Abstract: A method to dynamically schedule communication between a master and slaves in a variable slave population in a master-slave wireless network. The method includes receiving a first interrogation phase command signal from the master, transmitting a response signal to the master responsive to the first interrogation phase command signal after a current time interval, the current time interval based on a current time slot selection, receiving an acknowledgment list from the master responsive to the transmitted response signal, determining whether the current time slot selection matches a master-filled time slot based on the acknowledgement list, and modifying an affinity value based on the determination.

Abstract: In a dental implantation, after exposure of the alveolar crest and drilling a pilot hole into the crest, a novel mill having an axial guide pin which extends into the pilot hole is used to form clearance for a cover screw or temporary healing abutment. The pilot hole is then enlarged to form clearance for the implant and the screw or abutment is attached.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing an injection molded panel member having a first portion, a second portion, and an appearance surface portion. The method includes placing the appearance surface portion of the panel member into a mold cavity. The mold cavity preferably includes a first chamber adapted to form the first portion of the panel member, and a second chamber adapted to form the second portion of the panel member. After the appearance surface portion of the panel member is inserted into the mold, molten plastic material and pressurized gas are injected into the first chamber of the mold cavity. After the molten plastic material is injected into the first chamber of the mold, molten plastic material is injected into the second chamber of the mold cavity. The molten plastic is then cooled until it solidifies. After the molten plastic is sufficiently cooled, the pressurized gas is vented and the panel member is removed from the mold.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing excess coating material from a honeycomb body of a catalytic converter. The coated honeycomb body is mounted on an eccentric tappet and is rotated around a first rotational axis with a first rotational frequency such that the distance from the center of gravity of the honeycomb body to the first rotational axis is at least 1.5 times the length of the honeycomb body. The honeycomb body is further rotated around a second rotational axis even out the coating material and provide a more uniform coating surface.

Abstract: An RFID tag has a frequency agile RF transceiver that transmits data from the RFID tag to a reader and a direct sequence spread spectrum RF receiver that receives communications from the reader. Messages between the reader and the RFID tag are divided into frames, and each frame contains a frame header transmitted by the reader and at least one time slot containing data transmitted by the RFID tag. The frame header contains a hop sequence and a frequency in a hop sequence to be used by the RFID tag in transmitting data to the reader.

Abstract: A hand held Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader is provided. The reader includes a housing having a perimeter around an inner edge. The reader also includes a full-sized dipole antenna including two antenna elements coupled by a balun transformer. The antenna has nearly a unity gain over a range of angles. The reader also includes a transceiver, coupled to the dipole antenna by a suitable cable, the transceiver adapted to send and receive signals. The reader further includes a processor for processing signals received at the antenna. The first and the second antenna segments of the dipole antenna are wrapped along the perimeter around the inner edge of the housing.

Abstract: Information is communicated between an RFID tag and first and second readers. A first transceiver of the RFID tag is controlled so that the first transceiver communicates with the first reader and so that the first transceiver has substantially longer periods during which the first transceiver is not in communication with the first reader than when the first transceiver is in communication with the first reader. A second transceiver of the RFID tag is controlled so that the second transceiver communicates with the second reader at least during the periods when the first transceiver is not in communication with the first reader. The RFID tag may also have a battery, a switch coupling the battery to at least the first transceiver, and a controller that operates the switch in a duty cycle such that power is provided by the battery to the first transceiver during ON times of the duty cycle and such that power from the battery to the first transceiver is interrupted during OFF times of the duty cycle.

Abstract: Immununological compositions and methods for making and using them. The compositions contain at least one antigen and at least one lipoprotein and optionally an adjuvant. The lipoprotein can itself be antigenic or immunogenic. The antigen can be influenza HA and the lipoprotein a recombinantly expressed product having an OspA leader for lipidation and PspA for the protein portion. The antigen can be OspC and the lipoprotein OspA. The components of the composition are co-administered. A potentiated immunological response is obtained by the compositions and methods.

Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring aircraft altitude less than 10 meters. Two signals having different frequencies are simultaneously transmitted. Returns or echos of the two signals are received. The phase of the return of the first and second signals are determined. A distance value based on the determined phase of the first and second return signals is determined.

Abstract: A security access system performing identification, verification and authorization is provided. In one embodiment, a security access system is disclosed. The security access system comprises, a radio frequency identification (RFID) activator loop integrated in an access road, a loop reactance sensing circuit, an RFID personal identification tag, an imaging device and a verification system. The loop reactance sensing circuit is adapted to measure the reactance of the RFID activator loop to determine the presence of a vehicle. The RFID personal identification tag is adapted to transmit identification data regarding the person it is associated with in response to the RFID activator loop. The imaging device is adapted to record an image of the person. The verification system is adapted to process the identification data of the RFID identification tag and produce an image of the person from a database associated with the identification data.

Abstract: An optical sensor and sensor housing for measuring the magnitude and phase of an electrical current flowing through a conductor. Also disclosed is a flux concentrator method for rejecting external influences of adjacent conductors, as well as a method for attaching said sensor and flux concentrator to non-circular conductors.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for improving beam stability in high current gas-cluster ion beam systems by reducing the frequency of transients occurring in the vicinity of the ionizer through use of shielding conductors and distinct component electrical biasing to inhibit backward extraction of ions from the ionizer towards the gas-jet generator.

Abstract: Heterologous lipidated proteins formed recombinantly are disclosed and claimed. The expression system can be E. coli. The heterologous lipidated protein has a leader sequence which does not naturally occur with the protein portion of the lipidated protein. The lipidated protein can have the Borrelia OspA leader sequence. The protein portion can be OspC, PspA, UreA, Ure B, or a fragment thereof. Methods and compositions for forming and employing the proteins are also disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: A computer-readable medium contains instructions for controlling a computer system in the analysis of an experiment to detect RNA or DNA in a sample by receiving exported cycle threshold values (exported CT values) for a plate of wells from a polymerase chain reaction system and then calculates the delta CT, the delta delta CT and the relative transcriptional change for the sample. The results including the cycle threshold values inputted from the polymerase chain reaction system are then displayed.

Abstract: A low sidestream smoke cigarette comprises a conventional tobacco rod and a non-combustible treatment material for the rod. The treatment material has a porosity less than about 200 Coresta units and a sidestream smoke treatment composition. The treatment composition comprises, in combination, an oxygen storage and donor metal oxide oxidation catalyst and an essentially non-combustible finely divided porous particulate adjunct for said catalyst. In addition, the invention provides a low sidestream smoke cigarette unit that comprises a cigarette with conventional cigarette paper surrounding a conventional tobacco rod and a non-combustible treatment material surrounding and being substantially in contact with the conventional cigarette paper.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing excess coating material from a honeycomb body of a catalytic converter. The coated honeycomb body is mounted on an eccentric tappet and is rotated around a first rotational axis with a first rotational frequency such that the distance from the center of gravity of the honeycomb body to the first rotational axis is at least 1.5 times the length of the honeycomb body. The honeycomb body is further rotated around a second rotational axis even out the coating material and provide a more uniform coating surface.

Abstract: A DPSK demodulator demodulates DPSK signals in a computationally efficient manner to reduce the power requirements of the DPSK demodulator. A DPSK signal is received, digitized, converted to its in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) components and filtered to remove noise. The I and Q components are processed to determine a relative phase and frequency offset. The phase is adjusted using the frequency offset. The adjusted phase is converted to an absolute phase, which is then mapped to a symbol representative of one or more bits of data.

Abstract: A low sidestream smoke cigarette comprises a conventional tobacco rod, and a combustible treatment paper having a sidestream smoke treatment composition. The treatment composition comprises in combination, an oxygen storage and donor metal oxide oxidation catalyst and an essentially non-combustible finely divided porous particulate adjunct for said catalyst.

Abstract: A cigarette sidestream smoke treatment material made from a sheet of non-combustible active components provides a porous structure capable of treating sidestream smoke. The treatment material, as used in combination with a cigarette, provides a low sidestream smoke emitting cigarette unit. The material has a porosity which encourages a conventional free-burn rate of a conventional cigarette. The material may comprise a sorbent capable of sorbing components of the sidestream smoke, and an oxygen storage component which releases oxygen at free-burn rate temperatures to ensure that conventional free-burn rate is maintained and to enhance the oxidation treatment of the adsorbed non-aqueous components. Preferably, an oxidation catalyst is included in the material and most desirably the oxygen storage component may also function as the oxidation catalyst. Particularly preferred materials which perform the dual function are oxides of cerium.

Abstract: A low sidestream smoke cigarette comprises a conventional tobacco rod, and a combustible treatment paper having a sidestream smoke treatment composition. The treatment composition comprises in combination, an oxygen storage and donor metal oxide oxidation catalyst and an essentially non-combustible finely divided porous particulate adjunct for said catalyst.