Abstract: A time-of-flight mass spectra calibration technique uses time-of-flight mass spectrometer instrument operational parameters and known mass and measured time-of-flight data pairs to optimize values of chosen ones of the instrument operational parameters. Electrostatic time-of-flight calculations are conducted in conjunction with an iterative procedure, preferably a simplex optimization procedure, to thereby minimize a residual error between the electrostatic time-of-flight calculations and the measured time-of-flight data values for each of the known mass values. While conventional curve fitting mass calibration techniques are devoid of information that describe ion behavior, the mass calibration technique of the present invention, by contrast, takes into account all of the instrument operational parameters in arriving at a final calibration.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system (10) for designing communications circuits includes one or more route plans (16) each with a first route point group (38) for a first circuit end point (34), a second route point group (38) associated with a second circuit end point (34), and one or more routes (32) connecting the first and second route point groups (38). Each route (32) is available for use in designing the circuit. A design engine (12) accesses a particular route plan (16), selects a route (32) according to the route plan (16), and automatically assigns the selected route (32) to the circuit in designing the circuit. The design engine (12) may select the particular route plan (16) from among multiple route plans (16) according to a service application (14) that is automatically derived from an associated circuit order.

Abstract: In summary, the present invention is an information and advertising distribution system. A data server stores and updates a database of information items and advertisements. The information items and advertisements are each categorized so that each has an associated information category. Workstations remotely located from the data server each include a display device, a communication interface for receiving at least a subset of the information items and advertisements in the data server's database and local memory for storing the information items and advertisements received from the data server. An information administrator In each workstation establishes communication with the data server from time to time so as to update the information, items and advertisements stored In local memory with at least a subset of the information items and advertisements stored by the data server.

Abstract: An ion mobility and mass spectrometer instrument includes an ion source region coupled to an ion mobility spectrometer having an ion outlet coupled to a quadrupole mass filter. An output of the filter is coupled to a collision cell which has an ion outlet coupled to an ion acceleration region of a mass spectrometer such as a time of flight mass spectrometer. The instrument is particularly well suited for sequencing analysis wherein a sample is ionized and a resulting three-dimensional ion spectrum (ion intensity vs. ion mobility and ion mass) is observed. If the spectrum reveals that no ions overlap in mobility values, the collision cell is filled with a suitable buffer gas and the instrument is reactivated whereby a complete three-dimensional spectrum of parent and daughter ions results.

Abstract: A coherent multiple beam laser system including a plurality of slab lasers and a feedback device responsive to the output of at least one of the slab lasers, for feeding back a portion of the slab laser output to the remaining slab lasers for synchronizing the phase of the outputs of all the slab lasers.

Abstract: A hybrid ion mobility and time-of-flight mass spectrometer includes an ion source region coupled to an ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) which feeds directly into an ion accelerating region of a time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOFMS). In one embodiment, the TOFMS is positioned relative to the IMS so that the flight tube axis of the TOFMS is perpendicular to the drift tube axis of the IMS. In an alternate embodiment, the TOFMS is positioned relative to the IMS so that the flight tube axis of the TOFMS is non-perpendicular to the drift tube axis of the IMS. In the alternate embodiment, a known quadrupole ion trap is positioned between the IMS and the TOFMS to provide the capability of controlling the injection of ion packets into the TOFMS. The ion source may be a MALDI source, an electrospray ionization source, or an ion trap positioned between the IMS and any known ion source. In each case, the IMS, TOFMS and ion sources are preferably controlled by a computer.

Abstract: A knowledge based planning and analysis system (30) is provided which includes a toolset (32) of expert systems and a knowledge base, or object repository (40). The system (30) assists a user in developing, customizing and analyzing reusable objects which are used to build model businesses. The models include data objects and activity objects which are decomposed in parallel until they can no longer be decomposed or until the process is terminated by the user.

Abstract: A dry bottom ash handling system contemplates a plurality of hoppers disposed beneath a solid fuel-fired steam boiler. Each hopper includes angled walls converging at a generally rectangular opening controlled by a grate door. Air inlets are provided at intersections between adjacent angled walls to (1) facilitate combustion of unburned fuel in the storage hopper, and (2) facilitate flow of ash through the hopper opening. Ash flowing through the hopper opening enters a crusher and is then conveyed via a vacuum line to a point of disposal including a mobile tank truck that receives heavier ash particles and allows bypassing of lighter particles to a silo.

Abstract: A truck is parked adjacent a coal boiler ash recovery unit and includes a first inlet pipe provided to receive ash from the recovery unit and an outlet pipe provided to convey dust from within the storage chamber of the truck to a bag house where the dust is loaded onto another truck. Water spray may be provided within the storage compartment of the first-mentioned truck to moisten the captured material to reduce dusting.

Abstract: A truck is parked adjacent a coal boiler ash recovery unit and includes a first inlet pipe provided to receive ash from the recovery unit and an outlet pipe provided to convey dust from within the storage chamber of the truck to a bag house where the dust is loaded onto another truck. Water spray may be provided within the storage compartment of the first-mentioned truck to moisten the captured material to reduce dusting.

Abstract: A telescopic decorative tree having a telescopic pole (1) has a tree trunk with a top (4) from which a plurality of guy lines (5) are extended downwardly and outwardly in Christmas tree shape to surface anchor means (6, 13). Christmas tree lights and other decorative items are suspended in strands (8) between the guy lines and pole attachments (9, 10, 11, 14, 15) on the telescopic pole. The pole attachments are preferably adjustable in vertical height to provide desired heights of inside ends of strands at the telescopic pole in relation to outside ends of the strands at the guy lines. Preferably, the strands are allowed to sag slightly for a desired aesthetic effect.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for minimizing ion peak width measurements in a time-of-flight mass spectrometer to thereby minimize the effects of initial ion position distributions and initial ion velocity distributions on the mass resolution of the spectrometer are provided. Where the ion source and ion generation geometries indicate a functional relationship between the initial ion position and initial ion velocity, this relationship is substituted into the time-of-flight equation and the instrument parameters are thereafter optimized to achieve minimization of ion peak width broadening. Experimental results using MALDI indicate reductions in ion peak widths of up to 96% over those observed with traditional MALDI techniques.

Abstract: A lubrication system for a turbine generator includes a sump having a first chamber that receives oil from the turbine generator and a second chamber from which filtered lubrication oil is supplied to the turbine generator. The chambers are interconnected by a partition wall having a flapper valve in the wall allowing unfiltered oil to bypass the filtration loop should a malfunction occur in a pump that pumps oil through the filtration loop. The flapper valve allows unfiltered oil to travel directly from the first chamber to the second chamber and thence to be pumped through the turbine generator by one or more pumps contained within the second chamber.

Abstract: Known all wheel steer arrangements use standard spool-type valves which are inherently subject to leakage that results in the front and rear wheels getting out of synchronization due to the leakage. In the subject invention, a hydraulic system has front and rear pairs of steerable wheels respectively interconnected by front and rear fluid actuated mechanisms. A steering valve delivers pressurized fluid to the front fluid actuated mechanism for steering of only the front pair of wheels and to both the front and rear fluid actuated mechanisms to steer the front and rear pairs of wheels simultaneously but in opposite directions. Furthermore, a rear steer valve mechanism is provided to independently direct pressurized fluid to the rear fluid actuated mechanism to steer the rear pair of wheels independent of the front pair of wheels.

Abstract: A composition of an absorbable polymer and a filler to increase the stiffness of the polymer is disclosed. The filler is a poly[succinimide], which is a bioabsorbable polymer that degrades into a nontoxic, simple amino acid. The composition can be melt processed to prepare medical and surgical devices, particularly those devices which are designed to penetrate bodily tissue or to withstand heavy loads. Typical surgical devices which can be made from the composition include surgical staples and ligating clips.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for minimizing ion peak width measurements in a time-of-flight mass spectrometer to thereby minimize the effects of initial ion position distributions and initial ion velocity distributions on the mass resolution of the spectrometer are provided. Where the ion source and ion generation geometries indicate a functional relationship between the initial ion position and initial ion velocity, this relationship is substituted into the time-of-flight equation and the instrument parameters are thereafter optimized to achieve minimization of ion peak width broadening. Experimental results using MALDI indicate reductions in ion peak widths of up to 96% over those observed with traditional MALDI techniques.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for minimizing ion peak width measurements in a time-of-flight mass spectrometer to thereby minimize the effects of initial ion position distributions and initial ion velocity distributions on the mass resolution of the spectrometer are provided. Where the ion source and ion generation geometries indicate a functional relationship between the initial ion position and initial ion velocity, this relationship is substituted into the time-of-flight equation and the instrument parameters are thereafter optimized to achieve minimization of ion peak width broadening. Experimental results using MALDI indicate reductions in ion peak widths of up to 96% over those observed with traditional MALDI techniques.

Abstract: A system for relaying CDMA packetized data from a cell site or sites to a destination speech processor. The CDMA packetized data, is received at the cell site and is sent in its packetized form along with a destination address to a packet switch. A packet handler at the packet switch receives the CDMA data packets and forwards them on a packet bus. If the destination speech processor assigned to that call is connected to the packet bus, it recognizes its own address and processes the data packet.

Abstract: A composition of an absorbable polymer and a filler to increase the stiffness of the polymer is disclosed. The filler is a poly[succinimide], which is a bioabsorbable polymer that degrades into a nontoxic, simple amino acid. The composition can be melt processed to prepare medical and surgical devices, particularly those devices which are designed to penetrate bodily tissue or to withstand heavy loads. Typical surgical devices which can be made from the composition include surgical staples and ligating clips.

Abstract: A system for delivering packetized data in a network comprising a plurality of packet switch communities, wherein each of the packet switch communities has a plurality of endpoints connected to a common packet switch and having a unique address, and wherein each of the endpoints has addresses unique to their respective packet switch community. The endpoints in this system add a two-part destination address to the packetized data to be sent, wherein the first field represents a packet switch community and the second represents a destination endpoint. Each packet switch community is responsive to the first field being different from its own address for delivering the packetized data to a switch. The switch is responsive to the first field for delivering the packetized data to a packet switch community identified by the first field. Finally, each endpoint in the destination packet switch community is responsive to the first and second address fields for accepting packetized data.