Abstract: In a multi-layer armor system (10), useful for military vehicles, a metallic foam is provided as the shock energy-absorbing element. In a typical arrangement, the metallic foam shock-absorbing element (12) is sandwiched between a high strength strike plate (11) and a backing plate (13). Typically, the backing plate is a highly deforming metal, such as titanium, aluminum, or steel. However, the backing plate may comprise one or more layers of metal, ceramic or polymer-based composites. The high strength strike plate may be ceramic or metal. The shock-absorbing element is preferably a closed-cell metal foam with a high porosity that is effective in containing rearward deformation of the strike plate from a projectile strike. In a preferred embodiment, the shock-absorbing element is an aluminum foam with a porosity of 80 percent by volume.

Abstract: A gaming machine has variable display devices for variably displaying a plurality of symbols necessary for a game, a controller for controlling variable action of the variable display devices, and a display device for displaying optional images. The images displayed by the display device are necessary for a secondary game different from a principal game executed by the variable display devices and are determined in relation to the symbols displayed when the variable action of variable display devices is stopped.

Abstract: A communication interface device connects communication object machines to communication networks that interconnect the communication object machines and management devices that operate or monitor the communication object machines. The communication interface device includes a socket server for converting signals between the communication object machines and the communication networks. A WWW server is connected to the communication networks, and a memory is connected to the WWW server. The memory stores application programs to be transferred to the management devices via the communication networks according to client programs stored in the management devices for execution on the client programs.

Abstract: System and apparatus for determining a relationship between transportable or storable materials and plural transportation or storage modes for the materials. In a transportation system, placard rules that correlate placards, materials, and transportation or storage modes are pre-stored in a computer memory. Materials data is entered corresponding to a first predetermined material, as well as data corresponding to a predetermined transportation mode or a predetermined storage mode. One of the plurality of predetermined placards is selected in response to the materials data, the transportation or storage data, and the placard rules data. The transportable or storable material may be a hazardous material, and the placard rules therefore correspond to safety rules. In an apparatus aspect, an arrangement selects one of a plurality of placards.

Abstract: A high resolution magnetic resonance force microscope is adapted to study biological systems, such as isolated cells, sub-cellular organelles and other sub-cellular structures, or cellular receptors and proteins, at resolutions ranging from 1 micron to 1 Å. The proposed magnetic resonance force microscope allows the direct, non-destructive, chemical specific, three-dimensional imaging of biological systems. In some embodiments, the biological sample may be altered to enhance its ability to be detected by its nuclear or electron spin resonance. In a particularly preferred embodiment, a paramagnetic agent is incorporated into cells by endocytosis.

Abstract: An arrangement for isolating an energy transfer system while it is subjected to a test process for noise. The energy transfer system is of the type having an energy input and at least one energy output, and may be mechanical or electrical. The isolation arrangement has a base that supports the energy transfer system in isolation support supporting the energy transfer system, yet affords multiple degrees of freedom with respect to the base. The energy transfer system is clamped in a manner that permits the multiple degrees of freedom with respect to the base, via an engagement arrangement that secures the energy transfer system to the isolation support. The engagement arrangement has a first position with respect to the base wherein the energy transfer system is installable on, and removable from, the isolation support, and a second position wherein the energy transfer system is secured to the isolation support means.

Abstract: A gaming machine has a principal display that displays a plurality of symbols in varying and stopped states. The player is rewarded when the stop state corresponds to a specific stop state. A predictive display displays whether the specific stop state is to be displayed. Start and stop devices are manipulated by a player, and a controller determines whether the specific stop state is to be permitted and a predictive display mode based on the result of the determination. The controller determines whether the likelihood of appearance of the specific stop state is changeable in conjunction with a change in the game resulting from the passage of time. The player adjusts the stop manipulation while confirming changes of the predictive display or expecting the appearance of a known predictive display. In this manner, an effective variable demonstration is achieved, and the fun of the game is enhanced.

Abstract: A system for forming a precision shaft for a permanent magnet motor employs a working surface region of the precision shaft and a coaxially arranged rotor region. A cutting tool is used to make a first machining or cutting pass along the entire length of the working and rotor regions. Subsequent passes of the cutting tool are limited to the working region of the motor shaft to form a threaded ball screw shaft portion. The rotor region, however, remains with but a continuous shallow groove that is surrounded by a helical shaft portion having the original diameter of the precision shaft. Thus, preparation of the shaft to effect bonding of the magnetic rotor does not affect the shaft diameter. The depth of the shallow groove in the rotor region is approximately between 0.001″ and 0.004″, and preferably 0.003″. The permanent magnet rotor is bonded to the rotor surface region of the precision shaft by an A+B heat cured type of epoxy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleic acid sequences for regulating gene expression in plants. In particular, the invention relates to 5′ regulatory sequences which are useful for regulating expression of heterologous DNAs in plants and methods for identifying multiple 5′ regulatory sequences which confer a particular expression profile when operably linked to DNA sequences. The invention also relates to expression vectors containing the 5′ regulatory sequences and to transgenic plants containing the expression vectors.

Abstract: A device is provided for the collection and disposal of insects and similarly sized detrital objects. The device includes an air inlet end through which air can be entrained, and an air outlet from which said entrained air is expelled. The device also includes a hollow duct portion through which entrained air passes and a filter means provided between the inlet and the outlet which prevent insects from being expelled through the outlet. Means are provided to create a pressure differential between the air inlet and air outlet of the device, such that air is entrained in the inlet and drawn through the duct portion of the device towards the outlet, additionally passing through the filter.

Abstract: A gaming machine is provided with a variable display for displaying principal graphical information corresponding to at least one of a plurality of principal graphical elements, each principal graphical element having a predetermined significance in a principal game of the gaming machine. A secondary display displays secondary graphical information and is provided with a display portion positioned below the display portion of the variable display. A controller produces first control signals that control the variable display to display the principal graphical information as a sequential principal progression of the principal graphical elements, and second control signals that control the secondary display to display the secondary graphical information. The secondary graphical information has a predetermined relationship to the sequential progression of the principal graphical elements.

Abstract: A suspension spring arrangement for a vehicle having an upper elongated spring leaf (12) and a lower elongated spring leaf (14) with an upper elongated spring leaf (12) is provided with a slot (22) and a lower elongated spring leaf (14) is provided with a protuberance (24). When the upper and lower spring leafs (12, 14) are joined to one another, the protuberance (24) is accommodated within the slot (22) so as to prevent lateral displacement of the upper and lower spring leafs (12, 14) with respect to each other. Pounding and squeaking noises are prevented by the installation of a polymeric insert between the slot and the protuberance. The slot (22) and the protuberance (24) are configured in accordance with square, rectangular, and/or circular shapes, depending upon the particular application. A protuberance (24) and a slot (22) can be provided at each end of the suspension spring arrangement.

Abstract: A pressure (1) release valve is disclosed ideally for use on petrol tankers which can rollover in an accident. There is a requirement for such valves both to become sealed in the event of a rollover to prevent the escape of volatile and flammable fluid from within the tanker, and also to allow for the venting of gas above the fluid within the tanker under normal operating conditions. The valve comprises a movable plunger (24) and a fixed seat (32) which can move axially towards and away from each other to open and close the valve. One or other of valve seat and plunger is provided with magnetic inserts (23), while the alternate component is ferromagnetic so that magnetic attraction betwixt the two components acts to bias the valve towards a closed condition.

Abstract: Farnesyl diphosphate analogs, specifically the 3-substituted alcohol precursors of the diphosphate analogs, 3-allylfarnesol and 3-vinylfarnesol, are potent inhibitors of mammalian protein fanesyltransferase (FTase). 3-allylgeranylgeraniol is a highly specific cellular inhibitor of protein geranylgeranylation (GGTase I). Furthermore, these compounds are able to efficiently block the anchorage-dependent growth of ras transformed cells. While 3-allylfarnesol inhibits protein farnesylation in situ, 3-vinylfarnesol instead leads to the abnormal prenylation of proteins with the 3-vinylfarnesyl group. In a similar manner, treatment with 3-allylgeranylgeraniol inhibits protein geranylgeranylation while 3-vinylgeranylgeraniol restores protein geranylgeranylation in cells.

Abstract: A polymer-cement composite comprises, by weight percent, about 40% to 50% inert, inorganic filler material, such as silica sand; about 12% to 23% latex, preferably in aqueous suspension; about 20% to 25% hydraulic cement; and about 7% to 13% reactive silica. The reactive silica is a pozzolanic material, and in preferred embodiments, where the cement is portland cement, comprises an advantageous mixture of precipitated and ground silica. All solid components have a particle size of less than about 300 microns. The polymer-cement composite is preferably made by dry mixing of the powdered components throughly in a high intensity mixer, adding the liquid components, and wet mixing to form a thoroughly blended, de-aired green mixture. The green mixture is formed into any desired shape, cured, and dried. Preferably, the product is cured in a warm, moist environment.

Abstract: A light source arrangement for conducting spectroscopic analysis of a material to be analyzed has a first source of electromagnetic energy for issuing a first source electromagnetic energy having a first predetermined spectroscopic characteristic and a second source of electromagnetic energy for issuing a second source electromagnetic energy having a second predetermined spectroscopic characteristic. The light source arrangement is provided with a first port for emitting an output electromagnetic energy having an output spectral characteristic responsive to a selectable combination of the first and second predetermined spectroscopic characteristics. A holder secures the material to be analyzed in a first path of propagation of the output electromagnetic energy. A third port emits a first test electromagnetic energy having a first test spectral characteristic responsive to an interaction between the output electromagnetic energy and the material to be analyzed.

Abstract: An arrangement for isolating an energy transfer system while it is subjected to a test process for noise. The energy transfer system is of the type having an energy input and at least one energy output, and may be mechanical or electrical. The isolation arrangement has a base that supports the energy transfer system. An isolation support supporting the energy transfer system, yet affords multiple degrees of freedom with respect to the base. The energy transfer system is clamped in a manner that permits the multiple degrees of freedom with respect to the base, via an engagement arrangement that secures the energy transfer system to the isolation support. The engagement arrangement has a first position with respect to the base wherein the energy transfer system is installable on, and removable from, the isolation support, and a second position wherein the energy transfer system is secured to the isolation support means.

Abstract: A method of controlling the content of a chemical bath includes the steps of: determining a replenishment condition for the chemical bath; defining a unit of the replenishment condition; establishing a pacing factor corresponding to a replenishment volume of a replenishment medium per unit of the replenishment condition; and defining a replenishment threshold corresponding to the product of a predetermined number of the defined units of the replenishment condition and the pacing factor. The rate of continued replenishment of the predetermined constituent of the chemical bath is determined in response to the replenishment condition, which may be elapsed time, ampere-hours (or coulombs), number of product loads, product surface area, or line speed over time. The method replenishes constituents as they actually are consumed. It also prevents depletion (or buildup in the case of decanting a by-product) and the associated time delay related to detection and correction.

Abstract: Device quality, single crystal film of cubic zinc-blend aluminum nitride (AlN) is deposited on a cubic substrate, such as a silicon (100) wafer by plasma source molecular beam epitaxy (PSMBE). The metastable zinc-blend form of AlN is deposited on the substrate at a low temperature by a low energy plasma beam of high-energy activated aluminum ions and nitrogen ion species produced in a molecular beam epitaxy system by applying a pulsed d.c. power to a hollow cathode source. In this manner, films having a thickness of at least 800 Å were produced. The lattice parameter of as-deposited films was calculated to be approximately 4.373 Å which corresponds closely to the theoretical calculation (4.38 Å) for cubic zinc-blend AlN. An interfacial layer of silicon carbide, specifically the cubic 3C—SiC polytype, interposed between the epitaxial film of zinc-blend AlN and the Si(100) wafer provides a template for growth and a good lattice match.

Abstract: A switch for controlling delivery of electrical power to a plurality of vehicle lighting systems, such as headlamps and parking lamps, as well as specialized vehicle lighting systems, such as a fog lamps, and one or more automatic mode settings. The switch has a first circuit contact system for controlling delivery of electrical energy to one or more combinations of the vehicle lighting systems. A second circuit contact controls delivery of electrical energy to the specialized vehicle lighting system. Manipulation of a switch control selects the control states of the first and second circuit contact systems. The first circuit contact system is urged in a rotational direction of travel, as the second circuit contact system is urged in an axial direction of travel. A control state limiter is provided to limit the second circuit contact system to the first control state when the first circuit contact system is in a predetermined one of the plurality of corresponding the selectable control states.