Abstract: Variable potential electrokinetic devices and electrokinetic multipliers used for pumping and flow control are disclosed that offer improvements in safety and design flexibility. The devices of the present invention take advantage of combinations of pumping conduits and conducting conduits to permit the use of lower operating voltages in pumps, pressure multipliers, and flow controllers. Devices having N pumping stages and 2N+1 electrodes permit the use of arbitrary voltages at the fluid connection points between the devices and other system components, further improving device safety and flexibility.

Abstract: A bed enclosure comprises a frame, a tent supported by the frame, and a mattress cover. Material covering two opposed upright end members of the frame and an upper support bar extending between the upright end members is connected to the tent by zipper connectors. A lower edge of the tent is likewise connected to an upper edge of the mattress cover with a zipper connector.

Abstract: A substance for preventing, delaying the onset of, or treating one or more than one autoimmune disease, the substance comprising a polynucleotide construct comprising a polynucleotide sequence encoding the pro-apoptotic protein BAX and encoding one or more than one autoantigen for the autoimmune disease. A method for preventing, delaying the onset of or treating an autoimmune disease in a patient comprising selecting a patient who is susceptible to developing the autoimmune disease, who is developing the autoinimune disease or who has the autoinimune disease and administering to the patient one or more than one dose of a polynucleotide construct comprising a polynucleotide sequence encoding the pro-apoptotic protein BAX and encoding one or more than one autoantigen for an autoimmune disease, or comprising a polynucleotide sequence encoding the adenoviral protein E3-GP19k, or comprising a polynucleotide sequence encoding ?BCL-2.

Abstract: A furniture leg foot includes (a) a body adapted for attachment to a lower portion of a furniture leg, the body having a longitudinal axis and being made from a first material; and (b) one or more resilient inserts disposed within the body, the one or more resilient inserts being made from a resilient material which is softer than the first material.

Abstract: A device for hanging one or more cords, such as cables or ropes used to hang banners or electrical wires used to hang strings of decorative lights, includes (a) an elongate housing, (b) an interior member which is slidably disposed within the housing, and (c) biasing means, such as a coil spring. The interior member defines a notch proximate to its forward end. The notch is sized to accept and retain at least one cord. The interior member is slidable within the housing between a closed position and an open position. The biasing means is adapted to bias the interior member towards the closed position. When a cord is disposed within the notch, the biasing of the interior member towards the closed position firmly attaches the cord to the device.

Abstract: A multifunctional electronic device for checking and managing the operating and diagnostic conditions of a mechanical seal. A method of controlling and managing the operating and diagnostic conditions of a mechanical seal.

Abstract: The invention establishes a protected volume on a data storage device associated with a computational device by allowing an operating system of the computational device to boot up to a point (the volume conversion crossover point) at which predetermined functionality of the operating system becomes available, then establishing the protected volume. A copy of the operating system data (cleartext operating system data) that is accessed during boot up prior to the volume conversion crossover point (which can be known by monitoring and recording access to operating system data during boot-up) is stored in an unprotected region of the data storage device. A copy of the cleartext operating system data is also stored in the protected volume. After the protected volume is established, the computational device is reset, causing the operating system to boot up again.

Abstract: An integrated multi-application data processing system for generating, storing, and retrieving data files, each data file having a multi-dimensional array of data cells, and a program framework providing a common user interface for at least one application program for user interaction with one or more of the data files. Each of the data cells, which can contain a single data object that includes an object type code and object content, has a unique multi-dimensional cell address with respect to all cells in data files generated by the system. The object content can be self-contained and/or defined in terms of object content of other data objects, and the object type code is indicative of the object content being any of a number, a formula, a date, a text, a page, media data, and binary data other than a number, a formula, a date, or a text. The media data type can be at least a picture, a sound track, or a video clip. The binary data type can be a computer program, an address, or a macro, or other type.

Abstract: A laminated flow device comprises a porous material encapsulated within bonding material. The porous material forms a flow path and the bonding material forms an enclosure surrounding the flow path. Micro-components, such as capillaries, electrodes, reservoirs, bridges, electrokinetic elements, and detectors, can be encapsulated within the device.

Abstract: A monodirectional braking mechanism for use with a device for extending and retracting a sheet of material on a roller, the braking mechanism comprising one or more than one housing, one or more than one rotor within the housing, a brake controller connected to the rotor, and an eccentric brake operatively coupled with the brake controller, where the braking mechanism reduces the force or rate, or both the force and rate, of rotation of the roller as the roller is rotated in a second rotation direction but has substantially no effect on the force or rate of rotation of the roller when the roller is rotated in a first rotation direction, and where the first rotation direction is the reverse of the second rotation direction.

Abstract: A compact multi-polarized antenna for transmitting and/or receiving radio frequency (RF) signals, and a method for constructing same, is disclosed. The antenna comprises at least two radiative antenna elements each having a first end and a second end. The second ends of the antenna elements are electrically connected at an apex point and are disposed outwardly away from the apex point at an acute angle relative to and to a first side of an imaginary plane intersecting the apex point. The antenna also includes an electrically conductive, non-planar ground reference located at and/or to a second side of the imaginary plane.

Abstract: An adjustable contaminated mixing apparatus includes a reactor head and a down tube extending from the reactor head. A plurality of ports are formed in the reactor head and configured to impart a spinning motion to the contaminated liquid as it passes from the reactor head into the down tube. Each port is adapted to receive a flow restrictor to permit selectively control of velocity and flow volume of the liquid through the down tube. Typically, the flow restrictors are removable flow restriction plugs inserted into in a removable cartridge of the reactor head.

Abstract: An overrunning clutch comprising a ratchet wheel (1) and a plurality of pawls (2) is disclosed. Each of the pawls (2) is rotationally supported on a disk member (5) by a shaft (3). The clutch is characterized by a permanent magnet (4) being fixed on the disk member (5) between the axes of the disk member (5) and the shaft (3) and facing the tail end of each pawl (2). Because each of the pawls are not driven by a spring in the clutch, the clutch could not be malfunction due to the fatigue failure of the spring in the case of frequent heavy load.

Abstract: A microfluidic detection device provides reduced dispersion of axial concentration gradients in a flowing sample. The microfluidic detection device includes a cell body and a flow path through the cell body. The flow path has an inlet segment, an outlet segment, and a central segment, which forms a detection cell. The central segment is located between and at an angle with both the inlet segment and the outlet segment. The central segment has a first junction with the inlet segment and a second junction with the outlet segment. The cell body contains two arms that can transmit light to and from the detection cell. At least a portion of a first arm is located in the first junction and at least a portion of a second arm is located in the second junction. The portions of the arms located in the junctions are situated so that fluid entering or exiting the central segment of the flow path flows around the outer surface of one of the portions.

Abstract: A lamp having a cold cathode field emission plate; an anode plate having a transparent substrate having a first side and a second side; a transparent conductive coating formed on the first side of the transparent substrate; a phosphor layer formed on the transparent conductive coating, and a filter formed on the second side of the transparent substrate; and a voltage source connected across the cathode and the anode plate.

Abstract: Gas-permeable membranes comprising a microporous film and a coating on the microporous film, the coating being obtained by coating the microporous film with a liquid coating composition comprising a polymer and hollow polymeric particles dispersed in the composition, and then solidifying the coating. The gas-permeable membrane has a reduced ratio of carbon dioxide permeability to oxygen permeability.

Abstract: A method and circuitry for pre-conditioning an electrical signal. The method comprises limiting the strength of the signal to not exceed a limit signal strength corresponding to the onset of substantial non-linear response of an amplifier to which the limited signal is to be supplied for amplification.

Abstract: In cytometry and like procedures, particles containing signal dyes are exposed to a laser, and the resulting fluorescence is assessed in two different wavelength bands. When the particle is a single-assay particle, or when the particle carries only a single dye, the fluorescences in the different wavelength bands are combined in order to assess the concentration of the signal dye.

Abstract: An integrated multi-application data processing system for generating, storing, and retrieving data files, each data file having an array of data cells, which includes a program framework providing a common user interface for at least one application program for user interaction with one or more of the data files. Each of the data cells, which can contain a single data object that includes an object type code and object content, has a unique address with respect to all cells in data files generated by the system.

Abstract: A method for distributing game tokens, such as playing cards, in a game which includes the distribution of game tokens to n players (P1, P2, . . . Pn), includes the steps of: (a) obtaining from each player Pi a first unit Ai, wherein each Ai is chosen from a finite set of discrete candidate first units; (b) obtaining from each player Pi a second unit Bi, wherein each Bi is chosen from a finite set of discrete candidate second units; (c) deriving a third unit C using a predetermined algorithm where C=f(B1, . . . , Bn); (d) assigning a previously unassigned game token Gi to each player from a predetermined algorithm where Gi=f(Ai, C); and (e) repeating steps (a)-(d) until a predetermined number of game tokens cards are distributed to each player.