Abstract: Polyamide resins including the reaction product of an intimate mixture of at least two monomers selected from HMDA and a diamine; and an organic diacid, wherein sebacic acid is present in the organic diacid in an amount of less than or equal to about 50 mol. %, and associated articles and methods are provided herein.

Abstract: Polyamide resins including the reaction product of an intimate mixture of at least two monomers selected from HMDA and a diamine; and an organic diacid, wherein sebacic acid is present in the organic diacid in an amount of less than or equal to about 50 mol. %, and associated articles and methods are provided herein.

Abstract: Polyamide resins including the reaction product of an intimate mixture of at least two monomers selected from HMDA and a diamine; and an organic diacid, wherein sebacic acid is present in the organic diacid in an amount of less than or equal to about 50 mol. %, and associated articles and methods are provided herein.

Abstract: A disc coupling includes a spacer and discs coupled to opposite ends of the spacer. Each of the discs includes an annular body defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced fastener holes and a plurality of links with each link extending between a pair of the fastener holes. The disc further includes a washer defining a bore aligned with one of the fastener holes. The washer includes one face facing the body and another face facing away from the body and a plurality of surfaces extending between the faces. The surfaces include radially outer and inner surfaces and side surfaces extending between the radially inner and outer surfaces and defining vertices at intersections with the radially inner and outer surfaces.

Abstract: A golf exercise device is disclosed that can be used for stretching the shoulder and back muscles. The device expands to a length that allows the user to place the device behind the user's head and grasp each end with the user's hands. The device collapses to a size small enough to easily fit into a golf bag. The center portion of the device is padded for comfort while the user is stretching. Clips can also be included to secure the device to the external portion of the golf bag. The device can hold golf balls in one end, and a net for retrieving golf balls from water hazards in the other. Zippered pockets can be attached to the device to hold personal items such as mobile phones, PDA's, sunglasses, car keys, or the like. Net-type bags with drawstring closures can also be included with the device.

Abstract: A golf exercise device is disclosed that can be used for stretching the shoulder and back muscles. The device expands to a length that allows the user to place the device behind the user's head and grasp each end with the user's hands. The device collapses to a size small enough to easily fit into a golf bag. The center portion of the device is padded for comfort while the user is stretching. Clips can also be included to secure the device to the external portion of the golf bag. The device can hold golf balls in one end, and a net for retrieving golf balls from water hazards in the other. Zippered pockets can be attached to the device to hold personal items such as mobile phones, PDA's, sunglasses, car keys, or the like. Net-type bags with drawstring closures can also be included with the device.

Abstract: A method for gaining access to and removing mechanical fasteners such as pedicle screws. A small arthroscopic incision is made over the location of the fastener. A guide wire is then placed into the incision and attached to the fastener. A series of progressively enlarging dilator tubes are slipped into the incision to progressively enlarge its diameter. A screw extractor tube is placed into the incision, over the largest dilator tube. The screw extractor tube is advanced until its lower extreme surrounds the head of the fastener. The dilator tubes are then removed. At this point, the screw extractor tube holds open the incision and provides access to the fastener through its hollow interior. A specially designed extractor tool is inserted into the screw extractor tube. An arthroscope is preferably also inserted through the screw extractor tube so that the surgeon can visualize the process. Jaws on the end of the extractor tool are clamped to the fastener's head.

Abstract: A hand-held writing instrument is provided having a tubular barrel housing a writing mechanism and a writing tip, the barrel having externally affixed thereto, and extending circumferentially therearound, a three-dimensional metal casting. Pens, pencils and matched pen and pencil sets are provided. The writing instrument barrel is preferably made of wood or plastic, and the metal casting is preferably pewter. Also provided is a process for making the writing instruments of the invention.

Abstract: A tool for gripping and removing mechanical fasteners such as pedicle screws. With reference to FIG. 7, the device generally resembles a screwdriver, having a handle on one end, a long shaft in the middle, and fastener engaging means on the other end. The fastener engaging means comprises a set of two or more jaws having inward facing gripping surfaces positioned to grasp the external surfaces of a screw head. The jaws are formed as part of a collet slidably mounted within an outer thread sleeve. The thread sleeve is attached to the shaft. A tapered journal on the collet interacts with a tapered bore in the thread sleeve so that when the collet is pulled into the thread sleeve, the set of two or more jaws are squeezed together. The threaded engagements between the collet and the thread sleeve should be the reverse of the thread on the screw to be removed; i.e., if a right-hand screw is to be removed then the threaded engagement between the collet and the thread sleeve should be made with a left-hand thread.

Abstract: A method for gaining access to and removing mechanical fasteners such as pedicle screws. A small arthroscopic incision is made over the location of the fastener. A guide wire is then placed into the incision and attached to the fastener. A series of progressively enlarging dilator tubes are slipped into the incision to progressively enlarge its diameter. A screw extractor tube is placed into the incision, over the largest dilator tube. The screw extractor tube is advanced until its lower extreme surrounds the head of the fastener. The dilator tubes are then removed. At this point, the screw extractor tube holds open the incision and provides access to the fastener through its hollow interior. A specially designed extractor tool is inserted into the screw extractor tube. An arthroscope is preferably also inserted through the screw extractor tube so that the surgeon can visualize the process. Jaws on the end of the extractor tool are clamped to the fastener's head.

Abstract: A specially-shaped tube for gaining access to and removing mechanical fasteners such as pedicle screws. A small arthroscopic incision is made over the location of the fastener. A guide wire is then placed into the incision and attached to the fastener. A series of progressively enlarging dilator tubes are slipped into the incision to progressively enlarge its diameter. The present invention (a “screw extractor tube”), a hollow tube having a contoured upper extremity, is then placed into the incision over the largest dilator tube. The screw extractor tube is advanced until its lower extremity surrounds the head of the fastener. The dilator tubes are then removed. At this point, the screw extractor tube holds open the incision and provides access to the fastener through its hollow interior. A specially designed extractor tool is inserted into the screw extractor tube. An arthroscope is preferably also inserted through the screw extractor tube so that the surgeon can visualize the process.

Abstract: A tool for gripping and removing mechanical fasteners such as pedicle screws. With reference to FIG. 7, the device generally resembles a screwdriver, having a handle on one end, a long shaft in the middle, and fastener engaging means on the other end. The fastener engaging means comprises a set of two or more jaws having inward facing gripping surfaces positioned to grasp the external surfaces of a screw head. The jaws are formed as part of a collet slidably mounted within an outer thread sleeve. The thread sleeve is attached to the shaft. A tapered journal on the collet interacts with a tapered bore in the thread sleeve so that when the collet is pulled into the thread sleeve, the set of two or more jaws are squeezed together. The threaded engagements between the collet and the thread sleeve should be the reverse of the thread on the screw to be removed; i.e., if a right-hand screw is to be removed then the threaded engagement between the collet and the thread sleeve should be made with a left-hand thread.

Abstract: Real-time analysis of output volatiles upon UV exposure is achieved using a laboratory scale apparatus. The methods and apparatus use external or internal radiation sources, especially broad band external UV radiation. The apparatus and methods of the invention are especially useful in the analysis and screening of photoresist materials. The apparatus preferably uses FTIR or MS analysis.

Abstract: An improved replaceable combustion chamber insert for two cycle engines produced by determining, positioning and measuring internal and external cylinder head dimensions of water passages, water connection, and bolt hole patterns within which said insert is to be positioned and machining said insert inner diameters, o-ring groove, dome, and outer shape to correspondingly complement said determined location and measurement dimensions and said cylinder head's bore diameter causing said insert to extend between 5 to 8 thousandths of inch below the bottommost surface of said cylinder head so as to create a compressible surface; and accommodating a spark plug aperture within said insert.

Abstract: Method and system for extracting features from measurement signals obtained from real world, physical signals by first forming an invariant component of the measurement signals and then using a technique based on a noise subspace algorithm. This technique first casts or projects the transformed measurement signals into separate subspaces for each extraneous variation or group of variations. The subspaces have minimal over-lap. The recognition of a particular invariant component within a pertinent subspace is then preferably performed using Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) techniques to generate a pattern recognition signal. A series of transformations can be used to form an invariant component called the Scale and Translation Invariant Representation (STIR).

Abstract: There is disclosed a chuck assembly for internally holding a hollow substrate having an open end including: (a) a body including an end section having a width narrower than that of the inner width of the substrate to permit insertion of the end section through the substrate open end into the substrate interior; and (b) a compressible spring coiled around a portion of the end section, wherein prior to compression the spring has an outer width larger than that of the inner width of the substrate, wherein upon insertion of the end section of the body into the substrate the spring is compressed by contact with the substrate inner surface resulting in the chuck assembly holding the substrate by the force generated against the substrate inner surface by the spring in opposition to the compression.

Abstract: There is disclosed a substrate reclaim method comprising directing laser energy at a coating covering a part of an outer surface of a substrate, wherein the outer surface has a shiny finish, thereby removing with the laser energy all of the coating on the outer surface and etching with the laser energy a portion of the outer surface to change the etched outer surface portion from a shiny finish to a matte finish.

Abstract: An image sensor used to implement a system to prevent aliasing problems typically encountered in charge coupled devices where a single charge coupled device is used to sense multiple colors. The image sensor has an imaging region having a substrate of semiconductor material including that which provides for accumulation of charge. The transfer of charge carriers contained within said imaging region is performed to two horizontal shift registers located adjacent to the sensing region. The horizontal shift registers having a series of storage regions for receiving charge carriers from the sensing region. Control is provided for implementing transfer of charge carriers out of the image sensing region and into the horizontal registers. The controlled transfer of charge carriers employs multiple clocking techniques to transfer charge carriers between and out of the horizontal registers.

Abstract: Golf clubs are fitted with either plural grooves extending along the face in at least two non-parallel directions or with pads, or both, for purposes of achieving a variety of different corrective actions to a golf ball struck by the face.

Abstract: A thin film of ignition inhibitor is applied uniformly to a rocket propelt grain which may be large and have a complex shape. The film is applied by condensation and polymerization of a vaporized monomer to which the grain is subjected. The monomer is prepared by thermally cracking the dimer of paraxylylene or a halogenated paraxylylene derivative.