Abstract: A link mechanism provided between a lug plate and a cam plate in a variable displacement compressor includes a first transmitting portion for transmitting rotation of a lug plate to a cam plate and a second transmitting portion for transmitting compression reactive force from the cam plate to the lug plate, which are arranged along a rotational direction of the drive shaft. The first transmitting portion includes a first transmitting surface and a first receiving surface. The link mechanism also includes a movement restrictor arranged between the first and second transmitting portions. The movement restrictor includes a restricting surface formed in the lug plate and a restricted surface formed in the cam plate and restricts the first receiving surface to move away from the first transmitting surface in the rotational direction of the drive shaft in such a manner that the restricted surface comes into contact with the restricting surface.

Abstract: A cushion for a billiard table is disclosed. The cushion includes an extruded member having a substantially triangular or L-shaped cross-section and a layer of tape on one surface thereof for affixing the cushion to a billiard table. Also disclosed is an improved cue for billiards wherein a substantial portion of the weight of the cue is disposed in a distal portion of the cue located near the tip of the cue, which is used to strike a ball. The cue is preferably modular to allow substitution of various portions of the cue to permit it to be customized to a specific player. Also disclosed is a device for metering the speed of the surface of a billiard table. Also disclosed is a quick-change tip for a cue which includes an elastomeric material that is sized to snugly fit over the distal end of a cue to releasably secure the quick-change tip to the cue.

Abstract: A method of fixing a stator core in a cylindrical housing includes the following steps. The first step is a step of blanking a plurality of stator core sheets from an electromagnetic steel sheet by using a die. The die has a circular outside contour for blanking the stator core sheets from the electromagnetic steel sheet and each of the blanked stator core sheets has an outside contour. The second step is a step of forming the stator core by laminating the blanked stator core sheets one on another. The third step is a step of setting a non-fixing position of the stator core to the housing in such an angular position where difference in diametral dimension of the outside contour between the die and the stator core is relatively large.

Abstract: A method for providing a plurality of users with the ability to engage in the swap of a plurality of items comprising the following: providing a system for the entry of a plurality of items into inventory of a system by a plurality of users; providing a fixed number of credits for each said item entered which can be then used to obtain other items in the system's inventory wherein the number of credits received for each item will be automatically set by the system depending on each item's characteristics and where the total number of credits allocated represent the total value of all entered items.

Abstract: A method for determining a similarity of a first solid model to a second solid model is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: selecting a set of features for representing the first solid model; extracting features corresponding to the selected set of features from the first solid model; constructing an undirected model dependency graph of the first solid model based on the selected set of features; extracting features corresponding to the selected set of features from the second solid model; constructing an undirected model dependency graph of the second solid model based on the selected set of features; comparing the undirected model dependency graph of the first solid model with the undirected model dependency graph of the second solid model; and outputting a numerical measure indicative of the similarity of the first solid model to the second solid model.

Abstract: A method of and a device for non-invasively measuring the hemodynamic state of a subject or a human patient involve steps and units of non-invasively or minimally invasively measuring cardiac cycle period, mean arterial pressure, stroke volume, diastolic interval and ejection interval and converting the measured mean arterial pressure, stroke volume, diastolic interval and ejection interval into the cardiac parameters such as Preload, Afterload and Contractility, which are the common cardiac parameters used by an anesthesiologist. In the current invention, the use of electrical-mechanical interval has been eliminated for various advantageous reasons. The converted hemodynamic state of a patient is displayed on a screen as a three-dimensional vector with each of its three coordinates respectively representing Preload, Afterload and Contractility. Therefore, a medical practitioner looks at the screen and—quickly obtains the important and necessary information.

Abstract: A method of operating a blanching system includes steps of automatically sampling a blanching solution and mixing the sampled blanching solution with a reagent that is formulated to change at least one property according to a concentration of a metal ion in the blanching solution. This property is automatically sensed with an automated sensor and a controller is used to automatically control a concentration of metal ions in the blanching solution in response to a signal that is received from said automated sensor.

Abstract: A method to produce low-temperature sinterable powders which are then subsequently used to fabricate freestanding piezoelectric films with very large electric-field-enhanced piezoelectric response is provided. The ?d31 coefficient for PMN-PT layers can be as high as 2000 pm/V, larger than that of commercial single crystalline PMN-PT bulk materials, at 10 kV/cm (or 20 V over the 20-micron film thickness). In contrast to single crystals, the polycrystalline freestanding films are easy to fabricate and can be made into any size. The films are also easily miniaturized. The method can be applied to nearly any piezoelectric material.

Abstract: A polylactic acid resin foamed molding obtained by placing in a mold a cylindrical body having a foamed layer, which is formed by extruding a foamable molten resin composition prepared by kneading together a polylactic acid resin and a physical blowing agent from a die into a low-pressure zone, and molding it, wherein the molding's foamed layer constituting the foamed molding has a difference (?Hendo:2° C./min??Hexo:2° C./min) between the endothermic calorific value (?Hendo:2° C./min) and the exothermic calorific value (?Hexo:2° C./min) obtained by heat flux differential scanning calorimetry (heating rate of 2° C./min) of 10 J/g or more and a melt tension at 190° C. of 2 cN or more.

Abstract: A server-based computing system includes at least one server (1) and at least one client computer (5), connected to the server (1) through a network (2). The server (1) includes apparatus for providing the client computer (5) with a user interface. The client computer (5) includes an input device (8) for providing input to an application through the user interface and a display device (7) for presenting output from an application through the user interface. The server (1) includes apparatus for running the application and the client computer (5) includes apparatus for locally running at least one further application. The system includes apparatus for controlling the locally run applications through the user interface provided by the server (1).

Abstract: An improved convenience closure that is adapted for sealing an end of a can includes an end panel having a peripheral score, a rivet formation, a mustache score and a flex line score defined therein. The mustache score may include a central portion that is positioned radially inwardly on the end panel relative to the rivet formation. The central portion is preferably curved, with a concave side of the curvature facing the rivet formation. The mustache score also may include first and second preferably symmetrical end portions, each of which is continuous with the central portion. Most of the total length of each of the end portions may be curved away from a nearest portion of the peripheral score, with a convex side of curvature facing the nearest portion of the peripheral score. Tooling for making the convenience closure and a method of making such a convenience disclosure are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to footwear with a shoe sole, including at least one insertable midsole orthotic. The insertable midsole orthotic is removably inserted within the shoe upper, the sides of which hold it in position. The shoe sole includes a concavely rounded side or underneath portion, which may be formed in part by the insertable midsole orthotic. The insertable midsole orthotic may extend the length of the shoe sole or may form only a part of the shoe sole and can incorporate cushioning or structural compartments or components. The insertable midsole orthotic permits replacement of midsole material which has degraded or has worn out in order to maintain optimal characteristics of the shoe sole and allows customization for the individual wearer to provide tailored cushioning or support characteristics for the purpose of orthopedic, podiatric, corrective, prescriptive, therapeutic and/or prosthetic purposes.

Abstract: A device for detecting electromagnetic radiation, charged particles or photons including a 2-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) and/or a 2-dimensional hole gas (2DHG). The device detects the collective response of the plasma to perturbations of the 2DEG and/or the 2DHG. The device is tunable by using Schottky contacts. The device can be used for high-speed photodetector devices, terahertz sensors, and charged particle sensors.

Abstract: The invention relates to a plastic container having a neck, shoulder, base and body portion. There are longitudinal base panel portions with rounded, longitudinal base panel edges separating each of said flattened portions from each other at a waist. The waist has a circumferential dimension less than the base and is positioned between the body portion and the base. The body portion is positioned between the waist and the circular shoulder and has flexible, substantially flat longitudinal body panels and rounded, longitudinal body panel edges separating adjacent body panels from each other and merging with the longitudinal panel edges of said base. The longitudinal body edges increase in width as the body longitudinally merges with the circular shoulder portion, and the circular shoulder portion has a rounded portion transitioning into and merging with the body panels, and a sloping portion of reducing diameter merging with the neck.

Abstract: A connecting member which is formed by filling a mold with a resin composition and then solidifying the resin composition, the connecting member having one end face in which a plurality of fine holes of a ? or less are arrayed in a row with a pitch P therebetween, and guide pin insertion holes are formed on either side of the fine holes, wherein the resin composition is comprised of a resin and a filler mixed therein, and wherein the space (P?a) between the fine holes meets the following formula; Dm<(P?a)<Dmax, in which Dmax represents the largest diameter of the filler particles, and Dm represents the most frequent diameter of the filler particles.