Abstract: An apparatus for remotely controlling the speed of an engine includes a housing and a control knob. A position shaft is fixedly connected to the control knob for rotation therewith and a position gear is fixedly secured to the position shaft for rotation therewith. A rotary encoder has a shaft in operative engagement with the position gear such that rotation of the position gear rotates the encoder shaft. The rotary encoder generates output signals based on a direction of rotation and angular displacement of the control knob. A processor receives the output signals from the rotary encoder and generates output signals proportional to the direction of rotation and angular displacement of the control knob. A primary engine control unit is remotely located with respect to the remote housing for receiving the output signals from the processor and directly controlling the speed of the engine based upon the received signals.

Abstract: A cathodoluminescent lighting system has a light emitting device having an envelope with a transparent face, a cathode for emitting electrons, an anode with a phosphor layer and a conductor layer. The phosphor layer emits light through the transparent face of the envelope. The system also has a power supply for providing at least five thousand volts of power to the light emitting device, and the electrons transiting from cathode to anode are essentially unfocused. Additional embodiments responsive to triac-type dimmers with intensity and color-changes in response to dimmer control. A power-factor-corrected embodiment is also disclosed.

Abstract: Multi-membrane prosthetic nucleus and implants using same are disclosed having an outermost membrane that is semi-compliant and limits the innermost membrane and any intermediate membranes that are highly compliant from bulging out of any opening in the annulus fibrosus. The outermost membrane may help protect the innermost membrane from trauma including any trauma before the innermost membrane is expanded through the injection of prosthetic nucleus material and trauma during the expansion of the innermost membrane in response to the injection of prosthetic nucleus material. Also disclosed is a coated membrane which combines the mechanical properties of the foundation layer with the low permeability to the passage of the flowable prosthetic material of the coating. This coated membrane is semi-compliant and prevents the prosthetic nucleus from bulging out of any openings in the annulus fibrosus. Use is made of injected prosthetic nucleus material that changes to a non-flowable state.

Abstract: The invention relates to a compound having structure (I), which acts as a non-competitive specific inhibitor of P-glycoprotein (P-gp for “Pleiotropic glycoprotein”) and which can be used as a drug, particularly for improving the effectiveness of chemotherapy treatments. The invention is therefore suitable for use in the medical field, particularly for the chemotherapeutic treatment of cancers or infections.

Abstract: The present invention relates to analyte detection test systems, including test systems for the oral detection of analytes in saliva. The present invention also provides compositions and methods for storing multiple assay tests and compositions and methods for measuring the concentration of analytes in a sample.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for producing and/or confining a plasma (10), comprising a recipient (13) within the volume of which the plasma is produced or confined, wherein said recipient comprises a wall (1) defining a lining (15) at the inside of the recipient and encompassing the volume, characterized in that it comprises at least one annular magnet (30), centered around a normal (14) with respect to the lining, having radial magnetization direction, such that the magnetization direction is significantly perpendicular to said normal to the lining. The invention also concerns a method for producing and/or confining a plasma.

Abstract: A weight training apparatus which develops strength, suppleness and memory in the muscles used for swinging of a sports implement which may be a baseball bat, tennis racquet, golf club or other sporting implement or equipment. More specifically, the trainer provides for normal use of the sport implement by a user to swing and hit an object such as a golf ball while providing shock absorption to reduce vibration and twisting of the implement upon impact with the object.

Abstract: Methods for correcting a deformity in the spine by forming a trans-sacral axial instrumentation/fusion axial bore through vertebral bodies in general alignment with a visualized, anterior axial instrumentation/fusion line in a minimally invasive, low trauma, manner and providing a therapy to the spine employing the axial bore. Curved or relatively straight anterior axial bores are formed from the anterior starting positions. The therapies performed through the axial bores include discoscopy, full and partial discectomy, vertebroplasty, balloon-assisted vertebroplasty, drug delivery, electrical stimulation and various forms of spinal disc cavity augmentation, spinal disc replacement, fusion of spinal motion segments and implantation of radioactive seeds. Axial spinal implants and bone growth materials can be placed into single or multiple parallel or diverging axial bores to fuse two or more vertebrae, or distract or shock absorb two or more vertebrae.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition for synthesizing bimetallic nanoparticles, wherein the composition contains a first organometallic precursor and a second organometallic precursor having different decomposition rates and contained within an ionic liquid solution. The invention also relates to a method for synthesizing bimetallic nanoparticles, in which the composition is transformed under a hydrogen gas pressure between 0.1 and 10 MPa at a temperature between 0 and 150° C. until a suspension of bimetallic nanoparticles is obtained. The resulting nanoparticles are useful in diverse fields including the fields of catalysis and microelectronics.

Abstract: A capacitive full-wave circuit for LED light strings makes use of capacitors and diodes together to drive a LED string with full AC waves. Different from the conventional four-diode full-wave rectifying circuit, one embodiment of capacitive full-wave circuit includes two capacitors and two diodes. Because of the large imaginary impedance, the capacitors not only limit and the voltage and current through the LEDs, but also consume almost no electrical power. The electrical current-voltage performance can be further improved by introducing four resistors with a cost of some additional power consumption. A LED light string module with the capacitive full-wave circuit is also presented, with the capacitive full-wave circuit integrated inside of a front power plug and a back power socket.

Abstract: An optical source having a fiber emitting controlled single-transverse mode radiation at a wavelength of less than 1030 nm, includes at least one laser diode suitable for emitting a pumping wave; and a section of sheathed amplifying optical fiber having two ends, the amplifying optical fiber comprising a core and a pumping sheath, the fiber being doped with a rare earth dopant; a device for coupling the pumping source in the sheath of the doped fiber, characterized in that the core of the doped fiber includes a cylindrical portion doped with a rare earth element selected among ytterbium, neodymium, and thulium, in order to obtain a refractive index of the core that is higher than the refractive index of the sheath; the excitation wavelength of the laser diode is between 750 nm and 960 nm; the diameter of the sheath is greater than 50 microns, and the surface ratio of the doped core to the pumping sheath is between 8 and 50.

Abstract: Disclosed are surgical tools, tool sets and methods for percutaneously accessing and preparing treatment sites within the spine for subsequent treatment procedures. The treatment site may be an inter-vertebral motion segments in the lumbar and sacral regions of the spine. The tool set may comprise introducer tools and bone dilators for accessing and tapping into a targeted site, such as, for example, the anterior surface of the S1 vertebral body. The tool set may also comprise cutters and extractors for preparing the treatment site for subsequent treatment procedures. The tool set may additionally comprise a bone graft inserter, an exchange system, and/or a temporary distraction tool for further preparing the treatment site for subsequent treatment procedures.

Abstract: A light emitting device has a cathode-ray tube and power supply. The cathode-ray tube in an embodiment is optimized for emitting a broad electron beam, in one variation a dome-shaped diffusing grid is used to spread the beam. In another embodiment, the device has a base adapted for attachment to a standard lighting fixture.

Abstract: The present patent application concerns a method for diagnosing infertility related to the DPY19L2 protein, in a male human subject, and a method for treating said subject with a view to restoring fertility. The present invention also concerns the use of molecules inhibiting the action of the DPY19L2 polypeptide in a wild-type carrier male subject, for example of anti-DPY19L2 interfering nucleic acid type selectively inhibiting the expression of the DPY19L2 polypeptide.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel therapeutic combination comprising one or more anti-androgen agents and one or more antibiotic/anti-inflammatory agents or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or hydrates thereof, useful for the treatment of a dermatological disorder.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for a mobile telephone, in conjunction with a payment transaction server, to be used directly as a payment device for a variety of financial transactions. Further, the transaction systems and methods for mobile telephone devices described herein allow a mobile telephone to participate in payment transactions in a manner that helps prevent identify theft and without relying on transferring amounts to/from one stored value account to another.

Abstract: Disclosed is an LED light bulb having safe and efficient heat dissipation, while also providing maximum light distribution by providing multiple printed circuit boards arranged in a pyramidal structure, having multiple LEDs. The multiple printed circuit boards are connected by conductor wires contained within a transparent housing, so that the multiple printed circuit boards sit on a base of the LED light bulb. A bottom printed circuit board may also be employed if additional circuitry is desired.

Abstract: An I/O device for a vehicle includes at least one touch-sensitive I/O display unit DT, at least one output display unit DI and a control unit CU connecting the I/O display unit DT and the output display unit DI with an information exchange unit IEU. The touch-sensitive I/O display unit DT is located in a readily reachable position for a driver and the output display unit DI is located in a readily discernible position for a driver, and the control unit CU communicates output data DD-I/O related to an interactive I/O communication to the I/O display unit DT, receives touchscreen input data TI from the I/O display unit DT and communicates output data DD-O to the output display unit DI in relation with the input data TI. An I/O method using the above mentioned I/O device for a vehicle is also provided.