Abstract: An improved detack corotron reduces the likelihood of a paper jam arising from a curled paper edge getting caught in the corotron. The detack corotron includes an electrically conductive coronode having a plurality of field emitters, each field emitter having a terminating end, the terminating ends of the field emitters being spatially separated from one another, and a paper edge guide having a plurality of generally planar members, the generally planar members being perpendicular to the conductive coronode and the generally planar members having a height that extends above the terminating ends of the field emitters.

Abstract: In a printing machine having at least one transfer device driven in response to an electrical signal and operable to transfer a medium onto a sheet, a method controls the magnitude of the electrical signal driving the transfer device. The method includes assigning a magnitude of the electrical signal for driving the transfer device to each of at least two transfer stress levels, evaluating only operating parameters of the printing machine that have a pre-determined priority value relative to a corresponding pre-determined threshold value, selecting one of the at least two transfer stress levels based on the evaluation of the at least one operating parameter, and applying the magnitude of the electrical signal corresponding to the selected stress level to the electrically-driven transfer device.

Abstract: A binocular indirect opthalmoscope has a light source for producing an illumination beam and an illumination mirror (7) for directing the illumination beam to an eye to be viewed. The opthalmoscope also has, viewing optics including left-hand and right-hand eyepieces (12,13) and an optical splitter (9,10) for directing light along left-hand and right-hand viewing paths to the two eyepieces. An aperture holder (20) is pivotally mounted in a frame (3,5,6) of the opthalmoscope and adjusts the size of the illumination beam, under the control of a manually rotatable control knob (24). The movement of the aperture holder is transmitted, by means of mechanical linkage, to a moveable carriage (15) on which is mounted both the optical splitter and the illumination mirror, so that when the user moves the control knob to adjust the size of the illumination beam the optical splitter and the illumination mirror are also adjusted in position with respect to the opthalmoscope frame.

Abstract: Novel exendin agonist compounds are provided. These compounds are useful in treating diabetes and conditions which would be benefited by lowering plasma glucose or delaying and/or slowing gastric emptying.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to flexible, user-adapted, continuous searching, on behalf of a particular user, for points of interest relevant to the user's current location within a specifically computed personal region of interest. In a general case, the personal region of interest is computed as a function of the user's level of disposition towards the searched-for points of interest. The level of disposition towards the searched-for points of interest may, in turn, be based on two or more of the user's location, the current date and time, a history of the user's interaction with the POI-searching system, including user-initiated searches and user selections from displayed search results, a user profile developed for, and continuously updated on behalf of, the user, and a current context for the search, as specified by a search query or by other context-specifying means.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to flexible, user-adapted, continuous searching, on behalf of a particular user, for points of interest relevant to the user's current location within a specifically computed personal region of interest. In a general case, the personal region of interest is computed as a function of the user's level of disposition towards the searched-for points of interest. The level of disposition towards the searched-for points of interest may, in turn, be based on two or more of the user's location, the current date and time, a history of the user's interaction with the POI-searching system, including user-initiated searches and user selections from displayed search results, a user profile developed for, and continuously updated on behalf of, the user, and a current context for the search, as specified by a search query or by other context-specifying means.

Abstract: In a printing machine having at least one transfer device driven in response to an electrical signal and operable to transfer a medium onto a sheet, a method controls the magnitude of the electrical signal driving the transfer device. The method includes assigning a magnitude of the electrical signal for driving the transfer device to each of at least two transfer stress levels, evaluating only operating parameters of the printing machine that have a pre-determined priority value relative to a corresponding pre-determined threshold value, selecting one of the at least two transfer stress levels based on the evaluation of the at least one operating parameter, and applying the magnitude of the electrical signal corresponding to the selected stress level to the electrically-driven transfer device.

Abstract: A self-lubricating bearing assembly for a hinge of a turbine engine nozzle is described. The hinge includes a bolt and a bell crank housing. The bearing assembly includes a sleeve, a pair of bushings, liners, a thrust washer and a nut. The sleeve includes a tubular and a shoulder portion. Each bushing has an inner and an outer diameter. The liners include first liners, each bonded to the inner diameter of a respective one of the bushings, a second liner disposed between the shoulder portion and a bushing, and a third liner disposed between the thrust washer and a bushing. When assembled, the tubular portion is disposed over an outer diameter of the bolt, the outer diameters of the bushings are disposed within an inner diameter of the bell crank housing, and the nut is affixed between the thrust washer and the bolt to secure the hinge assembly.

Abstract: Methods for treating conditions or disorders which can be alleviated by reducing food intake are disclosed which comprise administration of an effective amount of an exendin or an exendin agonist, alone or in conjunction with other compounds or compositions that affect satiety. The methods are useful for treating conditions or disorders, including obesity, Type II diabetes, eating disorders, and insulin-resistance syndrome. The methods are also useful for lowering the plasma glucose level, lowering the plasma lipid level, reducing the cardiac risk, reducing the appetite, and reducing the weight of subjects. Pharmaceutical compositions for use in the methods of the invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method to determine movement of a wellhead component includes sensing a relative position of the wellhead component with a magnetostrictive sensor over a selected interval of time. The method includes sending a signal from the magnetostrictive sensor to a data acquisition device and recording the relative position of the wellhead component with the data acquisition device with respect to the selected interval of time. Further, the method includes comparing the recorded position of the wellhead component with operations data to determine if the relative position is desirable.

Abstract: A ram-type blowout preventer includes a pair of ram assemblies adapted for controlled lateral movement to and from a vertical bore. Each ram assembly has a hydraulic piston connected at a first end to a ram block and at a second end to a piston tail. A magnetostrictive waveguide tube extends into a bore of at least one piston tail and a permanent magnet is disposed upon the at least one piston tail. The magnetostrictive waveguide tube has a conducting wire to receive an interrogation pulse from a transducer, the interrogation pulse generates a helical return signal in response to a relative position of the permanent magnet with respect to the waveguide tube, and the transducer is configured to receive the helical return signal and output a position of the ram block corresponding to the at least one piston tail.

Abstract: In a printing machine having at least one transfer device driven in response to an electrical signal and operable to transfer a medium onto a sheet, a method of controlling the magnitude of the electrical signal driving the transfer device comprises assigning a magnitude of the electrical signal for driving the transfer device to each of at least two transfer stress conditions, evaluating at least one operating parameter of the printing machine relative to a corresponding pre-determined threshold value, selecting one of the at least two transfer stress conditions based on the evaluation of the at least one operating parameter, and applying the magnitude of the electrical signal corresponding to the selected stress condition to the electrically-driven transfer device. The operating parameters may include environmental parameters, such as altitude and humidity, sheet properties, such as paper weight, and machine parameters, such as transfer device life.

Abstract: Novel exendin agonist compounds are provided. These compounds are useful in treating diabetes and conditions which would be benefited by lowering plasma glucose or delaying and/or slowing gastric emptying.

Abstract: A ratchet wrench has a through cavity in which a reversing lever is disposed. The reversing lever has a pair of protruding lips formed thereon opposite from one another. A cooperating ledge is formed on the head in the cavity and on the pawl which is adjacent to the reversing lever. A spring-loaded pusher is disposed longitudinally in a blind bore in the reversing lever and the pusher engages a pocket in the pawl. A cover plate is disposed on a shelf recessed on the bottom of the wrench and spaced apart from the reversing lever.

Abstract: A composition for making a polyurethane foam includes a non-fugitive tertiary amine urethane catalyst and an alkylated polyamine crosslinking additives. Foams prepared from the reaction of a polyol and an organic isocyanate in the presence of these ingredients show improved resistance to deterioration of physical properties upon humid aging.

Abstract: A system for reducing lead edge (LE) smearing in an electrostatographic machine is provided. The system comprises a pretransfer corotron positioned between a developing station and a transfer station in an electrostatographic imaging device. The pretransfer corotron is configured to apply a predetermined charge to at least a portion of a developed toner image on a photoreceptive surface. The predetermined charge is greater than a charge applied to the rest of the developed toner image. The system further includes a controller operably associated with the pretransfer corotron. The controller is configured to activate the pretransfer corotron to apply said predetermined charge to the developed toner image at a lead edge region of the developed toner image when leading edge smearing is detected during imaging operations.

Abstract: A plain bearing has two components, each having a bearing surface; the bearing surfaces being in sliding engagement with each other. The bearing may be a spherical plain bearing having an outer ring that has a concave bearing surface and an inner ring that has a convex bearing surface. One of the bearing surfaces comprises a layer comprising tungsten carbide. One component may have spaced-apart seating surfaces for engaging a moving structure and a generally concave interior that includes an internal rib between the seating surfaces. A spherical plain bearing can be made by providing an outer ring and an inner ring includes an internal rib, and disposing the outer ring around the inner ring with the convex bearing surface engaging the concave bearing surface. The bearing may be used in a swashplate assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed are test methods for testing message paths in communication networks. Also disclosed are redundant network arrangements for rerouting information when faults are detected.

Abstract: A spherical plain bearing has an outer ring having a concave first bearing surface and an inner ring having a convex second bearing surface slidably disposed to the first bearing surface. The inner ring member also has a third bearing surface for engaging a pin to be mounted in the bearing. At least one bearing surface has a lubrication groove, and one of the outer ring and the inner ring is made from 440 stainless steel while the other is made from a precipitation-hardened martensitic stainless steel. Alternatively, the outer ring and the inner ring may be made from steel and a copper-beryllium alloy. In yet another alternative, the bearing need not have a lubrication groove, but may have a lubrication liner on the third bearing surface. A dropped hinge mechanism for a flap on a fixed wing aircraft has a hinge that includes such a bearing.

Abstract: In a hybrid spherical bearing, a ceramic ball is provided and has a bore extending at least part way there through. A metallic outer race is also provided and has an inner engagement surface contoured to a shape complementary to a shape defined by an outer diameter of the ceramic ball. The ceramic ball is positioned within the outer race and slidably and rotatably engages the inner engagement surface.