Abstract: The invention pertains to a coating apparatus and method in which most of the relative movement between a dispensing head and the substrate to be coated is provided by the coating head. The moving head configuration reduces the system footprint and diminishes leveling problems. A powered shuttle mechanism carries a dispensing head above a substrate to be coated while riding on a bearing located underneath the chuck holding the substrate thereby providing rigidity and reducing the system footprint. Chuck support is designed to accommodate anticipated vertical sag in the dispensing head by supporting the chuck at points along its periphery thereby permitting the chuck to sag in conjunction with the dispensing head. The shuttle mechanism is equipped with means for automatically adjusting the height of the dispensing head with respect to substrate to compensate for substrate placement error, substrate dimensional variation, and mechanical drift in the mechanical machine parts.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present invention provides a tooth whitening composition comprising a peroxide composite and an orally acceptable carrier. The peroxide composite comprises a peroxide compound and a porous cross-linked polymer, preferably in the form of a microporous particulate. The peroxide compound can be sorbed onto the porous crosslinked polymer. The porous cross-linked polymer may comprise a polymerized polyunsaturated monomer selected from polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polyitaconates, and mixtures thereof. The carrier can be non-aqueous, and can comprise a film forming material. Methods are also provided for whitening a tooth surface with the tooth whitening compositions.

Abstract: An automated matrix removal module is configurable to automatically withdraw a portion of sample containing an interfering matrix. The module is further configurable to mix the portion of sample with a reagent selected to react with the matrix to form a precipitant and then filter the mixture of sample and precipitant reagent through a filter. Finally, the module is further configurable to flush the precipitant from the filter.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a polynucleotide sequence for an insect salivary glucose oxidase enzyme and the amino acid sequence of the enzyme itself. It also provides recombinant polynucleotide vector systems designed to express the enzyme in a variety of host organisms. The invention also discloses a method for creating transgenic plants having increased resistance to insect predation resulting from the expression of the foreign glucose oxidase protein. The presence of the insect glucose oxidase enzyme triggers a plant's defensive mechanisms and results in increased resistance to insects.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for the treatment of premature ejaculation are provided wherein a composition comprising a topical anesthetic, a shear-thinning polymeric thickener, a lipophilic component that is selected from the group consisting of an aliphatic C1 to C8 alcohol, an aliphatic C8 to C30 ester, a liquid polyol and a mixture thereof, water and a buffer system that provides a buffered pH value for the composition in the range of about 3 to about 7.4 is administered to the penile meatus.

Abstract: A method for producing paper suitable for rotogravure printing by using a metered size press process to apply a coating formulation to a paper and then calendering the coated paper. In one aspect, the coating formulation comprises a pigment mixture containing engineered delaminated kaolin clay, and a latex binder. In another aspect, the pigment mixture comprises delaminated kaolin clay, engineered delaminated kaolin clay and calcined clay. Alternatively, talc is used in place of the calcined clay. In a further aspect, the pigment mixture comprises delaminated kaolin clay, platey kaolin clay, coarse kaolin clay and calcined clay.

Abstract: A method for determining the encoding law of an incoming signal in a network which possibly contains an A-&mgr; or &mgr;-A conversion includes obtaining digital impairment learning (DIL) probing data, generating an ordered table of levels therefrom, using the table to find two functions, and using a logical analysis of the functions to determine the encoding law of the signal. A first function is a maximum from the values DL(i) and the threshold Th1 which are less than T(i), with T(i)=a +bi, and DL(i)=L(i+16)−2L(i) with L(i) being the DIL signal corresponding to the transmitted Ucode=i.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of manufacturing a high bulk, low weight paper product produced by using a high level of groundwood containing sheet, blade coating with specifically formulated coatings then passing the paper web between two extended-nip calenders, one calender for each side of paper. As a result, densification of the resulting coated paper product is reduced, while maintaining stiffness and opacity comparable to heavier weight sheets.

Abstract: A method for determining the encoding law of an incoming signal in a network which possibly contains an A-&mgr; or &mgr;-A conversion includes obtaining digital impairment learning (DIL) probing data, generating an ordered table of levels therefrom, using the table to find two functions, and using a logical analysis of the functions to determine the encoding law of the signal. A first function is a maximum from the values DL(i) and the threshold Th1 which are less than T(i), with T(i)=a +bi, and DL(i)=L(i+16)−2L(i) with L(i) being the DIL signal corresponding to the transmitted Ucode=i.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a coating apparatus and method in which most of the relative movement between a dispensing head and the substrate to be coated is provided by the coating head. The moving head configuration reduces the system footprint and diminishes leveling problems. A powered shuttle mechanism carries a dispensing head above a substrate to be coated while riding on a bearing located underneath the chuck holding the substrate thereby providing rigidity and reducing the system footprint. Chuck support is designed to accommodate anticipated vertical sag in the dispensing head by supporting the chuck at points along its periphery thereby permitting the chuck to sag in conjunction with the dispensing head. The shuttle mechanism is equipped with means for automatically adjusting the height of the dispensing head with respect to substrate to compensate for substrate placement error, substrate dimensional variation, and mechanical drift in the mechanical machine parts.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a coating apparatus and method in which most of the relative movement between a dispensing head and the substrate to be coated is provided by the coating head. The moving head configuration reduces the system footprint and diminishes leveling problems. A powered shuttle mechanism carries a dispensing head above a substrate to be coated while riding on a bearing located underneath the chuck holding the substrate thereby providing rigidity and reducing the system footprint. Chuck support is designed to accommodate anticipated vertical sag in the dispensing head by supporting the chuck at points along its periphery thereby permitting the chuck to sag in conjunction with the dispensing head. The shuttle mechanism is equipped with means for automatically adjusting the height of the dispensing head with respect to substrate to compensate for substrate placement error, substrate dimensional variation, and mechanical drift in the mechanical machine parts.

Abstract: A method for determining the encoding law of an incoming signal in a network which possibly contains an A-&mgr; or &mgr;-A conversion includes obtaining digital impairment learning (DIL) probing data, generating an ordered table of levels therefrom, using the table to find two functions, and using a logical analysis of the functions to determine the encoding law of the signal. A first function is a maximum from the values DL(i) and the threshold Th1 which are less than T(i), with T(i)=a+bi, and DL(i)=L(i+16)−2L(i) with L(i) being the DIL signal corresponding to the transmitted Ucode=i.

Abstract: The apparatus of the invention includes an embedded device having program code stored in ROM and an on-board or external RAM for storing modified code segments. The methods of the invention include structuring the ROM-based firmware so that an external RAM-based function is called prior to each potentially modifiable code segment. Prior to modifying the firmware, a dummy function is stored in RAM so that every call to RAM is simply returned to ROM. When a segment of code is to be modified, a replacement is stored in RAM and indexed by the return address of the function call. The system of the present invention is efficient as it uses very little RAM. It does not require ROM-based decision making; and it is not limited to a particular programming language. The system of the invention is most suitable for use in a computer peripheral which communicates with a higher level controller, e.g. a personal computer, from which replacement code can be downloaded.

Abstract: The receiver of a PCM modem utilizes the V.90 TRN1d training signal for detecting whether any of the six slots of the received signal may be subject to alternating robbed bit signaling (ARBS), and what the alternating robbed bit signaling pattern may be. This is accomplished by accumulating the received level over a plurality of frames for each slot and by comparing the received levels for each slot to an average level for that slot. If the difference between the received levels and the average levels exceeds a threshold, the slot is determined to be subject to ARBS. Where a slot is subject to ARBS, DIL sequence signals for frames of the alternating robbed bit signaling slot having LSB=0 and LSB=1 are accumulated separately (if available) in order to generate two translation tables (TRT0, TRT1) for that slot. Where the DIL sequence is found only in the frames having the alternating robbed bit signaling slot having LSB=0 or having LSB=1, only one translation table can be generated.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a coating apparatus and method in which most of the relative movement between a dispensing head and the substrate to be coated is provided by the coating head. The moving head configuration reduces the system footprint and diminishes leveling problems. A powered shuttle mechanism carries a dispensing head above a substrate to be coated while riding on a bearing located underneath the chuck holding the substrate thereby providing rigidity and reducing the system footprint. Chuck support is designed to accommodate anticipated vertical sag in the dispensing head by supporting the chuck at points along its periphery thereby permitting the chuck to sag in conjunction with the dispensing head. The shuttle mechanism is equipped with means for automatically adjusting the height of the dispensing head with respect to substrate to compensate for substrate placement error, substrate dimensional variation, and mechanical drift in the mechanical machine parts.

Abstract: A method for determining the encoding law of an incoming signal in a network which possibly contains an A-&mgr; or &mgr;-A conversion includes obtaining digital impairment learning (DIL) probing data, generating an ordered table of levels therefrom, using the table to find two functions, and using a logical analysis of the functions to determine the encoding law of the signal. A first function is a maximum from the values DL(i) and the threshold Th1 which are less than T(i), with T(i)=a+bi, and DL(i)=L(i+16)−2L(i) with L(i) being the DIL signal corresponding to the transmitted Ucode=i.

Abstract: The inventive mechanism adjusts a working distance between a tool and a work surface. The provision for automatically setting and adjusting the working distance between two parts of an apparatus, possibly a coating apparatus, permits the mechanism to adjust in real time for unknown and possibly random variations in the dimensions of the work surface, the apparatus supporting the work surface, and imperfect leveling of the tool or the work surface. In a preferred embodiment, the inventive mechanism is used to accurately set and maintain the working distance of a dispenser above a substrate so as to provide that a consistent coating thickness is applied across the substrate. The mechanism preferably employs direct precision distance sensing means independent of the motor of drive means to continuously measure the working distance in real time with a high degree of resolution and accuracy.

Abstract: Methods are provided for determining whether any slots of a modem frame are subject to robbed bit signaling (RBS), and whether the robbed bit signaling is &bgr;-codec robbed bit signaling. From an obtained DIL sequence, an ordered table of level values for each slot is generated. In determining whether any slots are RBS slots, distances between adjacent levels of the table for each slot are obtained and are compared to a “zero distance” threshold value in order to determine the number of distances which exceed the “zero distance” value. For each slot, the number of zero distances are compared to a threshold value, and if the number of zero distances exceeds the threshold value, the slot is declared to be a RBS slot. Zero distance thresholds for each slot are generated by finding a function of a maximum distance for that slot among the adjacent levels. In determining whether any RBS slots are &bgr;-codec slots, distances are found between corresponding levels of the ordered tables.

Abstract: Modem constellations are designed by independently optimizing for each slot of a frame, the distances between constellation points used for that slot. A maximum number of points N(0) are chosen having at least the minimum distance d0 without exceeding a power limitation Plim. Using N(0), an attempt is made to increase the d0 in the constellation without exceeding Plim. Constellations may be further optimized by, where possible, decreasing N(0) in a particular constellation without affecting the total data rate of the frame. Thus, a maximum potentially achievable data rate Rmax is calculated given the number of points which are in each of the six constellations, and comparing Rmax to a standards-permitted data rate DR; and then, if Rmax exceeds DR, by decreasing N(0) in one or more constellations, provided the decrease in the number of points does not cause a recalculated Rmax to drop below DR.