Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed that attaches to a bicycle seat stem for allowing connection of a trailering device for pulling by the bicycle. The apparatus has an elongated body with an aperture on one end for receiving a bicycle seat stem and a socket on the opposite end for attaching a trailer or other device.

Abstract: A vacuum lubricant deposition station coats a lubricant onto the back side of a moving web prior to coating the front side with emulsions. The deposition station has a sidewall creating a chamber containing a heat source along its bottom and an evaporating tray above the heater which holds the lubricant to be vacuum vapor deposited on the web. A water cooled jacket fits about the top of the sidewall and receives the film through a narrow slot between its top and bottom plates to expose the back side of the film to a vapor cloud of lubricant in the chamber. Lubricant from the cloud deposits on the back side of the web. Stray lubricant from the cloud condenses on the bottom plate which receives cooling water through an inlet. The cooling water traverses the length of the bottom plate, enters the top plate through a water loop connecting the top and bottom plates, and exits through the top plate. The vapor cloud condenses on the bottom plate before reaching the front side of the film.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are taught for treating polyolefin containing or polyolefin-coated webs or laminates for obtaining the proper surface characteristics to promote adhesion of photosensitive coating materials and/or layers typically coated thereon. The web is passed through a high-voltage sheath region or dark space of the plasma generated by a powered electrode residing in a discharge zone. The frequency of the driving voltage must be above a lower bound dictated by the properties of the paper support and the plasma, and it must be below an upper bound beyond which the sheath voltages drop significantly and it is observed that the benefits of this approach diminish. The dark space is generated by a treatment electrode in a treatment zone. There is a counter electrode having a surface area in said treatment zone which is at least as great as the surface area of the treatment electrode.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of depositing a lubricating layer on an imaging element. The method includes providing a polymer or a wax selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), fluorinated ethylene copolymers, polyethylenes, high density polyethylene, natural waxes such as Carnauba wax, synthetic waxes, and silicone waxes in a deposition chamber. The chamber is evacuated to a pressure of 10−1 Torr or less. A carrier gas, preferably selected from N2, O2, Ar, is bled into the chamber while maintaining the pressure in the chamber to 100 mTorr or less. The polymer or wax is heated to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the polymer or wax, and the imaging element is continuously moved through the chamber depositing the polymer or wax on the imaging element to form the lubricating layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is an animal feed. The animal feed includes fat, preferably vegetable oil; a solid nutritive source; such as a whole seed or grain or a fraction thereof; and a binder, the binder comprising hemicellulose. Also disclosed are methods for preparing an animal feed and for feeding an animal. When formulated into pellets, the disclosed animal feeds have excellent durability, such that pellet fracture and dust formation are minimized.

Abstract: A system is provided for locating an intended package, product or other item that may be located in an area where a number of such packages may be located, such as a warehouse, receiving area or the like. The novel system allows personnel to quickly identify a particular package or package location from among other packages in the area. The system comprises a wireless transmitter which is operative to transmit coded signals each associated with a respective package to be located. A receiving device is disposed on or near each particular package being sought. The receiving device upon receipt of an interrogating signal from the transmitter and recognition of a unique code indicates its presence by an audible and/or visible response.

Abstract: An adjustable-warmth bed covering adopted for use inside a duvet cover, either alone or with a comforter that is also inside the duvet cover, and a method for making such a bed covering. Specifically, the bed covering is formed from a base sheet to which are attached fabric strips bounding a plurality of pockets. Each pocket has a closable opening that overlaps the pocket adjacent to it and closer to the head end of the base sheet. Insulator pads may be inserted in the pockets to increase the warmth retention capability of the adjustable-warmth bed covering in the area covered by the pocket. The method involves attaching overlapping fabric strips sequentially to the base sheet and sewing seams parallel to the left and right sides of the base sheet to form pockets.

Abstract: An photographic element comprising: a support with two sides; at least one sensitized layer on one side of the support; at least one transparent magnetic layer on another side of the support, opposite the sensitized layer; and a lubricant layer deposited on the transparent magnetic layer,wherein the lubricant layer is a fluorinated polymer selected from the group consisting of fluoropolymer resins, polytetrafluoroethylene, fluorinated ethylene polymer, fluorinated ethylene propylene, perfluoroalkoxy copolymer resins, and amorphous fluoropolymers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for reducing distortion in a dynamically delayed digital sample stream of an imaging system. The method includes the steps of delta-sigma modulating an input analog signal of the imaging system at a frequency above the Nyquist frequency of the input analog signal to generate a digital sample stream and changing a length of the sample stream to delay a portion of the sample stream while maintaining synchronism between a delta-sigma modulator and a demodulator of the system.

Abstract: A precision GaAs low-voltage DC amplifier includes a level shift circuit, an amplifier and a first and a second bias control circuit. The level shift circuit shifts an input signal to generate a level shifted input signal, whose bias level is controlled by a first bias control voltage. The amplifier amplifies the level shifted input signal to generate an output signal. The bias level of the output signal is controlled by a second bias control voltage. The first bias control circuit insures that the first bias control voltage varies as necessary with temperature to hold constant the bias level of the level shifted input signal. The second bias control circuit insures that the second bias control voltage varies as necessary with temperature to hold constant the bias level of the output signal.

Abstract: Methods for treatment of conditions of abnormally increased intraocular pressure, particularly those caused by glaucoma, by administration of phosphonylmethoxyalkyl nucleoside analogs are provided. Compositions formulated and packaged for intraocular administration for use in the methods are also provided. Administration of the compound may be by intravitreal injection, aqueous humor injection, injection into the external layers of the eye, such as subconjunctival injection or subtenon injection, or may be, when penetrating derivatives are used, by topical application to the eye. The degree of reduction in pressure is dosage-dependent, and significant reduction in pressure is obtained. A single injection can produce prolonged, and perhaps permanent, lowering of the intraocular pressure.

Abstract: Methods and kits for diagnosing the presence of and prognosing the appearance of tissue remodelling-associated conditions, involving the presence of enzymes in a biological sample, are disclosed. In particular, the method pertains to diagnosing the presence of or prognosing appearance of cancer, metastatic cancer, and obstructive and degenerative conditions.

Abstract: A method of making a casting reinforced with a reinforcement insert, such as a fiber reinforced metal matrix composite insert or intermetallic insert therein, wherein a preformed fiber reinforced metal matrix composite reinforcement insert is clad or covered with a material that is effective to avoid the aforementioned adverse reactions between the insert/melt and any exposed insert fibers/matrix, the clad insert is suspended in the mold cavity, a melt is introduced into the mold cavity about the clad insert, and the melt is solidified about the clad insert to provide a casting of the solidified melt having the clad insert disposed therein to reinforce the casting.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for reducing distortion in a dynamically delayed digital sample stream of an imaging system. The method includes the steps of delta-sigma modulating an input analog signal of the imaging system at a frequency above the Nyquist frequency of the input analog signal to generate a digital sample stream and changing a length of the sample stream to delay a portion of the sample stream while maintaining synchronism between a delta-sigma modulator and a demodulator of the system.

Abstract: A dual optical fiber transceiver, for use with first and second optical fibers, includes a laser transmitter for transmitting laser light into the first optical fiber, a laser light receiver for receiving laser light from the second optical fiber, and a controller coupled to the laser transmitter and laser light receiver. The controller includes a multi-protocol state machine for establishing the full duplex connection whenever the other device operates in compliance with either (A) a predefined "on-off-on" signaling protocol for establishing full duplex connections, or (B) a second predefined signaling protocol for establishing full duplex connections. In a preferred embodiment, the predefined "on-off-on" signaling protocol is the Open Fiber Control (OFC) protocol and the second predefined signaling protocol is a standard "laser transmitter always on" protocol.

Abstract: Methods for treatment of conditions of abnormally increased intraocular pressure, particularly those caused by glaucoma, by administration of phosphonylmethoxyalkyl nucleoside analogs are provided. Compositions formulated and packaged for intraocular administration for use in the methods are also provided. Administration of the compound may be by intravitreal injection, aqueous humor injection, injection into the external layers of the eye, such as subconjunctival injection or subtenon injection, or may be, when penetrating derivatives are used, by topical application to the eye. The degree of reduction in pressure is dosage-dependent, and significant reduction in pressure is obtained. A single injection can produce prolonged, and perhaps permanent, lowering of the intraocular pressure.

Abstract: Imaging elements, such as photographic, electrostatographic and thermal imaging elements, are comprised of a support, an image-forming layer and an electrically-conductive layer produced by coating a layer comprised of a metallo-organic compound and a film-forming binder and subjecting such layer to glow discharge treatment to render it electrically conductive. Use of a metallo-organic compound in combination with a glow discharge treatment provides a controlled degree of electrical conductivity and beneficial chemical, physical and optical properties which adapt the electrically-conductive layer for such purposes as providing protection against static or serving as an electrode which takes part in an image-forming process.

Abstract: A refrigerated countertop snack container that can be styled in the form of a lidded cookie jar utilizes a Peltier effect thermoelectric element as the cooling module located beneath the main interior compartment formed by a hygienic thermally-conductive liner that is thermally insulated from the container's outer shell and is held at 38.degree. F. nominal for optimal food refrigeration. The liner is specially designed with tapered thickness to minimize bottom-to-top temperature difference. Heat generated by the refrigeration process is dissipated from a finned aluminum heat sink that is cooled by forced air from a quiet "muffin" fan drawing in air from a first set of air vent openings configured around a lower region of the container, and exhausting air, warmed by the heat sink and fan motor, through a second set of air vents located above the first set. A high frequency type switching power converter located in the bottom region of the container converts 115 volts a.c.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a detection system for locating and counting identification marks attached to a written or printed item. A signal processing method and apparatus is described which allows detection of multiple character marks as a single event in continually moving linear materials. The marks are passed between the path of a detection zone comprising a light source and a photodetector to precipitate a voltage drop and feeding that drop to a circuit that recognizes the drop and simultaneously triggers a time window during which changes in voltage are ignored, which time window is no longer than the time it takes for a full mark to pass under the zone and shorter than the time it takes for the leading edge of the next multicharacter marks to reach the detection zone.

Abstract: Imaging elements, such as photographic, electrostatographic and thermal imaging elements, are comprised of a support, an image-forming layer and an electrically-conductive layer produced by coating a layer comprised of a metallo-organic compound and a film-forming binder and subjecting such layer to glow discharge treatment to render it electrically conductive. Use of a metallo-organic compound in combination with a glow discharge treatment provides a controlled degree of electrical conductivity and beneficial chemical, physical and optical properties which adapt the electrically-conductive layer for such purposes as providing protection against static or serving as an electrode which takes part in an image-forming process.