Abstract: A turbine blade including a root section at an end of the turbine blade, a first airfoil section adjacent to the root section, and a tip section adjacent to the airfoil section and including a material block that is incongruous with the airfoil section. A midspan section may also include a material block. Each material block can be selectively machined to customize the length of the turbine blade and the position of a tip shroud connection or midspan connection. The turbine blade can be sized for retrofitting last stage blades of older turbines. A radial position of the root mounts for the turbine blade may also be adjusted to provide further customization.

Abstract: A tracking system for reflecting electromagnetic radiation from a source to a target area, having at least one reflecting surface or mirror mounted to a support that fixes the reflecting surface orientation to focus electromagnetic radiation on the target area when the reflecting surface is at a first location at a first predefined time. The system has a path with at least the first location and a second location. The reflecting surface is movable along the path to maintain focus on the target area. The reflecting surface may have an orientation with a fixed declination angle and fixed hour angle. The source may include a moving source such as the Sun.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for ameliorating symptoms associated with hyperglycemia by administering a Zn-?2-glycoprotein or a functional fragment thereof, methods of decreasing plasma insulin levels, methods of increasing skeletal muscle mass, and methods of bringing about a weight reduction or reduction in obesity. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions for use thereof.

Abstract: A burn-in test system. A burn-in test system includes a device under test (DUT), a temperature controller coupled to the DUT, and a test controller. During testing, the test controller: (a) sets a parameter of the DUT to a first value and applies a test stimulus to the DUT, and (b) sets the parameter of the DUT to a second value and applies the test stimulus to the DUT. A change in the value of the parameter results in a change in the amount of heat dissipated by the DUT. The temperature controller maintains the DUT at a pre-determined temperature during testing with the parameter set to both the first and the second values. The DUT may be further coupled to a module that comprises circuitry employed in a product-level application environment. The module is configured by the test controller to simulate a product-level application.

Abstract: An acoustic drum has various implementations for tuning, bracing, attachment, and snare strainer. These implementations are combined in differing configurations of the drum system. Certain aspects of some of the implementations are related to aspects of other of the implementations. For instance, a tuning implementation may use a particular attachment implementation, which in turn may use a certain bracing implementation. Because certain bracing implementations are used, a strainer implementation could be also used if the drum was a snare version. The implementations variously combine to affect performance and/or other esthetic qualities of the acoustic drum.

Abstract: An acoustic drum has various implementations for tuning, bracing, attachment, and snare strainer. These implementations are combined in differing configurations of the drum system. Certain aspects of some of the implementations are related to aspects of other of the implementations. For instance, a tuning implementation may use a particular attachment implementation, which in turn may use a certain bracing implementation. Because certain bracing implementations are used, a strainer implementation could be also used if the drum was a snare version. The implementations variously combine to affect performance and/or other esthetic qualities of the acoustic drum.

Abstract: An acoustic drum has various implementations for tuning, bracing, attachment, and snare strainer. These implementations are combined in differing configurations of the drum system. Certain aspects of some of the implementations are related to aspects of other of the implementations. For instance, a tuning implementation may use a particular attachment implementation, which in turn may use a certain bracing implementation. Because certain bracing implementations are used, a strainer implementation could be also used if the drum was a snare version. The implementations variously combine to affect performance and/or other esthetic qualities of the acoustic drum.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for distributed wireless access. The system includes an access concentrator and a plurality of antenna modules. The antenna modules are spread across a campus and are coupled to the access concentrator via network wiring. Each antenna module includes an antenna to receive and transmit signals. When incoming signals are received at the antenna, the signals are converted from a radio frequency to a lower frequency. The converted signals are then digitized. The digital signals are then processed by digital signal processing resources at the access concentrator. Then, the processed signals are forwarded out of the corresponding ports to a LAN switch.

Abstract: A system operating in an environment under a vacuum draw in which liquid accumulates utilizes the weight of the liquid to discharge the liquid from the system. The system includes a first holding tank and a second holding tank interconnected by a liquid passageway and an equalization passageway. First, second, third and fourth valves are provided for controlling flow into and out of the second holding tank. The valves are operated in a sequence to bring accumulating liquid from the first holding tank to the second holding tank in the vacuum environment, and then to discharge the liquid from the second holding tank to the environment outside of the system having a greater air pressure than the air pressure within the vacuum environment.

Abstract: Methods of modifying fibers, such as glass fibers, are disclosed. The modified fibers can be used, for example, in a lead acid battery.

Abstract: A brush card assembly 30 is provided for a permanent magnet brush motor 50. The motor includes a link wound, high speed side commutator 46 and an associated high speed side armature winding 44, and a link wound low speed side commutator 54 and an associated low speed side armature winding 52. The brush card assembly includes a brush card 31 including a high speed side having a positive brush 32 and a negative brush 32? constructed and arranged to be operatively associated with the high speed side commutator 46, and a low speed side opposite the high speed side. The low speed side has a positive brush 33 and a negative brush 33? constructed and arranged to be operatively associated with the low speed side commutator 54. The brushes are constructed and arranged with respect to the commutators to provide at least two different operating speeds of the motor.

Abstract: A security method comprises inputting into a database on a computer system (2) data as to a forecast of transfer relative to the database, and inputting into the database data as to actual transfers relative to the database, the computer system taking appropriate action in the event that the transfers are not in accordance with the forecast. Apparatus for performing the security method comprises a computer system (2) comprising a database and being arranged to receive data as to the forecast of transfer relative to the database and as to the actual transfers relative to the database and to take the appropriate action in the event that the actual transfers are not in accordance with the forecast. The security method also comprises up-dating specific fields of transfer, personal security alerts, pre-authorisations of transfers and personal identification.

Abstract: A commutator bar (10) includes a body and first and second anchors disposed in spaced relation with each anchor and coupled to a proximal end of the body. A free end of the first anchor (13) extends in a direction towards the proximal end H of the body, and a free end of the second anchor (12) extends in a direction towards a distal end (0) of the body. Third and fourth anchors (17) and (18), are disposed in spaced relation and each have one end coupled to a distal end of the body and a free end extending in a direction towards the proximal end of the body. Fifth and sixth anchors (15) and (16) each have one end coupled to the body at a location between the proximal and distal ends. A free end of the fifth anchor extends toward one side of the body and a free end of the sixth anchor extends toward the other side of body.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for automated synthesis containing a shaker deck with a plurality of reaction blocks containing a plurality of reaction wells, an arm containing an array of extending units capable of actuating physical steps along a plurality of axes of each reaction block, each reaction block being situated on a turntable, each turntable being further capable of rotating the reaction block along a central axis. Also disclosed are methods of preparing a peptide, oligonucleotide an small molecules using the apparatus.

Abstract: A method of centralized automated underwriting of an insurance policy, and a centralized automated underwriter, are disclosed. The method may include intaking the plurality of applicant information, applying, in parallel, and to a normalized plurality of applicant information, at least two primary executable rules, generating a report log of results of the rules applying, wherein the report log includes at least one flag of at least one of the plurality of applicant information, and referring, in accordance with the at least one flag, of at least one of the flagged at least one of the plurality of applicant information, to at least one hierarchical underwriter.

Abstract: A common programming interface for multiple types of document processing systems. An object interface is defined that includes properties, methods, and events that are applicable to multiple types of document processing systems. For a particular document processing system of a particular type, an instance of the object interface is established, and an application program controls overall operations of the document processing system by setting values of properties in the object interface, invoking methods in the object interface, and responding to events reported via the object interface. System specific track drivers handle system specific interface requirements and interact with an application program via an instance of the object interface. The single application programming interface promotes ease of development for application programs and some reuse of code.

Abstract: A plate attached to the bottom surface of a skateboard deck to provide a consistent sliding surface when using the bottom surface of the deck to perform to perform tricks or acrobatic maneuvers. The plate mounts between the trucks of the skateboard and the deck and using the truck mounts and is designed to cover the bottom surface of the deck between the two trucks. The plate is cut to fit the prescribed area and is cut from hard plastic materials.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an optical node, e.g., a so-called add/drop site, that receives an optical carrier signal formed from a plurality of component optical signals of respective wavelengths and a plurality of different identification signals which identify respective ones of the wavelengths. As is typically the case, the node includes a demultiplexer that demultiplexes the optical carrier signal and outputs the demultiplexed component optical signals to respective optical paths. Disadvantageously, each of the demultiplexed optical component signals includes all of the identification signals as a result of such demultiplexing. However, we dispose an optical translator unit in at least one of the optical paths to remove all of the identification signals from the one component optical signals and also reset the power level of that signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for equalizing grants of a primary bus to a plurality of primary devices and secondary devices is provided. The apparatus comprises a primary bus bridge to arbitrate grants of the primary bus among a plurality of primary devices attached to the primary bus and a secondary bus bridge to arbitrate grants of the primary bus among a plurality of secondary devices attached to a secondary bus. A logic device is also provided to equalize grants of the primary bus to the primary and the secondary devices.