Abstract: In a laser tracking system equipped for interferometric distance measurement there are provided at least two retroreflectors (3.1, 3.2, 3.3) which are connected to the target tracking mirror (1) in a manner such that their position changes when the spatial orientation of the target tracking mirror (1) is changed. Secondary measurement beams (4.1, 4.2, 4.3) deflected out of the primary measuring beam (4) of the laser tracking system are directed onto the retroreflectors (3.1, 3.2, 3.3.). Path length changes in the beam path of the secondary measurement beams (4.1, 4.2, 4.3) are interferometrically measured and the readings are used for computing the spatial orientation of the target tracking mirror (1).

Abstract: Polycarbonate resin containing reduced levels of reaction by-products can be prepared by adding to the polycarbonate a scavenging agent having the formula: wherein R1 is alkoxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy or phenyl, and R2 is a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C30 alkyl group, C6-C30 aryl group, C7-C30 aralkyl group or C6-C30 aryloxy group and processing the resulting mixture at an elevated temperature and for a period of time such that the scavenging agent reacts with linear Fries products to produce capped linear Fries products, and with residual phenols (monohydric or dihydric) to produce capped phenols and ortho-substituted phenols.

Abstract: Polyester molding compositions, which have improved crystallization and processing, a cycloaliphatic polyester component, and a nucleating agent comprising a fluoropolymer containing a thermoplastic resin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and arrangement for detecting substantially the entire signal from a photon converting in a detector in an x-ray detecting arrangement (200, 300, 400), which results in charge-sharing, said arrangement comprising a number of spaced apart sensors (220, 320, 420), said detected photons indirectly creating an amount of free charges proportional to the photon energy. The method comprises the steps of arranging a blocking means (230, 330, 430) between said spaced apart sensors for stopping x-rays that will be incident close to edges of said sensors and will give rise to charge sharing between adjacent sensors. The blocking means comprises etched layers composed together to a blocking layer. The arrangement comprising said blocking means.

Abstract: A method and test kit for providing contraceptive advice during the human ovulation cycle, involving simply the measurement of urinary lutenising hormone (LH) concentration on a daily basis during the early phase of the cycle until the LH surge indicative of ovulation is detected, together with calender means to advise the user to abstain from unprotected intercourse during a time interval commencing not later than a predetermined first day of LH testing and ending at least 2 days following the day of LH surge detection.

Abstract: A liquid level sensor is provided for use with a container. The sensor protrudes through an opening in the container. The sensor includes a float linked by means of a linkage to a first magnet axially rotatable on a first axis. The first magnet has a magnetic moment with a nonzero component at a right angle to the axis. A divider separates the first magnet from a second magnet having a magnetization and axially rotatable on a second axis. The second magnet has a nonzero magnetic moment at a right angle to the second axis. The first and second magnets are juxtaposed in magnetic linkage so that the second magnet is urged to follow the first magnet in rotation. The divider plugs the opening in the container. A magnetic field sensor is positioned to sense axial magnetic field strength at a location offset from the second axis.

Abstract: An electrophoresis cassette is made from two substrates separated by spacers, and a one-piece molded plastic edge adapter. The edge adapter provides the contoured edge to facilitate sample loading, and because it is made from molded plastic is easier to make. Furthermore, the edge adapter has vertically extending arms which define the sides of the loading region and which, when glued to the back substrate, prevent leakage of buffer solution from the region surrounding the electrophoresis origin. In one variation, a groove in the bottom edge of the edge adapter receives the top edge of the front substrate to further define the position of the edge adapter in relation to the substrate. Vertical divider fins may optionally be formed on the contoured surface of the edge adapter. These divider fins define loading wells for the introduction of sample into the lanes of the electrophoresis gel.

Abstract: Method for separating a mixture of source signals to regain said source signals, said method being based on measured signals. The method being characterized in, that every measured signal is brought to a separation structure comprising cross connected linear filters and subsequent adders, that cross correlation functions between the signals after said adders are calculated for delays k between a first delay K1 and a last delay K2, that a criterion function is used to determine how the linear filters comprised in said separation structure will be designed in every real situation, that said criterion function is formulated as a sum of terms where the addition is extended to all possible cross correlation functions between the output signals of separation structure at all possible delays (k) between K1 and K2, and that each term in said sum has a weight factor and another factor consisting of an even function, f, of a specific cross correlation function at a specific delay.

Abstract: Computer-based products such as postal security devices are manufactured as generic, nondescript units. Each has a unique identifier or embedded hardware serial number readable by data communications such as serial electrical communications. At customization time, a human-readable marking is placed on the device, along with a bar code indicative of the human-readable marking. A bar-code reader reads the bar code. The embedded hardware serial number is read. A record is made in a database indicative of the embedded hardware serial number and the bar code information. Software may then be selected based on the bar code information, and loaded into the device, typically within a cryptographically secure area within the device. At a later time the device may be retired from service and reprogrammed, in which case a new human-readable marking and bar code are affixed to the device. The embedded hardware serial number and new bar code information are read and appropriate new data records are created.

Abstract: Data traces from four channels of an automated electrophoresis detection apparatus are aligned by identifying peaks in each of the four data traces; optionally normalizing the data traces to achieve a uniform peak height; combining the four data traces in an initial alignment; and determining coefficients of shift and stretch for selected data points within each data trace. The coefficients are determined by optimizing a cost function which reflects the extent of overlap of peaks in the combined normalized data traces to which the coefficients have been applied. The cost function is optimized when the extent of overlap is at a minimum. The coefficients are then used to generate a warp function for each data trace. These warp functions are applied to their respective data traces to produce four warped data traces which are aligned to form an aligned data set. The aligned data set may be displayed on a video screen of a sequencing apparatus, or may be used as the data set for a base-calling process.

Abstract: A system is described in which the Master can stop its clock and go into a low-power state (for power conservation reasons) at arbitrary times. Before going into the stopped-clock or low-power mode, the Master checks that the serial bus is idle (defined as both Clock and Data lines being “High”). A latch circuit is provided which is active when them aster is in low-power mode. The latch circuit watches for the very first negative-going clock pulse (from the slave), and its configuration is such that when latched, it holds the clock line low. Holding the clock line low prompts the slave to discontinue efforts to send the data. Stated differently, the slave will not conclude that it had successfully sent its data, and this prompts the slave to retain a copy of its data for later resending.

Abstract: The apparatus for collection of a liquid sample (such as a sample of body fluid) includes a tube with a hollow bore extending longitudinally between a first open end and a second open end. The second end is longitudinally spaced from the first open end and the first end has a capillary opening for uptake of the liquid sample by capillary action. The capillary opening has a first axis and a second axis substantially perpendicular thereto. The first axis has a length greater than the internal diameter of the bore, and the second axis has a length less than the internal diameter of the bore. In use the capillary opening is contacted with the liquid sample to be collected. The liquid sample is taken up by capillary action into the bore without introduction of air into the bore.

Abstract: Disclosed is a component for a device for detecting the presence of an analyte of interest in a sample, the component comprising an electrically conducting solid support having immobilized thereon a chemical moiety, said chemical moiety comprising an electroactive portion with an electrochemical property capable of being directly modulated in a detectable manner by the binding thereto of a binding partner having a specific binding activity for the electroactive portion, together with apparatus comprising the component, and a method of detecting the presence of an analyte of interest.

Abstract: Low-particulate dihydric aromatic compounds such as bisphenol-A that can be used in the synthesis of low-particulate polycarbonates are prepared by introducing into a desorber column containing a non-aggregate packing material an adduct of bisphenol and phenol and optionally a stripping gas. The column is maintained at an operating temperature that is sufficiently high and an operating pressure that is sufficiently low such that the adduct is distilled. The stream of phenol and the stripping gas is recovered from the top of the column. A second stream containing bisphenol that is substantially free of added particulate matter is recovered from the bottom of the column. This purified stream of bisphenol-A can further be used in a method of producing optical-grade polycarbonate.

Abstract: The invention presented here refers to an appliance (1) for the rinsing of nasal cavities and of paranasal sinuses, with a rinsing mixture (3) and with a vessel (2) for containing and letting flow out the rinsing mixture (3) without overpressure, whereby the appliance (1) has an applicator (4) with an applicator aperture (42) for introducing the rinsing mixture (3) into a nostril, applicator (4) and vessel (2) are connected to one another, applicator (4) and vessel (2) are arranged at an angle of inclination (&agr;) to one another, a rinsing sure level (30) in the vessel (2) is on the height contour of the applicator aperture (42) and the rinsing mixture (3) through the applicator aperture (42) can flow into a nostril and through paranasal sinuses, as soon as the level of the rinsing mixture (30) is on the height contour of the paranasal sinuses.

Abstract: Polycarbonate having increased end-cap levels is made by adding an end-capping agent to the polycarbonate, preferably after the polycarbonate has reached a number-average molecular weight of about 2,000 to 15,000 Dalton. The end-capping agent has the formula: wherein R1 is a phenyl, phenoxy, benzyl, or benzyloxy and R2 is selected from the group consisting of C1-C30 alkyl, C1-C30 alkoxy, C6-C30 aryl, C6-C30 aryloxy, C7-C30 aralkyl, and C7-C30 aralkyloxy.

Abstract: The problem of battery failure due to failure of one cell in a rechargeable battery, and the related problem of inefficient use of a battery over its dynamic range due to differences between the performance of cells in a battery, are addresses by providing one or more capacitors selectively coupled to the various cells of the battery. The selective and repetitive coupling of capacitors to the cells permits balancing of charge among the cells. This minimizes the risk that any one cell would suffer catastrophic failure due to being fully charged or discharged prior to the other cells in the battery. This also permits making use of the battery over nearly all of its dynamic range. In this way, battery life is maximized.

Abstract: Processes and devices for the photothermal inspection of a test body. Lighting radiation with short lighting times is applied to a test body and at least one measurement value of the emission curve during or after a short lighting time is sensed. The diffusion and/or effusion capacity of a test body coating layer, for example, can be determined by computer units on the basis of the measurement value(s), even when the thickness of the coating layer is unknown, because the measurement values are detected during or shortly after irradiation and the coating layer thickness plays only an insignificant role in the course of the emission curve in this range.

Abstract: Administration of retinoids by inhalation is used to overcome the chronic toxicity problems presented by systemic administration and to make retinoid therapy available as an option for the treatment of fibrotic lung disease, emphysema, and the prevention and treatment of epithelial cancers of the respiratory tract, especially those that are associated with tobacco use. Retinoids are administered by inhalation to the respiratory tract of the individual as an air-borne composition with a metered dose aerosol-producing inhaler, in which the retinoid is dissolved in a combination of a pharmaceutically acceptable chlorofluorocarbon propellant and an alkylamine solubilizing agent.

Abstract: The process for the manufacture of the rib waveguide (4) is based on the process steps (a) ion implantation of high-energy light ions into a crystal, (b) the application of a mask to the surface (11.1) of this crystal, which defines strips, and (c), the etching of a rib (41) onto the surface (11.1) of this crystal. The process step (a) (ion implantation) causes the formation of a layer (14) with a reduced refraction index at a depth of some micrometers below the surface of the crystal (11.1). By this refraction index barrier (14), the light in the direction vertical to the surface of the crystal is restricted. The lateral guidance of the light is effected by the lateral limits (43.1) and (43.2) of the rib (41). The process is in particular suitable for the manufacture of waveguides in non-linear optical crystals, e.g., ferro-electric oxides (KNbO3, LiNbO3, etc.) and borates (LBO, BBO, etc.).