Abstract: A product design method includes accessing a defined product design structure. The product design structure includes a number of customer concerns, a number of physical properties associated with components of the product, and a number of relation models. Each customer concern is associated with at least one physical property via at least one mathematical relationship defined in at least one of the relation models. The method also includes receiving a value associated with one or more of the physical properties and calculating (using one or more of the relation models) the effect of the received value associated with the one or more physical properties on one or more of the customer concerns. Furthermore, the method includes displaying the calculated effect on the one or more customer concerns and receiving one or more adjustments of the value associated with one or more of the physical properties to create a desired effect on one or more of the customer concerns.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for priming sample substrates such as DNA sipper chips are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a priming system that is suitable for priming a substrate which has a plurality of wells and at least one channel includes a base unit and a top unit. The base unit is arranged to accommodate, or support, the substrate. The top unit, which is substantially physically separate from the base unit, fits over the substrate when the substrate is held by the base unit. The top unit includes an adapter portion that interfaces with the substrate. Included in the adapter portion is a first cavity that is used to facilitate pressurizing a first well of the substrate when the adapter portion is interfaced with the substrate such that the first cavity is aligned with the first well.

Abstract: An active fluid bearing system is provided. In one example, the active fluid bearing system includes an interface region formed between an outer surface of an inner member and an opposing inner surface of an outer member. The inner and outer members are disposed for relative rotation of the inner and outer members, and thereby form an interface region having a hydrodynamic bearing region and an active bearing region. A liquid is disposed in the interface region at the hydrodynamic bearing region, and is further disposed in the active bearing region if the inner and outer members are not relatively rotating. The bearing system is operable for evacuating at least a portion of the liquid from the active bearing region during relative rotation of the inner and outer members. The active bearing region may be a journal bearing or a thrust bearing.

Abstract: A furnace blower apparatus has a tubular housing that is connected between a heating furnace and an exhaust flue of the furnace. The housing has an interior bore containing a fan assembly for drawing air through the furnace burner chamber on operation of the fan assembly. The housing includes a panel that is removably mounted to a side wall of the housing. The fan assembly is mounted to an interior surface of the panel, whereby the fan assembly can be removed from the interior of the housing by removing the panel from the housing.

Abstract: A method of providing information in a directory system comprising a directory for company information, goods and services; a communications network; a directory computer operated by a directory provider; a plurality of search computers operated by enquirers which search computers are connected within the network; and a plurality of active content providers operating active content provider computers, at least some of which are connected to the directory computer. The company information, goods and services are classified by unique identifiers. Lists of goods and services and company information are provided as provider content from both active and passive content providers. These are stored in a provider database with unique identifiers. The directory computer on request downloads to the search computer one or more queries to allow the search computer specify the search correctly and then the directory computer downloads the search result.

Abstract: A product design method includes accessing a defined product design structure. The product design structure includes a number of customer concerns, a number of physical properties associated with components of the product, and a number of relation models. Each customer concern is associated with at least one physical property via at least one mathematical relationship defined in at least one of the relation models. The method also includes receiving a value associated with one or more of the physical properties and calculating (using one or more of the relation models) the effect of the received value associated with the one or more physical properties on one or more of the customer concerns. Furthermore, the method includes displaying the calculated effect on the one or more customer concerns and receiving one or more adjustments of the value associated with one or more of the physical properties to create a desired effect on one or more of the customer concerns.

Abstract: A product development technique is provided that enables a user to define a product family design structure. The product family design structure includes a number of customer concerns, a number of physical properties associated with components of the product, and a number of relation models. Each customer concern is associated with at least one physical property via at least one mathematical relationship defined in at least one of the relation models. The technique also enables the user to define one or more product development projects based on the product family design structure, where the one or more product development projects vary from the product family design structure according to one or more overrides specified by the user for the values associated with one or more of the customer concerns, relation models, and/or physical properties defined in the product family design structure.

Abstract: In one particular embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a conveyor belt including a set of warp knitted yarns configured in warp-oriented wales and a set of weft insert yarns inserted in the set of warp-oriented wales. The set of weft insert yarns have a cross-sectional aspect ratio at least about 2:1.

Abstract: An engine (10) has a fueling system that uses hydraulic fluid to force fuel into engine combustion chambers via fuel injectors. Pressure of the hydraulic fluid is determined by a steady state strategy (ICP_DES_1) and a transient strategy (34, 36) that develops transient data values to account for certain transients in engine operation by processing engine speed data and data representing rate of change of engine speed, and data representing engine fueling to develop sub-strategy data values (ICP_FF_TS, ICP_FF_TL) for a transient component. The data values ICP_DES_1, ICP_FF_TS, and ICP_FF_TL are algebraically summed to develop a data value (ICP_DES_2) for a transient-modified desired hydraulic fluid pressure that is compared with a data value for actual hydraulic fluid pressure (ICP) to develop a data value for an error signal ICP_ERR. The data value for the error signal is processed according to a closed-loop strategy to develop a data value that controls the hydraulic fluid pressure.

Abstract: A method of determining an adjusted boost signal includes determining a steady-state boost for a turbocharger (103, 105) for an internal combustion engine (101). The steady-state boost is adjusted (509, 513) for at least one of current transient speed conditions and current transient load conditions of the internal combustion engine, yielding an adjusted boost signal. The adjusted boost signal is sent (517) to the turbocharger.

Abstract: An ISDN test set employs a user selectable dialing mechanism, that allows the test set user to select from multiple types of dialing—overlap dialing and enbloc dialing, through the use of a simplified functional dialing key set. The dialing key set, in combination with dialing software employed by the test set's supervisory control processor, provides the user with substantial ISDN dialing flexibility, while reducing interaction between the user/craftsperson and the test set, that minimizes dialing inaccuracies that often depend upon the skill and familiarity of the technician with ISDN communications. Enbloc redialing (of the most recently dialed number) or of a stored number in memory is provided only in ON-HOOK mode by the operation of a REDIAL or RECALL key. Otherwise (whenever OFF-HOOK) only overlap mode dialing is employed.

Abstract: Attenuated mutant Salmonella bacteria containing inactivated virulence genes are provided for use in safe efficacious vaccines.

Abstract: A novel densified fluoropolymer article is described which has a water vapor permeation of about 0.015 g-mm/m2/day or less, and preferably has a matrix tensile strength of at least 10,000 psi in two orthogonal directions. The articles are made by compressing expanded porous PTFE at pressures, temperatures and times which result in elimination of the pores, and subsequent stretching above the crystalline melt temperature.

Abstract: To simplify fabrication of an integral hub piece, the opening between the upper and lower female cones in this hub has sufficient width or radial dimension to allow access to both cones from one side of the hub with the cutting tool. A cutting tool is used which has a width smaller than the opening between the cones. Preferably, the tool has a width which is about equal to or smaller than an angular dimension through this opening which is defined by extending surfaces of the upper and lower female cones. If this limitation is satisfied, both cones can be created with a single machine set up operating from one side of the integrated hub. Preferably the tool should only move orthogonal or parallel to the cutting tools rotational center axis.

Abstract: A personal and portable emergency warning system, comprised of a unique emergency tonal sequence transmission means, and an emergency tonal sequence receiver. The receiver is for use by an individual user or for work spaces and is compact and easily transportable by the users anywhere. The receiver is powered by either AC or DC power and is adapted to work on either both 110 HZ and for international use, 220 HZ power sources, or alternatively a DC voltage battery power source. The receiver is adapted to receive local broadcasts in AM and FM mode as well as world wide frequency options. The receiver is coupled to a microprocessor capable of recognizing the emergency tonal sequence and amplifying it to alert the user. The microprocessor controls the operating functions of the receiver. The unique proprietary tonal sequence is broadcast by a local station that participates in the system by purchasing or subscribing to the tone.

Abstract: A furnace blower apparatus has a tubular housing that is connected between a heating furnace and an exhaust flue of the furnace. The housing has an interior bore containing a fan assembly for drawing air through the furnace burner chamber on operation of the fan assembly. The housing includes a panel that is removably mounted to a side wall of the housing. The fan assembly is mounted to an interior surface of the panel, whereby the fan assembly can be removed from the interior of the housing by removing the panel from the housing.

Abstract: Analytical systems and methods that use a modular interface structure for providing an interface between a sample substrate and an analytical unit, where the analytical unit typically has a particular interface arrangement for implementing various analytical and control functions. Using a number of variants for each module of the modular interface structure advantageously provides cost effective and efficient ways to perform numerous tests using a particular substrate or class of substrates with a particular analytical and control systems interface arrangement. Improved optical illumination and detection system for simultaneously analyzing reactions or conditions in multiple parallel microchannels are also provided.

Abstract: A blower housing may be used with a climate control furnace or with a water heater and provides cooling of the motor that rotates the blower fan and also provides dilution and cooling of exhaust gases drawn from the furnace or water heater. The housing is constructed with one side that is positioned in a single plane that is easily mounted to a flat surface of the furnace or water heater and can be sealed against the surface. The housing is provided with an interior heat shield that insulates the exterior surface of the housing and with a noise muffler.

Abstract: Attenuated mutant Salmonella bacteria containing inactivated virulence genes are provided for use in vaccines.

Abstract: Gram negative bacterial virulence genes are identified, thereby allowing the identification of novel anti-bacterial agents that target these virulence genes and their products, and the provision of novel gram negative bacterial mutants useful in vaccines.