Abstract: Fluoroacrylates comprise the reaction product of: (a) at least one fluorochemical alcohol represented by the formula: CnF2n+1—X—OH wherein: n=1 to 4, R=hydrogen or an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, m=2 to 8, Rf=CnF2n+1, y=0 to 6, and q=1 to 8; (b) at least one unbranched symmetric diusocyanate; and (c) at least one hydroxy-terminated alkyl (meth)acrylate or 2-fluoro acrylate monomer having 2 to about 30 carbon atoms in its alkylene portion.

Abstract: An internal reflectance element assembly, that is defined by a crystal that has at least one measured dimension of about 5 mm or greater that is held in a holder structure shaped to hold the crystal, and a backer plate to secure a sample to the crystal.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to recombinant adult human apohemoglobin (apo-rHb) in which the stability has been increased by replacement of an amino acid with a counterpart from another organism, such as a deep sea diving mammal. This mutated apo-rHb may be more stable and/or give higher production yields than unmutated adult human apo-rHb. The mutated apo-rHb may be produced in microorganisms, such as E. coli or yeast cells, or animal erythroid cells. Some apo-rHb of the present disclosure may be used as part of a blood substitute.

Abstract: A dual-fuel burner for use in furnaces such as in steam cracking. The burner includes a primary air chamber, a burner tube having an upstream end and a downstream end, a fuel orifice located adjacent the upstream end of the burner tube for introducing gaseous fuel into the burner tube, a burner tip having an outer diameter mounted on the downstream end of the burner tube adjacent a first opening in the furnace, so that combustion of the gaseous fuel takes place downstream of the burner tip, and at least one non-gaseous fuel gun, the at least one non-gaseous fuel gun having at least one fuel discharge orifice for combusting the non-gaseous fuel downstream of the discharge orifice, wherein the at least one non-gaseous fuel gun is radially positioned beyond the outer diameter of the burner tip so that a flame emanating from the combustion of the non-gaseous fuel is substantially aligned in parallel with a flame emanating from the combustion of the gaseous fuel.

Abstract: A burner for use in furnaces such as in steam cracking.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for providing video services. A request for programming information for an event is received. A pointer to programming information that is common to multiple instances of the event is retrieved. The common programming information is retrieved.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for increasing the amplitude of accommodation and/or changing the refractive power and/or enabling the removal of the clear or cataractous lens material of a natural crystalline lens is provided. Generally, the system comprises a laser, optics for delivering the laser beam and a control system for delivering the laser beam to the lens in a particular pattern. There is further provided apparatus for determining the shape and position of the lens with respect to the laser. There is yet further provided a method and system for delivering a laser beam in the lens of the eye in a predetermined shot pattern.

Abstract: A fuel injector for delivering fuel to an engine in which a housing of the injector has an internal fuel chamber and at least one exhaust port in fluid communication with the fuel chamber. A valve member is moveable relative to the housing between a closed position in which fuel within the fuel chamber is inhibited against exhaustion from the housing, and an open position in which fuel is exhaustable from the housing. An ultrasonic waveguide is separate from the housing and valve member, with substantially the entire ultrasonic waveguide disposed within the fuel chamber to ultrasonically excite fuel within the fuel chamber prior to the fuel exiting through the at least one exhaust port in the open position of the valve member. An excitation device is operable in the open position of the valve member to ultrasonically excite the ultrasonic waveguide.

Abstract: Bellows structure for a cotton module builder or packager, for enclosing or covering slots or passages through walls of a cotton module builder, for preventing entry of cotton into the slots or passages, to allow free movement of cross members therethrough of apparatus for distributing and compacting cotton within the module builder. The bellows can include telescoping rigid members below the cross members, and more flexible bellows thereabove.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for managing and controlling connections to conference bridges for proposed conference call participants to access a scheduled conference call. A first call is made to a conference bridge. Next, an attempt is made to contact the proposed conference call participant for the conference call via a telephone call, an SMS message, or both. If contacted, the proposed conference call participant has options such as a) connecting to the conference call, b) not connecting to the conference call, or c) recording the conference call. If the proposed conference call participant cannot be contacted or is unavailable, then the conference call can be recorded for listening at a later time.

Abstract: A seal (10) includes a seal structure (130) for engagement with first (24) and second fluid components (26) in first (84) and second counterbores (88). The seal also includes a holding plate (20, 30) structure for engagement with first (81) and second surfaces (85) of the components. The holding plate structure includes one or more layers that are preferably formed with the outer layers of the seal structure (30). The seal structure preferably includes at least three abutting layers of metal, the inner layer (70) having a hardness that is selected to be greater than the hardness of the first and second outer layers (20, 30). The invention also relates to a method of achieving a metal to metal seal between two relatively hard metal components in a fluid System.

Abstract: A multi-stage voltage converter in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes a first stage converter operable to convert an input voltage into a first output voltage, at least one second stage converter operable to receive the first output voltage from the first stage converter and to provide a second output voltage and a control circuit operable to control both the first stage converter and the second stage converter. The control circuit may independently control the first stage converter and the second stage converter using closed loop feedback. Alternatively, the control circuit may control the first stage converter such that the first stage converter has a constant duty cycle. In another embodiment, the control circuit may control the first stage converter such that the first stage converter has a duty cycle that follows the duty cycle of the second stage converter.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method, apparatus and computer program product to achieve enhancements in data transfer speed and reliability. In accordance with a method to operate a wireless device there is provided establishing a first connection path with a wireless network using a first long range transceiver; establishing a second connection path with the wireless network via a short range transceiver with at least one other wireless device that uses a second long range transceiver to establish the second connection path to the wireless network, and at least one of transmitting and receiving information using the first long range transceiver and, via the short range transceiver, the second long range transceiver.

Abstract: An agricultural vehicle drive system includes at least one variable pump configured to pump a driving fluid. The agricultural vehicle drive system also includes a first set of two-speed motors configured to receive the driving fluid from the at least one variable pump and a first gear system configured to be driven by the first set of two-speed motors to drive at least a first wheel of the agricultural vehicle. The agricultural vehicle drive system further includes a second set of two-speed motors configured to receive the driving fluid from the at least one variable pump, and a second gear system configured to be driven by the second set of two-speed motors to drive at least a second wheel of the agricultural vehicle. Furthermore, each motor in the first set of two-speed motors and the second set of two-speed motors is adjustable between discrete displacement settings to drive the agricultural vehicles at a variety of speed ranges.

Abstract: A method to reroute a call with a first termination point and a second termination point based upon Quality of Service (QoS) is disclosed. The method comprises establishing a quantitative QoS threshold, establishing a first communication path through a network for a data transmission such as a call, testing the QoS of the first communication path during the call or call set up and generating a quantitative value based upon said QoS. The method further includes establishing a second communication path for the call if the quantitative value is not to the level of the quantitative QoS threshold. Finally, the method includes rerouting the call from said first communication path to the second communication path while maintaining the first termination point.

Abstract: This invention relates to cholesterol-sequestering agents and methods of using cholesterol-sequestering agents to prevent infection. The compositions of the invention can be used to reduce or prevent maternal to fetal transmission of a microorganism and/or to reduce or eliminate a microorganism present in a blood sample or a blood product.

Abstract: A Decentralized System Services (DSS) architecture defines a framework for building fault-tolerant distributed applications across decentralized and heterogeneous systems. DSS enables “complexity through composition” by defining distributed designs as compositions of limited function and observable services which may be quickly and dynamically assembled to perform higher level functions. DSS defines a standardized interaction between distributed services using sessionless, asynchronous communications with explicit failure semantics. Accounting for latency, failure and state management all become a natural part of the design process. DSS includes a runtime implementation for managing concurrent services—the Common Concurrency Runtime (CCR), a protocol for service interactions—the Web Services Application Protocol (WSAP), and a set of required service behaviors which provide for composibility, location independence, and fault tolerance—Distributed Protocol Oriented Programming (DPOP).

Abstract: Apparatus for trimming grass around sprinkler heads or tending a small garden area includes a tubular member having a plurality of serrations formed on one end for cutting grass around such sprinkler heads. A housing member partially disposed for reciprocal movement within the tubular member. A plate disposed for closing one end of housing member and having an outer periphery engageable with an inner surface of such tubular member for guiding during reciprocal movement. A second guide disposed around outer periphery of such housing member intermediate each end thereof. Another elongated rod like member engages an end of such first elongated rod like member. A caged biasing means is disposed over the second rod like member for absorbing shock during use of apparatus and a mechanism for manipulating the apparatus while trimming such grass around such sprinkler head or tending such small garden area.

Abstract: An implantable logic circuit configured to receive analog bioelectric signals from one or more implanted electrodes, perform amplification, A/D conversion of the received analog bioelectric signals, signal sampling, and to communicate the signals to a remote processing system over a wireless communications link. Power for the implantable logic circuit is derived from an external source over a wireless link.

Abstract: In particular situations it may be desirable to follow, trace or otherwise localize specific (groups of) objects or animals, in particular people. The invention relates to a localization system. The invention also relates to a method for localizing objects or animals using such a localization system.