Abstract: The present invention relates to polymer microgel beads having a polymeric matrix with nanomagnetic particles dispersed substantially uniformly therethrough, wherein a steric stabiliser is associated with the particles, the steric stabiliser being a polymeric material that (i) forms at least part of the polymeric matrix of the beads, and (ii) comprises a steric stabilising polymeric segment and an anchoring polymeric segment, wherein the steric stabilising polymeric segment is different from the anchoring polymeric segment, and wherein the anchoring polymeric segment has an affinity toward the surface of the nanomagnetic particles and secures the stabiliser to the particles.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for shorting together a plurality of electrical leads. The apparatus includes an electrical conductor that extends between first and second ends and a first surface and a second surface facing away from the first surface. The electrical conductor includes a central bight that is disposed between the first and second ends and has a concave contour that defines a portion of the first surface. The electrical conductor also includes first and second bights that have convex contours that define portions of the first surface. The first bight is disposed between the central bight and the first end and the second bight is disposed between the central bight and the second end. The electrical conductor also includes a first and second contact segments that are respectively disposed between the first and second bights and the first and second ends.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for preparing an aqueous dispersion of polymer particles comprising the following steps: (i) preparing a dispersion having a continuous aqueous phase, a dispersed organic phase comprising one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers, and an amphiphilic RAFT agent as a stabiliser for said organic phase, and (ii) polymerising said one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers under the control of said amphiphilic RAFT agent to form said aqueous dispersion of polymer particles, novel amphiphilic RAFT agents for use in this method, novel RAFT agents useful in making these amphiphilic RAFT agents and methods for their manufacture.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for shorting together a plurality of electrical leads. The apparatus includes an electrical conductor that extends between first and second ends and a first surface and a second surface facing away from the first surface. The electrical conductor includes a central bight that is disposed between the first and second ends and has a concave contour that defines a portion of the first surface. The electrical conductor also includes first and second bights that have convex contours that define portions of the first surface. The first bight is disposed between the central bight and the first end and the second bight is disposed between the central bight and the second end. The electrical conductor also includes a first and second contact segments that are respectively disposed between the first and second bights and the first and second ends.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for preparing an aqueous dispersion of polymer particles comprising the following steps: (i) preparing a dispersion having a continuous aqueous phase, a dispersed organic phase comprising one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers, and an amphiphilic RAFT agent as a stabilizer for said organic phase, and (ii) polymerizing said one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers under the control of said amphiphilic RAFT agent to form said aqueous dispersion of polymer particles, novel amphiphilic RAFT agents for use in this method, novel RAFT agents useful in making these amphiphilic RAFT agents and methods for their manufacture.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for shorting together a plurality of electrical leads. The apparatus includes an electrical conductor that extends between first and second ends and a first surface and a second surface facing away from the first surface. The electrical conductor includes a central bight that is disposed between the first and second ends and has a concave contour that defines a portion of the first surface. The electrical conductor also includes first and second bights that have convex contours that define portions of the first surface. The first bight is disposed between the central bight and the first end and the second bight is disposed between the central bight and the second end. The electrical conductor also includes a first and second contact segments that are respectively disposed between the first and second bights and the first and second ends.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for shorting together a plurality of electrical leads. The apparatus includes an electrical conductor that extends between first and second ends and a first surface and a second surface facing away from the first surface. The electrical conductor includes a central bight that is disposed between the first and second ends and has a concave contour that defines a portion of the first surface. The electrical conductor also includes first and second bights that have convex contours that define portions of the first surface. The first bight is disposed between the central bight and the first end and the second bight is disposed between the central bight and the second end. The electrical conductor also includes a first and second contact segments that are respectively disposed between the first and second bights and the first and second ends.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of preparing an aqueous dispersion of vesiculated polymer particles, the method comprising: preparing a dispersion of polymerisable particles within a continuous aqueous phase, the polymerisable particles having a structure that is defined by an outer organic phase that comprises one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers and surrounds an inner aqueous phase, said inner aqueous phase defining a single void within the polymerisable particle, wherein a RAFT agent functions as a stabiliser for the outer organic phase within the continuous aqueous phase, and wherein a RAFT agent functions as a stabiliser for the inner aqueous phase within the outer organic phase; and polymerising the one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers under the control of a RAFT agent functioning as said stabiliser to form the aqueous dispersion of vesiculated polymer particles.

Abstract: A power steering pump for an automotive vehicle including a housing defining a compartment, a cam plate disposed within the housing, a rotor disposed within the housing and a lower pressure plate disposed within the housing between the cam plate and a closed end of the housing. A cover sealingly engages the housing to close an open end of the housing. The cover includes under vane porting to provide a fluid path from an outlet port on the cover to the rotor.

Abstract: A fish alarm system 100 comprising: an alarm toggle switch 110 in combination with a tension clip 130; an enclosure 150; an alarm 160; and power source 180; wherein the alarm toggle switch 110 may include an at least two position switch, having an alarm toggle arm 112 disposed through the enclosure 150 attached with the tension clip 130 such that a fishing line 310 may be inserted in the tension clip 130 whereby as the force on the fishing line 310 increases, the tension of the tension clip 130 may allow the alarm toggle arm 112 to move from an off position 113 to an interim or bite position 114 for activating the alarm 160, from the interim position 114 to a hook set position 115 for hook set and possible second alarm, and then release the fishing line 310 from the tension clip 130.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of polymerising monomer to form polymer at the surface of solid particulate material, said method comprising: providing a dispersion of said solid particulate material in a continuous hydrophilic liquid phase, said dispersion comprising a hydrophilic RAFT agent as a stabiliser for said solid particulate material, and said continuous hydrophilic liquid phase comprising one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers; and polymerising said one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers under the control of said hydrophilic RAFT agent to thereby form polymer at the surface of said solid particulate material.

Abstract: The system and method to advance human performance in sighting, tracking, recognizing, and reacting to (collectively “engaging”) moving and stationary objects, for example, advancing skill in engaging targets with a firearm. System components include software and hardware that provide target and non-target image stimuli that can be manually or automatically generated as stationary or moving stimuli in a blank or a rendered scene environment. The methods including increase stimuli movement speeds and/or reducing the interval between or the time for which stimuli are displayed until the trainee fails to properly engage the stimuli, then reduce the movement speeds and/or increase the interval time to levels at which the trainee properly engages the stimuli. By repeating training methods with increasing speed, the trainee will be conditioned to achieve proper stimuli engagement with increasingly elevated speed and accuracy.

Abstract: A fish alarm system 100 comprising: an alarm toggle switch 110 in combination with a tension clip 130; an enclosure 150; an alarm 160; and power source 180; wherein the alarm toggle switch 110 may include an at least two position switch, having an alarm toggle arm 112 disposed through the enclosure 150 attached with the tension clip 130 such that a fishing line 310 may be inserted in the tension clip 130 whereby as the force on the fishing line 310 increases, the tension of the tension clip 130 may allow the alarm toggle arm 112 to move from an off position 113 to an interim or bite position 114 for activating the alarm 160, from the interim position 114 to a hook set position 115 for hook set and possible second alarm, and then release the fishing line 310 from the tension clip 130.

Abstract: A user interface enables a user to concurrently select a plurality of network objects of a network object database (e.g., a MIB) from a same network device or different network devices and specify a value, only once, to which to set the selected objects. The user can initiate setting of the selected objects on the one or more devices by specifying only once that the objects on such devices be set to the specified value. The user interface, which may include a GUI, may be configured to enable the user to specify a value for a cell of a first table (“editing table”), in response to which a plurality of cells of a second table (“primary table”) are set equal to the specified value. The primary table may represent a view of a network object database, each column of the view representing an object type of the network object database.

Abstract: A method of polymerising monomer to form polymer at the surface of particulate material, said method comprising: providing a dispersion of said particulate material in a continuous liquid phase, said dispersion comprising a RAFT agent as a stabiliser for said particulate material, and said continuous liquid phase comprising one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers; and polymerising said one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers under the control of said RAFT agent to thereby form polymer at the surface of said particulate material.

Abstract: A power steering pump for an automotive vehicle including a housing defining a compartment, a cam plate disposed within the housing, a rotor disposed within the housing and a lower pressure plate disposed within the housing between the cam plate and a closed end of the housing. A cover sealingly engages the housing to close an open end of the housing. The cover includes under vane porting to provide a fluid path from an outlet port on the cover to the rotor.

Abstract: Color Coat Sanding Guide works better than other sanding guide products in the field of autobody and yacht building. Color Coat Sanding Guide is a non-flammable liquid and not a powder or spray can type of sanding guide. Liquid Color Coat Sanding Guide carries a dark dye with it that gets deposited down deep into surface imperfections. It allows the person who is sanding the surface the luxury of being able to actually see the very scratches that need to be removed. Once all of the finest scratches and imperfections are removed, the boat or car can be either buffed shiny or top coated with a perfect finish.

Abstract: A toilet cleaning apparatus comprising a toilet brush head; a toilet brush handle (2) separated from the brush head by a brush shaft (1); a portion of the brush handle being adapted to contain a cleaning fluid and being in fluid communication with the brush head by a conduit; the handle being adapted to be reciprocally displaced along the conduit between a first position remote from the brush head and a second position proximate to the brush head so urging cleaning fluid from the handle to the brush head; and, a non return valve within the conduit adapted to allow the flow of fluid from handle to brush but to prevent the flow of fluid from brush to handle.

Abstract: An auxiliary solenoid controlled variable displacement power steering pump, hydraulic systems incorporating same, and method for improving the efficiency of variable displacement power steering pumps. In one embodiment, a rotor is arranged within a pump body, and a cam fitted on an outer periphery of the rotor and movably arranged within the pump body to form a variable volume pump chamber. The cam is biased towards a position within the pump body to create maximum displacement. A mechanism is provided for forcing the cam into a position of fixed minimum or reduced displacement under certain conditions, such as low engine speed and power steering demand. In a preferred embodiment, the mechanism comprises a solenoid driven connecting rod that is operatively connected to the cam. Activation of the solenoid forces the cam to a position of fixed minimum or reduced displacement.

Abstract: Protein profiles useful in diagnosing, monitoring, staging, evaluating treatments and treating and selecting treatments for heart failure are provided.