Abstract: Ferrite materials, methods of forming the same, and products formed therefrom are disclosed, comprising, as main components, an iron oxide ranging from 55.5 to 58.0 mole percent calculated as Fe2O3, an amount of manganese oxide ranging from 38.0 to 41.0 mole percent calculated as MnO, and an amount of zinc oxide ranging from 3.3 to 4.7 mole percent calculated as ZnO. The present invention also includes, as minor components, an amount of calcium oxide ranging from 0.030 to 0.100 weight percent calculated as CaO, an amount of silicon oxide ranging from 0.015 to 0.040 weight percent calculated as SiO2, and an amount of niobium oxide ranging from 0.010 to 0.030 weight percent calculated as Nb2O5.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for delivering a therapeutic agent in combination with an implanted device to maximize a therapeutic benefit offered by each. Preferably, the therapeutic agent is contained within a solid matrix form such as a pellet or gel to facilitate its handling, and to regulate its rate of dissipation into the tissue after delivery. The implant device is specially configured to receive retain the matrix but permit blood to interact with the matrix so that the agent can be released to the blood in, around the device, and the surrounding tissue. A delivery system comprises an implant delivery device having an obturator capable of piercing the tissue and an agent matrix delivery device to place a matrix form, such as a pellet, into the interior of the implant after it has been implanted. Preferably, the implant delivery device and the matrix delivery device are contained in one apparatus to facilitate delivery of the pellet into the embedded implant.

Abstract: A method is provided for processing data in connection with operation of a machine. The method includes detecting at least one condition of the machine during an operational state of the machine, wherein the operational state is selected from the group consisting of a dormant state of the machine and a pre-start state of the machine; collecting data indicative of the detected condition; and, performing at least one of storing the collected data and analyzing the collected data for determining whether a fault condition exists in connection with the detected condition of the machine. In another embodiment, a method is provided for operating an emergency machine that includes initiating activation of the emergency machine in response to a signal indicative of an emergency condition communicated to the emergency machine; and, initiating at least one pre-lubrication operation in association with the activation of the emergency machine in response to the communicated emergency condition signal.

Abstract: A surface mount power supply device and a method for mounting a lead frame to a circuit board, which has a first and second side, and assembling such a device. The lead frame has leads with a lead solder area for contact with solder material on the circuit board. According to the method, the lead frame and a first set of electrical components are reflow soldered on the first side of the circuit board. Then the circuit board is inverted and a second set of electrical components are reflow soldered on the second surface of the circuit board. The lead solder area and in particular the ratio of the weight of the frame to the lead solder area is chosen so that the lead frame remains connected to the first side of circuit board during the second reflow soldering.

Abstract: A collimating image-forming apparatus comprising a first linear polarizer is disclosed. A first quarter-wave plate is disposed adjacent the first polarizer and has its fast and slow axes at substantially 45° to the plane of polarization of the first polarizer. The apparatus further comprises a beam-splitting curved mirror having a convex surface adjacent the first polarizer and facing towards the first quarter-wave plate, a second quarter-wave plate adjacent the concave side of the curved mirror, the second quarter-wave plate having its having its fast and slow axes oriented with respect to the corresponding axes of the first quarter-wave plate at angles substantially equal to a first integral multiple of 90°, and a reflective-transmissive polarizing member adjacent the second quarter-wave plate.

Abstract: A composition for reducing the buildup of snow and ice on a surface. The composition includes a sugar-water mixture having approximately 15 to 80 percent by weight of a sugar solid, wherein the sugar solid contains approximately 2-60 percent by weight of a monosaccharide.

Abstract: A transmission for changing rotary motion into angularly reciprocating motion and adapted to be mounted on the output end of a power unit of the type having a rotary drive output and used to drive a tool. The transmission is comprised of a support member, a driving resinous member supported by the support member for rotary motion, and a driven resinous member supported by the support member for reciprocating angular movement by the support member. The transmission subassembly is formed by the driving resinous member, driven resinous member and support member and adapted to be mounted on the output end of the power unit with a rotary drive output mechanically coupled to the driving resinous member. A driving cam surface is disposed on a portion of the driving resinous member. A driven cam surface is disposed on a portion of the driven resinous member. The driving cam surface is in contact with the driven cam surface during at least a portion of the cycle of rotation of the driving cam surface.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel strains of Rhizopus oryzae and uses thereof. The strains of the invention are temperature-resistant and convert a carbon source to lactic acid at high temperatures.

Abstract: An illuminated costume promoting safety is disclosed. The inventive costume comprises a light distributing assembly, comprising a light source and a plurality of light outputting members optically coupled to the light source, each of the members having a light outputting surface. The light outputting members have first and second member ends. The first member end are optically coupled to the light source. Each of the members has a light outputting surface on its second member end, wherein the light outputting members have various lengths. The light outputting members come in at least four different lengths. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention the light source is a light-emitting diode which is driven by either a battery which maintains the light emitting diode active emitting light all times, or the light source may be driven by a battery powered transistorized power source which causes the lights to blink or follow any other pattern desired.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the method for converting text to speech using a computing device having a memory is disclosed. Text, being made up of a plurality of words, is received into the memory of the computing device. A plurality of phonemes are derived from the text. Each of the phonemes is associated with a prosody record based on a database of prosody records associated with a plurality of words. A first set of the artificial intelligence rules is applied to determine context information associated with the text. The context influenced prosody changes for each of the phonemes is determined. Then a second set of rules, based on Lessac theory to determine Lessac derived prosody changes for each of the phonemes is applied. The prosody record for each of the phonemes is amended in response to the context influenced prosody changes and the Lessac derived prosody changes. Then a reading from the memory sound information associated with the phonemes is performed.

Abstract: A method of picking a component having an alignment indicating fiducial marker according to a predetermined alignment is provided. The method includes detecting the alignment of the fiducial marker of the component, comparing the detected fiducial alignment with a predetermined fiducial alignment, determining an alignment offset and picking the component in accordance with the alignment offset.

Abstract: Method for determining the location of a droplet of liquid placed on a surface of a semiconductor wafer. In one embodiment the method includes establishing first and second reference axes that intersect at a point and superimposing the point over the droplet on the semiconductor wafer surface. A first reference coordinate indicative of the position of the point along the first axis and a second reference coordinate indicative of the position of the point along the second axis are generated.

Abstract: A call prevention device. The device includes a caller ID detection unit for detecting caller ID data transmitted over a telecommunication network before a connection is established when a call is made by a calling party. The device also includes a processing unit in communication with the caller ID detection unit for retrieving a caller profile from a caller profile database in response to the caller ID data and for comparing the caller profile with the caller ID data, the processing unit further for incrementing a call total value when the caller profile and the caller ID data match favorably, and the processing unit further for generating a message when the call total value exceeds a user defined value.

Abstract: This invention relates to processes for the production of tocotrienol compounds from biological sources such as palm oil, cereals, grains, and grain oils. The tocotrienol products are recovered in high yields. These tocotrienols are useful as pharmaceuticals, in foodstuffs and as dietary supplements. These compositions are hypocholesterolemic, antioxidizing, antithrombotic, antiatherogenic, antiinflammatory and immunoregulatory in nature. Tocotrienols are known to lower the levels of low density lipoproteins in the bloodstream.

Abstract: A fluid separation assembly (10) having a fluid permeable membrane (38 and 62) and a wire mesh membrane (18 and 28) adjacent the fluid permeable membrane (38 and 62), wherein the wire mesh membrane (18 and 28) supports the fluid permeable membrane (38 and 62) and is coated with an intermetallic diffusion barrier. The barrier may be a thin film containing at least one of a nitride, oxide, boride, silicide, carbide and aluminide. Several groups of multiple fluid separation assemblies (104) can be used in a module (85) to separate hydrogen from a gas mixture containing hydrogen.

Abstract: A method of forming a powder metal material includes molding a compact from a powder mix comprising an iron-containing powder and glass, and subsequently sintering the compact. Also disclosed is a sintered powder metal material including iron and glass.

Abstract: A load bank, comprising a housing, a user interface located on the housing, the user interface having at least one control, and at least one heater located in the housing and controlled by the control, wherein the control configures the heater to act as a test load for testing a power source.