Abstract: A wall mounted hand rail system for assisting a patient includes a support beam. A plurality of lighting elements is disposed adjacent a bottom portion of the support beam and is configured selectively to direct light in a downward direction. An electronic system is configured to sense when the support beam has been touched by the patient and is configured to cause the lighting elements to illuminate an area below the support beam when the support beam has been touched by the patient.

Abstract: In a method of initializing a computer memory that receives data from a plurality of redrive buffers, a predetermined data pattern of a selected set of data patterns is stored in selected redrive buffers of the plurality of redrive buffers. Each of the selected set of data patterns includes a first initialization data pattern and an error correcting code pattern that is a product of a logical function that operates on the first initialization data pattern and an address in the computer memory. The selected set of data patterns includes each possible value of error correcting code pattern. A redrive buffer of the plurality of redrive buffers that has stored therein an error correcting code pattern that corresponds to the selected address is selected when sending a first initialization data pattern to a selected address. The selected redrive buffer is instructed to write to the selected address the first initialization data pattern and the error correcting code pattern that corresponds to the selected address.

Abstract: A shielding material includes a non-conductive sheet, an elongated adhesive strip and a conductive sheet. The elongated adhesive strip is disposed on a first side of the non-conductive sheet. The adhesive strip is spaced apart from a first edge of the non-conductive sheet and includes a removable cover film that protects the elongated adhesive strip until it has been removed. The conductive sheet is adhered to a second side of the non-conductive sheet. A first end of the conductive sheet is spaced apart from the first edge of the non-conductive sheet so that a first portion of the conductive sheet extends beyond the first edge of the non-conductive sheet. The conductive sheet is also disposed relative to the non-conductive sheet so that the second end is parallel to a second edge and so that a second portion of the non-conductive sheet extends beyond the second end.

Abstract: A system for protecting an electronic device from cosmic rays includes a frame in which the circuit is disposed, a cosmic ray detection circuit and a protection circuit. The cosmic ray detection circuit is supported by the frame and is spaced apart from the circuit. The cosmic ray detection circuit is configured to assert an incoming cosmic ray signal when a cosmic ray interacts with the cosmic ray detection device. The protection circuit is coupled to the incoming cosmic ray signal and is configured to cause the electronic device to enter a protected state when the cosmic ray signal is asserted.

Abstract: A cooler includes a box portion having a rigid outer shell and a rigid inner shell, an insulative material disposed between the outer shell and the inner shell. The inner shell defines a chamber therein having a floor and opening to a inner shell top, the floor sloping from a higher end to a lower end. The box portion defines a drain hole passing therethrough adjacent to the lower end. The inner shell and the outer shell define a cavity therebetween adjacent to the floor. The cavity, into which a tray fits, opens to a hole defined by the outer shell. The outer shell includes a bottom from which four feet that are molded into the outer shell extend so as to form an air gap between the bottom and any surface upon which the cooler is placed. A door is configured to cover the hole. The outer shell defines a first recess about the hole so that neither the door nor the attachment member extends beyond an outer surface of the outer shell when the door is in a closed position.

Abstract: A shielding material includes a non-conductive sheet, an elongated adhesive strip and a conductive sheet. The elongated adhesive strip is disposed on a first side of the non-conductive sheet. The adhesive strip is spaced apart from a first edge of the non-conductive sheet and includes a removable cover film that protects the elongated adhesive strip until it has been removed. The conductive sheet is adhered to a second side of the non-conductive sheet. A first end of the conductive sheet is spaced apart from the first edge of the non-conductive sheet so that a first portion of the conductive sheet extends beyond the first edge of the non-conductive sheet. The conductive sheet is also disposed relative to the non-conductive sheet so that the second end is parallel to a second edge and so that a second portion of the non-conductive sheet extends beyond the second end.

Abstract: In a method of making a functionalized graphitic structure, a portion of a multi-layered graphene surface extending from a silicon carbide substrate is exposed to an acidic environment so as to separate graphene layers in a portion of the multi-layered graphene surface. The portion of the multi-layered graphene surface is exposed to a functionalizing material that binds to carbon atoms in the graphene sheets so that the functionalizing material remains between the graphene sheets, thereby generating a functionalized graphitic structure. The functionalized graphitic structure is dried in an inert environment.

Abstract: A retention basin enclosure includes a plurality of prefabricated concrete vertical wall segments, a baffle unit and at least one steel connecting dowel. Each wall segment includes a horizontal top end that defines a notch and two vertical edges that define at least one cylindrical bore. The baffle segment includes a vertical edge surface that defines a plurality of cylindrical bores and a horizontal planar member from which a plurality of protrusions extend upwardly therefrom so that the baffle segment reduces water flow velocity. Two baffle vertical wall members each have a planar vertical surface that defines a plurality of cylindrical bores disposed so that at least one of the cylindrical bores defined by concrete baffle segment can be placed in alignment with at least one of the cylindrical bores defined by the planar vertical surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing a target substance includes a substrate, an elongated electroactive cantilever, a functional layer and an electrical sensor. The elongated electroactive cantilever includes a first surface and an opposite second surface. The elongated electroactive cantilever includes an electroactive member extending outwardly from the substrate. The functional layer is applied to the first surface and includes a material that reacts with the target substance so that when the functional layer is in the presence of the target substance, the functional layer will cause a change in an electrical property of the electroactive cantilever. The electrical sensor is coupled to the electroactive cantilever and is configured to sense the electrical property of the electroactive cantilever.

Abstract: In a method of handling errors in a digital system that includes a root complex in data communication with at least one endpoint, the endpoint including at least one advanced error reporting register, an error is detected by the endpoint. Error data indicative of the error is stored in an advanced error reporting register. An indication of which transaction caused the error is stored in a secondary location. An error message packet that includes the error data and the indication of which transaction caused the error is generated. The error message packet is transmitted to the root complex. The root complex is caused to take a preselected action in response to the error message packet.

Abstract: In a method for enabling a root device to access a plurality of memory locations in an address space in an endpoint device, a first access is sent to the endpoint device by transmitting a first header and a first address. The header includes a continue bit that is set at a first state that indicates that the first access is accessing a selected first memory location that the address is being sent. A first memory location is accessed when the continue bit is in the first state. A second access, which accesses accessing a second memory location that is contiguous to an immediately previously accessed memory location, is sent to the endpoint device by transmitting a header that includes a continue bit set to a second state and not sending an address. The second memory location corresponds to the first address plus a predetermined address offset.

Abstract: In a method of using a memory cell employing a field effect transistor (FET), the FET is heated to a first temperature sufficient to support bias temperature instability in the FET. The bit line is driven to a high voltage state. The word line is driven to a predetermined voltage state that causes bias temperature instability in the FET. The temperature, the high voltage state on the bit line and the predetermined voltage state on the word line are maintained for an amount of time sufficient to change a threshold voltage of the FET to a state where a desired data value is stored on the FET. The FET is cooled to a second temperature that is cooler than the first temperature after the amount of time has expired.

Abstract: The various embodiments of the present invention relate generally to the analysis of the mechanical properties of materials. More particularly, the various embodiments of the present invention relates to systems and methods of deriving the static and dynamic mechanical properties of deformative materials, for example, but not limited to, biological surfaces. The systems and methods of the present invention can be used to derive and evaluate the mechanical properties of many biological surfaces and subsurfaces, including but not limited to the skin.

Abstract: A trim panel for an aircraft interior includes a first sound attenuating layer, a structural layer and a second sound attenuating layer. The structural layer is coupled to the exterior sound attenuating layer, and has an exterior side and an opposite interior side. The structural layer defines a plurality of passages that open to both the exterior side and the interior side so as to minimize radiation of noise due to a hydrodynamic shortcut created by each of the passages across the structural layer. The second sound attenuating layer is coupled to the structural layer and has a high sound absorption characteristic. The second sound attenuating layer is configured to be disposed adjacent to the aircraft interior.

Abstract: A spinal treatment system for treating a spinal region of a patient's back includes a harness configured to be coupled to a preselected location on the patient. A force transfer member is coupled to the harness and is configured to transfer force to the harness. A vibrational movement head is controlled by a computer and is configured to apply a preselected laterally vibrating force to the force application member extending therefrom. A vertical displacement member is coupled to the computer and is configured to move the vibrational movement head to a preselected vertical displacement relative to the patient.

Abstract: A method of making nanostructures using a self-assembled monolayer of organic spheres is disclosed. The nanostructures include bowl-shaped structures and patterned elongated nanostructures. A bowl-shaped nanostructure with a nanorod grown from a conductive substrate through the bowl-shaped nanostructure may be configured as a field emitter or a vertical field effect transistor. A method of separating nanoparticles of a desired size employs an array of bowl-shaped structures.

Abstract: In a system and method for flexibly offering on-line promotions to visitors of a website hosted by a server, when a user signs up with the website, the server collects a plurality of user data from the visitor. If a user's data matches predetermined criteria from an advertiser, then on-line promotions from this advertiser are included in an opt-in window displayed to the user. The server dynamically generates pricing information for each advertiser according to a flexible algorithm. The flexible algorithm depends on the type and quality of user requested by the advertiser.

Abstract: In a method of making a polymer structure on a substrate a layer of a first polymer, having a horizontal top surface, is applied to a surface of the substrate. An area of the top surface of the polymer is manipulated to create an uneven feature that is plasma etched to remove a first portion from the layer of the first polymer thereby leaving the polymer structure extending therefrom. A light emitting structure includes a conductive substrate from which an elongated nanostructure of a first polymer extends. A second polymer coating is disposed about the nanostructure and includes a second polymer, which includes a material such that a band gap exists between the second polymer coating and the elongated nanostructure. A conductive material coats the second polymer coating. The light emitting structure emits light when a voltage is applied between the conductive substrate and the conductive coating.

Abstract: In a system for communicating data from a processor to a plurality of register groupings that includes a plurality of registers and a plurality of register decoding logic entities, each register is associated with one of the plurality of register groupings. The plurality of register decoding logic entities is arranged in a data communication ring and is assigned to a register grouping.