Abstract: A granulated or pelletized composition of propylene homo and copolymers onto which are grafted grafting units of vinylpolybutadiene and further grafting units selected from polyalkenylenes, EPM and EPDM polymers, and mixtures thereof. The composition has a Shore D hardness value equal to or less than 35 and a fogging value equal to or greater than 90%. The composition is suitable for injection molding. A method of producing the granulated or pelletized composition comprising forming the composition by mixing the propylene homo and copolymers, vinylpolybutadiene grafting units and further grafting units with peroxide radical initiators, extruding the composition under heat and granulating the extruded polymer composite. An interior car door panel or interior car trim element having an outer skin made of granulated or pelletized forms of the composition.

Abstract: An improved voice activity detection system and method is provided for use in speakerphones and other voice activated systems. To facilitate switching between various operating modes, the voice activity detection scheme utilizes a new voice energy term which is based on an integral of the absolute value of a derivative of a speech signal. Voice activity is detected during a silence mode by comparing a first ratio of a current voice energy value to a background noise value with a voice activity threshold value. Voice activity is detected when the first ratio is greater than the voice activity threshold value. Another step involves identifying a direction of the voice activity during a transmit and receive mode by comparing a second ratio of a transmit path voice energy value to a receive path voice energy value with a transmit threshold value and a receive threshold value. When the second ratio is greater than the transmit threshold value, voice activity is present in the transmit path.

Abstract: A method and device for vaporization injection in which there is at least one constriction between the end of the sample injection needle or tube and the interior of the heated vaporization chamber. The terminal part of the needle or tube can be heated to improve nebulisation of the sample and therefore its vaporization speed.

Abstract: An electrical connection system for making patch cord connections that uses a hinged plug and jack mating system, wherein the system utilizes contact/engagement implementations that permit the plug and jack to mate on an arc. Specifically, blade and spring clip connectors are used that also result in low insertion forces and enhanced side to side stability for the patch cord connectors. The blade and spring clip connectors provide improved electrical performance and allow faster and more reliable connections. Moreover, a rotatable end structure is added adjacent to a jack cavity/engagement portion of a modular jack. A complementary rotatable end structure for the plug is also added. The plug is provided with curved engagement surfaces which permit the modular jack to mate in an arc with the plug.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of providing endovascular therapy. The steps include arranging optical fibers within a catheter, the catheter having a tip whose length is at least 1 cm and whose diameter of less than 1 millimeter, connecting an excimer laser to the optical fibers; and delivering laser energy from the excimer laser in excess of 60 fluence at 40 Hertz through the optical fibers. The delivering of the laser energy may be to non-calcified or calcified deposits of an atherosclerotic lesion to ablate the same. The method also includes the step of inserting the catheter through an artery by pushing the same until the tip is in within laser energy striking distance of the atherosclerotic lesion.

Abstract: In elemental analysers with a valve control system of inert gas and oxygen supply, which opens the oxygen supply at preset moments, with regard to the introduction of the sample into the combustion reactor, the oxygen supply is controlled by the detection, over time, of at least one of the parameters, whose variation is determined by flash combustion in the combustion reactor, closing the oxygen supply depending on said state over time. The parameters are brightness, temperature and pressure in the combustion chamber and/or pressure upstream the combustion chamber.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for dripping fluid to attract birds. The invention comprises a reservoir having an orifice and a tube extending therefrom. A valve is attached to the tube. The reservoir is filled with fluid which in turns passes through the orifice and tube, while the valve regulates the flow rate of the fluid through the tube. The invention has a receptacle beneath the tube to collect the fluid and a hanging mechanism for hanging the invention at the desired location.

Abstract: A fiber administration system and improved components for use in a fiber administration system. The fiber administration system includes at least one fiber distribution shelve that supports a plurality of optical connection ports. Each of the optical connection ports contains a sensor for detecting the presence of an optical coupling in that optical connection port. A systems controller is coupled to the sensor of each of the optical connection ports. Accordingly, the systems controller can automatically determine from the sensors whether or not an optical coupling is present in each of the optical connection ports.

Abstract: Provided herein is a novel and useful device and method for locally delivering and controllably releasing oxybutynin in the cervical region of a female. A device of the invention comprises a ring comprising trifluoropropylmethyl/dimethyl siloxane elastomer. A pharmaceutical composition comprising oxybutynin and an excipient is placed within a bore located in the ring, wherein the bore runs from the surface of the ring into the ring. The ring has a sufficient size such that it can be inserted into the vaginal canal of a female. A cap comprising is placed over the bore at the surface of the ring in order to contain the pharmaceutical composition within the bore. When the ring is inserted into the vaginal canal, the trifluoropropylmethyl/dimethyl siloxane elastomer controllably releases and locally delivers a therapeutically effective amount of oxybutynin to the detrusor muscle to treat the female's urinary incontinence.

Abstract: An assembly for use in a fiber administration system that retroactively adds a fiber location trace ability to the fiber administration system. The assembly includes an improved connector module that has a receptacle formed near a plurality of optical connector ports. An upgrade tracing module is provided that fits into the receptacle and attaches to the connector module. The upgrade tracing module contains a plurality of lights. When the upgrade tracing module is connected to the connector module, the lights of the upgrade tracing module or oriented near each of the optical connector ports. The upgrade tracing module connects to the systems controller of the fiber administration system through the connector module. As such, the systems controller of the fiber administration system is capable of selectively lighting the lights and identifying a specific optical connector port.

Abstract: This invention relates to a nutritional intervention composition in a dry power form for enhancing satiety prior to a meal and extending satiety after a meal in a calorically efficient fashion. The dry nutritional composition includes protein, caseinmacropeptides (CMP) or glycomacropeptides (GMP) or any hydrolysis product of GMP, long chain fatty acids, soluble and/or insoluble fibers. The dry nutritional composition includes protein in the range of 0.21% to 88.30%, glycomacropeptide in the range of 0.05% to 87.72%, oleic acid in the range of 2.2% to 97.25%, soluble fibers in the range of 0.19% to 79.05%, and insoluble fibers in the range of 0.19% to 79.05%. The composition may also include plant to saponins, calcium and cholestyramine.

Abstract: Inter-class schedulers for digital link systems provide high efficiency utilization of limited bandwidth by employing queuing techniques referred to as Statistical Priority Guarantee Queuing (SPGQ) and Generic Cell-Rate Algorithm Priority Guarantee Queuing (GCRA-PGQ). SPGQ “elevates” the priority of otherwise low-priority classes under prescribed circumstances in accordance with a statistical process. The SPGQ scheduler determines whether a number within a range produced by a uniform random number generator lies within a sub-range proportional to the programmed statistical guarantee for a given class. If the number lies within the sub-range associated with a given class, then the priority of that class is elevated to a higher priority when both are eligible to transmit. The GCRA-PGQ scheduler operates as a strict priority mechanism until a class requires bandwidth in excess of a GCRA “window” or threshold for that class.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and processes for producing borohydride compounds. In particular, the present invention provides efficient processes and compositions for the large-scale production of borohydride compounds.

Abstract: A nutritional composition for adding to food for enhancing and extending the satiety of the food by stimulating CCK levels in a calorically efficient manner and for reducing weight. The nutritional composition includes long chain fatty acids (C12 to C18) being in the range of 1.0 to 6.0 grams by weight of the composition; a calcium source being in the range of 1.0 to 4.0 grams by weight of the composition; potato fiber being in the range of 1.0 to 6.0 grams by weight of the composition; whey protein enriched with glycomacroprotein being in the range of 1.0 to 5.0 grams by weight of the composition; glucomannan fiber being in the range of 0.5 to 4.0 grams by weight of the composition; and alfalfa being in the range of 0.05 to 3.0 grams by weight of the composition. The food is selected from the group consisting of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

Abstract: Reliable branch predictions for real-time applications reduce both conditional branch execution time and uncertainties associated with their prediction in a computer implemented application. One method ensures that certain conditional branches are always correctly predicted, effectively converting them to jump instructions during program execution. Another method exploits the fact that some conditional branches always branch in the same direction within a task invocation, although that direction may vary across invocations. These methods improve computer processor utilization and performance.

Abstract: A apparatus and method for testing portion of an optical fiber network from various remote stations without having to have optical testing equipment at those remote stations. The system and method utilize a series of routers that are located at the central office and the remote stations of an optical fiber network. The routers are interconnected through a common optical pathway that is part of the optical fiber network. Testing equipment is located at the central office of the optical fiber network. Optical testing signals and command signals are forwarded to the router at the central office. The router at the central office multiplexes the signals and forwards the signals as an optical transmission passing between the central office and a remote station. The router at the remote station removes the multiplexed signal from the optical transmission.

Abstract: Construction of a Turbo code interleaver for blocks of any size is facilitated by partitioning the block into co-sets of predetermined size, permuting each co-set with an interleaver whose parameters are selected and optimized for the predetermined size, and recombining the elements of the permuted co-sets according to a predetermined order. Partitioning of the block into co-sets is accomplished by choosing a value n for the number of co-set, and assigning to each co-set those positions of the block having a common value for modulo-n of the block size. The permuted output may be punctured to maintain a desired ratio.