Abstract: A product dispenser including a body housing defining a product cavity for holding a product, a piston movably disposed within the product cavity and a ram assembly aligned with the piston, the ram assembly being adjustable between a storage position for engaging the piston at a storage height and a dispensing position for engaging the piston at a dispensing height, the dispensing height being larger than the storage height.

Abstract: A foam marking system is provided with separate tanks for water and foam concentrate. A water pump and a concentrate pump deliver water and concentrate from the respective tanks to a mixing chamber at a pre-selected ratio. The water pump is controlled by a master control, while the concentrate pump is controlled by a slave control depending from the master control. The master control generates and output signal which is sent to both the water pump and the slave control, such that the slave control and concentrate pump operate as a function of the master control and water pump, so that the selected mix ratio can be maintained, regardless of the output level of the foam from the system. A foam generation chamber connected to the mixing chamber and to an air source generates foam when the foam solution is mixed with air.

Abstract: A range of 3-oxybenzamide compounds and related quinazolinone compounds are disclosed which can act as potent inhibitors of the DNA repair enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase or PARP enzyme (EC 2.4.2.30), and which thereby can provide useful therapeutic compounds for use in conjunction with DNA-damaging cytotoxic drugs or radiotherapy to potentiate the effects of the latter. The coumpounds disclosed include 3-benzyloxybenzamides, 3-oxybenzamides in which a chain of 5 or more methylene groups terminate in a halogen atom or in a purin-9-yl moiety, certain benzoxazole-4-carboxamide compounds and certain quinazolinone compounds. In formula X and Y together may form a bride —X—Y— that represents the grouping (a), (b) or (c) wherein R5 is H, alkyl, aryl or aralkyl.

Abstract: The present invention provides deicing compositions which are environmentally benign, a process for producing the composition from certain waste process streams, and methods of deicing and/or anti-icing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating a virtual electrode to ablate bodily tissue. The surgical apparatus includes an inner tube and an outer tube. The inner tube defines a proximal portion and a distal portion. The distal portion forms an orifice for distributing a conductive solution from the inner tube and further forms an electrode. The outer tube coaxially receives the inner tube such that the outer tube is slidable relative to the inner tube. With this configuration, the outer tube selectively blocks flow of conductive solution from the orifice. During use, conductive solution distributed from the orifice is subjected to a current from the electrode, thereby creating a virtual electrode.

Abstract: A centralized database system is used in a wireless location system that determines the geographical locations of mobile wireless transmitters, the wireless location system including signal collection systems, location processors for processing digitized RF data provided by the signal collection systems, and a centralized database system for managing resources in the wireless location system. The centralized database system includes a computer, a database, and a plurality of software processes for managing the wireless location system, providing interfaces to external users and applications, and storing location records and configuration information.

Abstract: A non-volatile RAM device is disclosed which utilizes a plurality of ferromagnetic bits (6) each surrounded by a coil of a write line (13) for directing the remnant polarity thereof is disclosed. The direction of magnetic remnance in each bit (6) is dictated by the direction of a current induced into write line (13). Further, a magneto sensor (7) comprising a magneto resistor (1) coupled to a collector (2) is placed approximate each bit (6). The magneto resistor (1) is coupled to a control circuit (30) for receiving current. The current passing across magneto resistor (1) is biased in a direction either right or left of the original current flow direction. The collector is coupled to a sense line (4), which in turn, is coupled to an amplifier (12). When current flow is biased in the direction of the collector, the serial resistance of the magneto resistor will be decreased, and the sense line (4) will receive a high amount of current.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention there is provided a securities trading system based on the principles of artificial intelligence. It includes a data acquisition system having an input communicating with a securities exchange for receiving securities buy/sell data; a clock for generating clock times; a processing logic having inputs respectively communicating with the data acquisition system and with the clock for assigning respective clock times to said buy/sell data; a decision logic having a repository for storing a set of buy/sell rules for buying and selling securities in response to the buy and sell data aligned with the clock times; and a buy and sell execution system having an input communicating with the decision logic for executing buy and sell orders in conformance with the buy/sell rules.

Abstract: A sanitary napkin that has a three dimensionally-shaped tube of absorbent material and method of making the same is disclosed. The sanitary napkin comprises: a base pad having a body-facing side, a garment-facing side, and a longitudinal centerline. A tube of absorbent material extends outward from the body-facing side of the base pad and is aligned along the longitudinal centerline of the base pad. In one embodiment, the tube of absorbent material comprises an absorbent material and a cover at least partially wrapping the absorbent material. In this embodiment, the absorbent material is penetrated by autogenous bonds that join one portion of the cover to an opposing portion of the cover. The bonds are selectively placed to provide the tube of absorbent material with a distinct three-dimensional shape.

Abstract: An accessory for fluoroscopy equipment is provided to support the x-ray tube and detector on a pedestal with respect to a patient limb for quantitative bone densitometry measurement. Software loaded into the associated digital imaging fluoroscopy equipment provides necessary correction of the images for the quantitative accuracy needed for bone densitometry. Alternatively, a specialized detector or extremely low form factor image intensifier may be inserted in the pedestal to be used in lieu of the fluoroscopy equipment detector. A similar software correction is performed on an associated computer when a separate detector must be used.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and compositions for the treatment of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus using an RXR agonist alone or in combination with a PPAR&ggr; agonist such as a thiazolidinedione compound.

Abstract: An improved matching system for trading instruments in which the occurrence of automatically confirmed trades is dependent on receipt of match acknowledgement messages by the host computer (200) from all counterparties (KS A, KS B) to the matching trade. The host computer (200) matches like bids and offers provided thereto by the various keystations (KS A, KS B) in accordance with a predetermined matching criteria. Each of the keystations (KS A, KS B) includes a trade status timer (300, 302) and a display (310, 312) for timing receipt of a confirmed trade and/or ticket generation message from the host (200) after the keystation (KS A, KS B) has sent a match acknowledgement message and for displaying an “unconfirmed trade” status message awaiting receipt of the “confirmed trade” indication from the host (200). An alarm and a display message is provided at the keystation (KS A, KS B) when the “confirmed trade” indication is not timely received.

Abstract: An information display system, mountable on planar surfaces such as the walls of buildings or the sides of semi-trailers, includes a frame and a polygonal flexible sheet perimetricly anchored to the frame. The system includes at least one anchoring bracket rigidly attached to the planar surface at each of the sheet's apices or corner locations. Other anchoring brackets may be rigidly attached to the planar surface at various locations along the sign's edges. The sign may be a sheet of flexible polymeric material which may be optionally fiber-reinforced. Alternatively, the sign may be cloth made from tightly woven natural or synthetic fibers. An advertising message or other graphic information is printed on the sign, which is hemmed along its perimetric edges to create a channel surrounding the sheet. At least one retaining device is inserted through the perimetric hem and the sheet is secured by tensioning means attached to the anchoring brackets which act on the retaining device(s).

Abstract: A method and kit for accessing the pericardial space take advantage of the fact that the right auricle is a thin-walled, low-pressure structure which can be readily penetrated without damaging the pericardium or the epicardium. The method includes the step of passing a guide catheter through a selected peripheral vein to establish a transvenous route to the right auricle of the heart. An infusion guide wire and a leading guide wire are passed through the guide catheter and into the right auricle so that a distal end of the leading guide wire is positioned against a wall of the right auricle. The leading guide wire is located within a lumen of the infusion guide wire and protrudes outward, preferably about 2 mm, from a distal end of the infusion guide wire. The wall of the right auricle is then pierced with the distal end of the leading guide wire. After the wall of the right auricle is pierced, at least one of the infusion guide wire and the leading guide wire are advanced into the pericardial space.

Abstract: NPY antagonists, methods of using such NPY antagonists and pharmaceutical compositions containing such NPY antagonists. The NPY antagonists are useful for the treatment of NPY mediated disease/conditions including obesity.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for making a heat exchanger tube (14) for a heat exchanger (10) in which a continuous insert (26), having convolutes transverse to the length of the tube are located into a continuous shell as the shell is being formed. After placing the insert (26) into the partially open shell, the shell is closed and sealed as it passes through a bonding device (64) to seal the longitudinal edges of the shell to each other and the insert to the internal walls of the tube. The continuous shell with the inserted fin insert is subsequently sliced to produce individual cooling tubes.

Abstract: Medical needle shield apparatus for covering a needle after use. In embodiments of this invention a shield with two or more segments hingedly connected to each other is movable from a retracted position where the needle is exposed, to an extended position where the shield extends beyond the end of the needle. The needle is affixed in a hub of a medical needle device, and the shield is articulated to the hub. At least one of the two or more segments has an open orifice through which the needle passes to form an axis of intersection about the needle. The shield includes a channel for covering the needle when the shield is linearly extended. One or more locks associated with one or more of the segments secures one or more of the segments relative to the shield in the extended position. A latch is also disposed on the distal segment for securing the distal segment relative to the shield when in the extended position.

Abstract: A method of treating and/or preventing congestion associated with allergic and inflammatory conditions of the upper and lower airway passages in a human, by administering an amount of desloratadine effective for such treating and/or preventing.

Abstract: A die and method of assembling a high torque capacity metal spool. The spool comprises a cylindrical barrel, a pair of flanges and a pair of flange hubs. The die includes a support member and a curling member that is adapted to move relative to the support housing. The die is adapted to be driven towards a matching die to press a spool therebetween. Each curling member includes an annular curling face which is adapted to curl and compress metal edges of the cylindrical barrel, the flanges and the flange hubs into tightened curls. The tightened curls secure the cylindrical barrel with the flanges and flange hubs. Each die further includes a plurality of nibs carried by the support housings which project outward from the curling face of the curling member after the tightened curls have been formed to swage a plurality of detents into the tightened curls of the spool. The resulting detents in the metal spool provide for increased torque transfer between the flanges, the flange hubs and the cylindrical barrel.

Abstract: A data processing device is described which at least comprises a master controller (1), a first functional unit (2) which includes a slave controller (20), a second functional unit (3). The functional units (2,3) share common memory means (11). The device is programmed for executing an instruction by the first functional unit (2), the execution of said instruction involving input/output operations by the first functional unit (3), wherein output data of the first functional unit (2) is processed by the second functional unit (3) during said execution and/or the input data is generated by the second functional (3) unit during said execution.