Abstract: A system for moving a portion of a patient's body including a housing having a first cavity extending along a longitudinal axis, a first distraction rod having a proximal end and a distal end, the first distraction rod and the housing being telescopically displaceable with respect to each other along the longitudinal axis, the first distraction rod having a cavity extending along the longitudinal axis, a second distraction rod having a proximal end and a distal end and configured to be telescopically displaceable from within the second cavity along the longitudinal axis, and a drive system configured to move the first distraction rod in relation to the housing and to move the second distraction rod in relation to the first distraction rod.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for online transfer of a balance from a first credit account associated with an account holder to a second credit account associated with the account holder. Account data associated with the first credit account is obtained. The account data comprises at least the financial institution with which the first credit account is held. A determination is made as to whether the financial institution with which the first credit account is held is related to the financial institution with which the second credit account is held. The first credit account is identified as being not eligible for a balance transfer to the second credit account if it is determined that the first credit account is held with a financial institution that is related to the financial institution with which the second credit account is held.

Abstract: A method for determining the type of a digital versatile disc (DVD) so that a DVD+ can be distinguished from a DVD?. The main steps for determining the type of a DVD include setting up related parameters, reading a general wobble signal or a wobble signal within the general wobble signal from a DVD to obtain a peak hold value and a trough hold value. The peak and trough hold values of the general wobble signal are read to derive a peak-to-peak voltage. Finally, if the peak-to-peak voltage is greater than a predetermined threshold value, the DVD is classified as a DVD?, otherwise it is classified as a DVD+. Furthermore, a DVD-ROM disc can be determined.

Abstract: Systems and methods for assessing and optimizing energy use and environmental impact can be designed to receive energy consumption and emission data from one or more energy consumption sources of a facility over a network. The data can be transformed into a database format that can be processed and analyzed. The data can be validated according to predefined validation rules. The data can be aggregated according to predefined time intervals and stored in memory. The data can be used to generate a report to a user, for example, via a user interface.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for determining types of digital versatile discs (DVDs) are provided. The method includes setting related parameters, acquiring a wobble signal from a DVD, setting a frequency dividing factor, and dividing the frequency of the wobble signal by the frequency dividing factor. Then, the time required for the digital versatile disc to spin one round, which is driven by a spindle motor of a disc player, is set as a unit time to calculate the frequency of the frequency-divided wobble signal. Finally, the type of the digital versatile disc is determined according to the frequency of the wobble signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for assessing and optimizing energy use and environmental impact can be designed to receive energy consumption and emission data from one or more energy consumption sources of a facility over a network. The data can be transformed into a database format that can be processed and analyzed. The data can be validated according to predefined validation rules. The data can be aggregated according to predefined time intervals and stored in memory. The data can be used to generate a report to a user, for example, via a user interface.

Abstract: A method and a related apparatus for diagnosing crosstalk within an optical pick-up unit by utilizing firmware. The method includes calculating a tracking driving signal and a focusing driving signal according to a tracking error signal and a focusing error signal respectively, adding a noise to the focusing driving signal to form a test focusing driving signal through executing firmware, driving an optical pick-up unit by the tracking driving signal and the test focusing driving signal, and diagnosing characteristics of the pick-up unit through observing the tracking error signal.

Abstract: A method for determining the type of a digital versatile disc (DVD) so that a DVD+ can be distinguished from a DVD?. The main steps for determining the type of a DVD include setting up related parameters, reading a general wobble signal or a wobble signal within the general wobble signal from a DVD to obtain a peak hold value and a trough hold value. The peak and trough hold values of the general wobble signal are read to derive a peak-to-peak voltage. Finally, if the peak-to-peak voltage is greater than a predetermined threshold value, the DVD is classified as a DVD?, otherwise it is classified as a DVD+. Furthermore, a DVD-ROM disc can be determined.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for determining types of digital versatile discs (DVDs) are provided. The method includes setting related parameters, acquiring a wobble signal from a DVD, setting a frequency dividing factor, and dividing the frequency of the wobble signal by the frequency dividing factor. Then, the time required for the digital versatile disc to spin one round, which is driven by a spindle motor of a disc player, is set as a unit time to calculate the frequency of the frequency-divided wobble signal. Finally, the type of the digital versatile disc is determined according to the frequency of the wobble signal.

Abstract: A method and a related apparatus for diagnosing crosstalk within an optical pick-up unit by utilizing firmware. The method includes calculating a tracking driving signal and a focusing driving signal according to a tracking error signal and a focusing error signal respectively, adding a noise to the focusing driving signal to form a test focusing driving signal through executing firmware, driving an optical pick-up unit by the tracking driving signal and the test focusing driving signal, and diagnosing characteristics of the pick-up unit through observing the tracking error signal.