Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for promoting dispersal of, or preventing formation of microbial biofilms, comprising: exposing a biofilm to an effective amount of nitric oxide or at least one nitric oxide generating or releasing agent; treating a surface or medium susceptible to biofilm formation with an effective amount of nitric oxide or at least one nitric oxide generating or releasing agent; incorporating an effective amount of nitric oxide or at least one nitric oxide generating or releasing agent in a surface or medium susceptible to biofilm formation; or inducing the accumulation of one or more reactive oxygen or nitrogen species within microorganisms within said biofilm or capable of forming a biofilm. The invention also relates to methods for maintaining or enhancing or maintaining and enhancing the functioning of a biofilm, comprising exposing a biofilm to at least one nitric oxide scavenger, at least one antioxidant or at least one nitric oxide scavenger and at least one antioxidant.

Abstract: A contactless transaction adaptor for use with a mobile communicator, including a thin SIM card signal interceptor portion arranged for insertion intermediate an existing SIM card, having SIM card-based contacts, and communicator based SIM card contacts located in a SIM card recess formed in the communicator, the interceptor portion having contacts for communication with the communicator-based SIM card contacts and contacts for communication with the SIM card-based contacts, a contactless communication circuit bearing portion arranged for insertion in the communicator, a contactless antenna and a contactless communication circuit both mounted onto the circuit bearing portion, a flexible connector portion interconnecting the interceptor portion and the circuit bearing portion, an electrical path extending along the connector portion between the contacts of the interceptor portion and the contactless communication circuit, and an electrical path extending along the circuit bearing portion between the antenna an

Abstract: An expandable and collapsible cooler includes: a base defining a bottom portion of the cooler; an upper rim defining an upper portion of the cooler; and a cooler wall extending between said base and said upper rim and surrounding an interior storage space of the cooler. The cooler wall includes inner and outer collapsible walls that extend from the upper rim and a common bottom wall. Each collapsible wall includes a flexible elastomeric membrane having hinge lines at which the membrane is configured to bend such that the membrane is transitional between collapsed and expanded configurations. The membrane preferably is formed from silicone rubber.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for detecting temple hot spot temperature of a live body. Firstly, an infrared thermometer is used to continuously scan a temple of testee's forehead to obtain a plurality of measured infrared signals. Next, the measured infrared signals are sequenced from a greatest to a smallest measured infrared signal. Two output infrared signals closest to the greatest measured infrared signal are selected from the sequenced infrared signals. An average signal value is worked out from the selected infrared signals. Then, the average signal value is converted into a temple hot spot temperature of the testee's forehead. Thereby, not only the test result is more precise, but also the testee can learn the test result sooner.

Abstract: A hot runner injection molding apparatus includes a machine injection unit with a machine nozzle, a first machine platen fixed to the machine base, a second machine platen movable with respect to the first machine platen, a hot runner manifold having an inlet melt channel and a plurality of output melt channels, a plurality of hot runner nozzles associated with the manifold output melt channels, and a movable valve pin plate connected to a plurality of valve pins.

Abstract: Recycling of laminate flooring based on a separation of the panels (1) into particles which are connected with a binder and formed to a new sheet shaped material. A building panel includes a surface layer and a wood fiber based core, and the wood fiber based core includes aluminium oxide particles.

Abstract: A bidirectional moving walkway with a tightening system for tightening the band of pallets of the walkway includes two tightening units (6, 6?) arranged at each end of the moving walkway and each including a locking system for locking the movable frame (7) of each end tightening unit (6, 6?). Two drive units (3, 3?) are each arranged at either end of the moving walkway. The locking system of each tightening unit (6, 6?) of either end of the walkway is configured for locking the operation of the tightening unit (6, 6?) when the drive unit (3, 3?) of its same end is operated, such that the moving walkway always works with the tightening unit operated by the passenger entrance end and locked by the passenger exit end.

Abstract: A method to produce building panels is disclosed which method includes the step of applying a layer (5) comprising a mix of fibres (14), binder (12), and wear resistant particles (12) on a carrier (6), pressing the layer (5) with an embossed matrix (2a, 2b) and providing embossed portions (4) and filling the embossed portions with decorative a substance (3).

Abstract: A fast modular port switching device is described. The device can be used with an optical microscope to facilitate using multiple devices with the microscope. The port switching is done with a galvanometer for switching very fast. The device is modular so it can be combined with any number of similar devices for building a complex, multi-modal imaging system. Also described is the combination of a port switcher with automated spherical aberration correction. Even further described is a similar device where the outputs are recombined, thus making the device a fast filter switcher.

Abstract: A method of forming a grounded electrical circuit in a heated hose is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes: positioning a ground wire, a first heating wire, and a second heating wire axially within an inner wall of the hose; removing the end portions of the heated hose, such that end portions of the first heating wire, the second heating wire, and the ground wire are exposed; and positioning a ring around the first end portion of the hose. Exposed end portions of the first and second heating wires are folded to be positioned axially along an outer surface of the hose body. The exposed end portion of the grounding wire is folded radially inward, such that the grounding wire is positioned axially along an inner surface of the inner wall and against the ring. A stem of a first fluid coupling is inserted into the first end portion of the heated hose, such that the stem contacts the exposed end portion of the grounding wire.

Abstract: A method of generating a susceptibility map of an object utilizes a regularizing inverse function, oversampling k-space, removing external phase noise and rapid phase change effects, accounting for the known geometry of the object, and using modified SWI phase data to generate reasonable susceptibility maps and digital images therefrom, such as SWI images. The inventors refers to the inventive methods set forth herein as Susceptibility Weighted Imaging and Mapping (SWIM).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for supporting diverse memory access schemes are disclosed. In one embodiment, a mobile computing device includes program code that accesses memory according to a first bad block management scheme and program code that accesses memory according to a second bad block management scheme, which is different than the first bad block memory scheme. In addition, a memory component includes data that is partitioned according to both the first bad block management scheme and the second bad block management scheme so as to enable both the code that accesses memory according to a first bad block management scheme and the code that accesses memory according to a second bad block management scheme to utilize the memory component.

Abstract: A wildlife surveillance camera has a housing and first and second battery compartments located in the housing, which battery compartments are sized to receive at least two batteries in end-to-end fashion. The battery compartments are separated from each other by a gap which contains the electronics for the camera. The camera unit has an inner door that closes the access openings into the battery compartments. An outer door is provided to provide access to the inner door. The camera image sensor, the triggering device and the display are all mounted to the rear portion of the housing.

Abstract: Building panels with a thin and embossed surface layer and a sub layer between a surface layer and a core.

Abstract: A method of making a rotor yoke includes preparing a cured composite rotor yoke preform on a single-sided curing tool and machining at least one portion of the cured rotor yoke preform to form a rotor yoke. In one embodiment, preparing the cured composite rotor yoke is accomplished by applying successive layers of uncured polymeric composite material to a single-sided tool in a configuration to produce an uncured rotor yoke preform; disposing a semi-rigid caul to an untooled side of the uncured rotor yoke preform; enclosing the uncured rotor yoke preform and the semi-rigid caul by substantially hermetically sealing a vacuum bag to the tool; substantially evacuating a volume defined by the vacuum bag and the tool of air; and heating the uncured rotor yoke preform, sometimes under pressure, to form the cured composite rotor yoke preform.

Abstract: Management of patient activities for a clinician is provided by a patient activity list the may present the clinician's role relevant activities in conjunction with multidisciplinary activities to be performed for a patient. A timeline view area is presented having role relevant scheduled activities for one or more patients assigned to the clinician. Each role relevant scheduled activity comprises an activity to be performed by the clinician and is presented in the timeline view area based on a scheduled time and in association with a corresponding patient. When a user selection of at least one of the patients is received, one or more multidisciplinary activities for the patient are presented within the timeline view area. The multidisciplinary activities include activities scheduled to be performed by other clinicians, and each multidisciplinary activity is presented in the timeline view area based on a scheduled time.

Abstract: An electronic intermediary electronically receives information from a taxpayer or an authorized tax return preparer of the taxpayer. The received information may include information on a tax data provider and taxpayer identification information. The electronic intermediary connects automatically and electronically to the tax data provider based on the received information. The electronic intermediary collects automatically and electronically tax data from the tax data provider and processes automatically and electronically the collected tax data to obtain processed tax data. The electronic intermediary prepares automatically and electronically an electronic tax return by using the processed tax data.

Abstract: Apparatus for use during open system diving to support underwater human respiration. In accordance with various embodiments, an air supply provides a supply of air along a supply conduit. A regulator is adapted for engagement with a diver's mouth to receive air from the supply during an inhale cycle and to direct a mixture of water and exhaust air away from the diver along an exhaust conduit during an exhale cycle. An air/water separator separates the exhaust air from the water in said mixture and directs the separated exhaust air through an exhaust air port. In some embodiments, a one-way stop valve is provided within the air/water separator to prevent back flow. In further embodiments, a bubble diffuser emits the exhaust air as a fine mist of bubbles into the surrounding water.

Abstract: A crash attenuation system for an aircraft, the system having an airbag carried by the aircraft and inflatable generally adjacent an exterior of the aircraft. The airbag has at least one vent for releasing gas from the interior of the airbag. A gas source is in fluid communication with the interior of the airbag for inflating the airbag with gas generated provided by the gas source. A vent valve is provided for controlling a flow of gas through each vent, each vent valve being selectively configurable between an open state, in which gas can pass through the associated vent from the interior of the airbag, and a closed state, in which gas is retained within the interior of the airbag. The gas source is provided for at least partially re-inflating the airbag after venting of gas through the at least one vent.