Abstract: A fire suppression and annunciation system using a flexible conduit and a wire rope is provided. The wire rope may be connected to a knob assembly at a universal pull station and to a release mechanism of the fire suppression system. An operator may pull a handle of the knob assembly at the universal pull station, thereby activating the release mechanism to release fire suppression agent. A flexible conduit may house the wire rope along at least a part of the connection from the universal pull station to the release mechanism. A material on the liner of the flexible conduit and/or on the wire rope may be used to reduce the coefficient of friction of wire rope in the flexible conduit. The fire suppression system may further include a pulley block system connected to the universal pull station. The pulley block system may comprise bearings, and may lower the force necessary to activate the release mechanism.

Abstract: An inkjet printer in which a printhead defines an elongate array of orifices from which jets of ink are projected into a space within which substrates to be printed are presented. An air curtain generator fixed in position relative to the printhead extends along one side only of the array of orifices so as to direct a curtain of air across the array a of orifices and across an open portion of the printhead on the side of the array of orifices remote from the air curtain generator. The air curtain cleans the printhead. A pressure pulse may be applied to ink within the printhead sufficient to discharge ink form each orifice when not in use to project ink. The pressure pulse has a relatively rapidly rising leading edge and a relatively slowly falling edge. An ink reservoir is coupled to the printhead for supplying ink to the orifices.

Abstract: A waste evacuator device (10) for evacuating waste products from bodily orifices, including stomas and artificial stomas created as a result of a surgical procedure such as a colostomy is disclosed. The device comprises a chamber (11) having an inlet (14) which is fluidly communicable with an orifice formed in a mammalian body. An irrigation member (12) is provided for introducing irrigating fluid into the orifice. A suctioning device (13) connectable to the chamber to create a region of reduced pressure within the chamber. An irrigation and evacuation control means for the device is provided for receiving signals generated by at least one sensor, the signals being representative of at least the performance of the irrigation member and of the suctioning device.

Abstract: To isolate two active regions formed on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate, a shallow trench isolation region is filled with liquid phase deposited silicon dioxide (LPD-SiO2) while avoiding covering the active areas with the oxide. By selectively depositing the oxide in this manner, the polishing needed to planarize the wafer is significantly reduced as compared to a chemical-vapor deposited oxide layer that covers the entire wafer surface. Additionally, the LPD-SiO2 does not include the growth seams that CVD silicon dioxide does. Accordingly, the etch rate of the LPD-SiO2 is uniform across its entire expanse thereby preventing cavities and other etching irregularities present in prior art shallow trench isolation regions in which the etch rate of growth seams exceeds that of the other oxide areas.

Abstract: A fluid supply monitoring system includes a housing, a shutoff valve, and a flow sensor. The shutoff valve is positioned within said housing and selectively blocks a fluid flow through the housing. The flow sensor is positioned downstream from said shutoff valve within said housing and is operable to generate a magnetic field across the fluid flow to generate real time fluid flow data.

Abstract: Method, apparatus and article of manufacture for acquiring a buffer after data from a remote sender (e.g., client) has been received by a local machine (e.g., server). Because the client data has already been received when the buffer is acquired, the buffer may be sized exactly to the size of the client data. In general, the buffer may be caller supplied or system supplied.

Abstract: Measurement of the redox properties of household dust is used to detect the presence of allergen-associated materials. Measurement may be electrochemical, preferably amperometric. A disposable electrode assembly may be made by screen printing with conductive (e.g. carbon and Ag/AgCl) inks. An absorbent pad overlying the electrodes can be used to wipe a surface to collect a sample. It may contain electrolyte and buffer components, so that adding water carries sample in an electrolyte/buffer solution to the electrodes.

Abstract: An apparatus and method allows processing sequenced records across multiple network connections. A “logical connection” is defined to include one or more network connections. Each message is assigned a sequence number that allows the messages to be ordered on the other end according to sequence number, regardless of which network connection in the logical connection is used to transfer the message. By defining messages, sequencing those messages, and transferring the messages over multiple network connections, the throughput and performance of networked computer systems are substantially increased.

Abstract: A refrigeration appliance system for a residential kitchen having multiple separate refrigerating modules and a single, continuously operating variable capacity central cooling unit with a variable speed compressor for chilling a cooling medium. A cooling medium circuit supplies cooling medium to the plurality of refrigerating modules from the central cooling unit. Flow control devices control flow of cooling medium to the refrigerating modules. A control circuit controls the central cooling unit and the temperature in the refrigerating modules. The refrigerating modules can be refrigerator, freezer or refrigerator freezer modules. The cooling medium can be air, cooling liquid or refrigerant. A below freezing freezer module having an insulated freezer cabinet, a freezer compressor, a freezer condenser and a freezer evaporator can be combined with the refrigeration appliance system for providing 0° F. freezer storage without requiring the central cooling unit to provide 0° F. cooling medium.

Abstract: A distributed refrigeration appliance system for use in a residential kitchen and other locations in a dwelling and includes multiple separate refrigeration appliance modules, a central cooling system and a cooling circuit. The system can also include one or more satellite stations having a heat exchanger and arranged for supplying chilled air to one or more refrigeration appliance modules. One or more refrigeration appliance modules can include a thermal cascade cooling device to cool the module to lower temperatures than the cooling circuit can attain. One or more refrigeration appliance modules can be refrigeration/storage modules that can provide refrigerated, unconditioned or heated storage space. The central cooling system can be a vapor compression system having a refrigerant circuit connecting the modules. Alternately, the central cooling system can cool a secondary cooling medium circuit.

Abstract: A distributed refrigeration appliance system for use in a residential kitchen and other locations in a dwelling and includes multiple separate refrigeration appliance modules, a central cooling system and a cooling circuit. The system can also include one or more satellite stations having a heat exchanger and arranged for supplying chilled air to one or more refrigeration appliance modules. One or more refrigeration appliance modules can include a thermal cascade cooling device to cool the module to lower temperatures than the cooling circuit can attain. One or more refrigeration appliance modules can be refrigeration/storage modules that can provide refrigerated, unconditioned or heated storage space. The central cooling system can be a vapor compression system having a refrigerant circuit connecting the modules. Alternately, the central cooling system can cool a secondary cooling medium circuit.

Abstract: A distributed refrigeration appliance system for use in a residential kitchen and other locations in a dwelling and includes multiple separate refrigeration appliance modules, a central cooling system and a cooling circuit. The system can also include one or more satellite stations having a heat exchanger and arranged for supplying chilled air to one or more refrigeration appliance modules. One or more refrigeration appliance modules can include a thermal cascade cooling device to cool the module to lower temperatures than the cooling circuit can attain. One or more refrigeration appliance modules can be refrigeration/storage modules that can provide refrigerated, unconditioned or heated storage space. The central cooling system can be a vapor compression system having a refrigerant circuit connecting the modules. Alternately, the central cooling system can cool a secondary cooling medium circuit.

Abstract: Methods for synthesizing carbon nanotubes and structures formed thereby. The method includes forming carbon nanotubes on a plurality of synthesis sites supported by a first substrate, interrupting nanotube synthesis, mounting a free end of each carbon nanotube to a second substrate, and removing the first substrate. Each carbon nanotube is capped by one of the synthesis sites, to which growth reactants have ready access. As the carbon nanotubes lengthen during resumed nanotube synthesis, access to the synthesis sites remains unoccluded.

Abstract: A distributed refrigeration appliance system for use in a residential kitchen and other locations in a dwelling and includes multiple separate refrigeration appliance modules, a central cooling system and a cooling circuit. The system can also include one or more satellite stations having a heat exchanger and arranged for supplying chilled air to one or more refrigeration appliance modules. One or more refrigeration appliance modules can include a thermal cascade cooling device to cool the module to lower temperatures than the cooling circuit can attain. One or more refrigeration appliance modules can be refrigeration/storage modules that can provide refrigerated, unconditioned or heated storage space. The central cooling system can be a vapor compression system having a refrigerant circuit connecting the modules. Alternately, the central cooling system can cool a secondary cooling medium circuit.

Abstract: A distributed refrigeration appliance system for use in a residential kitchen and other locations in a dwelling and includes multiple separate refrigeration appliance modules, a central cooling system and a cooling circuit. The system can also include one or more satellite stations having a heat exchanger and arranged for supplying chilled air to one or more refrigeration appliance modules. One or more refrigeration appliance modules can include a thermal cascade cooling device to cool the module to lower temperatures than the cooling circuit can attain. One or more refrigeration appliance modules can be refrigeration/storage modules that can provide refrigerated, unconditioned or heated storage space. The central cooling system can be a vapor compression system having a refrigerant circuit connecting the modules. Alternately, the central cooling system can cool a secondary cooling medium circuit.

Abstract: A refrigeration appliance system for a residential kitchen having multiple separate refrigerating modules and a single, continuously operating variable capacity central cooling unit with a variable speed compressor for chilling a cooling medium. A cooling medium circuit supplies cooling medium to the plurality of refrigerating modules from the central cooling unit. Flow control devices control flow of cooling medium to the refrigerating modules. A control circuit controls the central cooling unit and the temperature in the refrigerating modules. The refrigerating modules can be refrigerator, freezer or refrigerator freezer modules. The cooling medium can be air, cooling liquid or refrigerant. A below freezing freezer module having an insulated freezer cabinet, a freezer compressor, a freezer condenser and a freezer evaporator can be combined with the refrigeration appliance system for providing 0° F. freezer storage without requiring the central cooling unit to provide 0° F. cooling medium.

Abstract: A distributed refrigeration appliance system for use in a residential kitchen and other locations in a dwelling and includes multiple separate refrigeration appliance modules, a central cooling system and a cooling circuit. The system can also include one or more satellite stations having a heat exchanger and arranged for supplying chilled air to one or more refrigeration appliance modules. One or more refrigeration appliance modules can include a thermal cascade cooling device to cool the module to lower temperatures than the cooling circuit can attain. One or more refrigeration appliance modules can be refrigeration/storage modules that can provide refrigerated, unconditioned or heated storage space. The central cooling system can be a vapor compression system having a refrigerant circuit connecting the modules. Alternately, the central cooling system can cool a secondary cooling medium circuit.

Abstract: A distributed refrigeration appliance system for use in a residential kitchen and other locations in a dwelling and includes multiple separate refrigeration appliance modules, a central cooling system and a cooling circuit. The system can also include one or more satellite stations having a heat exchanger and arranged for supplying chilled air to one or more refrigeration appliance modules. One or more refrigeration appliance modules can include a thermal cascade cooling device to cool the module to lower temperatures than the cooling circuit can attain. One or more refrigeration appliance modules can be refrigeration/storage modules that can provide refrigerated, unconditioned or heated storage space. The central cooling system can be a vapor compression system having a refrigerant circuit connecting the modules. Alternately, the central cooling system can cool a secondary cooling medium circuit.

Abstract: Methods and materials related to producing 3-HP as well as other organic compounds are disclosed. Specifically, isolated nucleic acids, polypeptides, host cells, and methods and materials for producing 3-HP and other organic compounds are disclosed.

Abstract: A high speed computer processor system includes a high speed interface for a graphics processor. In a preferred embodiment, the high speed interface includes a front side bus (FSB) that interfaces to a similar high speed interface on the graphics processor.