Abstract: A portable fluid transfer conduit is disclosed having an elongated flexible conduit having an inlet and outlet port. A coupling is postured at the inlet port for receiving fluid from a fluid source such as prelubrication pump. A flow control member is located at the discharge end which includes an activator for controlling the flow of fluid. The flow control member may include a handheld pump where the fluid source does not have a powered flow.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and device for characterizing a vehicle's fuel efficiency and amount of fuel consumed. The method features the steps of: 1) generating a data set from the vehicle that includes vehicle speed, odometer calculation, engine speed, load, mass air flow; 2) transferring the data set to a wireless appliance that includes i) a microprocessor, and ii) a wireless transmitter in electrical contact with the microprocessor; 3) transmitting a data packet comprising the data set or a version thereof with the wireless transmitter over an airlink to a host computer system; and 4) analyzing the data set with the host computer system to determine a status of the vehicle's fuel efficiency.

Abstract: The present invention describes the identification, isolation, sequencing and characterization of two human CalDAG-GEF, and two human cAMP-GEF genes, which are associated with the Ras pathway. Also identified are CalDAG-GEF gene homologues in mice and cAMP-GEF gene homologues in rats. Nucleic acids and proteins comprising or derived from the CalDAG-GEFs and/or cAMP-GEFs are useful in screening and diagnosing certain Ras-associated cancers, in identifying and developing therapeutics for treatment of certain Ras-associated cancers, and in producing cell lines and transgenic animals useful as models of Ras-associated cancers.

Abstract: The present invention provides anchoring mechanisms for tissue implants. The anchors are integrated as part of the structure of the implant and serve to resist migration of the implant from highly dynamic muscle tissue such as the myocardium of the heart. In implant devices configured as a flexible coil, various attributes of the coil may be altered to increase the anchoring capability of the device. The flexibility of the device may be increased to resist migration by changing the coil filament thickness, pitch or filament material. Alternatively, the end coil may be altered to have a broader cross-sectional profile in engagement with the tissue or may include an anchoring barb. Additionally, methods of implanting a tissue implant device are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides an educational basketball game device, comprising a backboard which houses cheer lights outlining perimeter, a score display, a target, a hoop, and a sensor, an extendable pole which is made of two parts an upper part and a lower part, and a progress display made of several portions which illuminate game progress, and a baseboard which houses speakers, an extendable foul line and wheels. Also, the present invention provides a method for educating a game of basketball with an educational basketball game device. The educational method incorporates playing of recordings that cheer the player to make a shot, encourage the player to aim at target, motivate to keep practicing and getting the ball in the hoop. In addition, the educational method uses cheer lights to acknowledge success. Additionally, a visual display showing a cheering crowd of fans will light up when a goal is achieved.

Abstract: The automated system of the present invention uses the Federal, State, local and professional regulations and requirements and implementing instructions to generate a plurality of tasks which can be used to control and drive the process of handling a mortgage loan application to completion and settlement in accordance with these regulations. Loan requestors may specify that the system will generate the plurality of required tasks, including tasks required by applicable federal and/or state law, provide the plurality of required tasks to the requester for his execution, and monitor the completion of all required tasks so as to provide a completion certificate to the requestor.

Abstract: A system of measuring the flow of a human or animal bodily action or fluid along or through a bodily flow conduit using two or more sensor means located on the body and along or around the path of the conduit is described. Bodily fluids whose flow is measurable by the present invention include blood, semen and urine. The present invention is a non-invasive way of measuring the flow of a bodily action or fluid along or through a conduit, such as pulse wave velocity. Pulse wave velocity in the brachial artery can provide an indication of vessel wall quality or stiffness, which in turn, can be used to indicate how an individual's vascular system is ageing. Disorders such as stenosis and complete occlusion can be diagnosed by accurate measurement of pulse wave velocity.

Abstract: An electrostatic circuit for a sole having an outsole, an insole and a midsole positioned between the insole and outsole. In one embodiment, the electrostatic circuit includes at least one conductor path that is printed on a first side of a first substrate. The conductor path may have a first exposed end attachable to the outsole and a second exposed end attachable to the insole. The electrostatic circuit may also include at least one resistor electrically that is coupled to each conductor path and mounted to the first substrate. In another embodiment, the electrostatic circuit may include first and second conductive pads attached to the first and second ends of each conductor path.

Abstract: A snubber circuit for use with, for example, a self-driven synchronous rectifier in a power converter is disclosed. The snubber circuit, in various embodiments, captures and recirculates energy from the leakage inductance of the converter in a substantially lossless manner. The snubber circuit comprises a capacitance for storing the energy accumulated in the leakage inductance of a transformer winding of the converter. The snubber circuit further includes a discontinuous inductor, and a switch for transferring, when on, the energy stored in the capacitance to the inductor. The energy in the inductor may then be discharged when the switch is off.

Abstract: An auto-injector for rapid delivery of a bolus of injectable medication has a generally flat, sealed housing with small peripheral dimensions, approximating those of a credit card. A syringe, configured to be contained within the flat housing is pre-filled with the medication. The housing contains a mechanism that, when triggered, automatically drives the syringe and needle forwardly to an injection position and then continues to compress the volume of the syringe to effect rapid injection. The forward injection end of the device includes an actuator that also conceals and protects the needle at all times and, prevents post-injection hazards. The flat faces of the device have graphic symbols and other visual indicia relating to the operation and condition of the device. The device enables a simple three-step operation that reduces the risk of improper use.

Abstract: In a pre-filled Foley catheter for urine drainage, the conventional clip for releasing sterile water from a bulb (21) at the proximal end of the catheter, to fill the anchor bulb (20) at the distal end of the device, is replaced by a plug (25) which has an annular portion connected to a thin stem (27) by a circle of weakness. Snapping the stem (27) from the annulus provides a tactile signal through the opaque latex lumen that the catheter has been actuated. There is no separate clip to be disposed of. The interface between the latex and the plug remains undisturbed. Further improvement in the shelf-life and convenience of use of the catheter is delivered by the use of a sleeve, which can be of shrink-wrap material, around the bulb (21) and optionally also around the drain coupling (15) of the catheter. Apparatus for placing the plug and the sleeve is also described.

Abstract: Systems and methods relating to the provision of gain, phase and delay adjustments to signals to be used by a predistortion subsystem. A portion of an input signal is delayed by delay elements prior to being received by the predistortion subsystem. The delayed input signal portion is also received by a feedback signal processing subsystem that adjusts the gain and phase of the feedback signal based on the delayed input signal portion. The adjusted feedback signal is used, along with the delayed portion of the input signal, to determine an appropriate predistortion modification to be applied to the input signal.

Abstract: An interconnect device for electrically interconnecting two components is disclosed. According to various embodiments, the interconnect device includes a frame having a upper side and a lower side, a first plurality of beam contacts on the upper side for connection to contacts of the first component, and a second plurality of contacts on the lower side of the frame for connection to contacts of the second component. The beam contacts on the upper side of the frame are arranged so that the sum of the sideways wipe forces caused by compression of the beam contacts on the upper side due to connection of the first component to the interconnect device approximately equals zero.

Abstract: Provided is a method for curbing dietary cravings in a patient, typically a diabetic or obese patient, by administration of a low dose of naltrexone to the patient.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for accessing a first local mass storage device or a second local mass storage device in a fault-tolerant server. In one embodiment, the fault-tolerant server establishes communication between a first computing element and a first local mass storage device. The fault-tolerant server also establishes communications between a second computing element and a second local mass storage device. In one embodiment, the first computing element and the second computing element issue substantially similar instruction streams to one of the local mass storage devices.

Abstract: The invention provides a family of antibodies that specifically bind the human epithelial cell adhesion molecule. The antibodies comprise modified variable regions, more specially, modified framework regions, which reduce their immunogenicity when administered to a human. The antibodies, when coupled to the appropriate moiety, may be used in the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of cancer.

Abstract: A method for generating a file object identifier. A computer allocates memory to store the identifier. The disk volume holding the file object, the disk block holding the file object, and the value of the offset within the disk block holding the file object are stored in the allocated memory. In one embodiment, the file object is a file, a directory, or a symbolic link. In another embodiment, the memory allocated is 32 bits. In yet another embodiment, the disk volume value is a 4-bit value. In still another embodiment, the disk block value is a 23-bit value. In another embodiment, the block offset value is a 5-bit value. In another embodiment, the offset within the disk block is a multiple of 128 byte increments. In one embodiment, the generated file object identifier is a PORTABLE OPERATING SYSTEM INTERFACE (POSIX) file serial number.

Abstract: A circuit component (L1) with controllable impedance, includes a body (1) of a magnetizable material, a main winding (A1) wound round the body (1) about a first axis and a control winding (A2) wound round the body (1) about a second axis, at right angles to the first axis, where the main winding (A1) is arranged for connection to a working circuit in which the circuit component (L1) is to be employed and the control winding (A2) is arranged for connection to a control unit for controlling the impedance in the working circuit. The circuit component or a similar transformer device can be included in various current and voltage regulating devices.