Abstract: A method for preparing a polyimide includes introducing a mixture of an oligomer and a solvent to an extruder, removing solvent via at least one extruder vent, and melt kneading the oligomer to form a polyimide. The polyimide has a low residual solvent content. The method is faster than solution polymerization of polyimides, and it avoids the stoichiometric inaccuracies associated with reactive extrusion processes that use monomers as starting materials.

Abstract: There is described an apparatus which monitors the orientation of or the rotational movement of a substantially spherical body. The apparatus comprises a substantially spherical body with at least one resonant circuit fixed thereto. A transmit aerial generates an alternating magnetic field in the region of space including the spherical body which induces an electric signal in the or each resonant circuit, and a receive aerial receives an induced sense signal generated in response to said induced electric signal in the or each resonant circuit. The electromagnetic coupling between the transmit aerial and the receive aerial via the or each resonant circuit varies in accordance with the orientation of the spherical body so that the induced sense signal in the receive aerial varies in accordance with the orientation of the spherical body.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel receptor-binding cyclic peptides that advantageously display high receptor binding affinity and selectively. More particularly, the present invention provides integrin-binding cyclic peptides containing an integrin-binding motif such as an RGD motif, an aromatic amino acid such as a tyrosine residue, and a lysine residue having a pi-pi stacking moiety conjugated to its ?-amino group. Methods for identifying receptor-binding cyclic peptides and for using the cyclic peptides of the present invention for imaging a tumor, organ, or tissue and for treating cancer, inflammatory diseases, and autoimmune diseases are also provided.

Abstract: A light for use with computers containing light emitting diodes, which may be directional, on one or more movable supports which is powered via the computer's USB or IEEE 1394 port. An auxiliary USB or IEEE 1394 port may be combined with the plug-in light to allow for additional devices to be connected through the same port powering the light.

Abstract: A shoulder stabilizing restraint is provided which includes a pillow and a forearm wrap. The pillow has an arcuately-configured posterior face for engaging an anterior quadrant of a torso on a first side of a user. The pillow also has a flat forearm engagement face for engaging a forearm on the first side of the user. The forearm engagement face is preferably converges with the posterior face at a posterior/lateral convergence which is positionable proximal to a lateral border of the torso on the first side of the user. The forearm wrap is fastenable to the pillow to retain the forearm in engagement with the forearm engagement face and the shoulder joint at a positive external rotation angle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to devices and method for melting solid polarised sample while retaining a high level of polarisation. In an embodiment of the present invention a sample is polarised in a sample-retaining cup 9 in a strong magnetic field in a polarising means 3a, 3b, 3c in a cryostat 2 and then melted inside the cryostat 2 by melting means such as a laser 8 connected by an optical fibre 4 to the interior of the cryostat.

Abstract: An orthopedic walker has a rigid external shell, a pliant internal boot positioned in the external shell, and a deformable insert positioned within the internal boot. The internal boot is sized to enclose a lower extremity of a user. The deformable insert has a heel segment including a fully-encircled heel opening. The deformable insert freely rests within the internal boot and is sized and positioned to receive the heel of the lower extremity within the heel opening. However, the deformable insert is sufficiently undersized to maintain a continuous exposed surface extending between a top surface of the foot and a front surface of the ankle.

Abstract: An Internet-scale file sharing system includes a client-side file sharing application that allows file-sharing users to identify files to share and transmit metadata corresponding to those files to a metadata repository. A server-side application operating on the metadata repository tracks metadata received from associated file-sharing users, as well as metadata from other affiliated metadata repositories. Each metadata repository acts as a search engine for any querying users and can provide search results based on locally stored metadata alone. Each metadata repository may additionally choose to locally-store popular files from an associated file-sharing user so as to alleviate transmission burdens on that file-sharing user. Associated metadata repositories each periodically synchronize their stored metadata so that all metadata repositories may generate similar search results.

Abstract: A fluid aspiration device is provided having a syringe, a disposal reservoir and a disposal fluid passageway. The syringe has a variable-volume fluid chamber and an aspiration fluid passageway between the fluid chamber and a region of the body containing a fluid for aspiration. An aspiration valve is positioned in the aspiration fluid passageway. The disposal fluid passageway is between the fluid chamber and disposal reservoir and has a disposal valve positioned therein. The fluid is aspirated by expanding the variable volume of the fluid chamber to draw the fluid through the open aspiration valve into the fluid chamber. The aspiration valve is closed and the variable volume of the fluid chamber is contracted to open the disposal valve and displace the fluid into the disposal reservoir. When aspiration is terminated, the fluid aspiration device is maintained intact and the intact device including the fluid is disposed.

Abstract: A longitudinal recording head (50, 56, 60) for use with magnetic recording media includes a non-uniform gap (54, 59, 64) between first (51, 57, 61) and second magnetic (52, 58, 62) poles which focuses magnetic flux onto a small area of the magnetic recording medium. The non-uniform gap is preferably in the form of a cavity that is contoured to produce the desired flux pattern. Longitudinal recording heads incorporating the non-uniform gap are capable of improved recording densities.

Abstract: There is described a position sensor comprising at least one planar substrate having formed thereon a magnetic field generator which comprises conductive tracks formed on at least two planes defined by the at least one planar substrate. An intermediate coupling element is operable to move relative to the at least one planar substrate along a measurement direction transverse to the planar substrate, the detector detects the position of the intermediate coupling element in a magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator. The position sensor has particular application in man-machine interfaces such as push buttons and rotary switches.

Abstract: There is described a sensor comprising an excitation winding, a signal generator operable to generate an excitation signal and arranged to apply the generated excitation signal to the excitation winding, a sensor winding electromagnetically coupled to the excitation winding and a signal processor operable to process a periodic electric signal generated in the sensor winding when the excitation signal is applied to the excitation winding by the signal generator to determine a value of a sensed parameter. The excitation signal comprises a periodic carrier signal having a first frequency modulated by a periodic modulation signal having a second frequency, the first frequency being greater than the second frequency. In this way, the sensor is well suited to using digital processing techniques both to generate the excitation signal and to process the signal inducced in the sensor windings. In an embodiment, the sensor is used to detect the relative position of two members.

Abstract: An electric water craft. The electric water craft produces its own electricity from an on-board fuel cell system. Hydrogen fuel is provided from storage tanks or produced within the hull of the water craft. The heat produced by the fuel cell stack may be dissipated to the marine environment for heat management of the fuel cell power system.

Abstract: A light for use with computers containing light emitting diodes, which may be directional, on one or more movable supports which is powered via the computer's USB or IEEE 1394 port. An auxiliary USB or IEEE 1394 port may be combined with the plug-in light to allow for additional devices to be connected through the same port powering the light.

Abstract: An electric personal water craft. The electric personal water craft produces its own electricity from an on-board fuel cell system. Hydrogen fuel is stored or produced within the hull of the personal water craft. The heat produced by the fuel cell stack can dissipated to the marine environment for heat management of the fuel cell power system. Output from the fuel cell system may also be stored in a rechargeable NiMH battery and used alone or in conjunction with the fuel cell to provide electricity for the electric propulsion.

Abstract: This invention relates to an extrusion method preparing polycarbonates from a solution of an oligomeric polycarbonate. A mixture of bis(methyl salicyl)carbonate (BMSC), BPA and a transesterification catalyst are first equilibrated at moderate temperatures to provide a solution of polycarbonate oligomer in methyl salicylate. The solution is then fed to a devolatilizing extruder, where the polymerization reaction is completed and the methyl salicylate solvent is removed. The solution comprising the oligomeric polycarbonate can also be pre-heated under pressure to a temperature above the boiling point of methyl salicylate and subsequently fed to a devolatilizing extruder equipped for rapid flashing off the solvent. The method provides polycarbonate with greater efficiency than the corresponding process in which unreacted monomers are fed to the extruder. Additionally, the method of the invention does not require the isolation of a precursor polycarbonate comprising ester-substituted phenoxy terminal groups.

Abstract: A removable cover for a an electrical component box includes a pair of side walls having hinge edges including a hook and an engagement surface extending from the hook. The hook slides over and engages the hinge members of a box, and the engagement surface forms a sliding surface that allows rotation of the cover about the hinge elements. The hinge is easily installed and removed by orienting the cover at a selected angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the box, and lifting the hook over the hinge member to either engage or disengage the hook from the hinge members.

Abstract: A construction beam includes a pair of lateral members and a resilient web extending therebetween, so as to present a cross-sectional profile corresponding to commonly used construction beam members (e.g., 2″×4″ or 2″×6″). The resilience of the web helps to attenuate sound transmission through the beam from one lateral member to the other. In particular, in a wall frame, the lateral members are mounted at opposite ends thereof to end plates consisting of other construction beams according to the present invention (i.e., a pair of lateral members with resilient web extending therebetween).

Abstract: Transmission systems, components, and assemblies including a thermo-electric device which may include a variable duty cycle power supply and/or a variable hysteresis comparator in the form of a discrete component or embodied in digital or integrated form, such as in a processor. The systems, components, and assemblies may also include sensors that measure both chamber temperature and ambient temperature for thermo-stabilizing a device.

Abstract: A computer powered light on a support base with one or more light emitting diodes on one or more flexible necks which is powered via the computers USB or IEEE 1394 port. An auxiliary USB or IEEE 1394 port may be combined to allow for additional devices to be connected to a computer through the computer powered light.