Abstract: A system for improving graft harvesting is disclosed including a tendon harvesting instrument for producing a graft from a tendon. The instrument includes a handle, a shaft and a blade portion operatively coupled to the shaft. The blade portion defines a cutting edge that at least partially corresponds to the shape of a graft cross section of the graft. The blade portion is inserted into the tendon by axially rotating the instrument shaft. The blade portion may include a free end for piercing the tendon as the blade portion is rotated into the tendon. The harvesting instrument may also include amputating means for removing the end connection of the graft to the tendon, the amputating means including a means of changing an orientation of an end portion of the cutting edge.

Abstract: A system for improving graft harvesting including a tendon harvesting instrument for producing a graft from a tendon. The instrument includes a handle, a shaft and a blade portion operatively coupled to the shaft. The blade portion defines a cutting edge that at least partially corresponds to the shape of a graft cross section of the graft. The blade portion is inserted into the tendon by axially rotating the instrument shaft. The blade portion may include a free end for piercing the tendon as the blade portion is rotated into the tendon. The harvesting instrument may also include amputating means for removing the end connection of the graft to the tendon, the amputating means including a means of changing an orientation of an end portion of the cutting edge.

Abstract: A system for improving graft harvesting is disclosed including a tendon harvesting instrument for producing a graft from a tendon. The instrument includes a handle, a shaft and a blade portion operatively coupled to the shaft. The blade portion defines a cutting edge that at least partially corresponds to the shape of a graft cross section of the graft. The blade portion is inserted into the tendon by axially rotating the instrument shaft. The blade portion may include a free end for piercing the tendon as the blade portion is rotated into the tendon. The harvesting instrument may also include amputating means for removing the end connection of the graft to the tendon, the amputating means including a means of changing an orientation of an end portion of the cutting edge.

Abstract: An apparatus for fastening an antenna to several vehicles which have restrictive placement locations is disclosed. One embodiment of the apparatus includes a mounting bracket and a shelf bracket; where the mounting bracket is adapted to be securely attached to several vehicles. An antenna mounts on the shelf bracket and the shelf bracket is adapted to be oriented to a preferred antenna position and to be securely attached to the mounting bracket.

Abstract: A signal interface includes a support structure having a pivotally supported cover and side wings. A latching mechanism is provided to secure the cover to the side wings in both stowed and deployed positions.

Abstract: A signal interface includes a support structure having a pivotally supported cover and side wings. A latching mechanism is provided to secure the cover to the side wings in both stowed and deployed positions.

Abstract: An apparatus for fastening an antenna to several vehicles which have restrictive placement locations is disclosed. One embodiment of the apparatus includes a mounting bracket and a shelf bracket; where the mounting bracket is adapted to be securely attached to several vehicles. An antenna mounts on the shelf bracket and the shelf bracket is adapted to be oriented to a preferred antenna position and to be securely attached to the mounting bracket.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for searching for text passages in text documents. The method uses computerized prediction-based and ontology-based semantic language processing. Both the text passages that are to be located, as well as the text of the documents that are searched, are transformed on the basis of surface-syntactic and deep-syntactic information to generate a semantic network structure. The semantic network structure is linguistically processed based on information about other parts of the semantic network structure in order to improve the accuracy of the semantic network structure. Nodes in the semantic network structure are classified by linking the nodes in the semantic network structure to nodes in a pre-existing ontological network structure representing concepts in a language.

Abstract: A composition and a method effective in preventing or treating stomatitis are presented. The composition contains glutathione or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and/or orotic acid or a derivative thereof or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is provided.

Abstract: A composition and a method effective in preventing or treating stomatitis are presented. The composition contains glutathione or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and/or orotic acid or a derivative thereof or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is provided.

Abstract: An automatic slack adjuster for vehicle brakes to adjust the brake system to compensate for brake wear. The automatic slack adjuster has a body pivotable about an axis for transmitting torque to a brake shaft and at least one component with a toothed portion that includes a ceramic material, such as for example one or both components of a toothed conical clutch.

Abstract: In a laser shock peening process, the shape of the spot generated by the laser beam is changed on the fly. This is achieved, for example, by a masking device which is movable into and out of the path of the laser beam. Laser shock peening spots can consequently be shaped so as to avoid the spots overlapping an edge of the workpiece, or any other feature which may be damaged by the laser energy.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for searching for text passages in text documents. The method uses computerized prediction-based and ontology-based semantic language processing. Both the text passages that are to be located, as well as the text of the documents that are searched, are transformed on the basis of surface-syntactic and deep-syntactic information to generate a semantic network structure. The semantic network structure is linguistically processed based on information about other parts of the semantic network structure in order to improve the accuracy of the semantic network structure. Nodes in the semantic network structure are classified by linking the nodes in the semantic network structure to nodes in a pre-existing ontological network structure representing concepts in a language.

Abstract: A slack adjuster for a vehicle brake includes a slack adjuster body having a cylindrical inner surface at least partially defining a chamber in the body. A worm gear is received in the chamber in the body. At least one low friction ring is interposed between the worm gear and the body and supports the worm gear for rotation in the chamber in the body. A method of remanufacturing a slack adjuster includes the steps of removing a worm gear and at least one low friction ring from a body of the slack adjuster; setting aside the removed low friction ring; and putting the worm gear and at least one new low friction ring into the body.

Abstract: A database management system comprising a plurality of database resources (12, 14, 16) includes a query engine (30) which parses incoming queries into sub-queries directed at respective resources, (12, 14, 16) and compiles the sub-results into a final result. A node and a link representation is used to associate values from a different resources to address problems of semantic mismatch. In addition, ontologies are compiled for each resource against a shared ontology and a user/application ontology. As a result of the system, problems of semantic mismatch and query integration against distributed resources is overcome.

Abstract: In a laser shock peening process, the shape of the spot 26 generated by the laser beam 4 is changed on the fly. This is achieved, for example, by a masking device 30 which is movable into and out of the path of the laser beam 4. Laser shock peening spots 24 can consequently be shaped so as to avoid the spots overlapping an edge of the workpiece, or any other feature which may be damaged by the laser energy.