Abstract: An aqueous pigment preparation containing: (A) at least one organic and/or inorganic pigment; (B) at least one water-soluble or water-dispersible non-ionic oligoester or polyester, which is obtained by the polycondensation of dicarboxylic acid and glycol components, said oligoester or polyester comprising I) one or more aromatic dicarboxylic acids, their esters or anhydrides, II) C2-C8 alkenediols, III) poly (C1-C4-alkene)glycols and/or methylpoly(C2-C4 alkene)glycols, IV) optional water-soluble addition products of alkene oxide on C1-C24 alcohols, C6-C18 alkylphenols or on C8-C24 alkylamines and V) one or more optional polyols; (C) optional additional dispersants and surfactants that are conventionally used to produce aqueous pigment dispersions; (D) optional additional additives that are conventionally used to produce aqueous pigment dispersions; and (E) water.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, to realize a software model are described. Process components are defined that characterize software implementing respective and distinct business processes and additionally define at least one process agent that enables communications between a business object associated with the corresponding process component and a business object associated with any other process component. Business Process Variant Types are also defined that associate one or more of the process agents for the corresponding process component so that selection of a process variant type causes the associated one or more process agents to be activated.

Abstract: Various embodiments described herein relate to systems, software, and methods of utilizing application system configuration packages. Some such embodiments include maintaining a representation of one or more configuration settings of a first set of application functionality in a first package and maintaining a representation of one or more configuration settings of a second set of application functionality in a second package. This embodiment also includes maintaining, in both the first and the second packages, a representation of one or more configuration setting interdependencies between the first and second sets of application functionality.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for characterizing a similarity between first and second data objects are described. A system includes a matching engine configured to receive first and second results provided by first and second attribute-matching strategies. The matching engine is further configured to scale the first result by a first weight factor that indicates a first level of quality of a first attribute value and to scale the second result by a second weight factor that indicates a second level of quality of a second attribute value. The matching engine is further configured to combine the first and second scaled results to produce an overall result characterizing the similarity between the first and second objects.

Abstract: The following dye-transfer-inhibiting dye fixatives are used in laundry detergents which comprise nonionic surfactants: Reaction products of a) amines with epichlorohydrin or b) cyanamide with amines and aldehydes.

Abstract: Determining the association between data objects may be accomplished using any of a variety of systems and techniques. In particular implementations, a system and technique may have the ability to receive a group of data objects and execute a matching algorithm to determine duplicate data object propositions between the data objects. The system and technique also may have the ability determine whether a data object is a potential duplicate data object and, if a data object is a potential duplicate data object, determine whether the data object is a duplicate data object by examining duplicate data object propositions of a plurality of data objects that are associated with the data object through duplicate data object propositions.

Abstract: A valve actuator for operating a gas exchange valve of an internal combustion engine has a sleeve-shaped positioning piston which is connected to a valve stem, has at least two shell-shaped wedge pieces enclosing a stem end of the valve stem, whose radially outer peripheral surfaces have a conical segment which tapers off with increasing distance from the gas exchange valve and which is at least partially surrounded by a conical clamping sleeve having a mating conical inner surface and is connected to the positioning piston. The wedge pieces are axially form-fittingly and rotatably connected to a threaded bolt. A threaded segment is provided on the threaded bolt via which the wedge pieces and the conical clamping sleeve are axially attachable to one another.

Abstract: A configuration server includes a configuration repository that stores a wide range of configuration information for possible use by application programs. The configuration repository may include configuration parameters, settings for the parameters, and meta-data of definitions and descriptions of the parameters. Configuration information is selected from the configuration repository and stored in a configuration directory for later use by application programs at runtime. The configuration information is accessed from the configuration directory when needed by an application program or a component thereof.

Abstract: A hydraulically controlled actuator for actuation of an exhaust-side gas exchange valve of an internal combustion engine, containing a control piston that is displaceable within a cylinder and, with piston sides facing away from one another, delimits pressure chambers, of which the one pressure chamber impinges upon the gas exchange valve in the closing direction and the other pressure chamber impinges upon the gas exchange valve in the opening direction. In the actuator is provided at least one spring element, which can be brought into a preloaded state by the control piston moving in the closing direction of the gas exchange valve, and whose stored potential energy accelerates the gas exchange valve in the opening direction at least at the beginning of an opening phase, is provided. This results in a reduction in the energy expended in the context of valve actuation.

Abstract: A cylinder head for a combustion cylinder of an internal combustion engine is provided, which has at least one inlet opening and at least one outlet opening, as well as gas exchange valves which are operable by electrohydraulic valve actuators, some of which gas exchange valves function as inlet valves to control the at least one inlet opening, and some of which gas exchange valves function as outlet valves to control the at least one outlet opening. For the purpose of producing a compact, complete module which, as a separate component, may be tested for reliability and may be installed into the engine block of the internal combustion engine without additional preassembly effort, the cylinder head is provided with at least one high pressure line for supplying fluid under high pressure and at least one recycling line for recycling fluid, which have coupling openings for the hydraulic coupling of the valve actuators, and also means for fastening the valve actuators are provided.

Abstract: A device for controlling an opening cross section in the combustion cylinder of an internal combustion engine is provided, the device having a gas exchange valve integrated into the combustion cylinder and having an actuator which drives the valve element to execute a closing stroke and an opening stroke. A valve brake which is active during a residual closing stroke of the valve element is provided for the purpose of reducing the impact velocity of the valve closure member of the valve element on the valve seat in the closing stroke of the valve element. The valve brake has a hydraulic damping element with a fluid displacement volume which flows out through a throttle cross section of a throttle opening, and a control unit for controlling the throttle cross section as a function of the viscosity of the displacement volume.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrohydraulic valve controller for controlling a gas exchange valve in internal combustion engines, having a hydraulically actuatable control valve including a control valve piston which can be acted upon, via electrically actuatable valves, by a hydraulic medium that is under pressure, and a hydraulically acting valve brake is assigned to the control valve piston. The valve brake (46) includes a temperature compensation for the hydraulic medium.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling gas exchange valves of an internal combustion engine having hydraulic valve actuators each assigned to one gas exchange valve, with one adjusting piston acting on the gas exchange valve and two hydraulic work chambers defined by the adjusting piston the first work chamber acting on the gas exchange valve in the closing direction being constantly filled with fluid that is under pressure, and the second work chamber acting on the gas exchange valve in the opening direction can be filled with and relieved of fluid that is under pressure in alternation via a first and second electrical control valve. Two valve actuators are each triggered in alternation by the same first and the same second control valve, and the switchover of the control valves is performed during the closing state of the two gas exchange valves actuated by these valve actuators.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for tailoring the storage of information. In one implementation, a computer program product is operable to cause data processing apparatus to create a framework of elements to present a user with a presentation of options for tailoring an object, receive user input for tailoring the object in response to the presentation of options, define the tailored object to include the first field and the second field, associate an identifier of the first participant with the first field to indicate that the first participant is to be excluded from a first activity performed with the first field, and associate an identifier of the second participant with the second field to indicate that the second participant is to be excluded from a second activity performed with the second field. The received user input can identify a first field to be included in the tailored object, a second field to be included in the tailored object, a first participant, and a second participant.

Abstract: Various type of jackpot systems are disclosed wherein visible jackpots are replenished after a win by an invisible jackpot. Some embodiments include: replenishing the visible jackpot with less than 100% of the invisible jackpot; increasing the invisible jackpot at a rate faster than the rate at which the visible jackpot is increased; having a criteria for a win of the jackpot based on the amount of the invisible jackpot; and using multiple visible and invisible jackpots in various ways.

Abstract: An hydraulically controlled actuator for activating a valve, especially for activating a gas-exchange valve in a combustion cylinder of an internal combustion engine, which includes two fluid-filled pressure chambers having controllable chamber volumes and a movable operating piston which delimits the pressure chambers by piston sides facing away from one another, the operating piston acting upon the valve and having an effective closing area acted upon by fluid pressure in the pressure chambers to close the valve and an effective opening area acted upon by the fluid pressure to open the valve. To influence the kinematics of the opening and closing movement of the valve, the operating piston is such that the surface area of at least one of the two effective areas changes along the sliding path of the operating piston.

Abstract: The following dye-transfer-inhibiting dye fixatives are used in laundry detergents: Reaction products of a) polyamines with cyanamides and amidosulfuric acid or b) cyanamides with aldehydes and ammonium salts or c) amines with epichlorohydrin.

Abstract: A hydraulically controlled actuator for actuation of an exhaust-side gas exchange valve of an internal combustion engine, containing a control piston that is displaceable within a cylinder and, with piston sides facing away from one another, delimits pressure chambers, of which the one pressure chamber impinges upon the gas exchange valve in the closing direction and the other pressure chamber impinges upon the gas exchange valve in the opening direction. In the actuator is provided at least one spring element, which can be brought into a preloaded state by the control piston moving in the closing direction of the gas exchange valve, and whose stored potential energy accelerates the gas exchange valve in the opening direction at least at the beginning of an opening phase, is provided. This results in a reduction in the energy expended in the context of valve actuation.

Abstract: A jackpot system used in casinos for allocating the wins from at least one jackpot to players playing at a plurality of gaming positions. The gaming positions are associated with a computer network including a computing engine having a memory for receiving inputs from the gaming positions and at least one output for communicating information to the players. At least one paytable is stored in that memory or in another memory associated with the computer network. The paytable can be configured by an operator and has a plurality of possible winning entries and wins associated with the winning entries. A selection generator is triggered at least once, via the computer network, by a trigger input generated in response to the playing of each game of a group of selected games to generate a selection.

Abstract: A hydraulic actuator for gas exchange valves of internal combustion engines is disclosed, in which the lifting of the gas exchange valve from the valve seat is effected with great force. The opening motion of the gas exchange valve then ensues at reduced force. Upon closure of the gas exchange valve, the gas exchange valve is braked before striking the valve seat, so that operation of the gas exchange valve with little wear and little noise can be achieved.