Abstract: The ventilation interface for sleep apnea therapy interfaces a ventilation device to the patient's airways. The ventilation interface includes a pair of nasal inserts made from flexible, resilient silicone which are oval shaped in cross-section and slightly tapered from a base proximal the ventilation supply to the distal tip end. A bead flange is disposed about the exterior of each insert at the distal end of the insert. A bleed port for release of exhaled air is defined through a conical vent projecting normally to the path of the incoming air flow, and continues through a nipple extending to the exterior of the air conduit. In one embodiment, a pair of nasal inserts are integral with a nasal cannula body, with bleed ports axially aligned with each insert. In another embodiment, each insert is independently connected to a separate, thin-walled, flexible supply line.

Abstract: An LED ballast mount preferably includes a housing assembly having sidewalls including a housing LED side wall and a housing opposite side wall. A rechargeable battery is installed in a battery assembly and the battery assembly includes a battery housing mounted to the housing LED side wall. A first LED lamp is mounted on a lower face of the battery housing. A first fluorescent lamp socket mounted on a ballast socket face of the battery housing. A second fluorescent lamp socket mounted on the ballast socket face of the battery housing. A bridge housing including an electronic ballast mounted within the bridge housing. Fluorescent tubes may be mounted in the device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fabricating a composite part with a shape memory polymer (SMP) apparatus usable as both a rigid lay-up tool and as a bladder. The SMP apparatus may be heated until malleable, shaped, and then cooled in a desired rigid tool configuration. For example, cavities may be formed into the SMP apparatus for nesting components therein to co-bond or co-cure with the composite part. The composite material may be applied onto the SMP apparatus in the rigid tool configuration and then placed into a rigid external tool and heated to composite cure temperatures at which the SMP apparatus is malleable. A pressure differential may be induced which urges the SMP apparatus to compress the composite material against the rigid external tool. When the composite material is cured, the SMP apparatus may be urged away from the cure composite material and removed from within the composite part.

Abstract: The ventilation interface for sleep apnea therapy interfaces a ventilation device to the patient's airways. The ventilation interface includes a pair of nasal inserts made from flexible, resilient silicone which are oval shaped in cross-section and slightly tapered from a base proximal the ventilation supply to the distal tip end. A bead flange is disposed about the exterior of each insert at the distal end of the insert. A bleed port for release of exhaled air is defined through a conical vent projecting normally to the path of the incoming air flow, and continues through a nipple extending to the exterior of the air conduit. In one embodiment, a pair of nasal inserts are integral with a nasal cannula body, with bleed ports axially aligned with each insert. In another embodiment, each insert is independently connected to a separate, thin-walled, flexible supply line.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to the discovery that B. anthracis possesses a luxS gene that encodes a functional LuxS polypeptide, and that B. anthracis synthesizes a functional AI-2 quorum-sensing molecule. The invention provides mutant B. anthracis bacteria lacking the function of the luxS gene, which do not produce a functional AI-2 molecule and have growth defects compared to wild-type B. anthracis. The invention also concerns methods for inhibiting the growth of B. anthracis, or for preventing or treating B. anthracis infection, by inhibiting the activity of the B. anthracis LuxS polypeptide, or by exposure of the B. anthracis to furanone. In particular, the invention concerns the use of furanone, a compound that inhibits AI-2-mediated quorum-sensing, to inhibit the growth of B. anthracis, to inhibit B. anthracis toxin production, particularly that of protective antigen, and to prevent or treat B. anthracis infection. The invention also provides methods to prevent B.

Abstract: A support apparatus and method for providing structural support to a shape memory polymer (SMP) apparatus during fabrication of composite parts. The support apparatus may comprise an adjustable, rigid structural member and a plurality of SMP support components transitionable between a rigid and malleable state and fixed to an outer surface of the rigid structural member. The rigid structural member may extend in at least one cross-sectional dimension toward the SMP apparatus, pressing the SMP support components, in their malleable state, against the SMP apparatus. The SMP support components may thereby conform to a first surface of the SMP apparatus, then return to their rigid state while pressed against the SMP apparatus, thus providing a rigid load path between the SMP apparatus and the rigid structural member. Then composite material may be applied to a second surface of the SMP apparatus, opposite of the first surface.

Abstract: The aim of the present invention is to prevent that food products, which have a decreased concentration of salt, which can be considered to be unhealthy when consumed in large amounts, from having negative taste attributes. The present invention provides such food products containing two sections, wherein the two sections are visually the same, and wherein the two sections contain a salty tastant at different concentrations in the two sections.

Abstract: One or more cables are attached to the ring-shaped heliostat tracker assembly to control a position of the heliostat mirror on the ring shaped heliostat tracker assembly by winding the one or more cables with a cable winder spool and a cable unwinder spool. The ring-shaped rail track couples to two or more wheels joined to a structure housing a heliostat mirror. One or more position encoders track the heliostat mirror to indicate a position of the heliostat mirror on the ring-shaped rail track.

Abstract: A measuring device includes at least three elongate sides, each side having first and second ends and a pair of outer edges extending therebetween. Each side includes a channel extending between the first and second ends at each outer edge. The measuring device includes a plurality of strips, the quantity of strips being at least as great as the quantity of all the channels. Each strip includes scaled indicia that is different from scaled indicia of every other strip. A respective strip is removably positioned in each of the channels such that each side has two of the strips offset 180 degrees away from each other. Each side is transparent to allow the scaled indicia of the strips in the channels to be viewed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a cured pneumatic tire having a built-in innermost adhesive layer co-cured and thereby integral therewith and post tire cure applied sealant thereon.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to the discovery that B. anthracis possesses a luxS gene that encodes a functional LuxS polypeptide, and that B. anthracis synthesizes a functional AI-2 quorum-sensing molecule. The invention provides mutant B. anthracis bacteria lacking the function of the luxS gene, which do not produce a functional AI-2 molecule and have growth defects compared to wild-type B. anthracis. The invention also concerns methods for inhibiting the growth of B. anthracis, or for preventing or treating B. anthracis infection, by inhibiting the activity of the B. anthracis LuxS polypeptide, or by exposure of the B. anthracis to furanone. In particular, the invention concerns the use of furanone, a compound that inhibits AI-2-mediated quorum-sensing, to inhibit the growth of B. anthracis, to inhibit B. anthracis toxin production, particularly that of protective antigen, and to prevent or treat B. anthracis infection. The invention also provides methods to prevent B.

Abstract: A measuring device includes at least three elongate sides, each side having first and second ends and a pair of outer edges extending therebetween. Each side includes a channel extending between the first and second ends at each outer edge. The measuring device includes a plurality of strips, the quantity of strips being at least as great as the quantity of all the channels. Each strip includes scaled indicia that is different from scaled indicia of every other strip. A respective strip is removably positioned in each of the channels such that each side has two of the strips offset 180 degrees away from each other. Each side is transparent to allow the scaled indicia of the strips in the channels to be viewed.

Abstract: An advanced reflexive structure system is disclosed. The reflexive system mimics the pain withdrawal reflex on which the human body relies. The reflexive system incorporates a continuous health and performance monitoring system via an embedded dielectric film, an adaptive composite structure based on shape memory composite material, and an intelligence system which will be interfaced with both the health/performance sensors and the adaptive structure. When activated shape memory polymer will recover its structural integrity via shape recovery and a reptation healing process. These features enable the use of SMP as an adaptive structure in the proposed reflexive system. The development of a reflexive system for structures will enable increased safety and security and demonstrate a better understanding of integrated performance systems.

Abstract: A method and structure for determining a listing of host processors on a network to perform a parallel application, including determining a listing of all possible hosts on the network for performing the parallel application, determining for each of the possible hosts a current capacity and a current utilization, calculating for each of the possible hosts a difference between the current capacity and the current utilization, and selecting from the listing of all possible hosts a listing of hosts based on sorting the calculated differences.

Abstract: The “PT RULER”, an improvement on the typical triangular architectural scale ruler, in the following ways: 1) improvement of the view angle of the ruler eliminating the need for the user to “bend over” the ruler, 2) improvement of the arrangement or placement of the scales on the ruler to enable the user to simply “rotate” the ruler to view related scales, 3) improvement of the color of the individual scales, with each scale having its own distinctive color, 4) improvement of the font of each individual scales, using different font sizes for better readability, and 5) improvement of the ruler by changing the 16 scale with a 16? on center scale (based on ¼? scale).

Abstract: Software, and a master system with hardware and connections, for validated drug clinical studies includes: creating data collection documents with unique identifiers; having operators complete security identification verification before proceeding; having secured operators fill out and sign specified data collection documents; creating permanent records of the preceding; tracking by unique identifiers in a local system; uploading to a central system; independently reviewing filled out signed data collection documents to accept or require clarifications; keeping permanent read only records of all originally filled out and signed documents; making document clarification requests; reviewing each response; assigning new unique identifier links to each version of every revision; iteratively repeating the above until the documents are clean, and storing and tracking every version of every document in the central system; providing a monitor query and document entry history of all changes to all documents to create a

Abstract: A method and structure for determining a listing of host processors on a network to perform a parallel application, including determining a listing of all possible hosts on the network for performing the parallel application, determining for each of the possible hosts a current capacity and a current utilization, calculating for each of the possible hosts a difference between the current capacity and the current utilization, and selecting from the listing of all possible hosts a listing of hosts based on sorting the calculated differences.

Abstract: A device utilizing the unique properties of shape memory materials to securely hold items of varying geometric shape and size securely in place is disclosed. This device and process works equally well for securely holding in place small items, such as would be stored in a cup holder, or for securely larger items in a cargo container. By deforming the shape memory material such that it conforms to the outer dimensions of the item to be held in place a secure and tight fit is assured.

Abstract: A glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic sheet material is provided in which certain properties, or combinations of properties, are improved relative to similar comparative sheet materials. The sheet material generally comprises a glass mat or glass fabric fiber reinforced thermoplastic resin in which the thermoplastic resin at least partially impregnates the glass mat or fabric. The thermoplastic sheet material contains about 15 wt. % to about 65 wt. % of the glass mat or fabric based on the weight of the thermoplastic sheet material and has a thickness in the range of about 0.4 mm to about 3.0 mm. By including glass mat or fabric and maintaining the sheet thickness in the aforementioned range, the present invention thermoplastic sheet material exhibits improved flexural and/or tensile strength and modulus properties at reduced basis weight compared to a comparative thermoplastic sheet materials.

Abstract: A system for storing water in or under a concrete slab of the type in which one or more void forming elements are used to form one or more voids in the concrete slab. The system comprises one or more water storage means, such as pipes (12, 14, 26, 18 and 20) positioned in the one or more void forming elements (10) and at least one port (26) for supplying water to the one or more water storage means. The void forming elements may be boxes.