Abstract: A computer system and method is disclosed for mining current and archived address data in order to identify a preferred address for each service point in a territory. The data mining system may start in response to the presentation of a candidate address for matching. The set of mined data may be prioritized by clustering like characteristics, building similarity matrices, and by constructing dendrograms with nodes joined according to common characteristics. A computer system and method for maintaining a central database of preferred addresses is also disclosed. Selected address data gathered in a queue may be scored by characteristic, grouped by consignee location, and staged for processing. The scored queue of data may be prioritized by clustering like characteristics, building similarity matrices, and by constructing dendrograms.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for verifying the treatment of molten metal wherein a sensing device detects an in situ response resulting from the treatment of the molten metal. The in situ response is compared to a pre-set limit or condition in order to determine whether or not proper treatment of the molten metal has occurred. In particular, the sensing device detects an in situ response resulting from the mixture of a molten metal addition to a molten metal. An electronic transformation device can be used to transform the in situ response into a response data set. The response data set can be transmitted to and received by a microprocessor. The microprocessor can manipulate the response data set. The in situ response to the treatment of the molten metal can be in the form of heat, light intensity, light wavelength, density of smoke particles, composition of smoke particles, mechanical vibration and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A golf ball is provided that has a hard sphere core or layer that exhibits a controlled vibrational response. The vibrational response may be controlled by tailoring the stiffness or damping of the sphere with at least one element, such as a groove(s) or any other type of indentation in the hard sphere core. The groove (or grooves) serves to locally reduce the wall thickness of the hollow metal sphere core, thereby reducing the stiffness of the core by allowing larger deformations under a load without significantly reducing the total mass of the core. This results in a golf ball that is legal for play and capable of drive distances essentially equivalent to those of currently available high performance golf balls, but that also maintains a high moment of inertia, allowing less hooks and slices during play.

Abstract: A balloon for a catheter and a method of making the balloon, having a layer of a porous polymeric material with a modified outer surface and a lubricious coating bonded to the modified outer surface. In one embodiment, the modified outer surface is formed by a polymer impregnated in the porous polymeric material, and the subsequently applied lubricious coating bonds to the impregnating polymer. In another embodiment, the modified outer surface is formed by a functionality deposited on the porous polymeric material which bonds to the subsequently applied lubricious coating. The modified outer surface provides an improved strong bond between the lubricious coating and the balloon, for improved catheter performance.

Abstract: A balloon for a catheter and a method of making the balloon, having a layer of a porous polymeric material with a modified outer surface and a lubricious coating bonded to the modified outer surface. In one embodiment, the modified outer surface is formed by a polymer impregnated in the porous polymeric material, and the subsequently applied lubricious coating bonds to the impregnating polymer. In another embodiment, the modified outer surface is formed by a functionality deposited on the porous polymeric material which bonds to the subsequently applied lubricious coating. The modified outer surface provides an improved strong bond between the lubricious coating and the balloon, for improved catheter performance.

Abstract: Compounds of the formula I: or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof wherein m, n, X, Ar, R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are as defined herein. Also provided are methods for preparing, compositions comprising, and methods for using compounds of formula I.

Abstract: A method of making a catheter balloon or other expandable tubular medical device or component thereof, in which an assembly of heat shrink material on an outer surface of coaxially disposed first and second tubes is heated to radially shrink the heat shrink material and reduce the outer diameter of the first tube. In a presently preferred embodiment, the heat shrink material extends at least along a central section of the first tube to reduce the outer diameter of the first tube at least along the central section of the first tube. The first and second tubes form the outer and inner layers, respectively, of a multilayered balloon, which has an improved low profile outer diameter.

Abstract: A golf ball is provided that has a hard sphere core or layer that exhibits a controlled vibrational response. The vibrational response may be controlled by tailoring the stiffness or damping of the sphere with at least one element, such as a groove(s) or any other type of indentation in the hard sphere core. The groove (or grooves) serves to locally reduce the wall thickness of the hollow metal sphere core, thereby reducing the stiffness of the core by allowing larger deformations under a load without significantly reducing the total mass of the core. This results in a golf ball that is legal for play and capable of drive distances essentially equivalent to those of currently available high performance golf balls, but that also maintains a high moment of inertia, allowing less hooks and slices during play.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a plastisol ink for textiles and in particular to a screen printable PVC/phthalate-free plastisol textile ink having good storage stability and excellent wet-on-wet printing. characteristics. The plastisol textile ink of the present invention is substantially free of PVC and phthalates and comprises (i) a core-shell acrylic polymer having an acrylic polymer shell with a Tg of 90-125° C. and an acrylic polymer core with a lower Tg than the shell, (ii) an organic phosphate plasticiser having a viscosity of 60-120 mm2/s, and (iii) a pigment. Any particulate components in the ink have a particle size of 1-80 ?m.

Abstract: A catheter balloon or other expandable tubular medical device or component, having at least a first layer with a first section and a second section longitudinally compacted by more than the first section. In a presently preferred embodiment, the second section of the first layer extends at least in part along a central portion of the length of the first layer. The longitudinal compaction of the material of the first layer preferably results in a balloon or other expandable tubular medical device or component having improved performance characteristics such as compliance and dimensional stability. One aspect of the invention is directed to a method of longitudinally compacting a porous polymeric tube incrementally along the length of the tube, to compact sections of the tube.

Abstract: A catheter balloon or other expandable tubular medical device or component, having at least a first layer with a first section and a second section longitudinally compacted by more than the first section. In a presently preferred embodiment, the second section of the first layer extends at least in part along a central portion of the length of the first layer. The longitudinal compaction of the material of the first layer preferably results in a balloon or other expandable tubular medical device or component having improved performance characteristics such as compliance and dimensional stability. One aspect of the invention is directed to a method of longitudinally compacting a porous polymeric tube incrementally along the length of the tube, to compact sections of the tube.

Abstract: A data structure, database management system, and methods of validating data are disclosed. A data structure is described that includes a superset of interconnected relational databases containing multiple tables having a common data structure. The tables may be stored as a sparse matrix linked list. A method is disclosed for ordering records in hierarchical order, in a series of levels from general to specific. An example use with address databases is described, including a method for converting an input address having a subject representation into an output address having a preferred representation. Preferred artifacts may be marked with a token. Alias tables may be included. This Abstract is provided to comply with the rules, which require an abstract to quickly inform a searcher or other reader about the subject matter of the application. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A balloon for a catheter and a method of making the balloon, having a layer of a porous polymeric material with a modified outer surface and a lubricious coating bonded to the modified outer surface. In one embodiment, the modified outer surface is formed by a polymer impregnated in the porous polymeric material, and the subsequently applied lubricious coating bonds to the impregnating polymer. In another embodiment, the modified outer surface is formed by a functionality deposited on the porous polymeric material which bonds to the subsequently applied lubricious coating. The modified outer surface provides an improved strong bond between the lubricious coating and the balloon, for improved catheter performance.

Abstract: A catheter having an elongated shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, at least one lumen therein, and a distal tip member, the distal tip member comprising a porous polymeric material. In one embodiment, the porous polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, ultra high molecular weight polyolefin, porous polyurethane, porous nylon, porous polyethylene, porous polypropylene, and porous polyether block amide.

Abstract: A catheter balloon or other expandable tubular medical device or component, having at least a first layer with a first section and a second section longitudinally compacted by more than the first section. In a presently preferred embodiment, the second section of the first layer extends at least in part along a central portion of the length of the first layer. The longitudinal compaction of the material of the first layer preferably results in a balloon or other expandable tubular medical device or component having improved performance characteristics such as compliance and dimensional stability. One aspect of the invention is directed to a method of longitudinally compacting a porous polymeric tube incrementally along the length of the tube, to compact sections of the tube.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing the number of control elements for crosstalk reduction devices in an optical switching network is disclosed. Crosstalk reduction devices are partitioned into two mutually exclusive groups based on a binary address of the crosstalk reduction device. By successively changing the bits within the destination address of the active signal path within the network, two mutually exclusive groups of crosstalk reduction devices is generated and one control signal is sufficient to operate the devices.