Abstract: The present methods are exemplified by a process in which maternal blood containing fetal DNA is diluted to a nominal value of approximately 0.5 genome equivalent of DNA per reaction sample. Digital PCR is then be used to detect aneuploidy, such as the trisomy that causes Down Syndrome. Since aneuploidies do not present a mutational change in sequence, and are merely a change in the number of chromosomes, it has not been possible to detect them in a fetus without resorting to invasive techniques such as amniocentesis or chorionic villi sampling. Digital amplification allows the detection of aneuploidy using massively parallel amplification and detection methods, examining, e.g., 10,000 genome equivalents.

Abstract: An animal training apparatus is comprised of a leash connector attached to a chest portion of a harness. The harness is arranged to prevent the leash connector from shifting to the back of the animal. The harness is preferably comprised of a chest strap for positioning across the chest of the animal between the tops of the front legs, a withers strap for positioning across the withers of the animal behind the neck and between the shoulders, and a girth strap for positioning across the girth of the animal behind the front legs on the underside. The leash connector is attached to an intermediate position on the chest strap for pulling on the chest portion of the harness. The animal is prevented by the rotational force from pulling further.

Abstract: A run-flat tire of improved load bearing capacity after being punctured is disclosed. The tire has two circumferential sidewalls, at least one circumferential intermediate wall interposed between the sidewalls, and a transverse base extending from one sidewall to the other and defining a compartment between a sidewall and an adjacent intermediate wall or between two adjacent intermediate walls. Each compartment is adapted to assume an expanded symmetrical configuration when an adjacent sidewall or intermediate wall is punctured. A carcass portion is provided within each sidewall, each intermediate wall and base. A shock absorber is provided in the vicinity of a junction connecting each intermediate wall to the base. A padding element is affixed to the inner liner portion applied to the bead wrap of each intermediate wall.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for performing laser thermal annealing (LTA) of a substrate using an annealing radiation beam that is not substantially absorbed in the substrate at room temperature. The method takes advantage of the fact that the absorption of long wavelength radiation (1 micron or greater) in some substrates, such as undoped silicon substrates, is a strong function of temperature. The method includes heating the substrate to a critical temperature where the absorption of long-wavelength annealing radiation is substantial, and then irradiating the substrate with the annealing radiation to generate a temperature capable of annealing the substrate.

Abstract: In one-tuner smart antennas, a constant amplitude representation of the antenna element wideband signal is correlated with a representation of the smart antenna output signal to give a measure of the selected channel bandpass power and desired signal power. Since only signals in the selected channel bandpass of the wideband antenna signals can be correlated with signals in the selected channel, the correlator allows only the selected channel bandpass components of the wideband antenna input signal to contribute to the correlator output. This eliminates the influence of adjacent channels/bands signals and prevents capture by strong adjacent signals. As the smart antenna adapts and reduces the selected channel bandpass interference, the measure becomes that of the desired signal power. The present invention reduces the distortion and capture of the antenna branch amplitude limiter for the weight calculation, power detection of the input power and AGC of an antenna element.

Abstract: Systems and methods for communicating over a power line are configured to substantially simultaneously communicate over a plurality of wideband frequency ranges. Signals may be communicated two or from a communication node at two different frequencies simultaneously. These signals may be exchanged with different nodes and/or include independent data. In some embodiments, some of the wideband frequency ranges are above 30 MHz.

Abstract: A DNA microarray, preferably in the form of a chip, contains probes which hybridize to generate primers capable of amplifying approximately 89 HPV types. These target the E1 region of the gene. The design of the chip allows for the detection of any known HPV type, based on a unique probe sequence derived from the HPV E1 region. The present assay utilizes a number of primers that can amplify from about one to six different types of HPV. A large number of primers can be used together. After amplification, the amplicons are contacted with specific probes that are unique for each HPV type. The array further employs a control sequence, which normalizes variability due to sample size.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for identifying a therapeutically responsive phenotype, as distinguished, e.g. from an alkylating agent resistant phenotype in a cell, which method may be used to evaluate the likelihood of successful outcome of treating a tumor cell with an alkylating agent. The method is directed to the NF-?B activation in response to DNA damage caused by alkylating agents. It comprises the step of measuring a level of expression of a protein, which participates in the NF-?B pathway. Preferably it comprises measuring the expression of TNFAIP3 in the cell, wherein a resistant phenotype has less expression of TNFAIP3 than a sensitive phenotype. Another particularly significant gene, which predicts survival, is NFKBIA. Other genes whose altered expression level is associated with resistance or prognosis are TNIP1, TNIP2, RIP, NFKBIB, Beta4GalNAc-T4, NFKBIE, C8orf4, LIF, CD44, FBXO32, and SDC1, and these are also measured in certain embodiments.

Abstract: A double-gate semiconductor device provides a high breakdown voltage allowing for a large excursion of the output voltage that is useful for power applications. The double-gate semiconductor device may be considered a double-gate device including a MOS gate and a junction gate, in which the bias of the junction gate may be a function of the gate voltage of the MOS gate. The breakdown voltage of the double-gate semiconductor device is the sum of the breakdown voltages of the MOS gate and the junction gate. Because an individual junction gate has an intrinsically high breakdown voltage, the breakdown voltage of the double-gate semiconductor device is greater than the breakdown voltage of an individual MOS gate. The double-gate semiconductor device provides improved RF capability in addition to operability at higher power levels as compared to conventional transistor devices.

Abstract: A system for performing adaptative multi-carrier code division multiple access (AMC-CDMA) includes first circuitry and modulator circuitry. The first circuitry determines a channel performance metric for each of a plurality of channels. The first circuitry determines at least one parameter of bit loading for each of the channels based on the channel performance metric. The modulator circuitry modulates AMC-CDMA signals using the parameters for bit loading in each of the channels for transmission over a wired connection.

Abstract: Electromagnetic motor with a piston that moves linearly with respect to the stator in either direction. Embodiments include a piston internal or external the stator. The piston includes one or more magnetic flux producing elements in all embodiments, with some embodiments having a ferro-magnetic plate on either side of the flux producing element. Further, in all embodiments the stator includes three magnetic flux producing elements with either two coils with one or more magnets therebetween or with the two coils and a coil magnet substitute therebetween. All embodiments provide positive piston return to a center at rest position. In all embodiments the piston is centered with respect to the stator resulting from either magnetic interaction between the piston and stator magnets, or between the piston magnet and the stator magnet substitute coil.

Abstract: A light weight carrier movable along vertical guide posts of a wood planer includes left and right mounting seats having front and rear support blocks projecting oppositely and inwardly therefrom, front and rear guide holes adapted for extension of the guide posts, and cutter mounting holes each disposed between front and rear support blocks and between the front and rear guide holes, front and rear connecting rods each having left and right end sections respectively connected to the left and right mounting seats at the front and rear support blocks; a motor mounting plate fixed between the front support blocks; and a rear cover plate fixed between the rear support blocks.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for measuring amplitude and phase variations in a spatially coherent beam of light. A beam of coherent light is made incident upon a spatial array of phase modulating elements displaying a pixellated first phase distribution. In a measuring region of said spatial array, the phase distribution is changed to a new value while retaining the first phase distribution outside the measuring region, for example by flashing a single pixel. The change in intensity resulting from the change in phase distribution is then determined.

Abstract: A coherent beam source, e.g., a laser having a cavity that is unstable in at least one direction, is used to produce a coherent beam having an initial intensity profile. The beam is passed through a relay having a Fourier plane containing a spatial filter that serves as a radiation defining mask. The filter has an aperture size and shape effective to modify the beam such that the modified beam forms an image on a substrate. The to image has an intensity profile that more closely approximates a super-Gaussian profile than the initial profile. For example, when the initial intensity profile is Gaussian, the spatial filter may allow passage of only unattenuated the central core of the beam and block completely blocks the wings of the Guassian profile. The modified beam may be more suitable for use in a scanning system used to anneal wafers or other substrates containing integrated circuits.

Abstract: An electro-magnetic audio transducer that is self-cooling by inhaling and exhausting an area that is separated from the reminder of the transducer by an instantaneous decrease or increase, respectively, of the pressure within that area by the movement of a coil when electrically excited. The coil being wound on a bobbin that defines an interior cavity that changes in size as the coil is excited causing that size to increase or decrease thus inhaling or exhausting, respectfully, air into or out of the cavity by the pressure change. That movement of air resulting in convective cooling of the coil and transducer. The bobbin encircling a magnetic pole piece with a cooling cap on top thereof with slots therethrough through which air is drawn in opposite directions as the size of the cavity within the bobbin changes size as the coil is electrically excited.

Abstract: Systems and methods of code generation and authentication are disclosed here. One embodiment includes receiving a request for a batch of codes, each code being unique for a separate unit item, generating a batch of codes, each code being unique for a separate unit item, wherein a subsection of the code comprises a check value, and encrypting the code. In response to receiving a request to authenticate a code, decrypting the code to access a subsection of the code comprising a check value, comparing the check value to a value to authenticate the code. In one embodiment, the encrypting further comprises encrypting the code with a key, and including a key identifier as a subsection of the encrypted code; and decrypting the code further comprises using the key identifier included in the encrypted code to access the key to decrypt the code.

Abstract: A miniature dental flossing packet suitable for single use unobtrusive flossing. The miniature dental floss packet comprising a length of dental floss stored within and unremovably attached to a dental floss holder. A method for forming, fabrication and manufacturing a miniature dental floss packet.

Abstract: A multi-stage sigma-delta modulator including bit truncation between stages. The bit truncation reduces the number of bits that must be processed in subsequent stages and thus allows for faster response times. In some embodiments the gain of a feedback loop is selected to compensate for the bit truncation such that the sigma-delta modulator operates in a stable state.