Abstract: An engine protection system and protocol is implemented within an electronic control module. Various engine parameters, such as engine coolant level, coolant temperature, transmission fluid temperature, and engine oil pressure are monitored and compared to limit values to determine if a fault condition exists as to one or more of the parameters. The engine protection system includes visual and audible signals responsive to the parameters. An engine disabling mechanism is operative when any of the aforementioned parameters exceed predetermined limits for a predeterminable period. The electronic control module contains a memory function for recording the fault parameters as well as other identifying information. The electronic control module also includes an engine idle limiter feature. The engine disabling means is operative when the vehicle idling duration exceeds a second predeterminable period.

Abstract: A thermal oxidation process is used to fill trenches with an oxide; however, the oxidation process consumes some of the silicon. The embodiments herein advantageously apply this tendency for the oxidation process to consume silicon so as to convert all the silicon substrate material between the multiple trenches into an oxide. Therefore, because all of the silicon between the multiple trenches is consumed by the oxidation process, the multiple smaller trenches are combined into a single larger trench filled with the oxide.

Abstract: A method and system for selectively controlling supplied power to an ink melt heater for maintaining a desired ink melt rate despite a varying ambient parameter affecting an actual melt rate. A predetermined amount of power is supplied to the ink melt heater intended to cause the desired ink melt rate. The ambient parameter is detected by the ink melt heater. A determination is made if the detected ambient parameter will cause a variance in the actual ink melt rate from the desired ink melt rate. If a variance is so determined, the supplied power is adjusted from the predetermined amount to an adjusted amount for realizing desired ink melt rate. The ambient parameter preferably comprises sensing a factor representative of at least one of local environmental air temperature to the printing system or adjacent ink temperature to the heat plate.

Abstract: An integrated respiratory monitor and imaging device apparatus (10) is provided. The apparatus is useful for establishing pre-operative and intra-operative breath hold congruency in patients and for other interventional work. The apparatus (10) includes a respiratory monitor system (12) and an imaging device (14). The respiratory monitor system is adapted to engage a patient and generate a respiratory signal representative of a breath hold level of the patient during a breath hold. The imaging device (14) is adapted to scan the patient during the breath hold and generate a volumetric image data set of the patient. The respiratory sensor and imaging device are operatively connected to associate the respiratory signal representative of the breath hold level of the patient together with the volumetric image data set of the patient. A data storage device (64) is provided for storing a set of respiratory signals in association with a corresponding set of volumetric image data sets in the subject apparatus (10).

Abstract: A system and method for welding with a first and second arc between a first and second electrode, respectively, and a common workpiece, where each of the electrodes is driven by a single power source, where there is a first inductor connected in series with the first electrode and a second inductor connected in series with the second electrode and each of the inductors has sufficient inductive reactance to store enough energy to maintain an existing arc associated with one of the electrodes for a selected general time with essentially no current to the one electrode.

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: 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 magnetic resonance imaging method for forming forms an image of an object from a plurality of signals acquired by an array of multiple receiver antennae, and in which spins are excited in a pail of the object. Slices (22) are selected with a predetermined field-of-view for scanning the object and are rotated uniformly over a predetermined angle. MR signals are measured along a predetermined trajectory containing a plurality of lines of slices in k-space by application of a read gradient and other gradients. Further slices (24) are shifted in a lengthwise direction obtaining a staggered arrangement such that the beginning and end of each slice are at least approximately within the area covered by the slices before rotation.

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: 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: 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 positive lock mechanism having a compression spring rod with a housing, a rod member having an inner end in said housing and an outer end axially outwardly of a housing end. One or more compression springs extend between a guide member and an end of the housing. A positive locking mechanism is provided to prevent movement of the rod member in a longitudinal direction. The lock mechanism is controlled by a wire and cable assembly operated by a lever.

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: 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).