Abstract: A cable modem is provided in a premises. The cable modem is operated in a first mode with a first upstream passband. At least one fusible link in the cable modem is caused to be blown, which in turn causes the cable modem to upgrade to a second mode with a second upstream passband, greater than the first upstream passband, without use of any switch.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for testing a data link. A single-lane or multi-lane bit error tester that transmits one or more PRBS signals through the data link is augmented with a raw bit error buffer for storing bit error information for each detected error event and an error pattern analyzer. Most frequently occurring intra-lane bit error patterns, inter-lane word error patterns, and bit slip patterns are identified and their characteristics are analyzed so as to provide information indicative of root causes of the detected bit errors and bit slips.

Abstract: An ashtray is disclosed for use with a smoking machine for smoking a smoking article. The ashtray comprises directional fins underneath the ashtray for directing airflow over the smoking article. This can allow the direction of airflow to be confined to a well-defined path, and turbulence in the airflow to be reduced.

Abstract: A test device for testing a device under test (DUT) includes an integrated control interface adaptable for a plurality of different communication standards. The integrated control interface can be adapted to be compliant with the communication standard used by a DUT connected to the test device.

Abstract: A cable modem is provided in a premises. The cable modem is operated in a first mode with a first upstream passband. At least one fusible link in the cable modem is caused to be blown, which in turn causes the cable modem to upgrade to a second mode with a second upstream passband, greater than the first upstream passband, without use of any switch.

Abstract: A test device is provided for testing a device under test (DUT) having a control interface compliant with a standard selected from a plurality of standards each supporting a common set of management data input/output (MDIO) and non-MDIO control signals. The test device includes a test interface and an integrated control interface. The integrated control interface adapts to the standard with which the control interface of the DUT complies, so that the integrated control interface directly and fully controls the DUT via at least the common set of MDIO and non-MDIO control signals. The integrated control interface exchanges control signals selected from the common set of MDIO and non-MDIO control signals with the control interface of the DUT to monitor the DUT and thereby obtain status information about the DUT.

Abstract: A process for demineralizing coal includes the steps of forming a slurry of coal particles in an alkali solution, the slurry containing 10-30% by weight coal, maintaining the slurry at a temperature of 150-250° C. under a pressure sufficient to prevent boiling, separating the slurry into an alkalized coal and a spent alkali leachant, forming an acidified slurry of the alkalized coal, the acidified slurry having a pH of 0.5-1.5, separating the acidified slurry into a coal- containing fraction and a substantially liquid fraction, subjecting the coal-containing fraction to a washing step, particularly a hydrothermal washing step, in which the coal-containing fraction is mixed with water and a polar organic solvent or water and an organic acid to form a mixture and separating the coal from the mixture. The demineralized coal has an ash content of from 0.01-0.2% by weight and can be used a feed to a gas turbine.

Abstract: In a switched digital video content-based network, wherein a head end obtains a first group of program streams and sends to a client only a subset of the program streams selected by subscribers in a neighborhood of the client, imminence and/or presence of a condition of inadequate bandwidth is determined. Responsive to the determining, a bit rate of at least one of the subset of the program streams selected by the subscribers in the neighborhood of the client is dynamically decreased by adjusting encoding thereof, while maintaining adequate quality for the at least one of the subset of the program streams selected by the subscribers in the neighborhood of the client, based on an objective quality measure, in order to address the imminence and/or presence of the condition of inadequate bandwidth.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for testing a data link. A single-lane or multi-lane bit error tester that transmits one or more PRBS signals through the data link is augmented with a raw bit error buffer for storing bit error information for each detected error event and an error pattern analyzer. Most frequently occurring intra-lane bit error patterns, inter-lane word error patterns, and bit slip patterns are identified and their characteristics are analyzed so as to provide information indicative of root causes of the detected bit errors and bit slips.

Abstract: A test device is provided for testing a device under test (DUT) having a control interface compliant with a standard selected from a plurality of standards each supporting a common set of management data input/output (MDIO) and non-MDIO control signals. The test device includes a test interface and an integrated control interface. The integrated control interface adapts to the standard with which the control interface of the DUT complies, so that the integrated control interface directly and fully controls the DUT via at least the common set of MDIO and non-MDIO control signals. The integrated control interface exchanges control signals selected from the common set of MDIO and non-MDIO control signals with the control interface of the DUT to monitor the DUT and thereby obtain status information about the DUT.

Abstract: A method is provided which is suitable for implementation in a switched digital video content-based network, wherein a head end obtains a first group of program streams and sends to a client only a subset of the program streams selected by subscribers in a neighborhood of the client. At least one of imminence and presence of a condition of inadequate bandwidth is determined. Responsive to the determining of the at least one of imminence and presence of the condition of inadequate bandwidth, a bit rate of at least one of the subset of the program streams selected by the subscribers in the neighborhood of the client is dynamically decreased by adjusting encoding thereof, while maintaining adequate quality for the at least one of the subset of the program streams selected by the subscribers in the neighborhood of the client, based on an objective quality measure, in order to address the at least one of imminence and presence of the condition of inadequate bandwidth.

Abstract: For an apparatus which communicates data of a number of virtual lanes over a number of physical lanes, where the number of virtual lanes is different than the number of physical lanes and where a mapping between the virtual lanes and the physical lanes is not fixed, a method is provided for ascertaining the mapping between the virtual lanes and the physical lanes. The method includes: applying an impairment to a communication capability of one of the physical lanes so as to increase bit errors for data communicated via said one physical lane; determining a test bit error rate for each of the plurality of virtual lanes while the impairment is applied to the communication capability of the one physical lane; and ascertaining from the test bit error rates which of the virtual lanes is/are mapped to the one physical lane whose communication capability was impaired.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods for providing improvements in genome-scale metabolic models are described. The methods identify and optimize metabolic flux states that minimize the cost of enzyme production while maximizing a desired cellular phenotype. The computer-implemented methods may maximize cellular phenotypes such as growth (biomass) or production of a metabolite, such as a commercially valuable chemical compound, through the selection of metabolic pathways that maximize these phenotypes while minimizing metabolic costs associated with production of the proteomic constituents of individual metabolic pathways. The computer implemented methods may be useful for computationally designing microbial strains for the production of chemicals.

Abstract: A thermal energy storage system is proposed in which the latent heat of fusion of common salts is used to store energy within a selectable temperature range, extending both above and below the melting/freezing temperature zone of the salt mixture. The salt mixture occupies interstitial void spaces in a solid endostructure. The solid material remains in the solid state throughout the thermal cycling of the energy storage system, and preferably has properties of thermal conduction and specific heat that enhance the behavior of the salt mixture alone, while being chemically compatible with all materials in the storage system. The storage system is capable of accepting and delivering heat at high rates, thereby allowing power generation using a suitable energy transfer media to power a turbine of an electric generator or a process heat need to provide a relatively local, dispatchable, rechargeable thermal storage system, combined with a suitably sized generator.

Abstract: A method is provided which is suitable for implementation in a switched digital video content-based network, wherein a head end obtains a first group of program streams and sends to a client only a subset of the program streams selected by subscribers in a neighborhood of the client. At least one of imminence and presence of a condition of inadequate bandwidth is determined. Responsive to the determining of the at least one of imminence and presence of the condition of inadequate bandwidth, a bit rate of at least one of the subset of the program streams selected by the subscribers in the neighborhood of the client is dynamically decreased by adjusting encoding thereof, while maintaining adequate quality for the at least one of the subset of the program streams selected by the subscribers in the neighborhood of the client, based on an objective quality measure, in order to address the at least one of imminence and presence of the condition of inadequate bandwidth.

Abstract: An integrated printed circuit board-based solid state line voltage interface for use in automation control system applications. Relays connect various functional loads to the line level source in response to input from a controller unit. Switches enable a user to override the controller and manually control the connection of the functional loads. An alternative embodiment further includes limit switches and time delays. The compact nature of the device facilitates ease of installation, mounting of multiple units in less space, and mounting in various specialized location as desired.

Abstract: For an apparatus which communicates data of a number of virtual lanes over a number of physical lanes, where the number of virtual lanes is different than the number of physical lanes and where a mapping between the virtual lanes and the physical lanes is not fixed, a method is provided for ascertaining the mapping between the virtual lanes and the physical lanes. The method includes: applying an impairment to a communication capability of one of the physical lanes so as to increase bit errors for data communicated via said one physical lane; determining a test bit error rate for each of the plurality of virtual lanes while the impairment is applied to the communication capability of the one physical lane; and ascertaining from the test bit error rates which of the virtual lanes is/are mapped to the one physical lane whose communication capability was impaired.