Abstract: A method of wireless communication is disclosed, in which polarization diversity can be utilized to improve fading performance or to increase the capacity of the communication channel in a scattering environment. Complementary signal information is impressed upon, or derived from, corresponding electric and magnetic polarized field components of a transmitted or intercepted electromagnetic wave. Four, five, or even six independent signal channels can thereby be utilized for communication using a localized antenna arrangement.

Abstract: Isolatable, hydroxyapatite-targeting polymeric structures, and biologically active conjugates thereof, are provided. The polymeric structure includes a linear or branched water-soluble and non-peptidic polymer backbone, such as a PEG backbone, having at least two termini, a first terminus being covalently bonded to a hydroxyapatite-targeting moiety, such as a bisphosphonate, and a second terminus covalently bonded to a chemically reactive group, wherein said chemically reactive group is protected or unprotected. Methods of preparing and using hydroxyapatite-targeting polymeric structures, and biologically active conjugates thereof, are also provided.

Abstract: An active matrix device includes a data line driver circuit for sampling the input signal to produce data signals for each of the rows of control elements in a corresponding line period, and a scan line driver circuit for addressing the scan lines sequentially by applying a scan signal to the scan inputs of the control elements along each of the rows so as to supply said data signals to the control elements along the row. Such circuits are controlled so that a data input signal is sampled and stored to produce data signals for a first group of the control elements along the row in a first line subperiod and the stored data signals are applied to the first group of control elements in a second line subperiod, and so that the data input signal is sampled and stored to produce data signals for a second group of control elements along the row in the second line subperiod and the stored data signals are applied to the second group of control elements in a subsequent line subperiod.

Abstract: An improved image analysis method to quantify uniformity of visual appearance of planar objects. The measurements are substantially independent of both the image shading and the overall lightness differences among the objects.

Abstract: A cast stainless steel alloy and articles formed therefrom containing about 0.5 wt. % to about 10 wt. % manganese, 0.02 wt. % to 0.50 wt. % N, and less than 0.15 wt. % sulfur provides high temperature strength both in the matrix and at the grain boundaries without reducing ductility due to cracking along boundaries with continuous or nearly-continuous carbides. Alloys of the present invention also have increased nitrogen solubility thereby enhancing strength at all temperatures because nitride precipitates or nitrogen porosity during casting are not observed. The solubility of nitrogen is dramatically enhanced by the presence of manganese, which also retains or improves the solubility of carbon thereby providing additional solid solution strengthening due to the presence of manganese and nitrogen, and combined carbon. Such solution strengthening enhances the high temperature precipitation-strengthening benefits of fine dispersions of NbC.

Abstract: A clutch hydraulic actuator system having a vibration damper provided in the system between a master cylinder and a slave cylinder of the system. The damper includes an elastomeric diaphragm and a spring steel diaphragm. One face of the elastomeric diaphragm is in fluid communication with hydraulic fluid in the system so that the elastomeric diaphragm may deflect in response to low frequency vibrations transmitted through hydraulic fluid in the system to effect damping of the low frequency vibrations. The spring steel diaphragm is positioned in the system generally parallel to and proximate the other face of the elastomeric diaphragm so as to form a backup for the elastomeric diaphragm so that the elastomeric diaphragm may deform against the spring steel diaphragm in response to high frequency vibrations transmitted through the hydraulic fluid to cause deflection of the spring steel diaphragm to effect damping of the high frequency vibrations.

Abstract: A device that enables a card to be hot-plugged into a socket on a processor-base machine includes a signal bus arbitrator, a signal bus switch, a power bus switch, a cover plate switch, status signals and a controller. The controller monitors the status signals and other signals from the cover plate switch and the signal bus arbitrator to generate control signals that activate the power bus switch and the signal bus switch to control power and signal transmitting facilities at the socket.

Abstract: Ionized Physical Vapor Deposition (IPVD) is provided by a method of apparatus (500) particularly useful for sputtering conductive metal coating material from an annular magnetron sputtering target (10). The sputtered material is ionized in a processing space between the target (10) and a substrate (100) by generating a dense plasma in the space with energy coupled from a coil (39) located outside of the vacuum chamber (501) behind a dielectric window (33) in the chamber wall (502) at the center of the opening (421) in the sputtering target. A Faraday type shield (26) physically shields the window to prevent coating material from coating the window, while allowing the inductive coupling of energy from the coil into the processing space.

Abstract: A mask includes an in-situ information storage mechanism on the mask, which stores mask pattern data that is supplied to a microlithographic tool (e.g., an optical stepper). The advantages of using the invention include immediate availability of pattern data of a particular mask to the microlithographic tool for improved integrated circuit productivity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a blood cell proliferation assay employing Staphylococcus aureus antigen capable of inducing a proliferative response. The assay finds particular application in testing cattle, including cows and bulls for use in predicting resistance to subclinical or clinical mastitis.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for creating and describing a configurable data set, configuring the data set and merging a resulting configured data set into a target data set. One or more configurable data elements are stored in a configurable data set that forms part of a configurable merge module. The configurable merge module also includes metadata concerning the configurable data. The metadata describes the data elements and how they can be configured and how to implement changes to the configurable data. Each configurable data element can be presented to the configurable merge module consumer through a user interface. The configurable merge module consumer can thus make configuration choices. Also provided is a transformation engine for customizing the configurable data based on configurable merge module consumer choices and a merge engine for inserting configured data into a target data set.

Abstract: A push-pin including a slot dividing a body into multiple portions and having at least two pins extending from separate ones of the multiple portions. The preferred push-pin includes a pushing surface on one end of the body. A pulling surface is generally defined around the body. The slot divides the body into at least two portions. Material of the body is selected to allow some movement of the divided portions of the body without permanent deformation thereof. This allows the portions return to their relaxed position when an applied force is removed. An opening of the slot has rounded surfaces defined on the body portions. The remaining area defined by the slot 16 may be wider than the opening, allowing an object to be held in the slot after passing the opening. The dimensions of the slot are selected to accommodate different sized objects as a matter of design variation within the scope of the invention. Preferably, the body 12 is made of anodized Aluminum (Al).

Abstract: The present invention provides novel thienopyridines, novel compositions, methods of their use, and methods of their manufacture, where such compounds of Formula 1 are pharmacologically useful inhibitors of Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases (PTPase's) including PTP1B, T cell PTP (TC-PTP), 1

Abstract: An electronic business posting and negotiated transaction system for offering business products and inventory for sale, receiving offers and counter-offers to buy, and conducting transactions for the same. The system utilizes a web-based relational database which receives, qualifies, and stores postings of business products, and receives, qualifies and responds to search queries for postings. The system receives, qualifies and transmits offers for purchase to sellers, transmits counter-offers, and maintains a searchable record of the communications and of the status of the posted goods.

Abstract: A system and method featuring a collection of model objects which hold data to be shared, and supporting interfaces to read and write the data, to create and destroy collaboration relationships and to attach “view objects” containing application code which will be automatically notified of value changes. Each user environment is provided with a model object control entity, referred to herein as a Collaboration Manager, which creates model objects, executes transactions, and creates association objects related to the collaboration. A concurrency control mechanism records the reads and updates of the data and of collaboration relationships within a single transaction site and guarantees that they are applied atomically and consistently to both the local and to all remote replica objects of the collaboration.

Abstract: An automotive ball screw rack assembly for positioning a road wheel is presented. The assembly comprises an actuator housing; a ball screw disposed within the actuator housing; at least one tie rod assembly connected to the ball screw and the road wheel; and a motor coupled to the ball screw and connected to the actuator housing for controlling the disposition of the ball screw within the actuator housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing a compression decoder, includes a compression encoder having a picture input for receiving picture material and a coding decision input for receiving coding decisions from a set of legal coding decisions, where the compression encoder is adapted to encode picture material utilising the received coding decisions, a generator for generating random coding decisions from the legal set, and a playback device for communicating encoded picture material from the encoder to a decoder under test.

Abstract: A noise reduction circuit useful as a clock restoration circuit includes a DC removal circuit for removing a DC level from an input pulse train, an integrator for integrating the input pulse train after a DC level has been removed, a comparator for comparing the integrator output with a threshold value (Vmp) to detect for a missing pulse, a pulse generator inserting into the input pulse train an additional pulse delayed with respect to any missing pulse, and an output circuit for generating an output pulse train from the integrator output.

Abstract: An edifice such as a sports stadium is adapted for open use during good weather as well as for covered use during poor weather by having at least one movable roof member. Each movable roof member includes a transport mechanism that is constructed and arranged to permit the roof member to move in a predetermined path with respect to the underlying structure of the edifice. The transport mechanism includes structure for supporting both ends of the roof member, which bridges an otherwise open area of the edifice. In order to permit some flexure and movement of the roof member with respect to the underlying edifice, as will inevitably occur as a result of natural forces such as winds, orientation structure is provided for maintaining the transport mechanism in a predetermined orientation while simultaneously permitting a limited amount of movement of the roof member in a direction that is nonparallel to the predetermined path of movement.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a container having internal projections capable of exerting compressive, frictional, or other forces on a sample-collecting device and sample before detecting an analyte in the sample. The invention can be used whenever detecting an analyte in a sample is improved or made possible by first changing the physical or chemical properties of the sample or analyte in a pretreatment step.