Abstract: A magazine well insert prevents contaminants from entering the magazine well of a pistol or a rifle. The magazine well insert provides a visual indication that the weapon does not have a magazine installed, thereby enhancing weapons safety. The magazine well insert of the present invention protects the weapon's magazine well from becoming contaminated with sand and other debris by sealing the magazine well with a block, for example, a plastic or metal block, that has an o-ring or other sealing device adapted to be positioned at the opening of the magazine well. The magazine well insert may be used in two different configurations, a first configuration that allow normal operation of the weapon's action or a second configuration that blocks the action of the weapon. The magazine well insert may be hollow with a removable sliding base to provide for storage in an interior portion thereof.

Abstract: A vertebral osteosynthesis equipment including an intervertebral implant (1); a member (2) for connecting vertebral bodies (100) of both treated vertebrae intended to be assembled to the intervertebral implant (1); and a member (3) for assembling the connecting member (2) to the intervertebral implant (1). The intervertebral implant (1) includes on its proximal side relatively to the direction of its introduction into the intervertebral space (102), a hole comprising two coaxial portions, i.e. a proximal portion of larger section and a distal portion of smaller section, these proximal and distal portions comprising respective connecting means. The connecting member (2) includes a hole which allows it to be engaged onto a guiding rod (50) intended to be inserted into said distal portion (13) of the hole of the implant (1), and the assembling member (3) comprises a conduit on this guiding rod (50).

Abstract: A system and method for distributing messages to a plurality of satellite receivers comprising sending a message with geographic target area coding or information via satellite or a ground repeater to at least one satellite receiving device equipped with geographic-aware information. The satellite receiving device thereafter utilizes its geographic aware information to compare with the geographic target area coding in the transmitted message to determine whether the satellite receiving device should present the message to the user of the satellite receiving device.

Abstract: A communication terminal has a number of user selectable profiles each including a group of user adjustable operating characteristics. These selectable profiles may be transferred from one communication terminal to another included in a message containing a group of user adjustable operating characteristics. When the communication terminal receives this message transmitted via a communication channel, the message is analyzed and the terminal saves the group of user adjustable operating characteristics as a profile.

Abstract: A real time information feed system comprises an interface to receive a real time information feed and a data mining engine for retrieving data concerning a subscriber. A recommendation engine automatically modifies the real time information feed according to the mined data; and a subscriber interface outputs the modified real time information for delivery to the subscriber. The data mining engine is adapted to mine data in a real time communication medium used by the subscriber, such as a micro-blogging service. The data mining engine comprises an indexer for mining and indexing the real time information feed and the subscriber data to provide a plurality of indexes; and to generate vectors representing the separate indexes and to compare the vectors to modify.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices on a diffusion barrier coated metal substrates, and methods of making the same are disclosed. The semiconductor devices include a metal substrate, a diffusion barrier layer on the metal substrate, an insulator layer on the diffusion barrier layer, and a semiconductor layer on the insulator layer. The method includes forming a diffusion barrier layer on the metal substrate, forming an insulator layer on the diffusion barrier layer; and forming a semiconductor layer on the insulator layer. Such diffusion barrier coated substrates prevent diffusion of metal atoms from the metal substrate into a semiconductor device formed thereon.

Abstract: A non-pressurized sport ball that simulates the resiliency, rebound, hardness and weight properties of a similar sized, inflatable sports ball. The sports ball, which can be made in different sizes and shapes, includes a hollow ball body with a relatively thick sidewall made of closed-cell foam, elastomeric resin. When cured, the sidewalls have compression and resiliency properties that enable the working action of the sidewall to be used in place of an air bladder in an inflatable sports ball. Formed on the ball body is an entry hole in which an air escaping cap is inserted made of the same elastomeric resin material as the ball body. During use, the cap flexes within the entry hole to allow air to exit and enter the ball during use so that the internal and external air pressures are equal. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing the sports ball using a mandrel and a suitable-shaped compression mold with an entry hole formed on one side.

Abstract: A water disk sports game that includes a pair of floating goals located at predetermined distances from each other in a designated boundary area. Each goal includes a vertical scoring pole that extends upward from a large floating base. In a first embodiment, the floating base is a hollow circular floating disk with an upper, diagonally aligned skirt surface that leads to a circular recessed cavity coaxially aligned with the scoring pole. Attached to the scoring pole is an elevated lid which creates a narrow gap between the lid and the top rim of the floating base. In another embodiment, the floating base is a partially submerged rim with radially aligned spokes and a center hub designed to receive the scoring pole. During use, a specially designed aquatic disk is given to one team whose objective is to throw the aquatic disk at the opposing team's scoring pole.

Abstract: An improved, impact energy dissipating foam pad and method for creating a foam pad that includes plurality of uniform pegs and holes in a closed cell foam substrate. A foam substrate plank is placed between two compression molds that includes a plurality of perpendicularly aligned pegs formed thereon. The compression mold's pins have sufficient length and are offset so that when the two compression molds are pressed together, the tips of the pegs on one compression mold penetrate the area located between two pins on the opposite compression mold. The compression molds are then pressed into the heated substrate plank. The two compression molds are then removed and the compressed substrate plank is allowed to cool causing the closed voids to be ‘set’. After cooling, the compressed substrate plank is then cut transversely along a line parallel to the plank's top and bottom surfaces and perpendicular to the closed voids.

Abstract: A non-destructive evaluation system for evaluating an article such as a test sample, the system comprising: a silicon-based CCD camera for obtaining a series of images of the article; first apparatus for receiving the series of images of the article from the silicon-based CCD camera and using a first imaging modality to generate a first data set spatially correlated to the article; second apparatus for receiving the series of images of the article from the silicon-based CCD camera and using a second imaging modality to generate a second data set spatially correlated to the article; and processing apparatus for processing at least one of the first and second data sets so as to evaluate at least one physical characteristic of the article.

Abstract: A fluorescence microscopy sequencer comprises a fluid transport subsystem in which reagents are pumped through a series of multi-port valves to a mixer or one or more flow cells, or directly into the flow cell(s). The one or more multi-port valves can be mounted upon a fluids manifold having syringe tubes mounted on the opposite side. Mounted on a movable support, the manifold may be brought into and out of fluid communication with a storage block comprising the plurality of reagents. In another embodiment, the sequencer comprises a beamsplitter indexer that facilitates the quick and reliable switching of filter cubes through use of a stepper motor. In yet another embodiment, a motion control system is provided in which an inertial reference is interposed between and directly coupled to a first and second axis of control, thereby minimizing any low structural resonant frequencies and enabling high performance (high frequency response) motion control.

Abstract: A system and method for distributing messages to a plurality of mobile devices within a defined geographic location comprising an automated telephone system used to define a desired distribution area, a remote agent or other identification or positioning device used to identify mobile devices within the defined geographic location, and transmitting a message to the identified mobile devices.

Abstract: A water disk sports game that includes a pair of floating goals located at predetermined distances from each other in a designated boundary area. Each goal includes a vertical scoring pole that extends upward from a large floating base. In a first embodiment, the floating base is a hollow circular floating disk with an upper, diagonally aligned skirt surface that leads to a circular recessed cavity coaxially aligned with the scoring pole. Attached to the scoring pole is an elevated lid which creates a narrow gap between the lid and the top rim of the floating base. In another embodiment, the floating base is a partially submerged rim with radially aligned spokes and a center hub designed to receive the scoring pole. During use, a specially designed aquatic disk is given to one team whose objective is to throw the aquatic disk at the opposing team's scoring pole.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring electronic transactions, such as credit card transactions, to determine whether associated transaction costs, such as interchange fees, are being properly qualified. This is accomplished by monitoring for a “spike” in interchange qualifications and generating an alert when one or more spikes are detected. Spikes in interchange qualifications are defined as a variation in interchange qualifications compared with an historical level. The method and system may also monitor changes in cost or efficiency for other types of transactions in which the cost or efficiency of the transaction is based directly upon one or more variables.

Abstract: An apparatus for displaying layers generated by multiple applications is provided. Layers generated by one or more applications are presented on a display at particular levels of transparency such that a user may be able to simultaneously view the layers. The user can select one of the layers with which to interact by varying the respective levels of transparency such that one of the layers is less transparent and the other of the layers is more transparent. In this way, the user may manipulate the levels of transparency of the layers to navigate through multiple applications and access a desired application. Corresponding methods and computer program products are also provided.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring electronic transactions, such as credit card transactions, to determine whether associated transaction costs, such as interchange fees, are being properly qualified. This is accomplished by monitoring for a “spike” in interchange qualifications and generating an alert when one or more spikes are detected. Spikes in interchange qualifications are defined as a variation in interchange qualifications compared with an historical level. The method and system may also monitor changes in cost or efficiency for other types of transactions in which the cost or efficiency of the transaction is based directly upon one or more variables.

Abstract: A vehicular rearview mirror-based navigation system includes a rearview mirror system, including an interior rearview mirror assembly, having an interior reflective element and interior mirror housing for the interior reflective element. The interior rearview mirror assembly further includes a scrolling display. The scrolling display displays scrolling driver informational messages on the scrolling display. The interior rearview mirror assembly may include a global-positioning system display receiving an output from a global-positioning system receiving system and displaying turn-by-turn information to a vehicle driver.