Abstract: A telecommunications system and method is disclosed for implementing a semi-reliable retransmission protocol that utilizes both selective repeat Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ) and segmentation and assembly of data packets. The new semi-reliable retransmission protocol includes a timer based triggering of a retransmission timeout for retransmission protocols, which allows the retransmission timeout to become insensitive to variations in the channel rate. In addition, the retransmission timeout can be defined based upon the maximum delay allowable for the retransmission of corrupted data packets over the air interface. For every data packet received a timer monitoring the transmission time of the data packet is initialized. If the timer elapses for the data packet this data packet is marked as discarded in the transmitter, and a request is sent to the receiver to ensure that transmissions carrying that data packet are discarded in the receiver.

Abstract: A system for measuring dynamic loads in a rotordynamic system having a rotor includes a magnetic bearing disposed around the rotor and having a plurality of magnets and at least one fiber optic strain gage associated with a pole of a respective magnet. The fiber optic strain gage is operable to detect a strain on the respective pole resulting from the dynamic loads. The detected strain is indicative of the dynamic loads.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for controlling microbial populations in the gastrointestinal tract of animals. The method comprises the step of orally administering an effective amount of a peracid to an animal. Percarboxylic acids useful in this invention include peracetic acid, perpropionic acid, perbutyric acid, peroctanoic acid, perglycolic acid, perglutaric acid, persuccinic acid, perlactic acid, percitric acid, perdecanoic acid or mixtures thereof. These percarboxylic acids have been found to provide good antimicrobial action with good stability in aqueous streams. In addition to peracetic, peroctanoic and perdecanoic, particularly preferred percarboxylic acids include perpropionic, perbutyric, perglycolic, perlactic and percitric acids.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mechanical seal that may control the pressure between sliding faces of sliding rings in the mechanical seal portion and also clean and sterilize the sliding faces reliably, and an agitating device and process using the mechanical seal. The rotary ring rotatable together with the revolving shaft and the fixed ring disposed opposite to said rotary ring on the agitating tank side include controlling mechanisms for controlling the pressure or the gap between both sliding faces respectively. Said controlling mechanism is a piston placed within the cylinder provided in the casing, and positive or negative pressure is applied through said piston to the fixed ring for control of the pressure between the sliding faces by changing the pressure of fluid such as air supplied into the cylinder. In cleaning and sterilizing operations, negative pressure is used to open the gap between the sliding faces to allow passage of cleaning liquid or steam for sterilization between both sliding faces.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical exposure device in particular an UV table lamp, for hardening light-hardening gel in the course of finger nail treatment. In its basic design, this optical exposure device has at least one UV light source (1) and a light source housing (2). There are provided in this case two or more UV light sources (1) which are arranged in a V-shaped fashion and are arranged above a bearing surface (AF), of essentially convex curvature, for a hand with finger nails to be treated. The overall result is to achieve a configuration which is cost effective and of simple design.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coupling a vehicle body panel partition for pivotal movement between an upright and a retracted position. A mounting includes hinge sets formed from two hinge leafs, A hinge leaf being used to retain one of the ends of the torsion rod pin extending through aligned pivot portions on each hinge set. Preferably, each hinge set is integrally formed with the torsion pin by retainers holding ends of the torsion pin with respect to one leaf of each of the hinge sets. In the preferred embodiment, a return bent end of a common torsion pin is received in a first leaf of one of at least two hinge sets, while the other end of the rod is return bend and retained in a second leaf of a second hinge set.

Abstract: Methods for treating obesity are disclosed which comprise administration of a therapeutically effective amount of an amylin or an amylin agonist alone or in conjunction with another obesity relief agent.

Abstract: A telecommunications system and method is disclosed for managing congestion in the Home Location Register (HLR). At regular intervals or in response to a registration message associated with a Mobile Station (MS) registration request, the HLR can transmit the current load conditions in the HLR to one or more Mobile Switching Centers (MSC's) within the area served by the HLR. In response, the MSC's can use this load information to reduce the registration intensity in order to protect the HLR from congestion. Each MSC can include one or more HLR load thresholds, and if the current load level in the HLR is above one of these thresholds, the MSC can reduce the number of registration messages sent to the HLR by a certain amount.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system for producing and storing “roaming” area information of a mobile terminal in a home location register or guest location register. A “roaming” area includes a group of location areas within a single service area. When a mobile terminal enters a new location area within a new roaming area or enters a new service area, the home location register (HLR) or guest location register (GLR) is updated with the roaming area information of the mobile terminal. The HLR/GLR stores this information in addition to the other information typically stored for the mobile terminal. If an MSC/VLR system restart and reload occurs or another event such that the location area information is lost, the roaming area information can be retrieved from the HLR/GLR. Likewise, if the mobile terminal does not respond to a page within the location area stored for the mobile terminal, the roaming area information can be retrieved from the MSC/VLR.

Abstract: A flow diverter and a vacuum blower for vibrating screen separator assembly. The flow diverter decelerates and increases the exposed surface of materials. The exhaust blower removes vapors from the materials.

Abstract: A screen system employs a resiliently mounted housing, a vibration generator mounted to the housing, a mounting frame fixed to the resiliently mounted housing and a support surface. This system receives a screen including a screen frame and pre-tensioned screen cloth. The frame includes an inwardly extending mounting flange accessible from below the screen when placed in the housing. Clips pivotally mounted relative to the mounting frame include a first rounded lever extending upwardly to selectively engage the inwardly extending mounting flange. Second levers extend downwardly to cooperate with actuators. The actuators include inflatable bodies with contacts which, upon inflation, force the clips to engage the inwardly extending mounting flanges. This engagement retains the screen on a resiliently mounted housing and is able to further tension the screen in place.

Abstract: A vibrating screen separator. The vibrating screen separator may be operated in a linear or elliptical mode of operation. In the linear mode of operation, the screen separator moves along a reciprocating straight line path, and, in the elliptical mode of operation, the screen separator moves along an elliptical path.

Abstract: Embossed oriented thermoplastic films and methods of making them are described. The embossed oriented thermoplastic films have substantially the same mechanical properties as unembossed oriented thermoplastic films. The depth of the embossments ranges from about 1 &mgr;m to about 200 &mgr;m. The methods include providing an oriented thermoplastic film having first and second major surfaces, softening at least one of the first and second major surfaces to produce a softened surface, embossing the softened surface to produce an embossed oriented thermoplastic film, and cooling the embossed oriented thermoplastic film.

Abstract: An information synchronization method and apparatus stores a change log having an associated change counter at a first database, updates the change counter at the first database in response to a database update command from a second database, and returns the updated change counter to the second database in response to a processing condition resulting from the database update command at the first database. The information synchronization protocol ensures that the second database maintains the most current change counter for use in a subsequent synchronization procedure and in the event that an interruption or error occurs, thereby increasing the efficiency of information synchronization by enabling the second database to process only those changes of the first database occurring after the updated change counter.

Abstract: A biosensor (10) has a hydrogel (30) in a rigid and preferably biocompatible enclosure (20). The hydrogel (30) includes an immobilized analyte binding molecule (ABM) and an immobilized analyte. The immobilized analyte competitively binds with free analyte to the ABM, thus changing the number of crosslinks in the hydrogel (30), which changes hydrogel swelling tendency (and thus the osmotic pressure) in its confined space in proportion to the concentration of free analyte concentration. By measuring the change in hydrogel pressure with a pressure transducer (40), the biosensor (10) is able to accurately measure the concentration of the free analyte molecule without the problem of oxygen limitations and interference encountered by prior art biosensors. A battery (64) powered telemeter (60) operably engaged to the pressure transducer (40) sends a radio data signal to a receiver (66) containing an alarm system operably attached to a computer (62).

Abstract: A flow diverter and a vacuum blower for vibrating screen separator assembly. The flow diverter decelerates and increases the exposed surface of materials. The exhaust blower removes vapors from the materials.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to thermoplastic elastomer films and bags made from thermoplastic elastomer films and also to methods for making thermoplastic elastomer films and bags. The thermoplastic elastomer films of the present invention are composed of thermoplastic elastomers and non-elastic polyesters. The bags of the present invention are fabricated using blended monolayer thermoplastic films that include a blend of thermoplastic elastomer and a non-elastic polyester, or co-extruded multi-layer films that include at least one layer of thermoplastic elastomer and at least one layer of non-elastic polyester. The blended monolayer thermoplastic films of the present invention are useful in the food handling industry and particularly in the meat packaging industry and for use in cooking bag applications. The co-extruded films of the present invention are also useful in the food handling industry and particularly the meat packaging industry and for use in meat casing applications.

Abstract: A method of coating an inner surface of a weapon barrel includes the following steps: introducing a plasma burner into the weapon barrel; producing a plasma flame by the plasma burner; directing the plasma flame against the inner barrel surface to cause impingement thereon; introducing a coating material in powder, wire or ribbon form into the plasma flame for melting the coating material to form a molten liquid and for depositing the molten liquid by the plasma flame on the inner barrel surface; and moving the plasma burner inside the weapon barrel axially thereof and relative thereto while performing the depositing step for obtaining a surface coating on the inner barrel surface.

Abstract: A self-adjusting, free-flowing pneumatic nebulizer interface is described for coupling fluid phase separation apparatus such as capillary electrophoresis apparatus or fluid-phase analyte delivery apparatus such as flow-injection analysis apparatus to gas phase, post-separation detection apparatus such as mass spectrometers, chemiluminescence detectors, or other similar gas phase detection apparatus. The interface combines the analytes with only the needed amount of sheath fluid to produce a combined flow whose magnitude automatically matches the self-aspiration rate of the pneumatic nebulizer interface, and which is combined with a gas flow to produce an aerosol. The resulting aerosol can then be either deposited directly on a surface, forwarded directly to a detection system or forwarded first to a conversion apparatus such as an oxidizer and the oxidized sample components are then forwarded to a detector.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of baculovirus RNA polymerase for the production of capped and polyadenylated transcripts in vivo and especially in vitro. More particularly, the purified RNA polymerase of the present invention may be used to produce in vitro transcription and/or in vitro transcription/translation kits.