Abstract: A keypad lockset adapted for deadbolt as well as lever locks, and having as a first embodiment an exterior gear train, an interior gear train, and an electronically controlled clutch for coupling the gear trains when engaged and for uncoupling the gear trains when the clutch is disengaged, so that when the clutch is engaged rotation of an external thumb turn will permit the door latch to be withdrawn and thus to permit opening of the door, and a mechanical override mechanism that can be operated in case of electrical failure, and in which clutch mechanism and the override mechanism both operate through the single, standard 2? inch door preparation hole, or alternatively as a second embodiment, a keypad lockset in which two four-bar mechanical linkages are used in place of gears as means to actuate the clutch, and alternatively to provide for a pass-through override function.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and kits for early detection of antigen exposure through the presence or absence of antigen-specific antibodies.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming an absorbent core assembly containing a batt of particulate material which may be used in an absorbent article. The apparatus may include a laydown drum having a plurality of vacuum zones, a plurality of fence zones, and a plurality of blow-off zones. The vacuum zones may be substantially permeable to permit air to pass through and into the laydown drum. The fence zones may be substantially impermeable to inhibit air from passing through. The blow-off zones may be substantially permeable to permit air to pass out of and through said laydown drum. The apparatus may also include a deposition chute for depositing particulate material on a web of material in close proximity to the laydown drum. A shield may also be attached to the deposition chute in order to prevent the particles from bouncing off of the laydown drum.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a wad of particulate material which may be used in an absorbent article. The apparatus may include a laydown drum having a plurality of vacuum zones, a plurality of fence zones, and a plurality of blow-off zones. The plurality of vacuum zones may be substantially permeable to permit vacuum air to pass through and into the laydown drum. The plurality of fence zones may be substantially impermeable to inhibit air to pass through. The plurality of blow-off zones may be substantially permeable to permit blown air to pass out of and through said laydown drum. The apparatus may also include a deposition chute for depositing particulate material on a web of material in close proximity to the laydown drum. A shield may also be attached to the deposition chute.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is a method for allocation of finite computational resources amongst multiple entities, wherein the method is structured to optimize the business value of an enterprise providing computational services. One embodiment of the inventive method involves establishing, for each entity, a service level utility indicative of how much business value is obtained for a given level of computational system performance. The service-level utility for each entity is transformed into a corresponding resource-level utility indicative of how much business value may be obtained for a given set or amount of resources allocated to the entity. The resource-level utilities for each entity are aggregated, and new resource allocations are determined and executed based upon the resource-level utility information. The invention is thereby capable of making rapid allocation decisions, according to time-varying need or value of the resources by each of the entities.

Abstract: A method for producing gold nanoparticles is disclosed. When gold salt solution is mixed with an adsorbent, gold in the form of complexes is adsorbed onto the surface of the adsorbent. The gold-loaded adsorbent, after being separated from the solution by screening, filtration, settling or other methods, is ashed to form ashes. The ashes contain gold nanoparticles and impurities such as oxides of sodium, potassium and calcium. The impurities can be removed by dissolution using dilute acids. The relatively pure gold nanoparticles are obtained after the impurities are removed. Activated carbon or gold-adsorbing resin can be used as the adsorbent. Silver or platinum group metal nanoparticles can also be produced by this method.

Abstract: There is provided a gasket element having at least one first inner layer and at least one first outer layer. Each of the at least two layers have differing material properties. The gasket element is well suited to cooperate with an ingress/egress opening of a container that in turn is well suited to retain an active pressure and/or temperature sensitive substance. The gasket element may be operatively connected to a cap element that is suitable to selectively close the at least one ingress/egress opening of the container. The cap element may be a stand alone sealing cap or may be operatively associated with a spray nozzle or the like.

Abstract: A method for producing gold nanoparticles is disclosed. When gold salt solution is mixed with an absorbent, gold in the form of complexes is adsorbed onto the surface of the absorbent. The gold-loaded absorbent, after being separated from the solution by screening, filtration, settling or other methods, is ashed to form ashes. The ashes contain gold nanoparticles and impurities such as oxides of sodium, potassium and calcium. The impurities can be removed by dissolution using dilute acids. The relatively pure gold nanoparticles are obtained after the impurities are removed. Activated carbon or gold-adsorbing resin can be used as the absorbent. Silver or platinum group metal nanoparticles can also be produced by this method.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article including at least one fusion bond accomplished by the application of an electromagnetic field and a method for producing the fusion bond are disclosed. The article includes a first component, a second component underlying the first component; and a third component underlying the second component. The fusion bond is disposed directly above the third component and bonds the first component to second component. The fusion bond includes a receptor susceptible to an electromagnetic field. The first component of the article has an outer surface that includes at least one receptor area disposed directly above the fusion bond. The receptor area can have a tactile property that is a substantially equal to a tactile property of the outer surface surrounding the receptor area.

Abstract: A conditional thunk utility employing an assembler-level direct-branch thunk technique. In a condition-check alternative, the conditional thunk utility performs a condition check followed by a direct-branch jump. The condition-check methodology is implemented using an assembler-level direct-branch technique, and the conditional thunk utility does not utilize the stack to queue the arguments of a function call. Thus, the stack is not altered from its desired condition just prior to executing the API function call. The condition-check alternative checks the thunk condition for each function call and, for this reason, may be used when the thunk condition can vary relatively frequently while the host computer system is running. In a jump-table alternative, the conditional thunk utility performs an assembler-level jump table check followed by a direct jump to a target address.

Abstract: A fluid delivery system that includes a fluid delivery tool having a connector element and a location for holding a fluid container. The fluid container location of the tool has a replaceable template with a first key element portion. The fluid delivery system also includes a fluid container having a connector portion for connecting the fluid container to the connector element of the fluid delivery tool so that the fluid in the fluid container may be delivered to the fluid delivery tool. The fluid container may also have a second key element portion distinct from its connector portion and configured to mate with the first key element portion of the tool template. Alternatively, the fluid container may have a body portion integral with and distinct from its connector portion, and a key element is provided on at least a portion of the fluid container body portion and configured to mate with the first key element portion of the tool template.

Abstract: A magnetic tape recording/playback apparatus, and a method of operating the apparatus, which minimises or eliminates the tape damage which is caused by the tape-driving capstan spinning and skidding across the tape at start-up. Initial acceleration of the capstan is held to a relatively low level when capstan speed is below a predetermined value and capstan acceleration is at a higher level at capstan speeds above said predetermined value. Intermediate levels of capstan acceleration can be set for intermediate speeds.

Abstract: Installing files on a hard disk drive in a manner that improves program launch time. After a build of a program is completed, the program is launched and the disk activity associated with disk-intensive operations is monitored to determine the order in which file portions are read from a disk during program or command launch. This data is used to create a load sequence list, which indicates the order in which various portions of the files are read during launch. The installation disks include the files and the load sequence list. During the installation process, the installation program reads the data from the load sequence list and writes the file portions so they are stored in the order prescribed by the load sequence list in contiguous clusters on the hard disk drive.

Abstract: An improved method of making a multiple print thick film circuit wherein the alignment between successive conductor print steps is both optically inspectable and electrically testable. The first of two or more successive conductor print layers includes a pair of adjacent alignment features with a non-conductive gap therebetween, and the successive conductor print layer includes a pair of identical alignment features which are printed directly on top of the alignment feature pair of the first print layer. When the successive print layer is properly aligned with the first print layer, the non-conductive gap between the alignment features of the first print layer will be preserved, and test probes brought into contact with the features or associated probe pads will reveal a high or open-circuit impedance therebetween.

Abstract: An improved method of manufacturing thick film circuits that effectively eliminates the trade-off between thickness and definition, permitting dielectric layers of increased thickness with no pin-holes, and at the same time, more precise definition of dielectric features, such as via openings and solder stops. The method utilizes a dielectric material that can be co-fired with an underlying conductor, and preferably, that remains porous after firing. A layer of the dielectric material (FDL) is printed atop a dried but not yet fired conductor of the first circuit layer, and then co-fired with the conductor. Spreading of the FDL prior to firing is minimized due to the porosity of the dried but unfired conductor, which absorbs solvent from the FDL. The FDL can be printed in a ring, enclosing a portion of the underlying conductor to form a via definition ring, or VDR.

Abstract: An improved method of manufacturing multi-layer thick film circuits that effectively eliminates the trade-off between thickness and definition, permitting dielectric layers of increased thickness with no pin-holes, and at the same time, more precise definition of dielectric features, such as via openings and solder stops. The dielectric features are precisely defined by an initial thin layer of dielectric material, referred to as a feature definition print, or FDP. After the FDP has been dried but not yet fired, a via can be formed by printing a comparatively thick cover layer of dielectric, over-lapping the edges of the FDP. Due to the porous nature of the dried but not fired FDP, it absorbs solvent from the dielectric cover layer, which inhibits the spreading of the dielectric cover layer. The FDP is then co-fired with the first dielectric layer, and a second dielectric layer may be provided atop the fired first layer to further increase the overall dielectric thickness, if so desired.

Abstract: A screen printing device for screen printing a thick film ink through a screen so as to form a highly-defined thick film on a surface of a microelectronics circuit. The screen printing device achieves the above by bypassing excess ink that would otherwise accumulate ahead of the squeegee device, thereby limiting the pressure lead length ahead of the device during the screen printing process. As such, the screen is able to form an adequate seal with the surface of the substrate to prevent ink from bleeding out under the screen, i.e., between the screen and substrate. The result is a well-defined thick film on the substrate, and avoids the necessity of stopping the printing operation in order to remove ink from the lower surface of the screen. The screen printing device enables a method by which well-defined films can be readily deposited at high throughput levels, without necessitating additional procedures, equipment and techniques that might otherwise further complicate the printing process.

Abstract: There is provided a one coat system. The system, among other benefits, encapsulates lead paint, encapsulates and covers existing graffiti, prevents the leaching out of the harmful lead paint salts and graffiti from the encapsulated areas, and prevents the penetration into a substrate of future graffiti. The system includes a film forming mixture and a curing and activator mixture. The film forming mixture has a water based epoxy group of components, a water based polyurethane solution, a solvent based polyurethane group of components, and an oil based additive. The curing mixture has a water based epoxy group of components and oil ester based, iso-cyanate free, catalyst-curing agents. The film forming mixture is between about 93 and about 105 parts by volume of the system. The curing and activator mixture is between about 76 and about 83 parts of the system.

Abstract: An actuator arm assembly for a rotary disc memory drive which comprises a pivotally mounted actuator member and an arm stack unit mounting individual transducer head flexure assemblies. The armstack unit is connected to the actuator member at two locations and requires clamping only at one of the two locations to secure the connection at both locations. The armstack and transducer head flexure assemblies are removable as a unit by unclamping the armstack at that one location, effecting release at both locations, permitting armstack removal as an aligned assembly unit including the transducer head flexure assemblies, circuits and electrical connectors.

Abstract: An impact limit stop or crash stop control in a disc drive for setting and maintaining the limits of movement and the stopping distance of a linear or rotary actuator member which supports and moves the transducer heads for bidirectional movement between radial limits with respect to the memory discs. In one of its aspects, this crash stop control provides a low sensitivity, high precision, limit stop adjustment which sets the limits of movement of the actuator member, and which, in another of its aspects, provides a non-linear deceleration characteristic, with some frictional damping, for the actuator member in its limits of movement.