Abstract: The invention relates to a method for automatically rejecting/avoiding undesired e-mails in mailboxes at the recipient end, according to which the address of the sender of the e-mail is compared with a recipient-specific list of authorized senders and is saved in the mailbox only if said address matches that of an authorized sender. A second, optional mailbox (junk mailbox, JMB) which is also accessible at the recipient end is provided for receiving all unauthorized messages. Optionally, automatic functions such as cyclical deletion, virus scanning, separation of stations and/or executable software, sender analysis, sending of stop requests and/or warnings, etc., can be configured in the system.

Abstract: A knee prosthesis with a flexion hinge which is formed by a hinge fork with two branches lying opposite each other, by a center part which is to be fitted in the hinge fork transversely with respect to the flexion axis of the latter, and by a hinge pin which, after the center part has been fitted into the hinge fork, is to be mounted, by movement in its longitudinal direction, in aligned hinge bores of the hinge fork and of the center part. So as not to have to push the pin into the prosthesis from the outside, it is formed by two pin stumps which, in an assembly position, are arranged inside the center part and, in a mounted position, partially protrude from the latter.

Abstract: An endoscope with guiding apparatus is provided. The endoscope has an elongate body with a steerable distal portion, an automatically controlled portion, a flexible and passively manipulated proximal portion, and an externally controlled and manipulatable guiding apparatus. The guiding apparatus may be positioned within the endoscope or may be positioned adjacent to the endoscope. An interlocking device is provided to slidably interlock the guiding apparatus and the endoscope. When the guide is in a flexible state, it can conform to a curve or path defined by the steerable distal portion and the automatically controlled portion. The guide can then be selectively rigidized to assume that curve or path. Once rigidized, the endoscope can be advanced along the guide in a monorail or “piggy-back” fashion so that the flexible proximal portion follows the curve held by the guide until the endoscope reaches a next point of curvature within a body lumen.

Abstract: Cluster systems having central processor units (CPUs) with multiple processors (MPs) are configured as high density servers. Power density is managed within the cluster systems by assigning a utilization to persistent states and connections within the cluster systems. If a request to reduce overall power consumption within the cluster system is received, persistent states and connections are moved (migrated) within the multiple processors based on their utilization to balance power dissipation within the cluster systems. If persistent connections and states, that must be maintained have a low rate of reference, they may be maintained in processors that are set to a standby mode where memory states are maintained. In this way the requirement to maintain persistent connections and states does not interfere with an overall strategy of managing power within the cluster systems.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of dinitrotoluene by the two-stage nitration of toluene. In the first stage of this process, toluene was reacted adiabatically with nitrating acid so that at least 90% of the toluene was reacted off and no more than 70% of the toluene formed dinitrotoluene. The resulting organic phase containing mononitrotoluene and the aqueous acid phase containing sulfuric acid were separated, and the aqueous acid phase containing sulfuric acid was concentrated by flash evaporation. The resulting concentrated sulfuric acid was recycled into the reaction in the first stage, and/or into the reaction in the second stage, and/or into the concentration in the second stage. In the second stage, the organic phase containing mononitrotoluene from the first stage was completely reacted isothermally with nitrating acid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a friction brake (10) for a motor vehicle. The friction brake (10) for instance has a disk brake (12), which is actuatable by means of an actuating device, for instance in the form of a ball thread drive (22). The invention proposes embodying the friction brake (10) with a band brake (34), whose band (36) is mounted on the circumference of a nut (26) of the ball thread drive (22). If the brake band (36) is put under tensile stress in order to actuate the band brake (34), then the brake band (36) rotates the nut (26) of the ball thread drive (22) in a tensing direction and in this way actuates the disk brake (12). The invention has the advantage that the friction brake (10) has high brake boosting and therefore requires only little actuating energy. It is accordingly suitable for embodiment as an electromechanical friction brake (10) with an electric motor (56) for its actuation.

Abstract: A method for reducing the switching activity during both scan-in and scan-out operations of an integrated circuit with reduced detrimental effect on test pattern effectiveness and test time is described. The method makes use of a sample set of patterns to determine the probabilities of same and opposite relationships between stimulus and result values, and uses these probabilities to determine memory element pair compatibilities. Scan chains are ordered preferentially by connecting adjacently compatible memory elements, and inversions are inserted between selected memory element pairs based on those probabilities. Unspecified stimulus bits are filled in to reduce the switching activity based on the scan chain ordering and inversions.

Abstract: The present invention provides cell populations that are enriched for mesendoderm and mesoderm, and cell populations that are enriched for endoderm. The cell populations of the invention are useful for generating cells for cell replacement therapy.

Abstract: Novel methods and combinations for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of a pathologic condition in a subject, wherein the methods comprise the administration of one or more HMG Co-A reductase inhibitors and one or more aldosterone receptor antagonists, and the combinations comprise one or more HMG Co-A reductase inhibitors and one or more of said aldosterone receptor antagonists.

Abstract: A hip prosthesis includes a straight shaft which is to be inserted into the femur, the straight shaft including a proximal part that is configured to be inserted in the metaphyseal region of the femur. The proximal part has, on each of its front and rear faces, at least one projecting fin with a steep medial flank that deviates at least over part of its length away from the longitudinal direction of the shaft. At its top the proximal part is inclined toward the femoral neck. In this way, when the shaft is driven into the bone, the bone substance surrounding the fin is compacted and is able to absorb greater forces. The height of the fin decreases from its medial flank toward its lateral edge.

Abstract: A seal (8) which is produced from an elastomer and comprises a contact plate (9) which rests against the outside of the housing and forms a sealing surface (10) surrounding an outlet orifice (12) is inserted into an orifice (7) at the lower end of a housing (2) of an ink cartridge (1). A ring (11) adjacent to the top of the contact plate (9) surrounds a passage connecting to the outlet orifice (12) and leading into the interior of the housing and carries an all-round collar (13) projecting over the edge of the orifice (7) on the inside of the housing, so that the seal (8) is snapped into the orifice (7). Once the ink cartridge (1) has been inserted into a receptacle (24) of an adapter (22), with which it forms an inkjet printing head, the sealing surface (10) presses against a frame which surrounds a receiving orifice (27) of the adapter (22), which receiving orifice is connected to a nozzle plate, so that the ink path is reliably sealed.

Abstract: An insertion instrument for a multi-part intervertebral endoprosthesis includes two closure plates and a sliding core arranged between these, said insertion instrument having a handgrip part, gripping members which hold the closure plates between them, and a force-receiving part for applying an insertion force to the intervertebral endoprosthesis, the gripping members being guided movably toward and away from one another via a hinge and being able to be tensioned against the intervertebral endoprosthesis, projections pointing in the tensioning direction or recesses for holding the intevertebral endoprosthesis with form-fit being provided on the gripping members, and a block guided in the longitudinal axis direction and with an abutment surface being provided which can be moved by means of an actuating device so as to bear on the intervertebral endoprosthesis and, in its forward position, secures the intevertebral endoprosthesis against the projections or recesses.

Abstract: Signal amplifiers having a non-linear transfer function. A high speed (high bandwidth) circuit with a non-linear transfer function over a limited range of input signal is provided. By appropriate choice of components, the non-linear transfer function can be used to accurately approximate any monotonic function such as a square root transfer function. In another aspect, a piecewise non-linear circuit arrangement using a set of non-linear sub-circuits is provided to accurately generate a desired non-linear transfer function over an extended dynamic range of input signal. In one implementation of such a circuit, each of the sub-circuits approximates the desired non-linear function over a portion of the input range.

Abstract: A system and method for storing, filtering, selecting and manipulating business exceptions generated by forecasting and replenishment processes and systems. When an exception is generated, it will be associated with attributes corresponding to those business objects and business areas to which the exception relates. Exceptions may also be associated with administrative attributes such as status, priority and generation date, as well as information identifying the specific business process that generated the exception. Generated forecasting and replenishment exceptions may be directed to a transitory dialog message. Alternatively, forecasting and replenishment exceptions may be logged or stored in a database for future review and treatment. Within an exceptions monitor or workbench tool, a business replenishment specialist may browse, search, select, review, filter, rearrange, edit, forward and/or respond to generated exceptions.

Abstract: A knit fabric wherein at least a portion of the interconnected yarn loops are formed from segments of a common yarn of multi-filament construction. In the fabric the common yarn includes a first group of yarn segments having a first average cross-sectional filament area and at least a second group of yarn segments having a second average cross-sectional filament area. The second average cross-sectional filament area is greater than the first average cross-sectional filament area. The average level of crystalline orientation of the first group of yarn segments is greater than the average level of crystalline orientation of the second group of yarn segments.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a plasticized foil based on a partially acetalized polyvinyl alcohol (PVB resin) and suitable as an intermediate layer in a laminated safety glass, and comprising: a) 60–85% by weight of PVB resin, b) 14–39% by weight of a plasticizer, and c) up to 10% by weight of one or more non-ionic surfactants as an additive increasing the solubility of the plasticizer in the PVB resin wherein all weight percents are based on the total foil.

Abstract: A device for implanting a cervical prosthesis includes a cervical prosthesis, an insertion instrument, and a holder which facilitates the connection of the gripping members of the insertion instrument to the prosthesis. The holder receives the prosthesis with an exact fit and has, on the anterior face of the prosthesis, an opening for admission of the gripping members of the insertion instrument. The opening contains guide elements for guiding the gripping members of the insertion instrument into a removal position in which the complementary projections and recesses of the gripping members and of the prosthesis lie opposite one another.

Abstract: A system and method that manages scene graphs by data staging is contemplated. Data staging entails selectively loading only the portions of the scene graph that are currently needed or likely to be needed in the near future. Other objects in the scene graph that are not currently needed or likely to be needed may be replaced by pointers. The pointers may point to the location from which the objects may be accessed if necessary for a future frame. The replaced portions of the scene graph may be compressed and/or cached to a local memory device (e.g., a local array of read-write optical drives) capable of storing large amounts of data, with the pointers indicating where the objects are stored.

Abstract: A barrier movement operator moves a barrier between open and closed positions. The operator receives a first request to move the barrier. The actual force required to move the barrier is measured. An obstruction to barrier movement is determined by comparing the measured actual force to a first predetermined force threshold. Responsive to the detection of an obstruction, the direction of travel of the barrier is reversed. The operation of the barrier movement operator is modified, by permitting the use of a higher force threshold in future measurements. A second request to move the barrier is received. The actual force required to move the barrier is measured a second time. An obstruction to barrier movement is detected by comparing the measured actual force with the new, higher force threshold.

Abstract: An improved knife holder for a chipper disc. A knife holder for boding a knife has a first clamping portion and a second clamping portion for clamping the knife therebetween. One of the clamping portions pivots about a pivot point for clamping the knife and for releasing the knife so that it may be easily removed from the knife holder. In the relative position of the clamping portions in which the knife is clamped and in their relative positions in which a space is opened up around the knife permitting its removal, the clamping portions are rigidly disposed with respect to one another.