Abstract: Rollers used on conveyors and inside the zinc-pot of a steel-sheet galvanizing line are usually driven by friction between the roller and the belt or sheet. To keep rollers from stalling, the bearing diameter is minimized. The allowable bending stress in the bearing shaft limits its length. Rollers operating in high temperature furnaces or in a hot zinc pot of a steel galvanizing line often have limited or non-existent bearing lubrication. In such cases, bearings of small diameter and limited length result in high contact pressure and short lifetime. Inside a zinc-pot, bearing life often does not exceed one week of operation. Most of these bearings are designed to have a stationary bearing housing with the roller shaft rotating inside. For small diameter rollers such shafts are an integral part of the roller. For cylindrical shell type rollers, short shafts are welded to plugs, which are then welded to each end of the roller.

Abstract: The invention is directed to use of fibrin as an extracellular matrix and, together with cells, its use in forming engineered tissue. The engineered tissue can include the synthetic manufacture of specific organs or “organ-like” tissue. A preferred embodiment is a plasma-derived fibrin matrix containing cells.

Abstract: Voltage regulation, transient response and efficiency of a voltage regulator module (VRM) is improved where short duty cycles are necessitated by large differentials of input and output voltage by including at least one clamping of a tap of an inductance in series with an output of each of a plurality of parallel branches or phases which are switched in a complementary fashion or providing coupling between inductors of respective phases. Such coupling between inductors is achieved in a small module with an integrated magnetic structure. Reduced component counts are achieved while deriving built-in input and output filters. Principals of the invention can be extended to isolation applications and push-pull forward converts, in particular. A lossless clamping circuit is also provided allowing spike currents to be suppressed while returning power to the output of the VRM.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method of utilizing bi-directional capillary electrophoresis (“CE”) device. In one embodiment, cations are drawn into a first uncharged channel towards a negative electrode and anions are drawn into a second uncharged channel towards a positive electrode. The uncharged channels allows for minimal interaction between the sample and the walls of the channel which allows for minimal sample loss. The present invention also provides a method of separating anions from cations. The method comprises delivering the mixture to a bi-directional CE device. Following delivery, cations are drawn into a first uncharged channel towards a negative electrode and anions are drawn into a second uncharged channel towards a positive electrode. In one aspect of the present invention, the bi-directional CE device engages a microfluidic proteome analysis system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing current flow through the integral body diode of an electronic switch (e.g. MOSFET) in the secondary circuit of a synchronous rectifier. In a conventional synchronous rectifier, body diode current 31a 31b occurs during dead times 32a 32b. In the present invention, current steering pulses 40 are applied to the secondary circuit to oppose freewheeling current flow through the integral body diode. The current steering pulses produce a current that maintains the body diode in a reverse-biased state. Also, body diode current 31a 31b is prevented in the invention by short-circuiting a primary winding 19 of a transformer. The present invention prevents body diode conduction energy losses, as well as reverse recovery losses. The present invention is applicable to many different kinds of synchronous rectifiers such as current doubling rectifiers, center-tapped rectifiers, full bridge rectifiers.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for using hyperpolarized xenon-129 and magnetic resonance imaging or spectroscopy as a probe to non-invasively and non-destructively characterize important properties of certain structures or materials with high spatial and temporal resolution, resulting in high-resolution magnetic resonance images wherein the associated signal intensities reflect a property of interest of at least one of the compartments. Hyperpolarized xenon-129 is introduced into two compartments between which xenon-129 can be exchanged, for example, into the blood vessels of mammal organs and the tissue of said organ or into compartments within inorganic objects. Due to chemical shift and applied magnetic field strength, the hyperpolarized xenon-129 introduced into the first compartment has a different resonant frequency from the hyperpolarized xenon-129 introduced into the second compartment.

Abstract: An SS7 Network Preventative Maintenance System for detecting potential SS7 and switched network troubles, automatically analyzing the troubles, providing alarm and corrective action to avoid major network events. Real time monitors on SS7 links at the STP provide information on exceeded link load, exceeded Message Signaling Unit (MSU) frequency and network management status/error conditions in a Stage 1 Process. The Stage 1 Process provides alarm information to a Stage 2 Process which controls all Stage 1 associated monitors for an STP pair. Stage 2 reacts to Stage 1 signals to generate alarm and corrective action information which is passed on to a Stage 3 Process. The Stage 3 Process controls all Stage 2 Processes in the operating company. Stage 3 reacts to Stage 2 output to detect potential or real accompanying network trouble and generates alarm and corrective action information and displays in response thereto. Stage 3 also alerts a Stage 4 process which is connected to all Stage 3 Processes in a region.

Abstract: The invention relates to amine compounds as well as methods and materials involved in modulating neurotransmitter reuptake. Specifically, the invention provides amine compounds, methods for synthesizing amine compounds, and methods for inhibiting neurotransmitter reuptake.

Abstract: A software suitability testing system using a software product line engineering approach for analyzing and testing commercial, off-the-shelf software products to determine the software product's capabilities. A software product is evaluated and tested against a predefined set of criteria requirements, and the results are published on the World Wide Web. The test results are made available to customers such that the capabilities of a particular software product are readily available to the users and that competing software products can be compared.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating a computerized market for used and collectible goods by allowing the electronic present of goods from one market to another in a trusted network, allowing the electronic auctioning of goods, enabling an electronic agent to search the markets for locate a good, and enabling an electronic agent to search for the owner of a hard to find good.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel felbamate derivatives and their use to treat neurological diseases such as epilepsy and to treat tissue damage resulting form ischemic events. The felbamate derivatives are modified to prevent the formation of metabolites that are believed responsible for the toxicity associated with felbamate therapy.

Abstract: A bat is disclosed having a metal handle portion with a knob end and a barrel receiving end, a wood barrel portion with a hitting portion and a fitting portion, and a connection assembly for joining the wood barrel portion with the metal handle portion, the connection assembly having optionally three components: an exterior sleeve, an interior sleeve, and/or a locking or roll pin. The interior sleeve is positioned over a fitting portion of the wood barrel portion prior to the fitting portion being inserted and pressure fit within a barrel receiving end of the metal handle portion. A hole is drilled through the barrel receiving end and the fitting portion of the wood barrel portion, wherein a locking or roll pin is inserted through and secured in the hole to lock the metal handle portion with the wood barrel portion. Once the two portions of the bat are joined, an exterior sleeve is used to smooth the seam between the metal handle portion and the wood barrel portion.

Abstract: A power converter with high efficiency, low component count, and high step down conversion capability. The converter has a full bridge circuit connected to a pair of buck output circuits. The full bridge circuit and buck circuits are not isolated. In one embodiment, a transformer is connected between the full bridge and buck circuits without providing isolation. In operation, the transformer is operated as an autotransformer, which results in reduced voltages and currents applied to the switches. As a result, the present invention is capable of reduced switching losses, lower output voltage and other benefits. The present invention also includes an embodiment having coupled inductors instead of a transformer. Also, the present invention includes embodiments having additional parallel buck output circuits for higher power and higher current capability.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composition comprising a non-dusting copper pyrithione dispersion comprising small solid particles of copper pyrithione dispersed in a liquid dispersant, said solid particles having a particle size within a range of from about 0.1 to about 10 microns and a median particle size of less than 3 microns. The dispersion is suitably employed as an antifouling additive for marine paints without risking worker exposure to copper pyrithione dust. Paints containing the small particle copper pyrithione exhibit improved antifouling performance in cold water, as compared to paint containing larger particle copper pyrithione.

Abstract: A magnetic fluid is provided comprising a block copolymer stabilizer, magnetic particles and a fluid polysiloxane medium. The stabilizer comprises an anchor block which chelates magnetic metal particles, and at least one end block which is compatible with the polysiloxane medium.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods of extracting and purifying bioactive substances from various plants and herbs. More specifically the invention relates to methods of extracting and separating bioactive substances from various plants and herbs, such as Kava root, Byrsonima species, Aesculus californica, Crataegus mexicana, Simmondsia chinensis, Pfaffia species, Alternanthera repens, Bursera species, Turnera species, Perezia species, Heimia salicifolia, Psidium species, Enterlobium species, Ptychopetalum olacoides, Liriosma ovata, and Chaunochiton kappleri, using supercritical fluid extraction and/or fluorocarbon solvent extract. The present invention further relates to separation of bioactive substances contained in extracts using packed column supercritical fluid chromatography or HPLC where dense gas with or without modifiers is the mobile phase.

Abstract: A mat containing highly machine direction oriented (90% or greater), discontinuous reinforcement fibers, is produced on inclined wire or rotary paper making machinery. Fibers are first uniformly dispersed in an aqueous medium containing thickeners and wetting agents. In one embodiment, antifoaming agents are also added to prevent floating fibers which entangle and reduce orientation. Thermoplastic fibers or particles may also be included. Stock is brought into an open headbox in a flow pattern which allows the fibers to decelerate before approaching the porous suction belt (wire). As the fibers approach the suction belt, the fibers begin to turn and align in the streamline so as to present one end toward the suction wire. The leading ends of the fibers are gripped by the moving belt which drags the fibers out of the dispersion stock in a straight line. The porous mat produced may be dried and bonded through hot air, heat and/or pressure, or chemical binders.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for emission lithography using a patterned emitter wherein, in the apparatus for emission lithography, a pyroelectric emitter or a ferroelectric emitter is patterned using a mask and it is then heated. Upon heating, electrons are not emitted from that part of the emitter covered by the mask, but are emitted from the exposed part of the emitter not covered by the mask so that the shape of the emitter pattern is projected onto the substrate. To prevent dispersion of emitted electron beams, which are desired to be parallel, the electron beams are controlled using a magnet, a direct current magnetic field generator or a deflection system, thereby achieving an exact one-to-one projection or an exact x-to-one projection of the desired pattern etched on the substrate.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for manufacturing a folder which has front and back panels with a divider therebetween. The divider front and back panels and divider are taped together along a spine of the folder such that the panels and divider can be turned like the pages of a book. There may be one, two, or three or possibly even more dividers with all of the dividers being secured in place at the spine of the folder. The tape(s) may be pleated so that the panel-to-divider and/or divider-to-divider compartments can expand. This pleating technique can also be employed to give expansibility to the single compartment of a file folder which does have internal dividers.