Abstract: An electrical power generation system for watercraft including movable ballast, an electrical generator, and a shaft connected between the ballast and the electrical generator.

Abstract: A toy building element with coupling studs (6) and/or coupling skirts (7) that are complementary therewith for being interconnected with other toy building elements provided with corresponding coupling studs and/or coupling skirts, said interconnection taking place in an axial direction of the coupling studs and/or the coupling skirts. The toy building element comprises a top element (1) and a bottom element (2) that can be interconnected by means of coupling means that are releasable exclusively by rotation about an axis (A) in parallel with the axial direction of the coupling studs (6) and/or the coupling skirts (7). Besides, the toy building comprises at least one intermediate element (8), said top element (1) being interconnectable with an upper end of the intermediate element (8), while the bottom element (2) can be interconnected with a lower end of the intermediate element (8).

Abstract: Organic light emitting materials and devices comprising phosphorescent metal complexes comprising ligands comprising aryl or heteroaryl groups substituted at both ortho positions are described. An organic light emitting device, comprising: an anode; a hole transport layer; an organic emissive layer comprising an emissive layer host and an emissive dopant; an electron impeding layer; an electron transport layer; and a cathode disposed, in that order, over a substrate.

Abstract: Novel catheter constructions comprising thin covering or wrapping materials such as polymer films. A catheter provided with a guidewire catheter lumen having a thin covering that is easily punctured by a guidewire at virtually any desired point along the catheter length. The thin covering may be integral with the catheter shaft, or may be a separate component that covers only the portion of the catheter shaft immediately adjacent the outer portion of the guidewire lumen, or may be a thin tubular construct that surrounds the entire catheter shaft. Moreover, polymer film can be used in combination with one or more elements to produce novel catheter constructions.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to implement LFSRs and LFSR based sequence generators, detectors, scramblers and descramblers by addressable memory are disclosed. The methods and apparatus may be processing binary or n-valued symbols, with n>2. Methods to uniquely characterize n-valued Gold sequence are also disclosed. Self-synchronizing methods to detect sequences which can be decomposed into unique words are also disclosed. Methods and apparatus to implement Fibonacci and Galois LFSRs are disclosed.

Abstract: A system, method and program product for evaluating workflows includes formulating a list of categories for workforce projects to be evaluated. A list is then formulated of questions for each category. Ranges are set up and then applied to the categories. Base line days, a multiplier, and a weight are assigned to each range. A number of assets is assigned for the workflow being evaluated. A derived value is assigned to each range; and a range to each category pending evaluation is input. These standardized evaluation criteria are thus established for evaluating workflows.

Abstract: An ink jet head is formed with a nozzle surface having a liquid repellent characteristic. The nozzle surface comprises a condensation product made from a hydrolyzable silane compound having a fluorine containing group and a hydrolyzable silane compound having a cationic polymerizable group.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cooking appliance (10) comprising a cooking chamber (11) with heating elements (12) and a water supply (30) that has a water outlet (33) and is fed by an outer water supply line (40). The water supply (30) is provided with at least one intermediate water storage tank (45) with a pre-determined inner volume (46) that can be filled with water and is fed by the outer water supply line. The filling and emptying of the inner volume (46) of the at least one intermediate water storage tank (45) can be temporarily blocked by means of a three-way valve or two-way valves. The water from the inner volume (33) of the at least one intermediate water storage tank (45) can be emptied via the water outlets (33) in order to generate steam in the cooking chamber (11). The emptying of said at least one intermediate water storage tank is especially periodical or clocked.

Abstract: A system and method for managing wireless vehicular communications include a system and method for vehicle protocol conversion. The system and method for vehicle protocol conversion have the ability to receive messages through a vehicle bus connector according to a vehicle bus protocol, analyze the messages to determine whether they should be transmitted, and transmit the messages over a wireless link if they should be transmitted.

Abstract: A channel assembly for a vehicle window comprises an upper channel, a lower channel, and a retention member connected to the upper channel. The retention member detachably connects the lower channel to the upper channel.

Abstract: The invention provides devices for the disruption of one or more layers of skin and methods of their use to administer therapeutic agents, e.g., antigens or drugs. The devices are designed to disrupt a defined area of skin. The defined area can approximate the area that a patch or other suitable vehicle for therapeutic agent, e.g., drug or vaccine, delivery is designed to contact. Exemplary devices employ a mask to define the area to be disrupted. Other devices disrupt a defined area by rotating in place. For devices that employ a mask that is secured to the skin, the invention provides methods of disrupting the stratum corneum by first securing the mask to the skin and then disrupting the skin. For rotating devices, the disrupting member is simply placed against the skin and actuated to effect disruption.

Abstract: This patent concerns a method of enhancing the security of the check cashing operation at locations remote from the issuing bank. A key suitable for cryptographic purposes is encoded onto the check stock in the form of a graphic where the style of the graphic and its means of interpretation are customisable. This permits the decryption of data without the need for online key retrieval. Typical usage occurs when a check is issued and the payee and amount at least are hashed or encrypted using the key decoded from the graphic, the hashed value being added to the check, possibly on the MICR line. At POS or a bank teller the key is decoded from the graphic, the check data is rehashed and compared with the hash value on the MICR line. The key encoded within the graphic may also be a PIN.

Abstract: A cardiac pacing system comprising one or more leadless cardiac pacemakers configured for implantation in electrical contact with a cardiac chamber and configured to perform cardiac pacing functions in combination with a co-implanted implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). The leadless cardiac pacemaker comprises at least two leadless electrodes configured for delivering cardiac pacing pulses, sensing evoked and/or natural cardiac electrical signals, and bidirectionally communicating with the co-implanted ICD.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and reagents for the assay, detection, quantification, location, or analysis of each of a plurality of substances of interest (“analytes”) in a sample in which each substance is labeled with a cationic triarylphosphonium group. The present invention also provides MALDI mass spectrometry techniques in which the analysis of samples containing low molecule weight analytes is not obscured by matrix components. The invention also provides labeling reagents for use in labeling analytes prior to MS analysis in which the labeled analytes have a molecular weight above the useful detection threshold of MALDI techniques. In some aspects, the invention provides methods of quantitative MS analysis of components of a sample. Methods of the present invention include sensitive techniques for desorption/ionization of molecules at the picomole, femtomole, and attomole amounts.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for distributing connections among a plurality of servers at an Internet site. All connections are made to a single IP address and a local director selects the server from among the plurality of servers which is to receive the connection. Thus, the DNS server is not relied upon to distribute connections, and the connection distribution scheme is not avoided when DNS is bypassed. In one embodiment, a session distribution scheme is implemented such that connections are distributed to the server in the group of servers which has the fewest connections of the group. In other embodiments, other session distribution schemes which route connections based on the predicted response times of the servers or according to a round robin scheme are used.

Abstract: An IC for controlling a power supply circuit for delivering power to a fluorescent lamp in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes a ballast control section operable to provide drive signals to the power supply circuit and an amplifier section integrated into the IC and operable to provide a dimming signal to the ballast control section. The ballast control section drives the power supply circuit to provide for dimming of the lamp based on the dimming signal. An IC for controlling a power supply circuit for delivering power to a fluorescent lamp in accordance with another embodiment of the present application includes a ballast control section operable to provide drive signals to the power supply circuit; and an amplifier section integrated into the IC. The ballast control section provides the drive signals to the power supply circuit, receives current sense signals indicative of current in said lamp, and responds to the current sense signals by modifying the drive signals.

Abstract: 5-Phenylpyrimidines of the formula I, in which the substituents have the following meanings: R1 is a five- to ten-membered saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic mono- or bicyclic heterocycle comprising one to four hetero atoms selected from the group consisting of O, N or S, which heterocycle can be substituted as defined in the description, R2 is hydrogen, halogen, cyano, alkyl, haloalkyl or alkoxy; R3, R4 are hydrogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, halocycloalkyl, alkenyl, haloalkenyl, cycloalkenyl, alkynyl, haloalkynyl or cycloalkynyl, R3 and R4 together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bonded may also form a five- or six-membered ring which can be interrupted by a hetero atom and have attached to it one or more substituents; R5, R6 are hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl or alkoxy; R7, R8 are hydrogen, halogen, alkyl or haloalkyl; R9 is hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, alkoxy, cycloalkoxy, haloalkoxy or alkoxycarbonyl, Processes and intermediates for the preparation of these compounds, a

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods of propagating skeletal muscle cell (SkMC) cultures enriched in differentiation-competent myoblasts that express normal levels of CD56 and reduced levels of desmin. The methods comprise culturing SkMCs in a mitogen-rich cell culture medium supplemented with TGF-?. The disclosure also provides therapeutic methods utilizing SkMCs propagated in TGF-?, e.g., methods of treating myocardial infarction by transplantation of autologous or allogeneic SkMCs.

Abstract: A monolithic optical transmitter photonic integrated circuit (TXPIC) comprises a plurality of integrated modulated sources which, when all operated at constant current, display a power output that varies as a function of array position similar to a quadratic-shaped curve and, further, forming an array of signal channels each having a different wavelength output. An optical combiner/decombiner is integrated in the circuit and has at least one free space region with a plurality of ordered bands along its edge where the zero order band is substantially at a longitudinal centerline of the free space region and where, on either side of this band, is a first order band followed by additional higher order bands.

Abstract: An endoscope has a shaft and an endoscope housing a proximal end of said shaft. A light guide connector projects laterally from the endoscope head. A light guide composed of a bundle of light guiding fibers is guided in said shaft from a distal end to a proximal end thereof followed by a curvature to the laterally extending light guide connector. The bundle of light guiding fibers is sheathed in the area of said curvature by application of a flexible adhesive.