession of pulse waveforms, each having a current ramp up portion, a peak current portion, a current ramp down portion and a background current portion, a voltage sensing circuit to sense a short circuit between the electrode and the workpiece and a reset circuit to reset the waveform generator upon sensing of a short circuit. The preferred electrode is a solid wire which may be in the form of a metal cored wire.

Abstract: An ink set for reducing intercolor bleed and a multi-colored ink jet printing process utilizing the same is provided. The ink set comprises a black ink composition and a plurality of color ink jet ink compositions comprising a colorant and an ink vehicle. The ink vehicle of at least one of the color inks matches the ink vehicle of the black ink. An ink set may also be a hybrid ink set comprising a black/color ink subset that includes a black ink composition and at least one color ink composition, and a color/color ink subset that includes a plurality of color ink compositions, wherein the ink vehicle of the color ink composition(s) in the black/color ink subset matches the ink vehicle of the black ink composition and the ink vehicles of at least one of the color inks in the color/color subsets match the ink vehicle of another color ink in the color/color ink subset.

Abstract: A dielectric material prepared from a siloxy/metal oxide hybrid composition, and electronic devices such as thin film transistors comprising such dielectric material are provided herein. The siloxy/metal oxide hybrid composition comprises a siloxy component such as, for example, a siloxane or silsesquioxane. The siloxy/metal oxide hybrid composition is useful for the preparation of dielectric layers for thin film transistors using solution deposition techniques.

Abstract: A thienylene-arylene polymer comprised of a repeating segment containing at least one 2,5-thienylene unit selected from (I) and (II), and from about one to about three arylene units selected from (IIIa), (IIIb), and/or (IIIc) wherein R is an alkyl or an alkoxy; R? is halogen, alkyl, or alkoxy, and a and b represent the number of Rs.

Abstract: A method, system and article of manufacture for two phase intermediate query security using access control. A networked client-server computer system having a plurality of users of the client-server system and including software performing database queries via a DBMS for users of the system implements the method. The method includes receiving a query string from one of the users by the client system, the query string including references to database objects. The received query string is transformed by the client system to an intermediate query string, and a first phase query security is performed by the client system including identifying the referenced database objects and inserting a security marker into the intermediate query string for each respective identified database object, and sending the intermediate query string to the server system.

Abstract: A retaining device holds a PCB to a heat sink that has channels for receiving the retaining device. The retaining device includes a body having portions configured for receipt into the channels of the heat sink and moveable tabs and protuberances protruding away from a first surface of each moveable tab. A method for holding the PCB to the heat sink is disclosed. A lighting assembly that includes the retaining device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for mounting a flexible material sign to a billboard structure includes a plurality of tensioning clamps affixed to the billboard structure. Each of the plurality of clamps includes a bracket adapted to be secured to the billboard structure and an adjustable J-bolt moveably secured to the bracket. The J-bolt includes a hooked section for passing through and hanging the flexible material sign to the billboard structure. To tautly mount the flexible material sign to the billboard structure, the brackets are secured to the billboard structure with fasteners. The hooked sections of the J-bolts are passed through the sign to hang the sign from the billboard structure. The J-bolts are adjusted relative to the bracket to hang the sign a preselected distance from the billboard structure and to apply a tension to the sign to maintain a desired tautness of the sign.