Abstract: A stimulation system, an implantable electrode device and a method for operating an implantable electrode device are proposed. A simplified implantation, a simple construction and reliable control are made possible by the electrode device being supplied with energy, and controlled, in an exclusively wireless manner via a time-variable magnetic field. The magnetic field is generated by an implanted control device.

Abstract: A tamper proof transdermal alcohol content monitoring device is made up of analog and digital sides which are securely attached to the human subject to be monitored. The analog side has a sampling circuit which draws a measured insensible skin perspiration sample from the skin of the subject and measured with an electrochemical fuel cell. A distance measurement of the device from the skin of the subject and temperature of the sample are monitored along with the transdermal alcohol content, and converted to digital signals which are transmitted to a modem when the monitor is in proximity to the modem. The signals are stored in the modem and uploaded to a central monitoring station. Automatic alerts may be sent from the central monitoring station to a supervising agency. The supervising agency may also access the information through secured dedicated websites via the Internet.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for optimizing vibration of a machine tool, in which a driven shaft is rotated, in which a speed range is subsequently passed through, wherein the vibrations occurring in said speed range are sensed and wherein an optimum speed having a minimized vibration is determined and adjusted.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for generating accurate and precise ultrasonic images of biological materials or animate objects, such as the cornea and lens of the eye, and, in particular, to an ultrasonic scanning apparatus that can position its virtual center of curvature such that its ultrasonic transducer will emit pulses that reflect substantially perpendicularly from a curved specular surface of interest within the eye. This invention can allow real time imaging of a lens as it accommodates and can better enable researchers and ophthalmic surgeons to develop, fit, implant and diagnose performance of accommodative lenses.

Abstract: Persistent memory in an integrated circuit cars (ICC) must be managed in such a way that removal of power from the device at any moment does not leave the data stored in this memory in a faulty or inconsistent state. The mechanisms of this disclosure accomplish this end using the tag-length-value data structures found extensively in ICC software and standards.

Abstract: Field widening lens methods and systems are provided. The field widening lens includes a non-planar primary mirror and a secondary mirror. In addition, separate input and output ports are provided. The field widening lens further provides for an optical path difference for rays within the lens that is essentially zero for any ray within the field of view of an optical system including the field widening lens, regardless of the angle at which the ray entered the lens.

Abstract: A drawn aluminum can shell has a peripheral crown which is double-seamed with an end portion of an aluminum can body to provide a can end having a generally flat center panel connected by an inclined curved or straight panel wall to an inclined inner wall of an annular U-shaped countersink. The countersink has an outer wall which connects with an inclined lower wall portion of a chuckwall at a junction below the center panel, and the chuckwall has a curved or inclined upper wall portion which connects with an inner wall of the crown. The chuckwall also has an intermediate wall portion forming a break, and the inner bottom width of the countersink is less than the radial width of the panel wall. The inclined upper wall portion of the chuckwall extends at an angle greater than the angle of the inclined lower wall portion of the chuckwall.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for genetic analysis of DNA sequences containing complementary duplicons which are duplicated and linked DNA sequences separated by an intermediate sequence. Furthermore, the invention relates to the Bidirectional Amplification of Complementary Duplicons (BACD) using a single primer. The amplification of complementary duplicons can be used for a variety of purposes such as, determining the species from which a genomic DNA sample is derived, or used as a marker for a trait of interest. Also provided are methods for analyzing large datasets which can be used to identify primers useful for the genomic analysis methods of the invention.

Abstract: A method and system for dynamically determining a poll wherein at least a first parameter for each queue of one or more queues is maintained and a poll for each queue based upon an initial polling mode corresponding to each of the one or more queues is conducted. The polling mode comprises either a scheduled polling mode or an on-demand polling mode. Thereafter, at least a second parameter for each queue based on the poll is determined and an interval or a mode of a subsequent poll for each queue based on a comparison between the first parameter and the second parameter corresponding to each queue is scheduled. The subsequent poll is either (a) a different one of the scheduled poll and the on-demand poll, or (b) the scheduled poll having a different polling interval than the initial polling mode wherein the initial polling mode is also the scheduled poll.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of hydraulically mining of oil sands from a well pair drilled into an oil sands deposit is disclosed. The wells are preferably installed from a protected underground workspace in or near the producing zone. The method of hydraulic mining disclosed herein includes: means of drilling production and tailings injection wells; means of augmenting hydraulic excavation for example by inducing block caving and/or wormholing; means of isolating the underground personnel areas from formation gases and fluids; and means of backfilling the excavated volumes with tailings. In one configuration, production wells are formed and lined with a frangible material, for example, a weak concrete or an inflatable epoxy-impregnated felt tube. Hydraulic mining of the full deposit thickness using a directional water jet bit begins at the far end of the drill hole and continues back in stages toward the well-head.

Abstract: A pocket system for an athletic garment according to embodiments of the present invention includes a center pocket and first and second pockets each having an outer, inner, top, and bottom edge. The top edges are open, while the inner, outer, and bottom edges are closed. A vertical centerline of the garment substantially aligns with a user's spine, and the first pocket is located on the athletic garment on one side of the vertical centerline, while the second pocket is located on the garment on the other side of the vertical centerline. The first and second pockets are in a substantially symmetrical configuration about the vertical centerline, and the center pocket is substantially centered on the vertical centerline. The first and second pockets at least partially overlap the center pocket, and the pocket system looks from the back view like two pockets, according to such embodiments of the present invention.

Abstract: A pressure unloader valve is disclosed having inlet and outlet connections adjustable about two dimensions to adapt to a wide variety of high pressure pumps and similar equipment associated with such applications. According to one embodiment, the inlet and outlet connections are adjustable about both a horizontal and a vertical axis. A method for regulating pressure in a valve and pump assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing iodinated aromatic compounds, and more preferably a method of preparing iodinated aromatic compounds comprising a step of iodinating a react ant including an aromatic compound, a di-iodo aromatic compound or water, and iodine (I2) in the presence of a zeolite catalyst and oxygen. The method of the present invention has an advantage that by iodination of a reactant including the aromatic compound, and the di˜ iodo aromatic compound or water in the presence of the zeolite catalyst and oxygen, the temperature of the iodinating reactor can be controlled reliably and constantly, thereby resulting in improved productivity per unit weight of catalyst and inhibition of a side reaction in accordance with suppression of producing impurities.

Abstract: A selectively adjustable device for securing a handbag on a table is provided. The device is designed to fold into a compact shape and includes at least one surface for receiving a handbag. Other embodiments provided include a secondary arm for allowing accommodation of the device onto a vertically oriented wall or other surface.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a voice activity detector that uses the periodicity of amplitude peaks and valleys to identify signals of substantially fixed power or having periodicity.

Abstract: A distributed call control system is provided that can allot bandwidth amongst several call controllers. The distributed call control system includes one or more servers that execute two or more instances of call processing servers that administer call control. The call processing servers form a cluster or group. The cluster members negotiate and determine bandwidth allocation amongst the members. If a member requires more bandwidth, the call processing server, of that member, assesses its own needs and requests more bandwidth from other members. The negotiation and requests for bandwidth are accomplished with a set of dynamic and static bandwidth data that regiment the control of the bandwidth.

Abstract: A device for purifying exhaust gases of a vehicle by selective catalytic reduction including a heated piping. The heated piping comprises a fluid conveying pipe including a thermoplastic elastomer, a heating element arranged inside the conveying pipe, and an anti-abrasive layer. Preferably, the conveying pipe is made of a polyolefinic matrix based thermoplastic elastomer in which it is intimately dispersed a dynamically vulcanized and EPDM based elastomeric phase.

Abstract: A multimedia conferencing system is presented that can modify the composite multimedia stream into separate multimedia streams. Two or more video conference participants send multimedia streams, capturing and encoding the conference at the participant's location, to a multimedia server. The multimedia server includes a multipoint control unit that creates a composite multimedia display, which includes video regions corresponding to at least two of the multimedia streams from the participants. A composite multimedia stream describes the composite multimedia display. The ancillary server receives the composite multimedia stream from the multipoint control unit together with static and dynamic control information, which describes the format and layout of the composite multimedia display and the composite multimedia stream. Using the dynamic and static control information, the ancillary server decomposes the composite multimedia stream into two or more constituent streams.