Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system of popping popcorn. In one aspect of the invention, an apparatus comprises a popcorn popper, a popped popcorn hopper and a dispensing mechanism in communication with the hopper. By actuation, the dispensing mechanism dispenses one or more servings from the hopper. In another aspect of the invention, the apparatus further comprises a dosing mechanism to provide sequential doses of unpopped corn to the popper to make a plurality of batches of popped popcorn. In another aspect of the invention, a sensor sensing when popped popcorn in the hopper exceeds a pre-determined level or amount and instigates a signal to actuate the dosing mechanism to fill the hopper. In a system according to the invention, a self-contained cabinet includes the popper, hopper, dispensing mechanism and dosing mechanism, as well as a control circuit and actuators to operate the dosing mechanism and dispensing mechanisms.

Abstract: A disc brake for a land vehicle has a brake disc and a brake support. A force transmitting device is arranged on only one side of the brake disc for transmitting brake forces from the brake support onto a land vehicle, wherein the force transmitting device has at least two contact surfaces for contacting fixed counter surfaces that are fixed relative to the land vehicle. The two contact surfaces extend transversely to a main plane of the brake disc and are positioned relative to one another at an acute angle, a right angle, an obtuse angle, or an over-obtuse angle. Alternatively, the force transmitting device has at least two screws that extend transversely to an axis of rotation of the brake disc and are positioned relative to one another at an obtuse angle, at a right angle, or at an acute angle.

Abstract: A frame for a monitoring scale includes a supporting part and two transverse parts by which the frame is supported on the floor. The frame includes a hollow body that may be filled with a ballast material, such as an antiseptic medium, to suppress longitudinal vibrations and to reduce hygienic effects of excess. In addition, a special design of longitudinal supports is provided.

Abstract: A system and method for using magnetic resonance imaging to increase the accuracy of electrophysiologic procedures is disclosed. The system in its preferred embodiment provides an invasive combined electrophysiology and imaging antenna catheter which includes an RF antenna for receiving magnetic resonance signals and diagnostic electrodes for receiving electrical potentials. The combined electrophysiology and imaging antenna catheter is used in combination with a magnetic resonance imaging scanner to guide and provide visualization during electrophysiologic diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. The invention is particularly applicable to catheter ablation, e.g., ablation of atrial fibrillation.

Abstract: A method for controlling at least two clutches in a twin-clutch gearbox of a motor vehicle, wherein at least one clutch is opened by at least one emergency valve. A twin-clutch gearbox of a motor vehicle, consisting of at least two clutches actuated by at least one clutch actuator by means of a release system, especially for carrying out said method, whereby an emergency valve is provided in order to open at least one clutch.

Abstract: A Si-based diode (10, 10?, 100) is formed by epitaxially depositing a Si-based diode structure on a silicon substrate. The Si-based diode structure includes a Si-based pn junction (16, 16?, 18, 18?, 30, 32, 160, 161) having a backward diode current-voltage characteristic in which the forward tunneling current is substantially smaller than the backward tunneling current at comparable voltage levels. In some embodiments, the Si-based pn junction includes at least one non-silicon or silicon alloy layer such as at least one SiGe layer (16, 16?, 160, 161). In some embodiments, at least one delta doping (30, 32) is disposed on the silicon substrate in or near the pn junction, that together with the Si-based pn junction define an electrical junction having the backward diode current-voltage characteristic. A large area detector array may include a plurality of such Si-based diodes (10, 10?, 100).

Abstract: In a mechanical apparatus having a diesel engine including a combustion chamber, the mechanical apparatus also having an aftertreatment device configured to treat emissions from the diesel engine and an intake valve for passing air into the combustion chamber, a method of operating the engine is disclosed, wherein the method includes performing at least one combustion in the combustion chamber at a first intake valve closure timing, determining a temperature of the aftertreatment device, and if the temperature of the aftertreatment device is equal to or below a preselected temperature threshold, then performing at least one combustion in the combustion chamber at a second intake valve closure timing to thereby increase the temperature of exhaust emitted by the diesel engine.

Abstract: In a mechanical apparatus having a diesel engine including a combustion chamber, an intake valve for passing air into the combustion chamber, and an exhaust valve for passing exhaust from the chamber, the mechanical apparatus also having an aftertreatment device configured to treat emissions from the diesel engine, a method of operating the engine is disclosed, wherein the method includes performing at least one combustion in the combustion chamber with a first quantity of fuel, determining a temperature of the aftertreatment device, and if the temperature of the aftertreatment device is equal to or below a preselected temperature threshold, then performing at least one combustion in the combustion chamber with a second, greater quantity of fuel and varying at least one of an intake valve timing and an exhaust valve timing relative to a default valve timing to cause at least one of a compression loss and a pumping loss.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel identified polynucleotides, polypeptides encoded by them and to the use of such polynucleotides and polypeptides, and to their production. More particularly, the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the present invention relate to the G-protein coupled receptor family, referred to as IGS4-family. The invention also relates to inhibiting or activating the action of such polynucleotides and polypeptides, to a vector containing said polynucleotides, a host cell containing such vector and transgenic animals where the IGS4-gene is either overexpressed, misexpressed, underexposed or suppressed (knock-out animals).

Abstract: The susceptibility of human macrophages to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection depends on cell surface expression of the human CD4 molecule and CC cytokine receptor 5. CCR5 is a member of the 7-transmembrane segment superfamily of G-protein-coupled cell surface molecules. CCR5 plays an essential role in the membrane fusion step of infection by some HIV isolates. The establishment of stable, nonhuman cell lines and transgenic mammals having cells that coexpress human CD4 and CCR5 provides valuable tools for the continuing research of HIV infection. In addition, antibodies which bind to CCR5, CCR5 variants, and CCR5-binding agents, capable of blocking membrane fusion between HIV and target cells represent potential anti-HIV therapeutics for macrophage-tropic strains of HIV.

Abstract: System for interchanging data between at least two contactless data storage media, particularly contactless chip cards, wherein at least one of the contactless data storage media controls the data interchange as a master, and the at least one other data storage medium is controlled as a slave.

Abstract: An improvement to the feederhouse on an agricultural combine. The invention includes a stone detection and ejection system on the feederhouse of an agricultural combine and an acoustic array positioned beneath the front drum and having an acoustic sensor and sounding plate. The sounding plate is generally parallel to the feederhouse floor and includes interruptions configured upon its surface to ensure that a stone or other hard object, sliding over its surface, or a flow of crop material carrying a stone, excites the plate to a sufficient magnitude detectable by an acoustic sensor.

Abstract: A hard object or stone detection method and apparatus for detecting and removing discrete hard foreign objects from mobile agricultural equipment, particularly an agricultural harvester including apparatus for providing a flow of cut crop material to an elevator for delivery to a threshing system. The apparatus includes a foreign object detecting mechanism, including a foreign object detecting circuit for detecting foreign objects and an object exclusion or rejection mechanism operationally connected to be activated by the detecting circuit. The detecting circuit includes at least one vibration sensor operable for outputting a signal, and a combination of high pass filters and frequency bandpass filters and variable threshold comparators for processing the signal along first and second signal paths, and at least one microprocessor or microcontroller including a pulse rejection network.

Abstract: An ultrasonic flow measuring device, which determines volume and/or mass flow of a medium in a pipeline, or in a measuring tube. The flow measuring device includes a plurality of ultrasonic sensors, which emit and/or receive ultrasonic measurement signals along defined sound paths. The control/evaluation electronics of the flow measuring device is divided into an on-site electronics, in which at least one switch is provided, via which the ultrasonic sensors, arranged in different sound paths, can be driven and/or queried, and at least one remote, control/evaluation unit, wherein the control/evaluation unit so switches the at least one switch, that the driven and/or queried, ultrasonic sensor, or the driven and/or queried pair of ultrasonic sensors, is activated and provides measured values.

Abstract: A clamp-on ultrasonic flow measuring device for determining volume and/or mass flow rate of a medium in a containment. The clamp-on ultrasonic measuring device is of low temperature sensitivity. To this end, the coupling element, through which the ultrasonic measuring signals are coupled into, and/or out of, the containment, has at least two element portions, which are embodied and/or arranged in such a manner that the predetermined in-coupling angle into the containment and/or the predetermined out-coupling angle out of the containment are/is approximately constant over an extended temperature range.

Abstract: The aim of the invention is to subject a non-woven, which consists, at least in part, of metal fibers, to a stitch-bonding or surface finishing by means of hydrodynamic needling. The respective material web can be produced exclusively from metal fibers but can also be produced from a blend consisting of metal fibers and textile fibers. The hydrodynamic water pressure during needling depends on the desired pore volume after stitch-bonding.

Abstract: A food waste disposer includes a food conveying section, a grinding mechanism, and a brushless permanent magnet motor operably connected to the grinding mechanism. A discharge device is configured so as to reduce the overall height of the food waste disposer.

Abstract: The invention includes a computer-implemented method, system, and computer-readable medium having computer-executable modules for judging changes in components of an eye. The inventive computer-implemented method includes the steps of acquiring, displaying, and superimposing at least two digital images of the components of the eye. The method further includes the step of processing at least one of the digital images such that the superimposed images may be compared, and the step of flickering among the superimposed digital images. The step of acquiring the images may include the step of converting a photographic representation of the components of the eye to the digital image. The step of processing may include registering, warping, and/or aligning the digital images.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a glass used as a sintering aid for a resorbable molded body containing calcium phosphate as well as to a method for manufacturing said molded body. According to the invention, the material is ?-tricalcium phosphate and the glass has a chemical composition of 68–78% by weight SiO2, 5–12% by weight MgO and 12–27% by weight Na2O. The aforesaid molded body is manufactured by melting said glass, grinding it until a grain size D50 of 0.7–2 ?m is achieved and mixing it with ?-tricalcium phosphate having a grain size D50 of 1–7.5 ?m, giving the mixture the desired shape and producing the molded body by sintering said mixture at between 1,150 and 1,350° C., wherein the grain size of ?-TCP must not be smaller than that of the glass.