Abstract: A walk reel mower has a front mounted reel cutting unit and a rear handle. The operator pushes the handle towards the ground to lift the reel cutting unit off the ground prior to turning the walk reel mower around. When this occurs, the manner in which the reel cutting unit is supported in conjunction with the influence of gravity causes the reel cutting unit to pitch rearwardly relative to the frame of the walk reel mower. This change of orientation is used to close a switch which, in turn, initiates an automatic slow down of the mower to ease the task of turning the mower around. When a turn is completed and the cutting unit is dropped back down into engagement with the ground, the slow down is terminated and the ground speed resumes at whatever predetermined ground speed was previously selected by the operator.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the position of a screen pointer for an electronic device having a display screen includes a light source for illuminating an imaging surface, thereby generating reflected images. The apparatus includes a single chip for receiving the reflected images, generating digital representations of the reflected images, and generating a first set of movement data based on the digital representations of the reflected images. The first set of movement data is indicative of relative motion between the chip and the imaging surface. The single chip includes a serial interface for outputting motion data in a serial format based on the movement data.

Abstract: A system that facilitates enhanced security with respect to an industrial automation environment comprises a legacy device that is existent within an industrial automation system and a central access authority that provides access rules to a proxy. The proxy receives an access request directed to the legacy device and determines whether the access request is permitted based at least in part upon characteristics of the access request and the access rules provided by the central access authority.

Abstract: Laser power control arrangements interrupt power to a laser used in electro-optical readers upon detection of operating conditions not conforming to preestablished standards, and adjust power to the laser to enhance reader performance without violating prevalent safety standards.

Abstract: A method and packaging for both vaccinating and identifying an animal by implanting a solid dose medicament and an identifying electronic microchip in an animal. The solid dose medicament, or plurality of such medicaments, are each, preferably color-coded to identify a particular active ingredient, then packaged in a pellet magazine through which the doses are visible, and thereafter the pellets are implanted, usually subcutaneously, for example into the base of the ear or in the neck of an animal. The same system can be used for coded ballistic implants of identifying chips and medicaments.

Abstract: A system and method for updating a system that controls files executed on a workstation. The workstation includes a workstation management module configured to detect the launch of an application. A workstation application server receives data associated with the application from the workstation. This data can include a hash value. The application server module can determine one or more categories to associate with the application by referencing an application inventory database or requesting the category from an application database factory. The application database factory can receive applications from multiple application server modules. The application database factory determines whether the application was previously categorized by the application database factory and provides the category to the application server module. Once the application server module has the category, it forwards a hash/policy table to the workstation management module.

Abstract: The present invention provides landscape edging blocks, block systems, and methods of manufacturing such blocks and block systems. Landscape edging blocks of the invention can be used to separate landscape regions from each other. For example, landscape edging blocks of the invention can be used to separate a lawn from a decorative bed or garden such as those containing flowers, shrubs, trees, and the like. Landscape edging blocks of the invention preferably include a display surface wherein aggregate material of the landscape edging block is exposed on at least a portion of the display surface to a greater degree than on at least one other surface of the landscape edging block. Also, landscape edging blocks of the invention preferably include an overlapping engagement system for positioning adjacent block with respect to each other. The overlapping system inhibits growth of grass or other vegetation between two adjoining blocks.

Abstract: Non-peptide GnRH agents capable of inhibiting the effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone are described. Such compounds and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, prodrugs, and active metabolites are suitable for treating mammalian reproductive disorders and steroid hormone-dependent tumors as well as for regulating fertility, where suppression of gonadotropin release is indicated. Methods for synthesizing the compounds and intermediates useful in their preparation are also described.

Abstract: A two-part coupling structure (22, 32) includes a male coupling part (32) and a female coupling part (22) which are mutually engageable to open fluid communication between the coupling parts (22, 32). For example, the coupling parts (22, 32) may be used to establish fluid communication between a container (12) and a conduit (14). The coupling parts (22, 32) are disengageable from one another to discontinue fluid communication between them, and also to close communication between ambient and each of the container (12) and the conduit (14). The male coupling part (32) includes a mounting structure (44a-44e) for supporting on the female coupling part (32), and also includes a guide structure (44) effective to guide a male probe portion (36) of the male coupling part (32) into engagement with the female coupling part (22).

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides glass beads and optical devices comprising the glass beads. In other aspects, the invention provides methods of making said glass beads and rapid glass screening methods that use glass beads. Glass beads of the invention comprise greater than 80 weight percent silica, active rare earth dopant, and modifying dopant. In another embodiment the glass beads comprise greater than 80 weight percent silica and at least 5 weight percent germania. In another embodiment, glass beads comprise and from about 20 to about 90 anion mole percent of non-oxide anion.

Abstract: An identification circuit for establishing and sensing the state of a fusible element used in on chip identification of the chip's type comprising: a circuit establishing control signals for turning the identification circuit on and off; dual paths energized by the control signals generated by the level setting circuit to energize one path through the fusible element to provide a state level and the other path through a reference path which provides a reference voltage level which is distinguishable from both the blown and unblown states of the fusible element; a differential sensing circuit for comparing the reference voltage level to the state level to provide a signal indicating the state of the fusible element; and protection circuitry to protect the circuit during an operation in which the state of the fusible element is set.

Abstract: An optical-signal receiver comprises an optical sensor operable to receive an optical signal from an optical-signal emitter communicatively coupled to an electronic system and a processor operable to implement a performance characteristic value specified by the optical signal.

Abstract: A system and method for updating a system that controls files executed on a workstation. The workstation includes a workstation management module configured to detect the launch of an application. A workstation application server receives data associated with the application from the workstation. This data can include a hash value. The application server module can determine one or more categories to associate with the application by referencing an application inventory database or requesting the category from an application database factory. The application database factory can receive applications from multiple application server modules. The application database factory determines whether the application was previously categorized by the application database factory and provides the category to the application server module. Once the application server module has the category, it forwards a hash/policy table to the workstation management module.

Abstract: A system and method for updating, monitoring, and controlling applications on a workstation. The workstation includes a workstation management module configured to detect the launch or request to access a network by an application. A workstation application server receives data associated with the application from the workstation. The application server module can determine one or more policies or categories to associate with the application by referencing an application inventory database. Once the application server module has the category or policy, it forwards a hash/policy table to the workstation management module. Upon receipt of the hash/policy table, the workstation management module applies the policy that is associated with the application to control network access by the application.

Abstract: A particle that includes an inorganic matrix that includes channels and a composition disposed in the channels, the composition including organic structure-directing agent and active agent, e.g., pheromone, and the particle being capable of controllably releasing the active agent.

Abstract: A user of a client device selects a service provider from a plurality of available service providers. The client device then queries the user for the user's information and formats the user's information into a predetermined data structure and format. The client device connects to the service provider and sends the formatted user's information to the service provider. The service provider responsively creates configuration data and provides it to the client device. The configuration data is used to configure a plurality of applications on the client device, allowing the user to establish future communication sessions with the service provider.

Abstract: An object code expansion profiler equips a program for execution profiling by preprocessing the object code files of the program so as to add profiling monitoring code to the beginning of all or substantially all functions. The preprocessing includes, for each function, the steps of grouping the function's instructions into basic blocks, counting the number of cycles required to execute the instructions of the basic block, and inserting special monitoring code with the basic block. The special monitoring code is executed each time the basic block is executed, and updates the profiling information to reflect the number of cycles required to execute the basic block. Special handling is provided for profiling calls to the Operating System (OS). The resultant profiling information is converted into a call graph image most useful for human users.

Abstract: An apparatus and method enable parallelism in a computer program using parallelism that is built-in to many modem database managers. The parallelism provided by a database manager in executing user-defined functions provides an easy way to implement parallelism for database and non-database functions in a computer program without the need of hard-coding all the parallelism support in the computer program itself. A database table is defined with instructions the user wants to execute in parallel. A user-defined function is then defined that executes the instructions in the table. A database operation is then defined for the table that invokes the user-defined function. When the database operation is executed, the database manager provides parallelism by executing multiple tasks in parallel in the user-defined function.

Abstract: A system for mounting heatsinks, in particular, high-mass heatsinks, on printed circuit boards, such as motherboards. The mounting system includes a backplate, disposed beneath the motherboard, with pins protruding up through the motherboard, and a linkage assembly, which is fixably attached to a base portion of a heatsink assembly. The linkage assembly includes scoops, for grasping the pins during engagement, and a ratcheting system, for compressing the heatsink and thermal interface material onto the package. The mounting system is designed to effectively distribute the heatsink weight, as well as the forces caused by chronic and dynamic stresses, through, rather than upon the motherboard, such as to a chassis. The mounting system thus alleviates stress cracks, component pullout, solderball stress, and other damaging conditions to the motherboard. The mounting system may be engaged and disengaged without the use of tools.

Abstract: The present invention provides surfactant mediated metal oxide films that are hydrophilic and articles having hydrophilic films of the invention on one or more surfaces.