Abstract: A method includes providing a starting material having a Young's modulus (202). Second, from a plurality of possible modifiers, a modifier is identified and selected that has a Young's modulus comparable to or greater than that of the starting material and that, when blended with the starting material, creates a blend with a stable morphology (204). Third, the scratch resistance of the starting material is increased by blending the modifier with the starting material to form a blend (206). Alternatively, the scratch resistance of the stating material is maintained while the toughness of the starting material is increased by blending the modifier with the starting material to form a blend.

Abstract: Balloon films for buoyant toy balloons include a support layer, a gas barrier layer, and a metalization layer. In one embodiment, the barrier layer also serves as a support layer for the metalization. In other embodiments, the support layer is additional to the barrier layer. A sealant layer is added to allow balloon manufacture using commercial techniques.

Abstract: A device for reducing the resistance to the advancement on water of a motorboat (1), this latter comprising a keel (2), on the underside of which at least one step (3) is provided; projecting means (6) for increasing the points of separation of the motorboat (1) from the water are provided at the step (3) and extend away from its free edge, on said means (6) there acting the weight of the boat which is hence distributed over a greater number of points than those of the step (3), the projecting means providing regularity in the streams of air and water which flow below the keel (2) downstream of said means, and creating a microvotex effect between said means and the keel which contributes to the support of the boat, such that there is a smaller resistance to the advancement of the motorboat on water, with consequent higher boat speed.

Abstract: A telecommunications system and method for performing error detection on received data packets and error correction on only those data packets that were received in error without the need for retransmission of the data packets or parity checking bits. At the transmitter, the complete data packet is divided into a number of data units (DUs). The DUs are encoded for both error detection and error correction. Both the error correction and error detection parity check bits are separately combined into one or more blocks. Thereafter, the DUs and the block(s) containing the combined parity check bits are transmitted to the receiver. If the receiver determines that a received DU does not contain any errors, the error correction parity check bits for that DU are generated and their effect on the combined error correction parity check bits removed. Thereafter, the remaining error correction parity check bits, which now only contains information about the DUs actually in error, are used to correct the erroneous DUs.

Abstract: A self-powered electronic combination lock including a lock mechanism having locked and unlocked conditions. A rotatable dial is used to input a numerical combination code for changing the lock mechanism from the locked condition to the unlocked condition. An electronic display operates to display individual numbers of the combination code as the dial is rotated and a control is electrically connected with the dial and the electronic display. The control changes the numbers shown in the display as the dial is rotated in a single direction and the control is operable to sense a change in the direction of dial rotation. An electricity generating device is connected with the dial and the control and operates through dial rotation to generate electricity to power the control.

Abstract: A molding nozzle controls the flow of material from a source of plastic melt to an outlet that communicates with a gate to a mold cavity. The nozzle contains a valve pin that includes a guide section and a valve end, and is movable toward and away from the gate to open and close the gate selectively. The valve pin is guided for movement by guide surfaces on inwardly-extending vanes within the nozzle, such that the guide surfaces engage the guide section of the valve pin. The valve end of the valve pin has a smaller diameter than that of the guide section, so that the valve section is free-floating to allow annular flow in the guide surface region to minimize the likelihood of formation of flow lines in the molded part.

Abstract: A plurality of telecommunication traffic providers are connected to supply information about the current utilization of their networks to a dedicated network element to which is also connected a plurality of potential buyers of traffic capacity. The dedicated network element includes local and wide area data networks over which information about the existence of available network capacity among the providers is communicated to an administration center. The administration center makes that information available via the data network to the participating potential buyers and, thereafter, brokers the sale of the available telecommunication capacity from providers to buyers. It also monitors and assures that the buyers receive the benefit of their purchased capacity and the terms under which their sales were made.

Abstract: A method of forming lattice matched single crystal wide bandgap II-VI compound semiconductor films over a silicon substrate includes first cleaning (10) the silicon substrate. A passivation layer is formed (18), which may comprise arsenic, germanium, or CaF2, among others. The lattice matched layer is then grown (26) on the passivation layer.

Abstract: Abrasive compositions comprised of water-insoluble abrasive polishing agents suspended in a liquid medium in combination with humectant, and methods for making same. The inventive abrasive compositions are rheologically stable, settling-resistant, and re-agglomeration resistant, even during and after transport and/or storage before end-use, such as incorporation into dentifrice formulations or other oral cleaning compositions. The high settling-resistance of the inventive abrasive composition makes it possible to avoid the need before end use for temporary stabilizers such as inorganic suspending agents (e.g., clays, fumed silicas) or organic binders (e.g., polysaccharides). Also, the abrasive compositions contain abrasive particles having improved brightness as compared to abrasive particles made via drying and dry comminution processing.

Abstract: A vehicle body closure assembly combines a hinge, that provides a plurality of pivot axes that are aligned with a common intersection point above a body opening closed by a closure panel hinged to the vehicle body, and a displacement limiter that controls the open position of the closure so that the hinge pieces maintain a stable alignment with respect to each other. Preferably, the hinge structure or adjacent supports include the displacement limiter. A panel mount defines a first hinge axis, a body mount defines a second axis and a pair of links are pivotally secured together between the panel mount and the body mount to complete a hinge set. Preferably, a pair of hinge sets are secured to the hinge side of the closure panel to align said panel for movement in a non-interfering path with respect to body portions adjacent the path.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of inducing neurogenesis by administering to a mammal an effective quantity of a compound that induces neurogenesis, where neurogenesis includes proliferation of neural stem and progenitor cells, differentiation of these cells into neurons, and/or survival of these new neurons. In general, the compound comprises three moieties, A, L, and B, covalently linked. A can be a purine, tetrahydroindolone, or pyrimidine; L is a linker, while B is a moiety that promotes absorption of the compound. A particularly preferred compound is N4-[[3-(6-oxo-1,6-dihydropurin-9-yl)-1-oxopropyl] amino] benzoic acid (also known as AIT-082 or leteprinim potassium). Another aspect of the invention is pharmaceutical compositions for inducing neurogenesis.

Abstract: A side-tone control unit for a telecommunication instrument is configured to include a side-tone amplifier having a transfer function selectively controlled in accordance with a set of amplifier parameters, and a side-tone controller, coupled to the side-tone amplifier, for selectively applying the set of amplifier parameters to the side-tone amplifier based on the detected energy of an uplink signal and the detected energy of a downlink signal. The side tone controller can select a particular set of amplifier parameters by indexing a table in accordance with quantized values of the detected uplink signal energy and the detected downlink signal energy.

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, each hinge leaf being used to retain one of the alternate ends of the torsion rod pin extending through aligned pivot portions on each pin leaf. Preferably, each hinge set is integrally formed with the torsion pin by retainers holding ends of the torsion pin with respect to each of the leafs. In the preferred embodiment, a return bent end of the torsion pin is received in an extended support member while the other end is retained in a returned bent portion of the second leaf, each end extending in a radial direction aligned at an angle to the direction of the other end.

Abstract: The preferred orientation, or planar oscillation plane, of a golf club shaft is located by measuring the oscillation of the shaft when a horizontal impulse is applied and from those measurements determining an orientation in which the oscillation would be substantially planar. In a preferred embodiment an iterative process is used to converge on the preferred orientation. The location of the preferred orientation may be marked on the shaft and used to assemble a golf club with the planar oscillation plane in a predetermined orientation. The assembly of the golf club can be done manually—e.g., in a refitting situation—or automatically—e.g., in a new club manufacturing setting.

Abstract: A discrete message is forwarded from an initial destination to a forwarding destination within a network. Activation is requested of a forwarding feature. A discrete message is sent to the initial destination and a determination is made that the forwarding feature is activated. The initial destination is associated with a user profile, wherein the network includes a Switching Center (SC) and a Location Register (LR). When activation of a forwarding feature is requested, the forwarding feature is marked as activated in the user profile and the forwarding destination is stored. The user profile is downloaded from the LR to the SC, the forwarding destination is provided, and the discrete message is sent to the forwarding destination.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for detecting an out-of-line electrode prior to the start of an electrical discharge machining (EDM) process. The invention involves positioning an electrically conductive test component in an accurately defined location relative to a workpiece. The test component has a test hole of a size and shape corresponding to the hole to be drilled in the workpiece by an electrode of an EDM machine. The electrode is then inserted into the test hole. If the electrode is correctly aligned then it will not contact the test component and no electrically conductive path will be formed between the electrode and the test component. If such contact is detected then the electrode is misaligned and the EDM process is stopped. This sequence is repeated immediately before the commencement of drilling of each hole in the workpiece.

Abstract: In a radio telecommunication system, the performance of a mobile unit can be significantly improved during a hand-over procedure by reusing existing security associations that correspond to the mobile unit. By reusing existing security associations, a mobile unit can begin secure communications immediately following the hand-over. Otherwise, and in accordance with conventional practice, the mobile unit will have to undertake the time consuming task of renegotiating the required security associations, before it can begin transmitting and receiving secure communications.

Abstract: The invention relates to a filler used in paper manufacture and mainly consisting of calcium carbonate, and to a procedure for producing the filler. The filler consists of porous aggregates formed by precipitated calcium carbonate particles. In the procedure, calcium carbonate is precipitated.

Abstract: A structured boehmite pigment which comprises a plurality of alumina monohydrate particles. The pigment is particularly useful as a flatting pigment in paint and as an anti-block agent in plastic film. The boehmite pigment has an aggregate median particle size of about 8 to about 30 microns; a total pore volume of at least about 0.8 ml/g; a differential pore volume of less than about 0.3 ml/g; an oil absorption of about 70 to about 135 m/g; a BET surface area of about 3 to about 20 m2/g, and a TAPPI brightness of at least about 90.