Abstract: Entomopathogenic fungal strains, compositions, and methods of using the strains for reducing overall insect damage.

Abstract: An electrode lead comprises an electrically insulative cuff body and at least three axially aligned electrode contacts circumferentially disposed along the inner surface of the cuff body when in the furled state. The electrode contacts may be circumferentially disposed around a nerve, and an electrical pulse train may be delivered to the electrode contacts thereby stimulating the nerve to treat obstructive sleep apnea. The electrical pulse train may be one that pre-conditions peripherally located nerve fascicles to not be stimulated, while stimulating centrally located nerve fascicles. A feedback mechanism can be used to titrate electrode contacts and electrical pulse train to the patient. A sensor that is affixed to the case of a neurostimulator can be used to measure physiological artifacts of respiration, and a motion detector can be used to sense tapping of the neurostimulator to toggle the neurostimulator between an ON position and an OFF position.

Abstract: A plug connector part for connecting to a mating plug connector part includes: an electrical power contact element for transmitting an electrical load current between the plug connector part and the mating plug connector part; and an electrical load line connected to the power contact element. The load line has a plurality of individual lines which are electrically connected to the associated power contact element in order to transmit a charging current via the power contact element.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for controlling pests are provided. The methods involve transforming organisms with a nucleic acid sequence encoding an insecticidal protein. In particular, the nucleic acid sequences are useful for preparing plants and microorganisms that possess insecticidal activity. Thus, transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, plant tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions are insecticidal nucleic acids and proteins of bacterial species. The sequences find use in the construction of expression vectors for subsequent transformation into organisms of interest including plants, as probes for the isolation of other homologous (or partially homologous) genes. The pesticidal proteins find use in controlling, inhibiting growth or killing Lepidopteran, Coleopteran, Dipteran, Hemipteran, fungi and nematode pest populations and for producing compositions with insecticidal activity.

Abstract: A medical system and method of communicating between a telemetry controller and medical devices is provided. Coupling coefficients between a primary coil of the telemetry controller and secondary coils of the medical devices differ from each other. A primary carrier signal is applied to the primary coil, thereby respectively inducing secondary carrier signals on the secondary coils. An amplitude of the secondary carrier signal is measured on each of the secondary coils. The envelope of each secondary carrier signal is modulated in accordance with data, thereby inducing modulation of the envelope of the primary carrier signal for the implanted medical devices. The secondary carrier signal envelopes are modulated based on the measured amplitudes of the respective secondary carrier signals.

Abstract: An embodiment can include a vessel-towed system that includes a first towing/communication interface system, e.g., a first tow cable with a fiber optic system, and spaced apart buoys for supporting the first tow cable. A first mobile structure including a first control system and first type of emitter, e.g., an attraction system, is connected to the first tow cable. A second mobile structure is provided that can include an underwater towed emitter such as an audio emulation system. The first and second emitters can be configured emit a first and second plurality of emissions for inducing a receiving entity response. The second mobile structure is coupled with the first mobile structure with a second tow cable that comprises another fiber optic cable. An automated response or manual control systems can be provided on the towing vessel and the first mobile structure adapted to operate the first and second emitters.

Abstract: An electrophoretic medium including a mixture of charge control agents, for example quaternary amine salts of polyisobutylene combined with quaternary amine salts of polyesters. The described electrophoretic medium exhibits improved color saturation as compared to similar electrophoretic media having only one of the charge control agents.

Abstract: A method of installing a toilet system on board an aircraft is generally described. The toilet system includes a base support having a right base support and a left base support, a toilet bowl, a right side support and a left side support each supporting the toilet bowl. The method comprises lowering the toilet bowl on to the base supports to at least partially engage a first locking mechanism; sliding the toilet bowl in a forward direction to engage a second locking mechanism; and inserting a first pin to couple the right base support to the right side support and a second pin to couple the left base support to the left side support in order to completely engage the first locking mechanism.

Abstract: A chilled air plenum system for aircraft galleys adapted to be connected to a food cart bay for a food cart includes an air return plenum having a return airflow duct with a plurality of midline primary apertures and a plurality of secondary lateral side edge apertures for receiving return airflow from the food cart. The return airflow duct also includes a central lower resilient back stop and lateral side edge resilient back stops to prevent a cart from impacting the rear of the food cart bay. The return air plenum cab be at least partially integrated into a galley back wall structure.

Abstract: A large container (100) for a water dispenser having side handles (8) formed as recesses in the side wall of the container (100) and bottom handles (9) formed as recesses in the central portion of the bottom (3) of the container (100). The side handles (8) and the bottom handles (9) are provided for facilitating the lifting and the transport.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system wherein an essential inspection of components of a machine or vehicle is performed and wherein the inspected components do no need to be brought into close proximity to the mechanism or device that activates the starting element of the machine. Moreover, the system of the present invention allows extending the essential safety inspection to those machine components that cannot be removed or are no practical to remove in order to be inspected. Still, the present invention provides a system that forces the safety essential inspection of machine components to be performed by not allowing the electrical feeding of the ignition mechanism that start the operation of the machine unless the essential inspection system is activated by completing a predetermined protocol or sequence of inspection steps.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device for quickly decontaminating and sterilizing preferably thermolabile goods using a plasma gas that is preferably generated from air as a process gas, with the subsequent humidification of said plasma gas with water. The method comprises the following steps: generating a plasma from air as the process gas, which forms reactive nitrogen and oxygen species; oxidizing NO to form NO2 at temperatures below 400° C. so that a plasma-activated gas mixture forms having an NO2 content of at least 0.3%; bringing said plasma-activated gas mixture in contact with water in one or more of the states of aggregation thereof; bringing the latter gas mixture in contact with the objects to be decontaminated or sterilized.

Abstract: Processes for producing low-nitrogen metallic chromium or chromium-containing alloys, which prevent the nitrogen in the surrounding atmosphere from being carried into the melt and being absorbed by the metallic chromium or chromium-containing alloy during the metallothermic reaction, include vacuum-degassing a thermite mixture comprising metal compounds and metallic reducing powders contained within a vacuum vessel, igniting the thermite mixture to effect reduction of the metal compounds within the vessel under reduced pressure i.e., below 1 bar, and conducting the entire reduction reaction in said vessel under reduced pressure, including solidification and cooling, to produce a final product with a nitrogen content below 10 ppm. The final products obtained, in addition to low-nitrogen metallic chromium in combination with other elements, can be used as raw materials in the manufacture of superalloys, stainless steel and other specialty steels whose final content of nitrogen is below 10 ppm.

Abstract: An implant device having a proximal end and a distal end, and a suturing fixture offset from the proximal end. The suturing fixture has a profile that extends from the surface of the elongate body. For example, the suturing fixture may have the shape of a cone, or the shape of a disc. The implant device may be used for placement within a salivary gland duct.

Abstract: A handheld oscillation machine tool has support devices for maintaining a spacing between internal parts and an outer housing. The support devices are arranged in pairs of first and second support devices. One support device in each pair has a concave circular surface, and the other has an opposed convex circular surface. Elastically deformable damping elements are arranged between the pairs of support devices. The damping elements are deformed from original flat conditions under forces applied by the support devices, and have concave and convex circular surface adjoining the opposed concave and convex circular surfaces at the support devices.

Abstract: A light-weight headlamp has a housing containing at least one SMD LED mounted to a circuit board on an inner housing made of thermally non-conductive material fixed to and disposed partly in a pivot mount. The pivot mount is pivotally connected to a mount assembly that is connected by one or more straps to a power source housing containing an electrical power source. The straps hold the mount assembly and power source housing to a users head and a wire connects the power source to the SMD LED. A shield disposed partly in the pivot mount is slidably engaged over the inner housing. A bezel with lens is connected to the shield and changes the shape of a light beam from the SMD LED as the shield slides on the inner housing.

Abstract: The invention relates to the utilization of specific cell surface biomarkers (preferably cell specific receptors) to generate a reversible layer-by-layer scaffold for the functionalization of cells. The cells of the present invention can be used in a wide variety of distinct applications, including cellular targeting, imaging, drug delivery, purification, cell sensing, diagnosis and waste stream/body fluid purification.