Abstract: A prosthetic limb assistance kit that is used as a maintenance kit and carrying case for prosthetic limb users to house and have readily available necessary prosthesis supplies, which include adjustment tools, replaceable prosthesis components, socks, ointments, powders, cleaning devices, and other related items. The kit comes in a carrying case and also includes a cutout area for a umbrella-like stand, which allows for air drying of a prosthesis liner worn by an individual. The stand also allows the liner from sticking to itself when it is placed in the carrying case.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fishing hook with a shank portion and at least one hook portion. The hook portion extends from a lower end of the shank portion, which is provided with a hook attachment element. The hook attachment element is adapted to be threaded onto a hook support element attached to fishing tackle. The hook attachment element facilitates free sliding of the fishing hook along the hook support element and the hook attachment element accommodates the hook support element in a substantially parallel relationship to the shank portion. The hook attachment element is a channel formed along the shank portion. This channel is formed within a tube extending along the shank portion, the tube being adapted to accommodate the hook support element within the channel. The tube can extend along the entire length of the shank portion, or at least ¼ of the length of the shank portion. The hook attachment element can also be a number of rings provided to accommodate the hook support element.

Abstract: Methods are described for suppressing appetite through the nasal and oral administration of a vanillylamide, thereby desensitizing gustatory or olfactory nerves and reducing the appeal of food. Long term desensitization is particularly contemplated.

Abstract: A bioreactor and a method for growing engineered tissue provide facing surfaces in a vessel for containing cell-culture media. The facing surfaces are equidistant and define a gap therebetween while providing substrates for cell tissue growth. By maintaining conditions within the vessel conducive to cell tissue growth and moving the surfaces relative to one another within such cell culture media, tissue growing thereupon is subjected to physiological flow and shear stress, preferably through the use of oscillating motion, and engineered tissue is produced.

Abstract: A CAN communication line is operated whilst detecting a ground level shift on the communication line through storing a data element indicative for the shift. In particular, a current line voltage level is compared to a standard level, and a thresholded version of the comparison is fed to a storage element that is triggered by a local transmission indicator signal. Then a ground shift sample bit from the storage element is outputted.

Abstract: The present invention includes the treatment of psoriasis in a human comprising the intralesional administration of a phenothiazine, preferably fluphenazine, to a psoriatic plaque in the patient.

Abstract: A bone implant (71) comprises a body formed of an articulated open cell structure of a lightweight material, the surfaces of which structure are covered with a thin metal layer. A layer of biocompatible pyrocarbon coating is applied to the metal-coated structure so as to cover the entire structure and provide a dense, nonporous, biocompatible layer. Pyrocarbon is then selectively removed from portions (73) of the surface of the body to expose sections of the original surface which lead to regions of interconnected channels into which bone and tissue ingrowth are promoted while end regions (75) and (77) remain totally covered with such pyrocarbon.

Abstract: The invention relates to a communications network (1) comprising a plurality of network nodes (2), which include each a synchronization circuit (5) for generating a global clock signal (GT) from a local clock signal (LT) formed by a clock generator (4) in dependence on a time of reception of a message. The synchronization circuit (5) includes a divider arrangement (8) for dividing the local clock signal (LT) in dependence on a correction term (KT) and at least one divider factor which is produced by a scaler arrangement (9). The comparator circuit (10) is provided for forming the correction term by comparing the instant of reception of a message and of the local clock signal LT. Furthermore, the synchronizing circuit (5) includes a divider control (7) which may perform a change of at least one divider factor when the correction term (KT) exceeds a predefined first threshold.

Abstract: A bioreactor and a method for growing engineered tissue provide facing surfaces in a vessel for containing cell-culture media. The facing surfaces are equidistant and define a gap therebetween while providing substrates for cell tissue growth. By maintaining conditions within the vessel conducive to cell tissue growth and moving the surfaces relative to one another within such cell culture media, tissue growing thereupon is subjected to physiological flow and shear stress, preferably through the use of oscillating motion, and engineered tissue is produced.

Abstract: In an electronic system for the transmission of data between a number of stations, sub-system operation can be achieved by a suitable choice of signal levels and wake-up levels, so that some of the stations can communicate with one another while other stations are in a sleep mode in which power is saved.

Abstract: In an electronic system for transmission of data between a number of stations, sub-system operation can be achieved by a suitable choice of signal levels and wake-up levels, so that some of the stations can communicate with one another while other stations are in a sleep mode in which power is saved.

Abstract: A sub-net operation with increased availability and reduced power consumption is achieved in a bus system with a plurality of stations (10, 11, 12) which are coupled to one another via a system of conductors (13, 14). Each of the stations includes a transceiver (21) and a control unit (30). The stations are switched from a quiescent state to a standby state in response to the reception of a first wake-up signal and selected stations are switched to a normal operating state upon reception of a second wake-up signal, whereby stations are selected.

Abstract: A system for criticality incident detection is described. The system comprises a plurality of sensors at least partially comprised of storage phosphors. The sensors are distributed throughout the environment to be monitored. The sensors are coupled to a central detection system comprised of at least a luminescence detector and a processor. The luminescence detector measures the luminance of the sensors and provides that measurement to the processor. The processor then calculates the radiation level that the luminance measurement corresponds to. In other embodiments, monitoring units are installed in various portions of the environment being monitored. The monitoring units accept the sensors and are coupled to the central detection system so that the remote monitoring units can be interrogated from the central detection system.

Abstract: In a system for the transmission of logic levels via a bus the recessive level, being of higher impedance in comparison with the dominant level, is not adjusted by means of a resistor but by means of a termination arrangement with three break points in the current/voltage diagram. In the third quadrant of the current/voltage diagram this termination arrangement has a resistance which is higher than that of a lead terminated by means of a linear resistor. In the first quadrant the rise of the characteristic up to a voltage below a receiving threshold is steeper than in the case of termination by means of a resistor. Subsequently, in the first quadrant the characteristic is subject to a current limitation which is effective from a voltage below the receiving threshold to a value beyond the working point of the dominant driver. Beyond the working point of the dominant driver the current limitation is removed again, so that the rise is steeper than in the case of termination by means of a resistor.

Abstract: A CAN communication line is operated whilst detecting a ground level shift on the communication line through storing a data element indicative for the shift. In particular, a current line voltage level is compared to a standard level, and a thresholded version of the comparison is fed to a storage element that is triggered by a local transmission indicator signal. Then a ground shift sample bit from the storage element is outputted.

Abstract: The invention relates to a communications network (1) comprising a plurality of network nodes (2), which include each a synchronization circuit (5) for generating a global clock signal (GT) from a local clock signal (LT) formed by a clock generator (4) in dependence on a time of reception of a message. The synchronization circuit (5) includes a divider arrangement (8) for dividing the local clock signal (LT) in dependence on a correction term (KT) and at least one divider factor which is produced by a scaler arrangement (9). The comparator circuit (10) is provided for forming the correction term by comparing the instant of reception of a message and of the local clock signal LT. Furthermore, the synchronizing circuit (5) includes a divider control (7) which may perform a change of at least one divider factor when the correction term (KT) exceeds a predefined first threshold.

Abstract: A neutron monitoring instrument, principally of the survey type, is provided with an inner neutron detector(s) enclosed in a layer of neutron attenuating material and one or more outer neutron detectors provided on the attenuating layer and enclosed in a layer of neutron moderating material. The inner detector(s) monitor neutrons in the 100 KeV to 15 MeV energy range, with the outer detectors monitoring neutrons in the thermal to 100 KeV range. Sensitivity across the spectrum and evenness of response are improved compared with the prior art to give better close equivalence determinations.

Abstract: In an electronic system for the transmission of data between a plurality of stations the control signals and functions of the basic elements of power supply, watchdog and signal converter in each station are linked to one another so as to ensure that the number of possible modes of operation, taken for all the elements, is reduced to a number necessary for the corresponding task and thereby guarantees a more reliable operation. Moreover, the linkage leads to an optimum default behavior of the station with regard to application-specific power-saving and safety requirements, even when, for example, the malfunction of the microcontroller of the station persists.

Abstract: Generally speaking, steep signal edges are required for the processing of digital signals; however, notably externally supplied signals which are conducted, for example, via long cables are liable to have comparatively flat signal edges. By selecting appropriate switching thresholds, delays between an input signal and an output signal of a circuit can be minimized. The circuit selects the first switching threshold at a low value of the input signal and switches the first threshold value to a second, higher threshold value when the input signal exceeds a further, higher threshold value. Thus, an output signal is generated comparatively quickly after the beginning of the positive-going or negative-going edge of the input signal. This can be realized by switching over the switching threshold of a comparator or by utilizing two comparators.

Abstract: Power and data are both transmitted over a single transmission line to which a power source and a number of stations are connected. A bipolar AC voltage is supplied to the line by the power source, the half cycle pulses of one polarity being used for supply of power only, while transmission of data is achieved by modulation exclusively of the half cycle pulses of the other polarity. High power is supplied to the stations by providing pulses of the one polarity at a low ohmic level. Only low power is required for modulation for the purpose of data transmission, and so the pulses of the other polarity are supplied at a relatively high ohmic level. Thus, only two conductors are required, one of which can be replaced by the system ground in the simplest case. If three conductors are provided, it is possible to achieve improved tolerance of defects in a conductor.