Abstract: A brake mechanism includes a pedal arm, a beam and a cam. The pedal arm is pivotally connected to the vehicle, while the beam is interposed between the pedal arm and the input rod for transmitting force from the pedal arm to the input rod. The beam is pivotally connected to the pedal arm and rotatable relative thereto. The cam defines a cam profile, and the beam contacts the cam and follows the cam profile as the pedal arm is activated. The cam profile is shaped to adjust the position of the beam relative to the pedal arm as the pedal arm swings relative to the vehicle. In this way, a variable force ratio is provided to maintain brake pedal feel while achieving an acceptable force ratio for failed power situations. The mechanism can be designed such that the force ratio does not drop off further into the pedal travel.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating crude oil or any other substance as it passes through the production tubing, flow lines or field lines by incorporating the heating apparatus as a section or joint of the piping system. Heating apparatus comprising of an inner hollow core with a plurality of holes. A heat source; supplied with electrical current by a suitable source of electrical energy or steam source which may be employed. Outer cases. Tapered caps and on each end of the outer cases and threaded couplings and attached to the apparatus to allow integration of the heating apparatus to existing piping system.

Abstract: A water-dispersible coating composition for use on food substrates, which permits incorporation of a substantially increased rice component content compared to prior art coatings, without the occurrence of objectionable white-lump reticulation. The coating contains at least stated minimum levels of small-particle size rice flour and/or rice starch (#100 USS mesh size and/or 200 USS mesh size, respectively or finer) depending upon the total amount of rice used in the mix, and exhibits minimal surface roughness and substantially no reticulation when frozen upon the food substrate, while imparting increased crispness, holding time and lighter color once the frozen coated food substrate is reconstituted via gradient heat, microwave energy, or deep-frying reconstitution methods, without sacrificing appearance, flavor, and tooth compaction characteristics desirable to consumers of the final reconstituted product.

Abstract: In a service-based remote support delivery system, service engineers supported by an analysis server receive incident reports from both personal computers and from unmanned servers within an enterprise. The incidents arise both from user-created reports of problems, from event annunciators that monitor hardware and software to report events as they occur, and from the periodic gathering of configuration data. These incident reports are combined with host information and contact information and are transmitted to the analysis server as the central site for processing. All incidents in large enterprises are first collected and stored on an SPOP node. Both proactive and reactive system monitoring is thus combined into a uniform system.

Abstract: In a service-based remote support delivery system and method, service engineers supported by an analysis server receive incident reports from both personal computers and from unmanned servers within an enterprise. The incidents arise both from user-created reports of problems, from event annunciators that monitor hardware and software to report events as they occur, and from the periodic gathering of configuration data. These incident reports are combined with host information and contact information and are transmitted to the analysis server.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a system for remotely accessing an external node. The method of the present invention includes the following steps: requesting permission to enter a process of connecting to the external node through an internal user's node, connecting from the user's node to a central authenticating unit, verifying user information at the central authenticating unit, connecting from the central authenticating unit to the external node, and connecting from the user's node to the external node.

Abstract: This invention relates to a class of checkpoint genes and their polypeptide products which control progression through the cell cycle in eukaryotic cells. In particular this invention relates to Schizosaccharomyces pombe rad3 gene, to its human homologue (ATR) and to their encoded proteins. The invention further relates to assay methods for selecting compounds which modulate the activity of the polypeptide products of these checkpoint genes and the use of the selected compounds in anticancer therapy.

Abstract: A method is provided for auditing the configuration of an enterprise comprising the steps of: collecting information relating to the configuration of the enterprise, analyzing the configuration information based on expert knowledge; and providing the result of the analysis in the form of reports, and other results of the analyses.

Abstract: This invention relates to a class of checkpoint genes and their polypeptide products which control progression through the cell cycle in eukaryotic cells. In particular this invention relates to Schizosaccharomyces pombe rad3 gene, to its human homologue (ATR) and to their encoded proteins. The invention further relates to assay methods for selecting compounds which modulate the activity of the polypeptide products of these checkpoint genes and the use of the selected compounds in anticancer therapy.

Abstract: A method is provided for auditing the configuration of an enterprise comprising the steps of: collecting information relating to the configuration of the enterprise, analyzing the configuration information based on expert knowledge; and providing the result of the analysis in the form of reports, and other results of the analyses.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for auditing the configuration of an enterprise using low-level analyzers that include a program and a descriptor of the type of collector data the program can accept, and high-level analyzers that are descriptors which call upon, or incorporate by reference, other analyzer descriptors. A framework, guided by one or more analyzer descriptors and by any descriptors those descriptors may call upon or incorporate by reference, repeatedly executes the set of programs associated with some of the analyzer descriptors against a different node or nodes of an enterprise during each such execution. When executing a program, the framework provides the program with the collector data of the type designated by the descriptor associated with the program.

Abstract: A water-dispersible coating composition for use on food substrates, which permits incorporation of a substantially increased rice component content compared to prior art coatings, without the occurrence of objectionable white-lump reticulation. The coating contains at least stated minimum levels of small-particle size rice flour and/or rice starch (#100 USS mesh size and/or 200 USS mesh size, respectively or finer) depending upon the total amount of rice used in the mix, and exhibits minimal surface roughness and substantially no reticulation when frozen upon the food substrate, while imparting increased crispness, holding time and lighter color once the frozen coated food substrate is reconstituted via gradient heat, microwave energy, or deep-frying reconstitution methods, without sacrificing appearance, flavor, and tooth compaction characteristics desirable to consumers of the final reconstituted product.

Abstract: A water-dispersible coating composition for parfried foods containing high levels of rice (e.g., as flour) and dextrin, and little or no cornstarch, with the rice and dextrin components on a percentage weight basis of from about 25% to 70% rice dextrin based upon the total weight of the solids content of the coating composition, and ratios of rice to dextrin between about 1.0:1 to 5:1. The use of such high amounts of both rice and dextrin provides a substantial increase in the coated product's crispness and extended holding time following either complete initial cooking or secondary reconstitution in gradient heat, convention, or microwave oven after limited initial cooking (e.g., parfrying) and freezing, without detracting from the final product's excellent appearance, taste, tenderness, and tooth compaction characteristics, and does so in a highly cost-advantageous manner.

Abstract: A NOVEL TOY BALLOON OR BAME BALL comprises a rubber balloon with a tube like structure that projects from the containing wall of the balloon opposite the neck. When this tube projects into the body of the balloon, the end of it can be held to one side of the mouthpiece during inflation then tied together with the neck to seal the balloon. The resultant balloon has a hollow core open at one end and is approximately spherical. This novel elastic structure has a multitude of uses some of which are in different fields. One particular use is that it provides a new type of rubber game ball.

Abstract: A method for treating a fabric comprising fibres of keratin to impart shrink-resistance to the fabric by passing the fabric continuously through a chamber containing an atmosphere of 10% or less fluorine gas by volume at a rate such that the residence time of the fabric within the chamber is 60 seconds or less.

Abstract: Used or partially used devices or instruments which have been in contact with animal tissue are decontaminated and made available for reuse by a three step process effective for removal of protein tissue, bone tissue, and lipids.

Abstract: A paint brush carrier is provided for holding a paint brush, comprising a pocket clip, a flat member pivotally connected to the pocket clip, a handle clip attached to the flat member for clipping the handle of the paint brush, and a paint brush container attached to the flat member for holding the brush end of the paint brush.

Abstract: Apparatus is described for positioning a tilt meter (12) in a horizontal plane (14) and maintaining it horizontal despite temperature changes, with greater precision than heretofore. Leveling screws 25-27 which hold the upper surface (18) of a base member (16) precisely horizontal, are engaged with nuts (21-23) attached to the base member, where the nuts are made of the same material as the screws, to eliminate tilting of the base member with temperature changes, due to different nuts engaging a screw at a different height. The nuts are attached to the upper surface (18) of the base member, to further avoid imprecision. The curved glass bubble tubes (60) are mounted in V-grooves (80) in four point contact therewith.

Abstract: A tilt meter comprises two tilt sensors (110 and 110S, see FIG. 7) in a housing (105). Each sensor acts as two variable resistors (R.sub.s), which together with two fixed resistors (R.sub.F) form a Wheatstone bridge (25), driven by a square wave signal from a drive source (30). The output of the bridge is fed to an electronic circuit (35) which includes a synchronized switch (43) to cut out the spikes (50), which the bridge outputs at the transitions of the square wave. The output of the electronic circuit is a DC signal, whose amplitude indicates tilt magnitude and polarity indicates direction of tilt. The housing (105) is supported on a support surface (102S) by means of 15 legs (116, 117) threaded into nuts of the same metal, and which has a very low thermal coefficient of expansion.

Abstract: A drip retainer for preventing residual fluid in a spout from dripping includes a tubular resilient member which is flattened at one end so that opposite walls are biased together. An opposite end of the tubular member is connected in a liquid-tight manner to the spout. A cylindrical clamp is mounted on the flattened portion of the tubular member. A hollow area inside the cylindrical clamp is filled with resilient biasing material. The biasing material, on either side of the flattened portion, urges the tubular member to a flat closed position. When liquid is pumped through the spout under pressure, the liquid urges the flattened portion of the tubular member to an open position. When pressure subsides, the biasing material urges the flattened portion back to its closed position, so that residual fluid clinging to inside walls of the spout cannot escape.