Abstract: A dental impression tray includes a body having a channel for receiving a quantity of curable thermoset dental impression material and an electrically resistive heating element provided within the channel, in order to use heat to accelerate the curing of the dental impression material. In some embodiments, the tray includes a liner positioned on the heating element in the channel, where the liner has low thermal conductivity. A system for forming a dental impression includes a quantity of thermoset dental impression material, and the tray. A method for using the tray includes the step of turning on the heating element after the tray is positioned within a patient's mouth, to accelerate the curing of the dental impression material.

Abstract: An adapted LED is provided comprising a short-wavelength LED and a re-emitting semiconductor construction, wherein the re-emitting semiconductor construction comprises at least one potential well not located within a pn junction. The potential well(s) are typically quantum well(s). The adapted LED may be a white or near-white light LED. The re-emitting semiconductor construction may additionally comprise absorbing layers surrounding or closely or immediately adjacent to the potential well(s). In addition, graphic display devices and illumination devices comprising the adapted LED according to the present invention are provided.

Abstract: To the best of my knowledge “The Locator” is the only stand alone device of its kind specifically designed to locate misplaced items around the home or work place. At my house we are constantly looking for either one of the remote controls used for the television or a set of house/car keys. Having a device that's sole purpose is to help us find misplaced items would be of tremendous help to us. It would certainly go a long way in creating harmony in the home.

Abstract: A fiber alignment device comprises a base having at least one alignment groove, a stripped portion of an optical fiber positioned in the at least one alignment groove, where a terminal end of the fiber extends beyond at least one of an end face of the base, and an end face of a cover bonded to the base to secure the optical fiber between the base and the cover, where an end face of the cover and the end face of the base are substantially non-parallel.

Abstract: An optical device comprises a cantilevered fiber array coupled to a planar lightwave circuit. The cantilevered fiber array comprises a base supporting at least a portion of at least one optical fiber in a fiber guiding channel and a cover bonded to the base and/or the at least one optical fiber, where a terminal end of the at least one optical fiber extends beyond an end of at least one of the base and cover. The planar lightwave circuit comprises a planar waveguide formed on a substrate, the planar waveguide including a waveguide core. The terminal end of the fiber of the cantilevered fiber array is disposed in an alignment groove formed in a portion of the planar lightwave circuit substrate. A transverse channel is formed in the planar lightwave circuit substrate at an optical interface of the waveguide core and the terminal end of the at least one optical fiber.

Abstract: An antenna system for producing selectively reconfigurable antenna beam coverage patterns suitable for use in on an earth orbiting spacecraft is described. The system comprises a main reflector and a feed element with a subreflector module on which are disposed one or more subreflectors. The subreflector module is selectably positionable such that any one of the subreflectors may be disposed such that it is illuminated by the feed element and illuminates the main reflector. Each of the subreflectors has a shaped surface corresponding to a desired antenna beam coverage beam pattern. By appropriate selection from among the plurality of subreflectors, any one of a plurality of antenna beam coverage patterns can by provided with a single feed element and single main reflector.

Abstract: A structural assembly and an associated system and method for manufacture are provided. The structural assembly includes an elongate member and a first connector member that is connected to an end of the elongate member by a braze joint. A second connector member can be connected to an end of the elongate member opposite the first connector by another braze joint. The elongate member is formed of a metal matrix composite material that includes a plurality of fibers of a reinforcement material disposed in a metal matrix. Each connector member is formed of a material that is dissimilar to the material of the elongate member. The braze joints can be formed by selectively heating the braze material, e.g., with an inductive coil that extends circumferentially around only a portion of the structural assembly.

Abstract: An adapted LED is provided comprising a short-wavelength LED and a re-emitting semiconductor construction, wherein the re-emitting semiconductor construction comprises at least one potential well not located within a pn junction. The potential well(s) are typically quantum well(s). The adapted LED may be a white or near-white light LED. The re-emitting semiconductor construction may additionally comprise absorbing layers surrounding or closely or immediately adjacent to the potential well(s). In addition, graphic display devices and illumination devices comprising the adapted LED according to the present invention are provided.

Abstract: A coating composition for use in coating foods, confections, nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals is comprised of shellac in aqueous solution, a hydrolyzed starch product having a dextrose equivalent of 10 or greater and an effective amount of a plasticizer. The coating composition provides a surprisingly high gloss coating. The edible film coating composition solution may be stabilized by adding an effective amount of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid salt wherein the solution may remain stable for at least three months. The ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid salt may include disodium, trisodium and tetrasodium salts of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid. Preferably, the concentration of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid is about 0.5% to 2% of the solution.

Abstract: An optical waveguide assembly has integral alignment features. The waveguide assembly is formed by fabricating a waveguide on a substrate prior to forming the alignment features, removing a portion of the waveguide to reveal the substrate, and forming the alignment feature in the substrate.

Abstract: The current invention relates to the field of detection and identification of clinically important fungi. More particularely, the present invention relates to species specific probes originating from the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region of rDNA for the detection of fungal species such as Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis, Candida kefyr, Candida krusei, Candida glabrata, Candida dubliniensis, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus versicolor, Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus fumigatus, Cryptococcus neoformans and Pneumocystis carinii in clinical samples, and methods using said probes.

Abstract: Microresonators, such as a microsphere resonators and planar microresonators, are optically coupled to waveguides for input and output of light. It is important that the relative positions of the microresonator and the waveguide are maintained stable, while still maintaining high cavity Q and ease of launching and extracting the optical beams. Structures are provided on a substrate that are useful for maintaining the position of the microresonator relative to the waveguide. The structures provide for vertical or horizontal coupling between the waveguide and the microresonator.

Abstract: Emulsions of lipophiles such as glycerol monostearate which are compatible with acrylic copolymer emulsions are made stable by using an emulsion stabilizer such as polysorbate 80 in an amount by weight between 1% and 5% of the lipophile and homogenizing the emulsion wherein the emulsion micelles are less than 50 microns. The ability to make a stable emulsion of a lipophile is important in the coating process as it enables preparation and shipment of the lipophilic emulsion to the coater rather than the preparation of a lipophilic emulsion at the time of the coating process which involves a heating and cooling process.

Abstract: The current invention relates to the field of detection and identification of clinically important fungi. More particularely, the present invention relates to species specific probes originating from the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region of rDNA for the detection of fungal species such as Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis, Candida kefyr, Candida krusei, Candida glabrata, Candida dubliniensis, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus versicolor, Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus fumigatus, Cyptococcus neoformans and Pneumocystis carinii in clinical samples, and methods using said probes.

Abstract: A coating composition for use in coating foods, confections, nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals is comprised of shellac in aqueous solution, a hydrolyzed starch product having a dextrose equivalent of 10 or greater and an effective amount of a plasticizer. The coating composition provides a surprisingly high gloss coating. The edible film coating composition solution may be stabilized by adding an effective amount of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid salt wherein the solution may remain stable for at least three months. The ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid salt may include disodium, trisodium and tetrasodium salts of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid. Preferably, the concentration of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid is about 0.5% to 2% of the solution.

Abstract: A speaker-amplified sound-making device for attachment to bicycle wheels is presented which includes a flared, horn-shaped tube, a flexible contact member and a universal mounting device for connecting the invention to a bicycle. The horn-shaped tube is specifically designed to eliminate destructive interference of sound waves generated by the flexible contact. The flexible contact is designed to be easily replaceable, even by a child.

Abstract: A sound-making device for attachment to bicycle wheels is presented which includes a flared, horn-shaped tube, a flexible contact member and a universal mounting device for connecting the invention to a bicycle. The horn-shaped tube is specifically designed to eliminate destructive interference of sound waves generated by the flexible contact. The flexible contact is designed to be easily replaceable, even by a child.

Abstract: The method of the invention converts colors resident in a first device color space to gray levels for reproduction in a color or monochrome rendering device. The method initially converts the color values resident in the first device color space to corresponding color values in a device independent color space. Next, the resulting color values in the device independent color space are converted to further color values in the same color space that correspond to color values resident in the color space of a target color rendering device. The further color values from the device independent color space are then converted to corresponding gray levels so that they may be rendered by either the target color rendering device or a different color or monochrome rendering device. The use of an intermediate gamut conversion within the device independent color space enables more precise gray representations to be achieved for certain color representations.

Abstract: A sound-making device for attachment to bicycle wheels is presented which includes a flared, horn-shaped tube, a flexible contact member and a universal mounting device for connecting the invention to a bicycle. The horn-shaped tube is specifically designed to eliminate destructive interference of sound waves generated by the flexible contact. The flexible contact is designed to be easily replaceable, even by a child.

Abstract: A sound-making device for attachment to bicycle wheels is presented which includes a flared, horn-shaped tube, a flexible contact member and a universal mounting device for connecting the invention to a bicycle. The horn-shaped tube is specifically designed to eliminate destructive interference of sound waves generated by the flexible contact. The flexible contact is designed to be easily replaceable, even by a child.