Abstract: A hand-held intra-oral dental device and method are described for the detection of pre-caries lesions and the prediction of evolution and prognosis of same. The present invention has as its foundation a low-cost tool for predicting the likelihood of the development of Early Childhood Caries (ECC), in contrast to other techniques and associated devices, where their focus is to identify individual pre-caries lesions. This method focuses on the detection of caries precursors or of their patterns and the relationship of those precursors and patterns to the likelihood of subsequent dental disease. The implications for the establishment for early preventive treatment are profound, namely the earliest implementation of preventative therapy for our approach relative to that of the other approaches.

Abstract: A dual web winder device for a web press includes a pair of drive motors and a pair of shafts. Each shaft is coupled to one of the drive motors and configured to carry a roll of web media. The shafts and drive motors are synchronized to simultaneously unwind a first roll of web media from one shaft and rewind a second roll of web media on the other shaft.

Abstract: A page wide array printer comprises a print head bar which carries an array of print nozzles, and which is static during a printing operation. A carriage has print head service elements. The print head bar is movable perpendicularly to the plane of the print medium beneath the print head, between a lowered print position and a raised service position. The carriage is moveable along the print head to perform a service operation when the print head is in the raised position.

Abstract: A solvent-resistant polymeric membrane comprising a solvent-inert polymer having a solubility parameter greater than 18 (J/cm3)0.5, such as a polyketone, a polyether ketone, polyarylene ether ketone ketone, a polyimide, a polyetherimide, or a polyphenylene sulfide, is described. The solvent-resistant polymeric membrane can be prepared by methods in which solvent-inert polymers form a solution at room temperature.

Abstract: Systems and methods for discriminating and locating tissues within a body involve applying a waveform signal to tissue between two electrodes and measuring the electrical characteristics of the signal transmitted through the tissue. At least one of the electrodes is constrained in area so that localized electrical characteristics of the tissue are measured. Such localized electrical characteristics are determined over a portion of a body of the subject by using an array of electrodes or electrodes that can be moved over the body. A controller may implement the process and perform calculations on the measured data to identify tissue types and locations within the measured area, and to present results in graphical form. Results may be combined with other tissue imaging technologies and with image-guided systems.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a photovoltaic solar cell is provided. A plurality of generally spherical semiconductor elements are provided. Each of the semiconductor elements has a core and an outer surface surface forming a p-n junction. An anti-reflection coating is deposited on the outer surface of each of the semiconductor elements and each of the semiconductor elements is bonded into a perforated aluminum foil array thereby providing ohmic contact to a first side of the p-n junction. The anti-reflection coating is removed from a portion of each of the semiconductor elements and then the core is exposed, thereby allowing ohmic contact to be made to a second side of the p-n junction.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a photovoltaic solar cell is provided. A plurality of generally spherical semiconductor elements are provided. Each of the semiconductor elements has a core and an outer surface surface forming a p-n junction. An anti-reflection coating is deposited on the outer surface of each of the semiconductor elements and each of the semiconductor elements is bonded into a perforated aluminum foil array thereby providing ohmic contact to a first side of the p-n junction. The anti-reflection coating is removed from a portion of each of the semiconductor elements and then the core is exposed, thereby allowing ohmic contact to be made to a second side of the p-n junction.

Abstract: A semi-submersible floating production vessel which has a ring pontoon. Three main columns extend upwardly from corners of the pontoon and three secondary, minor columns. extend upwardly from centers of the triangle sides. The columns are surrounded with fenders for protecting the columns from impact with floating bodies. The columns support an open frame deck, on which production modules are positioned. The vessel is adapted for semi-permanent mooring with pre-tensioned mooring lines that are attached to swivel padeyes secured on the main columns below the water line. Production and export risers are connected to the vessel below the water line. Compressed air ballast system allows selective emptying of ballast compartments located in the ring pontoon and eliminates the need for a conventional pump room.

Abstract: A semi-submersible floating production vessel which has a ring pontoon. Three main columns extend upwardly from corners of the pontoon and three secondary, minor columns extend upwardly from centers of the triangle sides. The columns are surrounded with fenders for protecting the columns from impact with floating bodies. The columns support an open frame deck, on which production modules are positioned. The vessel is adapted for semi-permanent mooring with pre-tensioned mooring lines that are attached to swivel padeyes secured on the main columns below the water line. Production and export risers are connected to the vessel below the water line. Compressed air ballast system allows selective emptying of ballast compartments located in the ring pontoon and eliminates the need for a conventional pump room.

Abstract: An inert gas enhanced electrosurgical apparatus is disclosed including a housing having at least one ridge formed therein. An electrode assembly has at least a portion thereof disposed within the housing. A support member has at least a portion thereof disposed within the housing and about at least a portion of the electrode assembly. The ridges of the housing are engageable with the support member such that a seal is formed therebetween. The housing can include a first opening adjacent a distal portion of the housing and a second opening adjacent a proximal portion of the housing. Ribs may be formed on an inner surface of the housing. An electrical spring contact may be disposed within the housing and configured to cooperate with the ribs to facilitate electrical communication with the electrode assembly. Wedge projections may be disposed on an outer surface of the housing.

Abstract: An isolated Toll-like-receptor polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, a variant or a fragment thereof which has immunomodulatory activity. Polynucleotides encoding such a Toll-like receptor are also described. A method for identification of a substance that modulates Toll-like receptor activity comprises contacting a polypeptide of the invention with a test substance and monitoring for immunomodulatory activity.

Abstract: A drive axle assembly includes a supplemental brake force assembly that utilizes a variable viscosity fluid. The assembly includes a housing defining a cavity and a drive component mounted for rotation relative to the housing. Rotating plates are mounted for rotation with the drive component and a Theological fluid is enclosed within the housing to surround the rotating plates. A current source generates current within the fluid to vary the viscosity. At higher traveling speeds, no current is applied to the fluid so the viscosity of the fluid is low, which reduces drag against the rotating plate. However, when a braking even occurs, current is applied to the fluid to increase viscosity and generate a supplemental braking force. The assembly is preferably incorporated into a wet disc brake with a plurality of non-rotating plates positioned in an alternating dispersal between the rotating plates.

Abstract: An inert gas enhanced electrosurgical apparatus is disclosed including a housing having at least one ridge formed therein. An electrode assembly has at least a portion thereof disposed within the housing. A support member has at least a portion thereof disposed within the housing and about at least a portion of the electrode assembly. The ridges of the housing are engageable with the support member such that a seal is formed therebetween. The housing can include a first opening adjacent a distal portion of the housing and a second opening adjacent a proximal portion of the housing. Ribs may be formed on an inner surface of the housing. An electrical spring contact may be disposed within the housing and configured to cooperate with the ribs to facilitate electrical communication with the electrode assembly. Wedge projections may be disposed on an outer surface of the housing.

Abstract: A disk drive system comprising a shock evaluator is disclosed. The shock evaluator includes a shock evaluation circuit and threshold logic and firmware that is capable of evaluating the level of physical shocks to the disk drive system. The shock evaluation circuit is capable of comparing the level of a physical shock to threshold shock values. The threshold logic and firmware is capable of periodically resetting the threshold shock values to account for the change in operating conditions experienced by the disk drive system. When the shock evaluator determines that a physical shock is present, communication between the read/write transducer and the disk is interrupted to prevent corruption of data stored on the disk.

Abstract: A disk drive system comprising a shock sensing circuit is disclosed. The shock sensing circuit includes a shock evaluation circuit and threshold logic and firmware that is capable of evaluating the level of physical shocks to the disk drive system. The shock evaluation circuit is capable of comparing the level of a physical shock to threshold shock values. The threshold logic and firmware is capable of periodically resetting the threshold shock values to account for the change in operating conditions experienced by the disk drive system. When the shock sensing circuit determines that a physical shock is present, communication between the read/write transducer and the disk is interrupted to prevent corruption of data stored on the disk.

Abstract: A socket for allowing a ratchet to be used to screw a folding tree step into or out of a tree trunk. The socket has two C-shaped brackets which are perpendicularly oriented relative to one another. With the foot peg of the tree step folded alongside the main support bar of the tree step, one bracket fits around the foot peg while the other bracket fits around the end of the main support bar to which the screw portion of the tree step is attached.

Abstract: In a vest formed of flexible panels that adjust to the contour of the wearer, pocket support and shape stiffening structures are provided so that the pockets may adjustably yet firmly be located or removed and also, when in place, conform to the curved contours of the worn garment panels while providing rigidity of shape, dimension and conformance to body contour.