Abstract: The present invention describes an in vitro/ex vivo method for the cultivation of connective tissue cells or progenitor cells (e.g. chondrogenic cells) in matrix comprising polysulphated alginate. These cultivated cells can be used in the preparation of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of osteochondral defects. The invention also describes a matrix comprising polysulphated alginate and mammalian connective tissue cells or progenitor cells thereof.

Abstract: Humanized and chimeric antibodies are provided that specifically bind human sclerostin and are characterized as having high affinity and strong neutralizing properties. The antibodies of the invention are useful for increasing bone mass, bone mineral density and bone strength and for the treatment of various disorders, e.g., osteoporosis, in human subject.

Abstract: An energy storage system including a buck-boost DC-DC converter operable so as to minimize switching loses. The system includes a first energy storage device, e.g., a bank of ultracapacitors, and a second energy storage device, e.g., a second bank of electrolytic capacitors. Both first and second energy storage devices are connected to the DC-DC converter. The DC-DC converter is operated in a non-standard manner so as to reduce switching and other losses. In particular, the DC-DC converter may be operated in an alternate buck mode so as to force on a switch S2 through which energy flows from the first energy storage device to the second energy storage device. The switch S2 is forced on for so long as the voltage on the second energy storage device remains within a first operating window.

Abstract: A pneumatic assembly for a pressure decay tester of printhead integrated circuits includes a pressurized air supply. A pneumatic clamping arrangement is in fluid communication with the pressurized air supply for clamping a carrier for the printhead integrated circuits such that the carrier is in fluid communication with the printhead integrated circuits. A valve arrangement applies a predetermined pressure to the carrier. A sensing arrangement senses a static pressure in the carrier. A control system is in communication with the clamping, valve and sensing arrangements to control operation thereof and to generate a discernible signal representing said static pressure such that a decay in said static pressure can be determined.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for measuring the coefficient of rolling friction or speed of a horizontal surface over which a round object is rolled such as a putting green encountered in the game of golf. The method includes a device for launching a ball across the surface at a constant and consistent velocity. An included timing device is triggered to start counting the elapsed time when the ball exits the launching device and continues counting until the ball has decelerated to a stop. At the instant the ball ceases moving the timer is triggered to terminate the count. The time required for a body with a specific velocity to come to rest after experiencing constant deceleration is determined by the laws of motion. The coefficient of friction or “speed” of the green which is proportional to the amount of deceleration may then be calculated. This time measurement is therefore sufficient to determine the speed of the green surface which may be reported as an equivalent “stimp” value.

Abstract: A cascaded imaging storage system for a pixel is disclosed for improving intrascene dynamic range. Charges accumulated in a first capacitor spill over into a second capacitor when a charge storage capacity of the first capacitor is exceeded. A third capacitor may also be provided such that charges accumulated by said second capacitor spill over into the third capacitor when the charge storage capacity of the second capacitor is exceeded.

Abstract: The present invention generally is directed to systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for securing sensitive information involved in database transactions. Embodiments of the present invention selectively encrypt only portions of transactions involving sensitive data, thereby reducing or eliminating the processing overhead resulting from wastefully encrypting non-sensitive data. The sensitive data may be identified by a document. The document may be accessed by a requesting entity to determine which portions of a query should be encrypted prior to sending the query to a database server over a network. The document may also be accessed by a database server to determine which portions of query results should be encrypted prior to sending the query results to the requesting entity over the network.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of creating a schema specific parser for processing Extensible Markup Language (XML) documents can include identifying a plurality of XML processing templates, wherein each of the plurality of XML processing templates performs a specific task of processing an XML document against an XML schema component. An XML schema including a plurality of components can be received. A hierarchy of the plurality of components of the XML schema can be determined. An execution plan specifying a hierarchy of XML processing instructions can be created, wherein each XML processing instruction is associated with an XML processing template from the plurality of XML processing templates. The hierarchy of the XML processing templates can be determined according to the hierarchy of components of the XML schema. The execution plan can be compiled to generate the schema specific parser. The schema specific parser can be output.

Abstract: The present invention discloses novel compounds of Formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, which have glucagon receptor antagonist or inverse agonist activity, as well as methods for preparing such compounds. In another embodiment, the invention discloses pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of Formula (I) as well as methods of using them to treat diabetic and other glucagon related metabolic disorders, and the like.

Abstract: A cap for a field-installable optical connector having a front and rear orientation, a housing, an axially-actuated clamping mechanism in the housing, and a ferrule assembly forward of the clamping mechanism and forwardly biased in the housing, the ferrule assembly comprising a holder and a ferrule extending from the holder, the cap comprising a front end defining a cavity for receiving the ferrule and having an outer surface defining at least part of a front-end geometry, a back end defining an opening through which the ferrule is received and a perimeter around the opening, the perimeter configured to contact the holder when the cap is pushed rearward in the housing, the front and back ends being unitary such that any rearward force on the front end is transferred to the back end and through the perimeter to the holder and a retention portion for contacting the housing to secure the cap to the housing.

Abstract: Opposite end portions of an airbag made of a folded metal plate and formed into a tubular shape are capped by respective end caps and are attached to an attachment surface of a front pillar, and the airbag is deployed along the front pillar by use of gas produced by an inflator, thereby protecting by the airbag a pedestrian that collides with the front pillar. Bolts penetrating through long holes formed in the end portions of the airbag and bolt holes of the end caps are screwed to weld nuts, and thereby the end portions of the airbag are slidably supported by the end caps. Accordingly, when the airbag is deployed the long holes slide with respect to the respective bolts toward inside in a longitudinal direction of the airbag, and a tension in the longitudinal direction of the airbag is prevented from acting on a metal plate of the airbag, thereby enabling the airbag to be deployed reliably near the end caps.

Abstract: A pump for a liquid cosmetic product dispenser including a body defining a metering chamber provided with an admission orifice at the bottom and having an opening at the top into which is inserted a sleeve carried by an axially movable operating head which is provided with a delivery duct and an open/close element and is acted upon by a return spring mounted on the outside of the body. The body encloses a jacket that moves axially inside the chamber and at least partly inside the sleeve and supports a lower valve for closing the admission orifice.

Abstract: A composition, having an improved resistance to yellowing under heat aging, comprising at least 20 weight % of at least one polycondensation polymer having a heat deflection temperature of above 80° C. under a load of 1.82 MPa when measured according to ASTM D648, from 0 to 5 weight % of at least one polymer having a heat deflection temperature of at most 80° C. under a load of 1.82 MPa when measured according to ASTM D648, a white pigment; and a black pigment provides resistance to heat aging induced yellowing. The polycondensation polymers are advantageously selected from the group consisting of polyarylethersulfones, at least partially aromatic polyamides, polyamideimides, liquid crystalline polymers, polyimides, polyetherimides, polyaryletherketones, and polyphenylene sulfides. The polymer composition can be molded to form a variety of articles, including LED components, such as reflectors, reflector cups, and scramblers.

Abstract: A pipe fitting includes a polymeric body molded into and fixedly connected to a metallic body, so that the metallic body extends around the polymeric body. The polymeric body extends around and is contiguous with a passageway of the pipe fitting, and at least partially defines a first opening of the passageway that is for being mated to a polymeric pipe. The metallic body extends around and is contiguous with the passageway, and at least partially defines a second opening of the passageway that is for being mated to a metallic pipe.

Abstract: A method and tamper detection circuit for implementing tamper and anti-reverse engineering evident detection in a semiconductor chip, and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides are provided. A capacitor is formed with the semiconductor chip including the circuitry to be protected. A change in the capacitor value results responsive to the semiconductor chip being thinned, which is detected and a tamper-detected signal is generated.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention is concerned with a composition that can suitably be used as an additive in beverages and foodstuffs, which composition: i. contains at least 0.5%, preferably at least 1.0%, by weight of dry matter, of pyrazine derivatives according to formula (I): wherein R1-R4 independently represent hydrogen; a hydroxyhydrocarbyl residue; an ester of a hydroxyhydrocarbyl residue; or an ether of a hydroxyhydrocarbyl residue; and at least one R1-R4 is a hydroxyhydrocarbyl residue or an ester or an ether thereof, and ii. exhibits an absorption ratio A280/560 of at least 80, preferably of at least 250. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a beverage or a foodstuff that is resistant to light induced flavour changes, said method comprising introducing into said beverage or foodstuff the aforementioned light stabilising composition and to a process for the manufacture of such a light stabilising composition.

Abstract: A syringe including a barrel (14), a retractable needle (12) and a plunger rod assembly (22) including inner (30) and outer (24) members with a stopper (46) for expelling fluids from the syringe is disclosed. An activation member (40, 44) associated with the plunger rod permits relative movement of the inner and outer members when activated. The stopper is configured to compress a sufficient amount when advanced distally in the barrel to cause the activation element to engage and cause retraction of the needle within the syringe.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for using backscattered data and known parameters to characterize vascular tissue. Specifically, methods and devices for identifying information about the imaging element used to gather the backscattered data are provided in order to permit an operation console having a plurality of Virtual Histology classification trees to select the appropriate VH classification tree for analyzing data gathered using that imaging element. In order to select the appropriate VH database for analyzing data from a specific imaging catheter, it is advantageous to know information regarding the function and performance of the catheter, such as the operating frequency of the catheter and whether it is a rotational or phased-array catheter. The present invention provides a device and method for storing this information on the imaging catheter and communicating the information to the operation console.

Abstract: Expandable medical implants for maintaining support of a body lumen are disclosed. These implants comprise an axially-radially nested, diametrically expandable, moveable vascular device for enlarging an occluded portion of a vessel. The device can be configured to allow for motion such as translating and/or slide and lock. One advantage of the axially-radially nested stent is that it maintains the expanded size, without significant recoil.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for forming an image. A controller manages a charger and a developing bias voltage to increase an absolute value of the charging voltage to an image-bearing member and an absolute value of a developing bias voltage to a developer-bearing member to predetermined values in a plurality of steps. The controller controls the developing bias voltage applied to the developer-bearing member; wherein the following relation holds in each of the plurality of steps: |VD|>|Vi|, where VD represents a developing bias voltage applied to the developer-bearing member and Vi represents a charged potential of the image-bearing member. This invention is especially useful for mono-component development using DC voltage as a development driving mechanism.