Abstract: Presented is a speckle interferometer for measuring displacement of an optically irregular surface of a specimen having, a laser for producing a beam of coherent radiation, an adjustable polarizing beam splitter for dividing the radiation into a first portion of the radiation and into a second portion of the radiation. The reflected radiation is then passed through a pair of collimating lenses onto the optically rough surface of the specimen. The reflection off of the specimen is captured by an imaging system that processes the reflection to measure strains on the surface.

Abstract: A speedloader for a shotgun having a tubular magazine includes an integral pulley system to minimize handle travel in delivering a plurality of cartridges into the magazine. The speedloader comprises a frame with a channel therethrough dimensioned to receive a plurality of cartridges. The frame carries a handle on an exterior longitudinal track and, inside, a pusher that travels from the first end of the frame to the second end of the frame in response to movement of the handle, thereby expelling the cartridges from the speedloader and injecting them into the magazine. The pulley system translates movement of the handle to movement of the pusher and reduces the distance the handle needs to be moved to move the pusher the full distance to reload the shotgun.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I) are useful as therapeutic agents, by virtue of having MMP and TNF inhibitory activity.

Abstract: Fiber Bragg grating coupled light sources can achieve tunable single-frequency (single axial and lateral spatial mode) operation by correcting for a quadratic phase variation in the lateral dimension using an aperture stop. The output of a quasi-monochromatic light source such as a Fabry Perot laser diode is astigmatic. As a consequence of the astigmatism, coupling geometries that accommodate the transverse numerical aperture of the laser are defocused in the lateral dimension, even for apsherical optics. The mismatch produces the quadratic phase variation in the feedback along the lateral axis at the facet of the laser that excites lateral modes of higher order than the TM00. Because the instability entails excitation of higher order lateral submodes, single frequency operation also is accomplished by using fiber Bragg gratings whose bandwidth is narrower than the submode spacing. This technique is particularly pertinent to the use of lensed fiber gratings in lieu of discrete coupling optics.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a compound for preventing snoring. Essentially, the compound includes various natural oils such as almond oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, and peppermint oil, which serve to lubricate the soft tissue including the uvula and soft palette during sleep. In that manner, the oils dampen the friction of the soft tissue and diminish the noise associated with snoring. The present anti-snoring compound also includes a magnesium-based compound, which helps the oils cling to the soft tissue. If desired, vitamins B6, C and E are also included in the formulation of the present anti-snoring composition, primarily for the health benefit derived from them.

Abstract: This invention provides the CD4-IgG2 chimeric heterotetramer, wherein the heavy chains of the chimeric heterotetramer is encoded by the expression vector designated CD4-IgG2HC-pRcCMV (ATCC No. 75193). This invention also provides the CD4-IgG2 chimeric heterotetramer, wherein the light chains of the chimeric heterotetramer is encoded by the expression vector designated CD4-kLC-pRcCMV (ATCC No. 75194). This invention also provides the CD4-IgG2 chimeric heterotetramer, wherein the heavy chains of the chimeric heterotetramer is encoded by the expression vector designated CD4-IgG2HC-pRcCMV (ATCC No. 75193) and the light chains of the chimeric heterotetramer is encoded by the expression vector designated CD4-kLC-pRcCMV (ATCC No. 75194).

Abstract: An integral stub tube which simplifies the reactor pressure vessel fabrication process, provides a structural transition between the penetration and head, and facilitates future remote inspection of the attachment weld is described. In one embodiment, a stub tube is machined into the bottom head dome. Specifically, a penetration is formed in the bottom head dome by a bore having a stub tube portion. The stub tube portion has a cylindrical shape and a length of the stub tube portion is selected to provide a transition between a penetration housing and an adjacent portion of bottom head dome. The penetration housing extends through the penetration, in the dome. A weld attaches the stub tube portion to the penetration housing.

Abstract: The invention is a spray attachment for a hose having a threaded cap wherein the spray attachment has a suction cup attachable to a slick surface such as the outer surface of a car or boat, a flexible, receiving cap defining a flexible cylindrical opening attached to the suction cup; a beveled insertion cap, insert-able within the cylindrical opening; a frictional contact for releasably retaining the insertion cap within the cylindrical opening wherein the frictional contact is the frictional contact between the walls of the flexible cylindrical opening and the outside surface of the beveled insertion cap; and a spray attachment attached to the insertion cap; the spray attachment having a threaded opening for receiving the threaded cap.

Abstract: Thiol-containing peptides can be radiolabeled with fluorine-18 (18F) by reacting a peptide comprising a free thiol group with an 18F-bound labelling reagent which also has a group that is reactive with thiols. The resulting 18F-labeled peptides may be targeted to a tissue of interest using bispecific antibodies or bispecific antibody fragments having one arm specific for the 18F-labeled peptide or a low molecular weight hapten conjugated to the 18F-labeled peptide, and another arm specific to the targeted tissue. The targeted tissue is subsequently visualized by clinical positron emission tomography.

Abstract: In the present invention, a surgical trocar is adapted to capacitively couple electrosurgical energy to specially adapted cordless electrosurgical instruments. In one embodiment of the present invention, an electrosurgical trocar includes a cannula, a capacitive electrosurgical adapter and a locking connector adapted to connect the cannula to the capacitive electrosurgical adapter. The cannula is an elongated tube which may be inserted into a body cavity, duct or vessel. The electrosurgical adapter includes a housing with an elongated central aperture, an adapter proximal capacitor plate and an adapter distal capacitor plate positioned in and extending axially along the elongated aperture, first and second electrical conductors, first and second external conductors, a compression mechanism, an outer housing and an electrical cord.

Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation valve for an internal combustion engine (16). A one-piece adapter part (10; 10′) contains a combustion air passageway (34) through which combustion air can enter the engine and a coolant passageway (18) through which engine coolant can flow. The adapter part also has an exhaust gas recirculation passageway (22) through which engine exhaust gas can be introduced into the combustion air passageway. An electric-operated exhaust gas recirculation valve (12) for controlling the recirculation of engine exhaust gas through the engine has a valve member (28) that is positionable with respect to a valve seat (26) that circumscribes the exhaust gas passageway in the adapter part.

Abstract: A machine for lapping bowling balls and, thus, re-rounding, smoothing, and cleaning the balls. The machine is comprised of three concave abrasion blocks with drive motors, adjustable mounting brackets attached to an adjustable support table, a catch basin with filter to separate suspended solids from liquids, and a pump and fluid delivery tube to deliver flushing and/or cleaning liquids. The abrasion blocks are comprised of resilient concave blocks with abrasive sanding disks. The positions of all three abrasion blocks are preferably simultaneously and equally adjusted by small adjustments to the position of a top table relative to the stand that holds the pivotal motor mounts. Ramps on the rotatable table cooperate with the mounts to slightly pivot the motor mounts inward and outward from the ball, changing the orientation and distance of the abrasive blocks relative to each other and, hence, to the ball.

Abstract: A rolling window screen assembly for use with a window assembly. The screen assembly is deployable in at least three positions. The first engagement position exists wherein the flexible screen may be extended over the entire window. The second engagement position exists wherein the flexible screen is releasably engaged to a sash to enable the flexible screen o be deployed dynamically according to the position of the sash. Finally, the flexible screen may be disengaged from the window assembly and retracted to expose substantially all of the window opening. A pull-cord apparatus having a pull-down non-elastic cord interfacing with an elastic take-up cord may be utilized for manipulating the flexible screen.

Abstract: The heater sling according to this invention is capable of lifting, moving and positioning a workpiece. In particular, it relates to a device and method for lifting a circumferential heater used in the manufacture of silicon ingots by the Czochralski method. The invention operates by mechanically extending a plurality of slings under a workpiece, lifting the workpiece, and placing it in a desired location.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting neoplastic cells and related conditions by exposing them to 2,8 disubstituted quinazolinone compounds.

Abstract: A novel class of cationic phospholipids and novel method for their synthesis are disclosed. The class of phospholipids comprises phosphotriester derivatives of phosphoglycerides and sphingolipids. It has been unexpectedly found that liposomes comprising one or more of these cationic phospholipids are effective in the lipofection of nucleic acids. These novel phospholipids are particularly attractive because of they are not only effective in lipofection, but are extremely cheap and easy to male.

Abstract: A change journal for recording changes to files in a storage volume of a computer system keeps a record for each notable change to a file. Each record is given a unique update sequence number, which is a serial number of ever-increasing value assigned to each record. Each record includes one or more change reasons specifying what type of action occurred with respect to the associated file. The presence of a close file change reason in a record connotes that the record includes all the notable changes made to the file in a preceding file session, which is defined as the time occurring after the last time a close file change reason was entered in a change record, up to the time of the next succeeding close file change reason. For each file, an entry is made in the storage volume's master file table referencing the change record that currently includes the most up-to-date information on the status of the change reasons for the file.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program for providing runtime performance analysis in a visual programming environment. A performance data collection technique for visual programming is defined, which accounts for the specialized nature of visual programming, and the analysis is based on this collected data. The performance data is expressed in terms of elements familiar to the visual programmer, as opposed to using a source code approach. In a preferred embodiment, these elements comprise events, actions, connections, and attributes. The code implementing a visual program is instrumented according to this performance data collection technique, and performance information is gathered as the instrumented program executes. Preferably, the information gathered comprises execution counts and elapsed time per element.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing elevation scanning for a multiple beam antenna system on a per antenna beam basis. In a preferred embodiment columns of antenna elements are divided into sub-groups each having a beam forming matrix associated therewith. Phase differentials are introduced into the antenna beam signals of each sub-group of antenna elements in order to provide a phase progression which steers the antenna beam a predetermined angle from the broadside. The phase differentials are independently provided for each antenna beam signal to thereby allow independent steering of each antenna beam. Additionally, dielectric material placed in the signal feed path may be utilized to alter radiation characteristics of certain antenna elements of the antenna system. Placing the dielectric material with outer elements of an array may be used for aperture tapering and side lobe control. Additionally, wind loading, due to the antenna system is reduced by using a gridded ground plane system.