Abstract: Pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs) are structurally related to the pepsins, thought to be restricted to the hoofed (ungulate) mammals and characterized by being expressed specifically in the outer epithelial cell layer (chorion/trophectoderm) of the placenta. By cloning expressed genes from ovine and bovine placental cDNA libraries, the inventors estimate that cattle, sheep, and most probably all ruminant Artiodactyla, possess possibly 100 or more PAG genes, many of which are placentally expressed. The PAGs are highly diverse in sequence, with regions of hypervariability confined largely to surface-exposed loops. Selected PAG that are products of the invasive binucleate cells, expressed highly in early pregnancy at the time of trophoblast invasion and expressed weakly, if at all, in late gestation are useful in the early diagnosis of pregnancy. In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to immunoassays for detecting these PAGs.

Abstract: A portal monitoring system has a cosmic ray charged particle tracker with a plurality of drift cells. The drift cells, which can be for example aluminum drift tubes, can be arranged at least above and below a volume to be scanned to thereby track incoming and outgoing charged particles, such as cosmic ray muons, whilst also detecting gamma rays. The system can selectively detect devices or materials, such as iron, lead, gold and/or tungsten, occupying the volume from multiple scattering of the charged particles passing through the volume and can also detect any radioactive sources occupying the volume from gamma rays emitted therefrom. If necessary, the drift tubes can be sealed to eliminate the need for a gas handling system. The system can be employed to inspect occupied vehicles at border crossings for nuclear threat objects.

Abstract: A combustor end cap assembly having an improved cooling configuration is disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention are directed towards an apparatus and method for cooling an effusion plate of the combustor end cap assembly. The combustor end cap assembly also incorporates an impingement plate having a plurality of cooling holes with the impingement plate positioned a predetermined distance from the effusion plate. The cooling fluid passes through the impingement plate and is directed towards and onto the effusion plate for cooling of the effusion plate.

Abstract: A protective case for a portable digital media device includes a hinged element and an aperture registered with an input element for such device, to provide protection against inadvertent damage to the device, to selectively operate as a stand to maintain the device in an upright position, and enable user access to the input element when the case is closed.

Abstract: Techniques, apparatus and systems for detecting particles such as muons for imaging applications. Subtraction techniques are described to enhance the processing of the muon tomography data.

Abstract: An artificial amorphous semiconductor material, and a junction made from the material, has a plurality of crystalline semiconductor material quantum dots substantially uniformly distributed and regularly spaced in three dimensions through a matrix of dielectric material or thin layers of dielectric materials. The material is formed by first forming a plurality of layers of dielectric material comprising a compound of a semiconducting material, and forming alternating layers as layers of stoichiometric dielectric material and layers of semiconductor rich dielectric material respectively. The material is then heated causing quantum dots to form in the semiconductor rich layers of dielectric material in a uniform and regularly spaced distribution in three dimensions through the dielectric material.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program is used to determine a linear track having a good fit to a most likely or expected path of charged particle passing through a charged particle detector having a plurality of drift cells. Hit signals from the charged particle detector are associated with a particular charged particle track. An initial estimate of time zero is made from these hit signals and linear tracks are then fit to drift radii for each particular time-zero estimate. The linear track having the best fit having the best fit is then search and selected and errors in fit and tracking parameters computed. The use of large and expensive fast detectors needed to time zero in the charged particle detectors can be avoided by adopting this method and system.

Abstract: A portal monitoring system has a cosmic ray charged particle tracker with a plurality of drift cells. The drift cells, which can be for example aluminum drift tubes, can be arranged at least above and below a volume to be scanned to thereby track incoming and outgoing charged particles, such as cosmic ray muons, whilst also detecting gamma rays. The system can selectively detect devices or materials, such as iron, lead, gold and/or tungsten, occupying the volume from multiple scattering of the charged particles passing through the volume and can also detect any radioactive sources occupying the volume from gamma rays emitted therefrom. If necessary, the drift tubes can be sealed to eliminate the need for a gas handling system. The system can be employed to inspect occupied vehicles at border crossings for nuclear threat objects.

Abstract: A combustion liner having enhanced heat transfer over at least a portion of the liner is disclosed. The combustion liner comprises, amongst other features, an outer surface wherein at least a region of the outer surface is textured in a substantially uniform pattern such that the surface area exposed to a passing cooling medium is increased, thereby increasing the heat transfer through the combustion liner. Multiple embodiments of textured patterns are also disclosed.

Abstract: A docking assembly serves as an interface between (1) a portable digital media storage and playback (PDMSP) device, and (2) a media reproduction system. A remote controller preferably controls the docking assembly and PDMSP device, which may receive electric charge from the assembly. Media reproduction systems may reproduce audio and video signals in user-perceptible form. Telephonic relay capability is further provided between a telephonic PDMSP playback device and a telephonic remote controller by way of a telephone rebroadcast receiver associated with the docking assembly. Methods for downloading digital media files, and for creating or modifying playlists with a remotely controllable docking assembly adapted to provide a television-compatible video output signal, are further provided.

Abstract: A docking assembly serves as an interface between (1) a portable digital media storage and playback (PDMSP) device, and (2) a media reproduction system. A remote controller preferably controls the docking assembly and PDMSP device, which may receive electric charge from the assembly. Media reproduction systems may reproduce audio and video signals in user-perceptible form. Telephonic relay capability is further provided between a telephonic PDMSP playback device and a telephonic remote controller by way of a telephone rebroadcast receiver associated with the docking assembly. Methods for downloading digital media files, and for creating or modifying playlists with a remotely controllable docking assembly adapted to provide a television-compatible video output signal, are further provided.

Abstract: A docking assembly serves as an interface between (1) a portable digital media storage and playback (PDMSP) device, and (2) a media reproduction system. A remote controller preferably controls the docking assembly and PDMSP device, which may receive electric charge from the assembly. Media reproduction systems may reproduce audio and video signals in user-perceptible form. Telephonic relay capability is further provided between a telephonic PDMSP playback device and a telephonic remote controller by way of a telephone rebroadcast receiver associated with the docking assembly. Methods for downloading digital media files, and for creating or modifying playlists with a remotely controllable docking assembly adapted to provide a television-compatible video output signal, are further provided.

Abstract: A docking assembly serves as an interface between (1) a portable digital media storage and playback (PDMSP) device, and (2) a media reproduction system. A remote controller preferably controls the docking assembly and PDMSP device, which may receive electric charge from the assembly. Media reproduction systems may reproduce audio and video signals in user-perceptible form. Telephonic relay capability is further provided between a telephonic PDMSP playback device and a telephonic remote controller by way of a telephone rebroadcast receiver associated with the docking assembly. Methods for downloading digital media files, and for creating or modifying playlists with a remotely controllable docking assembly adapted to provide a television-compatible video output signal, are further provided.

Abstract: Certain materials are electroluminescent, and this electroluminescent effect has been used in the construction of backlights for displays. Such a backlight commonly consists of a transparent front layer (11) known as the substrate carrying its rear face a transparent electrically-conductive film (12) forming the backlight's front electrode and covered by a layer of electro-luminescent/phosphor material (13) over the rear face of which is a high-dielectric layer (16) bearing on its rear face a conductive film (17) forming the back electrode. The whole is positioned behind a mask (18) that defines whatever characters the display is to show. This use of a mask has some disadvantages, some of which can be overcome by utilising an array of suitably shaped individual electrodes (21) instead of a continuous one, and by shaping the electroluminescent material itself in discrete areas (43) each tightly matching in shape and size the relevant individual shaped back electrode (21).

Abstract: Device for inductive power supply and guidance of a moving object, with a primary inductance element extending as a conductive loop along a path provided for the object. A secondary inductance element is arranged on the object and can be coupled magnetically with the primary inductance element for power transmission. Several receiver inductance elements are arranged on the object and output measurement signals dependent on the magnetic field of the primary inductance element. An evaluation device determines a measure for the position of the object with reference to the conductive loop from the measurement signals. A regular arrangement of receiver inductance elements is provided, which extends on the object at least perpendicular to its direction of motion. The receiver inductance elements are simultaneously also connected to a data receiver device, which contains a way for extracting a data signal from the output voltage of at least one of the receiver inductance elements.

Abstract: A docking assembly serves as an interface between (1) a portable digital media storage and playback (PDMSP) device, and (2) a media reproduction system. A remote controller preferably controls the docking assembly and PDMSP device, which may receive electric charge from the assembly. Media reproduction systems may reproduce audio and video signals in user-perceptible form. Telephonic relay capability is further provided between a telephonic PDMSP playback device and a telephonic remote controller by way of a telephone rebroadcast receiver associated with the docking assembly. Methods for downloading digital media files, and for creating or modifying playlists with a remotely controllable docking assembly adapted to provide a television-compatible video output signal, are further provided.

Abstract: A device for inductively transmitting electrical energy to at least one mobile load, with at least one primary conductor that extends along a designated path of the load in the form of a conductor loop and from which a secondary conductor arranged on the load is able to draw electrical energy. At least two conductor loops are provided that are electrically separated from one another and respectively assigned to different segments of the path. The conductor loops are arranged relative to one another so that electrical energy intended for the load can be transmitted from a first conductor loop to at least a second conductor loop due to inductive coupling between the conductor loops. A section of the second conductor loop that is inductively coupled contains a larger number of windings than that of the first conductor loop. The second conductor loop includes of a series of partial loops that extend parallel to one another.