Abstract: A wind-powered machine for producing energy includes a support frame, a rotor having a plurality of vanes, the rotor having a wind gathering face side and an opposed rear side, and an infeed funnel for channeling wind to the face side of the rotor and increasing the speed of the wind. A rear wind deflector captures wind passing over the rotor and deflects it downwardly to vanes on the rear side of the rotor. A turntable mounts the rotor, infeed funnel, and rear wind deflector to permit such to be directed properly into the wind. A generator connected to the rotor produces electrical energy which is transmitted through a rotational connection to electrical storage medium.

Abstract: A method and system for aggregating objects within a computer system are provided. In a preferred embodiment, the method aggregates an enclosed object within an enclosing object. The enclosed object has an object management interface and an external interface, while the enclosing object has a controlling object management interface. The controlling object management interface and the external interface of the enclosed object have query function members for receiving an identifier of an interface and for returning a reference to the identified interface. A preferred embodiment creates an instance of an enclosing object and an object to be enclosed. In static aggregation, the controlling object management interface of the enclosing object knows in advance how to return an identifier to the external interface of the enclosed object. In dynamic aggregation, an object to be enclosed is added to the enclosing object after the enclosing object is instantiated.

Abstract: A receiver and method for receiving a code-division multiple-access (CDMA) signal combining symbol values spread by a plurality of spreading codes, which method comprises the steps of: (a) converting the CDMA signal to a baseband signal; (b) recognizing symbol boundaries in every multipath for every user in the baseband signal to produce a delay estimate; (c) estimating an attenuation and phase rotation impressed on the signal by each multipath to produce channel estimates; (d) generating new symbol estimates for every user at a sampling rate that is greater than a symbol rate of the signal; (e) generating an estimate of the received signal using said symbol estimates and channel estimates; (f) comparing the received signal with its estimate and feeding estimation error back to a means for estimating the transmitted symbols; (g) sampling the symbol estimates at the estimated symbol boundaries of each user to obtain final symbol estimates; and (h) repeating steps (b) through (g) with every new sample.

Abstract: A method and apparatus involves selectively relieving the load from the rearmost wheels of a trailer to shorten the effective wheel base of the trailer. When the effective wheel base is shortened, off-tracking of the trailer during turning is reduced. The load may relieved while the trailer and vehicle are traveling at, for example, less than a first speed, with the vehicle turning at least at a first angle. The axle may be reloaded when the vehicle speed is increased to a second speed above the first speed and the vehicle is turning at an angle which is less than the first angle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tubeless bicycle tire and rim. The rim is formed with opposing recesses configured to engage corresponding beads formed on the tire. With the beads engaged in the recesses, the tire and rim seal for form an air tight, sealed chamber such that no inner tube is necessary. The rim is formed with a single aperture having a valve installed therein. Preferably, the valve is formed with a ring which extends into the air tight, sealed chamber. In the event of a flat tire, the tire may be removed from the rim. The valve may also be removed by grasping the ring and pulling.

Abstract: A topical antioxidant composition for the protection of skin from damage caused by ultraviolet radiation. The composition includes a first component (such as beta glucan) that increases cellular viability of epidermal cells, and a second component that decreases the production of inflammatory mediators, such as prostaglandins in those cells. In a particular embodiment, the composition includes beta glucan in combination with panthenol, grape seed extract, vitamin C and superoxide dismutase, which exhibit a synergistic effect in protecting the skin from the adverse effects of ultraviolet radiation. In another embodiment, the composition further includes Vitamin A and Vitamin E. The antioxidant compositions are incorporated into sunscreen products, soap, moisturizing lotions, skin toners, and other skin care products.

Abstract: A light exposure and an electron-beam exposure are used to expose respective portions of the same resist layer. The respective portions may overlap to form a double exposure region in which the resist is exposed by both light radiation and electron-beam radiation. The dosage of the light exposure and of the electron-beam exposure in the double exposure region may desirably be a gradually sloped dosage. The sum of the light exposure dosage and the electron-beam exposure dosage in the double exposure region is chosen to be at least equal to or, desirably, somewhat larger than the dosage in the non-overlapping portions of the light exposure region and the electron-beam exposure region. Alternatively, a light exposure and an electron-beam exposure are used to expose the same resist layer, with a narrow electron-beam exposure region extending into or cutting into a wider light exposure region, with no overlapping or small overlapping at the end of the narrow electron-beam exposure region.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rapid method for identifying species of Candida. Identification is through the use of a non-conserved regions of the ITS2 region flanked by highly conserved functional domains. Detection of members of the Candida and Aspergillus genera is enhanced by the detection of genus-specific regions of the 5.8S rRNA gene. The present invention provides isolated nucleic acids that selectively hybridize to the fungal genus-specific 5.8S rRNA region, and to the species-specific ITS2 region. The invention provides for nucleic acid sequences for use as selective probes for fungal genus-specific probes and as Candida species-specific probes. The present invention provides methods for the use of the Candida species-specific probes that allow the detection and identification of the individual species in biological samples.

Abstract: A decision-theoretic regulator employs a method for allocating computational resources to components of media content to create the highest quality output for a budget of rendering resources. The components of the content represent parts of the content that have independent quality parameters that the regulator can vary to trade-off quality for computational savings. For example, in multimedia content, the components might be objects in a 3D graphics scene. The method allocates computational resources by attempting to minimize the total expected cost of a rendering task. The method computes the raw error for a rendering action on a component and then maps the raw error to a perceived error based on empirical evidence of how users perceive errors in rendered output. The expected cost is computed from the perceived error or raw error by applying a model of attention that gives the probability that a user is focusing his or her attention on a component.

Abstract: An underhood air flow management system for a truck which includes cowl openings defined between cowl extensions and the rear edges of depending hood sections. Most preferably the cowl extension extends forwardly and inwardly toward the longitudinal centerline of the truck. The cowl extensions assist in deflecting air to the cowl openings, the air having passed through a radiator, along the sides of an engine and engine compartment, and through the cowl openings. The cowl openings preferably extend the full height of the depending hood sections. The bumper of the truck includes a lower extension. In addition, the front wheel wells of the truck are sealed at the front, partially sealed at the side and may be sealed at their rear to reduce the escape of air from the engine compartment through the front wheel wells. The cowl openings are preferably door-free and also lack air flow hindering severe transitions.

Abstract: A novel immunosuppressive factor derived from mammalian bone marrow is described, which inhibits T lymphocyte activation and TNF-&agr; production by activated macrophages and also inhibits tumour and leukemia cell growth. The factor provides a novel therapeutic composition for treatment of tumours and of disorders associated with inflammatory reactions or T lymphocyte activation.

Abstract: Nucleotide sequences isolated from Mycobacterium tuberculosis are disclosed. These sequences are shown to encode immunostimulatory peptides. The invention encompasses, among other things, vaccine preparations formulated using these peptides.

Abstract: A vent coupler has first and second leg portions and a latch element extending between the leg portions. The coupler may be formed from a single piece of wire and be detachably coupled to a vent damper. The latch element is inserted into a respective air flow slot of a vent cover to engage the vent cover and couple the vent cover to the damper. The coupler may be constructed to permit flexing of the coupler during the insertion process, with the coupler being biased to engage the vent cover when no longer flexed. The vent coupler may snap onto and grip upper and lower edges of an end wall of the damper housing to mount the coupler to the damper. A filter housing may be detachably coupled to the damper housing to support a filter on the opposite side of the damper housing from the vent cover.

Abstract: An object-oriented interface is used to provide inheritance of object property information. A set of base object classes are created and stored in a persistent object state in non-volatile storage. A set of derived objects are then created using the base object classes and inherited base object property information. Derived object classes are saved in a persistent object state in non-volatile storage as a “delta” or difference between the derived object information and the inherited base object information. Saving only the derived class objects as a delta saves a significant amount of computer resources. When derived object is loaded, the base object class from which the derived object class inherited information is loaded first, then the derived object class delta is loaded. The two step loading process allows any changes made to the base object class to be automatically reflected in the derived object class by inheritance.

Abstract: A method and system for tracking, and resolving links to, objects that derive from a common object creation is provided. In a system, the system creates a source object. The system then generates a lineage identifier to identify the creation of the source object. Then the system associates the lineage identifier with the source object. At a later time, the system copies the created object to a copy object. When the source object is copied to a copy object, the system associates the lineage identifier associated with the source object with the copy object. In this way, the lineage identifier associated with the copy object indicates that the copy object derives from the creation of the source object. The system links a client object to a source object by storing a link containing the source object's lineage identifier in the client object. A link also contains information for distinguishing the source object from other objects having the same lineage identifier.

Abstract: An automatic distributed partitioning system (“ADPS”) automatically detects location constraints on the placement of units of an application program in a distributed computing environment. From a programmer, the ADPS receives a list of operating system functions that access location-dependent resources. The ADPS analyzes the application program to detect units that call the listed operating system functions. If an application unit calls a listed operating system function, the ADPS notes a location constraint on that application unit. The ADPS insures that the location-constrained application unit resides on a computer with access to the location-dependent resource needed by the application unit.

Abstract: The present invention, provides natural-source compositions having consistent, effective antibrowning and antioxidant characteristics. Additionally, the present invention provides methods for making the antibrowning/antioxidant compositions of the present invention. More specifically, the present invention provides natural-source, browning and oxidizing inhibitor compositions comprising S-sinapyl-L-cysteine, N-L-&ggr;-glutamyl-S-sinapyl-L-cysteine, S-sinapyl glutathione, or various mixtures thereof. Methods for making such natural, antibrowning/antioxidant compositions from pineapple juice and/or from pineapple processing plant waste streams include efficient and effective separation of the present invention compositions from unwanted sugars, acids, phenolic compounds, and other undesirable compounds present in pineapple juice and/or pineapple processing plant waste streams.

Abstract: A floribunda rose plant having vigorous, upright, well-branched growth; glossy, dark green healthy foliage; and rapid repeat flowering of large, fragrant flowers.

Abstract: A miniature rose plant having deep yellow flowers of stable color and light, sweet fragrance; compact, dwarf growth habit; and dark green, glossy, disease resistant foliage.