Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Spiraea plant named ‘Tracy’, characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; during the spring, developing leaves are orange red in color and become bright yellow in color with development; during the summer, developing leaves are greyed orange in color and become yellow green in color with development; numerous large dark pink-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Clethra plant named ‘Caleb’, characterized by its upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dark-green leaves; large inflorescences with numerous large flowers; and good garden performance.

Abstract: A new Lantana plant named ‘Ban Whit,’ particularly distinguished by the large sized white flowers with a golden-yellow throat, excellent floriferousness because of limited seed set, compact and dense mounding habit with medium green foliage.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named ‘Shugert’, characterized by its upright and mounded plant habit; strong roots and stems; strong and dark green-colored leaves; early flowering habit; large lacecap-type inflorescences with light purple-colored flowers; and ability to reflower and to develop flowers on new growth without a cold treatment.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus plant named ‘Adonis’, characterized by its upright, somewhat, outwardly spreading and dense and bushy plant habit; glossy dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; large dark pink-colored flowers; and good flower longevity.

Abstract: A new and distinct Cynara cardunculus L. cultivar of artichoke plant named ‘PS-MSC0204’, characterized by its fleshiness of bracts; fleshiness of hearts; uniformity of head shapes; and male sterility which is demonstrated by the absence of pollen on all florets during anthesis.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Lobularia plant named ‘Inlbusnopr’, characterized by its outwardly spreading, mounding and cascading plant habit; freely branching and vigorous growth habit; freely and continuous flowering habit; long flowering period; single flowers that are white in color; fragrant flowers; and good garden performance and tolerant to high temperatures.

Abstract: A new cultivar of Dianthus plant named ‘FLORIAGATE’ is characterized inter alia by pronounced spray habit, perennial and profuse bloom, and green foliage. Dianthus ‘FLORIAGATE’ is suitable for use as a flowering plant in pots, containers, window boxes and the garden, but is primarily suited for the production of cut flowers. Dianthus ‘FLORIAGATE’ is not hardy and is grown in a glasshouse. These traits set ‘FLORIAGATE’ apart from all other existing varieties, lines, strains or sports of Dianthus. In particular, Dianthus ‘FLORIAGATE’ has bright purple/violet flowers.

Abstract: A new cultivar of Carnation plant named ‘Moonlight’ that is characterized by flowers with numerous petals, large cream-white flowers, vigorous growth and a short response time.

Abstract: A new Dahlia plant named ‘Golia Dbbro’ particularly distinguished by the large orange-red bi-colored ‘collerette’ type flowers, full and compact plant habit with excellent branching, medium dark foliage, and good floriferiousness.

Abstract: A new Petunia plant named ‘Pic Redda’ particularly distinguished by the new cultivar has small bold red flowers, good floriferousness, medium green foliage, initially semi-compact and then an outwardly spreading plant habit.

Abstract: A new Petunia plant named ‘Pic Rossa’ particularly distinguished by the small red-purple flowers, early blooming, good floriferiousness, and initially semi-compact and then an outwardly spreading plant habit.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Neoregelia plant named ‘Autumn Rain’, characterized by its upright and outwardly arching growth habit; developing leaves of vegetative plants are green and white bi-colored becoming solid pink purple with development; and good interiorscape and landscape performance.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Neoregelia plant named ‘Cookie’, characterized by its upright and outwardly arching growth habit; relatively rapid growth rate; leaves that are dark green and dark burgundy variegated in color; and good interiorscape and landscape performance.

Abstract: ‘UF06419’ is a new coleus plant distinguished by foliage having bright red-orange centers with a yellow border along the leaf margins. It has a vigorous growth and branching habit, and good sun and heat tolerance. It has desirable characteristics that allow it to retain its leaves in the garden landscape for an extended period of time during the normal growth season compared to most coleus varieties. It is an excellent variety for commercial production due to excellent adventitious rooting characteristics of vegetative propagules (cuttings), and subsequent vigorous growth in greenhouse conditions. ‘UF06419’ has proven to be an excellent performing variety in preliminary outdoor trials across the United States, and should be an excellent choice to add vibrant long lasting annual color to gardens across the United States, Canada, and Europe.

Abstract: St. Augustinegrass plant ‘MSA-31’ is a new and distinct variety of perennial St. Augustinegrass cultivar, characterized by its short and narrow leaf blades, fine leaf texture, short internode length and diameter, and superior turf quality and particularly turf density when grown under shade or dense shade. ‘MSA-31’ is also distinguished by its genetic color and fall and winter color characteristics.

Abstract: A hands-free faucet includes a sensing plate, a capacitor-based sensor circuit, a non-conductive valve housing, a non-conductive seating ring, and a conductive connector. Preferably, the capacitor-based sensor circuit is electrically connected to said sensing plate. Furthermore, the non-conductive valve housing preferably further comprises a valve inlet and valve outlet. Preferably, said non-conductive seating ring is located between the valve inlet and valve outlet, and is traversed by the conductive connector. In a preferred embodiment, the conductive connector is a metal pin.

Abstract: A diagnostic system includes a controller adapted for coupling to a compressor or electronic stepper regulator valve. The controller produces a variable duty cycle control signal to adjust the capacity of the compressor or valve position of the electronic stepper regulator valve as a function of demand for cooling. The diagnostic system further includes a diagnostic module coupled to the controller for monitoring and comparing the duty cycle with at least one predetermined fault value indicative of a system fault condition and an alert module responsive to the diagnostic module for issuing an alert signal when the duty cycle bears a predetermined relationship to the fault value.

Abstract: A vertical geometry light emitting diode is disclosed that is capable of emitting light in the red, green, blue, violet and ultraviolet portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The light emitting diode includes a conductive silicon carbide substrate, an InGaN quantum well, a conductive buffer layer between the substrate and the quantum well, a respective undoped gallium nitride layer on each surface of the quantum well, and ohmic contacts in a vertical geometry orientation.

Abstract: An nitride semiconductor device for the improvement of lower operational voltage or increased emitting output, comprises an active layer comprising quantum well layer or layers and barrier layer or layers between n-type nitride, semiconductor layers and p-type nitride semiconductor layers, wherein said quantum layer in said active layer comprises InxGa1—xN (0<x<1) having a peak wavelength of 450 to 540 nm and said active layer comprises laminating layers of 9 to 13, in which at most 3 layers from the side of said n-type nitride semiconductor layers are doped with an n-type impurity selected from the group consisting of Si, Ge and Sn in a range of 5×1016 to 2×1018/cm3.

Abstract: A piezoelectric resonator of the present invention is structured such that on a substrate 5 having a cavity 4 formed therein, a lower electrode 3, a piezoelectric body 1, a spurious component control layer 16, and an upper electrode 2 are formed in this order from bottom up. The spurious component control layer 16 is a layer for controlling a spurious frequency, and composed of, for example, a metallic material, a dielectric material, or a piezo electric material. By additionally providing the spurious component control layer 16, it is made possible to cause variation of the spurious frequency due to unwanted variation to become greater than variation in resonance frequency of the main resonance of the piezoelectric resonator. Thus, it is possible to realize a piezoelectric resonator having an admittance frequency response where no spurious component occurs between resonance frequency fr and antiresonance frequency fa.

Abstract: An installation for increasing the usable range along the axial direction of a light source. The installation has a light source and an optical sensor. The light source generates a sense image. The optical sensor further has a sensor and a transparent panel. The sensor is responsible for detecting the image generated by the light source so that a sense image is created. The transparent panel is positioned between the sensor and the light source. A coating on the transparent panel modifies the light transparency along the axial direction of the light source such that light transparency is lower in the middle compared with the ends.

Abstract: An optical disc having machine-readable, information-encoding features is provided with a barrier layer secured to the disc. This barrier layer is configured to prevent machine-reading of the features. A reading-inhibit agent, included in the disc and activated by removal of the barrier layer, is operative, once activated, to alter the disc to inhibit reading of the disc, after some period of time. Alternately, the barrier layer can be eliminated, and the reading-inhibit agent can be activated by initial reading of the disc, as for example by exposure to optical radiation associated with reading of the disc, or rotation of the disc.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for improving cellular internalization of one or more compounds are disclosed. The compositions include a compound to be delivered and a biocompatible viscous material, such as a hydrogel, lipogel, or highly viscous sol. The composition also include, or are administered in conjunction with, an enhancer in an amount effective to maximize expression of or binding to receptors and enhance RME of the compound into the cells. This leads to high transport rates of compounds to be delivered across cell membranes, facilitating more efficient delivery of drugs and diagnostic agents. Compositions are applied topically orally, nasally, vaginally, rectally, and ocularly. The enhancer is administered with the composition or separately, either systemically or preferably locally. The compound to be delivered can also be the enhancer.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel conformationally-defined macrocyclic compounds that have been demonstrated to be selective modulators of the ghrelin receptor (growth hormone secretagogue receptor, GHS-R1a and subtypes, isoforms and variants thereof). Methods of synthesizing the novel compounds are also described herein. These compounds are useful as agonists of the ghrelin receptor and as medicaments for treatment and prevention of a range of medical conditions including, but not limited to, metabolic and/or endocrine disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, cardiovascular disorders, obesity and obesity-associated disorders, central nervous system disorders, genetic disorders, hyperproliferative disorders and inflammatory disorders.

Abstract: A process for preparing an emulsion composition comprising a cyclosporin, a rapamycin or an ascomycin or a derivative thereof as active agent, which process comprises the step of admixing to a placebo fat emulsion a concentrate comprising a) the active agent, b) a stabiliser selected from a phospholipid, a glycolipid, a sphingolipid, a diacylphosphatidyl glycerol, an egg-phosphatidylglycerol, a soy-phosphatidylglycerol, a diacylphosphatidylglycerol, or a salt thereof; or a saturated, mono- or di-unsaturated (C12-24) fatty acid, or a salt thereof, and c) an organic solvent, wherein the weight ratio of active agent to stabiliser is between 400:1 and 0.5:1. The invention also provides ready-to-use emulsions, e.g. for intravenous administration, prepared using the above process.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a compound, method and composition of treating or preventing viral infections, in particular, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections, in human patients or other animal hosts, comprising the administration of N4-acylcytosine-1,3-dioxolane and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, prodrugs, and other derivatives thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia is disclosed wherein the apparatus includes an applicator having a probe having proximal and distal probe sections wherein the proximal and distal probe sections each define an axis and wherein the axes are not collinear.

Abstract: A configurable control system for operating an industrial system in a reliable, safety-enhanced manner, and method of implementing such a system in any of a variety of particular industrial systems of a given class, are disclosed. The method includes storing, onto a controller of a particular industrial system, a master program capable of being used to operate a generalized industrial system having a maximum number of safety subsystems of a given type, where the particular industrial system falls within a class defined by the generalized system.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for receiving a timestamp from a caller via a telephone connection; receiving a device identifier from the caller, in which the device identifier identifies a device; determining a cryptographic key based on the device identifier; determining an indication of a time based on the timestamp and the cryptographic key; providing the indication of the time to the caller; determining an account; and charging a fee to the account.

Abstract: A distribution server 103 distributes a content via a network, and a KIOSK terminal 105 receives the content via the network and records the content in an SD memory card 100. A customer device 111 receives a content via the SD memory card 100, checks out the content and records a copy on a recording medium. SD-Audio players 122 to 124 receive a copy of the content and play back the copy. Here, the KIOSK terminal 105 records a Usage Rule that certifies the right to control recording of content on the SD memory card 100. Move Control Information showing the number of times that moving of rights is permitted is set in the Usage Rule.

Abstract: A liquid-tight, pull-over, protective garment, which is adapted to be worn by a wearer, under a helmet worn by the wearer, under gloves worn by the wearer, and over another garment or other garments worn by the wearer, is adapted to cover the head, upper torso, arms, and hands of the wearer even if the protective garment is worn without a helmet and without gloves. In one contemplated embodiment, substantially all of the protective garment, and particularly a portion of the protective garment that covers the eyes of the wearer when the protective garment is worn, is transparent. In an alternative embodiment, a portion of the protective garment, at least where the protective garment when worn covers the eyes of the wearer, comprises a transparent window.

Abstract: The apparel is an athletic garment formed from textiles for use as a resistance training tool that works by increasing the fluid resistance such as aerodynamic drag or hydrodynamic drag on an athlete in a predetermined event. The athletic garment has a first fabric for covering at least a portion of a first body segment, and a second fabric, different from said first fabric, for covering at least a portion of a second body segment; wherein the second fabric is a turbulence-generating fabric.

Abstract: A weather resistant textile article comprising: a primary outer shell having an edge at least partially defining an opening for wearing the article; and a moisture wicking lining attached to at least the primary outer shell. In the preferred embodiment, the article includes a secondary outer shell attached to the primary outer shell. Also, in the preferred embodiment, the article includes a moisture permeable adhesive layer joining the shell and the lining.

Abstract: A weighted glove comprising a glove having a plurality of finger portions, at least one of the finger portions including at least a first weight member positioned on a back side of the glove, and a strap secured to the at least one of the finger portions. The glove may have a pocket in which the first weight member is positioned, and the weight member may include a generally concaved cross section. A corresponding method of exercising a finger is provided.

Abstract: A cap for providing a distinctive appearance for a person includes a head cover being positionable over a portion of a head of a person. A bill is coupled to the head cover and extends outwardly from the head cover to shade eyes of the person. A band is removably positioned on an exterior surface of the head cover. The band is positioned adjacent and coextensive with a bottom edge of the head cover. The band includes a loop portion and a single raised section spaced from the exterior surface. The band extends upwardly from the bottom edge of the head cover and above the bill. The raised portion is adjustable to adjust a length of the loop portion to frictionally engage the head cover. At least one decorative item is insertable through the raised section.

Abstract: A belt sword system includes a flexible sword and a sword belt. One end of the flexible sword includes a handle and the other end is angled to form a point. The handle may be formed by wrapping tape around the one end. At least one of the exposed lengthwise edges may be sharpened. The sword belt preferably includes a belt, a plurality of retention clips and a slide buckle keeper. The belt includes a strap and a retention buckle. The slide buckle keeper retains an end of the strap. The plurality of retention clips are attached along a length of the strap with rivets. The sword belt may be worn with the plurality of retention clips facing outward or facing inward toward the waist. Preferably, the flexible sword is inserted into the plurality of retention clips, before the sword belt is inserted into the loops of a pair of pants.

Abstract: The goggles of the invention utilize a substantially rigid frame with separate top and bottom individually rotatable elements, namely an upper browbar and a lower nosepiece, that firmly capture the lens from above and below. The lens is further secured to the frame by projections on each of the browbar and nosepiece which fit through apertures in the lens. At the top, a post which projects forwardly from the frame is received in the well of the browbar by snap-fit engagement. At the bottom, a prong on the rotatable nosepiece passes through a bottom aperture of the lens and is received in a recess of a bottom portion of the frame by snap-fit engagement. The apertures and cooperating projections are preferably located along the center of a one-piece lens. Thus, the rotatable browbar and nosepiece capture the lens top and bottom by edgewise compression and hold the lens front-to-back.

Abstract: A pair of swimming/diving goggles includes a main body and two head strap coupling members respectively provided on two sides of the main body. A board is pivotably mounted in a through-hole in each head strap coupling member. A head strap is extended through the through-hole of each head strap coupling member and around the board. A spacing between the board and the outer end wall of the through-hole of each the head strap coupling member is changeable when the board is pivoted, allowing the head strap to move to adjust a tightening length of the head strap. The head strap exerts a clamping force to clamp the head strap between the board and the outer end wall of the through-hole.

Abstract: This invention relates to the direct evacuation of malicious odor found within restroom toilets and urinals. This design is aesthetically appealing, multi-usable, professional grade solution that provides the removal of malicious odors from standard toilet bowls and urinals while not requiring additional routine maintenance or reoccurring filter costs further promoting a clean healthy hassle-free restroom facility. Moreover, this invention removes the prior art necessity of requiring a localized power source and provides protection against water from being drawn into the electrical exhaust system further protecting users from health hazards during operation. This device will function within multiple applications such as reservoir and pressurized systems that provide flushing pressure for toilets and urinals.