Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a readily water-dispersible particulate composition comprising by weight of dry matter at least 10% of xanthan gum and not more than 60% of starch, said composition being characterised in that the xanthan gum present in the composition can be dispersed completely within 2 minutes in distilled water of 25° C. at a concentration of 0.7% based on the dry weight of xanthan. The particulate xanthan gum compositions of the present invention exhibit unique viscosity enhancing properties that are dependent on the electrolyte levels of the aqueous environment in which they are applied. The favourable properties of the xanthan compositions according to the invention can be realised without resorting to chemical modification of the xanthan gum. The xanthan compositions according to the present invention can be applied advantageously in e.g. food products and oil drilling fluids.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for protecting a low voltage system, such as an alarm system, is described. The method and apparatus includes power line surge protector and a plurality of low-voltage surge protectors housed within a common cabinet. The low-voltage surge protectors are mounted in connectors that provide physical support as well as electrical connections. These electrical connections are routed to a set of input and output terminals by a printed circuit board that also provides support for the connectors and terminals. The combination of power line surge protectors and low-voltage surge protectors may help reduce damage to equipment such as an alarm system during power surges, perhaps caused by electrical storms or heavy electrical equipment being operated nearby. Because of the radio frequency noise emanating from the power line and the power line surge protector, a shield is provided that reduces the amount of noise that is transferred to the low-voltage signal paths.

Abstract: When a buyer's debt to a seller cannot be paid using an account issued to the buyer by an issuer within a payment processing system, then either or both the seller and the buyer are solicited to conduct future transactions payable on the account. If the debt can be paid using the account, then a sub-account is created unique to the seller and buyer. Transactions between the buyer and seller can be processed using the sub-account including the option of aggregating the debts prior to the processing. The credit limit of the sub-account can be set to match the amount of the aggregated debts.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to a tab used to open food can ends and beer/beverage can ends. The tab has a nose portion located at a front end of the tab and a lift portion located at a back end of the tab. The tab also has a rivet receiving portion located proximate to the nose portion with a rivet hole. The rivet receiving portion is coupled to the nose portion. The rivet hole has a non-round perimeter with a first diameter portion and a second diameter portion. The first diameter portion has a plurality of first arcuate segments and the second diameter portion has a plurality of notches. The second diameter portion is greater in length than the first diameter portion. Tooling for the manufacture of the tab is also provided. A method for manufacturing the tab is additionally provided as well.

Abstract: The method and system for exploiting information from multiple images in a mammographic computer-aided detection application is disclosed. A pair of images is obtained by a CAD system. The images are processed to produce a set of regions of interest (ROIs) to be associated with each image. A ROI is selected from the first image of the pair. This ROI is identified and matched to a ROI in the second image. The single image feature values are obtained by the two ROIs of the image pair. Transforming the image feature value to an integer value produces a pair of integers for each image feature value. The pair of integers defines the element of the pre-determined co-occurrence matrix. An element of a predetermined co-occurrence matrix is selected to provide evidence value for the ROI of the first image.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to a tab used to open beer/beverage can ends and food can ends. The tab has one or more arcuate strips that are provided on a surface of the tab proximate to a peripheral surface of the tab where the one or more arcuate strips have been formed further into a preselected portion of curled or hemmed portions of the tab. Tooling for the manufacture of the tab is also provided. A method for manufacturing the tab is additionally provided as well.

Abstract: This invention provides an information fusion method for multiple indicators of cancers detected with multiple channels. Each channel consists of specifically tuned detectors, features, classifiers and Bayes networks. The outputs of the Bayes networks are probabilities of malignancy for the detections passing the corresponding classifier.

Abstract: A real time automatic headcount system is configured with a portable transmitter operated by a crisis coordinator and operable to output an alert signal which is received by a plurality of receivers which are coupled to respective persons associated with a crisis-event site. The receivers each generate an acknowledgement signal transmitted via a central processing unit to the transmitter. Upon receiving the acknowledgement signal, the central processing unit is operable to update a check list of all person associated with the crisis-event site, identify those who have not been accounted for and implement back up procedures for locating and accounting for the previously unaccounted for persons in real time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for protecting a low voltage system, such as an alarm system, is described. The method and apparatus includes power line surge protector and a plurality of low-voltage surge protectors housed within a common cabinet. The low-voltage surge protectors are mounted in connectors that provide physical support as well as electrical connections. These electrical connections are routed to a set of input and output terminals by a printed circuit board that also provides support for the connectors and terminals. The combination of power line surge protectors and low-voltage surge protectors may help reduce damage to equipment such as an alarm system during power surges, perhaps caused by electrical storms or heavy electrical equipment being operated nearby. Because of the radio frequency noise emanating from the power line and the power line surge protector, a shield is provided that reduces the amount of noise that is transferred to the low-voltage signal paths.

Abstract: A computer aided detection method and system to assist radiologists in the reading of medical images. The method and system has particular application to the area of mammography including detection of clustered microcalcifications and densities. A microcalcification detector is provided wherein individual detections are rank ordered and classified, and one of the features for classification is derived using a multilayer perceptron. A density detector is provided including an iterative, dynamic region growing module with embedded subsystem for rank ordering and classification of a best subset of candidate masks. A post processing stage is provided where detections are analyzed in the context of a set of images for a patient. Three analysis methods are used to distribute a limited number of detections across the image set and further within each image, and additionally to perform a normalcy classification.

Abstract: A computer aided detection method and system to assist radiologists in the reading of medical images. The method and system has particular application to the area of mammography including detection of clustered microcalcifications and densities. A microcalcification detector is provided wherein individual detections are rank ordered and classified, and one of the features for classification is derived using a multilayer perceptron. A density detector is provided including an iterative, dynamic region growing module with embedded subsystem for rank ordering and classification of a best subset of candidate masks. A post processing stage is provided where detections are analyzed in the context of a set of images for a patient.

Abstract: A computer aided detection method and system to assist radiologists in the reading of medical images. The method and system has particular application to the area of mammography including detection of clustered microcalcifications and densities. A microcalcification detector is provided wherein individual detections are rank ordered and classified, and one of the features for classification is derived using a multilayer perceptron. A density detector is provided including an iterative, dynamic region growing module with embedded subsystem for rank ordering and classification of a best subset of candidate masks. Features are computed from a detection on an input image by providing first and second regions on the input image corresponding to areas inside and outside the detection, measurements are computed based on values derived from the two regions, a standard deviation is computed for the measurements in each region, and a feature for the detection is computed using a Bauer-Fisher ratio.

Abstract: An apparatus for the intravascular placement of a vena cava filter includes a flexible deployment sheath and an IVUC with an ultrasonic imaging element. These two components are joined together and oriented in a substantially parallel relationship with one another with the imaging components of the IVUC extending above or in front of the upper opening of the deployment sheath. Once the apparatus is appropriately positioned within the vena cava, as determined through ultrasonic imaging, a filter and its associated delivery system are inserted through the deployment sheath to the appropriate location for deployment.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the intravascular placement of a vena cava filter includes an outer sheath, an intravascular ultrasound catheter with an ultrasonic imaging element, a guide wire, and the vena cava filter that is to be deployed. The outer sheath, ultrasound catheter, and guide wire share a common central axis. The ultrasound catheter is enclosed by and is moveable relative to the outer sheath, and the guide wire is enclosed by and is moveable relative to the ultrasound catheter. In the stored position, the filter is secured between the outer sheath and the ultrasound catheter. When the apparatus is introduced into a vein, the ultrasound catheter provides real-time imaging of the vein for identifying the appropriate location for placement of the filter. Once such a location has been identified, the outer sheath is drawn back relative to the ultrasound catheter, exposing the legs of the filter, allowing the legs of the filter to spring free and attach themselves to the wall of the vein.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product system for evacuating coolant from a liquid-cooled device. The system includes a coolant supply path adapted to be coupled between a coolant supply pump and the liquid-cooled device; a coolant return path adapted to be coupled between a coolant supply reservoir and the liquid-cooled device; and a coolant removal path coupled between the coolant supply path and the coolant return path. The coolant removal path is configured to evacuate coolant from the liquid-cooled device using a venturi effect from the coolant supply path to evacuate the coolant through the coolant return path into the reservoir.

Abstract: A hydraulically actuated electronically controlled fuel injection system comprises a pressure intensifier (6, 7) associated with a hydraulically controlled differential valve (4) having a poppet valve (27) opening into a working chamber (10) of the pressure intensifier (6, 7). An external groove (8) is provided on the plunger (7) of the intensifier (6, 7) for connection of the plunger's compression chamber (12) with a nozzle's locking chamber (17) during an injection cut-off period.

Abstract: A hydraulically actuated electronically controlled unit injection system comprises a pressure intensifier associated with a hydraulically controlled differential valve (HDV) having a poppet valve opening into a working chamber of the pressure intensifier wherein there is a throttling slot between the poppet valve chamber and the working chamber with either at least a bypass channel between the poppet valve chamber and the working chamber or a bore connecting the working chamber to a control chamber of the HDV.

Abstract: A stone facing section anchor mounting system has a special hole configuration, in facing stone, that will not rotate while being installed, and because of its installed angularity and pressure points will not tend to rupture or pull out of the stone. The anchor system holds beyond the lateral strength of the stone itself when the stone is at the cracking point. The superior holding power of the present anchor and its minimum edge distance eliminates the kerf and aluminum "J" structure and silicone used with other anchors, and while having the advantage of being hidden it also has the holding power of a through bolt. Fan nut anchor holes in facing material are made with ease to tolerances required. The anchors do not rotate during installation and use a lock nut that does not work loose in transit and the anchor is such, with accurate hole predetermined angularity that installation can be made without over tightening occurring.

Abstract: A rotational glider toy configured for producing bubbles during free flight. The toy includes a circular disc body having a plurality of bubble-forming apertures formed therein. A reservoir structure is coupled to a lower surface of the body and encloses a storage area. The reservoir structure includes a plurality of solution feed holes formed in a junction between the reservoir structure and the lower surface, said solution feed holes being in communication with the storage area. Bubble solution is inserted into the storage area through a capped filling hole therein. Centrifugal force during rotational movement of the toy operates to urge the bubble solution out of the feed holes such that it spreads onto the lower surface of the body and into the bubble-forming apertures. Air currents passing through the bubble-forming apertures cause the bubble solution to be released from the toy in a stream of bubbles.

Abstract: A hydraulically actuated electronically controlled unit injection system comprises a pressure intensifier associated with a hydraulically controlled differential valve (HDV) having a poppet valve opening into a working chamber of the pressure intensifier wherein there is a throttling slot between the poppet valve chamber and the working chamber with either at least a bypass channel between the poppet valve chamber and the working chamber or a bore connecting the working chamber to a control chamber of the HDV.