Abstract: A compression chuck for variously conducting and braking a rope, wherein the compression chuck includes a first and second portions. The invention includes a first biasing mechanism which maintains the compression chuck first and second portions in a disengaged condition with the rope, wherein the rope is conducted freely in response to outside forces on the rope. Also included is an actuator, wherein the actuator is operable to overbear the first biasing mechanism to place the compression chuck in an engaged condition with the rope in response to a rope break, braking movement of the rope. The first and second compression chuck portions may be carried on opposing parallel plates that are biased apart until the actuator moves such plates together in response to a rope break. At least one of the plates may be fixed to a crane head, crane, or other structure proximate a moving rope, when installed.

Abstract: A piezoelectric perovskite mixed oxide compound has the general formula (BiFeO3)x—(PbTiO3)1-x and contains up to 5 at % lanthanum or other rare earth substitution, in which x has a value in the range 0.5 to 0.9. Such compounds are capable of withstanding gas turbine operating temperatures and are suitable for use in sensing and actuation functions in aerospace and other applications.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include compositions and methods related to non-VSV rhabdoviruses and their use as anti-cancer therapeutics. Such rhabdoviruses possess tumor cell killing properties in vitro and in vivo.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding data. A first pair of optical signals having a first phase difference is generated in response to receiving an input signal having a voltage. A second pair of optical signals having a second phase difference is generated in response to receiving an input signal having a voltage. The first pair of optical signals is combined to form a first optical signal having a first intensity. The second pair of optical signals is combined to form a second optical signal having a second intensity. The first intensity of the first optical signal reaches a peak at a different time from the second intensity of the second optical signal.

Abstract: A wireless communication system includes a number of controllable electronic devices and a mobile station for communication with one of the controllable electronic devices through a short-range wireless communication link, when in-range with the one controllable electronic device. The mobile station includes a display screen and a browser. The mobile station and the one controllable electronic device form a client-server pair. Through the short-range wireless communication link, the client requests the server to download a control interface stored at the server. Upon downloading, a browser is used to navigate through control menu pages included in the control interface, and to post control parameter settings to the server. In the server, a program runs to interpret received control parameter settings, to invoke a control action in accordance with the received control parameter settings, and to instruct the client what to do next.

Abstract: The present invention relates to boosting the activity of crop protection compositions comprising phenyl-substituted tetramic acid derivatives by adding fertilizers, and to corresponding compositions.

Abstract: A method of coating a metallic article having an at least part-metallic surface comprising a first metal, with a surface having a pre-determined wettability, the method at least comprising the steps of: (a) coating at least a part of the metallic article with a layer of a second metal to provide a metal-metal bonded surface, said surface being rough either prior to or because of step (a); and (b) contacting the metal-metal bonded surface of step (a) with a material to provide the surface having the pre-determined wettability. The first metal may be one or more of the group comprising: iron, zinc, copper, tin, nickel and aluminium, and alloys thereof including steel, brass, bronze and nitinol for example. Preferably, the second metal is coated onto the first metal using electroless Galvanic deposition.

Abstract: A vehicle seat has a seat base and a seatback. The vehicle seat has as a permanent feature a pair of seat belt guides positioned such that when a lap portion of a seat belt webbing is received in both of the seat belt guides the lap portion of the seat belt webbing intersects the seat belt guides at a selected distance from a forward face of the seatback. Each of the seat belt guides restricts movement of the lap portion of the seat belt webbing away from the forward face of the seatback. The seat belt guides direct the lap portion of the seat belt webbing across the seat base along a path such that the lap portion of the seat belt webbing interacts with the lower body of a child when the vehicle seat is occupied by a child aged three to twelve years and under 150 cm in height.

Abstract: A vehicle seat belt system has seat belt webbing that is attached to a tongue adapted to be located in a buckle mechanism fixed to a load-bearing part of the vehicle. A generally vertically extending strap is adapted to be located in a position against a seat back. An adjustable webbing guide connects the generally vertically extending strap to the seat belt webbing; and there is a device for positively locking the webbing guide to the generally vertically extending strap at any one of a plurality of selectable locations on the generally vertically extending strap. A load limiter is operative for a child seat occupant but not operative for an adult seat occupant.

Abstract: Sautéed vegetables are used as a building block in the preparation of sauces, soups and meal solutions and are easily prepared on a kitchen scale. On scaling up the same method used at kitchen scale to industrial scale, the problem of heat transfer results in vegetables either not browning and developing the savoury and caramelised flavour of sautéed vegetables or becoming soggy and limp from over cooking.

Abstract: A piezoelectric perovskite mixed oxide compound has the general formula (BiFeO3)x—(PbTiO3)1-X and contains up to 5 at % lanthanum or other rare earth substitution, in which x has a value in the range 0.5 to 0.9. Such compounds are capable of withstanding gas turbine operating temperatures and are suitable for use in sensing and actuation functions in aerospace and other applications.

Abstract: A seat belt system for adults and children has a strap (55) that extends vertically along the front surface of a seat back or a structural pillar at the side of a vehicle. Seat belt webbing (19) is configured to provide a three-point seat belt system. The seat belt webbing passes through a stationary seat belt webbing guide (50) located higher than the shoulder of an adult seat occupant and attached to the same component of the vehicle as the vertically extending strap (55). A movable seat belt webbing guide (65) is movable along the strap (55). The stationary seat belt webbing guide (50) has a stationary seat belt webbing passageway (53) through which the seat belt webbing (19) passes and the movable seat belt webbing guide (65) has a seat belt webbing passageway (67) through which the seat belt webbing (19) passes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method to dynamically identify, assemble, or otherwise simulate the availability of resources for an orchestrated service or application, thereby allowing for strategic changes in scheduling, purchasing, hiring, and the like to ensure that the resources needed to deliver the desired outcome during a particular time period are present. In particular, the system includes an orchestration module storing a plurality of resource parameters, correlating a predetermined criterion for one or more resources with an event, and simulating the event, where the simulation includes comparing the stored plurality of parameters with the predetermined criterion. The system further determines whether the stored plurality of parameters satisfy the predetermined criterion, and may store the determination for subsequent evaluation.

Abstract: A vehicle seat arrangement provides location and fixing points on the vehicle seat that will take crash loads and can be used to position a webbing path adapter to serve as a guide for placing a standard seat belt in a suitable position for when a child is occupying the seat. A vehicle seat arrangement includes a seat backrest having an upholstered part overlying a load-bearing plate. A first plurality of holes pass through the upholstered part and a second, aligned, plurality of holes pass through the load-bearing plate. A webbing path adapter has a passageway for receiving seat belt webbing. A pin connects the webbing path adapter in a removable manner to any one of a plurality of holes on the load-bearing plate through the corresponding holes in the upholstered part of the seat backrest.

Abstract: A seat belt system for adults and children has a strap (55) that extends vertically along the front surface of a seat back or a structural pillar at the side of a vehicle. Seat belt webbing (19) is configured to provide a three-point seat belt system. The seat belt webbing passes through a stationary seat belt webbing guide (50) located higher than the shoulder of an adult seat occupant and attached to the same component of the vehicle as the vertically extending strap (55). A movable seat belt webbing guide (65) is movable along the strap (55). The stationary seat belt webbing guide (50) has a stationary seat belt webbing passageway (53) through which the seat belt webbing (19) passes and the movable seat belt webbing guide (65) has a seat belt webbing passageway (67) through which the seat belt webbing (19) passes.

Abstract: The present invention includes systems and methods for assessing stimulatory effects on a neurologic system. One method may include steps of stimulating the neurologic system, monitoring at least one neurologic state for effects of the stimulation to the neurologic system, gathering multi-dimensional data from the monitoring of the at least one neurological state, and analyzing the multi-dimensional data to determine multi-dimensional interactions between the stimulation and the effects on the at least one neurological state. Various neurologic states are considered to be within the scope of the present invention, including, without limitation, hypnotic, analgesia, relaxation, stress, depression, anxiety, allostasis, immune response, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A vehicle seat belt system has seat belt webbing that is attached to a tongue adapted to be located in a buckle mechanism fixed to a load-bearing part of the vehicle. A generally vertically extending strap is adapted to be located in a position against a seat back. An adjustable webbing guide connects the generally vertically extending strap to the seat belt webbing; and there is a device for positively locking the webbing guide to the generally vertically extending strap at any one of a plurality of selectable locations on the generally vertically extending strap. A load limiter is operative for a child seat occupant but not operative for an adult seat occupant.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor has a rotating spool for retraction or pay-out of seat belt webbing. A locking ring is attached to one end of the spool. The locking ring is locked against rotation when a crash is sensed. A force limiting means allows further pay-out of the seat belt webbing after the locking ring has locked. Coupled in the force path between the spool and the locking ring, the force limiting means has a primary force limiting means; and a secondary force limiting means. The force limiting means include an elongate deformable member, arranged such that relative rotation between the spool and the locking ring causes a predetermined length of the deformable member to be deformed during a first stage of load limiting. The cross-sectional area of the deformable member is uniform over a major portion of the predetermined length and is reduced over at least one minor portion located a distance from the end of the member.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant safety restraint provides a child safety restraint for the three to fourteen year old age range. It can be used with or without a booster cushion or booster seat and would therefore be particularly suitable for minibuses so that the safety belt can still be used by adult passengers. A vertically extending strap is adapted to be located in a generally vertical position against a seat back. A seat belt webbing is attached to a tongue adapted to be located in a buckle mechanism fixed to a load-bearing part of the vehicle. An adjustable webbing guide connects the vertically extending strap to the seat belt webbing. The webbing guide is positively locked to the vertically extending strap at any one of a plurality of selectable locations on the vertically extending strap.

Abstract: A vehicle seat arrangement provides location and fixing points on the vehicle seat that will take crash loads and can be used to position a webbing path adapter to serve as a guide for placing a standard seat belt in a suitable position for when a child is occupying the seat. A vehicle seat arrangement includes a seat backrest having an upholstered part overlying a load-bearing plate. A first plurality of holes pass through the upholstered part and a second, aligned, plurality of holes pass through the load-bearing plate. A webbing path adapter has a passageway for receiving seat belt webbing. A pin connects the webbing path adapter in a removable manner to any one of a plurality of holes on the load-bearing plate through the corresponding holes in the upholstered part of the seat backrest.