Abstract: A novel soybean cultivar, designated 0004747, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 0004747, to the plants of soybean 0004747 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing the cultivar 0004747 with itself or another soybean variety. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds and plants produced by crossing the cultivar 0004747 with another soybean cultivar.

Abstract: A cigarette making machine for manufacturing of a cigarette with burn rate modification is described. The cigarette maker allows for mounting of a special bobbin of material which is different in size and width of a normal wrapper bobbin and feeds both the outer wrap web of material and narrower inner wrap web of material to the garniture. A slitting device may be utilized to cut the inner wrap web of material into a plurality of individual strips which are placed adjacent the outer wrap web of material in the garniture area of the maker. The inner wrap web of material may derive from a transverse wound bobbin in order to store large linear amounts of inner wrap web material.

Abstract: A novel soybean cultivar, designated SN71173, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar SN71173, to the plants of soybean SN71173 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing the cultivar SN71173 with itself or another soybean variety. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds and plants produced by crossing the cultivar SN71173 with another soybean cultivar.

Abstract: Disclosed are improved methods of insertion of keratoprosthesis and, in particular, improved methods of surgical insertion and placement of a soft hydrogel prosthetic corneal device into the host cornea. The methods of the invention provide greatly improved rates of success for the implantation and retention of the device.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved keratoprosthesis comprising a keratoprosthesis prepared with such properties and radii that when implanted into a patient it assumes the optic radii of curvature for a desirable refractive outcome.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of insertion of keratoprostheses, and in particular, a method of surgical insertion and placement of a soft hydrogel prosthetic corneal device into the host cornea. The method of the invention provides a greatly improved rate of success for the implantation and retention of the device.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for applying impedance matching gel to an ultrasonic transducer head of an imaging device for application to a patient. The apparatus comprises: a reservoir for containing the impedance matching gel; a heater for heating the impedance matching gel in the reservoir to a predetermined temperature; a conduit for conveying the impedance matching gel from the reservoir to the ultrasonic transducer head; a pumping arrangement for supplying the heated impedance matching gel from the reservoir, via the conduit, to the ultrasonic transducer head for application to the patient; and a low gel sensing system for indicating when the amount of gel in the reservoir drops below a predetermined quantity to prevent overheating of the gel.

Abstract: In one form of the invention, a resonant cavity filter (50) is disclosed, comprising an input port (210) for receiving an input signal, a dielectric resonator (204) in a cavity, the dielectric resonator operable to receive an input signal from the input port and further operable to produce an output signal at a resonant frequency of the cavity, an output port (212) operable to receive the output signal and a tuning plate (308) disposed in the cavity, the tuning plate coupled to a control means operable to cause movement of the tuning plate, thereby changing dimensions of the cavity, the control means operable to determine a frequency of the input signal, retrieve an expected tuning plate position from a memory (514) based on the frequency, and move the tuning plate to the expected position. Other systems, devices and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A SIMM format printed circuit board with a data terminal equipment and a data communication equipment interface. The connectors for each interface have independent pin assignments. The pin assignments are arranged such that for every signal received on a pin on one connector, the corresponding signal is transmitted on a same-numbered pin on the other connector. Resultingly, the data terminal equipment and data communication equipment interfaces have common line driver/receivers.

Abstract: A device for attaching a pair of socks together during handling and laundering thereof has first and second magnetic couplers, each of which has a first attachment member and a second attachment member. At least one of the first and second attachment members comprises a magnet. The other of the first and second attachment members comprises either a magnet or a metal which is attracted to a magnet. The first and second attachment members are configured so as to capture a portion of a sock therebetween such that the first attachment member is disposed within the sock and the second attachment member is disposed outside thereof. The fist and second attachment members are attached to the sock and the magnet is attached to the second attachment member of at least one of the first and second magnetic couplers such that the first and second magnetic couplers are magnetically attachable to one another.

Abstract: An intelligent display system presentation projection arrangement and method include the conversion of presentation display information into portable document format information for supplying it to an intelligent display system, which subsequently converts the portable document formation information to presentation display information. A controller responds to the converted information for controlling a projection display unit for causing the display presentation images to be projected onto a remotely located viewing surface. The intelligent display system of the arrangement replaces the separate computer with a unit which is either connected to the projection display unit, or incorporated therein. By utilizing the conversion to portable document format information, any computer platform may be employed, and the information is displayed at the highest resolution available to the projection display unit.

Abstract: In one form of the invention, a resonant cavity filter (50) is disclosed, comprising an input port (210) for receiving an input signal, a dielectric resonator (204) in a cavity, the dielectric resonator operable to receive an input signal from the input port and further operable to produce an output signal at a resonant frequency of the cavity, an output port (212) operable to receive the output signal and a tuning plate (308) disposed in the cavity, the tuning plate coupled to a control means operable to cause movement of the tuning plate, thereby changing dimensions of the cavity, the control means operable to determine a frequency of the input signal, retrieve an expected tuning plate position from a memory (514) based on the frequency, and move the tuning plate to the expected position. Other systems, devices and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A clamping tool for removing the gap between and temporarily clamping workpieces together for subsequent fastening and having a cable actuated toggle member for engagement with one side of the workpieces and a nut member engageable with the opposite side of the workpieces.

Abstract: In general a torque controlled blind bolt for securing workpieces is shown and which blind bolt has a core pin with a blind side head and a plurality of threads and a nut adapted to be threaded onto the pin threads; the blind bolt which has a main sleeve structure and an expandable blind side sleeve structure is set by torque applied between the pin and nut which causes the expandable sleeve to be expanded by the pin head and to thereby form a load bearing blind head; the blind fastener includes a grip adjuster structure which defines a cavity having a depth selected to define the grip range of the fastener with the grip cavity generally located externally of the workpieces; an anti-rotation structure is formed between the pin head and the expandable sleeve structure to inhibit relative rotation in response to the torque applied between the nut and the pin.

Abstract: A condition handling method and means capable of handling programs written in a plurality computer programming languages is created by a set of routines which implement the Common Condition Handling (CCH) function. These routines have entry points which are declared as external or entry variables which enables application programs to link to them. The compilers and application programs can then interact with the condition handling process by calling or branching to the entry points in the common condition handling code when the program is executing. Language specific condition handling routines and user condition handlers are invoked using a last-in-first-out (LIFO) queue to associate the handlers with the current stack frame. Any handler may respond to the CCH with one of three types of requests: Resume, Percolate, and Promote. A separate means is provided for registering Exit Handlers and to move the resume cursor.

Abstract: In general a blind fastener for securing workpieces is shown and which blind bolt has a core pin with a blind side head and a plurality of threads or locking grooves and a nut adapted to be threaded onto the pin threads; the blind bolt which has a main sleeve structure and an expandable blind side sleeve structure is set by a relative axial force applied to the pin which forces the expandable sleeve structure against the main sleeve structure causing the expandable sleeve to expand and form a load bearing blind head; the blind fastener includes a grip adjuster structure which defines a cavity having a depth selected to define the grip range of the fastener with the grip cavity generally located externally of the workpieces; the core pin head acts on the expandable sleeve and main sleeve structures to cause a frangible portion in the grip adjuster structure to shear and receive the main sleeve structure after which the blind head engages the blind side of the workpieces, with none of the clamp load developed b

Abstract: An apparatus for tensioning an outer layer or web material about a roll of web material includes a tension roller assembly. The tension roller assembly is defined by a rotatable idler roller that is movable into and out of contact with the outer layer of web material by way of a linear drive mechanism. Idler roller contact with the web material outer layer tensions the outer layer about the roll of web material. A tensioner associated with the idler roller adjusts the rotational drag on the idler roller which controls the amount of tension that the idler roller applies to the web material outer layer. A vacuum retraction assembly of the tensioning apparatus acts to further tension the web material outer layer. The vacuum retraction assembly includes a vacuum bar having a plurality of vacuum cups coupled to a vacuum source.

Abstract: An apparatus for reversibly securing a pair of socks together during handling and laundering. The apparatus comprises a combination of detachably interconnectable housing members, wherein each housing member is attached to a respective one of a pair of socks. By contacting the housing members to one another, a magnetic attraction and a non-sliding, interlocking engagement is created that holds the pair of socks together.

Abstract: An existing character, in a text defined in image form by data such as a two-dimensional array, is copied to add a new character to the text. The existing character is found by performing character recognition on a two-dimensional data array defining an image that includes part of the text, such as a page. The array can be obtained from a scanner. A word that is recognized as including characters of the type needed is tested to determine whether it can be divided into the correct number of characters. The word is divided by finding connected components in the part of the array in which the word was found during recognition. The connected components are grouped into sets, each set being likely to be a character. If the word can be correctly divided, character-size arrays for its characters are obtained and saved. One of the arrays for the character type of the new character is selected and used to produce an array for the word in which it is included.