Abstract: A heel protection method and device for the protection of heel ulcers includes an inflatable bladder adapted to be positioned adjacent a calf of a patient and a sensor adapted to be positioned adjacent a heel of the patient for detecting pressure at the heel. A microprocessor is adapted to receive a signal related to pressure at the heel, from which it determines whether an allowable level has been exceeded. If an excessive pressure level is sensed, the microprocessor transmits a signal to a separate device that alerts the caregiver to inflate the inflatable bladder or automatically by way of a pump operatively connected to the microprocessor. The method and device avoids excessive pressure at the heel by sensing the pressure at the heel, and redistributing the pressure from the heel to the calf if an allowable pressure level has been exceeded.

Abstract: An elbow terminator has a socket in which an electrical probe is disposed. The terminator is insertable onto an electrical bushing such that a tongue of the bushing is received in the socket of the terminator, and the probe of the terminator is electrically coupled to a contact sleeve disposed within the tongue. A latching mechanism produces positive latching between the tongue and socket when the tongue has been inserted to a predescribed depth within the socket. In order to enable an operator to visually observe that the tongue has been inserted to the prescribed depth, the bushing carries a color band which becomes completely disposed (invisible) in the socket when positive latching occurs. Alternatively, the bushing can be provided with gauge tabs which become aligned with a witness line formed on the terminator when positive latching occurs.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for verifying customer addresses before using those addresses in an asset tracking system. More specifically, the enhanced asset tracking system can accept multiple characteristics of the location. An operator or GIS system can check that these descriptors are identifying the same location. If descriptors do identify a same location, then the operator or GIS system can allow the location information to pass to the assets.

Abstract: A method for increasing a spectroscopic signal in a biological assay is provided. The method includes forming a suspension of magnetically attractable particles. The method also includes introducing a first magnetic field at a first location to draw the magnetically attractable particles towards the first location and form a first agglomeration. The method also includes removing the first magnetic field. The method further includes introducing a second magnetic field at a second location to draw the first agglomeration towards the second location and form a second agglomeration. The method further includes focusing an excitation source on the second agglomeration formed at the second location.

Abstract: Insulated vacuum switchgear and active switchgear elements therefor are provided with a rigid support structure mechanically isolating a vacuum insulator from axial loads in use without reinforcing or insulating encapsulations. At least one of the elastomeric insulating housing and the support structure directly contacts an outer surface of the insulator. Systems and methods for assembling the switchgear are also provided.

Abstract: An elbow terminator has a socket in which an electrical probe is disposed. The terminator is insertable onto an electrical bushing such that a tongue of the bushing is received in the socket of the terminator, and the probe of the terminator is electrically coupled to a contact sleeve disposed within the tongue. A latching mechanism produces positive latching between the tongue and socket when the tongue has been inserted to a predescribed depth within the socket. In order to enable an operator to visually observe that the tongue has been inserted to the prescribed depth, the bushing carries a color band which becomes completely disposed (invisible) in the socket when positive latching occurs. Alternatively, the bushing can be provided with gauge tabs which become aligned with a witness line formed on the terminator when positive latching occurs.

Abstract: A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine may include a pilot assembly extending along a longitudinal axis. The pilot assembly may be configured to direct a pilot fuel-air mixture to a combustor of the gas turbine engine. The fuel injector may also include a rich catalyst module circumferentially disposed about the pilot assembly. The catalyst module may be configured to simultaneously direct a stream of compressed air and a stream of first fuel-air mixture therethrough without intermixing. The fuel injector may also include a post mix zone disposed downstream of the catalyst module. The post mix zone may be configured to mix the compressed air and the first fuel air mixture to create a main fuel-air mixture. The fuel injector may further include an air swirler disposed downstream of the post mix zone. The air swirler may be configured to direct the main fuel-air mixture to the combustor without intermixing with the pilot fuel-air mixture.

Abstract: The invention relates to performance improvements in lead-acid batteries by admixing so-called expanders or spreading materials to the active negative materials. Succinates are proposed as a new synthetic and consequently chemically clearly defined spreading means that can be used in place of lignin sulphonates, particularly iminodisuccinates or succinyl groups or oligomers containing iminosuccinyl groups or polymer compounds, individually or in any mixtures.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for improving performance in high-availability systems are disclosed. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, pages of memory of a primary system that are to be shadowed are initially copied to a backup system's memory, as well as to a cache in the primary system. A duplication manager process maintains the cache in an intelligent manner that significantly reduces the overhead required to keep the backup system in sync with the primary system, as well as the cache size needed to achieve a given level of performance. Advantageously, the duplication manager is executed on a different processor core than the application process executing transactions, further improving performance.

Abstract: The present invention embraces compositions and methods for establishing and maintaining stem cells and inhibiting stem cell differentiation using a selective Protein Kinase C (PKC) inhibitor.

Abstract: An Interferometric Fiber Optic Gyro (IFOG) device for high accuracy sensing. An example IFOG includes an integrated optics chip (IOC) and a modulation component that modulates one or more light signals passing thru the IOC according to a bias-modulation waveform. A glitch pattern experienced at front-end components of the IFOG includes frequency content that has approximately zero amplitude at predefined sense harmonics. Frequency content of the bias-modulation waveform is below a predefined threshold value at the predefined sense harmonics.

Abstract: The present invention embraces compositions and methods for establishing and maintaining stem cells and inhibiting stem cell differentiation using a selective Protein Kinase C (PKC) inhibitor.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving resolution of low-noise signals in an analog-to-digital conversion circuit. A simple, low cost pseudo-noise generating circuit is disclosed that, when connected to the signal conditioning circuitry of A/D conversion circuit, adds pseudo-noise to an analog input voltage signal. Additional pseudo-noise is beneficial for improving the resolution of analog-to-digital conversion when oversampling and summing or averaging are used in post-conversion processing operations. The circuit is composed of a plurality of resistors configured in at least two parallel branches. An individually switchable voltage source output is connected to each branch. A resulting analog voltage can be measured at a common termination point for the branches, depending on the combination of switchable voltage source output turned on, and the branch to which the voltage output is applied.

Abstract: The present invention is a novel cytokine protein called IL-12 or Cytotoxic Lymphocyte Maturation Factor (CLMF) which is produced and synthesized by human NC-37 B lymphoblastoid cells (American Type Culture Collection, Rockville, Md.). CLMF synergistically induces with low concentrations of IL-2 the cytolytic activity of Lymphokine Activated Killer (LAK) cells, and CLMF is capable of stimulating T-cell growth. Also claimed are the cloned gene for CLMF, its recombination in a suitable vector, the transformed cells containing said vector, the recombinant protein produced by the transformed cells and antibodies to CLMF.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to load balancing call signaling channels at the times that they are established, the use of variable frequency keep alive mechanisms depending on the state of the call signaling channel, and the establishment of a call signaling channel when resources are available or otherwise based on need.

Abstract: A thermistor amplifier device comprising a first amplifier and a second amplifier is provided. The first amplifier generates an analog temperature signal output based on a voltage across at least one thermistor. The second amplifier generates an offset voltage input to the first amplifier, wherein the offset voltage is based on maintaining the analog temperature signal within a predefined voltage range. The second amplifier selects the offset voltage corresponding to one of a plurality of range levels, wherein each of the plurality of range levels is associated with a temperature range of the at least one thermistor.

Abstract: The invention provides a faulted circuit indicator apparatus with transmission line state display, as well as methods for using the apparatus. The faulted circuit indicator has a sensor that can be electrically coupled to an electrical conductor for collecting data relating to a state of the electrical conductor. The faulted circuit indicator also has a controller that is logically coupled to the sensor for receiving data and determining whether a fault condition has occurred on the electrical conductor. The faulted circuit indicator also has one or more indicators that are logically coupled to the controller for indicating whether a fault condition has occurred as well as the state of the electrical conductor. The state of the conductor may be the voltage, the temperature, or the vibration present on the conductor.

Abstract: Described are girt panel assemblies including a panel, at least two hinges coupled to the panel, and at least one fabric girt coupled to the panel. The fabric girt may also be configured to couple to an evacuation slide. The evacuation slide may, but not necessarily, include a sill tube, where an upper fabric girt is coupled to an upper surface of the sill tube and a lower fabric girt is coupled to a lower surface of the sill tube. In these examples, the sill tube applies pressure to the upper fabric girt and the lower fabric girt when inflated. As a result, the sill tube is positioned between a lower surface of the panel and the passenger vehicle when inflated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a laminar textile material for covering a pasty active mass on a battery electrode. The invention further relates to a battery electrode having such a material, to a battery, and to a method for producing battery electrodes. Potential improvements of lead batteries are disclosed that are more practical than previously known solutions, and that stabilize the pasty active mass on the battery electrodes. A laminar textile materiel is disclosed to this end, comprising glass fibers and fibers made of a thermoplastic plastic, e.g. polyester.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving resolution of low-noise signals in an analog-to-digital conversion circuit. A simple, low cost pseudo-noise generating circuit is disclosed that, when connected to the signal conditioning circuitry of A/D conversion circuit, adds pseudo-noise to an analog input voltage signal. Additional pseudo-noise is beneficial for improving the resolution of analog-to-digital conversion when oversampling and summing or averaging are used in post-conversion processing operations. The circuit is composed of a plurality of resistors configured in at least two parallel branches. An individually switchable voltage source output is connected to each branch. A resulting analog voltage can be measured at a common termination point for the branches, depending on the combination of switchable voltage source output turned on, and the branch to which the voltage output is applied.