Abstract: An antenna system includes an electrical grounding system for a low power radio transmitter of a traveler's information station. The antenna system includes an elongated metal tube having a lower portion configured to be received in the ground and an upper portion adapted to support an antenna above ground. The tube includes an intermediate portion at a service height when the tube is positioned upright in the ground. The antenna system includes an antenna structure secured to the upper portion of the tube at least partially outside the tube. At least one elongated conductive ground member secured to a lower end of the tube and extends along an outside of the tube below ground, and within the tube above ground. The elongated ground member is coupled to the tube above the ground.

Abstract: The present invention provides communications via multiple power lines that are communicatively coupled to each other at a coupling location, which for example may be at a substation. In one embodiment, the system may comprise a first communications device communicatively coupled to a first power line at a first location, wherein the first location is a first distance from the coupling location. A second communications device may be communicatively coupled to a second power line at a second location, wherein the second location is a second distance from the coupling location. The devices may be backhaul points, bypass devices, or other PLC network elements. The first communications device transmits data over power lines a first communications distance. The locations are selected so that sum of the first distance and second distance is greater than the first communications distance even if the first distance is less than the first communications distance.

Abstract: An air-oil seal having a runner surface comprising at least one component selected from the group consisting of: polyetheretherketone; polyetherimide; polyphenylene sulfide; and polyetherketoneketone.

Abstract: A novel system and method of monitoring network activity in a network switching system having multiple ports for receiving and transmitting data packets, and a decision making engine for controlling data forwarding between the ports. Data blocks representing received data packets are placed in data queues corresponding to the receive ports. The data queues are transferred to logic circuitry for processing in accordance with a predetermined algorithm to determine destination information. At least one port for transmitting data packets is identified based on the destination information. In addition, a sniffer port selected among the plurality of ports is identified as a transmit port to provide output of data packets received or transmitted by multiple sniffed ports.

Abstract: Signaling messages are exchanged for a call between a calling party to a called party. A setup message for the call is exchanged through at least one gate controller. Network resources are reserved for the call based on the exchanged setup messages. An end-to-end message for the call is exchanged without the end-to-end message being routed through the at least one gate controller.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a MEMS cantilever strain sensor. Capacitor plates in a MEMS device of the invention are carried on cantilevered opposing micro-scale plates separated by a micro-scale gap under an unstrained condition. At least one of the micro-scale plates may be attached to a substrate or forms a substrate, which may be part of a monitored system. When a load is applied to the substrate, distal ends of the opposing cantilevered micro-scale plates become further separated, resulting in a change of capacitance. The change of capacitance is proportional to a load and therefore is an indication of the strain. Electrodes may be integrated into the strain sensor to provide a connection to measurement circuitry, for example. Sensors of the invention also provide for telemetric communication using radio frequency (RF) energy and can be interrogated without a power supply to the sensor.

Abstract: A spindle for a machine tool comprising a outer spindle portion and an inner spindle portion with each of the outer spindle portion and the inner spindle portion being rotatable relative to one another about the same axis. The outer spindle portion and the inner spindle portion each include a plurality of magnets that are arranged in an opposing manner with respect to one another whereby rotation of one portion of the spindle will induce rotation in the other portion of the spindle due to the attraction force between the magnets.

Abstract: A telecommunications system includes a network (202); a plurality of client devices (212) operably coupled to said network, said plurality of client devices adapted to select one or more of others of said plurality as contacts on a contact list (404); a presence server (204) coupled to said network and adapted to monitor presence status of selected ones of said others; wherein said presence server (204) maintains one or more records of past presence data for said selected ones and is configured to provide said one or more records to a requesting one of said plurality

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel polypeptides and to nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides. Also provided herein are vectors and host cells comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention and to methods for producing the polypeptides of the present invention.

Abstract: Disclosed are tools and related methods for performing analyses of the prospects for success of two or more companies that are anticipating undergoing a merger integration and/or the extent of current progress toward success of two or more companies that are undergoing such a merger integration. The present invention utilizes templates to produce scorecards, and preferred embodiments utilize electronic tools for facilitating data gathering and information organizing to assist merger managers in making findings regarding the relative success or failure of important merger integration guideposts, and for providing constructive feedback relevant to those findings.

Abstract: An anti-siphon device for an inlet check valve includes a plurality of contoured ribs, which prevent a siphoning hose from entering a fuel tank interior through the inlet check valve. Moreover, the ribs permit liquid fuel to pass substantially unimpeded such that an adverse pressure change is not induced in the inlet check valve.

Abstract: Featured is a controller for a motor that is ultra-compact, with a power density of at least about 20 watts per cubic cm (W/cm3). The controller utilizes a common ground for power circuitry, which energizes the windings of the motor, and the signal circuitry, which controls this energization responsive to signals from one or more sensors. Also, the ground is held at a stable potential without galvanic isolation. The circuits, their components and connectors are sized and located to minimize their inductance and heat is dissipated by conduction to the controller's exterior such as by a thermally conductive and electrically insulating material (e.g., potable epoxy). The controller uses a single current sensor for plural windings and preferably a single heat sensor within the controller. The body of the controller can also function as the sole plug connector.

Abstract: A method of ex-situ activation and dry passivation of supported noble metal catalysts including the steps of reducing in the presence of hydrogen and dry passivation by cooling in an inert atmosphere and exposing to air or by filling the pores of the catalyst with a low sulfur oil before exposing to air.

Abstract: A system and method of providing video drive-by data is provided to enable a street level view of a neighborhood surrounding a selected geographic location. The system includes a video and data server farm incorporation at least one video storage server that stores video image files containing video drive-by data that corresponds to a geographic location, a database server that processes a data query received from a user over the Internet that corresponds to a geographic location of interest, and an image processing server. In operation, the database server identifies video image files stored in the video storage server that correspond to the geographic location of interest contained in the data query, and transfers the video image files over a pre-processing network to the image processing server.

Abstract: A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for inventory control of items in a location are disclosed. In an embodiment, this comprises a surveillance system comprising a plurality of cameras and at least one display, at least one identification tag, at least one identification tag reader configured to read the identification tag and placed to cover at least a portion of the location, and a computer configured to process information including the identification tag read by the reader. In response to the information, the computer controls a video camera to display an image showing an area around the identification tag. This may be based on a determination of heightened risk, such as when the identification tag is associated with a receipt and is brought back to the location after being removed from the location.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel polypeptides and to nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides. Also provided herein are vectors and host cells comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention and to methods for producing the polypeptides of the present invention.

Abstract: A method for determining the circumferential properties of a tubular product, especially nuclear fuel cladding, utilizes compression of a polymeric plug within the tubular product to determine strain stress, yield stress and other properties. The process is especially useful in the determination of aging properties such as fuel rod embrittlement after long burn-down.

Abstract: A mid drive scooter includes a frame that supports a seat for a rider of the scooter, a front wheel connected with the frame, left and right drive wheels, and left and right rear wheels. A left suspension is interposed between the frame and the left wheels, and a right suspension is interposed between the frame and the right wheels. The suspensions support the frame on the drive wheels for movement of the frame relative to the drive wheels in first and second degrees of freedom.

Abstract: Described are methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for defining logical trunk groups in a packet-based network. A plurality of logical trunk groups are defined for a first media gateway in communication with a packet-based network. Each of the plurality of logical trunk groups is associated with one or more media gateways in communication over the packet-based network with the first media gateway. Data associated with a call that is received or transmitted by the media gateway is associated with a first logical trunk group of the plurality of logical trunk groups.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel polypeptides and to nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides. Also provided herein are vectors and host cells comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention and to methods for producing the polypeptides of the present invention.