Abstract: The present invention provides a method of magnetic resonance imaging of a sample, said method comprising:

Abstract: Permanent virtual channels are set-up, each broadcasting a select audio tone of a number of audio tones. When a terminal requests a call set-up, the identification of the appropriate permanent virtual channel to which the terminal is to listen, depending on the situation, is transmitted to the terminal from the network control center. The tone generating equipment is located in the network control center.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of magnetic resonance investigation of a sample, said method comprising: (i) reacting para-hydrogen enriched hydrogen with a hydrogenatable MR imaging agent precursor containing a non-hydrogen non-zero nuclear spin nucleus to produce a hydrogenated MR imaging agent; (ii) administering said hydrogenated MR imaging agent to said sample; (iii) exposing said sample to radiation of a frequency selected to excite nuclear spin transitions of said non-zero nuclear spin nucleus in said hydrogenated MR imaging agent; (v) detecting magnetic resonance signals of said non-zero nuclear spin nucleus from said sample; and (vi) optionally, generating an image or biological functional data or dynamic flow data from said detected signals.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of a sample, said method comprising: a) administering a hyperpolarised MR contrast agent comprising non-zero nuclear spin nuclei into said sample for fluid dynamic investigations of the vasculature, b) exposing said sample or part of the sample to radiation of a frequency selected to excite nuclear spin transitions in said non-zero nuclear spin nuclei, c) detecting MR signals from said sample using any suitable manipulation method including pulse sequences. The invention also provides novel compounds.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of a sample, said method comprising: a) administering a hyperpolarised MR contrast agent comprising non-zero nuclear spin nuclei into said sample for fluid dynamic investigations of the. vasculature, b) exposing said sample or part of the sample to radiation of a frequency selected to excite nuclear spin transitions in said non-zero nuclear spin nuclei, c) detecting MR signals from said sample using any suitable manipulation method including pulse sequences. The invention also provides novel compounds.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of MR investigation of a sample, said method comprising: (i) nuclear spin polarising a high T1 MR imaging agent which contains in its molecular structure at least two hyperpolarisable nuclei within the same molecule, the frequency difference between the two resonance lines from said nuclei, &dgr;v, being dependent upon either the temperature or the pH of said sample; (ii) administering the nuclear spin polarised MR imaging agent to said sample; (iii) exposing said sample to a radiation at a frequency selected to excite nuclear spin transitions in said MR imaging agent; and (iv) detecting and manipulating magnetic resonance signals from said sample using a single-shot RARE acquisition sequence with shifted data acquisition.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to maintaining a signaling link between network terminals in a communications network. Periodic receiver ready frames are transmitted from a first terminal to a second terminal when there are no data frames to be transmitted. A temporal period is determined during which a predetermined condition will affect communications with the second terminal; the predetermined condition can be, for example, a period during which the sun will be within a predetermined subtended angle of an antenna associated with the second terminal. The second terminal transmits a pause frame to the first terminal prior to the temporal period; the pause frame includes the identification of the temporal period.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of magnetic resonance investigation of a sample, said method comprising: (i) reacting para-hydrogen enriched hydrogen with a hydrogenatable MR imaging agent precursor containing a non-hydrogen non-zero nuclear spin nucleus to produce a hydrogenated MR imaging agent; (ii) administering said hydrogenated MR imaging agent to said sample; (iii) exposing said sample to radiation of a frequency selected to excite nuclear spin transitions of said non-zero nuclear spin nucleus in said hydrogenated MR imaging agent; (v) detecting magnetic resonance signals of said non-zero nuclear spin nucleus from said sample; and (vi) optionally, generating an image or biological functional data or dynamic flow data from said detected signals.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a method and system for communicating via a switched virtual circuit (SVC) is provided wherein transmission traffic is monitored between two ATM switches. When call traffic between the two switches increases above a predetermined level, at least one SVC can be established. At least one, and typically more than one, idle SVC is established and maintained by a media gateway controller utilizing a virtual termination in each switch that is connected to each end of the SVC. This allows end users to be connected to and disconnected from the SVC, without the need to establish or break down the SVC. The SVC remains connected between the switches as long as a predetermined threshold value of packet data transmissions is exceeded. The SVC is torn down when the level of transmissions goes below a predetermined level.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner assembly including a vacuum cleaner housing (10) and an air filtration unit removably installed in the housing. The unit includes a coarse separator (25), a cyclone with a cyclone chamber (26), a collecting container (27), and a releasable cover plate (37). The coarse separator (25) receives dirt-laden air. Air is tangentially introduced into the cyclone chamber (26), which is downstream the coarse separator (25). The collecting chamber (27) receives particles separated from the air stream in the cyclone chamber (26). The cover plate (37) serves as a wall part for each of the coarse separator, cyclone, and collecting container whereby, after the unit (14) has been removed from the housing (10), the cover plate is removed to simultaneously reveal the coarse separator, cyclone, and collecting container to permit emptying thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of magnetic resonance investigation of a sample, preferably of a human or non-human animal body. The method comprises the step of ex vivo polarization of a high T1 agent. The polarizing agent is optionally separated from the high T1 agent before the high T1 agent is administered to the sample.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of magnetic imaging (MR) of a living sample comprising the steps of hyperpolarizing a hyperpolarizable gas ex-vivo and transferring the nuclear polarization from the hyperpolarized gas to the nuclei of an MR imaging agent, that is not hyperpolarizable, that is exposed to a uniform magnetic field and that is introduced in contact to the hyperpolarizable gas, separating the hyperpolarizable gas from the MR imaging agent, administering the MR imaging agent to the living sample, exciting NMR transitions in the nuclei of the imaging agent and detecting an NMR signal thereof.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of MR investigation of a sample, the method comprising: (i) placing in a uniform magnetic field a composition comprising an OMRI contrast agent and an MR imaging agent containing nuclei (MR imaging nuclei) capable of emitting magnetic resonance signals (e.g. the primary magnetic field B0) and capable of exhibiting a T1 relaxation time of 6 s or more (at 37° C. in D2O in a field of 7T); (ii) exposing the composition to a first radiation of a frequency selected to excite electron spin transitions in the OMRI contrast agent; (iii) optionally but preferably separating the whole, substantially the whole, or a portion of said OMRI contrast agent from said MR imaging agent; (iv) administering said MR imaging agent to said sample, (v) exposing the sample to a second radiation of a frequency selected to excite nuclear spin transitions; (vi) detecting magnetic resonance signals from the sample; and (vii) optionally, generating an image or dynamic flow data from the detected signals.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of magnetic resonance investigation of a sample, preferably of a human or non-human animal body, said method comprising the step of ex vivo polarisation of a high T1 agent and wherein the polarising agent is optionally seperated from the high T1 agent before the high T1 agent is administered to the sample.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner cyclone separator having a cyclone with a first end wall, a second opposite end wall (35,36,135), and an intermediate part (38,130), which has the shape of either a cylinder or, at least partly, an up-side-down truncated cone. The intermediate part has an outlet opening (39,131) for particles through which particles separated by the cyclone leave from the intermediate part toward the second end wall. The cyclone is, close to the first end wall, provided with a generally tangentially-directed air inlet (33,129) for dust laden air and also has a tube shaped air outlet (50,142) extending from the first end wall (35) toward the intermediate part and communicating with a vacuum source (15,111).

Abstract: This invention relates to a vacuum cleaner having a vacuum cleaner housing and a pivotable handle with a grip portion. The handle is pivotably secured to the vacuum cleaner housing in such a manner that the turning axis of the handle is generally horizontal and perpendicular to the direction of movement of the vacuum cleaner when the vacuum cleaner is in a working position on a horizontal surface. The handle is maintained in a generally vertical position when the vacuum cleaner is in the working position. When an operator lifts the vacuum cleaner housing from the working position using the handle, the vacuum cleaner housing pivots to a substantially vertical position, with the position of the grip portion relative to the operator's hand remaining substantially unchanged during the lifting.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of electron spin resonance enhanced magnetic resonance imaging which relies on ex vivo dynamic nuclear polarisation of an MR imaging agent.

Abstract: A mould and sealing ring constitutes a mould element in forming a socket end on a pipe consisting of thermoplastic material and seals the space in a pipe joint between the socket end and the spigot end of a pipe introduced into the socket end. The mould and sealing ring comprises an annular sealing portion consisting of elastically yieldable sealing material and a second substantially annular portion for reinforcing the mould and sealing ring consisting of a material which is rigid in relation to said elastically yieldable material and is connected with the elastically yieldable material at a connection surface.

Abstract: A continuously working press for forming a continuously stringer (7) of compressible material, such as wood chips. For the purpose of pressing the stringer (7) in a vertical direction, the press includes upper and lower continuously moving endless press chains (8 and 9) formed by mutually linked support elements. For effecting active side-pressing of the stringer (7) an array of side-pressing blocks (19) are arranged on each side of the press chains (8, 9) and which blocks are suitably entrained for movement in the circular motion of the upper or lower chain. The side-pressing blocks (19) are displaceable in the transverse direction of the press chains (8, 9) and are guided during said displacement by guide means (23) which are conveyed by the support plates forming the press chains (8, 9).