Abstract: A stackable case for retaining and transporting bottles including outer side walls forming an outer shell having a longitudinal axis and a horizontal axis, a case bottom disposed substantially within the outer shell, and a plurality of supports for supporting the outer surfaces of the bottles. The side walls include a lower wall portion and a plurality of spaced upwardly projecting pylons, where four corner pylons define the four corners of the case. A plurality of spaced upwardly projecting columns generally disposed within the outer shell define, in combination with the case bottom, the side walls and the end walls, a plurality of bottle retaining pockets. The columns and the pylons extend above the lower wall portions and below a top surface of the retained bottles. At least one of the side walls includes an integrally molded logo which identifies the source of the goods.

Abstract: A bi-directional damper valve is provided for connecting to a hydraulic line, to regulate fluid flow therethrough. The damper valve includes a main valve body having a flow passage formed therethrough, and the flow passage widens at central portion of the valve body to form a central chamber, which has valve seats formed at opposite ends thereof. The main valve body also has two bypass channels formed therein, which branch off the central chamber near the valve seats, and which selectively communicate with the flow passage. The damper valve also includes two poppets, oriented facing in opposite directions in the central chamber. Each of the poppets has a hollow bore formed therethrough, to always allow fluid flow through the damper valve at a first (minimal) rate. The damper valve also includes a spring extending between the poppets, and normally biasing them against the valve seats.

Abstract: The present application describes modulators of MCP-1 of formula (I): or pharmaceutically acceptable salt forms thereof, useful for the prevention of rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, atherosclerosis, asthma, restinosis, organ transplantation, and cancer.

Abstract: A seat track system for conducting electricity between spaced apart seats, such as between passenger seats of an aircraft passenger cabin, comprising a conductive tube assembly and a housing. The conductive tube assembly includes a conductive inner layer having a first conductive portion and a second conductive portion that is structurally independent of the first conductive portion. The first and the second portions define a socket. The tube assembly further includes a dielectric outer layer that is elastic so as to exert a biasing force on the conductive inner layer to urge the first portion and the second portion together. The housing is operable to receive the conductive tube assembly and support the tube assembly between the first and the second seats. The socket is operable to receive a conductive member that mates with the conductive inner layer to conduct electricity to and from the conductive tube assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed are MC-3/MC-4 receptor ligands, the ligands having the following formula: wherein A is a conformationally restricted ring system selected from the group consisting of: a) non-aromatic carbocyclic rings; b) aromatic carbocyclic rings; c) non-aromatic heterocyclic rings; d) aromatic heterocyclic rings; wherein said rings comprises from 5 to 8 atoms; and W is a unit which preferable comprises D-1-fluorophenyalanine, Y comprises a heteroatom, and Z comprises an aromatic carbocyclic ring. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the ligands of the invention as well as methods of treating diseases mediated through MC-3/MC-4 receptors.

Abstract: In a digital image, for each pixel to be thresholded, a threshold is selected from a set of thresholds. Selection may be based on relative magnitudes of the thresholds. At least one of the thresholds may be dynamic, and one of the thresholds may be constant for at least a region of the image.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for making a viscous reaction product and making this into a solid or suspendable component, so that it can be incorporated in solid and liquid compositions such as cleaning compositions or for example fabric care compositions. The process comprises the steps of: a) reacting at least two compounds with one another to form a first active material to form a viscous mixed product which has a viscosity of at least 500 cps or even at least 1000 cps at 20° C., thereby preferably mixing this with a second active material; b) mixing the product of step a) with a liquid carrier material, (which can then be suspended in a liquid composition); or if slid components are required, step b) being followed by: c) mixing the mixture of step b) with a solid granulation agent to form a solid component; d) optionally forming the solid component of step c) into granules.

Abstract: An OLED device and control circuit, comprising: a) an OLED responsive to a drive signal; b) a drive circuit connected to the OLED responsive to a charge signal for controlling the drive signal; c) one or more variable charge storage capacitors providing the charge signal; d) a deposition circuit for depositing variable charge in the one or more variable charge storage capacitors; and e) a modulation circuit responsive to an external modulation signal for removing charge from the one or more variable charge storage capacitors.

Abstract: A charge control circuit for controlling a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) device having variable capacitor formed by first conductive plate and a second conductive plate separated by a variable gap distance. The charge control circuit comprises a switch circuit configured to receive a reference voltage having a selected voltage level and configured to respond to an enable signal having a duration at least as long as an electrical time constant constant of the MEMS device, but shorter than a mechanical time constant of the MEMS device, to apply the selected voltage level across the first and second plates for the duration to thereby cause a stored charge having a desired magnitude to accumulate on the variable capacitor, wherein the variable gap distance is a function of the magnitude of the stored charge.

Abstract: The invention encompasses a series of benzothiazole compounds which inhibit HIV entry and are useful for treating HIV infection and AIDS. The invention also encompasses pharmaceutical compositions and methods for using these compounds.

Abstract: A system for collecting data in a room. The system includes a plurality of sensor devices positioned at various locations in the room. The sensor devices include a sensor configured to detect at least one condition and a controller configured to control the sensor. The system also includes at least one data storage device configured to store the detected at least one condition and an interface mechanism for enabling communication of the stored at least one condition. The system further includes a data collector for interfacing with the interface mechanism to receive the stored at least one condition from the at least one data storage device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing images corresponding to views external to a vehicle are disclosed. A system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes first and second signal receiving portions configured to receive a signal corresponding to an image of a view external to the vehicle and a speed of the vehicle, respectively. A signal processing portion can direct to a first display portion a first signal corresponding to the image and to a second display portion a second signal corresponding to the image, with the first and second display portions positioned at different locations of the vehicle. The second signal can be delayed by a time that corresponds at least approximately inversely to the speed of the vehicle. Accordingly, a viewer seeing both display portions can receive a visual indication that the vehicle is moving.

Abstract: A method for removing or dissolving calcareous materials in a subterranean formation or in a wellbore consists of two basic steps. In the first step, an aqueous acid solution is injected into the formation or wellbore. The aqueous acid solution contains between from about 15 to about 99 weight percent of an organic acid selected from formic acid, acetic acid or a mixture of formic acid and acetic acid. Water or brine is then injected into the formation or wellbore. The amount of water or brine injected into the formation or wellbore is an amount sufficient to reduce the concentration of organic acid in the formation or wellbore to no greater than 10 weight percent.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, methods, devices and kits for the timed dispensing of laundry additive materials into the drum during a cycle of a multiple cycle fabric laundering operation. To bring about such dispensing of additives, a housing structure device having multiple chambers is placed within the drum of an automatic washing machine, a unit dose insert package, containing laundry additives in at least one compartment of the insert, is placed within the housing structure, and the machine is run through the several stages of its laundering cycle. A piercing element is provided to open the compartment of the insert in the laundering cycle to dispense contents of this compartment into the washing machine drum as rinse additive materials. The contents move from the insert to the first chamber of the housing structure device by centrifugal force arising during the first spin cycle of the laundering operation. The centrifugal force also holds the contents within the first chamber until cessation of the spin cycle.

Abstract: Mutant phytoene desaturase genes are provided encoding polypeptides having the ability to convert a phytoene desaturase substrate to tetradehydrolycopene. Both in vivo and in vitro methods are provided using the present phytoene desaturases for tetradehydrolycopene production.

Abstract: Computer systems, virtual storage systems, and virtual storage system operational methods are described. According to one aspect, a computer system includes a virtual storage system including a physical storage space, a virtual storage space, and a non-guaranteed available capacity utilized to generate a non-guaranteed snapshot volumes of virtual storage volumes of the virtual storage space, wherein the virtual storage system is configured to monitor the non-guaranteed available capacity and to present a report regarding the non-guaranteed available capacity responsive to the monitoring and a host configured to execute an application wherein generation of a non-guaranteed snapshot volume of at least one of the virtual storage volumes is desired, to access the report to determine the non-guaranteed available capacity, and to issue a request to the virtual storage system to generate the at least one non-guaranteed snapshot volume of the at least one virtual storage volume responsive to the accessing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for controlling speed of the fuel pump. The system includes a fuel pump, a controller, and a field modification module. The fuel pump is configured to receive a driving signal causing the fuel pump to pump fuel. The controller is configured to determine a desired fuel pump speed and generate a control signal based on the desired fuel pump speed. The field modification module is located proximate the fuel pump and is in communication with the controller to receive the control signal. The field modification module generates a flux in response the control signal thereby controlling speed and torque of the fuel pump.

Abstract: A photothermographic emulsion is prepared by chemically sensitizing silver halide grains formed by oxidative decomposition of a diphenylphosphine sulfide compound on or around the silver halide grains. This procedure uses a unique sequence of steps and provides increased photographic speed and manufacturing reproducibility.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes first and second sockets disposed on opposite sides of a housing and defining first and second insertion paths, respectively, for receiving a plug. A sliding keep-out member has first and second blocking surfaces. The keep-out member can move back and forth through the housing between first and second positions. In the first position, the first blocking surface blocks at least a portion of the first insertion path, but the second blocking surface clears the second insertion path. In the second position, the second blocking surface blocks at least a portion of the second insertion path, but the first blocking surface clears the first insertion path. Thus the connector assembly may receive plugs in either the first or the second socket, but not in both sockets simultaneously.