Abstract: A piezoelectric device includes a piezoresonator body (3) having opposing first and second surfaces and opposing third and fourth surfaces. The device also includes at least one common electrode (8) disposed on the second surface (15) and electrodes (4a, 4b) disposed on the first surface (14) in pairs along a first longitudinal axis. The device further includes contact elements (5) disposed on the third (16) and the fourth (17) surfaces at contact locations along the first longitudinal axis and aligned between each pair of excitation electrodes. In the device, the piezoelectric body has a first order natural resonance frequency (?1) along a second longitudinal axis and an even order natural resonance frequency (?2) along the first longitudinal axis, where a percent difference between ?1 and ?2 is greater than 0% and less than or equal to 20%.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the invention provides a multi-color illuminating back light structure comprising a light guide, a reflector, at least one LED and a wavelength converter material. Micro-structures are formed on a first surface of the light guide. The reflector is attached to the first surface of the light guide. A wavelength converter material is deposited on a second surface of the light guide. At least one LED is optically coupled to at least one side of the light guide. A portion of light reflected from the micro-structures and the reflector is converted into light having at least one wavelength different from the wavelength of the reflected light. The light leaving the wavelength converter material comprises light with at least first and second wavelengths.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an analyzer (1) which includes a placement part (11) for placing an analysis piece, and a photometric measurer (7) for photometric measurement of the analysis piece (2). In the analyzer (1), the placement part (11) holds the analysis piece (2) in such a way that a row of reagent pad (20) on the analysis piece (1) lie in right-and-left directions (D3, D4). The photometric measurer (7) is farther from a front than the placement part (11). The analysis piece (2) placed on the placement part (11) is conveyed from front toward rear (Direction D1), with the row of reagent pads (20) laid in right-and-left directions (D3, D4), toward the photometric measurer (7).

Abstract: A tearaway sheath assembly (100) having a splittable sheath tube (102) a splittable hub (110), a splittable valve (150) and a split cap (180). The valve (150) is of the elongated duckbill type and having a slit (158) almost completely across the distal end wall (154) such that two diverging sides (156) of the distal valve portion may be moved apart during insertion therethrough of a dilator or a catheter. A two-part cap (180) is affixed to the hub proximal end (120) and traps a seating flange (168) of the valve between itself and a seating groove (136) of the hub. Pairs of opposed gaps (184,122) of the cap (180) and the hub (110) are aligned with frangible sections or seams (108) of the sheath tube (102) and frangible sections (172) and slits (166) of the valve, facilitating splitting of the assembly (100) when desired by the practitioner to peel it away from the inserted catheter.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for facilitating communication of data. A method includes communicating data including prioritizing a block of data, setting an indicator in a header of the block of data, transmitting the block of data, and retransmitting the block of data. The indicator indicates that reliable delivery of the block of data is desired. The indicator is set based at least in part on a rule. The indicator is set on a per-message basis. The block of data is retransmitted when a predetermined time has elapsed and when an acknowledgement of delivery of the block of data has not been received.

Abstract: A portable electronic device implements a location-dependent security protocol. Without requiring that the user enter any location information, the device determines one or more familiar areas. When a user attempts to access the device or an application of the device. The device will implement a first authentication process if the device is in one of the familiar areas, or a different authentication process if the device is not in one of the familiar areas. The second security rule may be more complex, or require more time, than the first security rule.

Abstract: An adjustable sanitary impellor hub device having a hub, a tapered, split collet, a locking collar and multiple seals. Impeller blades are attached to a hub that may be slid over an agitator shaft to a desired position. A tapered, split collet engages with a tapered inner cylindrical bore of the locking collar as the locking collar and hub are forced together, clamping the collet to shaft. At the same time, the outer surface of the locking collar engages with the hub, locking all three elements to the shaft. The multiple soft seals ensure that there are no dead spaces.

Abstract: A print system including a print head array configured to print ink onto a printable medium, a transport surface positioned adjacent to the print head array and configured to transport a printable medium past the print head array and a plurality of thin guides positioned between the transport surface and the print head array, the plurality of thin guides held in tension and configured to prevent edges of a printable medium from contacting the print head array as the printable medium passes under the print head array.

Abstract: A retroreflective device securable to a highway by bonding thereto preferably with a viscous strip applied to the highway prior to solidifying cure of the strip includes a generally globular glass central member, a desirably pigmented adhesive layer over the central member and a plurality of peripheral globular glass members connected to the central member by the pigmented adhesive layer. A method for fabricating the retroreflective device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for software development includes selecting a pre-defined software pattern, the pre-defined software pattern having one or more pre-defined elements, identifying one or more of the pre-defined elements to be modified, obtaining one or more behavioral models, each of the behavioral models specifying a functional behavior for at least one of the identified elements, ascertaining a modification required for each of the identified elements to provide the specified functional behavior, and incorporating the modification into an instance of the software pattern.

Abstract: A fire retardant thermally insulative, vandalism and damage resistant panel for the building exteriors includes a relatively low density foam layer having relatively high thermal resistivity, a relatively high density foam layer having relatively high impact strength and resistance to bending facingly contacting the low density foam layer, a porous fabric contacting the high density foam layer at a surface thereof facing oppositely from the low density foam, and a weather resistant, water impermeable exterior layer contacting the fabric at a surface facing in a direction opposite from where the high density foam contacts the fabric, where the high density foam substantially occupies at least parts of some of the pores of the fabric and the exterior layer material substantially occupies at least parts of at least some of the pores of the fabric such that sufficient pores of the fabric are filled with the high density foam, the exterior surface material and chemical reaction products thereof to create a bond be

Abstract: Biocompatible, bioresorbable polymers comprising a plurality of monomeric repeating units containing an amide group, wherein said amide groups are N-substituted and the N-substituent and degree of N-substitution are effective to lower the melt viscosity, the solution viscosity, or both, compared to the same polymer without N-substitution.

Abstract: A casting method and apparatus are provided capable of producing high-quality castings having extremely few defects attributable to entrainment of gas, oxide film and the like both economically and while conserving energy. The invention relates to a high-vacuum-suction casting apparatus for producing cast products by raising up molten metal and introducing the molten metal into a die above, having a holding furnace for retaining the molten metal, a die arranged above the holding furnace, a feeding tube for supplying the molten metal from the holding furnace to the die cavity, and a movable sealing member capable of opening and closing a space between the gate provided in a bottom of the die and the outlet of the feeding tube.

Abstract: Method and system for registration of a two dimensional image data set and a three-dimensional image comprising point cloud data. The method begins by cropping a three-dimensional volume of point cloud data comprising a three-dimensional image data to remove a portion of the point cloud data comprising a ground surface within a scene, and dividing the three-dimensional volume into a plurality of m sub-volumes. Thereafter, the method continues by edge-enhancing a two-dimensional image data. Then, for each qualifying sub-volume, creating a filtered density image, calculating a two-dimensional correlation surface based on the filtered density image and the two-dimensional image data that has been edge enhanced, finding a peak of the two-dimensional correlation surface, determining a corresponding location of the peak within the two-dimensional image, defining a correspondence point set; and storing the correspondence point set in a point set list.

Abstract: A method for preparing nanoscale hydroxyapatite particles by combining an amount of a calcium ion source, which includes calcium acetate, and an amount of a phosphate ion source, wherein the amounts are sufficient to produce nanoscale hydroxyapatite particles and the amounts are combined under ambient conditions to produce the hydroxyapatite particles. Nanoscale hydroxyapatite particles are also presented.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cytotoxic 7 to 25 mer peptide with three or more cationic residues which has one or more non-genetic bulky and lipophilic amino acids, as well as esters, amides, salts and cyclic derivatives thereof as well as methods of preparing the peptides, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use as medicaments, particularly as antibacterions or antitumoral agents. In a preferred aspect, the invention provides the use of said peptides in a method of inducing adaptive immunity against tumor growth or establishment in a subject, as well as the use of other lytic agents in a method of inducing adaptive immunity in a subject.

Abstract: Fragments of snapin important for interaction with cypin and thus regulating microtubule assembly are provided. Also provided are methods of use of said fragments and kits to facilitate said methods.

Abstract: The present invention provides cell populations that are enriched for mesendoderm and mesoderm, and cell populations that are enriched for endoderm. The cell populations of the invention are useful for generating cells for cell replacement therapy. The present invention further provides a method of generating hepatocytes, cell populations enriched for hepatocytes, and a method of hepatocyte replacement therapy.

Abstract: Conventional map information processing apparatuses have the problem of not being able to automatically provide appropriate information according to map browse operations. The present invention provides a map information processing apparatus, comprising: a map information storage portion in which map information, which is information of a map, can be stored; an accepting portion that accepts a map browse operation, which is an operation to browse the map; an operation information sequence acquiring portion that acquires operation information, which is information of an operation corresponding to the map browse operation; a keyword acquiring portion that acquires at least one keyword from the map information using the operation information; a retrieving portion that retrieves information using the at least one keyword; and an information output portion that outputs the information retrieved by the retrieving portion.

Abstract: A method and system for processing a job in a production environment includes a knowledge base containing multiple product intents. Each product intent includes parameter requirements and/or parameter restrictions for producing a finished product. The method and system receive a product description that includes desired properties of a proposed job, and use a semantic reasoning, system to infer which of the product intents in the knowledge base corresponds to the product description.