Abstract: Composition and methods that include potassium nitrate for whitening and/or reducing tooth sensitivity. The dental compositions may optionally include a dental bleaching agent, such as hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. The dental compositions may be applied directly to the person's teeth, or they may be loaded into a comfortable fitting, flexible, thin-walled dental tray and placed over the person's teeth. In that case, the dental compositions will include a tackifying agent, such as carboxypolymethylene, dispersed within a solvent, which assists the composition in retaining the dental tray over the person's teeth as a result of the adhesive properties of the dental composition rather than due to mechanical interlocking of the tray over the person's teeth. The dental compositions may further include anticariogenic and antimicrobial agents.

Abstract: A conveyor is disclosed having a mechanism for driving an endless chain, which is used for driving and optionally also for supporting the article-supporting parts of the conveyor. The mechanism comprises a drive belt that engages and drives on a number of wheels on the chain. By driving on the periphery of the rotating wheels instead of directly on the chain itself, the force between the drive belt and the point of engagement with the chain is halved whereby the construction may be made substantially lighter.

Abstract: A diaper disposal system for packaging odorous waste objects in individual sealed (substantially air-tight) packages includes a body, base, hinged lid, flexible material, and a first sealing member and second sealing member. The sealing members are operable to seal or form a substantially air-tight seal in the flexible material to prevent the odor from escaping. The sealing members move between an open position and closed/sealing position by twisting an inner lid, closing the lid, or moving an activation arm. The sealing members preferably seal the tubing by thermally fusing the tubing. A method is also provided.

Abstract: Hardware description language (HDL)-centered design system and methodology uses HDL specification effectively as master depository for design intent or knowledge. Through network browser, designers conveniently navigate or explore design graphically. Designers selectively review or save design in entirety or portions. Design capture, analysis, and manipulation are based on HDL specification, either directly through text file editing, or indirectly through use of graphical tools.

Abstract: A computer-implemented molecular dynamics-based process simulates a distribution of ions implanted in a semiconductor substrate. The properties of the semiconductor substrate and ion dose to be simulated are first initialized, including an initial set of splitting depths that contain an equal number of virtual ions implanted in each substrate volume determined by the splitting depths. A first ion with selected velocity is input onto an impact position of the substrate that defines a first domain for the first ion during a first timestep, where the first domain includes only those atoms of the substrate that exert a force on the ion. A first position and velocity of the first ion is determined after the first timestep and a second domain of the first ion is formed at the first position. The first ion is split into first and second virtual ions if the first ion has passed through a splitting interval. The process then follows each virtual ion until all of the virtual ions have come to rest.

Abstract: A belt device for forming a packaging arrangement including at least one stack of goods has a sling that includes a central suspension loop. The belt is formed as a closed loop and has a width substantially equal to the transverse width of the stack.

Abstract: The extraction of intact, representative fluid samples in well-defined depths, such as from wells sunk into the ground, has until now been very difficult, and in many cases impossible to perform. A method is provided as well as a sample extractor for the extraction of intact fluid samples, in particular from a well (26) sunk into the ground, by submersion of a compressible hollow flexible body (22) fitted in a supporting device which, subsequent to submersion to the sample extraction depth, is acted upon to effect liquid entry through an inlet. In particular, hollow flexible body (22) is held in the support device in the form of a pressure vessel (2) and fully compressed by pressurized gas inside the pressure vessel, whereupon the pressure vessel is caused to change in such a way that a surrounding fluid seeps into the hollow flexible body (22), whereupon the vessel (2) with the body (22) containing the fluid sample is hoisted out of the well (26).

Abstract: Several delta-sigma modulator circuits and a single quantizer provide analog-to-digital conversion for multiple frequency bands. A wideband mode is provided by coupling an analog signal to be digitized directly to a quantizer. Narrowband modes are provided by switching the analog signal to be digitized into one of several delta-sigma modulator circuits. Noise shaping and filtering by the delta-sigma modulator circuits result in improved signal-to-noise-and-distortion performance and increased resolution. Performance is further enhanced by feeding back multiple bits output by the quantizer to the delta-sigma modulator circuits. The delta-sigma modulator circuits can be either continuous time or discrete time delta sigma modulators.

Abstract: The method serves the commutation of an electrically commutated brushless, polyphase permanent magnet motor. The commutation angle, i.e. the angle from the zero crossing of the BEMF signal up to the reapplication of the voltage to the same winding is determined by the angle which results when the winding phase current has reached zero until the zero crossing of the BEMF signal.

Abstract: Liposomal encapsulated benzoquinazoline thymidylate synthase inhibitor formulations are provided. The liposomes have improved pharmacokinetics and enhanced efficacy as anti-tumor agents compared to the free drug. The formulations include liposomes comprising at least one phosphatidylcholine, a cholesterol, and a benzoquinazoline thymidylate synthase inhibitor.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a packaging arrangement includes a belt material supply component, a pair of roll assemblies for supporting stacks of goods, and rods for moving the belt material so as to form a lifting sling.

Abstract: A piperidine, tetrahydropyridine or piperazine derivative having formula (I), 1

Abstract: A method of enhancing biomass yield of a lactic acid bacterial species cell culture, comprising cultivating the cells in a process comprising the steps of providing conditions that results in a reduced glycolytic flux and providing conditions that enable the cells to have, under aerobic conditions, a respiratory metabolism. The increased yield of biomass may be the result of an increased yield of ATP which can be obtained by activating the native ATP synthase activity of the H+-ATPase complex by lowering the ATP/ADP ratio, e.g. by carbon source limitation, and/or by increasing the proton gradient (membrane potential) of the cells, e.g. by enhancing or establishing an electron transport chain which can be achieved by enhancing expression of dehydrogenases or electron transport chain components, by adding to the medium a quinone or porphyrin compound or by enhancing the expression of the H+-ATPase activity.

Abstract: System for establishing autonatic access to a fuel pump comprising at least one decentral control unit (3), said control unit (3) comprising means which regulate the fuel pumps (7) associated with a service station, and a central control unit (2), at least one of the control units (2, 3) comprising means which are activated by wireless signals transmitted from a mobile telephone, said means comprising central means for the linking together of a first unique code (13) belonging to the mobile telephone (1) with the identification number of the same telephone, and the linking together of number and/or code (B) with the data lying in the unit, and that the decentral control unit comprises decentral means for the linking together of a second code (C), which is unique for the fuel pump and which is entered via the telephone, with the status associated with the pump, and which are activated by the wireless signals transmitted from the mobile telephone.

Abstract: A call center is configured to include a capability for generating measures of occupancy for one or more agents. At least one value characterizing an occupancy measure determination for a given agent is stored in a memory associated with the call center, and used in generating an occupancy measure for that agent. In an illustrative embodiment, a set of stored values for the given agent includes an initial occupancy value for the agent, expressed in terms of a percentage. The occupancy measure for the agent may then be set to the initial occupancy value upon a log-in by the agent, so as to avoid undue oscillation in the occupancy measure after log-in. The set of stored values for the given agent may also include, for example, a limit which specifies a maximum amount of time for a designated activity which is to be considered as occupied time in generating the occupancy measure, or a limit which specifies a maximum effect of a designated activity in generating the occupancy measure.

Abstract: A Z-axis electrical interconnect includes a flexible printed circuit folded into a U-shape. The Z-axis electrical interconnect also includes a plurality of raised interconnection members arranged on the flexible printed circuit in a predetermined pattern and a circuit trace interconnecting the pair of raised interconnection members. The Z-axis electrical interconnect further includes a spring fixedly positioned on the flexible printed circuit to maintain the U-shape.

Abstract: Analytical systems and methods that use a modular interface structure for providing an interface between a sample substrate and an analytical unit, where the analytical unit typically has a particular interface arrangement for implementing various analytical and control functions. Using a number of variants for each module of the modular interface structure advantageously provides cost effective and efficient ways to perform numerous tests using a particular substrate or class of substrates with a particular analytical and control systems interface arrangement. Improved optical illumination and detection system for simultaneously analyzing reactions or conditions in multiple parallel microchannels are also provided.

Abstract: A system and method of finding a detection threshold that separates real scene objects seen through an optical system from sensor fixed artifacts. The inventive system continuously scans the sensor so that objects in the scene move in an inverse sense relative to the scanning motion while fixed frame artifacts remain fixed in focal plane coordinate system. The difference in temporal behavior is used to discriminate against fixed frame artifacts. The inventive system finds a detection threshold that maximizes the portion of a target that may be segmented while avoiding setting the threshold so low that it merges spatially adjacent artifacts in with the target.

Abstract: This invention provides catalyst compositions that are useful for polymerizing at least one monomer to produce a polymer. This invention also provides catalyst compositions that are useful for polymerizing at least one monomer to produce a polymer, wherein said catalyst composition comprises a post-contacted organometal compound, a post-contacted organoaluminum compound, and a post-contacted fluorided silica-alumina.