Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for producing electrolytic water using three chambers, rigid plates and ion exchange membranes. Benefits include reduced scale production and increased long-term bactericidal effects of the water produced.

Abstract: Tracking methods and systems for providing timing recovery of continuous signals is presented. According to one embodiment, the method includes: sampling a continuous signal; estimating a timing disturbance of the sampled continuous signal; generating a timing adjustment signal in accordance with the estimated timing disturbance; and adjusting a sampling signal associated with a sampling device based on the timing adjustment signal.

Abstract: A passive magnetic latch is disclosed. The latch includes, according to various embodiments, a magnetically-actuated switch and a hard, non-linear biasing magnet. The switch may include components that, when polarized, cause the switch to transition from a first state to a second state. The biasing magnet is positioned proximate to the switch such that when the magnetization of the biasing magnet is changed by an external effect to thereby induce a modified magnetic field from the biasing magnet, the modified magnetic field polarizes the components of the switch such that the switch transitions from the first state to the second state and remains in the second state after the external effect is removed. A second external effect may be used to again change the magnetization of the biasing magnet such that the components of the switch depolarize and the switch transitions back the first state. As such, the magnetic latch may act like a remote ON/OFF switch.

Abstract: A position-tracking system for tracking the position of an object is disclosed. According to various embodiments, the tracking system includes a tracking device that is connected to or otherwise affixed to the object to be tracked. The tracking device may include, among other things, an inertial sensor assembly, radio transceivers and a processor. The position tracking system may also include a host processing system that is in communication with the tracking device. The position tracking system may provide variable-resolution position information based on the environment in which the object is moving. In a “wide resolution” area, the system may compute a general position for the object based on a wireless telephone network Cell-ID/map correlation architecture. In a high-resolution area, greater position resolution may be realized from the combination of a wireless aiding system and inputs from the inertial sensors.

Abstract: The invention is directed towards cutting inserts having a top surface, a bottom surface, at least three side surfaces extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, and a nose corner connecting two adjacent side surfaces. The intersection of the cutting insert may include an intersection of the nose corner and the top surface wherein at least a portion of the intersection defined by a multi-segment spline curve. The multi-segment spline curve may be a B-spline curve. The intersection may also be defined by two arcs at each end of the B-spline curve. The invention also includes a method of designing a turning insert having the steps of designing a nose corner with multi-segment spline curve. The multi-segment spline curve may be a B-spline curve.

Abstract: An improved system of resins comprising a combination of a sulfate-specific strongly basic anion exchange resin and a heterogenous hybrid thermally regenerable salt sorbent (TRSS) resin is provided. The anion exchange resin contains triethylamine and/or tributylamine groups. The TRSS resin comprises a macroporous host copolymer and a crosslinked guest copolymer having, respectively, weak acid groups and weak base groups. The system is used to treat feed water containing dissolved ions, including sulfate ions, and is efficiently regenerated.

Abstract: A system and method for obtaining information about the work activities of an employee includes providing a site accessible to the employee over a network, creating a profile of the work activities of the employee at the site, and calculating a value for the profile of the work activities of the employee or analyzing the work activities in the profile. Analyses may be performed and a report may be generated based on the work activities of the employee in the profile and the calculated value for the profile. The system may be implemented over the network with a server and a computer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for delivering a therapeutic agent into tissue in combination with an implant device (2). Preferably the therapeutic substance is contained within a pellet form (14) that is deliverable into the interior of the device (2) after it has been implanted. In a preferred embodiment the implant device (2) comprises a flexible coiled spring body, the coils (4) of which have the proper diameter and spacing to contain the pellet (14) within the interior of the device (2) to contact the therapeutic agent. In treatment of ischemic tissue such as that of the myocardium of the heart, the mechanical irritation of the tissue caused by the implanted device (2) can help to provide an angiogenic effect. Additionally, the cavity (18) provided by the interior of the device (2) permits blood to pool around the pellet (14) and mix with the therapeutic agent. Several delivery systems have provided for delivering the implant and pellet (14) sequentially or simultaneously.

Abstract: The invention provides oil-in-water emulsions comprising recombinant collagen-like polymer in an amount sufficient to act as stabiliser of the emulsion. The polymer is especially a polypeptide which is free of helix structure, has an isoelectric point at least 0.5 pH units removed from the pH of the oil-in-water emulsion. Furthermore, amphiphilic recombinant collagen-like polymers are provided for use in oil-in-water emulsions. The amphiphilic polymers are polar at one end as a result of a relative abundance of polar amino acids, and apolar at the other end as a result of a relative abundance of apolar amino acids.

Abstract: This invention discloses a method for testing at least one physical link on a motherboard associated with an on-board PCI Express device. A test card is connected to an input/output port on the motherboard, wherein the test card has a PCI Express test device. A test pattern is transmitted from the test card to the PCI Express device and receiving a test result pattern by the test card from the PCI Express device through the physical link for testing thereof. The test result pattern is examined to determine defects of the physical link on the motherboard.

Abstract: The present invention, sometimes called Enterlink, for the first time provides a federated system with state that interconnects applications of multiple companies. The Enterlink connects participant companies and applications, through the Enterlink bus, with each other and with consolidated data stores, third party services, core services, public process applications, and private process applications. The Enterlink bus uses, for the first time, metachannels, a metachannel engine and a metachannel repository Connectors connect the Enterlink public process applications and the company private I process applications with the bus. The invention can be applied to the automotive retail industry, among others. The Enterlink applications, core applications, and bus, may be operated as a service to company participants.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention provides an in-vehicle telematics system featuring: 1) a controller; 2) a diagnostics system configured to receive diagnostic information from a host vehicle; 3) a position-locating system configured to determine the host vehicle's location information; 4) a communication interface configured to send additional information to a peripheral system other than the diagnostic position-locating systems; and, 5) a wireless transmitter configured to transmit information through a wireless network to an Internet-accessible website.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for producing fusion proteins with the heterodimeric cytokine, interleukin-12. In order to insure that the proper ratio of fused and non-fused subunits are obtained in the fusion protein, a specific stepwise approach to genetic engineering is used. This consists of first expressing the non-fused p40 IL-12 subunit in a production cell line, followed by or simultaneously expressing in the same cell, a second recombinant fusion protein consisting of the fused polypeptide linked by a peptide bond to the p35 subunit of IL-12. Molecules containing the p35 fusion protein cannot be secreted from the transfected mammalian cell without first complexing in a one to one ratio with the p40 subunit, thus ensuring the production of active heterodimeric fusion proteins.

Abstract: A delivery system for implanting medical devices within a lumen or body cavity of a patient, the delivery system having a wire formed from a plurality of layered strands yielding a reduced bending stiffness for improved maneuverability with no reduction in overall tensile strength compared to delivery systems using a single wire and of comparable diameter. The physical properties of the delivery system permit optimal placement and retrieval of an intracardiac occluder within a patient.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed toward a photoluminescent article comprising at least one host material and at least one color tunable photoluminescent dye. In certain embodiments, the emission spectrum of the at least one tunable photoluminescent dye may be dependent on the supramolecular architecture of the material. The photoluminescent emission spectrum of the dye is capable of being shifted by subjecting the article to an external stimuli such as, but not limited to, a mechanical deformation, a temperature change, aging of the article, a pressure change, exposure to a chemical compound. In specific embodiments, the color tunable photoluminescent dye is an oligo(phenylene vinylene) compound, such as, but not limited to, 1,4-Bis-(?-cyano-4-methoxystyryl)-benzene, 1,4-bis-(?-cyano-4-methoxystyryl)-2,5-dimethoxybenzene, and 1,4-bis-(?-cyano-4-(2-ethylhexyloxystyryl)-2,5-dimethoxybenzene and 2,5-bis-(?-cyano-4-methoxystyryl)-thiophene.

Abstract: When using systems that use the principle of absorption for the production of cold there is a great delay between the starting of the installation and the production of cold. This delay is due to the necessary time for the production of vapour. According to the invention a storing device of cooling liquid under pressure is proposed that is used instead of the vapours produced by a boiler (1) when starting the installation. This storing is done in a receiver (4) commanded by two valves, one called upstream valve (3) and the other called downstream valve (5). According to the invention the method consists in storing cooling liquid under pressure in a receiver and using this liquid under pressure when starting the installation.

Abstract: The invention concerns a motor vehicle cooling and depolluting device designed for conditioning said vehicle passenger compartment and for cooling its cylinder block (22). The elements of the device are connected through a main tube (25) containing an antifreeze liquid. The device also comprises a temperature and pressure control valve (17), to maintain a constant pressure in the cylinder block (22) and located downstream of the cylinder block (22), a ventilated water-air exchanger (6) enabling a motor vehicle passenger compartment to be cooled, a ventilated water-air exchanger (1) enabling a motor vehicle engine compartment to be cooled, at least a cold water tank (3) for cooling upon start-up of the motor vehicle and located between the ventilated water-air exchanger (6) and the evaporator (24) and a solenoid valve (9) for controlling the temperature inside the motor vehicle passenger compartment and located downstream of the ventilated water-air exchanger (6).

Abstract: The present invention provides an endoscopic accessory control system that resides externally of the endoscope. The system comprises the endoscopic accessory with a working end to be placed at the distal end of the endoscope, a control sheath extending proximally external to the endoscope and a control handle joined to the proximal end of the control sheath. The control handle is slidably mounted to the exterior surface of the endoscope shaft and is configured to permit grasping of both the shaft and the handle. With the control handle and endoscope shaft grasped with one hand, the other hand of the user is left free to manipulate the endoscope distal tip controls. Additionally, the external arrangement of the control sheath leaves the working channel of the endoscope free for use of accessories or operations.

Abstract: A device for measuring near forward scatter caused by particulate matter in a fluid is disclosed. The device comprises, according to various embodiments, a transceiver and a reflector. The transceiver includes a light source and a detector. The reflector is positioned opposite the transceiver so that at least a portion of the fluid is present between the transceiver and the reflector. The reflector includes a front portion facing the transceiver. Optical energy from the light source incident upon the reflector is reflected towards the transceiver as a return beam of optical energy, wherein the detector senses primarily optical energy of the return beam that is scattered over a range of near forward angles by particulate matter in the fluid.