Abstract: A control system for the operation of a progressing cavity pump which may be used for production of gas and/or oil from a well. The control system includes vector feedback model to derive values of torque and speed from signals indicative of instantaneous current and voltage drawn by the pump motor, a pump model which derives values of the fluid flow rate and the head pressure for the pump from torque and speed inputs, a pumping system model that derives from the estimated values of the pump operating parameters an estimated value of a pumping system parameter and controllers responsive to the estimated values of the pumping system parameters to control the pump to maintain fluid level at the pump input near an optimum level.

Abstract: This invention provides a composition which comprises an admixture of two compounds, wherein one compound retards attachment of HIV-1 to a CD4+ cell by retarding binding of HIV-1 gp120 envelope glycoprotein to CD4 on the surface of the CD4+ cell and the other compound retards gp41 from adopting a conformation capable of mediating fusion of HIV-1 to a CD4+ cell by binding noncovalently to an epitope on a gp41 fusion intermediate, wherein the relative mass ratio of the compounds in the admixture ranges from about 100:1 to about 1:100, the composition being effective to inhibit HIV-1 infection of the CD4+ cell. This invention also provides a method of inhibiting HIV-1 infection of a CD4+ cell which comprises contacting the CD4+ cell with an amount of the above composition effective to inhibit HIV-1 infection of the CD4+ cell so as to thereby inhibit HIV-1 infection of the CD4+ cell.

Abstract: An apparatus, program product and method effectively merge computer documentation for multiple API sets together to facilitate user access to such computer documentation. Such merging of computer documentation may include, in part, the incorporation, into a navigation file, of a plurality of API set links associated with a plurality of API sets, as well as the incorporation, into an index file, of a plurality of index links to documentation files for at least two of the plurality of API sets. Furthermore, computer documentation may be displayed to a user by displaying selected information in a plurality of display regions of a computer display. In a first display region, at least a portion of a first navigation file may be displayed, with the first navigation file including a plurality of API set links associated with a plurality of API sets.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrodepositable coating composition having a resinous phase dispersed in an aqueous medium. The resinous phase includes (a) an ungelled, active hydrogen-containing, ionic salt group-containing resin; and (b) a curing agent reactive with the active hydrogens of the resin (a). The resinous phase has a covalently bonded halogen content based on total weight of resin solids present in the resinous phase such that when the composition is electrodeposited and cured, the cured film passes flame resistance testing in accordance with IPC-TM-650, and has a dielectric constant of less than or equal to 3.50. The invention also is directed to a method for forming a dielectric coating on an electroconductive substrate using the electrodepositable coating composition, as well as to a substrate coated with the electrodepositable composition.

Abstract: An object arresting device prevents rebounding effects when an object is decelerated from a high velocity by causing an impact-induced flow of fluid such as ambient air through a lattice membrane to develop vacuum effects and vortex activity while absorbing and dissipating energy to prevent damage to the object and preventing collisions between objects in a high-speed, high-capacity sorting/transport system. The lattice membrane is preferably formed as a woven fabric of a smooth polymer or synthetic fiber of preferably circular cross-section which causes laminar flow over the fibers and rotational vortex effects in the corners of each aperture which produce a combination of vacuum effects in a direction to oppose rebound motion and energy dissipation effects. The effects produced are proportional to the impact energy and the device is thus adaptive to a wide range of mass and energy limited only by the forces the device can mechanically withstand.

Abstract: A marking grid is provided for use in radiographic imaging, and a method is provided for manufacturing the marking grid. The marking grid is comprised of a radiolucent substrate with a pressure sensitive adhesive on one side, a plurality of parallel strips of radiopaque material fixed to the substrate on the side opposite the pressure sensitive adhesive, and apertures in the substrate between the parallel strips of radiopaque material. The substrate is provided on a releasable backing with a plurality of holes longitudinally spaced relative to each other, which can be used to register the position of the substrate in the equipment used to produce the marking grids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to genetically attenuated superantigen toxin vaccines altered such that superantigen attributes are absent, however the superantigen is effectively recognized and an appropriate immune response is produced. The attenuated superantigen toxins are shown to protect animals against challenge with wild type toxin. Methods of producing and using the altered superantigen toxins are described.

Abstract: A monitoring device for implant in a patient's body. The device is provided with a physiologic sensor generating output signals, which signals are stored as numerical values. The device defines first monitoring periods limited to time periods during successive nights during which the patient is likely to be asleep, stores the numerical values generated during the first monitoring periods in a memory and calculates values reflecting general levels of the numerical values during the first monitoring periods. The device may also or alternatively define second monitoring periods limited to time periods during successive daytime and store numerical values generated during the second monitoring periods. The physiologic sensor may be an electrogram amplifier or other sensor indicative of metabolic demand for oxygenated blood, such as an activity sensor.

Abstract: A switch having independently operable toggle and rocker functions. The switch having a housing, a toggle member pivotally mounted in the housing, the toggle member having upper and lower portions. The upper portion being movable for providing a toggle function of the switch, the lower portion being attached to the upper portion and having at least one first contact element coupled thereto. The switch having a rocker member coupled to the housing for providing a rocker function, the rocker member defining a central opening for receiving the upper portion of the toggle member, and having a second contact element coupled thereto. The switch including a circuit board inside the housing having a first conductive portion adjacent the first contact element, and a second conductive portion adjacent the second contact element. The toggle and rocker members being independently operable for providing toggle and rocker functions of the switch respectively.

Abstract: Systems and methods for creating a combinatorial coating library including a coating system operatively coupled to at least one of a plurality of materials suitable for forming at least one coating layer on a surface of one or more substrates and a curing system operative to apply at least one of a plurality of curing environments to each of a plurality of regions associated with the at least one coating layer. The curing system including a scanning mirror system having a mirrored surface positionable relative to an incoming radiation beam, wherein the mirrored surface is positionable to direct the incoming radiation beam to a selected one of the plurality of regions associated with the coating layer. The combinatorial coating library comprising a predetermined combination of at least one of the plurality of materials and at least one of the plurality of curing environments associated with each of the plurality of regions.

Abstract: Aluminum alloys having improved strength characteristics at elevated temperatures (300° C.) are manufactured by combining selected transition metals (Ni, Co, Ti, Fe, Y, Sc) and selected rare earth materials (Er, Tm, Tb, Lu) in amounts of about 2 to 12% and 2 to 15% atomic percent respectively in an amorphous, glassy state and subsequently devitrifying the amorphous material to form a crystalline mix of fcc and L12 phase material. Devitrification from the amorphous state may be effected by various means including thermal and thermo mechanical processes.

Abstract: A self-propelled ice shelter includes a frame, a housing and a drive device attached to the frame, and a power source attached to the frame to the drive device. The power source propels the self-propelled ice shelter. A weather stripping skirt substantially seals the space between the housing and the surface on which the self-propelled ice shelter is positioned when the self-propelled ice shelter is stationary. In some embodiments, the self-propelled ice shelter includes a leveler attached to the frame for leveling the self-propelled ice shelter when stationary. The ice shelter includes a template attached to the frame, that is used to mark the position of openings with respect to the footprint of the housing that correspond with openings in the of the housing of the self-propelled ice shelter.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for preparing an oligomeric dye by reacting a first component oligomer, having a carbon-carbon backbone, comprising a plurality of polymerized monomer units comprising pendant reactive nucleophilic or electrophilic functional groups; and a dye component having a co-reactive functional group. These oligomeric dyes are suitable for use as additives to impart coloration or fluorescence to thermoplastic polymers, particularly olefinic polymers. The oligomeric dyes of the present invention advantageously are compatible in polymers where conventional dyes often have poor compatibility or solubility.

Abstract: Test strip holders for use with test strip meters are provided. The subject test strip holders include at least an opening and a lip associated with the opening. The lip element of the subject holders is capable of forming a liquid seal with the upper surface of a test strip upon insertion of the test strip into the opening. In many embodiments, the strip holder is configured to at least partially encompass a sample application region of a test strip upon insertion of the strip into the opening. Also provided are meters on which the subject test holders are present, as well as methods for using the same.

Abstract: A communication system having a forward link and/or reverse link comprising: at least one base station which transmits multiple radio frequency (RF) signals; and a mobile station, the mobile station including: a receiver for receiving the RF signals; means for converting the RF signal to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal; means for sampling the IF signal to generate a digital signal, the digital signal having a data component and an interference component; means for canceling co-channel and or cross-channel interference in the digital signal by projecting the IF signal into a subspace orthogonal to a subspace of the interference component and multiplying this projection with the digital signal; and means for acquisition and tracking of the digital signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for adjusting the profile of a scanned ion beam. The spatial distribution of the unscanned ion beam is measured. The ion beam is scanned at an initial scan speed, and the beam profile of the scanned ion beam is measured. If the measured beam profile is not within specification, a scan speed correction that produces a desired profile correction is determined using a calculation which is based on the spatial distribution of the unscanned ion beam. The scan speed correction may be determined by convolving a candidate scan speed correction with the spatial distribution of the unscanned ion beam to produce a result and determining if the result is sufficiently close to the desired profile correction. A multi-dimensional search algorithm may be used to select the candidate scan speed correction. The ion beam is scanned at a corrected scan speed, which is based on the initial scan speed and the scan speed correction, to produce corrected beam profile.

Abstract: This invention provides an isolated nucleic acid which comprises a nucleotide segment having a sequence encoding a viral envelope protein comprising a viral surface protein and a corresponding viral transmembrane protein wherein the viral envelope protein contains one or more mutations in amino acid sequence that enhance the stability of the complex formed between the viral surface protein and transmembrane protein. This invention also provides a viral envelope protein comprising a viral surface protein and a corresponding viral transmembrane protein wherein the viral envelope protein contains one or more mutations in amino acid sequence that enhance the stability of the complex formed between the viral surface protein and transmembrane protein. This invention further provides methods of treating HIV-1 infection.

Abstract: A cooling tower support grid includes a lattice frame having a first series of bars which intersect a second series of bars to form a plurality of openings. Splash bar retaining clips are integrally formed as part of the lattice frame extending in opposed relation into each of the openings. This eliminates the need to handle separate retaining clips and, thereby, simplifies the installation process.

Abstract: A novel method for generating an interference matrix S is disclosed. The method comprises the following steps: A) Determining the number of active channels N in a transmitter; B) Selecting the transmitter to be canceled and assigning the transmitters sequentially to the variable t; C) Selecting the channel to be cancelled and assigning the channels sequentially to the variable n, where n is less than or equal to N; D) Determining if a multipath signal should be canceled and assigning the multipaths of interest to the respective variable M; E) Generating a sequence of column vectors V; F) Repeating steps B, C, D, E, F and G for each column vector of interest; and G) Defining the S matrix as S=[V1 V2 . . . Vc] wherein the index denotes the column index c. In addition, an apparatus for generating the interference matrix is also disclosed.

Abstract: A condition sensor for a fabric treating apparatus, such as a clothes dryer. A condition sensor is connected to a base wherein the condition sensor is operative to sense a condition such as moisture content for a multi-layered load placed within the dryer. The condition sensor comprises at least one support connected to the base wherein the at least one support has at least one extension attached thereto. A pair of capacitance sensors are attached to the at least one extension with the pair of capacitance sensors being arranged to build up charge through the condition sensor based on the moisture of the load content positioned in the dryer. A circuit is arranged to receive, read and generate signals in response to the charge of the capacitance sensors.