Abstract: In one aspect, the invention comprises compounds that bind to the synaptic vesicle protein SV2A and that can be useful as radiotracers for positron emission tomography. In another aspect, the invention comprises methods of imaging the brain, measuring synaptic density or diagnosing neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, psychiatric disorders such as depression, and metabolic disorders such as diabetes comprising detecting the compounds of the invention by positron emission tomography (PET).

Abstract: A computer implemented method and system for providing financial services are described. The system and method include determining an account balance for a financial account. If the account balance is negative, notice of the negative balance is sent to the account holder in real time. After a predetermined period of time or grace period, and/or by a predetermined end time or cut-off date or time, it is determined whether the negative balance was cured. If the negative balance was not cured during the grace period, an overdraft fee is assessed to the financial account. If the negative balance was cured during the grace period, any assessed overdraft fee for the negative balance is rebated or reversed.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention comprises compounds that bind to the synaptic vesicle protein SV2A and that can be useful as radiotracers for positron emission tomography. In another aspect, the invention comprises methods of imaging the brain, measuring synaptic density or diagnosing neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, psychiatric disorders such as depression, and metabolic disorders such as diabetes comprising detecting the compounds of the invention by positron emission tomography (PET).

Abstract: An eyeglass sleeve is provided. The eyeglass sleeve may include a sidewall having an elongated length and forming an elongated channel within the sidewall. The sidewall may further include a first edge and a second edge, each running along the elongated length of the sidewall. The first and second edge form an opening in between that leads to the elongated channel. The sidewall is made of a resilient stretchable material and is formed to receive and secure at least a portion of a glasses frame within the elongated channel.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate having a surface including an active semiconductor device including one of a laser and a photodiode; and a visual indicator disposed on the semiconductor body and at least adjacent to a portion of said active semiconductor device, the indicator having a state that shows if damage to the active semiconductor device may have occurred.

Abstract: A multistage flextensional transducer includes at least one inner elongate driver member within and mechanically coupled to an inner shell that is nested within an outer shell; the inner shell comprising a pair of contact portions abutting the driver member and a pair of transmission portions on opposite sides of the inner shell between the contact portions; the outer shell being arranged so that the transmission portions act as bridging driver members between the said inner and outer shells, flexure of the outer shell being driven, on actuation of the transducer, by movement of the bridging driver members. The transducer may act as a push or pull actuator or sensor, may magnify displacement and may employ smart materials as driver members. Also cylindrical modules containing thin flextensional actuators may provide axial displacement in a downhole environment and may move a device axially along a downhole pipe or close a valve opening or inch along the pipe.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate having a surface including an active semiconductor device including one of a laser and a photodiode; and a visual indicator disposed on the semiconductor body and at least adjacent to a portion of said active semiconductor device, the indicator having a state that shows if damage to the active semiconductor device may have occurred.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for protecting a semiconductor device from damage. The method may include the steps of providing an active semiconductor device on a surface of a semiconductor substrate where the active device is surrounded by an inactive semiconductor area, and providing a soft metallic guard element in the inactive semiconductor area around at least a portion of the periphery of the active device wherein the metallic guard element is connected to ground potential and not to the active device.

Abstract: A multistage flextensional transducer includes at least one inner elongate driver member within and mechanically coupled to an inner shell that is nested within an outer shell; the inner shell comprising a pair of contact portions abutting the driver member and a pair of transmission portions on opposite sides of the inner shell between the contact portions; the outer shell being arranged so that the transmission portions act as bridging driver members between the said inner and outer shells, flexure of the outer shell being driven, on actuation of the transducer, by movement of the bridging driver members. The transducer may act as a push or pull actuator or sensor, may magnify displacement and may employ smart materials as driver members. Also cylindrical modules containing thin flextensional actuators may provide axial displacement in a downhole environment and may move a device axially along a downhole pipe or close a valve opening or inch along the pipe.

Abstract: A multistage flextensional transducer includes at least one inner elongate driver member within and mechanically coupled to an inner shell that is nested within an outer shell; the inner shell comprising a pair of contact portions abutting the driver member and a pair of transmission portions on opposite sides of the inner shell between the contact portions; the outer shell being arranged so that the transmission portions act as bridging driver members between the said inner and outer shells, flexure of the outer shell being driven, on actuation of the transducer, by movement of the bridging driver members. The transducer may act as a push or pull actuator or sensor, may magnify displacement and may employ smart materials as driver members. Also cylindrical modules containing thin flextensional actuators may provide axial displacement in a downhole environment and may move a device axially along a downhole pipe or close a valve opening or inch along the pipe.

Abstract: A high pressure pump for use in the injection of liquid chemicals into subsea oil or gas wells, and intended to be positioned in the subsea environment adjacent to the wellhead, comprises a piezoelectric actuator (19) for reciprocating a plunger (22) which acts to compress and expand the effective volume of a pumping chamber (29) having a valved inlet (15) connected to a source of the liquid and a valved outlet (16) to lead the liquid to the well. The device has a minimum of moving parts and in particular avoids the need for any rotating parts and attendant high performance bearings and seals.

Abstract: A multistage flextensional transducer includes at least one inner elongate driver member within and mechanically coupled to an inner shell that is nested within an outer shell; the inner shell comprising a pair of contact portions abutting the driver member and a pair of transmission portions on opposite sides of the inner shell between the contact portions; the outer shell being arranged so that the transmission portions act as bridging driver members between the said inner and outer shells, flexure of the outer shell being driven, on actuation of the transducer, by movement of the bridging driver members. The transducer may act as a push or pull actuator or sensor, may magnify displacement and may employ smart materials as driver members. Also cylindrical modules containing thin flextensional actuators may provide axial displacement in a downhole environment and may move a device axially along a downhole pipe or close a valve opening or inch along the pipe.

Abstract: A high pressure pump for use in the injection of liquid chemicals into subsea oil or gas wells, and intended to be positioned in the subsea environment adjacent to the wellhead, comprises a piezoelectric actuator (19) for reciprocating a plunger (22) which acts to compress and expand the effective volume of a pumping chamber (29) having a valved inlet (15) connected to a source of the liquid and a valved outlet (16) to lead the liquid to the well. The device has a minimum of moving parts and in particular avoids the need for any rotating parts and attendant high performance bearings and seals.

Abstract: A method for removing cultural noise from a measurement of the field generated by an electromagnetic source, such as a current bi-pole or a magnetic loop source, the method comprising: simultaneously measuring the electromagnetic signal at a field measurement position and a calibration position close to the field measurement position, but in a null field of the source; using the field measurement and the calibration measurement to compute a filter that estimates the component of the field measurement that is correlated with cultural noise; convolving the computed filter with the calibration measurement to yield the estimated cultural noise component, and subtracting that component from the field measurement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for protecting a semiconductor device from damage. The method may include the steps of providing an active semiconductor device on a surface of a semiconductor substrate where the active device is surrounded by an inactive semiconductor area, and providing a soft metallic guard element in the inactive semiconductor area around at least a portion of the periphery of the active device wherein the metallic guard element is connected to ground potential and not to the active device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for protecting a semiconductor device from damage. The method includes the steps of providing a active semiconductor device on a surface of the semiconductor substrate where the active device is surrounded by inactive semiconductor areas and providing a soft metallic guard ring only in the inactive semiconductor areas around the periphery of the active device wherein the metallic guard ring is connected to ground potential and not to the active device.

Abstract: A device for the generation of electrical power from a fluid flow, and more particularly for harvesting power from flows downhole in oil or gas wells, comprises a cylinder or other blunt body (1) arranged crosswise to the flow and supported on the end of a sprung cantilever arm (3) held in a fixed mount, with freedom to oscillate in response to the shedding of a Karman vortex trail v from the? body. The resultant motion of the body (1) and arm (3) is converted into electrical energy by piezoelectric material (5) which is attached to, and stressed by, flexure of the arm. Other arrangements of piezoelectric and inductive power generation from the oscillation of the device are described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for protecting a semiconductor device from damage. The method includes the steps of providing a active semiconductor device on a surface of the semiconductor substrate where the active device is surrounded by inactive semiconductor areas and providing a soft metallic guard ring only in the inactive semiconductor areas around the periphery of the active device wherein the metallic guard ring is connected to ground potential and not to the active device.

Abstract: Universal joint (100) includes a centering mechanism (100A) for supporting the universal and forcing the two joint halves to operate at the same angle thereby causing the joint to operate at constant velocity at all angles. Each shaft (134, 135) of the joint (100) is rotatably connected to the centering mechanism (100A). Movement of one of the shafts (134, 135) at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the coupling yoke (136) is transmitted to the other shaft (135, 134) by the centering mechanism (100A) and the centering mechanism (100A) causes the other shaft (135, 134) to likewise move at the same angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the coupling yoke (136). The centering mechanism (100A) includes cam rods (102, 103) supported within a cam tube (101), which arrangement allows a full range of movement of the shafts (134, 135) at angles of 90°.

Abstract: This invention relates to an optical transmitter, receiver or transceiver module, and more particularly, to an apparatus for connecting a first optical connector to a second optical connector. The apparatus comprises: (1) a housing having at least a first end and at least a second end, the first end of the housing capable of receiving the first optical connector, and the second end of the housing capable of receiving the second optical connector; (2) a longitudinal cavity extending from the first end of the housing to the second end of the housing; and (3) an electromagnetic shield comprising at least a portion of the housing.