Abstract: The present invention relates to novel compositions comprising porous materials infused with polymers obtained from metathesis reactions, for example ROMP derived polymers and ADMET derived polymers. The invention further relates to cyclic olefin monomer formulations, including ruthenium or osmium carbene metathesis catalysts, useful for the infusion of porous materials. Also disclosed are methods for preparing the porous materials infused with cyclic olefin resin formulations.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided a biopsy device and method for the collection of at least one tissue sample from a surgical patient. The device includes a frame and an elongated piercing element attached to the distal end of the frame. The piercing element has a distal end, a proximal end and a lumen extending at least partially therethrough. The piercing element has a sharpened member at its distal end for piercing tissue, and a port proximal thereto which exposes the lumen. The device further includes an elongated cutter and tissue remover disposed coaxially and slidably within the lumen of the piercing element for harvesting a tissue mass disposed within the port of the piercing element and depositing the tissue mass proximal to the port for retrieval.

Abstract: An air conditioning cooling apparatus and method which includes the steps of supplying cooling air generated from a cooling apparatus into an air passageway formed below a floor; guiding the cooling air in a controlled manner within the air passageway into an equipment assembly disposed on the floor through an opening located in the floor; communicating the cooling air introduced into the equipment assembly in a controlled manner into a plenum and introducing the air released from within the equipment into the plenum and communicating the released air through the cooling apparatus for cooling the released air. The method can permit temperature differential between the air supplied to the air passageway and the air introduced into the plenum from the equipment assembly to be 45° F. to substantially 40° F. so as to reduce the power necessary for operating on the fan of the blowing apparatus, and can also permit a controlled, uniform flow of air to and from the equipment in the equipment assembly.

Abstract: The present application is directed to an image-guided, vacuum assisted, percutaneous, coring, cable driven breast biopsy instrument which may be conveniently mounted to an x-ray machine wherein the biopsy instrument incorporates a rotation knob at the proximal end of the instrument to manually rotate the distal end of the probe, thus allowing the clinician to conveniently position the tissue port next to the tissue to be sampled.

Abstract: A computer room reduced air flow method and apparatus is provided which utilizes an increased delta T to reduce the required air quantity required from an air conditioning system, thus resulting in a reduced air flow capability. Specifically, the present invention utilizes an approximately 40° delta T to reduce the CFM requirements by substantially 50% so as to correspondingly reduce the required power for the fan by approximately 50% so as to result in substantial energy savings. The present invention serves to communicate cooling air from a cooling apparatus into an air passageway, guiding the cooling air within the air passageway into the equipment assembly and introducing the air released from the equipment into either a plenum for communicating such released air to the cooling apparatus or introducing the air released from the equipment into the room in which the equipment and/or cooling apparatus are located.

Abstract: An air conditioning cooling apparatus and method which includes the steps of supplying cooling air generated from a cooling apparatus into an air passageway formed below a floor; guiding the cooling air in a controlled manner within the air passageway into an equipment assembly disposed on the floor through an opening located in the floor; communicating the cooling air introduced into the equipment assembly in a controlled manner into a plenum and introducing the air released from within the equipment into the plenum and communicating the released air through the cooling apparatus for cooling the released air. The method can permit temperature differential between the air supplied to the air passageway and the air introduced into the plenum from the equipment assembly to be 45° F. to substantially 40° F. so as to reduce the power necessary for operating on the fan of the blowing apparatus, and can also permit a controlled, uniform flow of air to and from the equipment in the equipment assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed are compounds that inhibit the microbial NAD synthetase enzyme. For example, disclosed are compounds of the formula Ar1—X—Ar2—Y—L—Z—Q, wherein Q is Q1Ar3 or Ar3Q1; Ar1, Ar2, and Ar3 are independently aryl or heteroaryl, optionally substituted with one or more substituents; X, Y, and Z are independently selected from the group consisting of a covalent bond or groups containing one or more of C, H, N, O, S atoms; L is a linker and Q1 is an alkylenyl, alkylenyl carbonyloxy alkyl, or alkylenyl carbonylamino alkyl group, optionally having a substituent; a covalent bond; a group containing amidine or guanidine function wherein the amidine or guanidine may be optionally N-substituted with an alkyl; or a zwitterion; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Abstract: A multi-purpose tool system including a workpiece support assembly and tool mount assembly operatively secured to a base structure. The tool mount assembly and workpiece support assembly typically are configured to be movable to provide tools and workpieces supported by those structures with a wide variety of movements relative to the base structure. In particular, the tool mount assembly may be configured to permit rotation of a tool mounted thereon about multiple axes of rotation relative to the base structure. In addition, the base structure may be configured to include a way assembly having one or more elongate way members, where the way assembly is modular to permit selective insertion and removal of one or more additional elongate way members to provide the way assembly with an adjustable length.

Abstract: The invention described herein is an image-guided, vacuum assisted, percutaneous, coring, cable driven breast biopsy instrument which may be conveniently mounted to an x-ray machine. The biopsy instrument described herein incorporates incorporates a firing mechanism to rapidly advance the biopsy probe into the breast.

Abstract: An intravenous catheter introducer assembly having a safety feature to prevent accidental needle sticks. The introducer assembly includes a needle assembly having an elongated hollow tubular needle with a proximal end attached to a catheter hub and a distal end extending therefrom. The needle has a groove disposed on its outer surface The introducer includes a protector made of a hollow member having an open distal end and a inwardly disposed resilient flange disposed thereon. The protector is coaxially slidably disposed around the needle with the flange abutting the outer surface of the needle. The introducer also includes a catheter assembly having an elongated hollow tubular catheter with a proximal end attached to a catheter hub and a distal end extending therefrom. The catheter is coaxially disposed about the needle.

Abstract: The present invention provides an inventive architectural framework for use in audio/video commerce applications. In one embodiment, message types are used in different applications. These applications may be conceptualized as falling into three classes: 1) broadcast monitoring, copyright communication, copy/play control, file verification, and PC connected e-commerce; 2) forensic tracking, content monitoring, and asset management; and 3) set-top box connected e-commerce.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for measuring one or more optical properties of a test medium, comprising providing an optical waveguide loop comprising a test medium, illuminating the optical waveguide loop with a plurality of light pulses, and detecting roundtrips of the light pulses at one or more locations along the loop, wherein the detected light pulses are indicative of one or more optical properties of the test medium. Preferably, ring-down time of said light pulses is determined. The invention provides measures of optical properties such as absorbance and refractive index of a test medium such as a gas, a liquid, and a solid material.

Abstract: An air conditioning cooling apparatus and method which includes the steps of supplying cooling air generated from a cooling apparatus into an air passageway formed below a floor; guiding the cooling air within the air passageway into an equipment assembly disposed on the floor through an opening located in the floor; communicating the cooling air introduced into the equipment assembly into a plenum and introducing the air released from within the equipment into the plenum and communicating the released air through the cooling apparatus for cooling the released air. The method permits temperature differential between the air supplied to the air passageway and the air introduced into the plenum from the equipment assembly to be 45° F. to substantially 40° F. so as to reduce the power necessary for operating on the fan of the blowing apparatus.

Abstract: A method of performing digital asset management of media content. In this method, a watermark reader device reads a watermark embedded into media content. The watermark conveys watermark information, such as a content identifier and creator identifier. The reader forwards the watermark information to a router. The router then uses the watermark information to find a metadata database identifier. It then sends a request for metadata along with the watermark information to the metadata database identified by the metadata database identifier. The metadata database uses the watermark information to find related metadata for the media content and sends the related metadata to the reader device.

Abstract: A method of performing digital asset management of content is provided. The content is identified with an identifier. The identifier can be identified with a digital watermark, header file, or both. The identifier is linked to usage rules to regulate usage and protect the content. The usage rules can be maintained on a remote or local database or server. Once extracted, an identifier is used to index the database to locate a corresponding usage rule, and can be used to override copy control information with proper purchase and subsequent protection. Content can be managed from such. In another embodiment, an identifier is used to track usage, such as amount of content viewed, time played, and copies made. In yet another embodiment, a content identifier is used to regulate content throughout a distribution chain, and a distributed set of databases with information relevant only to the owner of the database act as one database due to a central router.

Abstract: Content identifiers are provided to uniquely identify content, or a subset of the content. The content identifiers are used to index corresponding interactive data. The interactive data may be maintained in a central base, or may be distributed to routers in various subsets. In one embodiment, a set-top box receives content in an interactive television system. The content is digitally watermarked to include content identifiers. The set-top box includes a watermark decoder, which detects the watermark identifier. The identifier is used to access information, such as interactive data. The interactive data is then used to access interactive content. In another embodiment, interactive data and/or content are pushed to the set-top box. In addition, the context of the situation can be communicate to improve the interactive experience.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided a biopsy device and method for the collection of at least one tissue sample from a surgical patient. The device includes a frame and an elongated piercing element attached to the distal end of the frame. The piercing element has distal end, a proximal end and a lumen extending at least partially therethrough. The piercing element has a sharpened member at its distal end for piercing tissue, and a port proximal thereto which exposes the lumen. The device further includes an elongated cutter and tissue remover disposed coaxially and slidably within the lumen of the piercing element for harvesting a tissue mass disposed within the port of the piercing element and depositing the tissue mass proximal to the port for retrieval.

Abstract: The present invention provides polypeptides having pyrimidine glycosylase activity, preferably, pyrimidine glycosylase/AP lyase activity. The polypeptides include a targeting sequence, preferably an exogenous target sequence. The invention includes polynucleotides that include a coding sequence encoding the polypeptides of the present invention. Also provided by the invention are methods of using the polypeptides.

Abstract: A low drag ducted ram air turbine generator and cooling system is provided. The ducted ram air turbine generator and cooling system has reduced drag with respect to prior ram air turbine generator systems while extracting dynamic energy from the air stream during the complete range of intended flight operating regimes. A centerbody/valve tube having an aerodynamically shaped nose is slidably received in a fairing and primary structure to provide a variable inlet area. An internal nozzle control mechanism attached to the valve tube positions nozzle control doors to provide variable area nozzles directing air flow to the turbine stator and rotor blades to maintain optimum generator efficiency. An alternate embodiment includes an annular internal nozzle having interleaved panels to modulate the air flow to the turbine.

Abstract: A portable testing device for comparing one reflective part with another to determine whether the reflective part has met quality standards is presented. The portable reflex comparator includes a light source for directing a beam of light to a lock-in amplifier and to a collimating lens. The collimating lens directs light to a reflex part to be tested, for example, one being manufactured by an injection molding machine to be used as an automotive lens. A light beam is reflected back out of the reflective part, through the collimating lens where it converges to the focal plane where it is processed by the amplifier. A voltmeter produces a reading for the operator to see whether the production part meets a certain standardized value.