Abstract: A preferred timing change is automatically selected from a set of candidate timing changes that can be made to address a short path violation in a circuit design. This involves determining an associated cost metric for each of the candidate timing changes, and identifying a lowest cost metric from the associated cost metrics. The candidate timing change associated with the lowest cost metric is selected from the set of candidate timing changes, for use as the preferred timing change. The associated cost metric may represent a cost per resolved source or destination register. Candidate timing changes may variously involve any of a number of techniques for introducing additional delays into a short path of the circuit.

Abstract: A film treatment device has a cutting device (2) for cutting a plastic film web (F). The cutting device (2) has an elongated electric resistor (5) fastened by both ends with fastening elements (3, 4), against which resistor the film web can be pressed and cut via heating of the electric resistor. The cutting device (2) also has a supporting element (6) arranged to support the electric resistor laterally substantially over the entire length of the electric resistor between the fastening elements (3, 4).

Abstract: A tongue and groove cladding panel is described.

Abstract: A method and composition for the passive immunization of patients infected with or susceptible to infection from Staphylococcus bacteria such as S. aureus and S. epidermidis infection is provided that includes the selection or preparation of a donor plasma pool with high antibody titers to carefully selected Staphylococcus adhesins or MSCRAMMs, or fragments or components thereof, or sequences with substantial homology thereto. The donor plasma pool can be prepared by combining individual blood or blood component samples which have higher than normal titers of antibodies to one or more of the selected adhesins or other proteins that bind to extracellular matrix proteins, or by administering carefully selected proteins or peptides to a host to induce the expression of desired antibodies, and subsequently recovering the enhanced high titer serum or plasma pool from the treated host.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning fecal matter from the interior of an extracted animal intestine is disclosed. The apparatus has a horizontal tube member for supporting an intestine; support members attached to opposite sides of the tube member for supporting the side portions of a slit intestine; a transporter mounted below and adjacent to the bottom side of the tube for moving intestines from adjacent the distal end of the tube towards the proximal end; a cutting blade mounted above the tube member; and a plurality of nozzles arranged at transversely opposite sides of the tube member for directing fluid downwardly and about the top side of the pipe member. A method for cleaning animal intestines using such an apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention includes a needle and method for injecting a fluid, such as a medicament, into a woody plant, e.g., trees, shrubs, or vines. In one embodiment, the needle includes a body having a proximal end, a distal end, an inner conduit extending from the proximal end towards the distal end, and at least one aperture in communication with the inner conduit and an outer surface of the body. An indentation in the outer surface of the body is provided where the aperture opens to the outer surface.

Abstract: In a method and a system for selling authorizations for events or the like, particularly for various types of tickets, sellable authorizations are defined in databases, and an advance booking agency or a purchaser accesses via the Internet the database for reserving and/or purchase of the authorizations. The venues are equipped with admission readers for identifying tickets provided in the form of data carriers, and the admission readers of each venue communicate with an area server, which includes a database of the sold authorizations for this venue. The servers are connected via a network, for example the Internet. The advance booking agencies or private users connect to a Web server by entering suitable addresses. The Web server retrieves the sellable price quotation from the database of the area server over a secure connection, and displays the sellable price quotation on the display of the advance booking office.

Abstract: An ASIC for implementing digital rights management includes a processor for requesting encrypted digital data from a server and decrypting the data, and a player for transforming the decrypted data to analog signals. Preferably, the ASIC is tamper-resistant. Preferably, all the management code of the ASIC is stored on a ROM in the ASIC. A device for receiving, decrypting and displaying encrypted digital data includes the ASIC, and also a transceiver for communicating with the server, a display mechanism for displaying the analog signals, and a nonvolatile memory for storing the encrypted data. A system for storing and displaying digital data includes both the server and the device. Preferably, the server is configured to send to the device only the encrypted digital data and associated decryption keys.

Abstract: Inductor topologies for filters used in broadband applications are described. In one implementation, an apparatus, such as an interface module includes a printed circuit board and a filter. The filter includes a generally circular high Quality factor (Q) value spiral planar inductor etched directly into the printed circuit board. The generally circular high Q value spiral planar inductor is configured to operate in a broadband application. Other implementations involve the use of decoupling structures with respect to the planar inductors as well as a design methodology for the filters.

Abstract: A method and system for increasing read and write performance of flash-based storage systems, by using RAM buffers with multiple accesses. The increase of read and write performance of flash-based storage system is achieved by performing “from RAM” and “to RAM” transfer operations simultaneously. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the invention provides a system for enabling simultaneous data transfer from a host interface to flash media and from flash media to a host interface. It also provides for a system for synchronizing memory-to-host and flash-to-memory transfers, during the host read operation. There is further provided a system of synchronizing host-to-memory and memory-to-flash transfers, during the host write operation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method, as well as a computer program product, for measuring a physical or physiological activity by a subject and for assessing the psychosomatic state of the subject. The subject is automatically provided with a sequence of different sensory stimuli by means of a stimulus generator controlled by a control means. Electrical signals are then derived from a physical or physiological activity by the subject in response to each sensory stimulus provided, in particular a force of pressure exerted on a letter balance. The electrical signals are compared with a pre-settable index value. On the basis of this, information can be obtained about the psychosomatic state of the subject, in particular about preferences and inclinations. The device is preferably used as an allergy testing apparatus, wherein the sensory stimuli provided in the sequence represent substances which potentially trigger allergies.

Abstract: An air handling apparatus for blending outside and return airflow including a housing having exterior side walls, a top and a bottom and containing first and second inlet regions and a mixing chamber. Outside air flows through a first inlet into the first inlet region while return air flows through another inlet into the second inlet region. There are also first and second damper mechanisms positioned between the first and second inlet regions and the mixing chamber, each capable of adjusting the amount of airflow from the respective inlet region to the mixing chamber. An exhaust fan is mounted on the housing above the second inlet region while an air supply fan is mounted in the housing on the downstream side of the mixing chamber. Heating and cooling coil units can be located downstream of the mixing chamber.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for performing synchronization and DC-offset compensation in FM transmission systems significantly reduce the overhead associated with transmitting a conventional digital preamble at the start of each of a succession of transmitted digital data packets. According to exemplary embodiments, a multi-part digital preamble includes a short, substantially DC-free leading part followed by a code-protected synchronization part which is not necessarily substantially DC-free. The leading part provides for coarse DC offset estimation and synchronization, while the coded synchronization part carries timing and/or other useful information which can be unique for each packet. One or more substantially DC-free trailing parts follow the synchronization part, or are included in the synchronization part itself, and provide for fine tuning of the DC-offset estimate.

Abstract: A projectile body having a groove-shaped recess (2), in which a guide band (3) is disposed. To permit use of a relatively wide guide band (3), while preventing the band from being destroyed as the projectile body (1) passes through the gun barrel, and preventing significant copper-plating of the barrel, the guide band (3) is assembled from two partial guide bands (5, 6), with the relatively narrow, first partial band (5), which faces the base (7) of the projectile, comprising copper or a copper alloy and providing a seal against the propellant gases acting on the projectile rear under high pressure. The second, considerably wider partial guide band (6) essentially comprises plastic, and includes at least one hollow space (11), which lends it adequate deformation reserves with respect to the high surface pressure acting on this partial guide band (6) when the projectile body (1) passes through the barrel.

Abstract: A self-contained hinge assembly for use in a flip device of the type having a main part and a flip part that are joined to permit opening and closing of the flip part, wherein the hinge assembly includes a cam having a biasing surface, a cam follower operationally associated the biasing surface, a biasing member for urging the cam and cam follower together and having a longitudinal axis oriented in a first direction extending from underneath the cam follower surface, a housing for closely holding at least the cam and the cam follower, and a rotatable key member operably associated with and extending from an end portion of the cam and out of the housing in a second direction that is generally perpendicular to the first direction, the key member configured to engage the flip part of the flip device.

Abstract: A gun whose barrel (2′) is connected to a breech ring (16), and is seated to be displaced in a cradle barrel (3). To prevent a lifting effect of the barrel (2′) inside the cradle barrel (3) upon firing, a slide-bushing bearing is disposed on at least the muzzle side of the barrel (2′). The bearing encompasses a barrel bushing (7′), in which the barrel (2′) is disposed free from any lifting effect, and whose outside surface (8) slides in a form-fit (i.e., with the smallest possible amount of play) in the cradle barrel (3), so that the barrel (2′) is independently guided to slide both axially and radially. The radial sliding guidance of the barrel (2′) during firing is effected by tab-shaped protrusions (10′), which extend into corresponding, groove-shaped recesses (9′) of the barrel bushing (7′) and hold the barrel (2′) in the center of the barrel bushing (7′).

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: Disclosed are antibodies that block the binding of fibronectin protein to fibronectin. Also disclosed are site specifically-mutated and truncated peptide epitopes derived from the fnbA and fnbB genes of Staphylococcus aureus, the fnba and fnbB genes of Streptococcus dysgalactiae, and the sfb gene of Streptococcus pyogenes, and nucleic acid segments encoding these peptides and epitopes. The anti-(fibronectin binding site) antibodies, peptides and epitopes that give rise to antibodies that block the binding of fibronectin binding proteins to fibronectin, and DNA segments encoding these proteins and are of use in various screening, diagnostic and therapeutic applications including active and passive immunization and methods for the prevention of streptococcal and staphylococcal colonization in animals or humans. These. DNA segments and the peptides derived therefrom are proposed to be of use directly in the preparation of vaccines and also for use as carrier proteins in vaccine formulations.

Abstract: There is provided a device, comprising a positioner configured to determine, at least in part, a position of the device and a request processor for processing and selectively responding to requests for information regarding the position of the device. The positioner comprises a GPS receiver used to calculate the position of the device. A communications network in which the device operates may finally calculate the position. Further, the device may be configured to automatically respond to certain network management location information requests, which are generated by a communications network in which the device operates. The device may also be configured to automatically respond to information requests that result from an emergency communication initiated by the user or that originate from certain specified agencies. Alternatively, the device may be programmed to respond to certain request types depending on input from the user of the device.