Abstract: Novel vapor compression evaporative cooling systems which use water as a refrigerant are provided, as are methods for using same. Also provided are novel compressors, compressor components, and means for removing noncondensibles useful in such cooling systems.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods of inhibiting fibrin(ogen) clot formation by utilizing decorin proteoglycan as an anticoagulating and antithrombotic agent. The decorin proteoglycan comprises a decorin core protein or a fragment thereof covalently linked to a galactosaminoglycan polysaccharide. The decorin core protein acts as an anticoagulant and as a carrier for the delivery of an antithrombotic galactosaminoglycan to fibrinogen. Fibrin clotting is inhibited by the decorin proteoglycan in a concentration-dependent fashion.

Abstract: A watercraft with at least one onboard propulsion engine includes at least two hulls and a wing-like deck structure spanning the two hulls (a floating wing). Port and starboard skirts combine with the deck structure to form port and starboard planing channels. The deck structure includes an upwardly facing surface that slopes downwardly toward an aft end of the deck structure in order to provide aerodynamic lift. Preferably, a speed-responsive exhaust proportioning system vents exhaust at vertical steps in planing surfaces on the hulls to reduce drag, increase lift, and reduce thermal signature. One embodiment includes hinged laterally extending deck extensions that an operator can raise to reduce vessel breadth during docking, upwardly extending barriers on the deck extensions that reduce the escape of wind laterally, and hinged flap structures disposed rearwardly that enable an operator to adjust vessel trim.

Abstract: A method of improving the lubricity of an aqueous based drilling fluid composed of an aqueous base fluid, and a weighting agent. The method involves the addition of an effective amount of a phospholipid to substantially reduce the coefficient of friction when compared to the fluid absent the phospholipids. Preferably the phospholipids have the structure: in which R and R? are C6 to C25 hydrocarbon groups; and A is an anion to counter the cationic charge.

Abstract: Antenna assembly for a portable device. The antenna assembly includes a nonconductive base, a conductive bushing held within a lower end of the base, and a flex antenna wrapped around the base. The flex antenna includes a trace having substantially all of its length disposed around an upper end of the base axially away from the conductive bushing and terminating in a flexible end contact that extends over the bushing. A conductive mechanism engages the conductive bushing and presses the flexible end contact against the bushing. The conductive mechanism includes an exposed elongated contact. A whip antenna extends through the nonconductive base, and includes a nonconductive extension extending from a top end thereof and a lower contact for electrically contacting the bushing when the whip antenna is extended relative to the base.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, system and apparatus for reflection-mode microscopic photoacoustic imaging using dark-field illumination that can be used to characterize a target within a tissue by focusing one or more laser pulses onto a surface of the tissue so as to penetrate the tissue and illuminate the target, receiving acoustic or pressure waves induced in the target by the one or more laser pulses using one or more ultrasonic transducers that are focused on the target and recording the received acoustic or pressure waves so that a characterization of the target can be obtained. The target characterization may include an image, a composition or a structure of the target. The one or more laser pulses are focused with an optical assembly of lenses and/or mirrors that expands and then converges the one or more laser pulses towards the focal point of the ultrasonic transducer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to HIV-1 envelope proteins from a donor with non-progressive HIV-1 infection whose serum contains broadly cross-reactive, primary virus neutralizing antibody. The invention also relates to isolated or purified proteins and protein fragments that share certain amino acids at particular positions with the foregoing HIV-1 proteins.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring and storing a status of a rechargeable battery pack in which the battery pack status is monitored by a device while the battery pack is functionally connected to that device, and then periodically updated to a non-volatile memory in the battery pack. The non-volatile memory may be connected in power isolation from the rechargeable cells, thereby ensuring that the battery is not drained during long periods of storage. The battery pack may also have a latch, which has to be released in order to remove the battery pack from any device to which it can be functionally connected. Releasing the latch may cause the battery status to be written to the non-volatile memory, ensuring that the battery's memory has up-to-date battery status information, whenever the battery is removed from the device regardless of any scheduled data writes.

Abstract: An apparatus including an amplitude mapping circuit for converting at least a portion of an amplitude signal to a binary value and a plurality of amplifiers coupled to the amplitude mapping circuit, such that the binary value is transmitted to at least one of the plurality of amplifiers to specify a gain level of the amplifier. The apparatus may be used in a system where an input wave has been divided into amplitude and frequency components.

Abstract: A self-powered electric lock includes a lock bolt and a first engagement element having disengaged and engageable positions. An electric actuator includes an output operative to move the first engagement element to its engageable position. A manually operated rotatable member is operatively coupled to the first engagement element when the first engagement element is in its engageable position. A lock bolt drive mechanism is coupled to the lock bolt and to the first engagement element when the first engagement element is in its engageable position. The movable output moves the first engagement element to its engageable position upon input of correct electronic data. An electricity generator is coupled to the manually operated rotatable member. The electricity powers the electric actuator and an electronic data input device. The manually operated rotatable member is also used to actuate the lock bolt drive mechanism and retract the lock bolt.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reliable transmission of a calling subscriber number (“A-numbery”) received at a Gateway Mobile Switching Center (“GMSC”) of a home Public Land Mobile Network (“PLMN”) along with an incoming call towards a roaming destination subscriber are disclosed. A GSM network entity, an UMTS network entity, and/or an Inter-Working Function is selected and interrogated by a GSM and/or UMTS MAP operation to retrieve a routing number, and to further reach the roaming subscriber and set up the call. The interrogation of the entity includes extracting the previously received A-number at the interrogating network entity, including the A-number in the interrogating GSM/UMTS MAP operation at the interrogating network entity, and forwarding the interrogation and the A-number with the interrogating GSM/UMTS MAP operation to the interrogated entity.

Abstract: An articulated ring, such as a finger ring is based on a cast linkable connector element and a cast open connector link element having hooked ends which are fitted to posts provide on said cast linkable connector element The invention also includes a novel method of making an articulated ring structure which is based on the steps of: (a) providing a plurality of cast linkable connector elements having a top layer and a bottom layer with the top layer and said bottom layer connected by two posts; (b) providing a plurality of cast connector link elements with two ends, with a hook at each of said ends, and each hook adapted to engage a post on the cast linkable connector; and (c) engaging each hook of each of the plurality of cast connector link elements with a post of two different cast linkable connector elements to form an articulated ring structure.

Abstract: In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a resonator puck is provided with one or more vertical and/or horizontal, radial slits that improve the quality factor, Q, of circuits constructed from the resonators. Preferably, the slits are very narrow and, more preferably, about 100 to 1000 atoms wide. In some preferred embodiments of the invention, the surfaces of the resonators that define the slit are left relatively rough and may even contact each other such that the slit is not of uniform thickness, but essentially comprises a plurality of pockets between the two portions of the resonator.

Abstract: A multimedia broadcast multicast type service (MBMS) is offered to mobile subscribers. A RAN node communicates with one or more radio base stations that transmit and receive information with mobile subscriber terminals, some of which subscribe to the MBMS. The RAN node communicates with multiple core network packet data nodes that receive MBMS data for delivery to the RAN node. One of the multiple core network packet data nodes is selected to provide the MBMS data associated with the MBMS to the RAN node. The others are instructed not to provide the MBMS data, but they still perform other MBMS support functions for their mobile terminals such as MBMS charging, etc.

Abstract: A water-base fluid for use in drilling, cementing, workover, fracturing and abandonment of subterranean wells through a formation containing a shale which swells in the presence of water. In one illustrative embodiment, the drilling fluid includes, an aqueous based continuous phase, a weighting agent, and a shale hydration inhibition agent. The shale hydration inhibition agent should have the general formula: in which A is independently selected from H and CH2CH2CH2NH2; and in which B is independently selected from H, CH2CH2OH, CH2CH2OCH2CH2CH2NH2 and CH2CH2CH2NH2. The shale hydration inhibition agent is present in sufficient concentration to substantially reduce the swelling of shale drilling cuttings upon contact with the drilling fluid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for repairing coating damage and/or erosion damage on the internal surface of a weapon barrel by overlaying the respectively damaged barrel region with a suitable coating material and, if necessary, reworking it mechanically. To ensure that coating damages and/or erosion damages on a weapon barrel can be repaired easily, safely and cost-effectively, without resulting in a considerable weakening of the weapon barrel, according to the invention, deposit of the coating material is via overlay welding onto the respectively damaged barrel region.

Abstract: A filler comprising cellulose or lignocellulose fibrils on which light-scattering material particles have been deposited, and a process for the manufacture thereof. In the filler according to the invention, an alkyl derivative of cellulose, such as CMC, has been sorbed to the fibrils. Such a filler can be prepared from a source material containing cellulose or lignocellulose fibrils by first forming a fibril suspension, into which there are fed source materials forming an inorganic or organic salt that, when precipitating, forms a light-scattering pigment. The filler according to the invention has very good strength properties; in particular, good bond strength is achieved by means of it. The concentration of mineral pigment in paper can be increased and, furthermore, the grammage of paper can be lowered without the other important properties of the paper deteriorating.

Abstract: A method and device for the gas-phase separation of ionic biomolecules including peptide, and protein or inorganic cluster ions or nanoparticles by ion mobility and for depositing them intact on a surface in a spatially addressable manner is described. The surface onto which the proteins are deposited can be modified for the purpose of constructing microarrays of biologically relevant materials or for promoting the growth of highly ordered protein crystals.

Abstract: A method of formulating and the resulting biodegradable wellbore fluid includes a first synthetic internal olefin fraction having from 16 to 18 carbon atoms (C16-18 IO), a second synthetic internal olefin fraction having between 15 to 18 carbon atoms (C15-18 IO), and a third synthetic internal olefin fraction having 15 to 16 carbon atoms (C15-16 IO). The components of the wellbore fluid are blended such that the desired characteristics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon content, toxicity and biodegrability are balance to achieve compliance with environmental requirements for hydrocarbon based drilling fluids.