Abstract: A novel, improved method of synthesizing alkylated bile acid derivatives is provided. Such derivatives include, but are not limited to the active, potent, and selective FXR receptor agonist such as 6-ECDCA and other CA, DCA and CDCA derivatives. The first step of the synthesis selectively oxidates CDCA, CD, or DCA related starting material. An efficient combined deprotonation, trapping, ethylation, deprotection and reduction system is used to produce the desired alkylated bile acid derivatives. This practical synthesis offers a simple and economical pathway suitable for a large-scale manufacturing of alkylated bile acid derivatives including, but not limited to, 6-ECDCA.

Abstract: An integrated radiation therapy process comprises acquiring first objective target data related to a parameter of a target within a patient by periodically locating a marker positioned within the patient using a localization modality. This method continues with obtaining second objective target data related to the parameter of the target by periodically locating the marker. The first objective target data can be acquired in a first area that is apart from a second area which contains a radiation delivery device for producing an ionizing radiation beam for treating the patient. The localization modality can be the same in both the first and second areas. In other embodiments, the first objective target data can be acquired using a first localization modality that uses a first energy type to identify the marker and the second objective target data can be obtained using a second localization modality that uses a second energy type to identify the marker that is different than the first energy type.

Abstract: An invention is provided which comprises a tandem welding carriage having at least two welding carriages coupled to each other. Each of the welding carriages having a base, rear wheel assemblies disposed at one end of the base, and welding attachment portions. The two welding carriages are coupled to each other using a coupling member, and each welding carriage is carrying an arc welding device and/or spool to allow for tandem arc welding.

Abstract: Systems and containers for organizing and carrying tools and tool sets are disclosed herein. One aspect of the invention is directed to systems and containers for efficiently organizing tools for specific work tasks, such as gunsmith tools, etc. In one embodiment, a container for carrying and organizing tools includes a housing having a base portion and a lid portion. The lid portion can be pivotally attached to the base portion. The container can also include a plurality of recesses disposed in an internal portion of the container in a recess pattern. The recesses can be configured to releasably retain the tools in the housing. The container also includes an insertable tool position guide having a plurality of images in an image pattern, wherein the image pattern can correspond to the recess pattern. In addition to tool positional information, the tool position guide can also communicate tool identification information.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a test instrument and a set of leads having proximal ends coupled with the test instrument is described. The method includes shorting the distal ends of the set of leads during calibration and zeroing the test instrument during the shorting. The shorting includes coupling an electrical conductor with at least two of the distal ends.

Abstract: A method and system for providing help information for a computer program. The help system provides help information based on a schema that specifies the structure of a valid computer program. The schema provides definitions of program element types that are specific instances of a program element type derived from more general program element types. The help system identifies a “derivation” of program element types relating to the selected program element. The help system then displays the derivation to the user. The user can then select to display documentation associated with the displayed program element types.

Abstract: An imaging device for real-time display of image data on a local display and on a remote display is disclosed. In some embodiments, the imaging device can include an imaging engine, a memory device for storing image data, and a processor for receiving the image data from the imaging engine, storing the image data in the memory device, retrieving the image data from the memory device, and transmitting the image data to both a local display and remote display so that the image data can be viewed on both the remote display and local display simultaneously.

Abstract: A system and method for determining media to be exported out of a media library is described. In some examples, the system determines a media component to be exported, determines the media component is in the media library for a specific process, and exports the media component after the process is completed.

Abstract: A new demodulator with low power consumption and high gain which is suitable for CMOS integration is provided. The demodulator makes use of a MOS configured in a “common-source” status so as to achieve a desirable gain.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus, methods, and manufactures for performing link adaptation in a communications system are described. The methods may employ an error rate table that has a channel condition value dimension and a transmission parameter dimension. The elements of the error rate table include expected error rates for data transmitted at various channel conditions according to various transmission parameters. Also, the various transmission parameters may each be associated with a data transmission rate. For a given channel condition value, the methods may determine expected throughputs for each of the transmission parameters according to the associated expected error rates and data transmission rates. A transmission parameter may be selected according to the expected throughputs.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for thwarting circumvention of watermark detection are provided. When content is received at a device that is equipped with a watermark extractor, an attacker may disguise the form of the received content in an attempt to circumvent detection of watermarks that are embedded in the content. A signal processing operation is performed on the received content such that the signal processing operation does not significantly degrade the perceptual quality of the content if the content is indeed in the form that is purported to be. The signal processing operation, however, significantly degrades the perceptual quality of the content if the content is in a different form, thereby discouraging the attacker's attempts to thwart watermark detection.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel cycloalkylmethylamine analogs, and methods of preparing cycloalkylmethylamine analogs. The present invention also provides methods of using cycloalkylmethylamine analogs and compositions of cycloalkylmethylamine analogs. The pharmaceutical compositions of the compounds of the present invention can be advantageously used for treating and/or preventing obesity and obesity related co-morbid indications.

Abstract: Technologies that, among other things, provide resource allocation in multi-hop wireless networks with relay stations and can be used to supply information to link data packets with a respective resource allocation.

Abstract: In systems and methods for determining the placement of radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags, a tag reader communicates with one or more RFID tags at different locations of a target object. The tag reader determines which of the different locations is a preferable location for placing an RFID tag by detecting the transmission power level or other value required to communicate with the RFID tag at each of the different locations.

Abstract: A stream of time-ordered data, such as a movie, is divided into multiple fragments of equal length, which are repetitively transmitted at different respective repetition rates. The fragments are reordered for transmission so that those which occur near the beginning of the original data stream are transmitted more frequently than those which occur later in the data stream. When a user enters a request to utilize the data, the individual fragments are stored upon receipt at the user's premises, and reassembled into a contiguous stream. The ordering of the fragments is such that the wait time required before utilization of the data can begin is limited to a predetermined maximum, and at least one copy of every fragment becomes available by the time it is needed.

Abstract: A plurality of concepts related to HIFU therapy are disclosed, including a technique to spatially track and display the relative positions of a HIFU focal point and an imaging plane from an ultrasound imager, so that a clinician can ensure that the HIFU focus remains in the image plane during HIFU therapy, thereby facilitating image guided HIFU therapy. Also disclosed are a plurality of transvaginal probes that include a HIFU transducer optimized for the treatment of uterine fibroids. In one embodiment, the probe includes a piezoceramic crystal bonded to an aluminum lens, to achieve a HIFU transducer having a focal length of about 4 cm. In another embodiment, the probe includes a generally spoon-shaped transducer including a plurality of individual emitter elements. Still another concept disclosed herein is a method for evaluating a quality of a coupling between a liquid-filled volume encompassing a HIFU transducer and a tissue interface.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) panel, including an upper substrate and a lower substrate between which a liquid crystal layer is sealed. The lower substrate includes a plurality of sub-pixel regions arranged in regular patterns. The upper substrate includes Black Matrixes (BM) and an upper transparent conductive layer which are formed in sequence on the bottom surface of an upper transparent substrate. The lower substrate includes a first metal layer, a dielectric layer, a second metal layer, an organic layer, a first insulation layer, a third metal layer, a second insulation layer, a fourth metal layer, a passivation layer and a lower transparent conductive layer which are deposited in sequence on the upper surface of a lower transparent substrate. Embodiments of the present invention also provide a method for producing the LCD panel.

Abstract: A PWM circuit comprises: a charge and discharge circuit to receive a initial signal and, according to the initial signal, increase a voltage at an output end of thereof linearly or decrease the voltage; a comparator with a positive input end to receive a control signal and a negative input end connected to the output end of the charge and discharge circuit; a voltage transmission circuit with a first input end to receive the initial signal and a second input end to receive an output of the comparator, the voltage transmission circuit is configured to transmit the initial signal to an output end of the voltage transmission circuit when the output of the comparator is digital 1, and output digital 0 when the output of the comparator is digital 0.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for receiving, recording, and/or displaying information related to physical exercise are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an instrumented weight pin for use with a stacked weight exercise machine includes a shaft portion extending outwardly from a handle portion. In this embodiment, the shaft portion is configured to be removably positioned adjacent to one or more weights of the exercise machine to selectively engage the one or more weights during use of the exercise machine. The weight pin can further include a load sensor and/or an accelerometer. The load sensor and/or the accelerometer can provide information associated with an exercise set to a data storage device carried by the weight pin. The data storage device can be operably coupled to a user computer or other display device so that information relating to the exercise set can be displayed for viewing by the user.