Abstract: The invention relates to a compound of formula (I) or a salt thereof: wherein: R1 is C1-4alkyl, C1-3fluoroalkyl or —(CH2)2OH; R2 is a hydrogen atom (H), methyl or C1fluoroalkyl; R3a is a hydrogen atom (H) or C1-3alkyl; R3 is optionally substituted branched C3-6alkyl, optionally substituted C3-8cycloalkyl, optionally substituted mono-unsaturated-C5-7cycloalkenyl, optionally substituted phenyl, or an optionally substituted heterocyclic group of sub-formula (aa), (bb) or (cc): in which n1 and n2 independently are 1 or 2; and Y is O, S, SO2, or NR4; and wherein Het is of sub-formula (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v): The compounds are phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors, in particular PDE4 inhibitors.

Abstract: Briefly, an apparatus, a method and a wireless communication device are provided. The wireless communication device includes a turbo encoder to generate an encoded data block and a transmitter to transmit a data sub-block of the encoded data block in a time slot of a physical channel of the wireless communication system. The encoded data block includes real time data.

Abstract: The invention relates to a compound of formula (I) or a salt thereof: wherein: R1 is Et, n-Pr, i-Pr, C2fluoroalkyl, or —CH2CH2OH; R2 is H, Me, Et, n-Pr, i-Pr, C1-2fluoroalkyl, cyclopropyl or (cyclopropyl)methyl-; and NHR3 has the sub-formula (nhr3): wherein R3a is methyl or ethyl; R3b is H, methyl or ethyl; R3c is H, methyl or ethyl, R3d is H, methyl or ethyl, and R3e is H or methyl, provided that: (a) R3b is methyl or ethyl; and/or (b) R3c and R3d are independently methyl or ethyl; and provided that: (c) when R3c is ethyl and/or when R3d is ethyl and/or when R3e is methyl, then: R3a is methyl and/or R3b is hydrogen or methyl. These compounds are PDE4 inhibitors.

Abstract: The invention provides a compound of formula (I) or a salt thereof: wherein: R1 is C1-3alkyl, C1-3fluoroalkyl, or —CH2CH2OH; R2 is hydrogen, methyl or C1fluoroalkyl; R3 is of sub-formula (aa) or (bb): wherein Y is NCONH2 and n1 is 0 or 1; R4 is H; and R5 is a group of the sub-formula (x), (y), (y1) or (z): These compounds are PDE4 inhibitors.

Abstract: A fan or compressor blisk for a gas turbine engine, lift fan or the like, comprises a disc having a radially outer rim, and a plurality of aerofoil blades circumferentially spaced around and extending radially outwards from the rim. The rim has a radially inward facing surface on its underside on at least one side of the disc, the radially inward facing surface having at least one indentation for reducing the cross-sectional area of the rim, in the circumferential direction of the disc, in the region of the indentation.

Abstract: The invention relates to the provision of a structure which can be moved from a storage position to an in-use position. The structure is attached to a further building (8) which means that when the structure is moved to the in-use position the structure forms an additional area for the further building. In one preferred embodiment persons entering the further building are required to pass through the structure first, thereby allowing, for example, in a medical environment, the persons to be decontaminated prior to entering the further building.

Abstract: The invention relates to a compound of formula (I) or a salt thereof: wherein: R1 is C1-4alkyl, C1-3fluoroalkyl, —CH2CH2OH or —CH2CH2CO2C1-2alkyl; R2 is a hydrogen atom (H), methyl or C1fluoroalkyl; R3 is optionally substituted C3-8cycloalkyl or optionally substituted mono-unsaturated-C5-7cycloalkenyl or an optionally substituted heterocyclic group of sub-formula (aa), (bb) or (cc); in which n1 and n2 independently are 1 or 2; and in which Y is O, S, SO2, or NR10; or R3 is a bicyclic group (dd) or (ee): and wherein X is NR4R5 or OR5a. The compounds are phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors, in particular PDE4 inhibitors. Also provided is the use of a compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of an inflammatory and/or allergic disease in a mammal such as a human, for example chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, or allergic rhinitis.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for labeling items, wherein the labels contain digital information and can be read when desired. The coding of the labels is done by choosing specifically engineered nano-particles, micro-particles, or liquid material in the form of “ink.” The particles are designed to contain materials with distinguishable NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) or NQR (Nuclear quadrupole resonance) frequencies and are combined in sets to encode digital information. The NMR/NQR label particle sets are printed on the item to be labeled, or on a label substrate which is then attached to the item to be labeled. In one embodiment, the printed NMR/NQR label consists of an array of spots, each of which may encode one or more digital characters. These spots can be detected and the digital information in the label can be read using a suitable magnetic resonance detector.

Abstract: The invention provides a compound of formula (I) or a salt thereof: wherein Ar has the sub-formula (x) or (z): and wherein R3 is optionally substituted C3-8cycloalkyl, optionally substituted C5-7cycloalkenyl, an optionally substituted heterocyclic group (aa), (bb) or (cc), or a bicyclic group (ee); and wherein R4 is H, C1-3alkyl, C1-2fluoroalkyl, cyclopropyl, —CH2OR4a, —CH(Me)OR4a, or —CH2CH2OR4a; and R5 is inter alia H, C1-8alkyl, C1-3fluoroalkyl, C3-8cycloalkyl, certain substituted alkyl groups, —(CH2)n13-Het, or optionally substituted phenyl or —CH2-Ph; or R4 and R5 taken together are —(CH2)p1— or —(CH2)p3—X5—(CH2)p4—; provided that at least one of R4 and R5 is not a hydrogen atom (H). The invention also provides the use of the compounds as inhibitors of phosphodiesterase type IV (PDE4) and/or for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of inflammatory and/or allergic diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, allergic rhinitis or atopic dermatitis.

Abstract: Embodiments herein may sense a measure of signal quality at a sub-channel associated with each of a set of allocated timeslots as frames associated with a data block are received at a wireless, packet-switched receiver. For each received frame, a selected allocated timeslot may be chosen from the set of allocated timeslots. The selected allocated timeslot may be chosen as having a highest likelihood among the set of allocated timeslots of containing coherent energy. A frequency offset may be calculated using information from the selected allocated timeslot. The frequency offset may be stored and used in subsequent frequency offset correction operations. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: Embodiments of a radio link control media access control module and associated methods may be described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for simultaneously imaging multiple views of a plant embryo. First, the method provides a camera for receiving a first view of a plant embryo (e.g., the top view). Second, the method provides a first reflecting surface for receiving and reflecting a second view of the plant embryo (e.g., the side view) toward the camera. Thus, the method permits simultaneously imaging both the first and second views of the plant embryo. In one embodiment, the method further provides a second reflecting surface for receiving and reflecting a third view (e.g., the end view) of the plant embryo toward the camera, so that the camera can simultaneously image the first, second, and third views of the plant embryo. The invention reduces the time required to obtain multiple views of an embryo, which can then be analyzed to classify the embryos according to their germination vigor.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for printing an electronic device onto a substrate using electrophotography (EP). The method includes generally three steps. First, a surface is provided, such as a substrate (e.g., paper, plastic film, etc.) on which the electronic device is to be printed. Second, the surface is routed through a sequential series of EP print stations. Each of the EP print stations consists of an electrostatically chargeable drum or plate and at least a portion of one surface support structure (e.g., a transfer roller, platen, etc.), wherein each electrostatically chargeable drum or plate defines a positive image formed of charged particles. Third, the positive images defined on the electrostatically chargeable drums or plates of the series of EP print stations are sequentially transferred onto the surface. Each of the positive images represents an image layer for forming the electronic device.

Abstract: Embodiments of a codation module associated with a global system for mobile communications (GSM) enhanced data rates for GSM evolution (EDGE) radio access network (GERAN) transceiver are described generally herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification system (20) generally includes at least one container (22), a radio frequency identification tag (24) capable of transmitting a radio frequency signal associated with the container, and a radio frequency device, such as a repeater (26) associated with the radio frequency identification tag or the container for enhancing readability of the radio frequency signal.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for labeling items, wherein the labels contain digital information and can be read when desired. The coding of the labels is done by choosing specifically engineered nano-particles, micro-particles, or liquid material in the form of “ink.” The particles are designed to contain materials with distinguishable NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) or NQR (Nuclear quadrupole resonance) frequencies and are combined in sets to encode digital information. The NMR/NQR label particle sets are printed on the item to be labeled, or on a label substrate which is then attached to the item to be labeled. In one embodiment, the printed NMR/NQR label consists of an array of spots, each of which may encode one or more digital characters. These spots can be detected and the digital information in the label can be read using a suitable magnetic resonance detector.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for temporally analyzing serial input data. The method comprises: establishing three thresholds; distinguishing present (first) high probability one bit value estimates; distinguishing present high probability zero bit value estimates; and, using a temporal analysis of bit values to distinguish indefinite present bit value estimates. Using a temporal analysis of bit values includes: distinguishing a present bit estimate below first threshold and above the third threshold as a zero if both the past (second) and the future (third) bits are one values and otherwise as a one; and, distinguishing a present bit value estimate above the second threshold and below the third threshold as a one if both the past and future bits are a zero value and otherwise as a zero.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for selecting an optimal threshold detection level for a single serial data input receiver. The method comprises: receiving a serial data stream of pseudorandom binary information; using a plurality of threshold detection levels, estimating bit values; comparing the differences between estimated bit values; and, adjusting the threshold levels to minimize the difference between comparisons of estimated bit values. In some aspects, comparing the differences between estimated bit values includes: counting a first number of differences between the first and third thresholds; counting a second number of differences between the second and third thresholds; and, adjusting the first and second thresholds until the first number equals the second number.

Abstract: Briefly, an apparatus, a method and a wireless communication device are provided. The wireless communication device includes a turbo encoder to generate an encoded data block and a transmitter to transmit a data sub-block of the encoded data block in a time slot of a physical channel of the wireless communication system. The encoded data block includes real time data.