Abstract: A transdermal formulation of dihydropyridine calcium antagonists and specifically nifedipine, nimodipine and nitrendipine. The calcium antagonists are dispersed in a mixed liquid. The mixed liquid comprises varying mole fractions of cis-oleic acid and dimethylisosorbide dispersed in a polypropylene glycol base.

Abstract: A centrifuge rotor cover assembly for use with a centrifuge having a rotor and a housing enclosing the rotor and including a lid movable between a closed position overlying the rotor and an open position providing access to the rotor. The cover assembly includes a rotor cover removably coupled to the lid. Means are provided for engaging the rotor cover with the rotor for rotation therewith and for uncoupling the cover from the lid in response to the lid being moved to the closed position. Means are also provided for disengaging the rotor cover from the rotor and for coupling the cover to the lid in response to the lid being moved to the open position.

Abstract: A clamping assembly for a squeegee blade used in solder paste application. The assembly comprises a holder having referencing pins to position the blade. A clamping bar secures the blade to the holder. A recess is formed between the holder and the clamping bar. When a new blade is inserted, any paste contaminating the assembly is pushed into the recess ensuring both accurate blade positioning and clamping force.

Abstract: A high-frequency miniature pressure ventilator system including a variable volume pressure chamber arranged to surround a portion of the thoracic cavity of a body so as to isolate the portion of the body from atmospheric pressure. A pump assembly is operable for varying the pressure within the chamber so as to apply negative external pressure to the portion of the body during a negative cycle of operation. A valve assembly is operable for opening the chamber to a predetermined pressure during a positive cycle of operation in order to normalize a base pressure from which the pressure within said chamber is varied. In another embodiment there is provided a high-frequency pressure ventilator system including a variable volume pressure chamber arranged to surround the head of a body so as to isolate the head from atmospheric pressure. A pump assembly is operable for varying the pressure within the chamber so as to apply positive external pressure to the head during a positive cycle of operation.

Abstract: A curb box locking device has a core unit with a head at its upper end and a foot at its lower end. A sleeve surrounds and is shiftable axially in relation to the core unit. Claw members are carried on the core unit for pivotal movement through side openings in the sleeve. The locking device is externally configured and dimensioned to be lowered into the curb box to a position at which the foot of the core unit is at rest on a valve or the like at the bottom of the curb box. The sleeve is engageable with the claw members during upward displacement of the sleeve relative to the core unit to pivotally urge the claw members radially outwardly into extended positions engaging the interior of the curb box to thereby resist upward removal of the locking device. The locking device is upwardly removable from the curb box by employing a tool specially designed to pull upwardly on the core unit.

Abstract: An image processing system and method which may be used for standalone deconvolution or, alternatively, may be employed as a staring point for very rapid convergence with subsequent use of prior art deconvolution methods. Processing speed is improved because the sequential requirement of the CLEAN method is relaxed. Fractional removal of noise is accomplished for multiple features within the image during the processing of a single subtractive iteration. Thus the number of iterations can be significantly reduced allowing dramatic reduction of the subtractive stage and a resulting increase in overall processing speed.

Abstract: A process for producing a ceramic network material from a ceramic suspension includes casting a suspension in a tooth-shaped mold. The suspension includes dispersed alumina particles in a medium containing deionized water with a pH in a range of about 4 to 5 and a concentration of polyvinyl alcohol in a range of about 0.5 to 1% by weight. The process includes the steps of slip casting the suspension in a plaster tooth mold and drying the molded suspension to draw the water from the suspension. The dried suspension then is fired in a furnace at a temperature in a range of about 1000 to 1400.degree. C. to form a ceramic network. After the dried suspension has been fired and excess water and polyvinyl alcohol has been removed from the suspension, lanthanum aluminosilicate glass is infused to a coronal portion of the ceramic network to form a glass layer with a thickness in a range of about 1 to 2 mm within the ceramic network.

Abstract: A beverage filter cartridge includes an impermeable yieldably pierceable base having a predetermined shape and an access opening at one end. A self-supporting wettable filter element is disposed in the base and is permanently sealed to an interior surface of the base. The filter element subdivides the base into first and second chambers, a first chamber for storing an extract of the beverage to be made, and a second empty chamber for accessing the beverage after the beverage outflow from the filter has been made by combining a liquid with the extract. An impermeable, yieldably pierceable, imperforate cover is sealingly engaged with the top of the base to form an impermeable cartridge.

Abstract: A quadrature sampling system and method (BQS) and a hybrid quadrature sampling and channel equalization system and method (BQS/EQ) which convert input signals to baseband inphase and quadrature signal components. The BQS system includes an inphase signal channel including a first set of K filters, and a signal summer which sums the outputs of the first set of K filters to produce the inphase signal component; a quadrature signal channel including a second set of K filters, and a signal summer which sums the outputs of the second set of K filters to produce the quadrature signal component; and a controlled switch which provides input samples to the inphase and quadrature signal channels so that each filter of both channels receives one input sample of each sequence. The BQS/EQ system includes first and second sets of signal processing filter pairs, each pair including an inphase and a quadrature filter.

Abstract: Low-dimensional real-world chaotic or non-chaotic dynamical systems are controlled by a model-independent control technique that does not require knowledge of the system's governing equations or a pre-control learning stage. Control is applied to a real-world system by estimating the desired unstable periodic fixed point, determining the value of a perturbation that will be made to a readily-accessible system parameter, entering the perturbation to the system, and adaptively adjusting the control sensitivity in order to force the system toward its unstable periodic fixed point. Control is repeated periodically and maintained indefinitely or for a predetermined length of time.