Abstract: A method for surgical dissection, sizing and for expansion of a tissue pocket in a naturally occurring fascial cleft is disclosed for use in plastic surgery applications and other applications where it is desirable to dissect an anatomically defined and bounded tissue pocket, determine the appropriate size of a prosthesis to be implanted into the tissue pocket and, if necessary, further expand the tissue overlying the tissue pocket. An inflatable device which performs the three distinct functions of dissection, sizing and tissue expansion is used. In a preferred method, a dissecting balloon device is tunneled bluntly to a desired location within a fascial cleft in the female breast. The device is then inflated to dissect tissue layers adjacent the fascial cleft until ligaments defining boundaries of the fascial cleft are reached, to create a tissue pocket extending to the ligmentous boundaries.

Abstract: A reflecting Offner-like optical system is described which is suitable for use in a photolithographic system in which the magnification is approximately 1 to 1, and where the format is flexible. The primary mirror is split into two halves, which are movable with respect to each other. Magnification is slightly changeable by moving the two halves of the split primary mirror forward and backward by slight amounts. The reflecting optical system is moved in a reciprocating manner across a nominally stationary photomask and an intermittently stationary flexible format, which includes a segment of a roll-to-roll web. The arctuate object and image are rotated 90 degrees by flat mirrors to enable efficient scan coverage as the entire mirror system shuttles back and forth across the mask and the web. Center to center distance between the object and the image fields is increased by the use of an aspheric secondary mirror.

Abstract: A particulate sampling system is disclosed. The particulate sampling system may include an exhaust sampling unit and a dilution flow assembly to supply dilution air to the exhaust sampling unit. The particulate sampling system may also include a total flow assembly to receive dilution air and exhaust. The particulate sampling system may further include a flow regulation assembly configured to control flow rates in the dilution flow assembly and the total flow assembly. The particulate sampling system may also include a flow check assembly configured to measure the accuracy of the flow regulation assembly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a high-pressure discharge lamp with a discharge vessel having a filling comprising—a rare gas, for example argon, —mercury, and —chlorine, wherein the filling quantities of mercury [Hg] and chlorine [Cl] comply with the following conditions: —[Hg](E[Cl]3 200 (?mole/cm3)2, —[Cl] £ 10 ?mole/cm3. The condition [Hg](E[Cl]3 200 (?mole/cm3)2 achieves HgCl vapor pressures in the discharge sufficient for generating significant radiation components of the B2S+-X2S+ band system of this molecule. The condition [Cl] £ 10 ?mole/cm3 serves to limit the chemical aggressiveness of the chlorine filling, in particular to limit the attacks on the wall and electrodes and thus to achieve longer lamp lives. The addition of chlorine-binding metals, in particular of germanium, leads to a further improvement in the radiation and life properties of the lamp.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of processing a workpiece in a chamber. Initially a surface of the workpiece is treated by a process which includes supplying a reactive gas to the chamber through a first gas supply and the surface is then further treated using a process gas supplied to the chamber through a second gas supply during the supply of the process gas so that a portion of the process gas flows into the first gas supply from the chamber to mitigate against residual reactive gas entering the chamber during the further treatment step.

Abstract: Chimpanzee monoclonal antibodies and antigen binding fragments including a ?1-chain CDR3 region that bind hepatitis A virus (HAV) antigen are disclosed herein. The antibodies neutralize HAV. Also disclosed are methods for using these antibodies and antigen binding fragments in the detection of hepatitis A virus, the inhibition of infection of a subject with hepatitis A virus, and in screening for agents that affect HAV.

Abstract: An in-situ interferometer includes an image modifying optic that produces light ray bundles. The light ray bundles are projected onto a reticle with a plurality of measurement fiducials encoded onto a face of the reticle. The measurement fiducials are exposed onto a sensing plane and their locations measured. Aberrations in the projection system are determined from the measurements of the exposed reticles.

Abstract: A touch probe (10,50) is disclosed comprising a probe body (12,52) housing first locating elements (23,58), a stylus holder (16,54) having second locating elements (24,57) which co-operate with the first locating elements to locate the stylus holder within the probe body, and a bias (36,68,86) to urge the first and second locating elements into contact, wherein an element (35,50,76,90) is provided to damp motion between the probe body and the stylus holder. The element may slow a relative movement between the locating elements perhaps by resisting the urging of the bias or absorb energy produced by a relative movement between the probe body and stylus holder. The element may be slidably or rotatably mounted with respect to one of the probe head and stylus holder.

Abstract: A gas discharge lamp power supply having a base, a pair of opposed side walls extending from the base, and opposed first and second end walls extending from the base between the opposed side walls. The first end wall has a sloped wall extending angularly between the side walls, and two input terminals are mounted on the sloped wall. In another embodiment, the power supply has a control with a nonvolatile memory for storing an error code in response to a detected fault condition, thereby permitting the error code to be displayed upon power being removed from and then, subsequently reapplied.

Abstract: A decontamination formulation and method of making that neutralizes the adverse health effects of both chemical and biological compounds, especially chemical warfare (CW) and biological warfare (BW) agents, and toxic industrial chemicals. The formulation provides solubilizing compounds that serve to effectively render the chemical and biological compounds, particularly CW and BW compounds, susceptible to attack, and at least one reactive compound that serves to attack (and detoxify or kill) the compound. The formulation includes at least one solubilizing agent, a reactive compound, a bleaching activator, a sorbent additive, and water. The highly adsorbent, water-soluble sorbent additive (e.g., sorbitol or mannitol) is used to “dry out” one or more liquid ingredients, such as the liquid bleaching activator (e.g., propylene glycol diacetate or glycerol diacetate) and convert the activator into a dry, free-flowing powder that has an extended shelf life, and is more convenient to handle and mix in the field.

Abstract: In a computer system having a display and a keyboard, a computer readable medium includes instructions for invoking a message hook procedure based on a mouse message indicative of a mouse event. Instructions also provide for identifying at least one focus application that has a current keyboard focus and of converting the mouse message into a command for the focus application. The command is then sent to the focus application and the mouse message is prevented from being routed to any other applications. In one embodiment, the commands include the command to page forward or backward through pages of Internet documents. In other embodiments, instead of converting the mouse message into a command, the message hook procedure displays a graphical user interface based on the focus application and the mouse message. The graphical user interface includes one or more commands that the user may select.

Abstract: A high-temperature seal having in-situ integrity monitoring capability includes a quantity of dielectric material sealing an interface between adjacent structures and an electrical transmission line embedded within the dielectric material. A signal injection port is provided for exciting the transmission line with an excitation signal. One or more sample ports are provided for sampling the transmission line to obtain signal samples resulting from the excitation signal. The sample port(s) are adapted for connection to a signal analyzer adapted to analyze the signal samples for indications of seal integrity problems. Using a technique such as time domain reflectometry or frequency response analysis, the transmission line can be monitored for changes in characteristic impedance due to changes in seal dielectric constant and/or disruption of the transmission line.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a time interval for periodically polling a device on a network 1 is described. The method determines the most restrictive link on the path to the network device, the level of restrictiveness of a link being dependent on the nature of the link, such as the link speed and link type. The time interval between polling is determined based on the nature of the most restrictive link. Thus, the time interval can be determined according to the type and speed of the links between the polling device, which in a preferred embodiment is a network management station, and the polled device on the network 1.

Abstract: Ablation probes are provided for perfusing the tissue, while the tissue is ablated. The ablation probe comprises an elongated shaft and an ablative element, such as a needle electrode. The ablation probe further comprises a lumen that extends through the probe shaft, which will be used to deliver a fluid to the distal end of the probe shaft for perfusion into the surrounding tissue. The ablation probe further comprises a porous structure that is associated with the distal end of the shaft in fluid communication with the lumen. For example, the distal end of the shaft, or the entirety of the shaft, can be composed of the porous structure. Or, if the ablative element is an electrode, the electrode can be composed of the porous structure. Because the pores within the porous structure are pervasive, the fluid will freely flow out into the tissue notwithstanding that some of the pores may become clogged.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for charging a rechargeable battery (110) that takes into account the use patterns of the particular battery. A user may only discharge the battery a little and recharge it frequently which is a low capacity high life cycle use pattern, or discharge the battery almost completely and place the battery on charge less frequently indicating a high capacity low life cycle use pattern. Herein, a battery is installed in an electronic device wherein a battery discharge determination circuit and a discharge determination algorithm determine the discharge level of the battery when a charging circuit is placed on the battery. The measurement algorithm determines from the rechargeable battery discharge level measurement how to recharge the rechargeable battery. The measurement algorithm may also determine how to recharge the rechargeable battery based on a plurality of previous measurements stored either in the electronic device or the battery.

Abstract: A method for replacing cache lines in a computer system having a non-uniform set associative cache memory is disclosed. The method incorporates access latency as an additional factor into the existing ranking guidelines for replacement of a line, the higher the rank of the line the sooner that it is likely to be evicted from the cache. Among a group of highest ranking cache lines in a cache set, the cache line chosen to be replaced is one that provides the lowest latency access to a requesting entity, such as a processor. The distance separating the requesting entity from the memory partition where the cache line is stored most affects access latency.

Abstract: A text input device for attachment to a game controller includes a small-sized housing, upper and lower faces, a plurality of text entry keys disposed on the upper face, and an attachment interface disposed on the lower face. A bracket for attaching the text input device to a game controller includes an arm portion having first and second ends. An attachment plate is fixed to the first end and has at least one engaging member protruding therefrom and engaging the attachment interface of the text input device. The bracket further includes at least one retaining member protruding from the second end in a position such that, when the attachment plate is coupled to a first part of a game controller and the retaining member is in contact with a second part of the game controller, a force is applied to a face of the retaining member by the second part of the game controller so as to maintain the coupling of the attachment plate to the game controller first part.

Abstract: Methods of preventing flooding-type denial-of-service attacks in a computer-based network are described. Connection establishing messages known as SYN packets are matched with connection terminating messages (FIN packets) by using a hash algorithm. The hash algorithm or message digest uses source and destination IP addresses, port numbers, and a secret key as input parameters. The SYN packets and FIN packets are mapped to buckets using the hash algorithm and statistics are maintained for each bucket. A correspondence between SYN packets and FIN packets is maintained to close a security hole.