Abstract: The present embodiments provide methods and apparatuses for use in controlling and directing magnetically levitated vehicles. In some embodiments, a method propels or passes a vehicle along a guideway, magnetically levitates the vehicle as it travels along the guideway, and induces a magnetic drag on the vehicle as it travels along a portion of the guideway. The magnetic drag can be induced by passing the magnet proximate a plate of conductive material. The plate can be positioned on a first side of the vehicle to induce the magnetic drag resulting in a force on the vehicle in a direction toward the first side. The method can further induce the magnetic drag to guide the vehicle along a curve of the guideway, where the plate is positioned on an inward side of the curve such that the force directs the vehicle into the curve.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for signal detection and error detection in a multi-band system, the method for error detection comprising the steps: receiving a plurality of bursts, each burst occupying at least one of a plurality of frequency bands, the plurality of bursts encoding a symbol, the symbol corresponding to data, wherein the symbol is encoded such that a burst occupying each frequency band is transmitted a specified number of times within the plurality of bursts; determining that a given burst has not been detected the specified number of times; and declaring a transmission error for the symbol. In one variation, the frequency bands comprise wideband frequency bands.

Abstract: Nanoparticles of amorphous aluminum oxynitride or silicon oxynitride having a very high aspect ratio are used to fill polymeric materials to provide products that have an extremely low WVTR/OTR. Such products are particularly effective for incorporation into organic light-emitting devices or the like which are susceptible to degradation from moisture and/or oxygen. Pressure sensitive and/or thermosetting adhesives filled with such particles create excellent sealants. Polymeric sheets or films made from resin in which these nanoparticles are dispersed, or intimately associated with, before extrusion exhibit very low WVTR/OTR.

Abstract: A method for data transmission includes forming a notched radio-frequency (RF) burst according to one or more data values, where a bandwidth of the notched RF burst is at least two percent of the center frequency of the notched RF burst. Forming a notched RF pulse includes altering, according to the data, at least one of the amplitude and phase of one or more selected components, where each of the selected components has a bandwidth within the bandwidth of the notched RF burst.

Abstract: A dense, hard body having good fracture toughness, hardness and a high capacity to absorb impacts which is also useful as lightweight armor. The body is an eutectic of either (a) two carbides selected from boron carbide (B4C), silicon carbide (SiC), titanium carbide (TiC), tantalum carbide (TaC), tungsten carbide (WC), zirconium carbide (ZrC) and hafnium carbide (HfC); or (b) one of the above carbides and at least one boride of an element of group IVa, Va or VIa of the Periodic Table. The molten eutectic, e.g. a ternary composition of B4C, SiC and TiB2, may be generally directionally cooled so its lamellar microstructure is oriented relative to a large surface of the body.

Abstract: A system for testing radar in accordance with one embodiment comprising a target motion platform; a target motion platform controller for controlling motion of the platform; a radar responsive tag and a delay line located on the target motion platform; the radar which is being tested; and a motion measurement simulator for inputting data to the radar electronics assembly to simulate movement of the radar. In some embodiments the system further comprises a radar motion platform, wherein the radar electronics assembly is positioned on the radar motion platform; a radar motion platform controller for controlling the movement of the radar motion platform; and a master controller coupled to the radar motion platform controller and the target motion platform controller.

Abstract: A system for charging a capacitor with relatively high energy pulses at a relatively high pulse repetition rate includes a voltage transformer. A resonant circuit is established having an inductor connected to the transformer's low voltage side and a capacitor connected to the transformer's high voltage side. A power supply cooperates with a switch assembly to generate a train of pulses, alternating in polarity, in the circuit. With this arrangement, the transformer core is reset after each pulse. A rectifying circuit operates on the alternating polarity pulses to create a train of constant polarity pulses for charging the capacitor. For the system, the maximum charging voltage is regulated by a control circuit having a probe for measuring the voltage across the charging capacitor. This measured voltage is used by the control circuit to selectively operate the switch assembly and regulate the maximum voltage across the capacitor.

Abstract: The wear life of flexible copper fiber brushes when used at a positive pole in a direct current motor or generator is improved by the provision of an effective amount of zinc as a sacrificial anode material. Flame-sprayed zinc is applied as a coating to the exterior surface of such a copper fiber pack to bond the fibers with a surrounding metal wire reinforcing wrap, of cross wound copper wire or fine mesh, woven copper wire screen material, and create an improved brush.

Abstract: 1. The present invention provides compositions and methods for reversibly inhibiting S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine (SAH) hydrolase. The compounds of the present invention can be used as an anti-hemorrhagic viral infection agent, an immunosuppressant, a homocysteine lowering agent, or an anti-neoplasm agent. The compositions and methods of the present invention can be used for the prevention and treatment of hemorrhagic virus infection, autoimmune diseases, autograft rejection, neoplasm, hyperhomocysteineuria, cardiovascular disease, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis or diabetes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for assaying myeloperoxidase activity. In the assay, a sample containing myeloperoxidase or suspected of containing myeloperoxidase is contacted with substrate including serine, hydrogen peroxide, and a halide. If myeloperoxidase is present in the sample, serine is converted into glycolaldehyde, which is further converted into glycolate by a glycoaldehyde converting enzyme. The method then utilizes a cycling reaction system between glycolate and glyoxylate to generate a detectable signal that corresponds to the myeloperoxidase activity. Kits for assaying myeloperoxidases based on the same principle are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for assaying homocysteine (Hcy) and thus related moieties, e.g., S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) or adenosine. More particularly, assay methods that employ, mutant SAH hydrolase having binding affinity for Hcy, SAH or adenosine but has attenuated catalytic activity, are provided. The modified enzymes and fusion proteins containing the modified enzymes are also provided.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for testing ultralow moisture permeation through a sample such as a thin barrier film by exposing one surface of a sample to be tested for moisture permeation to a predetermined humidity of HTO. The HTO permeating therethrough is collected in a stream of dry gas, preferably methane, at a known very slow flow rate, and monitored for its radioactivity content. By very carefully sizing the respective chambers, continuously monitoring using a particularly sensitive device and appropriately converting the signals, accurate assessment of permeation rates even as low as very small fractions of a gram of water per square meter per day can be obtained. Ultralow oxygen permeation is alternatively measured using 14CO. Methods are also shown for measuring permeation that would occur through a perimeter seal and for measuring permeation which would result from gaseous entry into edge surfaces of a composite film.

Abstract: A method for data transmission includes forming a notched radio-frequency (RF) burst according to one or more data values, where a bandwidth of the notched RF burst is at least two percent of the center frequency of the notched RF burst. Forming a notched RF pulse includes altering, according to the data, at least one of the amplitude and phase of one or more selected components, where each of the selected components has a bandwidth within the bandwidth of the notched RF burst.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to the field of glycated protein detection. In particular, the invention provides chimeric proteins, nucleic acids encoding the chimeric proteins, methods and kits for assaying for a glycated protein in a sample, using inter alia, an amadoriase.

Abstract: The wear life of flexible copper fiber brushes when used at a positive pole in a direct current motor or generator is improved by the provision of an effective amount of zinc as a sacrificial anode material. Flame-sprayed zinc is applied as a coating to the exterior surface of such a copper fiber pack to bond the fibers with a surrounding metal wire reinforcing wrap, of cross wound copper wire or fine mesh, woven copper wire screen material, and create an improved brush.

Abstract: A polling method, apparatus, and system to detect the attachment and detachment of Universal Serial Bus devices in a wireless system. A hub provides a wired connection to the host and wireless attachment points for its devices, The host periodically queries the hub for changes in the hub's status register by sending a polling message through each of its wireless ports, and awaits a response. A peripheral device that wishes to attach to the system responds by sending its unique peripheral address. If a device currently occupies the port, the hub sends out the device's unique address in the polling message. If the device is still present, it responds by sending its unique peripheral address. If a response is not received after multiple retries, the device is considered detached. The hub thus determines the status of the ports and updates the status register, which is queried by the host.

Abstract: By measuring ultralow moisture permeation through a barrier material sample at a temperature substantially above ambient, definitive values are produced on an accelerated basis that can be used to accurately predict long term daily performance of that barrier material. The sample is heated to a desired test temperature where there is controlled access to both its upstream and downstream surfaces, and HTO vapor is then supplied at predetermined relative humidity to the upstream surface by fracturing a glass ampoule containing not more than 10 millicuries of specific radioactivity for each test. Radioactive gas permeating from the downstream surface is collected by circulating a very slow flow of dry carrier gas past the downstream surface, which stream flows to an ionization chamber containing a beta-particle radiation monitor.

Abstract: A laser device which may be used as an oscillator or amplifier comprising a chamber having a volume formed therein and a gain medium within the volume. The gain medium comprises solid-state elements containing active laser ion distributed within the volume. A cooling fluid flows about the solid-state elements and a semiconductor laser diode provides optical pump radiation into the volume of the laser chamber such that laser emission from the device passes through the gain medium and the fluid. The laser device provides the advantages of a solid-state gain medium laser (e.g., diode-pumping, high power density, etc), but enables operation at higher average power and beam quality than would be achievable from a pure solid-state medium.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to the field of homocysteine detection. In particular, the invention provides a method for determining homocysteine presence or concentration in samples, which method comprises: contacting a sample containing or suspected of containing Hcy with a Hcy co-substrate and a Hcy converting enzyme in a Hcy conversion reaction to form a Hcy conversion product and a Hcy co-substrate conversion product; and assessing the Hcy co-substrate conversion product to determine the presence, absence and/or amount of the Hcy in the sample. A kit for assaying homocysteine based on the same principle is also provided.

Abstract: O2 and H2O barrier materials suitable for the protection of LCDs and flexible OLEDs are fabricated on a polymer substrate using dense inorganic barrier layers. A polymer surface having a low surface roughness has an inorganic layer of aluminum or silicon oxides deposited thereupon using ion-assisted vacuum deposition with an argon ion gun, which treatment surprisingly provides a smoothing effect on the surface of the polymer. By pretreatment of prefabricated polymeric film with ion-gun enhanced plasma in the presence of oxygen, commercially available heat-stabilized PET and PEN films can be directly employed as substrates. Protective polymer layers are optionally coated upon the thin inorganic barrier layer.