Abstract: A portable bedding system including bedding attached to a bag having a carrying arrangement. The bedding includes a ground sheet attached to a weather proof top sheet that is folded over the ground sheet to form an enclosure for a user, and the bedding can be packed into the attached bag.

Abstract: A portable bedding system including bedding attached to a bag having a carrying arrangement. The bedding includes a ground sheet attached to a weather proof top sheet that is folded over the ground sheet to form an enclosure for a user, and the bedding can be packed into the attached bag.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for decoding, on a pixel-by-pixel basis, audio/video data using a table of encoded pixel parameter values, wherein each pixel is represented by an entry including a dominant pixel color component and by scaling a set of segment reference pixels comprised of segment reference pixel values according to each entry in the table of encoded pixel parameter values to produce decoded pixels comprised of decoded pixel parameter values.

Abstract: A method for decoding a compressed video file comprises receiving the encoded video file, wherein the encoded video file includes a plurality of encoded video data tables and a plurality of reference pixel value sets. The plurality of encoded video data tables are decoded using the plurality of reference pixel value sets. Decoded video data is returned.

Abstract: A method to enhance oil shale, oil sand, asphaltic crude oil, or other high viscosity crude oil production by using a solar blackbody waveguide to heat these formations in situ. A parabolic mirror collects and directs the solar flux into a vertical shaft of a well drilled into the formation. This vertical shaft is lined with a reflective sleeve that reflects nearly all of the sunlight down into the well bore. The reflective sleeve ends at the top of the formation so that below this point, the solar flux is permitted to make successive reflections with the interior of the metal well casing or solar blackbody waveguide coil. The coil absorbs the solar flux, converting it to heat. Heat from the coil is transferred by conduction into the formation and allowing the formation to be produced by traditional methods.

Abstract: A method for determining the individual and collective decision-making competence, consistency, knowledge and understanding, and governance structures of an individual ro collective body in the field of investment/financial management, or similar position of responsibility, wherein questionnaires are filled out by the subject(s) which are designed to ascertain their opinions, attitudes and/or beliefs within their field, and evaluate their decision-making styles and problem-solving processes. The answers are coded, input, analysed and used to evaluate the competence and consistency of the subjects' individual and collective decision-making.

Abstract: A method for encoding a video, comprises receiving the video as a plurality of pixel value sets, wherein each pixel value set of the plurality of pixel value sets represents a digitized pixel of the video. The plurality of pixel value sets are grouped into a plurality of digitized video frames. Each pixel value set of the plurality of pixel value sets includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of each pixel value set is encoded to provide a plurality of dominant color values.

Abstract: Data values are encoded by mapping multi-dimensional parameters of the data values to respective one-dimensional parameters and creating a table of encoded data values in which the data values are represented by their respective encoded counterparts utilizing the one-dimensional parameters and in which redundant ones of the encoded data values share common table entries; further compressing the table of encoded data values using a data compression process; and transmitting the further compressed table of encoded data values. Additionally, a set of reference data values may be transmitted for use by a decoder when decoding the table of encoded data values. The data compression process used to further compress the table of encoded data values may be a lossless compression process. (e.g., run length encoding) or a lossy compression process. The data values may be scaled prior to creating the table of encoded data values.

Abstract: The invention relates mold, particularly a mold for producing foam articles. In a preferred embodiment, the mold comprises a lid and a bowl releasingly engageable to define a mold cavity, the lid comprising: (i) a vent having a passageway for gas to escape from the mold cavity, and (ii) a plurality of grooves connected to the vent. The use of a plurality of grooves/slots in the mold cavity surface effectively acts as a siphon to draw gas away from the composition to be molded. The plurality of grooves/slots is connected to one or more vents which then allows for escape of the gas from the mold cavity to the exterior of the mold.

Abstract: A sealing material comprises a partially or fully cured polysulphide sealant and a reinforcing element, especially glass fibre. The sealing material is a flexible solid and is preferably in sheet form. The sealing material is cut to shape like a gasket and is assembled between components to be fastened, for example, in airframe manufacture.

Abstract: Intrascleral injection of a therapeutic or diagnostic material at a location overlying the retina provides a minimally invasive technique for delivering the agent to the posterior segment of the eye. The procedure also allows for close proximity of the material to the targeted site and can be effectively used to treat conditions associated with the posterior segment of the eye, including macular degeneration, vein occlusion, and diabetic retinopathy. The sclera can be used to hold a depot of the material such as for sustained released or as a conduit for propelling material through whereby the material is delivered immediately to the underlying tissues but without physically penetrating the sclera with an instrument or otherwise unreasonably traumatizing the eye.

Abstract: Intrascleral injection of a therapeutic or diagnostic material at a location overlying the retina provides a minimally invasive technique for delivering the agent to the posterior segment of the eye. The procedure also allows for close proximity of the material to the targeted site and can be effectively used to treat conditions associated with the posterior segment of the eye, including macular degeneration, vein occlusion, and diabetic retinopathy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for using the apparatus for injecting an agent into a tissue, particularly into thin tissues such as the sclera of the eye. The invention provides an apparatus and method for effectively imbedding a needle into a tissue at a predetermined penetration approach angle and penetration distance thereby reducing the risk of penetrating the full thickness of the tissue. The invention includes a support element and a needle guide platform disposed on the support element with an external support surface and a channel extending therethrough and terminating in an aperture at the support surface. A needle disposed in the channel is axially movable along an axis of injection through the channel. The needle is movable from a first retracted position to an extended position corresponding to the penetration distance, along the axis of injection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for using the apparatus for injecting an agent into a tissue, particularly into thin tissues such as the sclera of the eye. The invention provides an apparatus and method for effectively imbedding a needle into a tissue at a predetermined penetration approach angle and penetration distance thereby reducing the risk of penetrating the full thickness of the tissue. The invention includes a support element and a needle guide platform disposed on the support element with an external support surface and a channel extending therethrough and terminating in an aperture at the support surface. A needle disposed in the channel is axially movable along an axis of injection through the channel. The needle is movable from a first retracted position to an extended position corresponding to the penetration distance, along the axis of injection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for using the apparatus for injecting an agent into a tissue, particularly into thin tissues such as the sclera of the eye. The invention provides an apparatus and method for effectively imbedding a needle into a tissue at a predetermined penetration approach angle and penetration distance thereby reducing the risk of penetrating the full thickness of the tissue. The invention includes a support element and a needle guide platform disposed on the support element with an external support surface and a channel extending therethrough and terminating in an aperture at the support surface. A needle disposed in the channel is axially movable along an axis of injection through the channel. The needle is movable from a first retracted position to an extended position corresponding to the penetration distance, along the axis of injection.

Abstract: Apparatus for sorting articles having a roller conveyor for moving articles through an inspection region where they are scanned by a camera. From the scans, the position of boundaries of the articles is determined so that the existence and location of the articles can be identified. Color counts, representative of the color of the articles are made from the scans and are correlated with the appropriate article identified. Load cells produce weight information which is similarly correlated with the appropriate articles. The information is fed to a processor which is arranged to track the articles through the inspection region and is arranged to route the articles differently in accordance with the color counts and/or weight information correlated therewith.

Abstract: A duplicating stencil is produced by placing an electrostatically-produced image on a substrate in contact with an ink-impervious surface layer of a stencil blank, bending the image to the surface layer by the application of heat and/or pressure and stripping the substrate from the stencil blank to remove the surface layer in the image area. The surface layer may comprise a synthetic resin composition containing a finely dispersed pigment and is attached to the porous base tissue of the stencil blank by an adhesive. Bonding of the image to the surface layer and possibly also fixing of the image to the substrate in the same operation can be effected by means of infra-red heating.

Abstract: A duplicating stencil is produced by placing an electrostatically-produced image on a substrate in contact with an ink-impervious surface layer of a stencil blank, bonding the image to the surface layer by the application of heat and/or pressure and stripping the substrate from the stencil blank to remove the surface layer in the image area. The surface layer may comprise a synthetic resin composition containing a finely dispersed pigment and is attached to the porous base tissue of the stencil blank by an adhesive. Bonding of the image to the surface layer and possibly also fixing of the image to the substrate in the same operation can be effected by means of infra-red heating.

Abstract: Organopolysiloxane release composition based on curable linear organopolysiloxanes modified by the incorporation of a copolymer containing a proportion of Me(R.sup.1 Q)SiO groups in which at least one R.sup.1 group has at least 6 carbon atoms and Q is O or S, with or without a proportion of MeRSiO groups in which at least one R group has at least 4 carbon atoms, and substrates treated therewith.

Abstract: Diorganopolysiloxane release compositions, the release properties of which are modified by the incorporation of a copolymer of average general formulaA.sub.3 SiO(Me.sub.2 SiO).sub.x (MeRSiO).sub.y (MeHSiO).sub.z SiA.sub.3where A and R are selected from specified groups x and z are numbers from 0-950, y is a number from 1 to 1000, x + y + z is not less than 20 and not greater than 1000, y/(x+y+z) is not less than 0.05 and the total ratio of R:Si in the composition is not less than 1:2000.