Abstract: A stage is provided for a receiver of a wireless device. The stage comprises a matching network that separates amplified signals of interest received from an amplifier from amplified unwanted signals received from the amplifier in conjunction with additional downstream filters. The stage also comprises a signal path that comprises components for receiving and processing the amplified signals of interest, and a shunt path that comprises components for adjusting reflected energy sent back to the amplifier for limiting the output swing of the amplifier in a frequency band corresponding to the amplified unwanted signals.

Abstract: A process for the production of methanol comprises feeding a hydrocarbon feedstock to a partial oxidation reactor to produce a synthesis gas comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide; subjecting the synthesis gas to methanol synthesis to produce a methanol product stream and a tail gas stream; separating the tail gas stream into at least two streams comprising a purge stream and a recycle stream, the recycle stream comprising a substantial portion of the tail gas stream; and, recycling the recycle stream to the partial oxidation reactor.

Abstract: Methods and systems for delivering scalable media content from a server to a client are provided. A server index is provided to a media server for indexing the layers of scalable content in the form of media data groups. The client transmits at least one media request comprising a scalable media presentation identifier, a requested quality identifier and a requested layer identifier. Based on the at least one request, the server identifies the requested media data groups and transmits the requested media data groups to the client. The client receives the requested media data groups, which may be a subset of all available media data groups, and reorders the media data into decoding order for subsequent decoding and playback.

Abstract: A container includes a receptacle having a bottom panel, at least one wall extending upwardly from the bottom panel, and a lid coupling region extending from an upper portion of the at least one wall. The lid coupling region includes an upstanding barrier wall, and a locking member movable from a blocking position to a non-blocking position. The container further comprises a lid having a receptacle coupling region extending about the periphery thereof. The receptacle coupling region includes an outer edge that seats behind the barrier wall. A portion of the outer edge can be exposed for gripping access to remove the lid when the locking member is moved to the non-blocking position.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for regulating immunity are disclosed. For enhancing an immune response, agents that inhibit OX-2 are administered. Such methods are useful in treating cancer. For suppressing an immune response, an OX-2 protein or a nucleic acid encoding an OX-2 protein is administered. Such methods are useful in preventing graft rejection, fetal loss, autoimmune disease, allergies and in inducing tumor cell growth.

Abstract: An information browser system and method enables sending of information requests to remote information sources and receiving of requested information from the remote sources on a wireless communication device. Information in any of a plurality of formats, including WML, HTML and WMLScript, is converted into a format in which the information can be displayed or otherwise further processed by the device. Information browsing functions may also be integrated with other communication functions on a mobile communication device.

Abstract: A method of improving energy consumption and/or melt quality of injection molding or extrusion machine can include controlling energy input to the melt from screw drive and heat sources. One or more sensors can measure a present value of at least one process parameter associated with the melt. A control algorithm can compare the present value of melt with a set value. If the present value deviates from the set value by more than a predetermined amount, the set value of at least one operating parameter can be adjusted. The algorithm can determine energy transferred to melt material from thermal and mechanical sources, and adjust set values to optimize energy consumption. Process parameters can include melt temperature, melt quality characterized value, prospective throughput or injection cycle time, or prospective energy consumption value. Operating parameters can include barrel heating temperature, screw rotational speed, screw plasticizing back pressure, screw injection speed or screw injection pressure.

Abstract: A radiation dosimetry apparatus and method use a scintillating optical fiber array for detecting dose levels. The scintillating optical fiber detectors generate optical energy in response to a predetermined type of radiation, and are coupled to collection optical fibers that transmit the optical energy to a photo-detector for conversion to an electrical signal. The detectors may be embedded in one or more modular, water-equivalent phantom slabs. A repeatable connector couples the collection fibers to the photo-detector, maintaining the fiber ends in a predetermined spatial relationship. The detector fibers may be distributed as desired in a three-dimensional detection space, and may be oriented with their longitudinal axes at different orientations relative to a transmission axis of an incident radiation beam. A calibration method uses two measurements in two spectral windows, one with irradiation of the scintillator at a known dose and one with only irradiation of the collection fiber.

Abstract: Embodiments of an apparatus and methods for selecting a communication line from two or more lines on a communication device are described herein. The communication device comprises a display module, an input module, a line selection module, and a communication module for making a call over a network to a target recipient. In one broad aspect, a determination of which of the communication lines is the communication line associated with the selected one of at least two appointment categories for an appointment is made in the selection of a communication line accessible at the communication device on which an outgoing call may be placed.

Abstract: A system and method for coding and decoding an information signal sent through a communication system. The system includes: an encoder for encoding the information signal without adding additional information and for sending an encoded information signal; and a soft bit decoder including a-priori information related to the communication system for receiving the encoded information signal and decoding the encoded information signal using the a-priori information.

Abstract: Several alternate improvements of a vacuum cleaner are provided. In one aspect, the vacuum cleaner utilizes interchangeable components. In another aspect, the vacuum cleaner comprises a chamber having a top, and a first cleaning stage and suction motor are provided on the top. In another aspect, the vacuum cleaner utilizes a reconfigurable divider plate.

Abstract: Systems and method for synchronizing audio and video signals are described. The audio and video signals are tagged in an encoder. The tagged signals are transmitted across a network. The tagged signals are analyzed to detect phase errors or lip synch errors between them. A synchronization signal is generated in response to such lip synch errors.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for monitoring a motor vehicle. The system includes a sensor unit for collecting at least one vehicle statistic and a portable device for displaying the vehicle statistics. The portable device requests the vehicle statistics from the sensor unit at regular intervals or in response to a particular event and displays statistics on a built-in display screen. In one embodiment, the portable device may be attached to the keys used to operate the vehicle being monitored.

Abstract: An inhaler has an air inlet port and an entry passage extending from the air inlet port to a contact chamber inlet port, a contact chamber and an inhaler air outlet port. The contact chamber has first and second opposed ends, a sidewall extending between the first and second opposed ends that in cross section is curved, the second opposed end having an opening in air flow communication with a dosage chamber and a contact chamber outlet port. The contact chamber inlet port is provided in the sidewall and faces a portion of the sidewall opposed to contact chamber inlet port. The contact chamber has a cross sectional area that is greater than the cross sectional area of the entry passage.

Abstract: A microinjection device for injecting a target cell with a reagent. The microinjection device includes a flexible substrate; a target supply channel formed in the flexible substrate for receiving the target cell; a reagent supply channel formed in the flexible substrate for receiving the reagent; a suction capillary mounted within a suction channel formed in the flexible substrate, the suction capillary providing suction to the target supply channel for immobilizing the target cell within the target supply channel; an injection needle mounted within a needle channel formed in the flexible substrate, the injection needle being movable between injected and un-injected positions by deforming at least a part of the flexible substrate; and a plurality of electrodes embedded in the flexible substrate, the plurality of electrodes creating a voltage potential across the injection needle to move the reagent into the target when the injection needle is in the injected position.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to improvements to the Least Recently Used (LRU) cache replacement method. Weighted LRU (WLRU) and Compact Weighted LRU (CWLRU) are CPU cache replacement methods that have superior hit rates to LRU replacement for programs with poor locality, such as network protocols and applications. WLRU assigns weights to cache lines and makes replacement decision by comparing weights. When a cache line is first brought into the cache, it is assigned an initial weight. Weights of cache lines in WLRU increase when hit and decrease when not hit. Weights in WLRU also have upper limits, and the weight of a cache line never increases beyond the upper limit. CWLRU is a more space-efficient implementation of WLRU. Compared to WLRU, CWLRU uses fewer bits per cache line to store the weight.

Abstract: Embodiments of the systems, devices, and methods described herein generally facilitate the secure transmittal of security parameters. In accordance with at least one embodiment, a representation of first data comprising a password is generated at the first computing device as an image or audio signal. The image or audio signal is transmitted from the first computing device to the second computing device. The password is determined from the image or audio signal at the second computing device. A key exchange is performed between the first computing device and the second computing device wherein a key is derived at each of the first and second computing devices. In at least one embodiment, one or more security parameters (e.g. one or more public keys) are exchanged between the first and second computing devices, and techniques for securing the exchange of security parameters or authenticating exchanged security parameters are generally disclosed herein.

Abstract: Several embodiments of an upright surface cleaning apparatus are disclosed. The surface cleaning apparatus has a first cyclonic cleaning stage and comprises a surface cleaning head having a dirty fluid inlet. A fluid flow path extends from the dirty fluid inlet to a clean air outlet of the upright surface cleaning apparatus. A support member is mounted to the surface cleaning head. A mounting member mounted to the support member. At least one of a first cleaning stage of the upright surface cleaning apparatus and a suction motor is mounted directly or indirectly to the mounting member. A suction motor is provided in the fluid flow path.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein that make use of a lost frame concealment method for processing data frames received from transmission over a communications channel. The method involves determining whether a current data frame is a bad frame, performing source decoding on the current data frame with one or more parameters that are limited by a first set of one or more values if the current data frame is a bad frame, and performing source decoding on the current data frame with one or more parameters that are not limited if the current data frame is a good frame.

Abstract: As each application is loaded for use by an operating system, a message handling application within the operating system associates the applications with relativity metrics for later use in handling interprocess messages. A cryptographic identifier associated with each application is verified and, based on the verifying, each application is associated with a relativity metric. The message handling application receives a message from an origin process. The message handling application then determines a destination process for the message, a relativity metric for the origin process, and a relativity metric for the destination process. Based on an analysis of the relativity metrics of the origin process and the destination process, the message handling application determines whether to forward the message to the destination process.