Abstract: One embodiment receives at a first node in at least a portion of a network a routing table, the portion of the network comprising the first node and one or more second nodes, the routing table specifying the immediate neighbor that provides each of the best paths in the portion of the network based on a total cost; using the routing table, determines at the first node every second node that is necessary for the first node to reach all edges of the network, the second nodes that are necessary for the first node to reach all edges of the network comprising an active set for the first node; and sends a message from the first node to every second node to facilitate determining whether to shut down the second node.

Abstract: One embodiment identifies all one-hop neighbor nodes and two-hop neighbor nodes of a node; determines an active set of one-hop neighbor nodes for the node, comprising: includes in the active set each one-hop neighbor node that is either an edge node or connected with at least one two-hop neighbor node with which no other one-hop neighbor nodes are connected; and if the active set is not yet complete, then: determine all combinations of one-hop neighbor nodes that are not already in the active set; and tests each combination in order of each combination's total-energy value to determine whether a specific combination is able to complete the active set; if no combination is able to complete the active set, then including all one-hop neighbor nodes in the active set; and communicates a message to each one-hop neighbor node in the active set indicating that it is in the active set.

Abstract: A combined baler/bale wrapper (1) comprises a chassis (5) on which a baler (10) and a bale wrapper (11) are mounted. The baler (10) comprises a stationary segment (18), a lower segment (19) and an upper segment (20) which together define a bale forming chamber (15) within which a round bale (2) is formed. The lower segment (19) and the upper segment (20) are pivotal from a bale forming position (FIG. 5) to a discharge position (FIG. 1) for transferring a bale of the bale forming chamber (15) onto bale supporting rollers (50) of the bale wrapper (11). The bale supporting rollers (50) rotate the bale (2) about a first wrapping axis (53) while a carrier ring (55) simultaneously revolves a pair of wrapping material dispensers (54) about a second wrapping axis (56) for dispensing wrapping material onto the bale (2).

Abstract: A combined baler/bale wrapper (1) comprises a chassis (5) on which a baler (10) and a bale wrapper (11) are mounted. The baler (10) comprises a stationary segment (18), a lower segment (19) and an upper segment (20) all of which carry bale forming rollers (25) which define a bale forming chamber (15) within which a round bale (2) is formed. The lower segment (19) and the upper segment (20) are pivotal about first and second pivot axes (35,40), respectively from a bale forming position (FIG. 5) to a discharge position (FIG. 1) for transferring a bale upwardly rearwardly from of the bale forming chamber (15) directly onto first and second bale supporting rollers (50) of the bale wrapper (11). The bale supporting rollers (50) rotate the bale (2) about a first wrapping axis (53) while a carrier ring (55) simultaneously revolves a pair of wrapping material dispensers (54) about a second horizontal wrapping axis (56) for dispensing wrapping material onto the bale (2) for wrapping thereof.

Abstract: Baling apparatus (1) for forming a bale (2) of grass, hay, straw or the like and for wrapping the bale (2) in non-perforated plastics sheet wrapping material (64, 71) comprises a chassis (10), a baler (16) mounted on the chassis (10) within which the bale (2) is formed, and a pair of bale supporting rollers (54, 55) on which the bale is supported and rotated during wrapping. An upper segment (21) and a lower segment (22) of the baler (16) are pivotal upwardly for transferring a bale from the baler (16) to the bale supporting rollers (54, 55). A first dispenser (63) and a holding mechanism (65) extend wrapping material (64) across a discharge opening (40) through which the bale (2) is transferred from the baler (16) so that as the bale is being transferred onto the bale supporting rollers (54, 55), wrapping sheet material (64) is drawn from the first dispenser (63) around approximately 180° of the circumferential surface (5) of the bale (2) and extends around corner edges (8) of the bale (2).

Abstract: A combined baler/bale wrapper (1) comprises a chassis (5) on which a baler (10) and a bale wrapper (11) are mounted. The baler (10) comprises a stationary segment (18), a lower segment (19) and an upper segment (20) all of which carry bale forming rollers (25) which define a bale forming chamber (15) within which a round bale (2) is formed. The lower segment (19) and the upper segment (20) are pivotal about first and second pivot axes (35,40), respectively from a bale forming position (FIG. 5) to a discharge position (FIG. 1) for transferring a bale upwardly rearwardly from of the bale forming chamber (15) directly onto first and second bale supporting rollers (50) of the bale wrapper (11). The bale supporting rollers (50) rotate the bale (2) about a first wrapping axis (53) while a carrier ring (55) simultaneously revolves a pair of wrapping material dispensers (54) about a second horizontal wrapping axis (56) for dispensing wrapping material onto the bale (2) for wrapping thereof.

Abstract: A combined baler/bale wrapper (1) comprises a chassis (5) on which a baler (10) and a bale wrapper (11) are mounted. The baler (10) comprises a stationary segment (18), a lower segment (19) and an upper segment (20) all of which carry bale forming rollers (25) which define a bale forming chamber (15) within which a round bale (2) is formed. The lower segment (19) and the upper segment (20) are pivotal about first and second pivot axes (35,40), respectively from a bale forming position (FIG. 5) to a discharge position (FIG. 1) for transferring a bale upwardly rearwardly from of the bale forming chamber (15) directly onto first and second bale supporting rollers (50) of the bale wrapper (11). The bale supporting rollers (50) rotate the bale (2) about a first wrapping axis (53) while a carrier ring (55) simultaneously revolves a pair of wrapping material dispensers (54) about a second horizontal wrapping axis (56) for dispensing wrapping material onto the bale (2) for wrapping thereof.

Abstract: A two piece helmet with optional airbag is split along a vertical axis between the sides of the helmet to ease removal in the event of an injury. A series of aligned orifices in the helmet portions are joined by a removable cable. The cable ends are attached to each other to secure the helmet portions or to each of the helmet portions. The cable is accessed through removable panels that may also be used to tension the cable. Alternate means for joining the helmet portions include a series of lateral exterior latches opened by the cable. The helmet liner has two overlapping portions to minimize noise and improve weather sealing. An optional inflatable air bag is fitted to a lower perimeter of the helmet. A proximity sensing system will inflate the airbag when the vehicle is in motion and the helmet is displaced a certain distance from the vehicle.

Abstract: A bubble forming mechanism has a bottle for holding therein a bubble forming solution. The bottle has a concave top surface with a slot formed in the surface. The bottle also includes a guide carried by a portion of the bottle. The mechanism has a wand with a loop carried on a lower end of the wand wherein the wand and loop are capable of being received in the slot and into the bottle. The guide aligns the wand and the loop with the slot.

Abstract: A bubble forming mechanism has a bottle for holding therein a bubble forming solution. The bottle has a concave top surface with a slot formed in the surface. The bottle also includes a guide carried by a portion of the bottle. The mechanism has a wand with a loop carried on a lower end of the wand wherein the wand and loop are capable of being received in the slot and into the bottle. The guide aligns the wand and the loop with the slot.

Abstract: Nucleic acid probes are immobilized on polystyrene surfaces such as the wells of microtiter plates for use in solution phase nucleic acid sandwich hybridization assays, particularly those using large branched DNA amplification multimers, by: (a) cleansing the surface by washing it sequentially with a strong acid, a strong base, and water, (b) passively adsorbing a polypeptide having primary amino groups onto the cleansed surface, and (c) covalently bonding the probe to the adsorbed polypeptide via a base-stable bifunctional crosslinking agent, and (d) subjecting the surface to conditions that simulate the hybridization conditions used in the assay.

Abstract: Nucleic acid probes are immobilized on polystyrene surfaces such as the wells of microtiter plates for use in solution phase nucleic acid sandwich hybridization assays, particularly those using large branched DNA amplification multimers, by: (a) cleansing the surface by washing it sequentially with a strong acid, a strong base, and water, (b) passively adsorbing a polypeptide having primary amino groups onto the cleansed surface, and (c) covalently bonding the probe to the adsorbed polypeptide via a base-stable bifunctional crosslinking agent, and (d) subjecting the surface to conditions that simulate the hybridization conditions used in the assay.