Abstract: A subsea coupling comprises a male coupler having a probe and a female coupler comprising a socket for the reception of the probe. The couplers each include a valve which is openable on mating of the couplers to provide communication with the socket. The socket includes a recess accommodating an annular seal for providing a radial seal between the probe and the socket. In one embodiment the leading edge of the probe includes at least one relief channel for allowing the escape of hydraulic fluid entrapped between the probe, the seal and the recess when the couplers are made up. There may be a stand-off ring disposed between one end of the recess and the inner side of the seal. In another embodiment the relief channel is provided in the socket.

Abstract: A radiation-curable acrylate-modified aminoamide resin which is the Michael addition product of an aminoamide thermoplastic polymer derived from a polymerised unsaturated fatty acid with a polyol ester having at least three (meth)acrylate ester groups, the aminoamide thermoplastic polymer having an amine number of from 40 to 60 mgKOH/g, the ratio of the initial (meth) acrylate groups of the polyol ester to the initial amino functional groups of the aminoamide polymer being at least 4:1, is liquid at 25° C., and is useful as the resin component of various types of energy-curable coating composition, including inks, varnishes and lacquers, especially lithographic inks.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are provided for passing data between an XML document and a hierarchical database. The apparatus, system, and method include a hierarchical database, a metadata schema, and a mapping module. The hierarchical database comprises a conventional hierarchical database, such as IMS. The metadata schema is derived from the hierarchical database. The metadata schema includes a first representation representative of the hierarchical structure of the hierarchical database, a second representation representative of the hierarchical structure of XML documents valid for passing into and out of the hierarchical database, one or more database field names, and one or more XML element names that map to the one or more database field names. The mapping module passes data between the XML document and the hierarchical database using the metadata schema.

Abstract: A novel procedure for performing protein labeling for comparative proteomics termed inverse labeling is provided for the rapid identification of marker or target proteins. With this method, to evaluate protein expression of a disease or a drug treated sample in comparison with a control sample, two converse collaborative labeling experiments are performed in parallel. In one experiment the perturbed sample (by disease or by drug treatment) is isotopically heavy-labeled, whereas, the control is isotopically heavy-labeled in the second experiment. When mixed and analyzed with its unlabeled or isotope light counterpart for differential comparison, a characteristic inverse labeling pattern is observed between the two parallel analyses for proteins that are differentially expressed to an appreciable level.

Abstract: A conically ported liquid ring pump has one or more port structures with cone angles in the range from 15 degrees to 75 degrees. These cone angles are substantially greater than previously used cone angles (most commonly about 8 degrees). The large cone angles of this invention give the fluid flowing between the cone and the rotor significant components of both radial and axial velocity. Large cone angles also allow the port structure(s) to be made axially shorter, which has a number of important advantages such as shortening the unsupported length of the rotor shaft. These attributes of the present pumps are helpful for such purposes as allowing the length-to-diameter ratios of the pumps to be economically increased. In addition, the pumps of this invention retain many of the desirable attributes of conically ported pumps.

Abstract: A shaft alignment apparatus includes a first bearing block having a first opening for receiving a first associated shaft, a first housing member having a first slot for receiving the first bearing block, a second housing member and fastening means for fastening the first housing member to the second housing member. The first housing member has a junction surface lying on a junction plane and an internal base surface lying on a base plane. The first associated shaft is positioned between the base plane and junction plane of the first housing member. To align a first associated shaft, its first end is mounted into an opening in a first bearing block. The second end of the first associated shaft is then mounted into an opening in a second bearing block. Both the first and second bearing blocks are then slid simultaneously into first and second slots, respectively, in the first housing member. Finally, a second housing member is fastened to the first housing member.

Abstract: A connecting mechanism for selectively connecting transmission components has a gear with teeth and a clutch collar mechanism. The clutch collar mechanism has a clutch collar, pins, springs used to bias the pins, and spring plates. To connect the clutch collar to the gear, the clutch collar is sliden along its shaft until its pins contact the teeth of the gear. The pins are then pushed back against the springs located within the clutch collar. The clutch collar is then rotated until the pins line up with gaps between the teeth of the gear. The pins are then automatically inserted into the gaps by the springs.

Abstract: A process for computer-assisted-design of an optical element allows for anticipation of errors that may arise in the actual manufacture of the element. A known optical design program is first operated to determine data representing the physical characteristics of the element that will provide a desired optical output. Then, the data representing the optimum physical characteristics are modified in accordance with a statistical distribution that represents the errors in the physical elements that are expected in the actual manufacture of the physical elements. The optical output is then determined for an optical element having the modified physical characteristics. This modified optical output is compared with the desired optical output to determine whether the designed optical element will produce the desired optical output when manufactured.