Abstract: A method comprising: providing at least one first diamond film comprising polycrystalline diamond, e.g., nanocrystalline or ultrananocrystalline diamond, disposed on a substrate, wherein the first diamond film comprises a surface comprising diamond asperities and having a first diamond film thickness, removing asperities from the first diamond film to form a second diamond film having a second diamond film thickness, wherein the second thickness is either substantially the same as the first thickness, or the second thickness is about 100 nm or less thinner than the first diamond film thickness, optionally patterning the second diamond film to expose substrate regions and, optionally, depositing semiconductor material on the exposed substrate regions, and depositing a solid layer on the second diamond film to form a first layered structure.

Abstract: A locking tack for attaching a bone fixation device to a bone includes (a) an elongated body including a distal portion formed of a weldable material and sized to be received within a bore through a portion of a target bone and a proximal portion which, when the distal portion is in a desired position within a target bone, extends out of the bone; (b) a channel extending longitudinally through the elongated body from a proximal end thereof to a channel distal end within the distal portion of the elongated body; and (c) an engaging feature at a distal end of the channel configured to engage an extraction mechanism so that forces applied to the extraction mechanism are transmitted to the distal end of the elongated body.

Abstract: An impact resistant composite article has two or more layers of ballistic fabric and ionomer layers disposed between the fabric layers. The ionomer is highly neutralized so that it has essentially no melt flow. A process also for making such a composite article that involves deposition of an aqueous colloid of the ionomer onto the fabric, followed by drying.

Abstract: A method of preparing a low friction diamond surface comprises removing asperities from a surface of a polycrystalline diamond film disposed on a substrate, e.g., by removing not more than about 500 nm (e.g., not more than about 100 nm, 50 nm, 25 nm, or 10 nm) of diamond, on average, from the surface of the film. The removal step can be controlled to preserve depressions in the surface, which can provide useful properties, such as reservoirs for lubrication, which contribute to the low friction properties of diamond films prepared by the methods of the present invention. The diamond films of the invention preferably have an average grain size of about 2000 nm or less (e.g., less than or equal to about 1000 nm, 100 nm, 50 nm, 20 nm or 10 nm), and preferably include fewer than about 2000 asperities per square millimeter of diamond surface, or about 4/mm on a linear basis, as determined using a 2 ?m diameter profilometer stylus tip.

Abstract: A method comprising: providing at least one first diamond film comprising polycrystalline diamond, e.g., nanocrystalline or ultrananocrystalline diamond, disposed on a substrate, wherein the first diamond film comprises a surface comprising diamond asperities and having a first diamond film thickness, removing asperities from the first diamond film to form a second diamond film having a second diamond film thickness, wherein the second thickness is either substantially the same as the first thickness, or the second thickness is about 100 nm or less thinner than the first diamond film thickness, optionally patterning the second diamond film to expose substrate regions and, optionally, depositing semiconductor material on the exposed substrate regions, and depositing a solid layer on the second diamond film to form a first layered structure.

Abstract: The commercial demand for higher aggregate data rates has led to DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexed) transmissions. Network elements need the capacity in these systems to reconfigure in case of a bit stream failure. The instant invention can bridge communications between other network elements including optical and electrical signal network elements, when a loss of signal detection circuit to substitute a second bit stream for a time delayed original bit stream and a circuit element connected to the loss of signal detection circuit to permit the network elements to reconfigure without activating automatic protect switch mechanisms of a bridged network.

Abstract: A grass with improved environmental stress tolerance and low animal toxicity is disclosed where the grass is infected with an isolated endophyte selected from the groups consisting of USDA-PI no. 269850, Ijoukak, Morocco 92060, Boumalne-de-Dades, Morocco KBG 5921, USDA-PI no. 516560, Oujda, Morocco KBG 5892, and mixtures and combinations thereof. A method for stably infecting the grasses is also disclosed.

Abstract: The commercial demand for higher aggregate data rates has led to DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexed) transmissions. Network elements need the capacity in these systems to reconfigure in case of a bit stream failure. The instant invention can bridge communications between other network elements including optical and electrical signal network elements, when a loss of signal detection circuit to substitute a second bit stream for a time delayed original bit stream and a circuit element connected to the loss of signal detection circuit to permit the network elements to reconfigure without activating automatic protect switch mechanisms of a bridged network.

Abstract: A method and assembly for playing roulette wherein normal bets are placed by players and a roulette wheel having a plurality of pocket numbers is rotated to randomly receive a ball by chance to determine a winning roulette number. The invention is characterized by randomly selecting a plurality of numbers as bonus game numbers, randomly selecting a plurality of numbers as player positions, randomly selecting a bonus odds prize, and awarding the selected player a bonus payout on all winning bets.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system, method, and program for limiting input/output (I/O) requests from an application program to a storage device to facilitate the processing of data in memory. A determination is made as to whether an amount of a set of data in memory exceeds at least one threshold. At least one of multiple paths to the storage device is indicated as blocked to I/O requests from the application program. Each indicated blocked path is available for processing the set of data in memory. An I/O request from the application program is received and a determination is made as to whether the received I/O request intends to access the storage device using one indicated blocked path. The I/O request is denied access to the storage device via the blocked path.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for managing pages in a volatile memory device for data transfer operations between a first storage area and a second storage area. The first storage area is queried to determine a number of data sets to include in a data transfer operation. A number of pages in the volatile memory device needed for the data transfer operation is then determined. A determination is then made as to whether the number of pages needed for the data transfer operation is greater than available fixed pages in a pool of pages. Available fixed pages in the pool are allocated to the data transfer operation after determining that the number of pages needed to process the data transfer operation is less than or equal to the available fixed pages in the pool.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining an axial relationship by viewing a target with an image inverter and determining the relationship of the optical axis of the image inverter relative to the position of the target by comparing the inverted view against another view. The image inverter can act as level by comparing the inverted image with a direct view of the target, or can measure an angle defined by the first target, the image inverter and a second target offset along a second axis. A mirror associated with the image inverter can provide a reflection of the second target along the reflective axis of the mirror, thus providing a measurement of the angle defined by the intersection of the reflective axis and the optical axis. Each target can comprise a bar, which can divide two contrasting portions to clarify the comparison of the inverted image and the direct or reflected image. The bar can be oriented horizontally or vertically, or at any appropriate orientation to support survey of angles or lines.

Abstract: A golf game which comprises a playing surface which has a number of areas representing holes to be played and a two-dimensional grid defining a plurality of grid references on the playing area. Markers are intended to be moved from the starting point, tee, to the finishing point, hole, a plurality of sets of cards defines optional moves of a marker in from a first point to a second point. Each set of cards corresponds to different categories of moves. The different sets of card categories generally corresponds to different types of clubs but also include bunker and rough cards. The player must use skill in order to select the next card to be played.

Abstract: A data processing system includes a data storage subsystem containing a plurality of data storage devices for reading and writing data on a plurality of data storage volumes. The data processing system is controlled by software to perform a method for recycling the data storage volumes containing a percentage of still valid data and a percentage of invalid data by transferring the still valid data on a plurality of input data storage volumes to one or more output data storage volumes. In accordance with the recycling method, the data processing system assigns a selected number of the data storage devices as input devices and a selected number of the data storage devices as output devices in a predetermined input/output ratio of the form m:k, where m is the number of input devices and k is the number of output devices. The system then commences transferring still valid data from input volumes mounted on the input devices to output volumes mounted on the output devices.

Abstract: A fishing rod holder comprising a rod supporting bar; a foregrip cradling means fixedly attached to the forward end of the rod supporting bar; a handle retaining means fixedly attached to the rearward end of the rod supporting bar; and a plurality of rod angle adjustment tabs fixedly attached to the rod support bar, each rod angle adjustment tab being positioned and aligned so that its longitudinal midline downwardly extends from the lower surface of the rod supporting bar, each rod angle adjustment tab being further positioned and aligned so that the angle between its longitudinal midline and the longitudinal midline of the rod supporting bar differs from that of each of the other rod angle adjustment tabs.

Abstract: A roulette game including a progressive jackpot includes a plurality of coin acceptors to enable players to place an optional progressive jackpot wager. Players place game wagers on a numbered layout imprinted on a table surface by using different colored chips assigned to each player. A control system includes an optical sensor head for detecting the speed and position of the ball in the roulette wheel, as well as the number of revolutions of the wheel. The control system displays on an electronic sign a progressive jackpot amount, winning numbers, and a random bonus jackpot. Players win the progressive jackpot by betting on the same winning number four times in a row. The electronic control system of the game, in conjunction with a dealer console, maintains an accounting of wagers placed, winning numbers, and amounts paid. The apparatus also includes a sound system for generating various sound effects at different stages of the game to enhance player excitement and appeal.

Abstract: The subject invention is directed to a beach-front ecosystem erosion prevention system which can be comprised of the combination of a sand ladder located at a sand dune of the beach-front ecosystem and a sand ladder reef submerged in the water of the beach-front ecosystem. The sand ladder has a curved surface facing the water, while the sand ladder reef has at least one such curved surface facing the shore-line of the beach-front ecosystem. Each of the curved surfaces of the sand ladder and/or sand ladder reef is comprised of a plurality of individual plank members arranged in an overlapping, non-touching manner so that openings between the plank members are created. The curved surfaces of the sand ladder and sand ladder reef are concave in shape and act to work with the force of the approaching wave, or retreating undertow wave.

Abstract: A cooling assembly including a fan blade subassembly for receipt about a drive shaft and a protective shroud secured to the fan blade subassembly for rotation therewith.

Abstract: A security system for surveying an area such as a prison or airport, the security system comprising three coaxial cables which are placed in the ground parallel to and spaced apart from each other, the center cable being provided with a modulated signal which is received by the outer two cables, and the received signal being caused to vary and trigger an alarm if there is an unauthorized movement in the surveyed area.