Abstract:
An automated appliance control system includes a unit which transmits binary coded address and function control signals along the a.c. power line to a plurality of appliance control modules connected to the power line at various locations in the home. The binary coded signals transmitted along the a.c. power line are in the form of binary rf bursts which occur before and after the a.c. power line zero crossing points.
Abstract:
A lid seal for an automatic vertical axis washer. The lid seal includes rigid and flexible components and generally attaches to a flange of the lid along at least a portion of a lid periphery. When the lid is closed, the lid seal engages the washer housing to eliminate or greatly reduce operational noise and wash fluid spray from escaping through gaps between the lid and the washer housing. In addition, the lid seal acts to improve lid closure sound quality. In doing so, the user is provided with a simple and low cost method to reduce noise and wash fluid spray nuisances associated with the operation of an automatic vertical axis washer.
Abstract:
A bicycle rack (10) comprises a pedestal mountable on lug bolts (25) of an exterior spare-tire mount including spokes (14a, b and c) which extend axially to the lug bolts. A main support arm (18) extending laterally to the spokes is attachable to outer ends of the spokes by means of an outer hub (16) and has mounted on it a bicycle support arm (20) for supporting a bicycle laterally of the spare-tire mount. First and second angularly-adjustable mounting mechanisms (34 and 42) allow the angular positions of the main support arm relative to the outer hub and the bicycle support arm relative to the main support arm to be adjusted respectively.
Abstract:
By increasing the line spacing and the width of the grid wires of cadmium sulfide/copper sulfide photovoltaic cells, an easier to manufacture, low cost cell having a higher conversion efficiency is obtained. Seven to eight grid wires per inch have been found to be particularly desirable in achieving these end results.
Abstract:
Whole blood is treated extracorporeally to remove substances contrary to health using mesoporous/microporous or macroporopus/microporous carbon in the form of beads or a channel monolith. The carbon may be the result of carbonizing a mesoporous or macroporous phenolic resin. Substances contrary to health include externally introduced toxins such as bacterially derived staphylococcus enterotoxins A, B, TSST-1 or autologous, biologically active molecules with harmful, systemic effects when their activity is excessive or unregulated. Examples include the removal of inappropriate amounts of pro- or anti-inflammatory molecules and toxic mediators of systemic inflammatory response syndrome related to sepsis, cardio-pulmonary by-pass surgery, ischaemic reperfusion injury; the removal of larger molecular weight and protein bound uremic toxins related to kidney and hepatic toxins related to liver failure and the removal of toxins relevant to biological and chemical warfare.
Abstract:
The present invention relates generally to a method of modulating an inflammatory response in a mammal and to agents useful for same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of modulating an inflammatory response in a mammal by modulating the functional activity of activin and thereby modulating the pro-inflammatory mediator cascade. The method of the present invention is useful, inter alia, in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of conditions characterized by an aberrant, unwanted or otherwise inappropriate inflammatory response including, inter alia, sepsis and inflammation of the airway. The present invention is further directed to methods for identifying and/or designing agents capable of modulating activin mediated regulation of the inflammatory response.
Abstract:
A system and method are provided for creating, managing, rendering and delivering digitally synthesized products that can be automatically generated as a function of variable attributes provided by a variety of sources. The system can include design tools for creating workflows that describe the rules for dynamically creating digital products; licensing system to manage product licensing; distributed synthesis systems for generating products; location based services to manage location/time specific products; sharing services for transferring products; web services for composing and sharing products; mobile applications for composing and sharing products; notification services for notifying participants of system state changes; databases for managing the components of the system; extension services for externally developed system extensions; API services for external management and utilization of the system; and e-commerce services for paying or collecting fees for usage of the system by contributors or users.
Abstract:
A method is provided for advertising goods or services. The method includes the steps of (a) determining (603) the imaging schedule for imaging of a geographic region by an organization that captures images of geographic regions by aircraft or spacecraft, wherein the captured images are posted to a website; and (b) before and proximal to the scheduled imaging of the region, placing (605) a machine readable code in the region such that the machine readable code is present in at least one of the captured images as a machine readable artifact.
Abstract:
A vestibular implant comprising a stimulation unit to generate electric stimuli and deliver to electrode arrays is disclosed. The stimulation unit generates electric stimuli in response to a user input or continuously generates electrical stimuli. The electrode arrays comprise electrodes and are adapted for placement within a semicircular canal of an ear. The electric stimuli is delivered from the stimulation unit to the electrode so that the electrodes apply electric stimuli. A predetermined electric stimulus is applied to restore spontaneous vestibular activity during a Meniere's attack. A continuous, unmodulated electric stimulus is applied to suppress the symptoms of unilateral loss of vestibular function. Additionally, the electrodes record electrically evoked compound action potentials (eCAP). An appropriate location for the placement of the electrode array is determined based on the recorded eCAP.