Abstract: A sodium-cooled nuclear reactor includes at least one electromagnetic pump assembly and a backflow reduction pipe. The backflow reduction pipe may include an inlet, an outlet, at least one tubular section having a first length and a first diameter, and at least one fluid diode section between the inlet and the outlet.

Abstract: Indigo-dyed garments are treated with an anti-ozone agent to prevent ozone-related degradation of the garments before laser finishing. Without treatment, the garments can exhibit color loss (e.g., color change or fading) from exposure to ozone in the atmosphere. The indigo-dyed garments with anti-ozone treatment can serve as base templates in a laser finishing process flow. The anti-ozone treatment of the base templates can include a rinse including an ascorbic acid or vitamin C constituent during a base preparation process. Then quantities of these base templates can manufactured and stored for periods of time without exhibiting ozone-related degradation effects.

Abstract: A package sort cell includes a robot with an end of arm tool for transporting packages from an in-feed conveyor to a selected one of a plurality of out-feed conveyors or bins, the robot receiving instruction from the package reader as to which of the plurality of conveyors or bins to hand-off the package. An end of arm tool may be in the configuration of a conveyor which may be aligned with the out-feed conveyor on a bottom up movement. The end of arm tool may also be in the configuration of a hanging carriage frame suspending a conveyor in a top down movement. A worker platform may be provided which may be movable between in-use and out-of-use positions whereby upon robot downtime, the platform may move into the in-use position for a worker to temporarily takeover the transfer functions of the robot. A plurality of sort cells may be arranged in side by side relation adjacent a like plurality of package delivery points (e.g.

Abstract: Customizable tunable filters are provided herein. In certain implementations, a tunable filter including: a first filter bank including a plurality of high-pass filters each having a different cutoff frequency, and a second filter bank including a plurality of low-pass filters each having a different cutoff frequency. The tunable filter further includes a first pair of switches configured to select a first filter chosen from the first filter bank, and a second pair of switches configured to select a second filter chosen from the second filter bank. The tunable filter operates with a first cutoff frequency of the first filter and with a second cutoff frequency of the second filter.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for tunable filtering are provided. In certain embodiments, a tunable filter is implemented using one or more controllable capacitors formed on a semiconductor die and using one or more shielded integrated inductors formed on a secondary circuit board that attaches to a carrier circuit board. Additionally, the shielded integrated inductors are formed from patterned metallization layers of the secondary circuit board, and shielding is provided on the secondary circuit board and/or the carrier circuit board to shield the inductors from the semiconductor die and/or other components.

Abstract: Customizable tunable filters are provided herein. In certain implementations, a tunable filter including: a first filter bank including a plurality of high-pass filters each having a different cutoff frequency, and a second filter bank including a plurality of low-pass filters each having a different cutoff frequency. The tunable filter further includes a first pair of switches configured to select a first filter chosen from the first filter bank, and a second pair of switches configured to select a second filter chosen from the second filter bank. The tunable filter operates with a first cutoff frequency of the first filter and with a second cutoff frequency of the second filter.

Abstract: A flexible enclosure that is adapted for encapsulating bicycles and the rack that supports the bicycles from the receiver of a receiver hitch. The enclosure includes a front panel and a rear panel. The front panel includes a pair of apertures that lead to a pair of spaced apart pockets with a flexible translucent window, so that the enclosure may be used to cover items that are supported from the receiver hitch, so that items inside the pockets may be seen through the section of flexible translucent material.

Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator including an RF output terminal and a DC control terminal, an active circuit, and a resonant circuit interconnected with the active circuit and including a plurality of series resonators each having an electrically variable capacitance and fixed inductor; the active circuit includes at least one transistor having an operating current density which is approximately 35% or less of the peak fT operating current density and/or the active circuit includes a multi-transistor bank disposed in at least two separate sections, each pair of sections spaced apart to provide improved thermal uniformity among the transistors without substantially increasing parasitic impedance among them for providing an improved lower phase noise output at said RF output terminal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and a method of controlled gasification. The method includes introducing a first fuel to a gasifier in a system, introducing a first fuel to a gasifier in a system, generating a product gas by partially oxidizing the first fuel with an oxidizer including oxygen, directing a first portion of the product gas to a process chamber, and selectively introducing a recycled portion of the product gas to the gasifier.

Abstract: Methods are provided for enhancing viability comprising administering at least one inhibitor of p53 or a p53-associated pathway to one or more of the following: the embryo, oocytes, sperm, a femme animal or a male animal.

Abstract: Methods for determining the viability of an embryo or an embryo precursor, comprising measuring the level of a polypeptide or peptide released by a cultured embryo or embryo precursor into the culture medium are disclosed. The polypeptide can be p53. Also disclosed are methods of ranking embryos on the basis of their viability using such methods. Methods for screening for agents which modulate embryo viability, as measured by changes in the level of a polypeptide marker released by a cultured embryo or embryo precursor are also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for enhancing embryo viability comprising administering at least one inhibitor of p53 or a p53-associated pathway to one or more of the following: the embryo, oocytes, sperm, a femme animal or a male animal.

Abstract: A switching apparatus, for use in an ATM network, includes a switch fabric for switching ATM cells, a segmentation-and-reassembly device for reassembling packets from ATM cells, and a plurality of traffic management devices. Each traffic management device receives ATM cells delivered to associated ports of the apparatus and is connected by a first data delivery path to the switch fabric and by a second data delivery path directly to the segmentation-and-reassembly device. The traffic management device identifies those received ATM cells that belong to one or more predetermined types of packets, requiring reassembly by the segmentation-and-reassembly device, as respective reassembly cells. The traffic management device then delivers received cells other than such identified reassembly cells to the switch fabric via its first data delivery path for switching by the switch fabric, and then delivers the reassembly cells to the SAR device via the second data delivery path for reassembly into packets.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of enhancing implantation of an embryo within the uterus of a female mammal. The method comprises administering an amount of a PAF antagonist, effective to enhance implantation, to the mammal. The invention also relates to a method of increasing the level of PAF around an embryo in the uterus of a female mammal by administering an amount of a PAF antagonist sufficient to inhibit PAF catabolism. Desirably the PAF antagonist is administered together with PAF or a homologue or analogue thereof. The invention also provides compositions comprising a PAF antagonist together with PAF or a homologue or analogue thereof, and a process for preparing the same.

Abstract: The in-vivo or in-vitro administration of platelet activating factor (PAF) or analogue enhances the viability of fertilized embryos and improves rates of implantation in the uterus. Conversely, reduction of PAF concentration by in-vivo administration of PAF-antagonists such as Iloprost or PAF antibodies, has a contraceptive effect; particularly when used in conjunction with a post-coital contraceptive such as estrogen or a prostaglandin.

Abstract: An alkali metal energy conversion device, particularly a sodium sulphur cell has a cylindrical outer casing (18) containing a tubular solid electrolyte (10) of beta alumina. An outer cathode region between the electrolyte (10) and the casing (18) contains sulphur, and an inner anode region in the electrolyte tube contains sodium. An alpha alumina lid (12) closes the tube (10) and holds a current collector (15). The cathode region is sealed by an annular metal element (23) which is thermocompression bonded about its inner periphery to the lid (12) and is welded about its outer periphery to the casing (18). A second annular metal element (26) is thermocompression bonded to the lid (12) wholly inside the first annular element (23) and is welded to the current collector.The metal elements (23, 26) are bonded to the lid (12) before the lid is glazed to the electrolyte tube (10) and before the first element (23) is welded to the casing (18).

Abstract: A method and reagent system for detecting pregnancy in a mammal at an early stage by detecting enhanced activation of blood platelets.