Abstract: A vehicle step assembly uses hinged pedestals, attitude links and an energy storage device to position step stringers and an attached step beam in a generally horizontal and elevated deployed position, while permitting a space-saving tucked-in stowed position.

Abstract: An actuator assembly, adapted to move a movable member between a first position and a second position, is provided. Such an actuator assembly comprises an actuator device configured to selectively provide an actuation signal, and an actuatable member operably engaged with the actuator device. The actuator member is operably engaged with a fixed member and extends therefrom into communication with the movable member. The actuatable member is further configured to receive the actuation signal and to change in dimension in response thereto, so as to provide a linear force for moving the movable member, with respect to the fixed member, between the first and second positions. Associated apparatuses are also provided.

Abstract: An embodiment of the safety lid system includes a container having an interior chamber and a lid moveably connected to the container, an arm having a locking end is functionally connected to the lid, and a holding device having an interior channel adapted for disposing a portion of the locking end is connected to the container. The locking end of the arm is moveable from a locked position wherein the locking end is disposed within the channel of the holding device securing the lid to the container in a position restricting access to the interior chamber and an unlocked position wherein the locking end is removed from the channel. The arm may be biased toward the container wherein when the system is in the locked position the arm must be urged outward from the container to lift the lid from the container.

Abstract: A lower rack for a dishwasher is provided, comprising a rack member movable into and out of the dishwasher along first and second tracks extending from the tub to an interior portion of the dishwasher door. The lower rack includes at least one rack roller mechanism on each laterally-opposed side portion of the rack member, for facilitating movement of the rack member with respect to the lower end of the tub and the interior portion of the open door. One of the rack roller mechanisms includes a leadingly-disposed stop portion, as the rack member is moved out of the lower end of the tub and along the interior portion of the open door for interacting with a stop feature of the corresponding one of the first and second tracks to limit egress of the rack member from the tub along the first and second tracks. Associated apparatuses are also provided.

Abstract: A shelf accessory for a dishwasher rack is provided, comprising a spine extending in parallel with a structural member of the rack. A plurality of loops extends perpendicularly from the spine, and the loops are spaced apart in relation to each other along the spine, and cooperate therewith to define a shelf member. A clip member is operably engaged between the shelf member and the structural member, and is configured to be capable of rotating about the structural member such that the shelf member correspondingly orbits about the structural member. The clip member further comprises at least one retention member operably engaged therewith. The at least one retention member is configured to cooperate with the rack so as to retain and support the shelf member in at least one of a plurality of angular positions with respect to and about the structural member. Associated apparatuses are also provided.

Abstract: Systems and arrangements promoting a line from shared to exclusive in cache are contemplated. Embodiments include a cache controller adapted to determine whether a memory line for which the processor is to issue an address-only kill request resides in a fill buffer for the cache line in a shared state. If so, the cache controller may mark the fill buffer as not having completed bus transactions and issue the address-only kill request for that fill buffer. The address-only kill request may transmit to other processors on the bus and the other processors may respond by invalidating the cache entries for the memory line. Upon confirmation from the other processors, a bus arbiter may confirm the kill request, promoting the memory line already in that fill buffer to exclusive state. Once promoted, the fill buffer may be marked as having completed the bus transactions and may be written into the cache.

Abstract: The present invention concerns compounds inter alia according to general formula 1a. Compounds according to the invention are vasopressin V1a receptor antagonists. Pharmaceutical compositions of the compounds are useful as treatment of dysmenorrhoea.

Abstract: Embodiments include a cache controller adapted to determine whether a memory line for which the processor is to issue an address-only kill request resides in a fill buffer for the cache line in a shared state. If so, the cache controller may mark the fill buffer as not having completed bus transactions and issue the address-only kill request for that fill buffer. The address-only kill request may transmit to other processors on the bus and the other processors may respond by invalidating the cache entries for the memory line. Upon confirmation from the other processors, a bus arbiter may confirm the kill request, promoting the memory line already in that fill buffer to exclusive state. Once promoted, the fill buffer may be marked as having completed the bus transactions and may be written into the cache.

Abstract: A support member is provided that includes a body defining a first channel configured to engage a main spine of a folding rack and a second channel perpendicularly disposed with respect to the first channel and configured to engage a wire member of a dishwasher rack so as to secure the folding rack thereto. The body further defines an aperture configured to receive therethrough one of a plurality of tines of the folding rack. The aperture can define horizontal and vertical support portions configured to support the tine when the folding rack is in folded and unfolded positions, respectively. The aperture can further define an arcuate channel extending between the horizontal support portion and the vertical support portion, the arcuate channel being configured to axially displace the tine along the longitudinal axis as the tine is moved between the horizontal support portion and the vertical support portion.

Abstract: Novel compounds according to general formula 1, wherein G1 is NR5R6 or a fused polycyclic group that are specific OT receptor agonists and/or V1a receptor antagonists. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds are useful in the treatment of, inter alia, primary dysmenorrhoea.

Abstract: Compounds according to general formula 1, wherein A1-A3 are selected from A5 and A6 where A5 is either ?CR13— or ?N— and A6 is —NR14—, —O— or —S—; A4 is either a covalent bond or A5, provided that when A4 is a covalent bond one of A1-A3 must be A6 and the other two must be A5 and when A4 is A5 then all of A1-A3 must be A5; R1 is selected from H, NHY? and COY2, in which case R2 is H, or R1 and R2 may both be methyl or together represent ?O; R3, R4 and R5 are each independently selected from H and lower alkyl groups; R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11 and R12 are each independently selected from H, lower alkyl groups, NH2, halogens (F, Cl and Br) O-alkyl, CH2NM2 and CF3; R13 is selected from H, F, Cl, Br, NO2, NH2, OH, Me, Et, OMe, NMe2 and CF3; R14 is selected from H, methyl and ethyl; W is selected from ?CH— and ?N—; X is selected from CH2, O, S, SO2, NH and N-lower alkyl; Y1 is selected from CO-lower alkyl, CO(CH2)bY3, CO(CH2)bCOY3 and CO(CH2)bNHCOY3, where b is 1-3; Y2 is selected from OR15, NR16R17 and NH(CH2)cCOY3,

Abstract: Novel compounds according to general formula 1, wherein G1 is NR5R6 or a fused polycyclic group that are specific OT receptor agonists and/or V1a receptor antagonists. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds are useful in the treatment of, inter alia, primary dysmenorrhoea.

Abstract: Compounds according to general formula 1, wherein A1-A3 are selected from A5 and A6 where A5 is either ?CR13— or ?N— and A6 is —NR14—, —O— or —S—; A4 is either a covalent bond or A5, provided that when A4 is a covalent bond one of A1-A3 must be A6 and the other two must be A5 and when A4 is A5 then all of A1-A3 must be A5; R1 is selected from H, NHY? and COY2, in which case R2 is H, or R1 and R2 may both be methyl or together represent ?O; R3, R4 and R5 are each independently selected from H and lower alkyl groups; R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11 and R12 are each independently selected from H, lower alkyl groups, NH2, halogens (F, Cl and Br) O-alkyl, CH2NM2 and CF3; R13 is selected from H, F, Cl Br, NO2, NH2, OH, Me, Et, OMe, NMe2 and CF3; R14 is selected from H, methyl and ethyl; W is selected from ?CH— and ?N—; X is selected from CH2, O, S, SO2, NH and N lower alkyl; Y1 is selected from CO-lower alkyl, CO(CH2)bY3, CO(CH2)bCOY3 and CO(CH)NHCOY3, where b is 1-3; Y2 is selected from OR15, NR16R17 and NH(CH2)CCOY3, wh

Abstract: Photosensitive optical materials are used for establishing more versatile approaches for optical device formation. In some embodiments, unpatterned light is used to shift the index-of-refraction of planar optical structures to shift the index-of-refraction of the photosensitive material to a desired value. This approach can be effective to produce cladding material with a selected index-of-refraction. In additional embodiments gradients in index-of-refraction are formed using photosensitive materials. In further embodiments, the photosensitive materials are patterned within the planar optical structure. Irradiation of the photosensitive material can selectively shift the index-of-refraction of the patterned photosensitive material. By patterning the light used to irradiate the patterned photosensitive material, different optical devices can be selectively activated within the optical structure.

Abstract: Gradient index lenses are described that are integrated within a planar optical structure. The gradient index lens is optically coupled to a planar optical waveguide. In some embodiments, the gradient index lens with variation in index-of-refraction n one dimension is within an optical fiber. The optical fiber includes cladding at least along the edges of the central plane of the gradient index lens. Methods for forming the integrated structures are described. Further optical structures involving the gradient index lenses are also described.

Abstract: A method of forming substrates, e.g., silicon on insulator, silicon on silicon. The method includes providing a donor substrate, e.g., silicon wafer. The method also includes forming a cleave layer on the donor substrate that contains the cleave plane, the plane of eventual separation. In a specific embodiment, the cleave layer comprising silicon germanium. The method also includes forming a device layer (e.g., epitaxial silicon) on the cleave layer. The method also includes introducing particles into the cleave layer to add stress in the cleave layer. The particles within the cleave layer are then redistributed to form a high concentration region of the particles in the vicinity of the cleave plane, where the redistribution of the particles is carried out in a manner substantially free from microbubble or microcavity formation of the particles in the cleave plane. That is, the particles are generally at a low dose, which is defined herein as a lack of microbubble or microcavity formation in the cleave plane.

Abstract: Monolithic optical structures include a plurality of layer with each layer having an isolated optical pathway confined within a portion of the layer. The monolithic optical structure can be used as an optical fiber preform. Alternatively or additionally, the monolithic optical structure can include integrated optical circuits within one or more layers of the structure. Monolithic optical structures can be formed by performing multiple passes of a substrate through a flowing particle stream. The deposited particles form an optical material following consolidation. Flexible optical fibers include a plurality of independent light channels extending along the length of the optical fiber. The fibers can be pulled from an appropriate preform.

Abstract: A computer-based system and method for determining targets to contact in a sales or marketing campaign. The present invention provides a storage device that stores at least one consumer preference table containing one or more entries indicating one or more privacy preferences. Each of the entries in the consumer preference table is preferably associated with one or more preference flags. Each preference flag corresponds to a particular preference, such as do not call or do not email. Alternatively, a preference flag may also correspond to a consumer profile demographic. For example, preference flags can correspond to a consumer's age, ethnicity, profession, income, and interests. A user is able to enter via a user device and interface, a prospective consumer target list of prospective consumers. A campaign management module (CMM) then searches among the entries in the consumer preference table for an entry corresponding to a prospective consumer on the prospective consumer target list.

Abstract: A computer-based system and method for determining targets to contact in a sales or marketing campaign. The present invention provides a storage device that stores at least one consumer preference table containing one or more entries indicating one or more privacy preferences. Each of the entries in the consumer preference table is preferably associated with one or more preference flags. Each preference flag corresponds to a particular preference, such as do not call or do not email. Alternatively, a preference flag may also correspond to a consumer profile demographic. For example, preference flags can correspond to a consumer's age, ethnicity, profession, income, and interests. A user is able to enter via a user device and interface, a prospective consumer target list of prospective consumers. A campaign management module (CMM) then searches among the entries in the consumer preference table for an entry corresponding to a prospective consumer on the prospective consumer target list.