Abstract: A conduit connector and method for coupling a plurality of conduit sections together. The connector includes a conduit body having a first inlet, a second inlet and an interior cavity extending between the first and second inlets. The conduit body is split longitudinally between the inlets into a front member and a back member. The connector also includes a locking system for securing the front and back members together. The method includes the steps of providing a pair of connector sections, one having spaced apart first arcuate stretches and the other having spaced apart second arcuate stretches. The arcuate stretches are each shaped and positioned to engage the exterior end of a corresponding conduit section.

Abstract: An optical microswitch comprising a support body and first and second output fibers carried by the body. A rotary electrostatic microactuator is carried by the body and extends in plane. A micromirror is disposed out of the plane. The microactuator has a mirror holder coupled to the micromirror and at least one comb drive assembly coupled to the mirror holder for driving the micromirror about an axis of rotation extending perpendicular to the plane between a first position for reflecting a laser beam to the first output fiber and a second position for reflecting the laser beam to the second output fiber.

Abstract: A lower frame structure of a foldable playyard comprises a hub being operable to lock the lower frame structure at an erected state and to unlock the lower frame structure to allow it to collapse to a collapsed state; four hub legs, one end portion of each of the hub legs being pivotally coupled to the hub such that the hub legs is capable of pivotal in a longitudinal direction of the hub between a erected position and a collapsed position; and a first L-shaped auxiliary supporting tube pivotally coupled to a first hub leg at a coupling end thereof and a second auxiliary supporting tube pivotally coupled to a third hub leg at a coupling end thereof and arranged such that the auxiliary supporting tubes may pivot in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the hub leg, whereby as the lower frame structure is extended to an erected state the hub legs and the first and second auxiliary supporting tubes form a substantially horizontal co-planar spread-out configuration with a leg portion of each of the auxil

Abstract: Pressurized portable solar heated shower having a flexible shower bag with first and second closed chambers on opposite sides of a flexible membrane enclosed within a flexible outer bag. Water is introduced into the first chamber, and a foot operated pump is connected to the second chamber for pressurizing the second chamber with air to expel the water from the first chamber through a flexible hose and shower head. When not in use, the shower bag is emptied, and the entire device can be folded into a relatively small package which is easily carried by campers, backpackers, boaters, and the like.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting a planarization endpoint of a semiconductor wafer planarization operation, which includes monitoring a motor current for at least one of a platen motor, a carousel motor and a head motor, performing a Fourier transform of the monitored current to identify periodic oscillations in the current, to ensure that undesirable oscillations in the monitored motor current are minimized, to provide better reliability and higher precision of end-point detection triggering.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for joining a first structure to a second structure. In one embodiment, a bridge 100 is provided for joining a movable structure 105 to a fixed structure 110. The bridge 100 includes a number of spaced apart extensible beams 115, each beam having a first end 125 pivotably and rotatably attached to the movable structure 105 and a second end 130 pivotably and rotatably attached to the fixed structure 110. Deck members 135 are supported by the extensible beams 115 in a substantially horizontal attitude, each of the deck members pivotably and rotatably attached to one of the beams whereby access is provided between the movable structure 105 and the fixed structure 110. In one version, the movable structure 105 includes a vehicle, such as a train, an automobile, a watercraft, an aircraft or a spacecraft. In another version, the movable structure 105 is a motion-base 230 of a simulator, amusement ride or a theater 235.

Abstract: Described herein are methods that can be used for diagnosis and prognosis of colorectal cancer. Also described herein are methods that can be used to screen candidate bioactive agents for the ability to modulate colorectal cancer. Additionally, methods and molecular targets (genes and their products) for therapeutic intervention in colorectal and other cancers are described.

Abstract: A blast nozzle apparatus which includes a circular inlet to an entry portion with converging top and bottom surfaces and diverging side surfaces which terminate in a throat portion and an outlet portion including diverging side surfaces and top and bottom surfaces terminating in a substantially rectangular outlet opening.

Abstract: A steel composition particularly useful for components of solid oxide fuel cells, for example a connector plate for collecting electrical current from a solid oxide fuel cell, consisting of, in weight percent, 18-28.5 Cr, 0.001-0.20 C, <0.1 Si, 0.005-0.10 Mn, <1.0 Ni, <0.25 N, <0.05 S, <0.08 P, <0.06 Al, <0.25 Additional Defined Metals, and 0.005-0.50 REM, wit the residue iron, excluding incidental impurities, where Additional Defined Metals is the sum of titanium, niobium, vanadium, molybdenum and copper, and REM is one or more of the rare earth metal elements in the group of the lanthanide elements 57 to 71, scandium and yttrium.

Abstract: The invention includes transformed plants having at least one cell transformed with a modified ETR nucleic acid. Such plants have a phenotype characterized by a decrease in the response of at least one transformed plant cell to ethylene as compared to a plant not containing the transformed plant cell. Tissue and/or temporal specificity for expression of the modified ETR nucleic acid is controlled by selecting appropriate expression regulation sequences to target the location and/or time of expression of the transformed nucleic acid. The plants are made by transforming at least one plant cell with an appropriate modified ETR nucleic acid, regenerating plants from one or more of the transformed plant cells and selecting at least one plant having the desired phenotype.

Abstract: A throttle gate valve (10) including an upright, generally rectangular valve housing (12), in which is positioned a linearly movable gate valve (32) for closing off a thru-opening (15) formed in the lower part of housing (12). A pneumatic actuator assembly (14) is provided for moving the gate valve between its opened and closed positions. A throttle vane assembly compartment (16) forms the lower side of valve housing (12) and frames thru-opening (15), and includes a set of throttle vanes (18) rotatably positioned within thru-opening (15), and a drive actuator compartment (20) and motor (21) for controlling the position of throttle vanes (18). A drive actuator (51) is provided for rotating vanes (18) and is sealed by a bellows shield (70) at the point where the drive actuator extends into the interior of the housing.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting a breath pattern of a breathing patient having lungs and a nose and mouth in communication with the lungs and breathing through the nose and/or mouth and creating an airflow into and out of the lungs. The apparatus comprises a sensor in close proximity to the face of the patient for detecting said airflow to provide a first channel of airflow information in an analog format. An analog-to-digital converter is provided for converting the first channel of airflow information in an analog format to a first channel of airflow information in a digital format. A filter is provided for filtering the airflow information in a digital format in the first channel of information to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the signal to provide filtered airflow information. An estimated volume airflow estimator operates on the filtered airflow information for estimating the amount of air volume inhaled and exhaled by the patient to provide a signal representing the estimated volume of air.

Abstract: A transducer suitable for ultrasonic applications, fluid drop ejection and scanning force microscopy. The transducer comprises a thin piezoelectric ring bonded to a thin fully supported clamped membrane. Voltages applied to said piezoelectric ring excite axisymmetric resonant modes in the clamped membrane.

Abstract: Nonvolatile memory cell and process in which a control gate or a thick dielectric film is used as a mask in the formation of a floating gate and also as a step in the formation and alignment of a select gate. The floating gate is relatively thin and has a side wall with a rounded curvature which, in some embodiments, serves as a tunneling window for electrons migrating to the select gate during erase operations. In other embodiments, the gate oxide beneath the floating gate is relatively thin, and the electrons tunnel through the gate oxide to the source region in the substrate below.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the selective covalent modification of nucleic acids with redox active moieties such as transition metal complexes. Electron donor and electron acceptor moieties are covalently bound to the ribose-phosphate backbone of a nucleic acid at predetermined positions. The resulting complexes represent a series of new derivatives that are bimolecular templates capable of transferring electrons over very large distances at extremely fast rates. These complexes possess unique structural features which enable the use of an entirely new class of bioconductors and photoactive probes.

Abstract: There is described a method of monitoring the fault gases in the headspace of a transformer and providing an indication of transformer conditions.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions and methods useful in the electrophoretic transport of target analytes to a detection electrode comprising a self-assembled monolayer (SAM). Detection proceeds through the use of an electron transfer moiety (ETM) that is associated with the target analyte, either directly or indirectly, to allow electronic detection of the ETM.

Abstract: Irreversible cysteine protease inhibitors based upon an alkene bond being conjugated to an electron withdrawing group are disclosed. The inhibitor structure also provides a targeting peptide which is specific for different cysteine proteases. The method of making the inhibitors, and methods of using the inhibitors to inhibit cysteine proteases and for therapy are disclosed.

Abstract: A mold with integral screen comprising a body of material having a surface, the body has a grid-like pattern of vacuum holes extending through the body of material and opening through said surface and permitting a vacuum to be supplied to said surface, a screen overlying said surface, said screen and said body being formed of the same material as the body and being integral.