Abstract: Improvements to external stents to render incompetent venous valves competent are disclosed. The device is an inelastic bio-compatible cuff (1) that encircles the venous valve cusps (15) decreasing the internal diameter of the vein wall (11) to allow apposition of the cusps (15) and create competence. The device may be calibrated to known diameters to create competence for different phenotypes. The different diameters are indicated by holes (2, 3, 4) in the body (1). The buckle attachment (6) allows the body of the device to become conical or inverted to become pyramidal as appropriate. The wide buckle (5) allows the device to become elliptical at smaller diameters. The angle of the notches (10) in the device is approximately 15°, which allows better overriding at the sapheno-femoral junction resulting in better competence of the valve.

Abstract: A hex wrench device, comprising at least one longitudinal member and at least one pair of complementary wrench sleeves which can be magnetically and longitudinally connected to the longitudinal member, wherein a hex key having a larger total surface area than that of the longitudinal member is formed when the complementary wrench sleeves are magnetically and longitudinally connected to the longitudinal member.

Abstract: A chopper, or crusher (1) for breaking up ice, including a housing (2, 3) able to be pushed over the goods to be broken up and with a knife (5) with a blade having a toothed cutter (52) is provided. An upper housing part (2) is detachably connectable to a beaker-like housing lower part (3) closed at the bottom. In a preferred embodiment, the height HK of the blade (51), the height of the beaker HB and the maximum vertical path of the knife (5) limited by an actuation mechanism (4) are selected and matched to one another such that the cutter (52) in its lowermost position does not come into contact with the beaker base (31).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for designing color filters which improve or modify color vision of the human eye. According to the invention a desired opponent signal function to be attained is divided by a real opponent signal function characteristic of the eye color vision to be improved or modified, the negative range of the resulting function is replaced by zero, the whole function is normalized to give a spectral transmission function, and, if desired, one or more section(s) of this spectral transmission function is modified. The invention also relates to color filter means designed by the above method.

Abstract: An oral hygiene device having an ultrasound transducer 22 and an acoustic waveguide 24 facilitating the transmission of ultrasonic acoustic energy to fluids in the oral cavity is disclosed. Preferred ultrasound operating parameters for operation in aqueous environments and in dental slurries are disclosed. Devices may incorporate a drive motor 16 for oscillating a device head 23, acoustic waveguide 24 and one or more bristle tuft(s) 26 at sonic frequencies, and preferred sonic operating parameters are also provided. Multi-element piezoelectric transducer assemblies 30, 40, and various control and communications features are disclosed. Oral hygiene devices disclosed herein achieve improved plaque and stain removal from the teeth as well as interproximal and subgingival regions, while enhancing the user experience, massaging the gums, stimulating dental tissue, and disrupting biofilm.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nest stackable and interlocking container. The nest stackable and interlocking container comprises a base plate, four side walls, and an upper peripheral edge integrally formed on the side walls, wherein at least one bow is pivotably held in the edges. The bow protrudes into the open interior of the container in an extended position and is received in the edges in a retracted position. The bow comprises two elbow-shaped end areas, which are respectively guided in a semi-circular groove arranged in the side walls of the container. Latching positions are provided in the groove so that the bow may be latched in various positions.

Abstract: Isolated polynucleotides encoding polypeptides that regulate flowering are provided, together with expression vectors and host cells comprising such isolated polynucleotides. Methods for the use of such polynucleotides and polypeptides are also provided.

Abstract: A transporter for foldable tents is provided. The transporter comprises a case and a transport device for folded-up tents. The case is connected to an L-profile. The L-profile comprises a vertical plate and a horizontal plate. The horizontal plate engages below the tent while the vertical plate is releasably connected to the case. The tent is rigidly held together by way of a strip which extends around the tent in a horizontal plane. Generally, two wheels are used for the transport. The wheels are provided at two sides of the transporter. The wheels may be kept in a chamber near the very top of the case. The packed tent is pulled or pushed in a slanted position. The transporter allows the foldable tent to be transported and stored easily. Also, the erection and packing of the tent may be accomplished by only a single person.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method are disclosed which form a multiple beam forming network using time division multiplexing. Instead of having several parallel sets of beam forming network hardware running at a given sampling clock rate, a simpler, single piece of hardware is run at a faster rate equal to the given sampling clock rate times the number of beams to be formed. Each sample received from each element is time division multiplexed into a bit stream, one for each beam. These time division multiplex element samples are weighted to apply the desired phase shift/time delay per element. Each weighted resultant is delayed in a cascade delay pipeline and then combined with the cascade combiner to form a beam at a given time division instant. This process is repeated for the next set of time division multiplexed samples and weights from each element of the array at a given time to form the next beam. The process is repeated for all beams until the sampling time interval ends.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for treating selected conditions of the central and peripheral nervous systems employing non-synaptic mechanisms. More specifically, one aspect of the present invention relates to methods and materials for treating seizure and seizure disorders, epilepsy, status epilepticus, migraine, spreading depression, intracranial hypertension; for treating the pathophysiological effects of head trauma, stroke, ischemia and hypoxia; for treating or protecting from the pathophysiological effects of neurotoxic agents such as ethanol; and for treating neurophsyciatric disorders and central nervous system edema by administering agents that modulate ionic concentrations and/or ionic gradients in the brain, particularly ion-dependent or cation-chloride cotransporter antagonists. Electrolyte cotransport antagonists and combinations of such compositions with other agents for treating various conditions are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides polypeptides comprising an immunogenic epitope of a M. vaccae protein, polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides, and fusion proteins comprising at least one such polypeptide, together with genetic constructs comprising at least one inventive polynucleotide. Compositions comprising such polypeptides, polynucleotides, fusion proteins and/or genetic constructs may be employed in the treatment of infectious diseases and immune disorders.

Abstract: Radio frequency (RF) connectors and electronics housings and packages employing one or more inventive RF connector(s) provided herein utilize a ground spring to achieve improved conductivity of the ground signal by making a plurality of contacts with a ferrule member of the RF connector's hermetic feedthru and a plurality of contacts with the electronics housing or package at points adjacent to an air dielectric. Ground springs used in connection with the present RF connectors maintain predetermined spring properties under compression and/or extreme environmental conditions, including thermal fluctuations, and therefore may be suitably employed in aircraft and spacecraft.

Abstract: Isolated polynucleotides encoding antifreeze polypeptides are provided, together with expression vectors and host cells comprising such isolated polynucleotides. Methods for the use of such polynucleotides and polypeptides are also provided.

Abstract: The device (V) serves the optical coupling of a light-beam (L) arriving from any optical component with a further-transmitting light-guiding fiber (F). It contains in each case an input-side and output-side coupling body (1,2) with in each case a centric lead-through (13, 22) for leading through the light (L) wherein in the device (V) there is arranged at least one lens (40) or a lens system. Between the input-side (1) and the output-side coupling body (2) there is arranged an intermediate coupling body (3) with a centric lead-Through (34), which in one of the input-side or output-side coupling bodies (1,2) is displaceably and lockably held in a plane, whilst the outer input-side or output-side coupling bodies (1,2) in the intermediate coupling body (3) is counted in an elastically (25) pivotally movable and axially displaceable manner. The device (V) permits a separate angular adjustment or parallel displacement of the input-side and output-side coupling bodies (1, 2) relative to one another.

Abstract: Novel polynucleotides isolated from Lactobacillus rhamnosus, as well as oligonucleotide probes and primers, genetic constructs comprising the polynucleotides, biological materials, including plants, microorganisms and multicellular organisms incorporating the polynucleotides, polypeptides expressed by the polynucleotides, and methods for using the polynucleotides and polypeptides are disclosed.

Abstract: Novel isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides associated with the lignin biosynthetic pathway are provided, together with genetic constructs including such sequences. Methods for the modulation of lignin content, lignin structure and lignin composition in target organisms are also disclosed, the methods comprising incorporating one or more of the polynucleotides of the present invention into the genome of a target organism.