Abstract: An electrode assembly for a resectoscope includes, a cutting electrode with a loop distal tip and a coagulation electrode with a loop distal tip. A support frame connects the cutting and coagulation electrodes to an energy source which supplies energy from the energy source to the electrodes. The coagulation electrode provides tissue coagulation simultaneously while the cutting electrode cuts tissue. A resectoscope is disclosed which includes the electrode assembly. The resectoscope includes a sheath with a sheath lumen, a working element, and a visualization apparatus.

Abstract: A dry powder composition comprises insoluble nucleic acid constructs dispersed within with a hydrophilic excipient material, where the powder particles have an average size in the range from 0.5 .mu.m to 50 .mu.m. Nucleic acid constructs may comprise bare nucleic acid molecules, viral vectors, or vesicle structures. The hydrophilic excipient material will be selected to stabilize the nucleic acid molecules in the constructs, enhance dispersion of the nucleic acid in dry powder aerosols, and enhance wetting of the nucleic acid constructs as they are delivered to moist target locations within the body.

Abstract: Improvements are described in the injection of ammonia (NH.sub.3) into the exhaust gases of an engine to reduce nitrogen oxides. Instead of merely injecting ammonia into the exhaust gas conduit through a hole in its side, an ammonia injector (90) is provided that projects considerably into the exhaust conduit (16), with the injector having a plurality of holes (94). The ammonia is activated to decompose it into its reactive components, including NH.sub.2 and NH prior to injecting it into the exhaust conduit. Such activation prior to injection can be accomplished by heating the ammonia in the presence of a catalyst such as a metal of the platinum group, iron, nickel, or zinc. In an engine that has a fuel injection system wherein electrical pulses are delivered to fuel injectors to control the fuel flow rate, the durations of these electrical signals are used to control the opening of a valve (72) that controls the flow rate of ammonia into the exhaust gas conduit.

Abstract: A method of scheduling the transmission of cells from a network node involves storing entries in a schedule table at predetermined locations, wherein each location represents a point in time at which a cell is to be transmitted. Each entry in the table contains a pointer to a list of virtual circuits having cells scheduled for transmission at the time corresponding to the location of the entry in the table. When a VC has a cell to be transmitted at a particular time, the VC is queued to the head, rather than the tail, of the list of VCs pointed to by the pointer located at the entry in the table corresponding to the time at which the cell is to be transmitted. The VC is therefore the first VC transmitted from the list of VCs.

Abstract: A computer implemented system analyzes an application state by determining entities which provide predetermined functionalities for a user, determining items that depend from the determined entities, grouping entities by pruning overlapping entities and combining similar entities, and packaging the group of entities using a predetermined format. The system provides automatic relationship resolution based on a current machine state to enumerate in a deterministic manner fundamental data, metadata and dependencies necessary for correct application function. In addition, state information is stored in a persistent format to be used in a variety of applications, including installation, synchronization, backup, recovery, analysis, and repair.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) comprises a pressure vessel (16) and an initiator assembly (18). The pressure vessel (16) defines first and second chambers (20, 22). A first combustible mixture in the first chamber (20) includes fuel gas at a first volume percentage. A second combustible mixture of gases in the second chamber (22) includes fuel gas at a second, greater volume percentage. The initiator assembly (18) includes a first igniter (26) which is actuatable to ignite the first combustible mixture. The initiator assembly (18) further includes a second igniter (28) which is actuatable to ignite the second combustible mixture. A controller (30) actuates the initiator assembly (18) in a selected one of a plurality of differing stages corresponding to a plurality of differing conditions. The differing stages of actuation include a stage in which the first igniter (26) is actuated and the second igniter (28) is not actuated.

Abstract: The reservoir system includes a heater coil having electrical leads adapted to be coupled to a voltage source. The heater coil is adapted to generate heat in correspondence with a heater voltage provided by the voltage source. A reservoir material layer is adapted to regulate pressure of a gas disposed within the gaseous-discharge device in accordance with temperature of the reservoir material. Heat is transferred from the heater coil to the reservoir material through a series of thermally conductive layers in which each of the layers have different thermal conductivity and coefficients of expansion. As a result, the thermal path resistance between the heater coil and the reservoir material layer increases as temperature of the heater coil increases so that the reservoir material increases in temperature at a slower rate than the heater coil.

Abstract: A digital interface device conveys signals between aircraft data busses and a wingtip weapons station. A first interface is provided, coupling to an F/A-18 Aircraft Instrumentation Subsystem Internal (AISI) input/output connector. A second interface is coupled to a secondary armament bus. A crossover cable interconnects the wingtip weapon station to the secondary armament bus. A digital data processing module is coupled to the first and second interfaces and programmed to convey signals between aircraft data systems coupled to the F/A-18 AISI input/output connector and the wingtip weapon station. Namely, the processing module monitors signals received on the input/output connector, and extracts signals addressed to one or more predetermined addresses. The module also transmits the reformatted signals to the wingtip weapon station. With a minimum of wiring changes, the interface easily converts an aircraft designed for a nose-mounted ACT pod for use with an ACT pod mounted at a wingtip station.

Abstract: The invention is a method for obtaining a measure of the light propagation time difference for two light-propagating-media paths. The first step consists of generating two substantially-identical frequency-modulated light waves whereby the frequency of the light waves is offset from a reference frequency by a different frequency increment for each basic time interval in each of a plurality of groups of three or more basic time intervals. Each frequency increment is the sum of a specified increment and a frequency-modulation-error increment. The frequency-modulation-error increments associated with the specified increments are independent of each other and unknown. The second step consists of feeding the two light waves into the entry points of two light-propagating-media paths having a light propagation time difference and obtaining a combination light wave by summing the light waves emerging from the exit points of the two light-propagating-media paths.

Abstract: A method of determining the severity of prostatic cancer includes measuring the level of amplification of the HER-2/neu gene in a sample of prostate tissue by fluorescence in-situ hybridization and comparing the measured level of amplification of the HER-2/neu gene in the sample with the level of HER-2/neu gene in normal prostate tissue. A method for determining treatment for a patient afflicted with prostate cancer includes determining whether the number of copies of HER-2/neu gene in prostate cells from the patient exceeds four by using fluorescence in-situ hybridization and aggressively treating such patient having prostate cells with five or more copies of the HER-2/neu gene.

Abstract: In a coprocessor which processes operands and issues a result word which may include overflow, result and truncation fields and which normally sets a truncation indicator if truncation is employed, the setting of the truncation indicator is inhibited under certain conditions to facilitate later handling of the result. Determinations are made as to whether the result and truncation fields of the result word are zero and as to whether the overflow field is non-zero. If the result and truncation fields are zero, the setting of the truncation indicator is inhibited notwithstanding a non-zero value in the overflow field. Break point position information is processed to obtain masks of bits having logic "1" values for testing the result and truncation fields and logic "0" values for testing the overflow field, the masks then being logically ANDed with the result word. If the result of the ANDing process is a logic "0", the truncation indicator is inhibited from being set.

Abstract: A portable controlled lighting system comprising at least one lamp connected to an operating circuit for operating the lamp and a control circuit coupled to the operating circuit for controlling the luminous flux of the lamp is disclosed. A battery pack for providing electrical power to the operating circuit is also provided, together with a control means for adjusting the luminous flux of the lamp by the control circuit. The control means comprises a first adjustment means for controlling the luminous flux of the lamp and provides a predetermined rate of increase of the luminous flux until a predetermined flux level is achieved.

Abstract: This invention is related to a radiation imager (e.g. X-ray imager) including a thin film transistor (TFT) array, and method of making same. A photo-imageable insulating material having a low dielectric constant is provided in areas of overlap between electrodes and underlying TFTs, diodes, and/or address lines in order to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the imager. The photo-imageable insulating layer acts as a negative resist in certain embodiments, so that vias are formed therein by exposing portions of the insulating layer with UV light which are to remain on the substrate, removing non-exposed areas of the insulating layer so as to form the vias or apertures in the insulating layer. In order to prevent non-uniformities from inadvertently being imaged into the photo-imageable insulating layer, an ultraviolet (UV) blocking/absorbing layer is provided.

Abstract: A coagulation control sample material for reproducibly monitoring coagulation control capability in a human patient wherein the coagulation control sample material has a predetermined clotting time within the range of from normal to abnormal human clotting times, the control comprising mammalian blood coagulation factors and an amount of at least one non-primate mammalian coagulation factor wherein when the coagulation control sample material has an abnormal human clotting time, the coagulation control comprises an amount of at least one non-primate plasma which has been treated with an adsorbent that adsorbs factors II, VII, IX and X and wherein the coagulation control is stable in the absence of buffer.

Abstract: A process control system includes a diagnostic monitoring and display functionality for viewing, in a coherent manner, diagnostic information relating to a process that operates over multiple devices and system components. Although the multiple devices and system components typically encompass widely different device types and operational standards, the process control system incorporates diagnostic information relating to all devices and presents this information to a system user in a uniform manner so that an operating control strategy and the diagnostic information are presented as though all control actions and diagnostic information were performed or generated at a single location. A user-defined diagnostic program is assembled as a set of function blocks and control modules and represented as a set of layers of interconnected control objects identified as modules which include informational structures accessed as attributes.

Abstract: An on-demand teleconferencing system and method for setting up an on-demand conference call in a telecommunications system having the Advanced Information Network (AIN) architecture with system signaling the number 7 (SS7) and a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). A subscriber is assigned an on-demand conference call number. When that number is dialed into the PSTN, it is identified by the PSTN that the dialed number requires handling by the SS7. The SS7 links the dialed number to a conference allocation and control system (CACS) which is connected to a plurality of scalable bridge servers. The CACS selects bridge servers available to handle the conference call and based upon a selection criteria such as a peak load sets up the on-demand conference call in one of the selected bridge servers.

Abstract: This invention relates to improved methods for nucleic acid detection using methods such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). More specifically, the invention provides methods for simultaneous amplification and detection to enhance the speed and accuracy of prior methods. The methods involve the introduction of detectable DNA binding agents into the amplification reaction, which agents produce a detectable signal that is enhanced upon binding double-stranded DNA. In a preferred embodiment, the binding agent is a fluorescent dye. The methods also provide means for monitoring the increase in product DNA during an amplification reaction.

Abstract: An apparatus for crimping a stent to a catheter as well as a method for crimping a stent to a catheter are disclosed in several embodiments. The apparatus in its various embodiments involves the application of a uniform radially inward force to a compressible tube in which the stent and catheter are situated.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for upgrading an existing personal control system. The upgrade is achieved by replacing the personnel data input unit of an existing personal control system with a biometric interface device capable of reading physical characteristic and an access control signal in the format of the existing personnel control system.

Abstract: An organic light emitting diode (OLED) array structure, and corresponding method of making same are provided. Each OLED pixel includes a first electrode on a substrate, a second electrode on a substrate, and an organic emission layer disposed between the first and second electrodes so as to emit visible light when a suitable potential is applied thereto by the electrodes. In accordance with certain embodiments of this invention, a step covering or coverage layer is provided over step or edge areas of the first electrode in order to reduce the structures susceptibility to breakdown at pixel edges thereby improving yields.