Abstract: Synthetic clay minerals are made up of elementary three-layer platelets consisting of a central layer of octahedrally oxygen-surrounded metal ions (octahedron layer), which layer is surrounded by two tetrahedrally surrounded, silicon atom-containing layers (tetrahedron layers), a number of such elementary platelets being optionally stacked. The dimensions of the clay platelets vary from 0.01 &mgr;m to 1 &mgr;m, the number of the stacked elementary three-layer platelets varies from on average one platelet to twenty platelets, while in the octahedron layer at most 30 at. % of the metal ions has been replaced by ions of a lower valency and in the tetrahedron layers at most 15 at. % of the silicon ions has been replaced by ions of a lower valency, such a replacement having taken place in at least one of these layers and these layers having a deficiency of positive charge because of the replacement.

Abstract: A motorized safety system which protects the open side of a mezzanine, loading dock or other elevated work area when in use. The safety system is easy to use while requiring only minimal floor space. The safety system comprises two posts, each post having a motor mounted on the top of the post, a control unit for controlling and sychronizing motor operation mounted on the side of one post, a movable arm having a safety net and associated hardware such that when the safety system is in a first position the opening of the mezzanine or loading dock is substantially covered by the net. When the safety system is in a second position, the arm and net are out of the way, allowing access by workers and machinery to and from the open side. The operation of the safety system from the first position to the second position or vice versa is performed remotely using a wireless hand held device that transmits instructions to the control unit, thus further reducing the risk of falling.

Abstract: A system and method for integrating traffic light violation related vehicle information with court date scheduling information, which employs one or more digitized video recordings of alleged violations. The system provides end-to-end violation processing using the digitized video recordings of the event, and using vehicle database information, as may for example be provided from a department of motor vehicles (DMV) database. The system potentially also interfaces to a court date scheduling database, which includes indications of various available times at which hearings regarding traffic violations may be scheduled. A user interface may provide a display of one or more perspectives on the violation event, as well as access to the vehicle and court date scheduling database.

Abstract: An injection molding process wherein the times of heating to melt a resin are reduced to minimize the thermal hysteresis and to decrease the deterioration of physical properties caused by the thermal hysteresis, so that high quality information recording disks may be produced. A molding process wherein the plasticating and the injection and filling of a material resin are carried out in separate cylinders, allows constant molding for a long period of time. A material resin such as polycarbonate is supplied without predrying to an injection apparatus for a first time molding. Resin is kneaded by the apparatus while volatile components are heated to be vaporized and exhausted through a vent port. An inert gas atmosphere is provided within the cylinder to prevent the material resin from being oxidized. Since predrying can be dispensed with, the thermal hysteresis will be extremely small and the deterioration of the resin caused by such heating may be suppressed.

Abstract: A personal sound masking system for use in an individual workspace provides an optimized acoustic background environment by delivering a sound masking signal that is specifically matched to the individual user's location and physical relationship to other nearby offices. The sound masking system employs multiple loudspeakers and multiple mutually incoherent channels in order to obtain a desired degree of diffuseness. A control module includes an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM) that stores data representing a number of samples of a masking signal segment, addressing logic that accesses the samples in the memory sequentially and repetitively to generate different series of data values each representing a different masking signal, digital to analog converters that convert the series of samples into analog masking signals, and power amplification circuitry that amplifies the analog masking signals to levels suitable for driving the loudspeakers.

Abstract: The optical device for detecting in situ traces of gaseous hydrogen in an environment at cryogenic temperature, using a sensor having a fine film of palladium whose optical properties vary as a function of the concentration of hydrogen in contact with the film comprises, a palladium micromirror deposited in the form of a film at a first end of a first optical fiber, a first light source emitting a light signal at a predetermined wavelength into a second end of the first optical fiber, and means for detecting the light signal as modified after passing in contact with the palladium micromirror disposed in the environment at cryogenic temperature, processor circuits for responding to variation in the intensity of the light signal contacting the palladium micromirror to determine hydrogen concentration, and means for localized heating of the palladium micromirror, by light radiation so as to keep the palladium of the micromirror in its &agr; phase.

Abstract: A three-dimensional fiber structure is formed by superposing layers of felt and by bonding them together by needling, then the structure is compressed to obtain a preform having a fiber volume fraction of not less than 20%. The preform is held in its compressed state by being impregnated with a liquid composition containing a bonding agent capable of bonding the fibers of the preform together. Thereafter, the preform consolidated in this way is densified, e.g. by chemical vapor infiltration.

Abstract: A distributed data structure providing an indication of the validity of a data value or values associated with a given key value. The data structure has at least one data entry associated with each of plural key entries. The validity indication enables asynchronous updates to key and data entries by preventing retrieval of invalid data values, while enabling a simultaneous search of the key entries for a particular key value. The validity indication also allows the data structure to be sparsely populated; it is possible to mark a key value as invalid such that binary searching of the data structure is unaffected and invalid data is not retrieved. Data structure throughput is enhanced as a result of minimized maintenance overhead.

Abstract: A Receive Frame Processor (RFP) in a network bridge/router for receiving frame-characterizing information from other elements of the bridge/router and for generating plural code vectors which result in the selective processing of a received frame in software and/or hardware is provided. The received information is utilized in constructing code vectors representative of how a received frame is to be processed. Further data structures stored in conjunction with the RFP are indexed by the constructed code vectors and indicate whether the frame is to be processed in the RFP hardware, by software in an associated Frame Processor, or both. These data structures also indicate whether the port through which the frame was received is to be blocked to prevent misordering of received frames. If the frame is to be processed in software, the RFP generates a Receive Vector which is provided to the FP and which conveys the frame-characterizing code vectors to the FP.

Abstract: Nucleic acid probes and primers are described for detecting fungi that cause disease in humans and animals, as well as spoilage of food and beverages. These probes can detect rRNA, rDNA or polymerase chain reaction products from a majority of fungi in clinical, environmental or food samples. Nucleic acid hybridization assay probes specific for Acremonium sp., Aspergillus clavatus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus glaucus, Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus unguis, Aspergillus ustus, Beauveria sp., Bipolaris sp., Blastoschizomyces sp., Blastomyces dermatitidis, Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida guilliermondii, Candida kefyr, Candida krusei, Candida lusitaniae, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis, Chrysosporium sp., Cladosporium sp., Coccidioides immitis, Cryptococcus neoformans var gattii serotype B, Cryptococcus neoformans serotype A, Cryptococcus laurentii, Cryptococcus terreus, Curvularia sp., Fusarium sp.

Abstract: A nonlinear current mirror for loop-gain control incorporates a resistor in one section of a current mirror which produces a nonlinear transfer function for the current mirror. When the nonlinear current mirror is included as part of a capacitive displacement gauge the gain of the gauge varies as a function of the input to the current mirror which compensates for the change in gain caused by the probe capacitance. Accordingly, the distance range and/or frequency response of the capacitive displacement gauge is increased.

Abstract: A wide mouthed container of synthetic resins for a paint, wax and the like, formed thinly in the body portion thereof by injection stretch blow molding is provided. A mouth portion of the wide mouthed container is of large diameter and comprises an internal wall integral with a body portion having a bottom, a belt shaped external wall integrally formed on the outside of the internal wall via a joint portion of required width to be in H-shape, and an upper and lower annular grooves between both the walls sectioned by the joint portion. The body portion is stretch blow molded thinly from the underside of the internal wall to a position where the lower edge of the external wall touches the body portion to form the side surface of the body portion on the same level as said external wall and to form the lower annular groove into a hollow in the lower part of the mouth portion.

Abstract: An electrically conductive elastomer for grafting to thermoplastic and thermoset substrates is disclosed. If the substrate is a thermoset substrate, the electrically conductive elastomer comprises a mixture of an elastic material, a quantity of electrically conductive flakes, a thermoplastic elastomer material, and a thermoset material. If the substrate is a thermoplastic substrate, the electrically conductive elastomer comprises a mixture of an elastic material, a quantity of electrically conductive flakes, a thermoplastic elastomer material, and a thermoplastic material. The electrically conductive elastomer may further comprise a quantity of electrically conductive particles interspersed within the mixture. Alternatively, a quantity of electrically conductive particles may be imbedded in an outer surface of the electrically conductive elastomer. The electrically conductive elastomer is typically grafted to the substrate by a thermal process.

Abstract: A PIN photodiode comprising a P-type layer, an N-type layer, and an I-type layer provided between said, P-type layer and said N-type layer, wherein a junction surface between said I-type layer and said N-type layer is formed by joining a high specific resistance wafer preformed as said I-type layer to a high concentration N-type wafer preformed as said N-type layer. The thickness of said high specific resistance wafer has been adjusted in accordance with the peak value of the wavelength of light rays to be accepted. Therefore, N+ carriers do not exist in the I-type layer and the thickness of the I-type layer can be freely defined, causing the frequency characteristic and the wavelength sensitivity characteristic to be satisfying.

Abstract: An ovulation period detecting apparatus for mammals is provided comprising: a bar-shaped detecting unit to be inserted in the vagina of a mammal; electrodes arranged on the bar-shaped detecting unit so as to be in contact with the vaginal mucous membrane when the bar-shaped detecting unit is inserted in the vagina of the mammal; pressure detecting means for detecting a pressure at which the electrodes are pressed against the vagina of the mammal; impedance detecting means for applying a voltage across the electrodes and detecting the value of impedance between the electrodes when the pressure detecting means detect a pressure equal to or greater than a prescribed pressure over a prescribed time; and data outputting means for outputting the value of the impedance detected by the impedance detecting means.

Abstract: A universal interface for continuous on-line liquid sample introduction directly to the time-of-flight mass spectrometer, which can further promote throughput and utility of MALDI-TOF MS, is disclosed. Preferably, the liquid sample includes a matrix, either solid or liquid, for use in matrix-assisted-laser-desorption-ionization, most particularly in a time-of-flight mass spectrometer which can further promote throughput and utility of MALDI-TOF MS. In the method of the invention, the same samples and matrices, both solid and liquid, can be used as in conventional MALDI. In practice of the method of the invention, a solution of sample containing, e.g., peptide and matrix is infused directly into the source chamber of a mass spectrometer at subatmospheric pressure, deposited on a moving sample holder, such as a rotating quartz wheel, and desorbed by, e.g., a nitrogen laser. The method of the invention is particularly amenable to multiplexing, the parallel deposition of multiple samples, e.g.

Abstract: A fitting (22) connected to an actuator member (18a) is mounted on a diverging portion (12) by means of inserts (32) designed to be placed and held in the wall of the diverging portion, and fixing means which comprises an elastically-deformable element (24) designed to compensate for any dimensional variations of thermal origin to maintain a force pressing the fitting (22) against the diverging portion (12). A thrust element (26) is connected to the inserts (32) in such a manner as to compress the elastically-deformable element (24) between the thrust element (26) and the fitting (22).

Abstract: A network bridge/router for identifying a data unit to be routed by a network bridge/router, for identifying a protocol associated with the received data unit to be routed, and for carrying out appropriate data unit transfer operations, all in hardware. A Receive Header Processor (RHP) analyzes the destination address of the received data unit, in hardware, for determining if routing or bridging is required. If routing is required, the RHP uses portions of the received data unit header as a compare value against predefined values stored in data structures which provide a protocol ID identifying the protocol of the received data unit and serving as an index to the appropriate microcode handling routine, executed by the RHP, for the data unit. The handling routine causes the RHP to forward data unit identifying information appropriate to the identified protocol and obtained from the received data unit to further hardware-based data unit processing elements.

Abstract: A method for analysis of samples having turbidity and/or high absorption is disclosed. The analysis incorporates several factors that affect transmittance or absorption. These factors may include: absorption as measured in a non-turbid sample, scattering losses due to particles and limitations of the measurement device as measured in a non-absorbing sample, additional scattering losses due to sample absorption, variable path length effects due to the sample, and variable path length effects due to the measurement device. By taking into account additional factors that affect transmittance or absorption, a more accurate analysis is achieved.

Abstract: A tubular element has a sealing ring mounted at an end of the tubular element. The sealing ring has a base clamped against the outer surface of the tubular element. Further, the sealing ring has a sealing lip adapted to seal against an inner surface of an outer tube, in which the tubular element is inserted. The base is disposed in a groove that is formed in the wall of the tubular element. The sealing ring has a further lip that is positioned adjacent to the end of the tubular element and that is bent down and clamped against the base by means of the end portion, thereby providing secure fastening of the sealing ring. The sealing ring is fastened by a method involving bending of the end portion of the tubular element together with the further lip.