Abstract: A securing strap arrangement, typically for securing luggage or other items, has a resiliently extensible length portion, and a substantially non-resiliently extensible length portion including an arrangement for varying effective length of the non-resiliently extensible length portion. In a preferred embodiment, the arrangement includes a tensioner grip that stretches the extensible length portion, and a tension grip locator arranged such that the tensioner grip is releasably engageable with the tension grip locater in one of a plurality of location positions that are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the securing strap arrangement.

Abstract: Synthetic methods and intermediates useful in the preparation of lactone containing compounds such as discodermolide and compounds which mimic the chemical or biological activity of discodermolide are provided.

Abstract: Methods for esterifying hydroxyl groups in cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin in wood are described, wherein the wood is chosen from loblolly, slash, shortleaf, longleaf or radiata pines. Methods can include solvent drying techniques and heating provided by electromagnetic radiation, such as microwave, and radiofrequency. Products made from the methods are described that have greater decay resistance and dimensional stability as compared with non-esterified wood products.

Abstract: A modification to the prototypical compression (dynamic or sliding) hip screw is described which expands the utility and surgical indications of this frequently used fracture fixation device to include the fracture pattern commonly referred to as a “reverse obliquity fracture” of the proximal femur. This fracture pattern is poorly secured with current generation hip screws, frequently necessitating the use of intramedulary fracture fixation devices or external fixation hardware. The described modification blocks telescopic sliding of the femoral head lag screw within the cylindrical barrel of the side plate and allows for secure locking of the lag screw within the side plate, preventing any relative motion between the screw and plate once fracture reduction has been achieved.

Abstract: A method for instance-based sentence boundary determination optimizes a set of criteria based on examples in a corpus, and provides a general domain-independent framework for the task by balancing a comprehensive set of sentence complexity and quality constraints. The characteristics and style of naturally occurring sentences are simulated through the use of semantic grouping and sentence length distribution. The method is parameterized so that it is easily adapts to suit a Natural Language Generation (NLG) system's generation.

Abstract: Methods and systems for secure electronic commerce (eCommerce) transactions having one or more trusted payment hosts where consumers/buyers can register credit card information and/or any payment card information and the corresponding secret keys for the credit card or payment card with the one or more payment hosts are provided. Embodiments of the invention include a method of engaging a purchase order in an online electronic transaction on the spot, where a seller posts and advertises at least one online electronic link embedded in a web-page or in an e-mail provided by a server.

Abstract: A cutting ring element for a centrifugal pump of the chopper type comprises a ring-like structure having at least one cutting member positioned along the ring-like structure and extending outwardly therefrom. The cutting ring element is structured to be positioned adjacent the drive side of an impeller having cutting structures associated with the drive side of the impeller which interact with the cutting ring element to chop and reduce the size of entrained solids in a pumped fluid, or slurry, to prevent such solids from infiltrating behind the impeller.

Abstract: Synthetic discodermolide analogs having utility as antiproliferative agents, having a structure represented by formula A where RA through RE and XA are as defined herein.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump of the chopper type is disclosed which is structured with a chopper plate and impeller that are configured with an open eye or “hubless” arrangement such that processing of solids through the pump does not result in clogging of solids at or near the center of the impeller, thereby producing a dead zone. Because the configuration of the chopper pump of the present invention avoids the development of a central dead zone or clogging of solids, and provides for flow of solids and fluid through the eye of the impeller, pump efficiencies are markedly improved.

Abstract: A safety cover for the fill port of a self-primer pump is structured to improve the seal between the fill port cover and the fill port in the pump casing to thereby control the release of steam from the pump, and includes an improved sealing band between the fill port and fill port cover, an improved fill port cover design and an improved retaining clamp design.

Abstract: A pivoting telemark binding is provided which includes a toe piece pivotally connected to a base plate and a mechanism for locking the toe piece relative to the base plate to prevent pivoting. An actuator for the locking mechanism is placed at the front end of the binding to be positioned over the ski. Also provided is a ski crampon for use with this binding, as well as a heel lifter device for use with any telemark binding.

Abstract: The physical connection corresponding to IP tunnels in a network are found by tracing through the device configuration and routing tables at the routers in the network to determine the outbound interface associated with each tunnel endpoint, and then inferring a likely return interface associated with the opposite tunnel endpoint. Depending upon the particular configurations, a variety of tests can be applied to validate the inference. Patricia trees are preferably used to store and process the configuration data for efficient tracing through the routing tables at each router.

Abstract: A check valve of the flapper type structured for use in a self-primer pump is structured for attachment to the pump casing in a manner that facilitates servicing of the check valve, and includes securement means that are positioned external to the casing and a flapper that is located through an opening of the casing in a manner that enables the servicing of the valve without dropping the flapper or the hardware into the interior of the pump.

Abstract: A cutting ring element for a centrifugal pump of the chopper type comprises a ring-like structure having at least one cutting member positioned along the ring-like structure and extending outwardly therefrom. The cutting ring element is structured to be positioned adjacent the drive side of an impeller having cutting structures associated with the drive side of the impeller which interact with the cutting ring element to chop and reduce the size of entrained solids in a pumped fluid, or slurry, to prevent such solids from infiltrating behind the impeller.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump of the chopper type is disclosed which is structured with a chopper plate and impeller that are configured with an open eye or “hubless” arrangement such that processing of solids through the pump does not result in clogging of solids at or near the center of the impeller, thereby producing a dead zone. Because the configuration of the chopper pump of the present invention avoids the development of a central dead zone or clogging of solids, and provides for flow of solids and fluid through the eye of the impeller, pump efficiencies are markedly improved.

Abstract: In a belt splicer, having crossbeams straddling over and under the splice area, and having tie-bolts holding the ends of the crossbeams together, the safety system comprises link-spacers which link the crossbeams together. The link-spacers are profiled complementarily to the crossbeams, whereby the link-spacers can slide relative to the crossbeams. If a tie-bolt should fail, the cross-beams are held in place, relative to the other crossbeams, by the link-spacers.

Abstract: In a centrifugal pump of the pitot tube type, a replaceable wear ring is positioned in the rotating assembly of the pump in that area of the rotating case which is most subject to erosion from the processing of abrasive fluids by the pitot tube pump. The replaceable wear ring can be easily and quickly replaced when eroded, thereby eliminating the need to replace the rotating case of the pump and eliminating the need for costly and time-consuming re-balancing of the pump.

Abstract: A thermal printing apparatus and a method of controlling a thermal printing apparatus is provided wherein the duration of the strobe pulse utilized to transfer the ink from the carrier to the media is controlled and adjusted by a correction factor. The correction factor is calculated by the printer controller based directly on feedback regarding the actual transport time required to advance the media between encoder steps. Generally, the present invention controls a thermal printer in a manner that accounts for the transport speed between each encoder step and applies the correction factor to the strobe signal duration in a manner that maintains a uniform print density.

Abstract: An assembly for feeding, printing, and cutting a continuous web of material is provided. The web is fed from a roll supported in a roll feeding unit to a printer unit. The web can carry distinct image-receiving media items or can be a plain continuous web material. The assembly is particularly useful for feeding a web carrying pressure-sensitive adhesive labels to a laser printer. The printer produces printed images on each label as the web is fed through the printer. Then, the web can be cut to produce a finished roll of printed labels ready for application. The assembly includes a roll feeding unit, a printer, a controller for the roll feeding unit, and a controller for the printer which communicate with each other. The controller is responsive to sensors and signals received from the printer controller, and the printer controller is responsive to the sensors and signals received from the roll feeding unit controller. In this manner, the feeding, printing, and cutting of the web are controlled precisely.