Abstract: An exercising machine wherein a cable pull is resisted by spring deflection. The cable is connected to a lift arm that is pivotally fixed and carries a lift roller. The lift roller abuts a pivotally mounted bar and urges pivotal movement of the bar opposed by a spring member. The connection of the cable to the pivotal lift arm, the position of the lift roller relative to the lift arm pivot, the engagement of the roller with the pivotal bar and the engagement of the spring member with the pivotal bar all involving lever advantages that can be manipulated to achieve varying shapes of resistance of the cable pull as felt by the user.

Abstract: An air bag cover assembly for use in an instrument panel of an automotive vehicle and including a displaceable door structure which lifts clear of the surrounding cover structure at an initial stage of air bag deployment prior to undergoing tethered rotation by one or more extensible tethering elements thereby substantially avoiding contacting relation between the door structure and adjacent portions of the cover structure and reducing stress on the nonmoving components.

Abstract: A microphone is constructed to be more tolerant to a wide range of relative humidity conditions without adversely affecting the performance of the microphone. The microphone includes a housing with a sound port for receiving sound and an electret assembly for converting the sound into an output signal. The electret assembly includes a diaphragm and a backplate. The backplate is made of at least two layers, usually polymeric layers. The first layer of material has a first hygroscopic coefficient and a second layer of material has a second hygroscopic coefficient. The first and second layers cause the backplate to bend in response to higher humidity conditions, thereby minimizing the adverse effects on microphone performance caused by characteristic changes in the diaphragm at the higher humidity conditions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus that prevents/minimizes cracking in the ceramic body of processors. The ability to prevent/minimize cracking can ensure successful operation and substantially increase processor lifetime. The present invention discloses a device for maintaining a microprocessor in a desired relationship with a printed wiring board while limiting the transmission of shock and vibrational motion to and from the processor includes a printed wiring board, a processor, and a dynamic isolating mount compressed between the printed wiring board and the processor, wherein the processor maintains the dynamic isolating mount in a compressed state such that the dynamic isolating mount bears on the printed wiring board.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid handling system capable of automated dispensing and reformatting operations by virtue of a quick-release cannula array mounting system that permits cannula arrays to be changed automatically by the system or manually by a user. Automated changing of the cannula array is carried out by relative movement of the dispensing head and the sample support surface to deliver the attached cannula array to a storage location, releasing the array from the dispensing head, and attaching a new cannula array. Relative movement between the dispensing head and sample support surface in at least two dimensions increases flexibility of the system and makes self-loading of the cannula array practical. The system provides advantages in time and accuracy of cannula array changeover procedures. The automated cannula array changeover capability permits automated wellplate reformatting procedures, which can be performed quickly and accurately.

Abstract: A reclosable lid 10 for a container holding a flowable substance has a first piece or cover 12, and a movable second piece or disk 50. The cover 10 has a top wall 14 , a side wall 16 and a mounting portion 22 for connecting the lid 10 on the container. The cover 12 has an opening 28 adapted to permit the flow of the substance through the lid 10. The cover 12 further includes a slot 30 located in the top wall 14. The disk 50 has at least one aperture 78, a post 54, and a projection 52. The aperture 78 and the projection 52 are each cooperatively dimensioned with the opening 28. The post 54 is adapted to be received by the slot 30 in the cover 12. The disk 50 is movable between a first position wherein at least a portion of the projection 52 is received in the opening 28 in the first position, and a second position wherein the aperture 78 is aligned with the opening 28 in the second position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus that minimizes shock/vibrational motion in interposer sockets. The ability to control shock/vibration can ensure successful operation and substantially increase socket lifetime. The present invention discloses a device for maintaining a heat sink in a desired relationship to a mounting base while limiting the transmission of shock and vibrational motion to and from the heat sink includes a fastener extending from the mounting base, a spring compressed between the fastener and the heat sink, and a damper compressed between the fastener and the sink wherein the fastener maintains the spring and the damper in a compressed state such that the spring and the damper bear on said heat sink.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions of matter represented by the general formula

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products measure electrical activity of the cardiac tissue proximate the lesion site during an ablation treatment, and then compare the measurements to determine whether the lesion is clinically efficacious so as to be able to block myocardial propagation. The methods can include obtaining the measurements and performing the ablation therapy while the subject is experiencing atrial fibrillation and may measure the standard deviation of the electrogram signal.

Abstract: The pneumatically operated projectile launching device is preferably comprised of three principal elements: a body which houses and interconnects all of the pneumatic components and also houses the electrical power source, a grip mounted to the body which includes an electrical switch that activates a launching sequence, and an electrical control unit housed within both the body and the grip which directs flow between the pneumatic components to load, cock and fire the gun. The body preferably contains a plurality of bores in communication with each other including a bore containing and distribution pressurized gas, a bore containing a compressed gas storage chamber and mechanisms for filling the storage chamber with gas and releasing gas from the storage chamber to fire the projectile, and a bore containing mechanisms for loading and launching the projectile.

Abstract: A plant transformation vector for transforming host plant cells with a chimeric selectable marker gene is disclosed. The gene includes, operatively linked in sequence in a 5′ to 3′ direction, (i) a DNA promoter sequence from the rice beta-glucanase 9 (gns9) gene; (ii) a selectable marker gene, and (iii) a 3′ untranslated terminator region. Also disclosed are a vector pair containing the transformation vector, a method of obtaining transformed monocots whose seeds produce a selected heterologous protein during sed germination, and a plant whose cells are transformed with the chimeric selectable marker gene.

Abstract: A lid for a container holding a flowable substance has an annular top wall. A side wall depends from the top wall, and has a mounting portion for connecting the lid on the container. The top wall has an opening that is adapted to permit the flow of the substance through the lid. The top wall also has a retaining member. The lid further has a closure member positioned on the mounting portion. The closure member is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein at least a portion of the closure member is received in the opening in the first position and at least a portion of the closure member is received in the retaining member in the second position. The opening and the closure member are cooperatively dimensioned such that the closure member is removably inserted in the opening. The retaining member and the closure member are cooperatively dimensioned such that the closure member is removably inserted in the retaining member.

Abstract: The material compactor in accordance with the present invention generally includes a feed apparatus, a preliminary compaction apparatus, and a final compaction apparatus. The final compaction apparatus generally includes a compaction chamber having an adjustably taperable choke tube. The area of the inner cavity of the final compaction chamber can be tapered to become measurably smaller or larger at the discharge or expelling end. Consequently, compacting movement of the material within the compaction chamber and through the tapered choke tube significantly subjects the material to restrictive compacting pressure which in turn compacts the material and performs liquid separation with each operationally continuous movement through the final compaction apparatus.

Abstract: A home gateway system has a transceiver (70) capable of establishing a wireless local loop connection (72). A voice processing system (74) is coupled to the transceiver (70). The voice processing system (74) is capable of storing a message from an incoming call. A caller identification processing system (76) is coupled to the transceiver (70). The caller identification processing system (76) determines a telephone number of the incoming call and routes the incoming call to the voice processing system (74), if the telephone number belongs to a screened group of telephone numbers.

Abstract: The present invention provides luminescent lanthanide metal chelates comprising a metal ion of the lanthanide series and a complexing agent comprising at least one salicylamidyl moiety. Also provided are probes incorporating the salicylamidyl ligands of the invention and methods utilizing the ligands of the invention and probes comprising the ligands of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of identifying cellular genes necessary for viral growth and cellular genes that function as tumor suppressors. Thus, the present invention provides nucleic acids related to and methods of reducing or preventing viral infection or cancer. The invention also provides methods of producing substantially virus-free cell cultures and methods for screening for additional such genes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to controlled airflow and air distribution within a laboratory safety enclosure and in particular, to turbulence-free airflow within a laboratory fume hood. The fume hood of the present invention has a work chamber and an access opening having an upper edge. A horizontal air deflector structure is positioned adjacent to the upper edge of the access opening to divert a portion of air entering the access opening upwardly within the chamber, whereby the diverted air eliminates an airflow eddy current.

Abstract: The present invention offers an alternative method of tuning a meander line antenna. A layer of PN semiconductor material is inserted between a ground plane and a base element. A dc voltage is applied between the ground plane and the base element. A change in capacitance between the ground plane and the base element is effected. The impedance of the base element is thus changed, resulting in a change in the delay through the meander line tuning module as the propagation constant. This change in delay tunes the meander line antenna in the same manner as discrete switch elements by adjusting only a single voltage.

Abstract: Compounds and methods for the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis are disclosed. Compounds include the M. tuberculosis antigens Mtb-81 and Mtb-67.2, immunogenic portions thereof and polynucleotides that encode such portions. Such compositions may be used, for example, for the immunotherapy and serodiagnosis of M. tuberculosis infection.

Abstract: A central role for the gene encoding dopamine beta-hydroxylase in neuropsychiatric disorders is disclosed. Use of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the dopamine beta-hydroxylase gene for diagnosis, prediction of clinical course and treatment response, development of new treatments and development of cell-culture based and animal models for research and treatment are disclosed.