Abstract: The invention consists of a method for manufacturing a vehicle trim panel so that the sheet of thermoplastic foam that forms the central core of the trim is made from a mixture of thermoplastic material, additives and fibre reinforcement, where the fibre reinforcement forms an integral part of the sheet thermoplastic foam.

Abstract: A proprietary internet converter (PIC) is disclosed, which allows a calling party end-user device with internet access such as a mobile telephone, to initiate voice communication with a called party VoIP (Voice Over Internet protocol) end-user device. The ID (Internet Device with a built-in PIC) converts the protocols used by the calling party end-user device so that the switch that routes calls to the called party VoIP end-user device understands instructions sent from the calling party end-user device. The switch has a call forwarding function. The calling party gives the calling party user name (e.g. ISP user name/contact or VoIP user name/contact) to the PIC over the internet. The PIC then sets call forwarding function on the switch, for that particular calling party, so that an incoming call from the calling party is automatically forwarded to the ISP user or VoIP user defined by the calling party.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention may provide a power supply system that uses a capacitive voltage divider to selectively monitor various power supplies on an IC chip. The power supply system may sample a monitored power supply to a capacitor and select certain capacitors from a set of switched capacitors to divide down the sampled voltage. The resulting voltage may be compared to a voltage reference. Using different selections of switched capacitors, the monitored power supply may be compared for different voltage levels. The ratio of the sampling capacitor to the selected capacitors may determine a voltage level the comparator will trigger. Further, based on the monitored power supply level, the power supply system may turn on a switch between an external power supply and a regulated digital power supply to charge the regulated digital power supply while a main LDO is turned off.

Abstract: The invention relates to isolated polypeptides and nucleic acids encoding polypeptides which comprise a tim-3 IgV domain and a tim-3 intracellular domain, wherein the polypeptides do not comprise a tim-3 mucin domain or a tim-3 transmembrane domain. In addition, the invention relates to methods of modulating immune responses in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an agent that modulates tim-3 activity. Immune responses include, but are not limited to, immune tolerance, transplantation tolerance, Th1 responses and Th2 responses.

Abstract: A three-port flow control valve comprising a valve body having two opposite-facing valve seats disposed along a central bore terminating in an exhaust port. A supply port communicates with the first valve seat, and a common port communicates with the second valve seat. A pintle shaft connected to an actuating linear solenoid extends along the central bore. A first valve head actuated by the pintle shaft mates with the first valve seat. A second valve head disposed colinearly with the pintle shaft mates with the second valve seat. Opening of the first valve closes the second valve and vice versa. While the solenoid is de-energized the supply pressure keeps the first valve closed. A spring may be disposed between the second valve head and the exhaust port to urge the second valve head to close with the second valve seat.

Abstract: Systems and methods for collecting biological waste from a human person are disclosed. In various embodiments, the disclosed systems can have a bedpan with a receptacle base and a floor, a side wall extending from the floor, and a substantially open top. In various embodiments, disclosed systems can have a lid engagable to cover the substantially open top, the lid being provided with an aperture therethrough. Some embodiments of the present systems can have a disposable bag having dimensions so as to allow the disposable bag to cover the bedpan, and to line the interior. Some embodiments of the present invention can have a disposable bag dispenser configured to store and dispense a disposable bag prior to use by the human person. Various embodiments of the present systems can have an elongate, substantially planar spatula to facilitate use of the disclosed systems. Methods for using the disclosed systems are further disclosed.

Abstract: A whitish whole-wheat flour and a process for producing the flour are described wherein the wheat bran is separated into a fine bran and a coarse bran fraction and the course bran is pulverized to a smaller size and mixed into the flour.

Abstract: The invention consists of a method for manufacturing a vehicle trim panel so that the sheet of thermoplastic foam that forms the central core of the trim is made from a mixture of thermoplastic material, additives and fibre reinforcement, where the fibre reinforcement forms an integral part of the sheet thermoplastic foam.

Abstract: In vitro diagnosis/prognosis method and kit, for assessment of tolerance in liver transplantation. The present invention refers to the study of peripheral blood transcriptional patterns from 80 liver transplant recipients and 16 non-transplanted healthy individuals employing either oligonucleotide microarrays and/or quantitative real-time PCR to design a clinically applicable molecular test. This has resulted in the discovery and validation of several gene signatures comprising a modest number of genes capable of identifying tolerant and non-tolerant recipients with high accuracy. The marker genes are KLRF1, SLAMF7, NKG7, IL2RB, KLRB1, FANCG, GNPTAB, CLIC3, PSMD14, ALG8, CX3CR1, RGS 3. Multiple peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets contribute to the tolerance-associated transcriptional patterns with NK and ?delta T cells exerting a predominant influence.

Abstract: A three-port flow control valve comprising a valve body having two opposite-facing valve seats disposed along a central bore terminating in an exhaust port. A supply port communicates with the first valve seat, and a common port communicates with the second valve seat. A pintle shaft connected to an actuating linear solenoid extends along the central bore. A first valve head actuated by the pintle shaft mates with the first valve seat. A second valve head disposed colinearly with the pintle shaft mates with the second valve seat. Opening of the first valve closes the second valve and vice versa. While the solenoid is de-energized the supply pressure keeps the first valve closed. A spring may be disposed between the second valve head and the exhaust port to urge the second valve head to close with the second valve seat.

Abstract: The long-term survival of transplanted grafts critically depends on the life-long administration of immunosuppressive drugs to prevent graft rejection. These drugs are very effective at preventing graft rejection, but they are also associated with severe side effects. Inventors have selected a set of genes whose expression characterizes the tolerant state in liver transplantation in humans. Based on the expression level profile of this set of genes, inventors provide a non-invasive method to assess diagnosis and/or prognosis of the tolerant state in liver transplantation in humans, and kits to perform it. These kits are simpler and cheaper than others based on a great number of genes, such as commercial microarrays with thousands of probes.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a foamed laminar product in which the foam is obtained from thermoplastic material and additives. In order to improve the rigidity of the foamed laminar product, reinforcement fiber is added to a mixture of thermoplastic material and additives, so that the reinforcement fiber forms an integral part of the foamed laminate.

Abstract: An integrated energy metering system having an energy meter including a voltage ADC for sensing voltage, a current ADC for sensing current, a microcontroller; a first memory device for storing program data for the energy meter; and a plurality of circuit blocks; a voltage monitor for monitoring a primary power supply; a power supply switch circuit for selectively applying one of the primary and auxiliary power supplies to the energy meter; and a system controller responsive to the voltage monitor for operating the switch circuit to apply the auxiliary power supply when the primary power supply voltage decreases below a predetermined level and gating the power to a first class of circuit blocks in the energy meter and applying power continuously to a second class of circuit blocks.

Abstract: A proprietary internet converter (PIC) is disclosed, which allows a calling party end-user device with internet access such as a mobile telephone, to initiate voice communication with a called party VoIP (Voice Over Internet protocol) end-user device. The ID (Internet Device with a built-in PIC) converts the protocols used by the calling party end-user device so that the switch that routes calls to the called party VoIP end-user device understands instructions sent from the calling party end-user device. The switch has a call forwarding function. The calling party gives the calling party user name (e.g. ISP user name/contact or VoIP user name/contact) to the PIC over the internet. The PIC then sets call forwarding function on the switch, for that particular calling party, so that an incoming call from the calling party is automatically forwarded to the ISP user or VoIP user defined by the calling party.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for a high accuracy digital temperature sensor (DTS). The system includes a differential analog temperature sensor based on bipolar junctions, providing an output signal obtained as the difference between the VBE of two bipolar junctions. This signal is converted into the digital domain and compared to N?1 threshold digital values for providing piece-wise linear error correction for the variations with temperature of the different error sources within the DTS. This system and method advantageously improve the accuracy of a DTS over an extended temperature range.

Abstract: A system that enables a calling party to communicate with a called party over a communications network comprises: (a) a web page storage device that is operable to send, over the internet, (i) web pages to a calling party device, the web pages including a data entry screen into which a user enters a required telephone number or VoIP user name with which communication is sought and (ii) a call-in number; (b) a conversion device that is operable to receive over the internet, from the calling party device, the telephone number or VoIP user name and can cause the altering of call forwarding settings at a switch, such that a call from the calling party device to a call-in number will be automatically forwarded to a device associated with the telephone number or VoIP user name; (c) a dynamic line assignment module that can dynamically assign the call-in number.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of thermoplastic resin parts, comprising the steps of: a) introducing a thermoplastic material (2) in a cavity (11) of a mold (1); b) closing the mold (1), compressing and distributing the thermoplastic material (2); c) opening the mold (1) and removing the obtained product. Step a) comprises the steps of a1) depositing the thermoplastic material (2) on a carrier support (4); a2) moving the carrier support towards the cavity of the mold; a3) depositing the thermoplastic material (2) inside the cavity of the mold.

Abstract: An integrated energy metering system having an energy meter including a voltage ADC for sensing voltage, a current ADC for sensing current, a microcontroller; a first memory device for storing program data for the energy meter; and a plurality of circuit blocks; a voltage monitor for monitoring a primary power supply; a power supply switch circuit for selectively applying one of the primary and auxiliary power supplies to the energy meter; and a system controller responsive to the voltage monitor for operating the switch circuit to apply the auxiliary power supply when the primary power supply voltage decreases below a predetermined level and gating the power to a first class of circuit blocks in the energy meter and applying power continuously to a second class of circuit blocks.

Abstract: A description is given of a whitish whole flour and a process for producing said flour, whereby said process involves: (a) supplying a quantity of conditioned wheat grain; (b) fractionating the wheat grain to obtain endosperm, bran, and germ; (c) separating and distributing the endosperm, bran, and germ to allow them to be treated; (d) milling the endosperm that is obtained in step (c) in order to homogenize the particle size to approximately 150-180 microns; (e) treating the germ in order to reduce the reactivity of the lipids contained therein; (f) treating the bran obtained in step (c) by: (f-i) separating the stream of bran coming from step (c) in order to produce a fine bran and a coarse bran, and (f-ii) milling the coarse bran from step (f-i) in order to obtain a pulverized bran with a particle diameter of approximately 180 microns; (g) mixing the endosperm from step (d), the germ from step (e), the fine bran from step (f-i), and the pulverized bran from step (f-ii) in a measurable and controlled manner