Abstract: The invention relates to a crosslinkable polymer binder comprising a polyurethane macromer and grafted thereon a vinyl polymer, to an aqueous dispersion comprising said crosslinkable polymer binder and to a process for the manufacture of said crosslinkable polymer binder and said aqueous dispersion thereof. The crosslinkable polymer binder can be used in coating compositions or adhesives.

Abstract: Disclosed is a pH sensor comprising a carrier (10) comprising a plurality of conductive tracks and an exposed conductive area (40) defining a reference electrode connected to one of said conductive tracks; a sensing device (30) mounted on the carrier and connected at least one other of said conductive tracks; an encapsulation (20) covering the carrier, said encapsulation comprising a first cavity (22) exposing a surface (32) of the sensing device and a second cavity (24) exposing the exposed conductive area, said second cavity comprising a reference electrode material (42) and an ion reservoir material (44) sharing at least one ion type with said reference electrode material, the reference electrode material being sandwiched between the exposed conductive area and the ion reservoir material. A method of manufacturing such a pH sensor is also disclosed.

Abstract: A dietary supplement composition is provided for enhancing the expression of a sirtuin gene or protein. An inventive supplement composition includes at least one cinnamon extract containing at least 0.5% doubly linked Type-A polymers by dry weight. The cinnamon extract is derived from the Cinnamonum aromaticum, Cinnamonum verum or Cinnamonum burmannii plant. In some embodiments, the cinnamon extract is present at approximately 20%-50% of the dry weight of the composition. A vitamin, weight loss agent, or antioxidant is optionally provided in the composition. The dietary supplement composition is administered orally to promote expression or enhanced expression of a sirtuin gene or protein.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a magnetic device includes forming a protective film above a structure, wherein at least one of hydrogen and water vapor are introduced into a formation chamber during formation of the protective film. In-another embodiment, a magnetic head includes at least one of: a read element, a write element, a heater element, and a resistance detector element above a substrate, conductive terminals for each of the at least one of: the read element, the write element, and the heater element, and a protective film above the at least one of: the read element, the write element, and the heater element, wherein the protective film comprises at least one of hydrogen and water vapor.

Abstract: Amphiphilic cationic polymers comprising a biocompatible amphiphile linked to an organic cation are provided. The polymers complex with therapeutic agents and facilitate delivery of such therapeutic agents, particularly therapeutic nucleic acids, both in vitro and in vivo. Accordingly, the invention further provides methods of facilitating delivery of therapeutic and/or diagnostic agents to a cell and methods of treating a condition, such as a disease or infection, in an organism using the amphiphilic cationic polymers of the invention.

Abstract: An automated method of determining a measure of a subject's heart age comprising the steps of: prompting a user for a plurality of inputs, each relating to an attribute of the subject, each attribute defining one or more of a demographic status of the subject, a lifestyle status of the subject, a physical condition of the subject and a medical history of the subject: receiving, from the user, a plurality of said inputs: determining from said received inputs, a set of parameters for which input data has been received as input from the user; selecting a heart age calculation algorithm from a predetermined set of heart age calculation algorithms according to said set of parameters; and calculating a heart age for the subject according to the selected algorithm; and providing as output said calculated heart age.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of Cucumis sativus, in particular to a new variety of Cucumis sativus designated NUN 5545 CUP plants, seeds and cucumber fruits thereof.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a nozzle and an associated funnel in a single plate comprises providing the single plate, the plate being etchable; providing an etch resistant mask on the plate, the mask having a pattern, wherein the pattern comprises a first pattern part for etching the nozzle and a second pattern part for etching the funnel; covering one of the first pattern part and the second pattern part using a first cover; etching one of the nozzle and funnel corresponding to the pattern part not covered in step (c); removing the first cover; etching the other one of the nozzle and funnel; and removing the etch resistant mask.

Abstract: An integrated circuit package for an integrated circuit having one or more sensor elements in a sensor element area of the circuit. An encapsulation covers bond wires but leaves an opening over the sensor element area. A protection layer is provided over the integrated circuit over which the encapsulation extends, and it has a channel around the sensor element area to act as a trap for any encapsulation material which has crept into the opening area.

Abstract: A platform (1) for the landing of an aircraft on an access facility, such as boat (B), comprising a support structure (2), suitable to firmly insist on a reference surface (P) of said access facility (B), and a landing footboard (3), connected above with said support structure (2) and suitable to receive the aircraft.

Abstract: A process of producing L-lactate as defined herein by feeding carbon dioxide to a culture of a cyanobacterial cell and subjecting said culture to light, wherein said cell is capable of expressing a nucleic acid molecule, wherein the expression of said nucleic acid molecule confer on the cell the ability to convert a glycolytic intermediate into L-lactate and wherein said nucleic acid molecule is under the control of a regulatory system which responds to light or to a change in the concentration of a nutrient in said culture.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a process for cleaving glycoside residues from stevioside to produce steviol using a commercially available enzyme mixture containing pectinase, CYTOLASE PCL5®. In preferred methods, the reaction takes place in the presence of a yeast culture. Also described are combinations of Helix pomatia enzymes and CYTOLASE PCL5®.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and means for distinguishing FECV and FIPV, and methods and means for determining whether FIPV is present in a sample. Further provided are primers and probes for detecting FIPV specific nucleic acid sequences encoding a spike protein, antibodies for detecting a FIPV, and an immunogenic composition and use thereof for eliciting an immune response against a feline coronavirus, preferably a FIPV.

Abstract: A method, a reverse vending machine, a data processing unit and a computer programme product for initiating a data transaction in relation to a self-service purchase, including the splitting of or the making of a supplementary payment to a deposit credit. A first data is generated, which is representative of a first value corresponding to a deposit credit of an amount of packaging items of a user. A purchase transaction is initiated on the basis of a second data, which second data represents a second value of the purchase in question. A third data is generated if the second value is smaller than the first value, and a pay-out transaction is initiated in the form of a credit to be paid out to the user or a further purchase transaction. A fourth data is generated and a supplementary payment is started.

Abstract: A system for removing contaminant particles from the path of the beam of EUV radiation is provided in which at least a first AC voltage is provided to a pair of electrodes on opposite sides of the path of the beam of EUV radiation as a first stage of a regime of voltages and, as a second stage of the regime of voltages, a DC voltage is provided to the electrodes.

Abstract: A machine for de-aggregating a bale of insulation and blowing de-aggregated insulation, the bale of insulation having a length, the machine comprises a de-aggregation chamber having an inlet end positioned above an outlet end, the de-aggregation comprising a single upper de-aggregation member and a single lower de-aggregation member, each de-aggregation member comprising a rotary mounted shaft having a length and a plurality of paddles angularly staggered around the shaft and extending along the length of the shaft, the paddles of the upper de-aggregation member comprising first and second paddles having differing lengths and both the first and second paddles are interleaved with the paddles of the lower de-aggregation member.

Abstract: An engine controller for an engine configured for improving fuel economy and decreasing negative emission characteristics. The engine controller is operatively coupled to the engine and configured to intercept angular position sensor signals and generate an adjustable angular position sensor signal and output the adjusted signal to the engine control module operatively coupled to the engine. The engine control module is configured to control the fuel injector for the engine and is responsive to the adjusted angular position sensor signal. The engine controller is operatively coupled to a hydrogen injection module configured to deliver hydrogen to the engine in conjunction with the operation of the engine controller. According to another aspect, the engine controller is configured to intercept valve actuator signals from the engine control module intended to control variable valve actuators in the engine.

Abstract: A ball valve operative in a cryogenic temperature range, includes a housing having a fluid passage therethrough, a ball rotatably positioned in the fluid passage and including a fluid passage therethough, the fluid passages of the housing and the ball allowing fluid through the ball valve when the ball is in an open position and block the fluid when the ball is rotated into a closed position. The housing includes at least two sealing rings disposed therein, sealingly contacting the ball and positioned for rotatably holding the ball between the two sealing rings which include at least a surface layer of thermoplastic material contacting the ball surface and having an annular, circumferential groove in a contacting surface where the rings sealingly engage the ball and an annular recess in the sealing ring opposite to the circumferential groove for providing a spring lip for biasing the sealing ring against the ball.

Abstract: Central bus guardians (CBGs) and methods for operating a CBG are described. In one embodiment, a method for operating a CBG includes performing race arbitration among the buses connected to the CBG to select a winner bus for a time slot, and selectively forwarding data received at the CBG from the winner bus to a destination bus in the time slot based on whether the winner bus or the destination bus has a connection to an external network with respect to the application network and whether a communications device connected to the winner bus or the destination bus performs a critical function. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a marker structure for optical alignment of a substrate and provided thereon. The marker structure has a first reflecting surface at a first level and a second reflecting surface at a second level. A separation between the first level and the second level determines a phase depth condition. The marker structure further has an additional structure. The additional structure is arranged to modify the separation during manufacture of the marker structure. The invention further relates to a method of forming such a marker structure.