Abstract: A system and method for improving cooling of a heat-generating component in a closed-loop cooling system is shown. The system comprises a venturi having a throat which is coupled to an expansion tank that is exposed to atmospheric pressure in the embodiment being described. The venturi, when used with a pressure switch, can operate to determine a flow rate which can be used to generate a signal which in turn is used to activate or deactivate one or more of the components, such as the heat-generating component, in the system. Also shown is another embodiment wherein a circular venturi is provided to permit a venturi passageway to be defined about an axis of the pump in order to shorten the overall length of the pump and venturi combination.

Abstract: Systems and methods for mounting an antenna on a printed circuit board are presented. In accordance with the method, an opening is formed through a printed circuit board (PCB). The PCB has a bottom side and a transmission feed on a top side. The PCB is configured to receive an antenna through the opening. An antenna is inserted into the opening on the top side of the PCB. The antenna makes electrical contact with the transmission feed. The antenna is secured to the PCB at the bottom side of the PCB.

Abstract: The present invention provides for improved methods of gene transfer, both in vitro and in vivo. By treating neoplastic cells with a DNA-damaging agent prior to transduction with a transgene, the expression of the transgene is improved up to about 3-fold over the expression seen in the absence of the DNA-damaging agent treatment. This effect is not dependent on the tumor cell type, the method of DNA transduction or type of DNA-damaging agent. The effect is most dramatic when the transduction is performed about 1-3 days following treatment with the DNA-damaging agent.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing an antenna are presented. The antenna is capable of being mounted on a printed circuit board. In accordance with the method, the design dimension of a unitary piece of material are selected according to an operating wavelength. The unitary piece of material is stamped out from a larger section of material according to the design dimensions to form an antenna. The unitary piece of material includes a circular area and a stem area. The circular area has a center and an outer region. The stem area has a first end and a second end. The first end is joined with the center. The unitary piece is bendable at the first end and the center.

Abstract: Gas is admitted to an in-container purification unit 202 via an inlet 212 located at or near the gas discharge end 220 of the unit. This feature is advantageous because it allows a liquefied gas container to be filled to a level above the second end of the body of the unit without the problem of dispensing liquefied gas.

Abstract: A bleach catalyst system comprising in combination, a macrocyclic organic ligand of formula (I): wherein R1 and R2 can each independently be absent, H, alkyl or aryl, optionally substituted; t and t′ are each independent integers from 2-3; each D can independently be N, NR3, PR3, O or S, wherein each R3 is independently H, alkyl or aryl, optionally substituted by one or more suitable substituents such as C1-4 alkyl groups, or is a bridging group such as C1-6 alkylene, either to another R3 group in the same macrocycle or to another independently defined macrocycle or to another independently defined macrocyclic ligand of formula (I), wherein any bridging group optionally contains an optionally substituted heteroatom such as nitrogen; and s is an integer from 2-5; and a water-insoluble manganese compound.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing an antenna are presented. The antenna is capable of being mounted on a printed circuit board. In accordance with the method, the design dimension of a unitary piece of material are selected according to an operating wavelength. The unitary piece of material is stamped out from a larger section of material according to the design dimensions to form an antenna. The unitary piece of material includes a circular area and a stem area. The circular area has a center and an outer region. The stem area has a first end and a second end. The first end is joined with the outer region. The unitary piece is bendable at the first end and the outer region.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system are provided for file synchronization for a fault tolerant network, and are both application and platform independent. The fault tolerant network generally includes an active network entity, such as a telecommunication server, and a standby network entity to assume the functionality of the active network entity in the event of a failure of the active network entity. The method of the present invention includes accessing a file within the active network entity, such as through a read or write request of any network application. A file access request within the active network entity is generated and transmitted to the standby network entity, which also performs the file access request. The standby network entity then generates and transmits a file access confirmation to the active network entity. The active network entity then determines whether the file access request of the active network entity has a corresponding file access confirmation from the standby network entity.

Abstract: A modular gas control device for use with a compressed gas cylinder (111) comprises a primary module (152) and a secondary module (252) mounted on the primary module. The primary module comprises a first supporting body (154) having a first main gas flow path (155) through the body. The supporting body has input connecting means (156) for mounting the body on the cylinder (111) and connecting the gas flow path (155) to communicate with the gas cylinder through a first flow path (157). Pressure reducing means (166) provides gas in the flow path at a lower pressure than in the container. Output connecting means (170) downstream of the pressure reducing means provides a low pressure outlet from the main gas flow path. A high pressure shut-off valve (164) is positioned upstream of the pressure reducing means, and filling means (161, 160) allows filling of the cylinder with compressed gas through the input connecting means (156) along a second flow path (159) separate from the input flow path (157).

Abstract: Environmentally acceptable well cement fluid loss control additives, cement compositions including the additives and methods of using the compositions are provided. The environmentally acceptable fluid loss control additives are comprised of ethoxylated hydroxyethylcellulose having a reduced molecular weight.

Abstract: An apparatus (Z) having controllable impedance is inserted from output (22) to ground (23) of an audio-signal amplifier (20). Typically, the apparatus comprises a switch-chain (50) having multiple switches (52, 53, and so on); the first switch (52) is connected to one terminal (62) of the apparatus. A capacitor (82, 84, and so on) is connected from each switch to a second terminal (61). The network formed by the switch-chain (50) and the capacitor network (80) is called a matrix (60C). To bypass audio frequencies away from the chopping effect of the switches, an inductor (31) parallels the matrix. To prevent shorting of audio signals to ground, a larger capacitor (30) is in series with the inductor. An unstable voltage at output will see increasing capacitance as more switches are closed. The changing of capacitive impedance in relation to the amplitude of the unstable voltage is designed such that the unstable voltage cannot grow too large. More complex matrices further reduce voltage fluctuations.

Abstract: A method of altering topology of a serial bus having a plurality of nodes interconnected in a tree topology in order to increase data rates between the plurality of nodes includes the step of obtaining a current topology representation of the serial bus which indicates a first node of the plurality of nodes is coupled to a second node of the plurality of nodes via a third node of the plurality of nodes. Another step of the method includes obtaining data rate capabilities of each node of the serial bus. The method further includes determining based upon the current topology representation of the serial bus and the data rate capabilities of each node that the third node of supports a third maximum data rate that is slower than a first maximum data rate supported by the first node and a second maximum data rate supported by the second node.

Abstract: The present invention relates to data communications in packet switched networks and more specifically to the mobility of terminals in networks implementing the Mobile Internet Protocol (MIP). In the method according to the present invention each Home Agent will store locally the load information from other Home Agents and will exchange load information with the other Home Agents. The Mobile Node first attempts to register with its primary Home Agent. This registration is not completed due to e.g. failure of the primary Home Agent or where the network chooses to register with another Home Agent which has a lower load than the primary Home Agent. The Mobile Node then attempts to register with a second, alternate, Home Agent. If the alternate Home Agent accepts the request then the Mobile Node is able to access MIP services through the alternate Home Agent.

Abstract: In a turbomachine compressor stator comprising a plurality of variable-pitch vanes (36), each vane mounted in rotation, about an axis of pivoting (38), in a wall (34) forming a surface of revolution about a longitudinal central axis of rotation of the turbomachine (32), being inclined by a specified angle (&agr;) with respect to a plane perpendicular to this longitudinal central axis, there is provision for this wall to be machined locally opposite an end part of each vane (42) so as to form a spherical portion or pocket (40) whose center is positioned on the axis of pivoting and whose radius is determined so as to ensure, over the entire range of operation of the vane, a predetermined minimum clearance between this end part of each vane and the opposite machined spherical pocket while limiting the depth of machining of this pocket.

Abstract: An Information Source 600 provides information to a Data Service element 602. A Directory Service Update Decision element 604 registers 606 with a Directory Service element 608. The client 610 provides a request to a Personal Lookup Agent element 612. The Directory Service Poll Decisions 614 queries the Directory Service element 608 with a Lookup 616 request. The Personal Lookup Agent 612 implements an interface to the Directory Service element 608 that allows the client 610 to ingest application-specific objects that encapsulates control functions for Directory Service Polling Decisions 614 for Candidate Service Filtering 618, and subsequent Target Service Filtering 620.

Abstract: An apparatus for containing articles of school supplies comprising a walled structure forming an inner compartment having one or more receptacles adapted to receive an article of school supplies. At least one receptacle being adapted for automatic movement within the inner compartment. A latchable cover is also provided to seal the walled structure and protect articles within the inner compartment.

Abstract: A circuit and method for testing a transceiver. The circuit includes a bit pattern generator connected to the transceiver such that the bit pattern generator can communicate a serial data stream to a receiver portion of the transceiver. The circuit also includes a bit pattern checker connected to the transceiver such that a transmitter portion of the transceiver can communicate a serial data stream to the bit pattern checker. The transceiver is configured such that the receiver portion of the transceiver is communicatingly looped back to the transmitter portion of the transceiver such that a data stream can be communicated from the receiver portion of the transceiver to the transmitter portion of the transceiver. Desirably, a loopback circuit in connected to the transceiver and includes fixed bit pattern means for communicating at least one fixed bit pattern to the transmitter portion of the transceiver.

Abstract: A substrate support assembly 30 comprises a substrate support 38 and a collar 130 which may comprise at least one slit 150. The slit allows for thermal expansion compensation in the support assembly 30. The collar 130 may, for example, protect the dielectric 45 from erosion in a process chamber 25. In one version, the collar 130 comprises a clamping ring 200 on the dielectric 45.

Abstract: A phase interpolator which includes cross-coupled switches and is configured to receive a plurality of input clock phases and generate a new output clock phase based on the input clock phases which are selected by the cross-coupled switches. The cross-coupled switches are controlled by selection inputs. The phase interpolator may be configured to receive four clock phases, but preferably is configured to receive eight clock phases. Preferably, the phase interpolator includes eight cross-coupled switches, such as two sets of four cross-coupled switches. Preferably, each set of switches is controlled by a different selection input. Hence, a first selection input controls one set of four cross-coupled switches, and a second selection input controls the other set of four cross-coupled switches. Preferably, each pair of switches—wherein each pair includes a switch from each set—is configured to receive the same clock phase.