Abstract: The present invention generally provides devices and methods involving electrochemical actuation. The devices may comprise at least one component capable of exhibiting a volumetric or dimensional change upon application of a voltage. In some cases, the volumetric or dimensional change may produce mechanical work. Some embodiments of the invention may provide devices capable of exhibiting high actuation rates and supporting high amounts of stress (e.g., in tensile and/or compressive loading). In some embodiments, the present invention may provide morphing structures that may be useful in applications such as airfoils.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the virtualization of appliances provides an embedded operating system (OS) which is included in the system boot ROM of a personal computer. When the system boots, the OS is launched and looks for all available virtual appliances from, for example, the following places: local USB, flash card, e.g. SD, xD, CF, CDROM/DVD, or other storage media; local hard disk storage; and the Internet, e.g. an appliance server. The user selects an appliance to use from the OS, whereupon the appliance is loaded and launched. If the selected appliance is not on a local storage, then it is downloaded, e.g. over the Internet from an appliance server. The downloaded appliance can be cached in local storage media such that, the next time it is needed, it need not be downloaded from the appliance server. The user can also elect to boot an operating system from the hard disk, if an operating system and hard disk are installed, or to power-off the system.

Abstract: The present invention provides devices and structures and methods of use thereof in electrochemical actuation. This invention provides electrochemical actuators, which are based, inter-alia, on an electric field-driven intercalation or alloying of high-modulus inorganic compounds, which can produce large and reversible volume changes, providing high actuation energy density, high actuation authority and large free strain.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to methods of modulating the rate and/or amount of a cellular process selected from the group consisting of cell growth, cell detachment and cell migration, and cellular apoptosis, said method comprising altering the RECEPTOR/PTK-STAT pathway of a cell. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods wherein the RECEPTOR/PTK-STAT pathway is altered by increasing or decreasing the amount of phosphorylated RECEPTOR/PTK-STAT proteins present in a cell. The present invention also relates to the identification of agents that either promote or inhibit the phosphorylation of RECEPTOR/PTK-STAT proteins, as well as to the agents themselves and to the methods which utilize such identified agents. The methods of the present invention are useful for treating mammalian diseases, including, but not limited to, cancer, autoimmune diseases, viral susceptibility, degenerative disorders, ischemic injuries, and conditions of obesity.

Abstract: A sprinkler nozzle for a rotary sprinkler comprises two water flow passages extending therethrough, namely an upper passage and a parallel lower passage. The upper passage includes a straight, substantially cylindrical bore having stream straightening vanes, the upper passage watering radially outer portions of the watered pattern. The lower passage comprises a diffuser that reduces the energy of the water flowing into the lower passage by providing an expanded volume, namely a volume having a greater cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of the inlet. The water exits the diffuser through an outlet which includes a rear edge that forms an impact surface against which a portion of the boundary layer flow is directed. This impact surface is arch shaped and deflects the intercepted portion of the boundary layer flow from the top to the bottom of the lower passage. The boundary layer flow is then dumped onto a lower ramp of the outlet of the lower passage which lower ramp is downwardly inclined.

Abstract: A lighting fixture with a socket base having a closed and cool running back which reduces the amount of heat transferred to the area behind the lamp socket base and allows lower temperature rated wires to be used in the installation of the lamp socket base. The lamp socket base has raised lugs on which the lamp socket rests. A gasket is placed around or between the lamp socket and the lamp socket base and another gasket is placed between the lamp socket base and the wall or ceiling box. The lamp socket base is constructed as one piece such as from a casting. All of these features help to reduce the amount of heat transferred from the lamp socket to the other side of the lamp socket base and also to the wires in the area behind the lamp socket base.