Abstract: A power amplifier receives an input analog signal and generates a corresponding power amplified output analog signal. The power amplifier includes first and second power supply rails, an amplifier circuit, and a switch circuit. The first and second power supply rails are capable of supplying power having respective first and second predetermined levels, and a single predetermined polarity. The amplifier circuit is connected to receive the input analog signal and adapted to generate the output analog signal. Finally, the switch circuit is adapted to selectively connect one of the first and second power supply rails to the amplifier circuit.

Abstract: A modular articulated robot structure (FIG. 4) composed of a series of independent modules (10,100,300) releasably connected to each other to form various configurations. The modules (10,100,300) may be of the rotary (10), linear (100), or wheeled (300) type. The rotary modules (10) are generally formed of first and second substantially U-shaped structural members (12,14) pivotally attached to one another by means of a pair of axles or pivot pins (26) adapted to support a workload exerted on the module (10). A motor (48) is mounted internally of the module (10) for pivoting the second structural member (14) relative to the first structural member (12). The motor (48) is connected to the second structural member (14) in such a way that it is not submitted to outside loads exerted on the module (10).

Abstract: A hydro massaging tub is used for massage treatment wherein the treatment is performed by ozone-mixed warm air or water jets distributed adjacent the bottom wall of the tub all about its circumference. Ozone generated by an ozone generator is injected in an air distribution duct to sterilize the air distribution system and help clean the skin of the bather's body. The oxygen liberated in the water and the air improves the quantity of oxygen in the bather's environment so that oxygen intake through the skin and lungs is facilitated. A mobile air jet and section control of the air jets enable the bather to massage selective body areas with adjustable intensity of sections of the massage to achieve a desired effect. In one embodiment, orientable valves are mounted in the air jet holes for adjusting the orientation of the air jets. In another embodiment, optical fibers or light emitting diodes are provided to emit light frequencies in the water turbulence for physiological and therapeutic effects.

Abstract: A high-speed dental drill is comprised of a hand piece having a drill head at an end thereof. A turbine assembly is supported in a turbine chamber inside the drill head. The turbine assembly has a chuck which is rotatably secured between bearings. An impeller is secured about the chuck and aligned with an air inlet port in a sidewall of the turbine chamber. An exhaust port is provided in the sidewall to exhaust air. An air conduit is provided in the handpiece to direct air pressure to the air inlet port to drive the turbine and rotate the chuck. The chuck has a work bit engaging free end which is exteriorly accessible. An insert is secured to the drill head and provides access to the turbine chamber. The insert has a smooth conical tapered circumferential external sidewall for frictional engagement by a mating conical bore of a key for the removal and connection of the insert. The exhaust port has a non-circular cross-section in which the aspect ratio of the exhaust port is not equal to one.

Abstract: A flow of a carrier gas through a column is provided. A sample is provided in the column, and a temperature of a longitudinally short portion of the column is raised to a predetermined controlled high temperature at which volatile substances are released from the sample packing and are carried by the carrier gas. The column is cooled on each side of the short portion to a low temperature at which the volatile substances condense or adsorb on the column packing. By continuously moving the heated short portion from an inlet end to an outlet end of the packing in a direction of carrier gas flow the volatile substances selected by the controlled high temperature are released. Four particularly useful and advantageous applications can be identified for the invention. Firstly, it provides an improved gas chromatograph (GC) injector. Secondly, it provides an improved thermal separator or extractor.

Abstract: A sidecar for a bicycle comprises a wheeled frame formed of a single U-shaped tube adapted to be readily attached to a bottom portion of the bicycle frame via a single bracket. The bracket includes an elongated horizontal portion projecting forwardly of the power train of the bicycle for slidably receiving thereon a first end portion of the U-shaped tube. A circumferential slot is defined in the first end portion of the tube for receiving a pin rigidly secured to the elongated portion of the bracket, thereby allowing limited rotational movements of the bicycle frame relative to the sidecar.

Abstract: A flood control barrier for separating water in a wet area from an area to be maintained substantially dry comprises a flexible exterior membrane made of liquid impervious material and including elongated upper and lower membrane sections joined at a closed longitudinal downstream end of the exterior membrane opposed to an open longitudinal upstream end thereof. The upper and lower membrane sections are connected by internal partition walls and are displaceable between expanded and collapsed positions, wherein in the collapsed position, the upper membrane section overlies the lower membrane section, whereas in the expanded position, the upper membrane section is spaced from the lower membrane section at the open end of the exterior membrane such that water may flow through the open end and be received between the upper and lower membrane sections such as to be trapped therein, i.e. by the closed downstream end thereof which prevents the water from flowing past the barrier.

Abstract: An ejectable safety seat structure is comprised of an outer rigid shell for securement to a vehicle. An inner protective shell is connected to the outer shell by impact force detachable elements which are removably securable to the inner shell. A harness is secured to the inner shell for detachably securing an occupant therein having a weight within the range of from about 25 pounds to 100 pounds. The impact force detachable elements automatically disconnect from the inner shell when the detachable elements are subjected to a predetermined force upon impact of the vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus (A, A″) for spraying treatment product on plants, trees, bushes, etc., and for recovering excess treatment product comprises a fan (30) which conveys pressurized air through a duct (37) located over the plant (9) and vertically distally thereof at a manifold section (38) of the duct (37). The treatment product is supplied with a pump (21) from a reservoir (40) to nozzles (43) of a wet boom (42) extending within or along the manifold duct section (38) and is atomized and incorporated into the air stream exiting from the outlets (39) of the manifold duct section (38) which are oriented towards the plant (9) and an air-liquid separator panel (50) supported proximally of the plant (9) on the frame (13) of the apparatus (A, A″). The manifold duct section (38) can be rotated by a device (15) to compensate air stream deviations due to travel velocity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new class of G-protein-coupled receptor antagonists which bind to the intracellular molecular interface between the receptor and the G-protein, thus hampering signal transduction. The present invention describes peptide sequences derived from the prostaglandin receptor F2&agr; and the G-protein, G&agr;q protein. produced by molecular biology techniques or chemical synthesis, as selective inhibitors of signal transduction involved in the stimulation of this receptor. Such peptides or molecules derived from their primary, secondary and tertiary structures may be used as effective tocolytics for the prevention of premature labor or be utilized for the treatment of dysmenorrhea.

Abstract: The present invention relates to FTCD antigen which is liver specific to serve as a diagnostic tool for Autoimmune Hepatitis type II. There is provided a human liver specific FTCD antigen recognized by LC1 antibodies which essentially consists in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS:3 and 4 or variants thereof which are recognized by LC1 antibodies. There is also disclosed a method of diagnosis of Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH) type II disease in a patient biological sample, which comprises the steps of: a) subjecting a Western Blot having bound thereto an FTCD antigen of the present invention with the patient biological sample; and b) detecting the presence of LC1 antibodies in the sample; whereby the presence of LC1 antibodies is indicative of AIH type II disease.

Abstract: A bracket for securing a sign to a post, includes a clamp formed as a flanged open substantially cylindrical body having facing arms adapted to be brought together by a bolt for holding the sign, the tightening of the bolt being both effective for attaching the sign to the bracket and the bracket to the post. The sign defines a slot having an open end for allowing the sign to be inserted between the arms of the body without having to completely unscrew the bolt.

Abstract: A passive magnetic detector is provided at ground level or buried below ground level in between rails of a railroad track at a distance from the level crossing for detecting magnetic field disturbances caused by ferromagnetic objects passing overhead on the track. Magnetic field reversals are detected in the passive detector signal. The reversal signal is analyzed and a train presence output signal is generated for controlling a level crossing gate system or other such crossing warning system. For parallel tracks, pairs of passive magnetic field detectors detect objects over each track and the reversals are analyzed to check that an inbound train does not sneak by undetected as an outbound train is leaving and passing over the same detector pair. At the level crossing, static magnetic field detectors are used to ensure that no equipment remains on the island after detecting that the moving train has left the crossing, so that the crossing gates can be safely lifted as soon as possible.

Abstract: A system of energy detection for detecting a valid signal in a modem to enable power savings in receiver and transmitter circuits. The method of energy detection includes the steps of: (a) processing a prescribed number of signal samples (e.g. typically between 512 and 2048); (b) determining an average energy level for the prescribed number of signal samples; (c) determining a gain of an amplifier based on the processed signal samples; (d) comparing the average energy level with a prescribed energy level threshold; and (e) comparing the gain of the amplifier with a prescribed amplifier gain threshold. If the average energy level is greater than the prescribed energy level threshold and if the gain of the amplifier is less than the prescribed amplifier gain threshold then a valid signal is declared and the transmitter of the modem is activated.

Abstract: An electrocoagulation printing ink consisting essentially of a liquid colloidal dispersion containing an electrolytically coagulable colloid, a dispersing medium, a soluble electrolyte and a coloring agent, is improved by selecting as the colloid an anionic copolymer of acrylamide and acrylic acid having a weight average molecular weight of about 200,000 to about 400,000 and containing about 8 to about 15 weight % of carboxyl groups. The ink is free of surfactant associated with the copolymer. Such an ink is capable of forming dots of coagulated colloid which are resistant to abrasion, without producing undesirable background on the electrocoagulation printed images.

Abstract: An automatic gain control method and apparatus for modem receivers. The automatic gain control circuit includes a programmable loop gain for scaling a digital signal Y to a first prescribed level during a first mode of operation and to a second prescribed level during a second mode of operation; and filters and converters for converting the scaled signal Y into an analog gain control signal for input to the analog AGC. The gain control circuit and method of operation provides control over the parameters of the programmable loop gain such that during start-up initialization the signal Y is scaled to the first prescribed value and during steady state operation the signal Y is scaled to the second prescribed value. This is accomplished by changing the gain parameter of the programmable loop gain.

Abstract: A bone mill comprising a vessel and a rotatable grinding tool to produce ground autologous bone particles for surgical bone reconstruction use, wherein the vessel includes a wall defining a circular cylindrical chamber having a concentric axis. The vessel further includes a bottom wall at right angle to the axis and a lid adapted to be removably connected to the vessel. The lid includes an opening coincident with the axis. The grinding tool includes an elongated shaft extending through the opening in the lid along the axis with a cutting blade mounted to the shaft within the chamber whereby the cutting blade can be rotated by motive device, such as a dental drill, engaging the shaft exterior of the vessel to cut bone, placed in the vessel, into said bone particles.

Abstract: A method for exercising the lower body of a person comprising an elongated spring bar which may or may not be provided with weights at the ends. A protective collar is provided centrally of the bar to permit the user to support the bar on the shoulders or on the back. The user springs up and down between an erected and squat position and the bar oscillates in a manner such that as the user is moving downwardly towards the squat position the bar forms a tension arc with the ends pointing upwardly and after the user has reached the lower most position and is beginning his upward movement, the arc will form a tension arc with the ends pointing downwardly, and as the user reaches his erect position the bar will enhance a further upward movement as the tension is released.