Abstract: The invention pertains to a nut and ferrule assembly for use in joining tubing to a fitting. The ferrule has a male member which interlocks with a nut and freely rotates within the nut. The interlock reduces the number of parts necessary to be handled, eliminates the need for the nut to be of the same material as the ferrule, reduces the possibility of flow restriction or tubing deformation associated with rotation of the ferrule, and aids in the removal of the ferrule from the detail when removal is desired.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reflective safety element, comprising a reflective belt, a housing and a reel which is received in the housing and which is adapted to carry the belt in wound form, wherein the length of the belt is dimensioned for wearing on the body, and wherein the housing and the distal end of the belt are each provided with a mutually connectable coupling element. It hereby becomes possible to accommodate the safety element in a housing with an exterior such that it can be readily placed in a glove compartment, a map compartment or the like within easy reach of a driver of a passenger car or a truck.

Abstract: Rotor apparatus and methods for vertical lift aircraft are disclosed. In one embodiment, a bearing assembly adapted for rotatably coupling a rotor blade to a support member includes an inner housing annularly disposed about a portion of the support member, an outer housing annularly disposed about at least part of the inner housing and is rotatably coupled to the inner housing by an annular bearing device, and a flexible member adapted to be coupled to the support member and including an engagement portion adapted to engage the outer housing and to at least partially relax a side force exerted on the annular bearing device by a bending of at least one of the rotor blade and the support member.

Abstract: A grounding spring for electromagnetic interference (EMI) suppression is interposed between a heat sink and a printed circuit board (PCB). The grounding spring comprises a conductive material having an opening formed at its base through which the heat sink makes thermal contact with an electronic module mounted on the PCB. The base makes electrical contact with a peripheral surface of the heat sink, and multiple-jointed spring fingers extend from the base to make electrical contact with conductive pads on the PCB. During compression, the movement of each spring finger's tip is substantially limited to the z-axis. Accordingly, the final installed location of the tip can be precisely controlled even when the grounding spring must accommodate a wide variety of installed heights of the heat sink relative to the PCB. Preferably, the spring fingers terminate with a concave tip that is less susceptible to sliding off the conductive pads.

Abstract: Wireless-enabled mobile communication devices and network nodes are configured for participation in wireless, location-based e-commerce activities. Consumers using mobile communication devices in the vicinity of physical retail locations receive opportunities to engage in e-commerce, using their mobile communication devices, with merchants operating the physical retail locations. In an exemplary e-commerce transaction, a wireless communication session is established between a mobile communication device and a wireless network access node, which may be associated with a wireless local area network (“WLAN”) or a wide-area network (“WAN”). Via the wireless communication session, a consumer receives a virtual retail experience associated with the physical retail location, and an exchange of consideration between the consumer and the merchant entity is arranged. In exchange for consideration from the consumer, the consumer receives commodity.

Abstract: Two techniques that may be used to improve multicast traffic reliability, which may include a multicast frame retransmission policy and/or a multicast frame retransmission mode.

Abstract: The “SPIFORK” (sp?f'•ork), a single piece construction, combination “all-in-one” type utensil used for eating is disclosed. The utensil features a combined fork and spoon bowl facility comprising the first implement means and a knife facility comprising the second implement means. The utensil additionally features a notch, perforation or indentation in its handle portion to allow, via bending manually, for ease of separation of the combined fork and spoon facility from the knife facility, at the user's option. The utensil may be made, e.g., of biodegradable or recyclable materials.

Abstract: An automated process for performing MEMS packaging including automatically attaching a die to a chip carrier, resulting in a chip carrier assembly, automatically moving the chip carrier assembly into a vacuum chamber, wherein the vacuum chamber includes one or more lids therein, automatically securing a lid to the chip carrier assembly within the vacuum chamber, thereby forming a packaged die, and automatically removing the packaged die from the vacuum chamber. Unique vacuum chambers suitable for MEMS packaging are also disclosed.

Abstract: Gustducin is a taste receptor cell heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide binding protein. Disclosed herein is the amino acid sequence of the gamma (?) subunit of gustducin, as well as polynucleotide sequences encoding the ? subunit. Also disclosed are methods of modifying taste involving agents that inhibit or activate the gustducin ? subunit, methods for identifying such taste modifying agents and various taste modifying agents.

Abstract: An electrothermal thruster including a heating section through which a propellant fluid is intended to pass to be heated before being exhausted, the heating section being supplied by an electric power source The electric power source includes photovoltaic cells mounted on the heat exchanger through which the propellant fluid is intended to pass before reaching the heating section. Such a device may, for example, find application in the area of spacecraft propulsion.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a settable mixture comprising (i) a water absorbing composition and (ii) an aqueous emulsion of organic polymer or (iii) dispersible organic polymer, wherein the water absorbing composition (i) contains inorganic ingredients which are capable to react with water and the water absorbing composition (i) contains at least 13 weight % lime and at least 5 weight % of a cementitious composition of which components form ettringite during the absorption of water and wherein the amount of the aqueous emulsion of organic polymer (ii) in relation to (i) is such as to provide a ratio of combined weight of polymer solids to combined weight of ingredients which are capable to react with water of from 0.5:1 to 10:1, preferably 1:1 to 4:1 and wherein the amount of dispersible organic polymer (iii) in relation to (i) is such as to give a ratio of combined weight of polymers to combined weight of ingredients which are capable to react with water of from 0.5:1 to 10:1, preferably 1:1 to 4:1.

Abstract: The invention relates to propylene polymer blends comprising 70-92 wt % of a propylene homopolymer, 5-15 wt % of an elastomeric ethylene-propylene copolymer, 3-15 wt % of a linear low density polyethylene and an a-nucleating agent. The propylene polymer blends have an excellent impact strength/stiffness balance and optical properties. They are especially suitable for thermoforming and extrusion blow moulding.

Abstract: A musical effects pedal retaining unit comprising a retaining body, a retaining means affixed to said retaining body by retaining means connectors and an attachment surface fixed to said retaining body. This pedal retaining unit is preferably used with a pedal board system to secure at least one musical effect pedal while simultaneously preserving the effects pedal.

Abstract: In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method for isolating cell wall derivatives from fungal or yeast biomass. According to this method, chitin polymers or chitin-glucan copolymers can be obtained. In another aspect, the invention relates to a method for preparing chitosan from chitin. The invention further relates to chitin polymers, chitin-glucan polymers and chitosan polymers obtainable by the methods according to the invention. Moreover, the invention relates to the use of chitin polymers, chitin-glucan copolymers or chitosan polymers obtainable by the method according to the present invention in medical, pharmaceutical, agricultural, nutraceutical, food, textile, cosmetic, industrial and/or environmental applications, and in particular of chitin-glucan copolymers used as a technological additive for treating a food-grade liquid or in orally administered compositions.

Abstract: Electronic devices such as media players are configured for participation in activities relating to local, peer-to-peer distribution of digital content. In an exemplary distribution transaction, digital content items such as audio files, video files, text files, multimedia files, data files, playlists, and metadata are distributable between a source device and a sink device based on the acts of: identifying digital content item(s); determining the proximity of the source device to the sink device; and if the potential source and sink communication devices are deemed to be in proximity, establishing a peer-to-peer communication session (using a predetermined communication protocol such as Wireless Fidelity (“WiFi”), Bluetooth, or HiperLAN) between the source and sink devices.

Abstract: Electronic devices such as media players are configured for participation in activities relating to local, peer-to-peer distribution of digital content. In an exemplary distribution transaction, digital content items such as audio files, video files, text files, multimedia files, data files, playlists, and metadata are distributable between a source device and a sink device based on the acts of: identifying digital content item(s); determining the proximity of the source device to the sink device; and if the potential source and sink communication devices are deemed to be in proximity, establishing a peer-to-peer communication session (using a predetermined communication protocol such as Wireless Fidelity (“WiFi”), Bluetooth, or HiperLAN) between the source and sink devices.

Abstract: Method of producing spring wires shaped as a cylinder. The wire includes at least one first plurality of layers of wound fibres, the layers being disposed on top of one another and impregnated with a matrix. The first plurality of layers includes at least two stacked layers of fibres which are wound in opposing directions along two coaxial helices around the same axis to the left and right thereof respectively. The tangents to the two helices together with the axis (10) form respectively two angles having values ?x-1 and ?x which are respectively equal to ?+k? and ??? k?, ? being a function of the value of the modulus of elasticity for the spring to be produced and k being a factor of between 0 and 1. The method is suitable for the production of helical cylindrical-type spring wires for the suspension systems of motor vehicles.

Abstract: Catalyst compositions comprising a first metallocene compound, a second metallocene compound, an activator-support, and an organoaluminum compound are provided. Methods for preparing and using such catalysts to produce polyolefins are also provided. The compositions and methods disclosed herein provide ethylene polymers having a HLMI of from about 0.5 to about 25, a polymer density of from about 0.920 to about 0.965, and a polydispersity of from about 3.0 to about 30.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the synthesis of fluorinated forms of alkyl phenol compounds and their subsequent use as pharmaceutical agents. More specifically, alkyl phenol compounds are fluorinated to increase compound volatility such that the compound may be administered to a mammal, such as a human being, by inhalation. The invention also provides an inhaler (or vaporizer), that can be used for administration of the volatile derivatives of fluorine-substituted alkyl phenol compound. Further, different derivatives of fluorine-substituted alkyl phenol compound can be also administered by other routes as described in this document.

Abstract: An electrophoretic medium (100) comprises at least one type of particle (108) suspended in a suspending fluid (106) and capable of moving therethrough on application of an electric field to the medium, the particles (108) including at least one electrophoretically mobile specularly reflective particle.