Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for accessing system status or management information for a headless high- density rack mounted computer server. The server is provided with a serial port on its front surface which provides access to the server's health management software. A small display device is provided with a mating serial port on its backside. The serial ports are positioned to mechanically support the display in a position where the display of management information may be read by a system administrator or maintenance personnel. During maintenance operations, the user plugs the display into the serial port on the front of a server to read status, then removes the display and plugs it into the next server and so on. The display may include at least one pushbutton which allows a user to send information or commands to the server.

Abstract: A device and a method enable the rapid, quantitative evaluation of a large collection of ligands for binding affinity with a certain immobilized receptor, the improvements being that binding pan be detected without the need for a label and that binding is carried out in solution phase at a high rate. The instrument has at least two embodiments, one is based on a sensitive absorption photometer and the other on a sensitive light scatter photometer operating at a specific resonance wavelength, &lgr;R, of small, metallic, colloidal particles. The resonance is present in small particles having a complex refractive index with real part n(&lgr;) approaching 0 and imaginary part k(&lgr;) approaching 2 simultaneously at a specific wavelength &lgr;R. The particles are substantially spherical and substantially smaller than &lgr;R. The receptor is immobilized on a suspension of such particles and ligand binding is detected by a change in optical absorption or light scatter at the resonance wavelength.

Abstract: An instrument for analyzing and dispensing objects larger than about 70 &mgr;m in diameter is based on a flow cytometer with a novel fluidic switch arrangement for diverting a portion of a sample stream in response to detector signals in a flow cell. The instrument is particularly adapted for dispensing multicellular test organisms like nematodes or large microspheres for use in screening large libraries of potential pharmaceutical agents. Hydrodynamic focussing is used to center and align the objects in the flow cell. The objects pass through a sensing zone where optical or other characteristics of the objects are detected. The detector signals are processed and used to operate a fluidic switch that is located downstream from the sensing zone. The fluid stream containing the detected objects emerges from the flow cell into air where a fluid stream controlled by the fluidic switch diverts portions of the stream containing no sample objects or sample objects not meeting predetermined characteristics.

Abstract: A charge pump power converter efficiently provides electrical power by dynamically controlling a switch matrix of the charge pump that includes a flying ultra-capacitor CUF. Instead of open-loop oscillator-based control, a dynamic controller provides power upon demand by sensing the output voltage and changing the operating frequency of the charge pump in response. Moreover, this closed-loop dynamic control intrinsically voltage regulates the output voltage of the charge pump power converter without the inefficient addition of a step-down voltage regulator, downstream of the power converter. In addition, this closed-loop dynamic control allows for maintaining a desired output voltage even with variations in the input voltage. Further efficiency is achieved by controlling the charging and discharging of the flying ultra-capacitor CUF, both in rate of current change and in voltage ripple.

Abstract: An instrument for analyzing and dispensing objects larger than about 70 &mgr;m in diameter is based on a flow cytometer with a novel fluidic switch arrangement for diverting a portion of a sample stream in response to detector signals in a flow cell. The instrument is particularly adapted for dispensing multicellular test organisms like nematodes or large microspheres for use in screening large libraries of potential pharmaceutical agents. Hydrodynamic focussing is used to center and align the objects in the flow cell. The objects pass through a sensing zone where optical or other characteristics of the objects are detected. The detector signals are processed and used to operate a fluidic switch that is located downstream from the sensing zone. The fluid stream containing the detected objects emerges from the flow cell into air where a fluid stream controlled by the fluidic switch diverts portions of the stream containing no sample objects or sample objects not meeting predetermined characteristics.

Abstract: An improved instrument that consists of an optical analyzer and a fluid switch using light scatter and fluorescence means to optically identify and activate fluidic sorting of multicellular organisms from live populations of organisms such as various life cycle stages of Caenorhabditis elegans, the larval stages of Drosophila melanogaster, and the embryonic stages of Danio rero. In the case where fluorescence from these organisms is very weak, comparatively high levels of electronic noise accompany the electronic signals that are generated by the fluorescence detector and its associated circuitry. Because these weak signals cannot be used to mark the presence of an organism, another, less noisy, signal must be used to gate fluorescence detection. A gate derived from the low-noise light scatter signal from the organism collected over an acceptance angle of at least 20 degrees. Such a light scatter signal unambiguously gates even weak fluorescence signals.

Abstract: The high numerical aperture flow cytometer of the present invention includes a flow cell and a laser input. The laser input emits a beam of light that is oriented substantially orthoganilly to the flow of blood cells through the flow cell such that laser light impinges upon the blood cells as they pass through the flow cell. A portion of the beam from the laser input that impinges upon the blood cells in the flow cell is scattered at a substantially right angle to the beam of laser input (“right angle scatter”). A second portion of the beam from the laser input that impinges upon the cells in the flow cell is scattered at a much lower angle than 90°. This scatter is termed “low angle forward scatter light” and has an angle of from about 2° to about 5° from the orientation of the original beam from laser input. A right angle scatter light detector is oriented to receive the previously mentioned right angle scatter light.

Abstract: A charge pump power converter efficiently provides electrical power by dynamically controlling a switch matrix of the charge pump. Instead of open-loop oscillator-based control, a dynamic controller provides power upon demand by sensing the output voltage and changing the operating frequency of the charge pump in response. Moreover, this closed-loop dynamic control intrinsically voltage regulates the output voltage of the charge pump power converter without the inefficient addition of a step-down voltage regulator, downstream of the power converter. In addition, this closed-loop dynamic control allows for maintaining a desired output voltage even with variations in the input voltage. Also, the dynamic control accommodates the advantages of using ultra-capacitors in the charge pump. The power converter is capable of operating with a sub-one volt input voltage incorporating low-threshold, low on-resistance power MOSFET switches in the switch matrix of the charge pump.

Abstract: The invention concerns a connecting rod for a hermetic refrigerating compressor, in which the connecting rod forms the mechanical connection between a crank and a piston. The purpose of the invention is to reduce wear in the crank bearing of the compressor with simple means. This is obtained by reducing compressive stresses in the connecting rod by making a cut-out in the connecting rod near the crank bearing. The cut-out causes deflection of compressive stresses, so that they are distributed over a larger share of the crank bearing surface. Also the outer shape of the connecting rod is adapted, so that also here the compressive stresses are distributed over a larger bearing surface. This reduces the wear on the crank bearing of the compressor and increases the life.

Abstract: Disclosed are an optical flow particle apparatus and method for conducting a particle light scatter-based immunoassay for simultaneously measuring the presence or amount of one or more analytes in a fluid sample, which involves the steps of:

Abstract: Disclosed are an optical flow particle apparatus and method for conducting a particle light scatter-based immunoassay for simultaneously measuring the presence or amount of one or more analytes in a fluid sample which involves the use of a reagent set for each analyte including first binding molecule-coated monodisperse microspheres and second binding molecule-coated colloidal particles in which at least one of the first or second binding molecules specifically binds a respective one of the analytes. In the case where more than one analytes are detected, each monodisperse microperse microsphere of a particular reagent set has a light scatter signal resolvable from that of microspheres of any other reagent set. Changes determined in the distributions of the measured light scatter signals for individual microspheres of each of the particular reagent sets are indicative of the presence or amount of the respective analyte(s) in the sample.

Abstract: A capacitor including a ceramic dielectric of a dielectric ceramic composition including a doped barium-calcium-zirconium-titanate of the composition (Ba.sub.1-.alpha.-.mu.-.nu. A.sub..mu. D.sub..nu. Ca.sub..alpha.) [Ti.sub.1-x-.delta.-.mu.'-.nu.' Mn.sub..delta. A'.sub..mu.' Zr.sub.x ].sub.z O.sub.3, where A=Ag, A'=Dy, Er, Ho, Y, Yb and Ga; D=Nd, Pr, Sm, Gd; D'=Nb, Mo, 0.10.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.25, 0.ltoreq..mu..ltoreq.0.01, 0.ltoreq..mu.'.ltoreq.0.01, 0.ltoreq..nu..ltoreq.0.01, 0 .nu.'0.01, 0<.delta..ltoreq.0.01 and 0.995.ltoreq.z<1 and 0.ltoreq..alpha..ltoreq.0.05, and including at least two electrodes, is characterized by a high dielectric constant K and a long service life, a low loss factor, a high insulation resistance and a capacitance with a low voltage dependence. The temperature dependence of its dielectric constant K corresponds to the EIA-standard Y5V.

Abstract: The invention relates to a ceramic multilayer capacitor having a number of ceramic layers on the basis of a doped (Ba,Ca)[Ti,Zr]O.sub.3 as well as a number of electrode layers of Ni, the ceramic layers and the electrode layers being alternately stacked to form a multilayer structure which is provided with electric connections at two side faces, said electric connections being connected to a number of the electrode layers. The invention is characterized in that the composition of the main component of the doped (Ba,Ca)[Ti,Zr]O.sub.3 corresponds to the formula(Ba.sub.1-x Ca.sub.x)(Ti.sub.1-a-b-y Zr.sub.y Mn.sub.a Mo.sub.b A.sub.c).sub.k O.sub.3-.delta.wherein:0.00.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.050.10.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.250.00<a.ltoreq.0.010.00<b.ltoreq.0.010.00.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.0.010.99<k.ltoreq.0.999and wherein A stands for at least one element selected from the series including Y, Ho, Dy, Er, Yb, Ga, Ni, Mg, Zn and Al, the elements Y, Ga and Zn being preferred.

Abstract: An antibody which binds to the CD30 antigen and a) inhibits the release of sCD30 from Hodgkin's disease cells, and b) does not bind to B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas or plasma cells. An example of such antibodies are the antibodies secreted from hybridoma cell line DSM ACC 2204. The antibodies may be used for diagnosis, or conjugated to a toxin to produce an immunotoxin.

Abstract: Apparatus for interactive display of any portion of a spherical image preferably comprises a personal computer or other digital processor apparatus for storing digital data representative of at least one image having a 180 degree or greater field of view (or hemispherical image). In order to view a selected image portion without warp or distortion at the seam between opposite hemispherical images, edge filtering is applied to eliminate a halo effect. Moreover, an opposite hemispherical image may either be obtained by creating a mirror image of a first hemispherical image or by capturing a second hemispherical image by means of an oppositely directed camera and storing the digital image. Equations for image transformation are based on a lens' characteristics including the lens' radius R. An input interface preferably comprises a display including a magnification region and a directional cursor for pointing the direction to a next spherical image.

Abstract: An arrangement for locking a selector mechanism can be moved by a manual selector element, into, among others, positions P and R and is usable for an automatically operating change-speed gearbox. A servomotor can be moved by auxiliary force into one end position, in which locking dogs for locking the manual selector element in the P-position are disengaged, and by spring force into its other end position, in which locking dogs for blocking the movement of the manual selector element into the R-position are disengaged.

Abstract: A homogeneous method of measuring chemical binding relies on resonant, or "amplified," optical extinction (light scattering plus absorption) from a defined, specific class of colloidal particles wherein the real term n of the complex refractive index n-ik approaches zero while the imaginary term k approaches .sqroot.2. Chemical binding partners are coated onto the particles, which either aggregate or disperse during the binding reaction, causing an optical extinction change at one wavelength that is quantitatively related to the number of single colloidal particles and another at a second wavelength that is quantitatively related to the number of doublet colloidal particles.

Abstract: A capacitor comprising a ceramic dielectric material and at least two electrodes, said dielectric material essentially consisting of a dielectric composition with a doped barium-calcium-zirconium-titanate, said doped barium-calcium-zirconium-titanate having the compositionBa.sub.0.96 Ca.sub.0.04).sub.a ?Ti.sub.0.82-y Zr.sub.0.18 Mn.sub.y !O.sub.3 ,wherein 0.001.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.01, 1.00<a.ltoreq.1.02 and being doped with tungsten in a quantity r of 0.001 to 0.005 mol/formula unit and with at least one element A of the group formed by aluminium, gallium, yttrium, zinc, nickel and ytterbium in a quantity s of 0.001 to 0.005 mol/formula unit.

Abstract: A configuration manager for configuring a network device remotely coupled thereto and an associated computer-implemented method for configuring the network device. The configuration manager includes a configuration script stored in a memory subsystem of a computer system and first and second software modules respectively executable by a processor subsystem of the computer system. The configuration script contains a series of executable instructions for constructing a configuration file and a bootptab file for a first specified type of network device. By executing the instructions contained in the configuration script, the first software module may construct a configuration file suitable for upload to a network device and a bootptab file suitable for identifying the network device.

Abstract: Computer-implemented method and apparatus and associated for constructing a network configuration map comprised of at least two interconnected network entities selected from a series of network entities. A series of configuration scripts, each corresponding to one of the series of network entities include a first section comprised of a first portion containing an icon file for generating an icon representative of the corresponding one of the series of network entities, a second portion containing a set of connection rules for the corresponding one of the series of network entities and a second section containing a series of executable instructions for constructing a configuration file for the network entity.