Abstract: Devices and methods for aiding in the lifting and transporting of an animal are disclosed. More specifically, devices and methods are provided that may be applied to an animal in need of mobility assistance, such as a dog, the devices further being adapted for human interaction. In particular, a hip member and a chest member are provided that have handles designed for interaction with human hands. The chest member and the hip member may be selectively interconnected to each other with an interconnection member. The chest member may include an upper portion, shoulder pads, a chest pad, a center cross member, and an adjustable strap. The hip member may include an upper portion, an adjustable sling, and adjustable straps. Methods are provided for assisting an animal with ingress into a vehicle.

Abstract: A thermal barrier liner is preferably spray coated onto the internal surface of a container. The liner is provided in embodiments including a closed cell substrate, a base layer having gas or liquid filled microcapsules, a base layer having microencapsulated solid-liquid phase change material, or combinations thereof. For the closed cell substrate embodiment, when the liner is under pressure within the container prior to the container being opened, the liner maintains a minimum thickness. When the container is opened and as pressure is released within the container, the liner expands to achieve equilibrium. The liner can be supplemented with a foaming agent to create cellular structures. Voids created by the microcapsules enhance the thermal barrier characteristics of the liner. The phase change material changes phase from a solid to a liquid state upon absorbing heat.

Abstract: An improved drain actuates system that includes a cable to actuate a head or stopper of a drain. More specifically, one end of the cable is associated with the drain without additional moving parts and another end of the cable associated with an overflow cap of an overflow system wherein rotation of the overflow cap selectively moves the cable to move the head of the drain. The internal components associated with the overflow end of the cable that allow it to actuate the drain are fully accessible through the overflow port of the plumbing system.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for treating and/or preventing a variety of diseases and conditions that are amenable to immunotherapy and, in one particular embodiment, compositions and methods for treating and/or preventing cancer in an animal are described. Specifically improvements related to the use of a yeast-based vaccine comprising a yeast vehicle and an antigen that is selected to elicit an antigen-specific cellular and humoral immune response in an animal, for use in prophylactic and/or therapeutic vaccination and the prevention and/or treatment of a variety of diseases and conditions are disclosed.

Abstract: In a receiver transparent Q-mode, i.e., a Q-mode that is only implemented by a transmitter, the receiver is unaware of the Q-mode state of the transmitter. In this type of Q-mode configuration, the transmitter could enter and exit Q-mode as desired while the receiver, could, for example, continue to function as if operating normally, such as in “showtime.” Through this approach, it is not necessary for the receiver to detect the transmitter's entry and exit of Q-mode.

Abstract: Cannula and handle systems and cannulas having substantially continuous interior pathways or channels are provided. The interior pathway may extend from the inlet to the cannula to the outlet, such that tissue collected at the inlet is carried to the outlet without contacting other components. Moreover, the substantially continuous nature of the interior pathway, with an absence of drop-offs, blind pockets or other discontinuities, facilitates cleaning. In addition, inlet holes are sized to promote the transfer of tissue through the channel to the outlet, and to the avoidance of damaging collected tissue.

Abstract: Through the identification of different packet-types, packets can be handled based on an assigned packet handling identifier. This identifier can, for example, enable forwarding of latency-sensitive packets without delay and allow error-sensitive packets to be stored for possible retransmission. In another embodiment, and optionally in conjunction with retransmission protocols including a packet handling identifier, a memory used for retransmission of packets can be shared with other transceiver functionality such as, coding, decoding, interleaving, deinterleaving, error correction, and the like.

Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring the oxidation-reduction potential of a fluid sample are provided. The system includes a test strip with a sample chamber adapted to receive a fluid sample. The sample chamber can be associated with a filter membrane. The test strip also includes a reference cell. The oxidation-reduction potential of a fluid sample placed in the sample chamber can be read by a readout device interconnected to a test lead that is in electrical contact with the sample chamber, and a reference lead that is in electrical contact with the reference cell. Electrical contact between a fluid sample placed in the sample chamber and the reference cell can be established by a bridge. The oxidation-reduction potential may be read as an electrical potential between the test lead and the reference lead of the test strip.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a temporal depolarization assembly. The depolarization assembly operates to produce light that, over some period of time, is depolarized. The depolarization assembly includes first and second variable retarders. The variable retarders are operated to produce a retardance that varies in time. In addition, the modulator axis of a first one of the variable retarders is held at an angle to the modulator axis of the second one of the variable retarders. The frequency at which the retardance of the variable retarders varies is selected to be some fraction of the integration time of a sensor associated with the polarization assembly.

Abstract: A system and method create an interconnection among users of different social networks. Each user can provide information about the social networks they use (e.g., username, passwords, etc.). An application may register with the social network and can inter-dispose the application between the user and the social network. Then, the system can interconnect the users into a “virtual private network” (VPN) where communications between the users and the social networks can be replicated to other social networks for the other users. As such, different users using different social networks can communicate.

Abstract: The invention relates to processes that efficiently convert carbon-containing materials, such as biomass, into products in such a manner that the energy, carbon, and mass content of the materials are efficiently transferred into such products. Such methods include converting the materials into at least one intermediate by a biological conversion process and at least one intermediate by a thermochemical conversion process and reacting the intermediates to form the product. Such methods have a chemical energy efficiency to produce the product that is greater than the chemical energy efficiency of a solely biological conversion process to produce the product and that is greater than the chemical energy efficiency of a process in which all of the material is initially subjected to a thermochemical conversion step as part of the process to produce the product.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems are provided for utilizing asynchronous messaging protocols, such as the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), to implement relay messaging through a network, gather data from and/or set parameters on a plurality of managed devices in a network through the issuance and transmission of a single SNMP message, and/or cause multiple managed devices to perform cooperative and coordinated computations through the issuance of a single SNMP message.

Abstract: In the high temperature tag of the disclosure, a transponder is placed between at least two thin layers of compressible high temperature material, preferably a high temperature textile. This resulting sandwich is then placed in the closed chamber formed by a two-part-housing of high temperature plastic. Finally, a cover, also of high temperature plastic, is injection-molded over the joining parts of the housing, in order to seal it hermetically.