Abstract: The present invention provides dispensing systems that include peristaltic pumps and other pressure sources for the efficient delivery of accurate volumes of fluidic materials into the wells of multi-well containers or onto substrate surfaces. These systems are typically configured to dispense volumes of fluid having substantially uniform densities. Related computer program products and methods of dispensing fluidic materials are also provided.

Abstract: An in-line resonator for an air induction system of an internal combustion engine is provided. The system includes a resonator housing, an upstream duct, a downstream duct, a conduit, a partition, and a sleeve. The conduit extends through the resonator housing connecting the upstream duct and the downstream duct. The partition is moveable within the resonator housing and divides the housing into an upstream chamber and a downstream chamber. The downstream chamber, the conduit, and the downstream sleeve cooperate to form a first Helmholtz resonator that is in fluid communication with the downstream duct. The upstream chamber, the conduit, and the upstream sleeve cooperate to form a second Helmholtz resonator that is in fluid communication with the upstream duct. Further, a means is provided to axially move the partition to vary the volume of the chambers concurrently with the length and/or area of the passages.

Abstract: A method and system to deposit rapidly, accurately and efficiently liquid droplets onto a sample plate. A liquid from which the droplet is formed contains sample molecules, matrix molecules or a mixture of both sample and matrix molecules. A sample plate is positioned with respect to a position below a portion of the liquid, such as a droplet. A power supply forms an electric field between the sample plate and the liquid, which pulls the droplet to a target location on the sample plate. A plurality of capillary columns is provided for simultaneous or successive multiple depositions via application of one or more high voltage pulses between the liquid sample array and a sample plate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a resonator for attenuating pressure pulsations received through an air passage. A piston-type member is located within a resonator chamber to define first and second volumes. A first port connects the air passage with the first volume, while a second port connects the air passage with the second volume. An actuator is configured to move the piston-type member thereby changing the first and second volumes. By changing the first and second volumes and selectively connecting them to the air passage, the frequency range attenuated by the resonator can be adjusted.

Abstract: The present invention provides a resonator for attenuating acoustic vibration from an air intake passage. The resonator includes a neck, a resonator chamber, a piston-type member, and an actuator. The neck is attached between the air passage and the resonator chamber. The neck has two overlapping portions allowing the neck to extend within the resonator chamber. The piston-type member is located within the resonator chamber and is translated by the actuator to change the volume of the resonator and the neck length. By changing the volume and neck length of the resonator, the frequency attenuated by the resonator can be adjusted.

Abstract: A mobile telephone network has a function (30) which interacts with the platform (40) or platforms processing a call, event or session to: a) determine the services and/or call handling operations to be applied to the call, event or session; and b) determine if the platform(s) (40) are capable of carrying out the services and/or call handling operations required by the call, event or session. The function may then arrange for the platform (40) to be provided with appropriate data or for the call, event or session to be transferred to another platform. Moreover, a call may have part of its data converted into a standard protocol, and the data in that standard protocol then be used to guarantee a trigger for processing the call at a transfer device.

Abstract: Methods for integrated circuit diagnosis, characterization or modification using a charged particle beam. In one implementation, the bulk silicon substrate of an integrated circuit is thinned to about 1 to 3 ?m from the deepest well, a voltage is applied to a circuit element that is beneath the outer surface of the thinned substrate. The applied voltage induces an electrical potential on the outer surface, which is detected as a surface feature on the outer surface by its interaction with the charged particle beam.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a product for preventing periodontal disease wherein the product includes or is based on a Cystatin type peptide. The invention also relates to dentifrice preparations including Cystatin and to medicaments including Cystatin for the treatment or prevention of periodontal disease and to the use of a nucleic acid sequence which encodes a Cystatin type peptide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of Cystatin in predicting onset of migraines. The invention also relates to the use of Cystatin as a vasodilatory agent. The invention also relates to antagonists to Cystatin for use in preventing and treating migraine attacks.

Abstract: Disclosed is an end treatment, end structure, or end portion for a nasal dosing device. More particularly, the invention comprises a nasal insert tube for a nasal dosing device. The nasal insert tube is constructed having an outer surface with at least two levels thereby forming a hub. The nasal insert tube has a blunt dispensing end with at least one ejection port that is positioned substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the nasal insert tube. Further, the distance from the at least one ejection port to the hub substantially matches a preferred distance from the outer opening of the nasal passage (i.e. the nares) to a location inside the nasal passage shown to augment the effectiveness of nasally administered medicine. For infants, the preferred distance is approximately 1 cm. The invention may be incorporated within in several alternate embodiments.

Abstract: Methods for integrated circuit diagnosis, characterization or modification using a charged particle beam. In one implementation, the bulk silicon substrate of an integrated circuit is thinned to about 1 to 3 &mgr;m from the deepest well, a voltage is applied to a circuit element that is beneath the outer surface of the thinned substrate. The applied voltage induces an electrical potential on the outer surface, which is detected as a surface feature on the outer surface by its interaction with the charged particle beam.

Abstract: A graphics system including a selectable mode smoothing filter for improved texture mapping. An x, y pixel coordinate is mapped into a u, v texture map. The mapped u, v coordinate includes integer and fractional portions. Depending on the location of the coordinate relative to the four nearest texels, which are represented as integers, one of several texture mapping schemes are used to either select or calculate the texel value to be used to render the pixel at the x, y screen location. The three texture mapping schemes include point sampling in which the nearest texel from the texture map is selected, two-texel averaging in which the closest two texels are combined in a weighted average, and four-texel averaging in which the closest four texels are combined in a weighted average. Scale factors in the range of 0 to 1 are computed for averaging texel values together.

Abstract: A graphics system includes a graphics controller for rendering polygons with specular highlighting (glare) based on a comparison of texel color values from a texture map to a range of color values. The graphics processor includes range registers for storing the range of color values and color comparators for comparing a texel color value to the range of colors stored in the range registers. The range of color values used in the comparison corresponds to the range of colors of those portions of a texture for which specular highlighting is appropriate, such as metallic surfaces off which light reflects. If a texel color value to be applied to a screen pixel is within the range of colors defined for specular highlighting, the graphics processor adds an appropriate specular component to the texel value.

Abstract: A method is provided for navigating a vehicle. Waypoint exclusion zones are efined as circles whose centers are known-position waypoints. The vehicle is steered along a path that is tangential to the "current" waypoint exclusion zone. This path that is maintained until a relative bearing between the vehicle and a center of the current waypoint exclusion zone is at least 90.degree. if the path is left of the center of the current waypoint exclusion zone, and at most -90.degree. if the path is right of the center of the current waypoint exclusion zone. When either of these conditions is met, the vehicle is located along the circle of the current waypoint exclusion zone. The vehicle is then advanced along the circle of the current waypoint exclusion zone until a heading of the vehicle matches a heading of a path that: is tangential to the "next" waypoint exclusion zone.

Abstract: A jumping toy having thin flexible convex surface with at least two curved perimetral edge formation where the convex surface is adapted to bear against a second surface, and is manipulatively elastically deformable against a second surface so as to leap therefrom when the convex surface returns to its original shape. Such jumping toy having a representation of a frog in one enbodiment and used in a football game in another embodiment.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for attracting and killing mosquitos and other similar insects are disclosed. The device includes a body, within which is disposed heat generating means, and a surrounding porous sleeve which contains a charge of water and which carries a sticky substance on its outer surface. Upon activation of the unit, both heat and moisture are radiated to the surrounding environment, and the mosquitos and other insects which are thereby attracted to the device will adhere to the sticky substance and eventually be destroyed.