Abstract: The present invention provides a catalytic activity accelerant. The accelerant is added to stock oil for increasing the catalyst activity, the depth of catalytic hydrogenation and the yield of catalytic hydrogenation product, degrading the reaction conditions of catalytic hydrogenation, and improving the quality of product. The catalytic activity accelerant is consisted of an alkyl succinimide derivative, an alkyl phenol and a surfactant. The amount of the alkyl succinimide derivative in the accelerant is 5-70 wt. %. The amount of the alkyl phenol in the accelerant is 2-70 wt. %. The amount of the surfactant in the accelerant is 2-70 wt. %.

Abstract: An LED light source drive includes an LED current generating circuit and an LED drive controller. The current generating circuit is operable to receive power from a power source and to generate a dc current that can be used to the drive an LED light source. The drive controller is operable to control the dc current to ensure that the light output of the light source remains approximately constant over its operating lifetime. In one embodiment, the drive controller ensures that the effective light output of the light source remains approximately constant by automatically increasing the dc current in predetermined amounts at predetermined times. In an alternative embodiment, the drive controller includes an LED light sensor that is operable to generate a light signal indicative of the effective light output of the light source and the controller uses this light signal to control the dc current output.

Abstract: A non-linear fluorescence microscope or endoscope includes: (a) a source of coherent light suitable to initiate non-linear fluorescence in a sample of interest located at a sample region; (b) a first light conductor positioned to receive at its terminal light from the light source and direct the light to a coupler; (c) a second light conductor located to receive light introduced to the coupler from the first conductor and direct the light to the sample via a sample end of the second conductor, the sample end also located to receive fluoresced light from the sample such that the second conductor may direct the fluoresced light to the coupler; and (d) a third light conductor located to direct fluoresced light from the coupler to a light detection device via a terminal of the third light conductor.

Abstract: A method of determining an impedance of at least one lung of a patient having an implanted pacemaker that comprises first and second leads and a case, the method comprising: a) using the leads and the case to acquire at least a first and a second impedance measurement responsive to impedance of the patient's chest that are at least partially independent; and b) using the impedance measurements to determine the impedance of at least one of the lungs substantially independently of impedance of the other lung.

Abstract: An electronic ballast having end of lamp life and overheating protection, and automatic reignition and multiple striking capabilities includes AC/DC rectifier, PFC/boost, inverter, and ballast protection and control circuits. The ballast protection and control circuit is operable to place the ballast in a protected state when the lamp load connected to the ballast reaches an end of lamp life condition or the ballast overheats. The ballast protection and control circuit also automatically ignites the lamp load when it is connected to the ballast and generates multiple striking attempts for hard to strike lamp loads. The ballast may be connected to AC or DC power sources and different types of lamp loads, and may include various different types of inverter circuits.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for detecting the presence or diagnosing the risk of cancer, especially prostate cancer, either before or after the onset of clinical symptoms, by detecting a level or functional activity of an aberrant expression product of a gene selected from PSA or KLK2, which correlates with the presence or risk of the cancer. The invention further encompasses the use of agents that modulate the level or functional activity of such an aberrant expression product for treating or preventing cancer, especially prostate cancer.

Abstract: A pump assembly 1, 33, 200 adapted for continuous flow pumping of blood. In a particular form the pump 1, 200 is a centrifugal pump wherein the impeller 100, 204 is entirely sealed within the pump housing 2, 201 and is exclusively hydrodynamically suspended therein as the impeller rotates within the fluid 105 urged by electromagnetic means external to the pump cavity 106, 203. Hydrodynamic suspension is assisted by the impeller 100, 204 having deformities therein such as blades 8 with surfaces tapered from the leading edges 102, 223 to the trailing edges 103, 224 of bottom and top edges 221, 222 thereof.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to DNA encoding an anti-microbial protein from Macadamia integrifolia and variants of the protein that are less sensitive to Ca++. The invention further relates to constructs comprising the DNA, and host cells, plants and plant material comprising such constructs.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an XY platform device with nanoscale precision including an optical pickup head for focusing and seeking the tracks of an optical data storage medium; a servo device for driving the optical pickup head to move in focusing and radial directions; a carrier platform for receiving a testing object thereon and providing a connecting member to be connected with the optical pickup head. With the focusing and radial movements of the optical pickup head, the carrier platform is driven to move accordingly, and thus achieving the high-precision and low-cost effects.

Abstract: A method of estimating stroke volume of the heart, comprising: taking a first set of electrical data of the chest at a first phase of the cardiac cycle; estimating a first volume of the heart from the first set of electrical data; taking a second set of electrical data of the chest at a second phase of the cardiac cycle; estimating a second volume of the heart from the second set of electrical data; and using the difference between the first and second volumes of the heart to estimate the stroke volume of the heart.

Abstract: Organic compounds, such as precursors for aryl ethylamines such as ephedrine, aryl propylamines such as fluoxetine and propionic acid derivatives such as ibuprofen, naproxen and fenoprofen, are subjected to a yeast mediated reduction conducted in the absence of a solvent. The yeast is moistened with water and contacted with the organic compound. The yeast may then be contacted with an organic solvent to dissolve the product of the reaction into the solvent, and a solid/liquid separation used to separate the product from the yeast.

Abstract: A fluid treatment device is disclosed for mixing first and second fluids. The first fluid may be a treatment liquid that is contained in a container and that is used to change a property, such as the pH, density or ionic strength, of the second fluid. In some illustrative embodiments, the fluid treatment device is used to create an effluent by adding a buffer material and/or a matrix material to an analyte for subsequent MALDI MS analysis of the effluent. A mixing space is defined in a container between ends of first and second conduits. In some embodiments, a junction member couples together the ends of the first and second conduits. The junction member has a main passage that receives the ends of the first and second conduits. The junction member has at least one opening that provides fluid communication between an interior region of the container and the mixing space.

Abstract: The present invention allows routers in a digital communications network, such as the Internet, to be given the time awareness that is necessary for timely transfer of real time signals in the form of digital data packets. Timing information generated at the source of the signal is included in the packets in the form of first and second time stamps, which are used by network routers to establish dispatch deadlines by which the packets must be forwarded to ensure time-faithful reconstruction of the real time signal at the destination. The same timing information can be used at the destination to synchronize the clock for presentation of the real time signal to the source clock. The first and second time stamps (a differential time and a dispatch time) are derived by a transmitter unit (100) from a counter (118) that counts pulses from an oscillator (116) that most advantageously is locked to an integer multiple or a fraction of a universally available time measure.

Abstract: A pump assembly and estimation and control system therefor, the pump adapted for continuous flow pumping of blood. In a particular form, the pump is a centrifugal pump wherein the impeller is entirely sealed within the pump housing and is exclusively hydrodynamically suspended therein against movement in three translational and two rotational degrees of freedom as the impeller rotates within the fluid urged by electromagnetic means external to the pump cavity. Hydrodynamic suspension is assisted by the impeller having deformities therein such as blades with surfaces tapered from the leading edges to the trailing edges of bottom and top surfaces thereof.

Abstract: A method of erasable/rewritable optical data storage is provided in which a laser beam from a laser (10) operated in either a pulsed or continuous wave mode is focussed by an optical system (11-18) onto a photorefractive polymeric material (32) to cause two photon excitation of the material to record data which may subsequently be erased by illuminating the material with radiation having a wavelength in the ultraviolet or visible spectrum to erase the recorded data. New photorefractive polymeric materials having a relatively narrow absorption band for use in the method are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present multi-stage photo-catalytic oxidation fluid treatment system that uses a plurality of modules to implement an efficient, scalable and cost effective fluid treatment process to remove contaminants from a fluid. The multi-stage photo-catalytic oxidation fluid treatment system relies on mechanical and electronic elements, instead of chemicals, to treat the fluid that is input to the system and provide enhanced treatment of the contaminated fluid. The use of ozone and ions causes reactions with the contaminants that are contained in the fluid to purge the contaminants from the fluid or convert the contaminants to a form where they can be removed from the fluid or are rendered harmless.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for examining a body by transmitting the N continuous orthogonal signals, generated in accordance with the disclosed method, into the body and providing receivers for receiving and recording the N signals including reflections of the N continuous signals from one or more reflectors within the body. The travel-time to the reflectors for each of the N signals at each of the receivers is determined by cross correlating each of the N signals with each of the recorded signals at the receivers.

Abstract: A transformer assembly and method for powering a load with a secondary fault protected isolated secondary. The fault fault path is isolated from ground allowing voltage detection of faults and the return terminal is isolated from the midpoint for multiple load connection schemes using the midpoint as a ground connection. A power control system is connected between the primary winding and the input terminal with a ground fault detection circuit connected between the fault path and the ground terminal, where the ground fault detection circuit is operable to detect a fault and activate the power control system to disconnect the source of power from the primary winding in response to detecting the fault. Also disclosed is a high frequency filter adapted to reduce the effects of high frequency transients and a capacitive reactance connected between the input terminal means and the ground terminal. The capacitive reactance is adapted to provide a ground fault path for fault signals.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ion conducting matrix comprising: (i) 5 to 60% by volume of an inorganic powder having a good aqueous electrolyte absorption capacity; (ii) 5 to 50% by volume of a polymeric binder that is chemically compatible with an aqueous electrolyte; and (iii) 10 to 90% by volume of an aqueous electrolyte, wherein the inorganic powder comprises essentially sub-micron particles. The present invention further provides a membrane being a film made of the matrix of the invention and a composite electrode comprising 10 to 70% by volume of the matrix of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to Er-containing aluminum alloys with greatly improved strength properties without significant deterioration of the toughness.