Abstract: A scrubber that employs a dry chemical medium includes a first vessel defining a first cavity. A second vessel adjoining the first vessel defines a second cavity, and the first and second cavities combine to form a common chamber. A fan draws a gaseous stream into the chamber at a first location and extracts the gaseous stream from the chamber at a second location. A plurality of partitions extend substantially from the upper end of the chamber to the floor. A dry chemical medium is disposed within the spaces between the partitions for neutralizing a pollutant in a gaseous stream. The partitions have openings of a sufficiently large size to permit gas to flow therethrough but of a sufficiently small size to prevent the dry chemical medium from passing therethrough. A method for converting a wet scrubber to a dry scrubber of the type described is also disclosed.

Abstract: A cooling surface for cooling an electronic component, the surface having two sets of fins, each set of fins defining a set of channels, and a number of passageways connecting the sets of channels. The cooling surface can be attached to an electronic component, such as a chip, and refrigerant supplied to at least one of the sets of channels. When the temperature of the electronic component rises, the heat is transferred to the refrigerant in the cooling surface, at least some of which vaporizes to carry heat away from, and facilitate cooling of, the component.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention can provide a protective fabric includes a plurality of inherently flame resistant fibers, and at least one ultraviolet-resistant additive incorporated into the inherently flame resistant fibers through a dye process using a carrier, wherein the ultraviolet-resistant additive significantly increases at least one of the strength retention and the colorfastness of the fabric when exposed to ultraviolet radiation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a beverage maker having an in-line heating assembly for heating water to make hot beverages such as coffee and tea. The heating assembly defines a flow path that runs past a plurality of heaters for heating water to a desired temperature. In this manner, the beverage maker heats water as it travels, alleviating the need for a water tank or vessel, resulting in increased savings in weight and size, as well as reducing brew time. Additionally, an optical sensor assembly is provided to detect when a serving container of the beverage maker has a prescribed capacity of liquid within it. The sensor assembly includes at least one light source aligned to shine into the container and at least one detector aligned to detect light reflected off the liquid surface within the container. A drainage assembly is also provided that can drain liquid through either a connector port into an airplane's wastewater system or through a drainage port into a drainage sump.

Abstract: Surgical positioners may include platforms, surgical item positioners and/or surgical references as well as methods for using stabilizer platforms, surgical item positioners and/or surgical references. Stabilizer platforms may include low profile platforms rigidly mounted to portions of an individual's anatomy. Various items may be secured and/or stabilized by the stabilizer platform, including support platforms as well as surgical references. Support platforms may stabilize and assist surgeons in using, navigating, aligning and positioning surgical items. Surgical references may include modular fiducial systems that may be secured to stabilizer platforms, support platforms, surgical items and/or directly to portions of an individual's anatomy.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of and treatments for using pharmaceutical compositions from a class of compounds that directly or indirectly selectively modulates GABAA chloride channel activity to treat alcohol and/or stimulant substance abuse. The present invention also relates to methods of, and protocols for, relieving symptoms associated with alcohol and/or stimulant substance abuse in a comprehensive treatment plan. More specifically, the present invention relates to the use of a selective chloride channel modulator, such as flumazenil, to treat alcohol and/or psychostimulant dependency, the withdrawal symptoms associated therewith, and the cravings associated therewith.

Abstract: A method for interfacing a user with a computer running an application program, the computer generating a graphical environment comprising a graphical object and a graphical representation of at least a portion of a living body, comprises providing an object in communication with the computer, controlling the graphical object in relation to manipulation of at least a portion of the object by the user, and outputting a haptic sensation to the user when the graphical object interacts with a region within the graphical representation to provide the user with haptic feedback related to a simulated palpation of the region.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a transcutaneous transfer system is disclosed. The system comprises: an inductively-coupled coil system comprising an external and an internal coil adapted to be transcutaneously juxtaposed along a coupling axis; an internal magnet fixed relative to the internal coil; an external magnet assembly coupled to the external coil; and an apparatus to securely retain the magnet assembly in a desired one of a plurality of positions along a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the coupling axis in response to tool-less manipulation of the apparatus.

Abstract: A method for generating a personalized presentation, comprising providing an Internet browser user interface for selecting an image and a surrounding context; receiving the selected image and surrounding context by an Internet web server; accounting for the user activity in a financial accounting system; and delivering the selected image and surrounding context to the user. The surrounding context may comprise a physical frame for a picture, with a printed version of the selected image framed therein. The accounting step may provide consideration to a rights holder of the selected image, or provide for receipt of consideration from a commercial advertiser. A plurality of images may be selected, wherein the context defines a sequence of display of the plurality of images.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for a predictive score for lending. A method includes receiving an employee's health insurance plan design information and general health and wellness data, weighting selected ones of the employee's health insurance plan design information and general health and wellness data, and generating a credit risk indicator from the weighted selected ones of the employee's health insurance plan design information and general health and wellness data.

Abstract: A medical stimulation device such as a cochlear implant configured to provide stimulation of one or more spatially-restricted contiguous portion(s) of the spiral array of auditory nerve fibers in the cochlear (“discrete stimulation regions”). Each discrete stimulation region is defined by the constructive and/or destructive interference of stimulating and limiting signals simultaneously applied to electrode channels of an implanted electrode array, the stimulating and limiting signals being determined based upon transimpedance measurements of intracochlear electrode channels of the implanted electrode array representing specific spread functions of an individual recipient. The stimulating signal is preferably applied through a targeted electrode channel; that is, one or more successive electrodes which is/are adjacent to the discrete stimulation region.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electric field sensor including: a light source (1); an electro optic crystal (7) which is applied with an electric field based on a signal under test, in which a birefringent index changes according to the electric field, and which changes a polarization state of light incident from the light source according to the birefringent index and emits the light; and a detector (9, 17, 19, 21) that detects an electric signal according to the change of the polarization state of the light emitted from the electro optic crystal (7). Further, the electric field sensor includes: a signal electrode (11) for applying the electric field based on the signal under test to the electro optic crystal (7); a counter electrode (12) that forms a pair with the signal electrode (11); and an auxiliary electrode (61) that is electrically connected to the counter electrode (12), and that forms a capacitance with ground.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a cable for communicably connecting a first component and a second component of a cochlear implant system is disclosed. The cable comprises: a first conductor for conducting at least one analog-domain signal; a second conductor for conducting at least one digital-domain signal; and at least one ground conductor electrically coupled to the first and second conductors.

Abstract: A process and methods of digital enhancement of motion pictures and other moving image sequences for the purpose of being exhibited in an alternative display format including a large format cinema are disclosed. The invention efficiently enhances image resolution and quality through a temporal filtering process and achieves high performance using automated or interactive statistical quality evaluation methods. A system specially designed for efficient temporal computing with a parallel and distributed computing configuration equipped with a variety of optimization schemes is also disclosed. The performance of the process and the system is optimized through an intelligent controller and is scalable to support any throughput requirements demanded for concurrent motion picture releases in the original format as well as in any alternative format.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for applying independent component analysis (ICA) and other advanced signal processing techniques to automatically identify an optimal number of independent gene clusters and to efficiently separate gene expression data into biologically relevant groups. Embodiments of the methods and systems of the present invention provide an interface that allows the user to review the results at various stages during the analysis, thereby optimizing the type of analysis performed for a specific experiment. Also disclosed are methods and systems to mathematically define the relationship for gene expression within a group of interrelated genes.

Abstract: A method for creating an application comprises receiving input specifying a plurality of elements of a software application, said elements including interactions between a user and said software application, generating a dialog that includes a listing of said user interactions from said plurality of elements and is adapted to receive user input to edit one or more of said user interactions, and generating said software application based at least partly upon said received input and said user input to edit.

Abstract: A thermally protective fabric includes a composition of inherently flame resistant fibers, and interstices having insulating pockets of air, wherein at least some of the air is incorporated into the interstices through a mechanical working process.