Abstract: Noise-canceling headphones may include a headband, an audio input, and earcups supported proximate ends of the headband. A first vibration member operatively connected to the audio input, a second vibration member operatively connected to the audio input, and a microphone may be supported by a housing of at least one of the earcups. A feedback, noise-cancelation circuit configured to reduce a user's perception of an undesirable audible response of the second vibration member may be operatively connected to the microphone. The feedback, noise-cancelation circuit may be configured to modify an audio signal from the audio input at least in part based on a signal from the microphone and send the modified audio signal to the first vibration member. The modified audio signal may be configured to at least partially cancel at least a portion of an audible response of the second vibration member.

Abstract: A system for supporting maintenance of an aircraft is provided. The system includes a plurality of database importers. The database importers import a plurality of datasets from a plurality of data sources to a database with a composite dataset including data of the plurality of datasets. The system also includes a database-management system (DBMS) to manage the database. The system further includes a client application coupled to the DBMS. The client application receives a user request for a demand for replacement aircraft parts for maintenance during an in-service lifecycle of the aircraft. In response to the user request, the client application predicts and thereby produces a prediction of the demand based on the data retrieved from the composite dataset.

Abstract: A headphone that may be operated in either a wireless mode or a wired mode includes a housing and an acoustic driver within the housing. The headphone includes a jack for receiving a complementary jack at the end of an audio cable, and at least one control input. The at least one control input controls operation of the headphone when the headphone is operated in the wireless mode, and the at least one control input controls operation of an associated media device when the headphone is operated in the wired mode. A method of method of operating a headphone includes using at least one control input on a headphone to control operation of the headphone while using the headphone in a wireless mode, and using the at least one control input on the headphone to control operation of an associated media device while using the headphone in a wired mode.

Abstract: A wireless communication system under a contention-based protocol comprises an access point and at least one station, wherein the station is arranged for wirelessly communicating with the access point under the contention-based protocol. In the operations of the wireless communication system, the access point broadcasts a polling usage sequence to assign a time slot for the station, and the station subsequently uses the assigned time slot to transmit a data packet to the access point.

Abstract: An incremental forming tool of a sheet material has a tool holder having an axis and at least one tool rod mounted in the tool holder. The at least one tool rod may have variable shapes, lengths, diameters and radii such that the rotation of the at least one tool rod about the axis of the tool holder on the sheet material simulates an up and down, in and out, and/or side-to-side vibration motion.

Abstract: A side-loading pendulum slicer for slicing short and/or oddly-shaped food products. The pendulum slicer has an aperture in the upstream side of the product holder through which food products are injected. A loading conveyor holds large numbers of food products that are sequentially and individually loaded onto an injecting conveyor that injects the food products through the aperture and into the product holder. A weight that is raised above the aperture is lowered onto the food product to compress the food product against a thickness tray while the product holder reciprocates through a blade adjacent the thickness tray. Slices are removed from the food product and conveyed away for use.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described managing module for locating a target storage device among a plurality of storage devices connected via a network. A computer implemented method includes sending registration information to a central directory, wherein the registration information includes at least an address of one of the plurality of storage devices, and the central directory stores the registration information in a registry. The method also includes sending a request to the central directory for an address for another one of the plurality of storage devices, receiving the address from the central directory if the address is in the registry, and conducting a successive lookup of a closest known address until the address is located if the address is not in the registry.

Abstract: A speaker assembly includes a support structure and a tactile vibrator coupled to the support structure. The tactile vibrator includes a plurality of rigid members coupled to a plurality of suspension members. Each rigid member of the plurality of rigid members has at least one magnetic member coupled thereto for generating tactile vibrations during operation of the speaker assembly. A headphone includes the speaker assembly. A method of operating a speaker assembly includes driving a tactile vibrator having a plurality of magnetic members coupled to a plurality of rigid members and a plurality of suspension members to cause tactile vibrations in the speaker assembly.

Abstract: A method of calculating a climb-dive marker (CDM) that is visibly present on a display even as the aircraft approaches a roll angle of +/?90° is provided. An exemplary CDM method comprises obtaining, an X-axis velocity, a Y-axis velocity, and a Z-axis velocity in aircraft body coordinates of an aircraft; calculating a CDM elevation; and displaying, by the controller, the calculated CDM elevation. The method can further comprise obtaining an angle of attack (AoA) of the aircraft and a roll angle of the aircraft, wherein the AoA is set as the value of the CDM elevation when the roll angle is within a preset range. The CDM elevation may also be calculated using a combination of the AOA and the CDM formula when roll angle is within a second preset range.

Abstract: A combined altitude display apparatus for generating a combined altitude value is provided. The apparatus comprises a first altitude input interface, wherein the first altitude input interface receives a first altitude value; a second altitude input interface, wherein the second altitude input interface receives a second altitude value, wherein the second altitude value indicated by the second altitude input interface has a cyclical range; an altitude output interface, wherein the altitude output interface outputs a third altitude value; and a data fusion component coupled to the first altitude input interface and the second altitude input interface and configured to calculate the third altitude value based on the first altitude value and the second altitude value.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treatment for cancer in a subject comprising the administration of a prodrug, wherein the subject is colonised with an obligate anaerobic microorganism capable of expressing a polypeptide having nitroreductase activity, wherein the polypeptide exhibits preferential reduction of CB1954 to a 4-hydroxylamine (4HX) derivative instead of a 2-hydroxylamine derivative; and is capable of reducing CB1954 to the 4HX derivative with a Km of less than 30 micromolar. The present invention further provides an isolated polypeptide, nucleic acids encoding said polypeptide, vectors and host cells comprising said nucleic acids and vectors and uses of the above in treating solid tumours.

Abstract: An iris biometric recognition module includes technology for capturing images of an iris of an eye of a person, whether the person is moving or stationary. The iris biometric recognition technology can perform an iris matching procedure for, e.g., authentication or identity purposes, by comparing a digital iris image to a reference iris image and, if the digital and reference iris images match, transition an object from a locked to an unlocked state to allow access to the object.

Abstract: The ergonomically optimized self-stabilizing leg mounted mouse pad with integrated mouse storage holster provides a stable working surface area designed specifically for operating a common wireless computer mouse while resting the mouse pad discussed here on other than flat firm surfaces. Such alternative platforms upon which this device can be used effectively would include a user's thigh, the arm of a couch or an automobile's center console. The design features are purposefully engineered to ensure that the invention is self stabilizing on other than a flat firm surface through the use of a contact surface that is a curvilinear concavity with a camphered surface architecture that maximizes the advantage of the weight of the device coupled with the tacky characteristics of the material from which the device is constructed. The device is stable in its intended use without the use of supplemental attachments to secure or stabilize the device.

Abstract: An iris biometric recognition module includes technology for capturing images of an iris of an eye of a person, whether the person is moving or stationary. The iris biometric recognition technology can perform an iris matching procedure for, e.g., authentication or identity purposes, by comparing a digital iris image to a reference iris image and, if at least a portion of the digital and reference iris images match, authenticating a person as authorized to conduct a financial transaction.

Abstract: An iris biometric recognition module includes technology for capturing images of an iris of an eye of a person, whether the person is moving or stationary. The iris biometric recognition technology can perform an iris matching procedure for, e.g., identity purposes by querying a database for data related to an identified person, comparing the data with a plurality of content, and, in response to a determination that the data matches at least one piece of the plurality of content, display the plurality of content specific to the person on a display device.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a wireless communication method carried out by a wireless transmitter capable of offering an unintended wireless device a chance of starting or proceeding with a transmission procedure during a transmission duration of the wireless transmitter. An embodiment of said wireless communication method comprises the following steps: preparing a packet carrying an indication of a clear channel assessment (CCA) threshold level for an unintended wireless device to decide whether to execute a transmission procedure; and transmitting the packet to an intended wireless device under a protocol by which the unintended wireless device is expected to abide.

Abstract: Embodiments of a Z-dimension user-feedback biometric system are provided. In some embodiments, a camera captures subject images positioned along a plurality of Z-dimension positions, including a normal subject image for a mid-range of a capture volume and one or both of the following: (a) a close subject image for a front of the capture volume and (b) a far subject image for a back of the capture volume. In some embodiments, a processing element can be configured to create a normal display image, as well as a close display image (with a first exaggerated quality) and/or a far display image (with a second exaggerated quality). In some embodiments, the first exaggerated quality can be a positive exaggeration of a quality and the second exaggerated quality can be a negative exaggeration of the quality.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described managing module for locating a target storage device among a plurality of storage devices connected via a network. A computer implemented method includes sending registration information to a central directory, wherein the registration information includes at least an address of one of the plurality of storage devices, and the central directory stores the registration information in a registry. The method also includes sending a request to the central directory for an address for another one of the plurality of storage devices, receiving the address from the central directory if the address is in the registry, and conducting a successive lookup of a closest known address until the address is located if the address is not in the registry.

Abstract: A process for forming a sheet metal component. The process includes rigidly clamping a piece of sheet metal to a clamping fixture and plastically deforming the sheet metal to produce a shaped component during a first manufacturing step. The shaped component has a first amount of springback. During a second manufacturing step, a pair of electrodes applies one or more pulses of electrical current at one or more locations on the shaped component while the shaped component is still rigidly clamped to the clamping fixture during. The one or more pulses of electrical current applied to the shaped component provide an electrically-assisted manufactured (EAM) shaped component. The EAM shaped component has a second amount of springback that is less than the first amount of springback.

Abstract: Methods of generating tactile user feedback utilizing headphone devices may involve sending a feedback signal from a computing device to a headphone device operatively connected to the computing device. A tactile vibration may be generated utilizing a tactile bass vibrator of the headphone device in response to the feedback signal. Systems for generating tactile user feedback utilizing headphone devices may include a headphone device operatively connected to a computing device, the headphone device comprising a tactile bass vibrator configured to generate a tactile vibration in response to a feedback signal received from the computing device. The computing device may be programmed to send a feedback signal to the headphone device in response to a predetermined event.