Abstract: The various embodiments provide a composition including an active material having functional groups capable of covalent attachment to a substrate in the presence of an acid or a base, a photocatalyst capable of generating an acid or a base upon exposure to light, and a vehicle. The compositions may also include surfactants, emulsifiers, oxidants, and other components. A method for treating a substrate is also disclosed. The method includes the steps of applying at least one active material having functional groups to the substrate, applying a photocatalyst to the substrate, and exposing the photocatalyst and the at least one active material to light for forming covalent attachments between the functional groups and constituent groups on the substrate. The compositions and methods described herein are useful in personal care product and consumer care product applications, for example.

Abstract: Systems and methods for delineating anatomical boundaries from two- and three-dimensional image data are described. A template shape is used to examine new image element (e.g. pixel and/or voxel) locations and determine boundary intersection based on characteristics determined from the plurality of image elements contained within this template. The result is a polyline/surface delineation of the desired anatomy, which can be used for morphometric/shape analysis, patient specific output, and knowledge-based queries.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for positioning graphical objects and elements of graphical objects including widgets. At least two source layouts are selected, each source layout proportioning elements of the graphical object to be positioned. An interpolated layout is generated from the source layouts whereby the graphical object is positioned based on the interpolated layout. Multiple elements may be processed so. Elements of the graphical object can be proportioned differently from one another and the source layouts may be selected based on their relationship in size to the size of a desired runtime layout. The elements can include widget regions and content within the widget regions may be scaled independently of the positioning of the widget regions. The methods may be incorporated in a machine readable medium as data and executable instructions.

Abstract: A prosthetic sleeve and socket system, the sleeve including dual flaps or skirts concentrically arranged about the sleeve and configured to form a sealed chamber between the sleeve and socket when the sleeve is inserted into the socket. An air permeable material is interposed between one of the skirts and the sleeve to maintain a continuous interconnected air layer therebetween. An expulsion valve is provided to allow air contained within the sealed chamber to be forced out of the chamber ahead of the sleeve when it is inserted into the socket, and a powered vacuum pump maintains the vacuum thereafter, if needed. The system allows for a substantial reduction in size of known sockets and permits, in some instances, the disposal of bulky suspension straps currently in use to force the socket against a residual limb.

Abstract: Automated or autonomic techniques for managing deployment of one or more resources in a computing environment based on varying workload levels. The automated techniques may comprise predicting a future workload level based on data associated with the computing environment. Then, an estimation is performed to determine whether a current resource deployment is insufficient, sufficient, or overly sufficient to satisfy the future workload level. Then, one or more actions are caused to be taken when the current resource deployment is estimated to be insufficient or overly sufficient to satisfy the future workload level. Actions may comprise resource provisioning, resource tuning and/or admission control.

Abstract: A process is described for efficiently recovering at least one of phytosterols and tocopherols in substantially pure form from the deodorizer distillates that may be obtained as by-products of the refining of edible oils. The phytosterol fatty acid esters present in deodorizer distillate are saponified with potassium hydroxide in a solvent medium containing methanol and water, thereby forming a solvent medium containing methanol, water, and the potassium soaps of fatty acids. Unsaponiable matter including tocopherols remain dissolved in this medium, allowing recovery of substantially pure phytosterols. Tocopherols in substantially pure form may be recovered by distillation under reduced pressure.

Abstract: A process for the synthesis and isolation of phytosterol esters is described, wherein an alkali metal borohydride is used to reductively bleach tocoquinones and other chromophores in phytosterol ester trans-esterification reaction mixtures. Phytosterol esters produced by this method possess the traditional hallmarks of quality, namely bland taste and light color, and are suitable for food and pharmaceutical applications.

Abstract: Tri- and tetra-substituted ethynylsilanes wherein the substituents are higher homologs of acetylene (e.g., substituted-ethynyl moieties having 3 to 10 carbon atoms) are described, Alkynylsilanes and, more particularly, high energy fuels and rocket propellants containing an alkynylsilane are also provided.

Abstract: Automated or autonomic techniques for managing deployment of one or more resources in a computing environment based on varying workload levels. The automated techniques may comprise predicting a future workload level based on data associated with the computing environment. Then, an estimation is performed to determine whether a current resource deployment is insufficient, sufficient, or overly sufficient to satisfy the future workload level. Then, one or more actions are caused to be taken when the current resource deployment is estimated to be insufficient or overly sufficient to satisfy the future workload level. Actions may comprise resource provisioning, resource tuning and/or admission control.

Abstract: The multi-pass sorting machine of this disclosure includes a supporting structure which has the configuration of an A-Frame. The A-Frame structure has a slanting front side supporting several individually functional devices and a slanting back side supporting other individually functional devices. The devices of the front side include an input feeding means, a first transporting means, a singulating means, an accelerating means, a second transporting means, a bar code reader and associated electronic and computer means, a plurality of first sorting means in the form of diverting vanes, an equal number of first pass stacker buffer means, and a reversing member for transporting letters from the front side to the back side while at the same time retaining the same orientation of the letters to the planar surface as the letters go around the corner.

Abstract: A multi-pass sorting machine includes a housing or supporting structure which has the configuration of an A-Frame. The A-Frame structure has a slanting front side supporting several individually functional devices and a slanting back side supporting other individually functional devices. The devices of the front side include an input feeder first transporting mechanisms, a singulating device, an accelerating mechanism, second transporting mechanisms, a bar code reader and associated electronic and computer equipment, a plurality of first sorting devices in the form of diverting vanes, an equal number of first pass stacker buffers, and a reversing member for transporting letters from the front side to the back side while at the same time retaining the same orientation of the letters to the planar surface as the letters go around the corner.

Abstract: A speed control system for an envelope feeding mechanism used to feed envelopes to a pickoff device in a high speed mail sorting machine. The feeding mechanism includes a pair of toothed belts which convey the envelopes along an inclined surface. The side edges of the envelopes are received by a third toothed belt which is driven at an elevated position along a side panel. The belts are driven by a multiple speed electric motor controlled by electronic circuitry which automatically decrements or increments the motor speed if the envelopes are bunched together too tightly or too loosely. If the speed is decremented and the envelopes are still tightly bunched, the drive motor is stopped by a shutoff circuit which operates independently of the speed control circuit.

Abstract: An alternator circuit comprises an alternator having an armature winding, a field winding, a voltage regulator, a fault detecting circuit, a lamp drive circuit having its input connected to the output of the fault detecting circuit, and a warning lamp driven by the drive circuit. The drive circuit includes a capacitor connected across its input, an input transistor, an output transistor, a current measuring resistor connected in series with the output transistor, and a transistor sensitive to both the voltage drop across the warning lamp and the voltage drop in the current measuring resistor. In the event of excessive current flow through the output transistor, the voltage sensitive transistor rapidly charges the capacitor thereby turning off the output transistor. The capacitor then discharges slowly and the cycle is repeated.

Abstract: A battery charging system includes an alternator with a rectifier connecting the alternator output to the battery. A voltage rectifier controls the current in the alternator field winding in accordance with the battery voltage. A transistor switch in the voltage regulator controls the bias current to the output stage of the regulator and is in turn controlled by a differential amplifier through a diode pump. The differential amplifier is connected to detect the presence of an a.c. on one phase of the alternator and causes the transistor to be switched off, disabling the output stage of the regulator, whenever no a.c. signal is present.

Abstract: A brake pad wear detection system comprises a brake having a brake pad and a conductive braking face, the brake pad and the conductive braking face engaging during braking. A sensor loop is embedded in the brake pad and positioned to be broken when the wear to the brake pad exceeds the working limit. An indicator means and a detecting means for operating the indicator means are provided, the detecting means detecting contact between the sensor loop and the braking face as well as breakage of the sensor loop.

Abstract: A battery charging system includes a pair of alternators having rectified outputs which are connected in parallel. The field currents of the respective alternators are controlled by respective oscillatory switching circuits which are responsive to rectified output voltages from the respective alternators. Each respective switching circuit is coupled to an output voltage sensing circuit of the other alternator, so that oscillatory switching of one switching circuit causes oscillatory switching of the other switching circuit.