Abstract: A delineator post adapted to spring back to its original upright position after an impact comprises an inground socket permanently installed in a paved surface. A resilient plug having a lower end portion is inserted in the inground socket. The resilient plug has an upper end portion projecting upwardly from the inground socket. An anchor is provided for releasably anchoring the resilient plug to the inground socket. A post segment is fastened over the upper end portion of the resilient plug. The tension in the resilient plug when subject to a deformation as a result of an impact on the post segment returns the post segment back to its original upright position.

Abstract: A lumbar support system for a furniture member includes a furniture member having a back seat member connected to a base member. A lumbar support system is connected to the back seat member. The lumbar support system includes first and second pivot tubes rotatably connected to the back seat member. At least one flexible occupant lumbar support member is connected to each of the first and second pivot tubes. A lumbar support adjustment device connected to a predetermined one of the pivot tubes rotates the first pivot tube to selectively position the lumbar support members in any one of a plurality of support positions. A linkage set couples the support adjustment device to the first one of the first and second pivot tubes.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes at least one valve configured to control fluid flow in a dual-clutch transmission system. A solenoid is operably connected to the at least one valve and configured to move the valve to a plurality of positions. A primary processing unit is in communication with the solenoid and configured to determine an intended position of the valve. A controller is configured to receive the intended position of the valve from the primary processing unit and generate a primary control signal associated with the intended position of the valve. The solenoid is configured to move the valve to the intended position based on the primary control signal. A secondary processing unit is configured to receive information from the primary processing unit and prevent the primary control signal from controlling the solenoid if the primary processing unit is unable to control the solenoid.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for positioning and aligning a patterned surface of a semiconductor structure directly opposite to solder filled patterned mold cavities of a mold structure includes a pattern based alignment too including means for identifying a mold training pattern image and a semiconductor training pattern image on a training mold structure and a training semiconductor structure, respectively, means for training the alignment tool with the training pattern images, means for storing the alignment tool trained position, means for identifying a mold pattern image and a semiconductor pattern image on the mold structure and the semiconductor structure matching the mold training pattern image and the semiconductor training pattern image, respectively, and means for aligning the identified mold pattern image with the semiconductor pattern image.

Abstract: A method of preparing fuel pellets includes the steps of providing a feedstock in the form of agricultural hull fibres. The agricultural hull fibres may be derived from all whole grains and seeds. For example, are comprised of at least one of corn bran, rye bran; oat bran, rice bran, soy bran, canola bran and wheat bran. The method may include the step of mixing the feedstock with a sequestering agent before being formed into pellets for sequestering alkali metal vapors and raising the fusion point of the inorganic elements during combustion of the pellets. The sequestering agent may be calcium carbonate added in amounts up to about 0.5% by weight. The pellets contain additives comprised of ammonium nitrate, calcium, manganese, magnesium, aluminum, barium, iron, potassium and amorphous silicate, which sequester potassium and chlorides.

Abstract: The formation of a cream and gel is described using a biopolymer, such as a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), a polylactide (PLA), a polylactideglycolide (PLGA) and a polyglycoside (PGA), or a derivative thereof, in a latex form with the addition of a binder, which is generally an amphiphilic chemical entity. An hydrophobic domain of the amphiphilic chemical entity interacts with at least one biopolymer forming a water soluble complex, while the hydrophilic domain of the amphiphilic chemical entity maintains the soluble complex in suspension in an aqueous solution, which after proper heating becomes a gel or a cream. As a result, a versatile gel or cream is created with different compositions and textures that are obtained based on the nature of the binder used and the ratio of biopolymers and binder(s).

Abstract: Immunogenic peptides of a melanoma antigen recognized by T cells, designated gp100, bioassays using the peptides to diagnose, assess or prognose a mammal afflicted with cancer, more specifically melanoma or metastatic melanoma, and use of the proteins and peptides as immunogens to inhibit, prevent or treat melanoma.

Abstract: A furniture member mechanism includes upper and lower housing structures, the lower housing structure including first and second side frames. A mechanism is disposed within both the upper and lower housing structures, including first and second lever arms having an upper end, a body extending into both the upper and lower housing structures, and a lower end positioned in the lower housing structure and rotatably connected to the first and second side frames. A bracket is connected to the first and second side frames. First and second biasing members are connected to the first and second lever arms and the bracket. The first or second biasing member extends when the first or second lever arm is rotated from an initial position in a lever forward direction. A biasing force of the first or second biasing member biases the first or second lever arm toward the initial position.

Abstract: A system for moving a furniture member headrest includes an armrest fixedly connected to a base. A back support is connected to the armrest. A headrest is movably connected to the back support. A first adjustment member operates to rotate the headrest. The first adjustment member is positioned in a cavity between interior and exterior armrest frame elements and is manually movable. A second adjustment member moves the headrest upwardly or downwardly with respect to the backrest. The second adjustment member is also positioned in the cavity and manually movable by the occupant.

Abstract: An occupant lumbar support system includes a flexible lumbar support member having homogenously connected first and second connection braces. The lumbar support member is deflectable to a plurality of lumbar support positions. A rigid displacement rod is connected at a first rod end to one of the connection braces. A lumbar member actuation mechanism has a rotatable first actuation arm receiving a second displacement rod end. The actuation member translates the displacement rod causing the first and second connection braces to move toward each other, deflecting the lumbar support member to any of the lumbar support positions. A cable is connected at a first end to an actuation mechanism second actuation arm and at a second end to a displaceable lever manually movable to co-rotate the first and second actuation arms and translate the displacement rod.

Abstract: A stuffed figure and kit for attaching the stuffed figure to a pillow case. The stuffed figure includes a flexible material defining a cavity and configured to depict a body having at least two appendages and a head with a face, a quantity of a soft filler material disposed within the cavity defining a three-dimensional, flexible body, and attaching means disposed at or adjacent each distal end of each of the at least two appendages where the attaching means is configured to removably attach the stuffed figure to a pillow case using the at least two appendages. The kit includes either a pillow case or a literary component or both with characteristics that relate the stuffed figure, the pillow case and the literally component to each other.

Abstract: A colorless tunable dispersion compensator for compensating for chromatic dispersion in a multi-channel light signal is provided. The compensator includes a multi-channel Bragg grating extending along a waveguide. Dispersion tuning means, such as a temperature gradient inducing device, are provided for tuning the dispersion characteristics of the wavelength channels. Wavelength shifting means are also provided for uniformly shifting the central wavelengths of all channels independently of their dispersion characteristics. A uniform temperature inducing or strain applying assembly can be used for this purpose.

Abstract: A display controller system is controlled to provide a display surface zoom using hardware scaling from user input at the operating system, application program or hardware level. User input defining coordinates of a frame portion within a frame buffer memory is obtained, and a resolution of the zoom display device is determined. An aspect ratio of the zoom portion defined by the user input is adjusted to correspond to the zoom display device resolution. The display controller system is programmed to implement the display surface zoom to provide a full screen view of the zoom portion on the zoom display device. In the display controller system, the zoom portion of the frame buffer memory is scaled, converted into a display signal and output.

Abstract: A teething toy that is chewable and sensory stimulating uses a hollow cylinder made of a soft clear polymeric material. It is approximately half filled with a colored fluid. Shiny particle specks and different shaped multicolored floating objects are suspended in the fluid. Nipple shaped protrusions extend from end spherical end. A circular handle with oval cross section extends from the side of the cylinder. Directly opposite this handle is a rectangular shaped handle with oval cross section. The sides of both handles have small extension knobs protruding from the narrow sides of the cross sections. Options include longitudinal ribs running along the cylinder surface for easy grasp and manipulation. Additional options include rectangular grips extending, from the sides of the toy. Options include a suction cup and suspended from a flexible plastic cord that tethers the toy to a surface such as a high chair tray.

Abstract: Maternal and fetal birthing simulators are disclosed. The maternal simulator has a rotatable pelvis, legs articulated at the hip and knee joints, and a deformable covering that simulates the feel of the skin and underlying tissues. The fetal simulator has an extensible neck, a movable head, movable clavicles, and arms articulated at the shoulder and elbow joints, and may include sensors to measure spinal extension, head rotation, applied traction force, and brachial plexus displacement.

Abstract: An interface device for performing mode transformation in optical waveguides includes an optical waveguide core for propagating light of a particular wavelength or a plurality of wavelengths. The optical waveguide core terminates in a subwavelength grating configured to change the propagation mode of the light. The subwavelength grating has a pitch sufficiently less than the wavelength of the light to frustrate diffraction. The device can thus serve as an optical coupler between different propagating media, or as an anti-reflective or high reflectivity device.

Abstract: New ligands and compositions with bridged bis-aromatic ligands are disclosed that catalyze the polymerization of monomers into polymers. These catalysts with metal centers have high performance characteristics, including higher comonomer incorporation into ethylene/olefin copolymers, where such olefins are for example, 1-octene, propylene or styrene. The catalysts also polymerize propylene into isotactic polypropylene.

Abstract: A method for single photon counting transmission computed tomography (CT) is described. The method is based on an apparatus consisting of a radiation source and detectors on an opposite side of the subject from the source. The radiation source is for example an X-ray tube. The detectors are independently connected to parallel, fast, low-noise processing electronics capable of recording and counting individual X-ray photons at very high rate. In one embodiment of the invention, said detector is made of a scintillator coupled to a photodetector. The photodetector can be an avalanche photodiode (APD).