Abstract: The present invention provides for compositions and methods for the preservation of tissues and organs ex vivo and in situ. In addition, the present invention provides for kits that may be used in the preparation of the solutions of the present invention.

Abstract: Systems of operating a telecommunications contracting company are described herein. The systems generally includes introducing a business structure to the telecommunications contracting company, introducing field operations to the telecommunications contracting company, introducing office administration to the telecommunications contracting company, introducing customer service to the telecommunications contracting company, introducing a centralized management structure comprising: research and development, setting standards, and measuring results in relation to the standards set and requiring implementation of the introduced concepts for the company.

Abstract: Methods for rating installation technicians for telecommunications are described herein. The method generally includes defining performance criteria, making reports on each technician on a regular basis, assigning a rank to each technician on the regular basis, assigning between zero and five stars to each technician within the rank on a regular basis, creating reports on the technicians, comparing reports to the criteria and comparing the prior rank to the results of the reports.

Abstract: An intravenous tubing and air-separating valve arrangement that prevents the entry of air into the vascular system of a patient during intravenous procedures. Applicable for both pumped and non-pumped intravenous procedures, the effectiveness of the arrangement is dependent on the position of the air-separating valve relative to the patient or pump.

Abstract: The present invention provides for compositions and methods for the preservation of tissues and organs ex vivo and in situ. In addition, the present invention provides for kits that may be used in the preparation of the solutions of the present invention. The present invention also provides a device for perfusing tissues and organs with the solutions of the present invention.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus consistent with the present invention use a beam of laser energy to concentrically form an optical preform from two or more concentric glass objects, such as two glass tubes or a hollow glass tube and a solid glass rod. The glass objects are placed in a concentric configuration where the outer object has an inner surface that is placed proximate to an outer surface of the inner object. Once these are assembled, a beam of laser energy is generated, positioned, and applied to a starting point in the gap defined by the inner surface and the outer surface. Once the laser beam is applied and is reflecting down into the gap, the beam of laser energy is moved relative to the starting point as the beam is concurrently applied. This heats the inner surface and outer surface so that the two objects can be joined to form the optical preform. In another aspect of the invention, a coating layer is disposed within the gap and can be heated by the laser as it is applied within the gap.

Abstract: The invention relates to new C13-substituted estra-1,3,5(10)-trien-3-yl sulfamates of general formula I, wherein R1 represents an acyl residue, oxycarbonyl residue, aminocarbonyl residue, sulfonyl residue, or aminosulfonyl residue, and R15 represents ethyl, methods of preparing same, and pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds. The compounds of the invention of general formula I inhibit the activity of steroid sulfatase (EC 3.1.6.2) and do not exhibit any estrogenic effect.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of 2-alkoxyestrogen sulfamates of general formula I 1

Abstract: The present invention provides for compositions and methods for the preservation of tissues and organs ex vivo and in situ. In addition, the present invention provides for kits that may be used in the preparation of the solutions of the present invention.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus consistent with the present invention use laser energy for thermally processing a quartz object using a beam of laser energy. Once placed in a configuration where the laser beam can be applied to an exterior surface of the quartz object, one or more laser beams are applied to a starting point on the surface. The laser beams may have the same or different wavelengths, energy levels and/or focal lengths. As the surface is heated by the laser energy, the surface is eventually pierced by the beam and a channel forms within the quartz object. As the channel deepens to access an inner portion of the object, the energy of the beam is altered to thermally process or selectively heat the inner portion. After processing the inner portion, the channel is typically closed by fusion welding the walls of the channel (or the channel and quartz filler material) using the beam.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus consistent with the present invention use a beam of laser energy to concentrically form an optical preform from two or more concentric glass objects, such as two glass tubes or a hollow glass tube and a solid glass rod. The glass objects are placed in a concentric configuration where the outer object has an inner surface that is placed proximate to an outer surface of the inner object. Once these are assembled, a beam of laser energy is generated, positioned, and applied to a starting point in the gap defined by the inner surface and the outer surface. Once the laser beam is applied and is reflecting down into the gap, the beam of laser energy is moved relative to the starting point as the beam is concurrently applied. This heats the inner surface and outer surface so that the two objects can be joined to form the optical preform. In another aspect of the invention, a coating layer is disposed within the gap and can be heated by the laser as it is applied within the gap.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention use laser energy for fusion welding a first quartz object to a second quartz object. The first quartz object and second quartz object have opposing surfaces to be fusion welded together. Once placed in a configuration where the opposing surfaces are substantially near each other, one or more laser beams are applied to one of the surfaces. As the first surface is heated by the laser energy, it become reflective as it nears a desired fusion weldable condition. Once reflective, the first surface reflects the laser energy to the opposing surface where the opposing surface is then heated to the desired fusion weldable condition. As the laser beam is bounced or reflected back and forth between the opposing surfaces, the surfaces are heated in a substantially even manner to allow for molecular fusing of the first object the second object into a single quartz workpiece.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus consistent with the present invention apply one or more laser beams to a glass object, such as a tube. The beams may have differing wavelengths, energy levels, and/or focal length characteristics. As the beam (single or multiple) penetrates the glass tube, it creates a channel. The beam is provided through the channel to a starting point on a region of the glass tube, usually the region below an inside diameter surface of the tube. In one embodiment, the beam is used to selectively heat a reactant gas within the tube to deposit a coating/dopant layer on the inside diameter surface. In another embodiment, the coating layer is already present and the beam selectively heats the layer causing thermal diffusion of the coating material into the glass tube at the region being heated.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus consistent with the present invention use multiple beams of laser energy for thermally processing a quartz object. A first laser beam is generated. A second laser beam is generated that is characteristically different than first laser beam. More particularly, the first beam and second beam may have different wavelengths, energy levels, and/or focal characteristics (such as beam geometry, beam energy distribution profile, and/or focal lengths). The first and second laser beams are then provided to a combiner, which forms the beams into a composite beam. The composite beam is then applied to a portion of the quartz object where it thermally processes the quartz by selectively heating the portion of the quartz. The composite beam may also be adjusted by changing the characteristic differences between the first and second laser beams in order to alter how the composite beam selectively heats the quartz.

Abstract: A system for laser cutting brittle materials. In one aspect, the outer perimeter of a base plate of brittle material, which contains therein a workpiece defined by a laser micro-crack cut line, is heated. The heating causes the base plate material to expand away from the micro-crack cut line, therein expanding the interstice between the base plate and the workpiece, releasing the workpiece defined by the micro-crack cut line. Alternatively, a gas emitting tape is positioned under a micro-crack cut line and applies a force against the brittle material along the micro-crack cut line, therein propagating the micro-crack through the thickness of the material and completely separating the brittle material along the micro-crack cut line. Another aspect employs ultrasonic energy to cause breakage of a brittle material along a micro-crack scribe line. Yet another aspect employs the application of high pressure fluid along a micro-crack cut line, therein forcing the material on either side of the cut line apart.

Abstract: A swash plate type compressor having a cylinder block with cylinder bores disposed parallel to the axis of the cylinder block. A rotary shaft rotatably mounted within the cylinder block carries an aluminum swash plate. The swash plate is fixed to the rotary shaft and has two facial surfaces and an end surface. The facial surfaces have a coating of between 0.0005 inches to 0.002 inches of a heat curable, cross-linked polyfluoro elastomer bonded directly to the aluminum, a lubricious additive and a load bearing additive. A piston reciprocally fitted within the cylinder bore contains shoes which slideably intervene between the piston and the swash plate facial surfaces and reciprocate the pistons by rotation of the swash plate. The coating on the swash plate permits the use of slow silicon alloy aluminum without the need of metal plating or high finish polishing.

Abstract: A method of coding a set of multi- level signals, such as video signals comprises filtering the set of multi-level signals into one or more sets of multi-level sub-band signals; allocating a first quantity of bits for use in coding a first set of sub-band signals; coding the first set of multi-level sub-band signals using zero or more of the first quantity of allocated bits; allocating a second quantity of bits for use in coding a second set of sub-band signals, the second quantity of bits comprising zero or more of the first quantity of bits not used in coding the first set of multi-level sub-band signals; and coding the second set of multi-level sub-band signals using zero or more of the second quantity of allocated bits. Three examples of the method am provided. A hardware implementation involving the use of digital signal processors operating in parallel is also provided.

Abstract: Described is an ABS for vehicles in which all wheels are driven. Of particular concern is the forming of a final reference speed for the slip control. From the speeds of wheels with different speeds, an auxiliary reference speed, and a reference speed and a final reference speed for the slip control is formed . In the event of instability, however, the increase of the auxiliary reference speed determines the reference speed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of coding a set of multi-level signals, such as video signals. The method comprises filtering the set of multi-level signals into one or more sets of multi-level sub-band signals; allocating a first quantity of bits for use in coding a first set of sub-band signals; coding the first set of multi-level sub-band signals using zero or more of the first quantity of allocated bits; allocating a second quantity of bits for use in coding a second set of sub-band signals, the second quantity of bits comprising zero or more of the first quantity of bits not used in coding the first set of multi-level sub-band signals; and coding the second set of multi-level sub-band signals using zero or more of the second quantity of allocated bits. Three examples of the method are provided. A hardware implementation involving the use of digital signal processors operating in parallel is also provided.

Abstract: Nickel-chromium stainless steel is of austenitic composition specially controlled to enable achieving resistance to elevated-temperature oxidation and corrosion at desirably economical levels of alloy content as low as 10% chromium and 10% nickel. Oxidation and corrosion resistant characteristics of the steel particularly include resistance to air-water atmospheres and gasoline exhaust atmospheres that are cyclically heated and cooled with heating to temperatures as high as 1800.degree. F. and cooling to room temperature. Steel has special utility for automotive exhaust train components and is generally useful for cyclically heated structural articles.