Abstract: The present invention is directed to the diastereoisomeric mixture and the individual isomeric components of the formula:

Abstract: An improved technique that reduces the potential for trapped impurities and/or ensuring desired stoichiometry of a grown crystal. Improved contaminant removal is obtained by bubbling a scavenger gas, such as fluorine gas or hydrogen fluoride gas, through a melt of alkaline- or alkali-earth halides, to improve the purity of the melt by removing more volatile metal halides and oxygen contained within the melt. By reacting after the raw material has melted, any oxygen or metal impurities trapped in the raw material is free to react with the scavenger. A desired stoichiometry is achieved as the alkaline- or alkali-earth metals react with the halide in the scavenger gas. Decreasing the amount of impurities in the melt, and using a desired stoichiometeric melt, improves the radiation hardness and transmission properties of resulting ingot grown from the purified raw material. Additionally, this method may decrease the amount of time needed for outgassing.

Abstract: A centrifugal supercharger includes a case presenting a compressor chamber and a transmission chamber. An impeller in the compressor chamber is mounted to a shaft that extends into the transmission chamber. The impeller shaft is drivingly connected to a power input shaft by intermeshing gears provided on the shafts. A portion of the transmission chamber defines a fluid reservoir in which lubrication fluid is held. The intermeshing gears, as well as the bearing assemblies supporting the shafts, are located outside the fluid reservoir portion of the transmission chamber. A rotatable fluid-propelling element partly submerged in the lubrication fluid contained within the reservoir portion ensures that sufficient but not excessive lubrication fluid is supplied to the intermeshing gears and the bearing assemblies. A dedicated lubricant reserve system ensures that the required operating level of fluid is provided to, and maintained in, the reservoir portion.

Abstract: A wear assembly to protect the front edge of an excavating bucket, which is secure, stable, easy to use, readily manufactured, and provides increased safety, and which eliminates any need for holes to be formed in the lip. The wear assembly includes a wear member that has a pair of legs to straddle the front edge of the bucket. One of the legs defines an axial slot, which has opposing grooves for receiving rails of a boss fixed to the bucket. The grooves narrow in a forward direction to permit easier installation and removal of the wear member, to permit use of side wings without interference from adjacent wear parts, and to enable enhanced resistance under some loads.

Abstract: The invention provides a group of standardized plastic binding elements that include two, three, four, five, or seven fingers that are spaced along the spine at precise locations to accommodate the perforations spaced according to specific standardized loose-leaf hole patterns. The binding elements preferably have spines likewise corresponding to at least the length of specific standardized paper sizes, i.e., 8.27 inches (21 cm), 8.5 inches (21.5 cm) 11 inches (28 cm), 11.69 inches (30 cm), 14 inches (39.5), and 16 inches (40.5 cm). The fingers of the binding elements either secure together or to the spine when in the closed position, or the binding elements are held in the closed position by other structure such that the binding elements may be utilized to bind a stack of standard, loose-leaf sheets without the use of a binding machine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for injuring or depleting a B-cell neoplasm cell or a Hodgkin's lymphoma cell and a method for treating B-cell neoplasm or Hodgkin's lymphoma, wherein each method comprises administering to a patient a monoclonal antibody which specifically binds to a human CC chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4) or an antibody fragment thereof.

Abstract: A technique that is usable with a fuel cell stack includes providing an ejector to combine a first fuel flow from a fuel source with an anode exhaust flow from a fuel cell stack to produce a second fuel flow to an anode inlet plenum of the fuel cell stack. The technique includes regulating communication of the first flow to the ejector based on a pressure of gas in the anode inlet plenum.

Abstract: A method enables a component to be secured within a tool for manufacture. The tool includes a fixture, a component locator, and a clamping member. The method includes fixedly coupling the component locator to the fixture, coupling the clamping member to the fixture, locating the component within the tool using the component locator such that the component is positioned for manufacture with respect to the fixture, securing the component within the tool between the component locator and the clamping member such that the component locator, the clamping member, and the component are fixedly secured in position for manufacture with respect to the fixture, and retaining the component in position with respect to the fixture using the component locator and the clamping member.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for mechanically driving a supercharger and a combination harmonic pulley system and supercharger mounted on a powered vehicle including a crankshaft, the supercharger having a supercharger driveshaft and adapted to provide boost air to the intake of the internal combustion engine, driving the crankshaft which rotates the harmonic pulley system. In general the harmonic pulley system includes a harmonic balancer, a drive shaft pulley, a crankshaft bolt, an alignment structure and a drive belt. The harmonic balancer having a first and second ledge, an annular ring and a central aperture, the driveshaft pulley having an inner and outer region, the inner region includes a first shoulder and presenting a pulley aperture aligned with the central aperture, the outer region including a second shoulder and providing an engaging surface.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining and comparing physician adherence to guidelines are disclosed. The methods can comprise receiving patient data, scoring criteria, determining domain and overall scores, and comparing said scores. The methods can comprise receiving patient data, scoring criteria, determining overall scores, and comparing said scores. The methods provide a list of criteria and a scoring algorithm for deriving adherence scores useful for evaluating physician care. The methods allow for the comparison of standards of care between physicians, facilities, and between classes of patients.

Abstract: A method for aligning a first and a second component for manufacturing using an alignment member. The first component includes at least one first datum and the second component includes at least one second datum. The method includes fixedly securing the alignment member to a fixture in a first orientation relative to the fixture, coupling the first component to the fixture such that the at least one first datum is aligned with a corresponding datum locator of a first datum nest of the alignment member, removing the first component from the fixture, repositioning the alignment member relative to the fixture from the first orientation to a second orientation, fixedly securing the alignment member in the second orientation, and coupling the second component to the fixture such that the at least one second datum is aligned with a corresponding datum locator of a second datum nest of the alignment member.

Abstract: A method for measuring a throat area of a turbine nozzle assembly that includes at least one airfoil extending between an inner band and an outer band is provided. The method includes locating a plurality of datum points on the at least one airfoil using a measuring system, measuring a plurality of measurement points within a flow path at least partly defined within the turbine nozzle assembly using the measuring system, comparing the plurality of datum points to a plurality of corresponding datum points measured on a baseline turbine nozzle assembly, and calculating a throat area variance between the measured turbine nozzle assembly and the baseline turbine nozzle assembly model based on the comparison to the baseline turbine nozzle assembly.

Abstract: An endoscopic surgical hook instrument is used in minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery for closing a gastric band having a buckle end a free end. The hook instrument includes a flat hook end that is placed underneath or on top of a pull tab that extends from the buckle end and through a hole of the pull tab. The hook instrument holds the buckle end securely while a pusher instrument is used to push the free end of the gastric band through the buckle.

Abstract: An endoscopic surgical rotary capture instrument is used in minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery for closing a gastric band having a buckle end a free end. The rotary capture instrument includes a pusher end that has a stationary jaw and a movable jaw. The movable jaw is actuated by rotary motion of an inner shaft. The jaws are used to gasp securely and push the tube end of the gastric band after it has been threaded through the buckle end of the band. A hook instrument is used to hold the buckle end securely while the rotary capture instrument is used to push the free end of the gastric band.

Abstract: A centrifugal compressor is disclosed as including a case, a compressor chamber, and an impeller in the compressor chamber for compressing fluid from an inlet opening and forcing compressed fluid through an outlet opening. Moreover, the compressor includes an insert rotatably supported on the case. The insert is adjacent the impeller and serves to minimize catastrophic compressor failure that might otherwise occur as a result of contact between the impeller and compressor chamber wall.

Abstract: A fixture adapted to precisely position two components to permit multiple machining operations of the components at a single work station. The fixture includes a backbone having a first portion for securing the first component and a second portion for securing the second component. First and second portions each further include an integral lobe and a finger which extend outwardly from the backbone, each terminating in a datum surface, as well as an additional datum surface which collectively form a set of datum locators along both the first and second portions. Each set of datum locators precisely positions the two components at a predetermined distance and orientation from each other.

Abstract: A mould for fabricating a moulded product comprising a laminate of a thermoplastic surface material and a structural material. The mould comprises a closed, air impervious first mould surface for shaping the surface material and an air permeable liner which is located in relation to the mould. The liner is adapted such that upon applying an in-mould vacuum pressure to the liner, the surface material contacts the second mould surface and conforms to the shape of the mould.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to a method for controlling the pore size, pore size distribution and porosity of aluminum-oxide based ceramics through the choice of substituents on carboxylate-alumoxanes and aluminum-oxide nanoparticles. The method allows for the formation of intra-granular pores in the nanometer range to be created in alumina and aluminum oxide ceramic bodies. The control over pore size and pore size distribution is accomplished through the use of different chemical substituents on the carboxylate-alumoxanes and aluminum-oxide nanoparticles. The size and distribution of pores within the alumina-oxide ceramic are dependent on the identity of the carboxylate substituents. In particular the formation of intra-versus inter-granular porosity is dependent on the identity of the carboxylate substituents. The invention also provides methods for the manufacture of ceramic coatings on ceramic and carbon fibers for composite applications and ceramic membranes with nanometer sized pores.

Abstract: A system for machining a component with complex contour. The machining system includes a coolant flow nozzle with an interior passage with a first portion having a first cross-sectional shape, and a second portion having a second cross-sectional shape, with the second cross-sectional shape selected so that fluid discharged from the nozzle has a selected cross-sectional shape. A method of fabricating a coolant flow nozzle with an interior passage that has a varying cross sectional shape.

Abstract: Spiral wound tubes may be formed utilizing the method and apparatuses described herein. The method includes providing a mandrel and a web material having a first overlap region and a second overlap region. A binding agent is applied to at least one of the overlap regions. The mandrel is wrapped with the web material such that the second overlap region covers the first overlap region of the previously wound web and the binding agent is disposed between the previously wound first overlap region and the currently wound second overlap region. The spiral wound tubes of the invention demonstrate improved axial crush resistance.