Abstract: A set formed of a scleral buckle and an encircling band is provided for use in connection with retinal detachment surgery to enable the implantation of both the scleral buckle and encircling band free of any suture. A self-assembling scleral buckle-encircling band combination is secured in place by surface scleral tunnels operative as belt loops to enable the securing of a scleral buckle and encircling band on the eyeball to exert an intended indentation effect for treatment of retinal detachment.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of measuring and/or quantifying the presence and/or amount of Her-3 and/or Her-3 in a complex in a sample. The invention also provides antibodies specific for Her-3.

Abstract: A method for operating an external component of a cochlear implant hearing system. The external component includes a speech processor module operable in a stand-alone mode of operation and a body-worn mode of operation, and a protective case. The method includes operating the speech processor module in the stand-alone mode, determining when the speech processor module is mounted in the case, and operating the speech processor module in the body-worn mode in response to determining that the speech processor module is mounted in the case.

Abstract: Methods and systems for communicating information through a USB device with A/D converters are presented. Active components which provide analog signals to the A/D converters are switched off to cause spikes in the analog signals/channels. The spikes are digitized by the A/D converters and sent to the host through a USB interface. The active components are switched on and off in a pattern corresponding to a message, such that the host can determine the message from the resulting spikes. If multiple active components and A/D converters are used, then multiple ‘bits’ can be transmitted simultaneously using the different channels.

Abstract: An input device for controlling an object includes a joystick and a modal switch. A user may use the modal switch to select a subset of degrees of freedom of the object. The joystick may then be used to control a change over time of the selected subset, where the change over time is functionally depend on both a motion of the joystick and a state of the selected subset. A method for controlling an object via the input device is also provided. The method includes receiving inputs indicating a selection by the modal switch of a subset of degrees of freedom of the object, and a motion of the joystick. A configuration of the selected subset is then caused to be changed based on the motion of the joystick and a state of the selected subset.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide for applying modifications to database instances in a way that allows some of instances to be modified without requiring that all of the instances be modified. Patching less than all of a plurality of replicated database instances can comprise applying a patch to a first version of a table in a first database instance. The first version of the table may be replicated in a corresponding first version of the table in a second database instance. Applying the patch to the first version of the table in the first database instance can result in a second version of the table in the first database instance. Transformations caused by applying the patch to the first version of the table in the first database instance can be consolidated based on differences between the first version of the table and the second version of the table.

Abstract: Improved techniques for communicating between a portable electronic device and an accessory (or auxiliary) device are disclosed. The accessory device can augment or supplement the functionality or capabilities of the portable electronic device. For example, in one embodiment, the accessory device can provide wireless communication capabilities to the portable electronic device. In one embodiment, the portable electronic device pertains to a portable media player and thus provide media data for storage, playback or transmission. In one embodiment, the accessory device is attachable to the portable electronic device.

Abstract: Disclosed are RAGE fusion proteins comprising RAGE polypeptide sequences linked to a second, non-RAGE polypeptide. The RAGE fusion protein may utilize a RAGE polypeptide domain comprising a RAGE ligand binding site and an interdomain linker directly linked to the N-terminus of an immunoglobulin CH2 domain. Also disclosed are RAGE fusion protein formulations and the use of the RAGE fusion proteins and RAGE fusion protein formulations as therapeutics for RAGE-mediated pathologies.

Abstract: A usage pattern identifies time periods when an electrical apparatus is likely to be powered-up or not in use. Power provided to an electrical apparatus is increased during time periods that the electrical apparatus is likely to be powered-up. Similarly, the power provided to the electrical apparatus is reduced or removed during time periods that the electrical apparatus is likely to be out of use or idle. The usage pattern is continually updated and refined by collecting usage data during user interaction with the electrical apparatus.

Abstract: A consumer installs a desktop application on a computer which renders a user interface on the computer's desktop. Upon installation, the desktop application is registered to receive offers and alerts. Each alert includes data for a transaction on an account conducted with a merchant where the account was issued by an issuer to an account holder to conduct transactions on the account with merchants. A received alert is rendered on the desktop. If the consumer, upon review of the rendered alert, deems the corresponding transaction to be fraudulent, the consumer can operate the user interface to activate a live chat with a web service, and use the live chat to send information sufficient to initiate a bona fide dispute of the transaction. The offers are rendered on the user interface as advertisement and are selectable to initiate a transaction on the account.

Abstract: There is provided a dynamic sound transducer having a diaphragm with a ridge. First and second grooves (20, 30) are arranged on a first side of the ridge in such a way that the first and second grooves cross each other.

Abstract: Provided is an image encoding method and device capable of encoding moving image random allowing access with low delay and high compression. The image encoding method which inputs image data and encodes the image data using a reference picture about the image data and a difference between the reference picture and the image data, and performs the steps of: setting an image output availability parameter indicating that it is possible to decode the image data to output the same if past pictures fall within a fixed range have been decoded, when decoding the image data which has been encoded; calculating influenced range information indicating a range where pictures encoded in the past influence a target picture to be encoded when encoding the image data; and controlling a range of the reference picture upon encoding such that the influenced range information calculated does not exceed the image output availability parameter.

Abstract: A plasma lamp apparatus that includes an improved bulb support assembly to increase the lumens per watt output of the apparatus. The bulb support assembly includes a support structure that forms a cavity for receiving the bulb. The bulb is supported within the cavity though a protrusion that extends out from the support structure in a curved manner. By created a curved protrusion, the electric field within the resonating structure of the lamp apparatus is lowered. Lowering the electric field leads to lower resonating frequencies of the resonating structure. In lowering the resonating frequency, the resonating structure is driven to resonate at lower power levels, thereby increasing the lumens per watt output of the lamp apparatus.

Abstract: The digital signal recording/reproducing apparatus inputs a digital signal having a control flag as to a temporary copy permission, and records the digital signal temporarily into a recording medium in accordance with conditions in the control flag, then reproducing the digital signal temporarily from the recording medium in accordance with the conditions in the control flag. The recording/reproducing of the temporary copy is permitted, depending on the following conditions: The recording medium's type, the reproducing point-in-time, the reproducing time-period, and the reproducing frequency. With this method employed, even in a program permitting no recording, the temporary recording/reproducing is permitted under a condition of being limited to the time-shift recording on the receiving side.

Abstract: Auristatin peptide analogs of MeVal-Val-Dil-Dap-Phe (MMAF) are provided having C-terminal phenylalanine residue side chain replacements or modifications which are provided alone or attached to ligands through various linkers. The related conjugates can target specific cell types to provide therapeutic benefit.

Abstract: A transaction processor can receive transaction information from a transaction between a customer and a merchant. The transaction information includes an account identifier associated with a financial account of the customer. The processor determines that the account identifier is associated with a fixed price futures contract. The transaction is completed at the current market price. Thereinafter, the processor can determine if the fixed price is lower than the current market price. If the fixed price is lower than the current market price, the process determines the difference in cost for the transaction if the fixed price were used. Then, the processor can create and send a resettlement transaction to the customer's account to reimburse the customer for the difference. As such, the customer receives a simple method for paying for commodities at a set price without having special payment instruments or special accounts.

Abstract: Method and systems are disclosed for radiating a moving target inside a heart. The method includes acquiring sequential volumetric representations of an area of the heart and defining a target tissue region and/or a radiation sensitive structure region in 3D for a first of the representations. The target tissue region and/or radiation sensitive structure region are identified for another of the representations by an analysis of the area of the heart from the first representation and the other representation. Radiation beams to the target tissue region are fired in response to the identified target tissue region and/or radiation sensitive structure region from the other representation.

Abstract: An exhaust gas system includes an exhaust manifold, in particular a single-wall exhaust manifold, which includes a plurality of inlet pipes for connection to exhaust gas outlets of an internal combustion engine and a collector device for the combining of the inlet pipes. The collector device has an outlet opening which is connected to downstream elements of the exhaust gas system, wherein the collector device is resistant to bending and the inlet pipes are comparatively flexible with respect to the collector device. The collector device includes an inlet pipe stub which is likewise resistant to bending and which is made for the direct connection to an exhaust gas outlet of an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: The invention relates to a depalletizing device comprising a carriage as well as a friction roller attached to the carriage, which friction roller is rotatable about a horizontal rotation axis and is coupled to a rotational drive in order to rotate. The carriage can be moved to and fro in a direction at right angles to the rotation axis of the friction roller in order to push the friction roller against a side of an object on the pallet in such a manner that the friction roller exerts an upward friction force on the object as a result of which the object is raised on that side, and in order for the friction roller to pass underneath said object after the latter has been raised. The depalletizing device comprises drive means with variable driving power in order to drive the carriage. The drive means comprise detection means.

Abstract: A multi-plane type flash memory device comprises a plurality of planes each including a plurality of memory cell blocks, page buffers each latching an input data bit to be output to its corresponding plane or latching an output data bit to be received from the corresponding plane, cache buffers each storing an input or output data bits in response to one of cache input control signals and each transferring the stored data bit to the page buffer or an external device in response to one of cache output control signals, and a control logic circuit generating the cache input and output control signals in response to command and chip enable signals containing plural bits. The program and read operations for the plural planes are conducted simultaneously in response to the chip enable signal containing the plural bits, which increases an operation speed and data throughput processed therein.