Abstract: The present invention is an interface between a piece of baggage and a preconcentrator. The baggage-preconcentrator interface is able be secured to the opening in the baggage, such as an opening created by a zipper. The baggage-preconcentrator interface provides a convenient entry point from which to extract air from the interior of baggage. The shape of such interface corresponds to that of the preconcentrator, which collects constituents of air. The preconcentrator is inserted into the baggage-preconcentrator interface and an air sample is extracted from the interior of the baggage and through both the interface and the preconcentrator. As the air is extracted, the constituents of air collect in the preconcentrator. After collecting the constituents, the preconcentrator is inserted into a testing unit capable of detecting trace amounts of explosives, such as an ion trap mobility spectrometer. The testing unit analyzes the constituents and determines whether any of them are explosive.

Abstract: The present invention is a novel collection device that allows constituents of air to collect on a test strip included within the collection device. Specifically, the collector allows a removable test strip to be inserted in the collector while an air sample passes therethrough. Thereafter, the test strip is removed from the collector and analyzed to determine the constituents of air that passed through the test strip and collector. When using the collector to inspect for trace amounts of explosives within a piece of baggage, the collector is connected to a baggage-collector interface because the shape of the baggage-collector interface corresponds to that of the collector. The baggage-collector interface is secured to the baggage and an air sample is extracted from the interior of the baggage and through both the interface and the collector, including the test strip. As the air is extracted, the constituents of air collect on the test strip.

Abstract: The present invention is an interface between a piece of baggage and a preconcentrator. The baggage-preconcentrator interface is able be secured to the opening in the baggage, such as an opening created by a zipper. The baggage-preconcentrator interface provides a convenient entry point from which to extract air from the interior of baggage. The shape of such interface corresponds to that of the preconcentrator, which collects constituents of air. The preconcentrator is inserted into the baggage-preconcentrator interface and an air sample is extracted from the interior of the baggage and through both the interface and the preconcentrator. As the air is extracted, the constituents of air collect in the preconcentrator. After collecting the constituents, the preconcentrator is inserted into a testing unit capable of detecting trace amounts of explosives, such as an ion trap mobility spectrometer. The testing unit analyzes the constituents and determines whether any of them are explosive.

Abstract: The present invention is a novel collection device that allows constituents of air to collect on a test strip included within the collection device. Specifically, the collector allows a removable test strip to be inserted in the collector while an air sample passes therethrough. Thereafter, the test strip is removed from the collector and analyzed to determine the constituents of air that passed through the test strip and collector. When using the collector to inspect for trace amounts of explosives within a package, the collector is connected to a package-collector interface because the shape of the package-collector interface corresponds to that of the collector. An air sample is extracted from the interior of the package and through both the interface and the collector, including the test strip. As the air is extracted, the constituents of air collect on the test strip.

Abstract: The present invention is an interface between a piece of baggage and a preconcentrator. The baggage-preconcentrator interface is able be secured to the opening in the baggage, such as an opening created by a zipper. The baggage-preconcentrator interface provides a convenient entry point from which to extract air from the interior of baggage. The shape of such interface corresponds to that of the preconcentrator, which collects constituents of air. The preconcentrator is inserted into the baggage-preconcentrator interface and an air sample is extracted from the interior of the baggage and through both the interface and the preconcentrator. As the air is extracted, the constituents of air collect in the preconcentrator. After collecting the constituents, the preconcentrator is inserted into a testing unit capable of detecting trace amounts of explosives, such as an ion trap mobility spectrometer. The testing unit analyzes the constituents and determines whether any of them are explosive.

Abstract: A computer that manages a master database synchronizes the master database and a slave database by receiving a change made to the slave database, integrating the change to the slave database into the master database, and sending, to a second computer that manages the slave database, a portion of the master database that has changed since a previous synchronization operation between the master and slave databases.

Abstract: A method for introducing a heterologous nucleic acid of interest into a plant to thereby produce a recombinant plant is carried out by (a) providing a recombinant nucleic acid of interest, the recombinant nucleic acid comprising the heterologous nucleic acid of interest, and preferably including (i) a matrix attachment region (MAR) positioned 5′ to the heterologous DNA, (ii) a MAR positioned 3′ to the heterologous nucleic acid of interest, or (iii) a MAR positioned 5′ to the heterologous nucleic acid of interest and a MAR positioned 3′ to the heterologous nucleic acid of interest; (b) providing meristem tissue of the plant of interest; (c) introducing the recombinant nucleic acid of interest into the meristem tissue; and then (d) propagating a recombinant plant from the meristem tissue, preferably by a direct propagation technique.

Abstract: An optical film is provided which comprises a disperse phase of polymeric particles disposed within a continuous birefringent matrix. The film is oriented, typically by stretching, in one or more directions. The size and shape of the disperse phase particles, the volume fraction of the disperse phase, the film thickness, and the amount of orientation are chosen to attain a desired degree of diffuse reflection and total transmission of electromagnetic radiation of a desired wavelength in the resulting film.

Abstract: A method for introducing a heterologous nucleic acid of interest into a plant to thereby produce a recombinant plant is carried out by (a) providing a recombinant nucleic acid of interest, the recombinant nucleic acid comprising the heterologous nucleic acid of interest, and preferably including (i) a matrix attachment region (MAR) positioned 5′ to the heterologous DNA, (ii) a MAR positioned 3′ to the heterologous nucleic acid of interest, or (iii) a MAR positioned 5′ to the heterologous nucleic acid of interest and a MAR positioned 3′ to the heterologous nucleic acid of interest; (b) providing meristem tissue of the plant of interest; (c) introducing the recombinant nucleic acid of interest into the meristem tissue; and then (d) propagating a recombinant plant from the meristem tissue, preferably by a direct propagation technique.

Abstract: A nonwoven web made from a polymeric fiber blend comprising at least one elastomeric polyolefin and at least one nonelastomeric polyolefin useful as the elastic base sheet for a nonwoven laminate is disclosed. Preferably, the polymeric blend will comprise a nonelastomeric resin in the range of from about 10 to about 90 percent by weight, and an elastomeric resin of from about 90 to about 10 percent by weight. The elastomeric polyolefin will have a density of less than about 0.885 g/cm3 and the nonelastomeric polyolefin will have a density of at least about 0.890 g/cm3. In one particular embodiment, the polymeric blend may comprise about 50 percent to about 90 percent by weight of a narrow molecular weight distribution polyethylene and about 50 percent to about 10 percent by weight of a nonelastomeric polyolefin such as a linear low density polyethylene.

Abstract: An improved optical film having a continuous/disperse phase morphology and a method for making the same is provided. At least one of the continuous and disperse phases comprises a blend of homopolymers which are inter-reacted, as by transesterification. The resulting films exhibit a higher degree of birefringence for a given level of strain than analogous films in which the blend is replaced by a random copolymer.

Abstract: This invention is directed generally to a process for making substituted pyrazoles, tautomers of the substituted pyrazoles, and salts of the substituted pyrazoles and tautomers.

Abstract: The present invention is an interface between a piece of baggage and a preconcentrator. The baggage-preconcentrator interface is able be secured to the opening in the baggage, such as an opening created by a zipper. The baggage-preconcentrator interface provides a convenient entry point from which to extract air from the interior of baggage. The shape of such interface corresponds to that of the preconcentrator, which collects constituents of air. The preconcentrator is inserted into the baggage-preconcentrator interface and an air sample is extracted from the interior of the baggage and through both the interface and the preconcentrator. As the air is extracted, the constituents of air collect in the preconcentrator. After collecting the constituents, the preconcentrator is inserted into a testing unit capable of detecting trace amounts of explosives, such as an ion trap mobility spectrometer. The testing unit analyzes the constituents and determines whether any of them are explosive.

Abstract: An improved optical film having a continuous/disperse phase morphology and a method for making the same is provided. At least one of the continuous and disperse phases comprises a blend of homopolymers which are inter-reacted, as by transesterification. The resulting films exhibit a higher degree of birefringence for a given level of strain than analogous films in which the blend is replaced by a random copolymer.

Abstract: Compensation of a liquid crystal display can be achieved using a compensation structure, having, in the following order: a) a first o-plate; b) a first retarder; c) a liquid crystal cell; d) a second retarder; and e) a second o-plate. The first and second retarders can be c-plates or biaxial retarders.

Abstract: An improved optical film having a continuous/disperse phase morphology and a method for making the same is provided. At least one of the continuous and disperse phases comprises a blend of homopolymers which are inter-reacted, as by transesterification. The resulting films exhibit a higher degree of birefringence for a given level of strain than analogous films in which the blend is replaced by a random copolymer.

Abstract: A predictor for optimal broadband impedance matching of the present invention computes the maximum value of transducer power gain possible for any impedance matching network for a given transmission line, load, and frequency band.

Abstract: Crystalline forms of the p38 kinase inhibitor N-(2-hydroxyacetyl)-5-(4-piperidyl)-4-(4-pyrimidinyl)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)pyrazole are provided. These crystalline forms include (a) a first anhydrous crystalline form possessing improved physical stability relative to other solid-state forms of the compound; (b) a second anhydrous crystalline form possessing unique properties relative to other solid-state forms of the compound; (c) a third anhydrous crystalline form possessing unique properties relative to other solid-state forms of the compound; and (d) solvated crystalline forms, hydrated crystalline forms, and crystalline salt forms of the compound that are useful, for example, as intermediate solid-state forms in the preparation of other crystalline forms of the compound.

Abstract: A data visualization arrangement for facilitating the display of data items comprising a selected region of an object in a selected one of a plurality of display modes. The arrangement comprises a data object store, an interface, an object region retrieval component and a display. The data object store stores the data object, the data object comprising a plurality of data items in a predetermined organization. The interface receives a region identification for identifying a particular region of the object and a display mode identification. The object region retrieval component retrieves data items from a region of the data object as identified by the region identification received by the interface. Finally, the display receives the data items as retrieved by the object region retrieval mechanism and displays them in the display mode as identified by the display mode identification.

Abstract: An optical film is provided which comprises a disperse phase of polymeric particles disposed within a continuous birefringent matrix. The film is oriented, typically by stretching, in one or more directions. The size and shape of the disperse phase particles, the volume fraction of the disperse phase, the film thickness, and the amount of orientation are chosen to attain a desired degree of diffuse reflection and total transmission of electromagnetic radiation of a desired wavelength in the resulting film.