Abstract: A spare tire cover includes a cup-shaped hard top cover having a substantially cylindrical portion, an inner surface of which is provided with a plurality of inwardly directed projections arranged at predetermined circumferential intervals, a substantially cylindrical fixing plate having a plurality of holes for receiving the plurality of inwardly directed projections to secure the fixing plate to the top cover, and a flexible rear cover having a peripheral edge that is attached to the fixing plate.

Abstract: An apparatus for remote gas sensing comprising a light source, a photodetector, a gas cell containing gas or a zone through which the gas passes and through which light from the light source passes and is reflected back to the photodetector, wherein the light source, photodetector and gas cell are connected by a single polarization preserving optical fiber through which light from the light source passes to the gas cell, which light reflected back from the cell passes back through the optical fiber with a different polarization to that to the light transmitted by the light source. In one form the gas cell comprises a resonant optical cavity.

Abstract: Novel nucleic acid molecules encoding SA-binding proteins involved in SA-mediated disease resistance responses are disclosed. Methods of use of the nucleic acid molecules and proteins of the invention are also provided.

Abstract: A medication tracking and/or medical assistance device and method comprises an RFID tag coder for reading from and/or writing to an RFID tag. A processor and a memory process information read from an RFID tag to provide a message based thereon by a visual and/or an audible message.

Abstract: A molecularly flexible dielectric electronic substrate for receiving an electronic device has a modulus of elasticity less tan about 500,000 psi. The molecularly flexible dielectric substrate comprises one or more sheets or layers of a molecularly flexible dielectric adhesive having a modulus of elasticity less than about 500,000 psi and having patterned metal foil electrical conductors thereon. The molecularly flexible dielectric adhesive may have a low glass transition temperature and the ability to withstand soldering.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat back, a seat cushion, and a system for facilitating relieving of fatigue of a person sitting on the vehicle seat for many hours.

Abstract: A reflectron lens and method are provided. The reflectron lens comprises a tube having a continuous conductive surface along the length of the tube for providing an electric field interior to the tube that varies in strength along the length of the tube. The tube may comprise glass, and in particular, a glass comprising metal ions, such as lead, which may be reduced to form the conductive surface. The method includes a step of introducing a beam of ions into a first end of a dielectric tube having a continuous conductive surface along the length of the tube. The method further includes a step of applying an electric potential across the tube to create an electric field gradient that varies in strength along the length of the tube so the electric field deflects the ions to cause the ions to exit the tube through the first end of the tube.

Abstract: A holding appliance for use in bedding, includes a belt adapted to be wound around a bottom surface of a bed, two hook devices provided at both terminals of the belt, and two fastening devices for holding and fastening portions of a periphery of the bedding, the fastening devices being adapted to be caught by the hook devices. In accordance with an embodiment of this invention, there is disclosed a holding appliance for use in bedding, that includes a hook member adapted to be interposed and located between a bed base and a mattress on the bed base, and a fastening device for holding and fastening a portion of a periphery of the bedding, the fastening device being adapted to be caught by the hooking member.

Abstract: A reclining seat includes a seat cushion, a seat back pivotally mounted to the seat cushion, first and second locking mechanisms arranged at both sides of the seat for securing the seat back relative to the seat cushion, and a supporting shaft interconnecting the first and second locking mechanisms, the supporting shaft having first and second end portions, the first locking mechanism including a first actuating shaft for facilitating selective securing of the seat back relative to the seat cushion, the second locking mechanism including a second actuating shaft for facilitating selective securing of the seat back relative to the seat cushion, the first actuating shaft being rigidly or fixedly connected to the first end portion of the supporting shaft, and the second actuating shaft being connected to the second end portion of the supporting shaft so that the second actuating shaft and the supporting shaft are rotatable by a predetermined angle relative to each other.

Abstract: A detector for a coaxial bipolar time-of-flight mass spectrometer is described. The detector includes a microchannel plate, a scintillator disposed in parallel relation to said microchannel plate, and a mirror oriented at an angle relative to said scintillator. The angle of the mirror is selected to reflect photons given off by the scintillator in a direction substantially orthogonal to the scintillator. The microchannel plate, the scintillator, and the mirror each have an opening formed centrally therein. The detector according to this aspect of the invention also includes a transparent tube extending through the central openings formed in each of the microchannel plate, the scintillator, and the mirror. A photomultiplier tube is coupled to the detector for receiving photons reflected by the mirror. A coaxial bipolar time-of-flight mass spectrometer incorporating the detector is also described.

Abstract: Photomultiplier tubes with improved collection of incident radiation, especially from the periphery of the front face of the tube, and that more efficiently couple the collected radiation to the photocathode, and moreover have higher packing densities when assembled into arrays, resulting in enhanced imaging characteristics. The improvements in radiation collection and photomultiplier tube packing density are gained by a combination of several features including: tapering the edges of the faceplate so that the faceplate subtends an area as large or larger than any other cross-sectional area of the photomultiplier tube; forming the junction between the faceplate and metal tube on the underside of the faceplate, and in such a manner as to avoid obscuring the optical path between the incident radiation and photocathode; and utilizing the tapered edge of the faceplate as a reflector to couple radiation incident on the periphery of the faceplate to the photocathode.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat cushion which has a frame structure and a cushion member combined with the frame structure, the frame structure including a pair of spaced apart side frame members, a front frame member fixed to forward end portions of the side frame members, a connecting shaft extending between rearward end portions of the side frame members and interconnecting the rearward end portions of the side frame members, a plurality of zigzag springs stretched between the front frame member and the connecting shaft, the cushion member being laid on the zigzag springs, and retainers mounted on the connecting shaft, the zigzag springs being engaged at one terminals thereof with the retainer.

Abstract: A detachable seat for a vehicle, includes a seat cushion, a seat leg mechanism for supporting the seat cushion, the seat leg mechanism including a base member on which the seat cushion is carried, and first and second spaced apart leg members pivotally connected to the base member, a seat back pivotally mounted to the base member of the seat leg mechanism, a first cooperating mechanism on the first and second leg members and a vehicle floor for causing the seat to be releasably locked with the vehicle floor, and a second cooperating mechanism on the base member and the seat cushion for causing the seat cushion to be removably or detachably mounted with respect to the base member.

Abstract: A circular transducer array (30) is provided for use in recording a sound field. The array (30) comprises a plurality of microphones (31a–31h), a digital signal processor (33), frequency compensation filters (34) and a sum and difference network (35). The digital signal processor calculates the Fourier transform of sampled output signals from the transducers to produce a plurality of sound wave components specifying the sound field. The frequency compensation network (34) equalises each component using Bassel functions to flatten the apparent response of the array (30) and the sum and difference network (35) then combines the equalised components to provide a plurality of audio signals which represent the sound field.

Abstract: A weeder includes a longitudinal shaft having a predetermined length and a longitudinal bore, a chuck mechanism provided at a lower end portion of the longitudinal shaft for pinching and pulling out weeds in the ground, the chuck mechanism including first and second pinching members for pinching the weeds therebetween, a first remover member combined with the chuck mechanism for forcedly removing the weeds and/or mud from the first pinching member, a second remover member combined with the chuck mechanism for forcedly removing the weeds and/or mud from the second pinching member, an operating lever mechanism provided on an axis of the longitudinal shaft for actuating the first and second pinching members and the first and second remover members, and a towing wire inserted and extending within the longitudinal bore of the longitudinal shaft, and coupling the chuck mechanism and the operating lever mechanism.

Abstract: The application discloses markers associated with organ transplant rejection and associated conditions, and in particular provides materials and methods for the diagnosis, prognosis or treatment of chronic rejection of transplanted organ such as heart and kidney. Examples of the markers include ribosomal protein L7, ?-transducin, 1-TRAF (also known as TANK) or lysyl-tRNA synthetase, or antibodies against these antigens.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of calculating uncertainty in the system represented as two or more modules comprising the steps of passing uncertainty information from each module to at least one further module; and calculating uncertainty in the measurement result from the information exchanged between the modules. The invention also provides a method of propagating uncertainty in a measurement system and also provides related systems for calculating uncertainty and propagating uncertainty.

Abstract: An axial motor (100) driven by opposed pistons/cylinder (101a–105b, 111a–115b) pairs arranged in a circular array about a central axis of the motor (100). The opposed pistons (101a, 101b; 102a, 102b; 103a, 103b; 104a, 104b; 105a, 105b) in each pair are linked by a corresponding connecting rod (106–110), which transfers the thrust from the pistons (101a–105a) to an output shaft via a power transmission apparatus (300) and z crank (114) arrangement. Reciprocating couplings disposed in the transmission apparatus (300) connect the connecting rods (106–110) to the apparatus (300). During operation, the reciprocating couplings oscillate to retain the connecting rods (106–110) substantially aligned with the corresponding piston pair to reduce side thrust on the pistons.