Abstract: A plural output control station for operating electrical apparatus, such as model electric train engines and accessories. The control station employs a data processor for monitoring and controlling the signals generated at a plurality of transformer-driven power output terminals. An exemplary station includes two variable-voltage alternating current (AC) output channels (TRACK 1 and TRACK 2) and two fixed-voltage AC output channels (AUX 1 & AUX 2). The variable-voltage outputs are controlled by a data processor responsive to respective operator-controlled throttles for varying the AC output voltage and therefore the rate of movement and direction of electric train engines, typically three-rail O-gauge model trains. The variable-voltage outputs can also be offset by the data processor with positive and negative DC voltages for enabling engine functions such as horns, whistles and bells.

Abstract: A device for producing waves and body in hair comprising curling tongs having heatable leg elements. The heatable leg elements have a wave shape with decreasing amplitude. The amplitude decreases from a maximum at the scalp-contacting end of the heatable leg elements to substantially no amplitude at the other end of the heatable leg elements. Heat-reducing lips may extend from the scalp-contacting end of the device. In one embodiment, the heatable leg elements are arcuate and can pivot about an axis extending along each leg, respectively. A method of using the device to form waves and body in hair wherein the amplitude of the wave is greatest near the scalp and decreases along the length of the hair in the direction toward its tip.

Abstract: The Snail transcription factor has been identified as a repressor of the expression of E-cadherin. The expression of Snail induces invasive and metastatic capacity in tumor cells. This invention presents: a new target protein, Snail, for the identification of new antitumoral compounds and a new diagnostic tumor marker, indicative of tissue invasion and metastatic capacity.

Abstract: A corrosion resistant, soft magnetic, ferritic steel alloy, a useful article made therefrom, and a method of using the alloy are described. The alloy has the following composition in weight percent. C 0.005-0.040 Mn  1.0 max. Si  1.0 max. P 0.050 max. S 0.020 max. Cr  27.0-30.0 Ni  0.35 max. Mo  0.35 max. Cu  0.35 max. Co  0.25 max. N 0.010-0.05 The balance is essentially iron and the usual impurities found in similar grades of ferritic stainless steels. In accordance with another aspect of this invention, there is disclosed a magnetic component for a magnetically actuated device such as a solenoid valve wherein the magnetic component is formed of the aforesaid alloy. In accordance with a further aspect of this invention, there is disclosed a solenoid valve that incorporates a movable magnetic core that is formed of the aforesaid alloy.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing mail is provided. The mail is serially fed from a stack of mail into a system transport. The system transport conveys the mail to an imaging station, which scans the mail to obtain image data corresponding to at least a portion of each piece. From the imaging station, the mail is conveyed to a buffer, which selectively maintains the mail while the address printed on the mail is determined. After the address for a piece of mail is determined, the piece is conveyed out of the buffer to a printer, which prints a POSTNET barcode onto the piece. The POSTNET barcode corresponds to the address that was determined for the piece. Optionally, the apparatus may include a labeler for applying a blank label onto the mail, and the POSTNET barcode can then be printed onto the label after it is applied to the mail. After the POSTNET barcode is printed on a piece, it is conveyed past a verifier, which scans the printed POSTNET barcode to ensure that the barcode was printed properly.

Abstract: A method of producing surface features in a substrate includes steps of forming a film having a composition that varies in the direction of its thickness on the substrate, forming a mask on the heterogeneous film, etching the film to thereby pattern the film, and etching the structure that includes the patterned film to erode the film and correspondingly shape the substrate as the film is so being eroded. In this way, the pattern of the film is transferred to the substrate in a manner dependent on the selectivity of one or both of the etching processes as well as the thickness of the discrete mask layers, or in the case of a continuously graded film, the “slope” of the stoichiometric change with respect to position in the overall thickness of the film.

Abstract: A device is provided for mounting a light source to a gun and for alternatively attaching the light source to a second object. The device includes a clip and detachable mount. The clip connects to one of a variety of flashlights and is easily transported with the flashlight. The clip has a flexible clip arm that allows the flashlight to be clipped to a belt, a shirt pocket or other convenient location. The mount attaches to a gun, weapon, tool or other implement and cooperates with the clip arm on the clip so that the flashlight can be easily connected to the gun, weapon, tool or other implement when desired. The clip disconnects easily from the mount so that the flashlight and clip can readily be removed from the mount and clipped to another object.

Abstract: A handcuff key light illuminates the keyhole of a handcuff. The handcuff key light includes a cylindrical handcuff operating member which is molded into a body including at least one light source for providing light along the cylindrical handcuff operating member. The lightsource is selectively connected to an electrical power source to provide electrical power to the light source to illuminate toward the handcuff operating member.

Abstract: An internally threaded (23) collet nut (22) is placed onto the first cable (12) and a first cable (12) is inserted into a collapsible collet (20) on a connector body (18). The collet nut (22) and a breakaway nut (30) are engaged with simple wrenches to establish a reactive torque between the collet nut (22) and the breakaway nut (34) to break away the breakaway nut (34) from the connector body. An enlarged end (16) of the second cable (14) is placed into the interior of a retainer nut (30), which is threaded onto the threaded section (19) of the connector body (18) to abut the collet nut (22), thereby connecting the two cables (12 and 14).

Abstract: A lever assembly includes a lever and a fastener for pivotally mounting the lever to a fixed support member. The lever is composed of a lever body made of a plastic and a reinforcement plate assembled with the plastic lever body. The lever body has a first groove formed in one surface of the lever body and extending from a central through-hole to a position in proximity of a mount hole formed at one end of the lever body, and a second groove formed in the opposite surface of the lever body and extending from the central through-hole to a position in proximity of the other end of the lever body. The reinforcement plate is fitted in the first and second grooves across the central through-hole of the lever body. The fastener comprised of a screw with flanged head has a portion lying over part of the reinforcement plate to prevent the reinforcement plate from displacing off the lever body.

Abstract: A Coriolis effect fluid flow meter comprises a tube curved about a first axis and mounted for oscillatory motion about a second axis, means to drive the tube in a controlled oscillatory motion about said second axis to generate in fluid flowing in the tube a measurable bi-direction force, a pair of flexible couplings through which fluid flow passes arranged to minimise forces on the tube due to the inherent stiffness of the tube, and means arrange to measure the bi-directional force in the direction of said first axis and to derive the fluid flow therefrom.

Abstract: An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a human DNA repair enzyme, MED1, is disclosed. Like other mismatch repair genes which are mutated in certain cancers, MED1, encoding nucleic acids, proteins and antibodies thereto may be used to advantage in genetic or cancer screening assays. MED1, which recognizes and cleaves DNA, may also be used for the diagnostic detection of mutations and genetic variants.

Abstract: Novel human BUB genes and their encoded proteins are provided herein. The kinases encoded by the disclosed BUB1A and BUB1B genes play a pivotal role in mitotic checkpoint control. BUB3 is a substrate of these kinases, BUB genes and their encoded proteins provide valuable therapeutic targets for the design of anti-proliferative agents which inhibit the aberrant cellular proliferation observed in tumor cells.

Abstract: “Head-to-head” bis-benzimidazoles having the following formula wherein A1, A2, X1 and X2 are as defined in the following specification, have been found to bind to specific sequences in the minor groove of duplex DNA, and to have cytotoxic effects against a range of tumor cell lines.

Abstract: A fine-pitch flexible electrical connector includes a plurality of generally parallel metal conductors in a matrix of a molecularly flexible dielectric adhesive, and may be made in various sizes and thicknesses so as to be utilized as a connector, jumper, test membrane, interposer or other electrical connection structure providing connection between two or more electronic devices and/or substrates. The connector is made by providing a number of metal conductors disposed in relation to the dielectric adhesive, such as by lamination or aggregation, and then separating individual connectors therefrom by cutting, slicing and/or otherwise separating transversely to the longitudinal direction of the conductors.

Abstract: An electronic device includes electronic components, such as “flip chip” semiconductor devices, chip resistors, capacitors and other electronic components, mounted to and interconnected to a substrate by a flexible adhesive membrane having contact pads that have substantially the same pattern as those of the corresponding electronic components. The flexible adhesive membrane includes an insulating matrix and conductive pads therein that employ thermoplastic and thermosetting adhesives, and combinations thereof, each having a low modulus of elasticity. The flexible conductive adhesive employed for the conductive pads or features preferably has a lower flow index than does the flexible adhesive employed for the insulating matrix, whereby the conductive features penetrate the insulating adhesive during bonding to assure reliable interconnection.