Abstract: The present invention relates to a soil injection apparatus in which a probe having on insertion tip is inserted into the soil. A pair of probe guide assemblies are positioned adjacent each side of the probe to provide stability of the probe and prevent breaking of the probe. A probe hydraulic system extends and retracts the probe from the soil. A liquid pumping system pumps liquid into an outlet of the probe after insertion of the probe into the soil. A control system activates the probe hydraulic system and liquid pumping system. Preferably, a switch is used to activate the pumping system to pump liquid into the soil after the probe has been inserted a predetermined depth into the soil. The soil injection apparatus can be attached to a self-propelled vehicle. A carrier can be attached to the vehicle for holding debris removed from the soil injection site.

Abstract: An elevating work platform unit is mountable on, and de-mountable from, a vehicle. A counter leverage arm assembly is connectable to the vehicle to provide vertical stability for the mast which supports a boom and platform for luffing and/or slewing movement.

Abstract: A tunable chromatic dispersion compensator for optical communication systems is disclosed. An optical grating, such as a fiber Bragg grating, non-chirped, linearly chirped or non-linearly chirped, is coated on its outer surface with a coating have a variable diameter and strained is applied to the fiber. The fiber may be latchably strained so that the grating characteristics may be changed or tuned while avoiding use of a continuous power supply. Various optical networking applications using such dispersion compensating devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to functionalizable and crosslinkable polyurethanes formed of a polyurethane intermediate including one or more ester groups which react with an amine equivalent to form an amide unit. The polyurethane intermediate comprises the reaction product of alkyl ester of dihydroxypolyacid or dimethylolalkanoic acid, a polyoxyalkylene diol and an organic diisocyanate. The polyurethane is reacted with a solution of an amine equivalent and a solvent or an amine. An article of manufacture can be formed from the polyurethane.

Abstract: A preventive and curative agent for inflammatory bowel diseases is disclosed which has as an active ingredient thereof a chromanol glucoside represented by the following general formula (1) (wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 represent identically or differently either a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group, R5 represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, or a lower acyl group, X represents a monosaccharide residue or an oligosaccharide residue having the hydrogen atom in the hydroxyl group thereof optionally substituted with a lower alkyl group or a lower acyl group, n represents an integer of 0-6, and m represents an integer of 1-6). Owing to the use, as an active ingredient, of the chromanol glucoside excelling in water solubility and possessing an oxidization resisting action and a free radical resisting action, the agent can conspicuously repress the lesion of an inflammatory bowel disease and prominently ameriolate the condition of disease.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for rehabilitating an ankle in which a mobile platform receives a patient's foot. The mobile platform can be moved in six degrees of freedom. The position and orientation of the mobile platform is measured in relation to the fixed platform in six degrees of freedom. The force exerted by the foot against the mobile platform is measured in six degrees of freedom. The measured position and measured force are forwarded to an electronic interface and fed to a programmable computer. The programmable computer determines desired force feedback to be applied by the controller interface to the mobile platform. The desired feedback signal moves the mobile platform to a desired position or applies a desired force or torque to the mobile platform. The rehabilitation system can include simulation of virtual objects which can be moved by the user to simulate an exercise. For example, the virtual reality simulation can include exercises for balance, flexibility and strength.

Abstract: A modular carrier assembly is disclosed which is adapted for use in playing the sport of paintball. The assembly includes a belt portion and a pack portion that are readily attachable and detachable to each other. The belt portion has a pack fastener adapted to mate with a belt fastener disposed on the pack; flaps on either the belt or the pack are inserted through straps on the other of the belt or the pack and secured to the belt. This configuration provides lumbar support to the user, enables the carrying of heavy weight, and allows for adjustments in the packs that can be carried.

Abstract: An improved waveguide optical amplifier having an optically transparent first cladding layer, an optically transparent film doped with an optically active material, disposed over the first cladding layer, at least one undoped optically transparent film disposed over the doped film and coating etched walls of the doped film, and an optically transparent second cladding layer disposed over the undoped film. At least a portion of the undoped film disposed immediately adjacent the doped film has an index of refraction which is closer to the index of refraction of the doped film, than to the index of refraction of the second cladding layer and preferably equal thereto. The undoped film covers surface imperfections in the etched walls of the doped film, effectively moving them from the doped film/undoped film interface to the undoped film/cladding layer interface thereby reducing scattering of the high-intensity mode field.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a tunable optical grating device comprises a grating, which is fixed at both ends to a support frame and is flexed so that a tensile strain induced in the grating reconfigures the resonant wavelength. Typical embodiments include mechanical or magnetic latching arrangements capable of inducing a latchable change in grating periodicity. In typical embodiments programmable and latchable magnets accurately produce a predetermined amount of fiber deflection and tensile strain, thereby producing a latchable wavelength shift with minimal power. The device is especially useful in WDM communication systems for adding or dropping channels, for dynamically gain-equalizing optical amplifiers, for tuning lasers, and for dispersion compensation.

Abstract: Improved pharmaceutical compositions useful in targeting biological agents to particular tissue and compositions useful for administering biological agents to the brain.

Abstract: A method for examination of heart/arteries to obtain information in form of measurement results as a basis for exact diagnosis, where electrodes are placed on suitable areas of the body to provide signals, and where, by signal processing, a three-dimensional ECG vector cardiogram is obtained, which is illustrated by a three-dimensional picture of the heart. According to the invention, sound from--say--three places over a period of time is registered, as the signal fluctuations which are synchronized with the heartbeats are calculated, so that sounds from other sources i.e. intestines, lungs are eliminated. The heart's arteries electromagnetic movements are illustrated in order to visualize its pathology.

Abstract: A device for changing the power levels of signals transmitted by an optical fiber, along with signal modulation and wavelength routing, comprises a length of optical fiber in which for a predetermined section of the length of the fiber, the fiber core is surrounded by a cladding having one or more variable refractive index (VRI) regions disposed therein in close proximity to the core. The VRI regions are fabricated with a material having an index of refraction higher than that of the cladding and may comprise a variable attenuator.

Abstract: A method for making toys and toy figures from pliant rods such as pipe cleaners comprises providing an elongated member having a plurality of openings passing therethrough, the openings being arranged substantially linearly across the length of the member and configured to receive pliant rods. When one pliant rod (e.g., pipe cleaner) is thread through each one of the plurality of openings, a warp weave is defined. Pliant rods are weaved through the warp weave to create a woof weave and ultimately, a weaved piece. Once the weaved piece is formed, it can be removed from the device and then bent, twisted, and otherwise flexed to create a multiplicity of different toys drawing on the user's creativity.

Abstract: A design system associated with prestressed concrete cylinder pipe (PCCP) using a graphic user interface (GUI), which is capable of carrying out, in an integrated fashion, a variety of operations such as operations for the design of embedded-cylinder pipe (ECP), lined-cylinder pipes (LCP), and fittings, computer-aided drawing (CAD) interfaces, operations for quantity calculation, operations for inquiry to a Database, and operations for a demo presentation, in a GUI environment allowing for the easy use of the design system by the user. In accordance with this operating method, it is possible to not only reduce the time taken to design ECP, LCP, and fittings, but also to allow the user to achieve such a design even when he has no theoretical knowledge of that design while only having knowledge of data inputting and outputting.

Abstract: A tunable chromatic dispersion compensator for optical communication systems is disclosed. An optical grating, such as a fiber Bragg grating, nonchirped, linearly chirped or non-linearly chirped, is strained to alter the dispersion compensator characteristics, preferably with a gradient-generating body bonded onto the length of the fiber grating. The body may be latchably strained so that the grating characteristics may be changed or tuned while avoiding use of a continuous power supply. Various optical networking applications using such dispersion compensating devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and system for forming walls includes a dual-wall cavity. A stud is formed of an outer flange, middle flange and inner flange arranged in an "E" shape configuration. An outer panel attaches to the outer flange, a middle panel attaches to the middle flange and an inner panel attaches to the inner flange. An outer cavity is formed between the outer panel and the middle panel. The outer cavity can be filled with a filler material for providing structural and insulation features. Thereafter, an inner panel attaches to the inner flange for providing an inner cavity. The inner cavity can be used to house utility materials such as plumbing, air ducts, heating and electrical.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a passively temperature-compensated tunable optical grating device comprises a grating, which is fixed at both ends to a support frame, and is mechanically or magnetically flexed so that a tensile strain induced in the grating reconfigures the resonant wavelength of the grating. Preferred embodiments include at least one waveguide grating, a flexing mechanism capable of inducing a latchable change in grating periodicity and at least one negative thermal expansion component which, upon heating, reduces the strain in the grating so that the temperature-induced wavelength shift is substantially cancelled out. The device can reduce the temperature-dependent wavelength change to less than 0.5 nm/100 deg. C, and preferably less than 0.05 nm/100 deg. C. In a preferred embodiment, the packaging assembly also includes a fine-wavelength adjusting mechanism for post-assembly corrective tuning.

Abstract: This invention is predicated on applicant's discovery that near the gate dielectric/semiconductor interface, surface roughness of a particular spectral range plays a disproportionately larger role in scattering electrons and impeding their transport. Moving electrons will not enter the nooks and crannies of roughness having wavelength shorter than about 100 .ANG. and therefore are not affected by them, and electrons are less affected by roughness having wavelengths longer than about 1000 .ANG.. Accordingly, it is desirable to reduce the surface roughness of gate dielectrics at the interface. This can be accomplished prior to dielectric formation by inspection of semiconductor wafers for surface roughness and rejection of those wafers with high surface roughness content in the range 100 .ANG. to 1000 .ANG.. Such inspection also provides a valuable criterion for selecting optimum semiconductor processing steps.