Abstract: A beverage apparatus is provided for heating a liquid and is operable either by foreign or domestic voltages. The apparatus may have a heating element that couples directly to the voltage source, regardless of whether the voltage source is foreign or domestic. The apparatus also may have a power supply that couples directly to the voltage source, regardless of whether the voltage source is foreign or domestic. The power supply outputs a DC voltage that may be coupled to various other components of the apparatus either directly or after subsequent processing.

Abstract: A single-use replaceable (one-shot) conductometric sensor film for use with a conductometric sensor, such as flammable vapor sensors, is provided that detects one or more volatile organic compound chemical analytes. Such sensor films exhibit a sustained change in resistance after exposure to the target analytes. The sensor film compositions undergo substantially inelastic deformation after a detection event and thus exhibit a sustained resistance change, ensuring only one-time use for certain applications. Methods of sensing analytes using the single-use sensor film compositions are also provided.

Abstract: A flyback converter includes a transformer and a controller operable for controlling a switch coupled in series with a primary winding of the transformer. The controller is configured to operate in multiple modes including a burst mode and a standby mode. In the burst mode, the controller generates a first plurality of discrete pulse groups to turn on the switch and a duration of each pulse in the first plurality of discrete pulse groups is determined by a first reference signal having a first predetermined voltage. In the standby mode, the controller generates a second plurality of discrete pulse groups to turn on the switch and a duration of each pulse in the second plurality of discrete pulse groups is determined by a second reference signal having a second predetermined voltage which is greater than the first predetermined voltage of the first reference signal.

Abstract: A representative sample of an online social network is formed by performing a deterministic process that coalesces to indicate success. A random value is selected for seeding the process. Based on the random value, the process is executed and once the process coalesces, a proper sampling of the online social network results.

Abstract: A device, system, and method for isolating a ventilator from one or more patients in which the delivery conditions of gas delivered to an isolation device from a ventilator may drive the delivery of breathing-gas delivered to one or more patients, the breathing-gas having the same or different delivery conditions. In one embodiment, an isolation device may have a housing and a movable partition. The movable partition may be joined to the housing, The movable partition may have a patient side on a first side of the partition and an actuating side on a second side of the partition. The isolation device may include an inlet pressure regulator on the actuating side and/or an exhaust pressure regulator on the patient side. These regulators may alter the delivery conditions (including, but not limited to, pressure and volume) of breathing-gas delivered to a patient.

Abstract: A driving circuit for driving a light source having an adjustable color temperature is provided. The driving circuit includes a power converter, coupled between a power source and the light source and operable for receiving power from the power source and for providing a regulated power to the light source; and a color temperature controller, coupled to the power converter and operable for receiving a switch monitoring signal indicative of an operation of a power switch coupled between the power source and the power converter, and for adjusting the color temperature of the light source based on the switch monitoring signal.

Abstract: A comb-like two-sided overlain gasket for sealing of dismountable flanged joints includes two sealing contact surfaces. Each contact surface defines a plurality of V shaped concentric grooves. Each of the V shaped grooves has an opening angle of 90 degrees. Each of the contact surfaces includes concentric surfaces that are disposed between each of the grooves. The concentric surfaces are created in a single plane and include a constant width that ranges from 0.2 mm to 0.6 mm. A bottom portion of the concentric grooves are rounded and have a radius that ranges from 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm. The comb-like two-sided overlain gasket also includes one of a sealing foil or a sealing plate that overlays the sealing contact surfaces and that extend beyond the concentric grooves. When compressed, the concentric grooves define a smaller volume than the volume of the sealing foil or the sealing plate.

Abstract: A composition for binding environmentally-harmful substances in solid or semi-liquid state contains caustic magnesium oxide, non-ferrous metal salts as a hardener, non-ferrous metal oxides catalyzing formation of radial crystalline structures, and optionally water and other additives. A method of stabilization of environmentally-harmful substances binds these substances in the solid state or semi-liquid state in the composition containing caustic magnesium oxide, wherein the environmentally-harmful substances are supplemented by the composition containing caustic magnesium oxide, non-ferrous metal salts as hardener, non-ferrous metal oxides catalyzing formation of radial crystalline structures, and optionally water and other additives. A form of paste is obtained, followed by leaving the mixture for solidification and stabilization of the product.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of a compound of the general Formula (I), comprising: a) reacting a compound of the general Formula (II) with a compound of the Formula III R2COOH and a compound of the general Formula IV R3NC under such conditions that compound I is formed, wherein R1 represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aromatic or non-aromatic, mono-, di- or tricyclic, or heterocyclic structure, and R2 represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aromatic or non-aromatic, mono-, di- or tricyclic, or heterocyclic structure, and R3 represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl structure. In further aspect the subject invention relates to the use of the obtained products as intermediates for various peptidomimetics, and preferably as a building block in a convergent synthesis of prolyl dipeptide structures.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of securing and maintaining the integrity of desired information on a ribbon and media subsequent to a printing operation is provided. The apparatus and method includes a thermal transfer printer having a print station and a printhead operable for performing a printing operation. The printhead is capable of performing an initial print operation and then being raised from the media, thereby allowing the used ribbon to be rewound a predetermined distance about a supply spindle. Thereafter, a second print operation is performed on the space previously printed upon using characters, designs or block-out patterns and the used ribbon is then wound onto a take-up spindle. In exemplary embodiments, the used ribbon can also be reprinted with a waste media several times thus further obscuring the image on the used ribbon.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a double diffused drain metal oxide semiconductor (DDDMOS) device and a manufacturing method thereof. The DDDMOS device is formed in a substrate, and includes a first well, a gate, a diffusion region, a source, and a drain. A low voltage device is also formed in the substrate, which includes a second well and a lightly doped drain (LDD) region, wherein the first well and the diffusion region are formed by process steps which also form the second well and the LDD region in the low voltage device, respectively.

Abstract: The headrest has a carrier element, which has joining means for fixing to a backrest of a motor vehicle seat and an upper base, and having a cushion part which has a supporting member and is displaceable with respect to the carrier element in a direction of displacement. The carrier element features a latching strip having several latching elements, and the supporting member has a locking means which in a locking position engages with one of the latching elements and in a release position is disengaged from the latching elements. The supporting member further forms at least one oblong hole surrounding the upper base. The supporting member also has a spring-loaded strip which extends along a lower edge of the oblong hole and abuts against the upper base and pushes the same into contact with the upper edge of the oblong hole.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a hybrid high voltage device and a manufacturing method thereof. The hybrid high voltage device is formed in a first conductive type substrate, and includes at least one lateral double diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) device region and at least one vent device region, wherein the LDMOS device region and the vent device region are connected in a width direction and arranged in an alternating order. Besides, corresponding high voltage wells, sources, drains, body regions, and gates of the LDMOS device region and the vent device region are connected to each other respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating tobacco from cigarette waste including a revolving screen having a bottom surface by which the screen is mounted in the apparatus at an acute angle relative to the horizontal plane, the screen further having a top surface, the angular position of the screen with respect to a horizontal plane being adjustable and the screen being provided with scraping unit on the top surface of the screen for aiding relocation of the cigarette waste on the top surface of the screen during its rotational movement.

Abstract: A modular gas-actuated retractable needle assembly, syringes for engagement with the modular gas-actuated retractable needle assembly, and kits comprising same are provided. In some embodiments, the syringe has a distal swedge to facilitate engagement of syringes of a plurality of different sizes with a single modular gas-actuated retractable needle assembly. Methods of using the modular gas-actuated retractable needle assembly or a syringe assembly having a modular gas-actuated retractable needle assembly are provided.

Abstract: Described are compounds and methods useful in the promotion of muscle growth, the treatment of muscle loss or insufficient muscle growth, and the treatment of fibrotic conditions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sample analyzer comprising: a transporting part configured to transport a sample rack holding one or more samples; a measuring part configured to perform a measurement on the sample of the transported sample rack; and a controller; wherein the controller is programmed to perform an analysis of a predetermined item that requires at least first and second measurement results derived respectively from first and second samples obtained from the same subject and preprocessed in different ways, if a measurement of the predetermined item is requested and a set of first and second samples obtained from the same subject and preprocessed in different ways are transported to the measuring part, the controller controls the measuring part to perform measurements on both of the first and second samples to derive the first and second measurement results and processes them to generate an analysis result of the predetermined item.

Abstract: Intervertebral implant for mutual situating of adjacent vertebrae contains a cover (1) in a shape close to the rectangle, in which is fixed a driving mechanism. In a lateral wall (2) of the cover (1) a manipulative hole (3) is made. The cover (1) is equipped with one open seat (4). The driving mechanism composes situated in the seat 4 and anchoring in one of displaced vertebrae one rotational element (5) with an axis 6 mounted for an axial movement in lateral walls (2) of the cover (1) perpendicularly to the direction of the displacement of vertebrae against each other, cooperating with the connecting element (7). The rotational element (5) is equipped with anchoring latches 8 projecting over the height of cover's (1) walls (2) from the side contacting with one of displaced vertebrae and anchoring in this vertebrae. Anchoring latches (8) have got a form of paddles of equal dimensions and shapes.

Abstract: In a power converter, a primary winding receives an input power. In addition, multiple secondary windings transform the input power into multiple charging currents to charge a set of cells via a set of paths. The multiple secondary windings further balance the set of cells based on the charging currents. A ratio between a first turn number of a first secondary winding of the secondary windings and a second turn number of a second secondary winding of the secondary windings is determined by a nominal voltage ratio between two corresponding cells of the set of cells.