Abstract: A method of forming a fat product, the method entailing heating a first material to a first temperature to form a first intermediate, the first material comprising fat and the first temperature adequate to remove any memory of crystallization from the fat; rapidly cooling the first intermediate to a second temperature to form a second intermediate, the second temperature adequate to provide nascent seed crystals in the second intermediate; and quiescently cooling the second intermediate to form the fat product, the quiescent cooling adequate to support growth of macro-crystals about the nascent seed crystals.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention involve an extension adapted to extend from a planter, such as the seed tube portion of the planter, into a seed furrow in order to engage seeds being deposited therein, where such engagement may involve deflecting the seeds toward the vertex region of the furrow and/or firming the seeds in the furrow. The extension includes or supports a fluid distribution arrangement such as a hose or the like, which may be separate or integral with the liquid supply hose of a planter. The fluid distribution arrangement is adapted to supply fluid, such as liquid fertilizer, insecticide, water, etc., to the furrow. A valve is provided in the fluid flow path in the region of the fluid distribution arrangement to control the distribution of fluid to the furrow. The valve may be a check valve that allows fluid flow therethrough when fluid pressure exceeds a value such that the valve opens, and prevents fluid flow when the pressure decreases below the valve activation pressure.

Abstract: Novel apparatus and minimally invasive methods to treat atrioventricular valve regurgitation that is a result of tethering of chordae attaching atrioventricular valve leaflets to muscles of the heart, such as papillary muscles and muscles in the heart wall, thereby restricting the closure of the leaflets. Catheter embodiments for delivering and positioning chordal severing and elongating instruments are described.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for profiling medical claims to assist health care managers in determining the cost-efficiency and service quality of health care providers. The method allows an objective means for measuring and quantifying health care services. An episode treatment group (ETG) is a patient classification unit, which defines groups that are clinically homogenous (similar cause of illness and treatment) and statistically stable. The ETG grouper methodology uses service or segment-level claim data as input data and assigns each service to the appropriate episode. The program identifies concurrent and recurrent episodes, flags records, creates new groupings, shifts groupings for changed conditions, selects the most recent claims, resets windows, makes a determination if the provider is an independent lab and continues to collect information until an absence of treatment is detected.

Abstract: A method of optimizing filter performance through monitoring channel characteristics is provided. A signal enters a channel and a receiver receives the signal. The receiver includes a FIR filter to remove near-end transmitted interference and recover a far-end desired signal. The filter has storage elements configured as a shift registers to move the signal, multipliers to multiply the signal by a filter coefficient, an intermittent summer to combine the multiplied results into a replica of an interfering signal, a final summer to remove the replica from the receiver signal to provide direct and indirect monitoring of the signal, where direct monitoring includes time or frequency monitoring, and indirect monitoring includes monitoring signal to noise ratio, error magnitude or bit error rate. The filter is optimized according to monitoring and includes reducing a dynamic range, reducing bits of precision, reducing linearity, the filter, and reallocating the filter.

Abstract: A reagent for organic synthesis with which a chemical reaction can be conducted in a liquid phase and unnecessary compound(s) can be easily separated at low cost from the liquid phase after completion of the reaction. The reagent for organic synthesis reversibly changes from a liquid-phase state to a solid-phase state with changes in solution composition and/or solution temperature, and is for use in organic synthesis reactions. This reagent for organic syntheses facilitates process development. With the reagent, research on and development of, e.g., medicines through, e.g., compound library synthesis, etc. can be accelerated. It can hence contribute to technical innovations in the biochemical industry and chemical industry.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for analysis of individual particles in a microfluidic device. The methods involve the immobilization of an array of particles in suspension and the application of experimental compounds. Such methods can also include electrophysiology studies including patch clamp recording, electroporation, or both in the same microfluidic device. The apparatus provided includes a microfluidic device coupled to a multi-well structure and an interface for controlling the flow of media within the microchannel device.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for assembling an audio plug with a cosmetic hard shell are provided. A plug may be coupled to a cable. An inner member may be molded about an end portion of the plug and an end portion of the cable. A strain relief member may be molded about a portion of the cable such that the strain relief member is adjacent to and substantially flush with the inner member. The seam between the inner member and the strain relief member may be covered by coupling a hard, smooth outer shell over a portion of the inner member and a portion of the strain relief member. Each of the inner member, the strain relief member, and the outer shell may be formed by injection molding, be of a cylindrical shape, and be formed from the same or different materials.

Abstract: A method of forming a butter product comprises forming a primary oil-in-water emulsion by dispersing liquefied stearine butterfat in a butter serum, the liquefied stearine butterfat forming stearine globules within the butter serum. The primary oil-in-water emulsion is dispersed into an olein butterfat component forming an oil-in-water-in-oil emulsion, and the oil-in-water-in-oil emulsion being cooled to form the butter product which is spreadable at a temperature of less than about 45° F.

Abstract: An electric machine including a housing, a first rotor and stator carried within the housing and a rotatable shaft carried by the housing and extending from the housing. A first continuously variable transmission can be provided and includes a first rotatable element, a second rotatable element and a mechanism for controlling the ratio of the rotation of the second element to the rotation of the first element. The first element can be connected to the first rotor and the second element can be connected to the rotatable shaft. A second rotor and stator can be carried within the housing and a second continuously variable transmission provided. A hybrid engine having an internal combustion engine and utilizing the electric machine can be provided.

Abstract: Memory device systems, systems and methods are disclosed, such as those involving a plurality of stacked memory device dice and a logic die connected to each other through a plurality of conductors. The logic die serves, for example, as a memory interface device to a memory access device, such as a processor. The logic die can include a command register that allows selective operation in either of two modes. In a direct mode, conventional command signals as well as row and column address signals are applied to the logic die, and the logic die can essentially couple these signals directly to the memory device dice. In an indirect mode, a packet containing a command and a composite address are applied to the logic die, and the logic die can decode the command and composite address to apply conventional command signals as well as row and column address signals to the memory device dice.

Abstract: A connector for receiving a cylindrical plug includes a body defining a plug aperture and a cavity for receiving the cylindrical plug. A plurality of electrical contacts in communication with the cavity make electrical connections with the cylindrical plug and retain the cylindrical plug. A microphone is coupled to the body such that the plug aperture and the cavity provide an acoustic path to the microphone. The microphone may be at an end of the connector opposite the plug aperture or on a side of the connector adjacent the plug aperture. The connector allows a microphone to be added to a device, such as a mobile telephone, without the need for an additional external aperture. The microphone in the connector may operate with a second microphone and processing electronics in the device to provide audio processing functions such as noise cancellation or audio beamforming.

Abstract: Switching circuits, latches and methods are provided, such as those that may respond to an input signal that transitions from a first binary level to a second binary level. One such switching circuit may have a metastable state that is closer to a first voltage corresponding to the first binary level than it is to a second voltage corresponding to the second binary level. In other embodiments, the metastable state may be dynamically adjustable so that it is at one voltage before the circuit switches and at a different voltage after the circuit switches. As a result, the switching circuit may respond relatively quickly to the input signal transitioning from the first binary level to the second binary level.

Abstract: Memories, memory repair logic, and methods for repairing a memory having redundant memory are disclosed. One such memory includes programmable elements associated with respective redundant memory configured to have memory addresses mapped thereto, the programmable elements configured to be programmed with at least portions of the memory addresses. Such a memory further includes repair logic coupled to the programmable elements and configured to identify programmable elements available for programming to map memory addresses to respective redundant memory. One method for remapping a memory address of a memory to redundant memory includes receiving at least a portion of a memory address to be remapped to redundant memory, determining whether a programmable element associated with the redundant memory is available for programming, and when a programmable element is available, programming the programmable element such that the memory address will be mapped to the associated redundant memory.

Abstract: Method and apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be provided. For example, first data associated with a first signal received from at least one region of at least one sample can be provided based on a first modality, and second data associated with a second signal received from the at least one sample can be provided based on a second modality which is different from the first modality. Third data associated with a reference can be received. Further data can be generated based on the first, second and third data. In addition, third data associated with a second signal received from the at least one sample can be obtained. Each of the third data can be based on a further modality which is different from the first modality and the second modality, and the further data can be further determined based on the third data. Further, the first modality can be a spectral-encoded modality, and the second modality can be a non-spectral-encoding modality.

Abstract: A common standard may be used for both dynamic random access memories and non-volatile memories, despite the fact that the non-volatile memory generally needs bidirectional communications to coordinate writing with a memory controller. In one embodiment, a package connector on the non-volatile memory may be used for one function that does not involve communications with the memory controller during reading and may be used for communications with the memory controller during writing. Particularly, those communications during writing may be to indicate to the memory controller when the memory is ready for writing and when the memory is busy so that a write must be deferred until the memory is ready to be written to.

Abstract: A memory device includes an address protection system that facilitates the ability of the memory device to interface with a plurality of processors operating in a parallel processing manner. The protection system is used to prevent at least some of a plurality of processors in a system from accessing addresses designated by one of the processors as a protected memory address. Until the processor releases the protection, only the designating processor can access the memory device at the protected address. If the memory device contains a cache memory, the protection system can alternatively or additionally be used to protect cache memory addresses.

Abstract: A global supply chain management system in an environment of multiple suppliers forming supply chains for one or more buyers connected over the Internet. The system includes a global processor with logic that maps “local” supply information for each buyer and each supplier, represented in one or more property tables having master information correlated to local information for each buyer and each supplier. The system manages processes from an input of lots to an output through supplier stages where clients each use fragmented different local information. A correlation means uses base lot indicators, one for each of the lots in common for all of said stages and executes supply chain management functions for tracking lots through the supplier stages and for dynamic creation of sets of purchase orders among groups of suppliers for processing the same lot through the supply chain.

Abstract: A memory hub includes first and second link interfaces for coupling to respective data busses, a data path coupled to the first and second link interfaces and through which data is transferred between the first and second link interfaces, and further includes a write bypass circuit coupled to the data path to couple write data on the data path and temporarily store the write data to allow read data to be transferred through the data path while the write data is temporarily stored. A method for writing data to a memory location in a memory system is provided which includes accessing read data in the memory system, providing write data to the memory system, and coupling the write data to a register for temporary storage. The write data is recoupled to the memory bus and written to the memory location following provision of the read data.

Abstract: Power sources, backup power circuits, power source control circuits, data storage devices, and methods relating to controlling application of power to a node are disclosed. An example power source includes an input, backup power source, and a backup power source control circuit. The input is configured to be coupled to a primary power source and further configured to couple the primary power source to the output when the input is coupled to the primary power source. The backup power source control circuit is configured to control a current path from the backup power source to the output based at least in part on a voltage applied to the input.