Abstract: A receiver-driven layered multicast rate control protocol technique includes receiving an information flow consisting of a group of different layers and detecting traffic congestion and cessation of traffic congestion. One or more of the group of different layers are dropped upon the detection of traffic congestion and one or more of the group of different layers are added upon the detection of cessation of traffic congestion. The dropping consists of forwarding a pause message to an upstream multicast router to instruct the upstream multicast router to discard packets and the adding consists of forwarding a resume message to the upstream multicast router to instruct the upstream multicast router to transmit packets. The adding and dropping may be performed by a local receiver downstream of the multicast router and one or more of the group of different layers may be added or dropped simultaneously in a single operation.

Abstract: A support assembly for a stent and a method of using the same to coat a stent are provided. The support assembly provides for minimum contact between the stent and the support assembly so as to reduce or eliminate coating defects.

Abstract: A sleeve is positioned over a radially-expandable rod assembly and a stent is positioned over the sleeve. A mandrel is inserted into the rod assembly to thereby press the sleeve against the inner surface of the stent and expand the stent. A coating (such as a solvent, a polymer and/or a therapeutic substance) is then applied to the outer (abluminal) surfaces of the stent, by spraying, for example. The sleeve advantageously prevents the coating material from being applied to inner (luminal) surfaces of the stent and also allows the coating material to be efficiently applied to the abluminal surfaces.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying a coating composition to a stent. A mandrel for supporting the stent has one or more drive pins and other supporting structure that loosely supports the stent, in an unstable position. The support permits freedom of movement of the stent relative to the mandrel to cause the stent to frequently re-position itself over the mandrel during a spraying process. When a coating composition is applied, the stent randomly or periodically moves about relative to the mandrel due to intermittent contact between the stent and the rotating mandrel and fluidic forces applied through the sprayed coating composition.

Abstract: Provided herein are polyfarnesenes such as farnesene homopolymers derived from a farnesene and farnesene interpolymers derived from a farnesene and at least a vinyl monomer; and the processes of making and using the polyfarnesenes. The farnesene homopolymer can be prepared by polymerizing the farnesene in the presence of a catalyst. In some embodiments, the farnesene is prepared from a sugar by using a microorganism.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for managing labor time information. With respect to one implementation, among others, a labor time management system includes a time data storage device configured to store labor time. The labor time is related to the working time that one or more employees worked over a certain time period. The system also includes a time calculation rules engine and a rule set module. Furthermore, the system includes a simulation system configured to extract at least a portion of the labor time from the time data storage device and apply a proposed rule set on the extracted labor time.

Abstract: The present invention provides a walking assistance device comprising a pelvis support member (10) adapted to be worn on a hip of a wearer; a thigh support member (20) adapted to be worn on a thigh of the wearer; a leg support member (40) adapted to be worn on a leg of the wearer; a knee joint hinge (60) disposed at a position corresponding to a side part of a knee of the wearer and connecting the leg support member (40) to the thigh support member (20) in a manner that enables back-and forth rotation of the leg support member (40) with respect to the thigh support member (20); and a power generator assembly (100) mounted to the pelvis support member (10) at a position corresponding to a side part of a hip joint of the wearer; wherein the power generator assembly (100) comprises a hip joint power generator (110) and a knee joint power generator (120) each having an output member (116, 126, respectively), with the output member (116) of the hip joint power generator (110) being connected to the thigh support m

Abstract: A printed wiring board includes a first conductive paste forming a wiring pattern, and a second conductive paste including kneaded first conductive material and second conductive material whose particles are finer than those of the first conductive material.

Abstract: A heat transferring member comprises a heat transfer body for melting solder, and a pipe inserted into a hole formed in the heat transfer body, wherein heat from a heating member is conducted to the heat transfer body. The pipe includes a tubular-shaped substrate made of copper or copper alloy, and an aluminum oxide film formed at least on a peripheral surface of the tubular-shaped substrate. The pipe may be press-fitted in the hole.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a thin film transistor, including: an insulating substrate; a gate electrode and a gate insulator being formed on the insulating substrate, in this order; a source electrode and a drain electrode formed on the gate insulator, surface preparation of the source electrode and the drain electrode being performed with a compound having a functional group with an electron-withdrawing property; and a semiconductor film formed on the gate insulator, the film being formed between the source electrode and the drain electrode.

Abstract: A inspection system for medical devices includes an inspection station, a workstation and a database. The inspection system collects images of the medical device. Analysis of the images reveals whether there is a defect in the medical device. If there is a defect, then a comparison analysis is performed between the defect and information in the database. The comparison analysis produces an indication of whether the medical device should be rejected in view of the defect or accepted in spite of the defect.

Abstract: A vehicle meter is provided including a dial 10 and light sources provided on the rear face of the dial. A plurality of characters can be arranged on the dial and can be displayed by transmitting light from the light sources (a plurality of LEDs 25) and formed differently from each other in amount of transmitted light. The characters arranged on the dial may be provided with an increased and decreased amount of transmitted light to improve the visibility of the character intended to be emphasized. This makes it easy to visually recognize the entire string of characters in the vehicle meter.

Abstract: A data processing program is specified using a specification having a number of cell specifications specifying a number of data processing cells, with each data processing cell having a formula specifying an action or a computation. A cell may have one or more attributes referencing other cells. A cell formula may reference a value of another cell or be executed conditionally. In one embodiment, one of the cell is reserved as an output cell specifying the output, and a mnemonic is reserved for providing input to the specified data processing. An execution analyzer is provided to analyze the data processing specification, and identify the execution order of the cells. Further, an execution engine is provided to effectuate the specified data processing by executing the specified actions/computations of the cells in accordance with the determined execution order.

Abstract: The present invention includes relational Bayesian network-based tracking methods. Various, distinct embodiments of the present invention include tracking methods for: real-time relational tracking of e-commerce segmentation and personalization, in-residence tracking of elderly and disabled people, real-time relational tracking for ground target tracking, and real-time relational tracking of satellites and satellite constellations.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that programmatically provide a user interface for forming a query, comprising. A query builder displays a first row of query criteria, a second row of query criteria, the second row being logically connected to the first row by a first Boolean connector, and a third row of query criteria, the third row being logically connected to the second row by a second Boolean connector. In response to a user drag-and-drop operation, the query builder nests the third row of query criteria in the second row of query criteria. Thus, a drag-and-drop operation obviates the need for cumbersome groups of parentheses when defining the order of operation of the query.

Abstract: Methods and devices relating to polymer-bioceramic composite implantable medical devices are disclosed.

Abstract: A segmented polyurethane and an amphiphilic random or block copolymer are disclosed. The segmented polyurethane and the amphiphilic random or block copolymer can be used for fabricating a coating for an implantable medical device such as a stent.

Abstract: Methods and systems for reduced temperature radiation sterilization of stents are disclosed.

Abstract: A pricing optimization system can solve a constrained optimization problem by generating one or more prices for one or more items that satisfy a maximum number of prioritized constraints. The one or more generated prices can be one or more prices that represent a minimal deviation between the generated one or more prices and one or more original prices for the one or more items. By satisfying a maximum number of prioritized constraints, and by minimizing a deviation from the one or more original prices for the one or more items, the generated one or more prices are one or more optimal prices.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is an insulating thin film having a polymer compound, a metallic atom bonded to the polymer compound through an oxide atom and selected from a group 4 element, a group 5 element, a group 6 element, a group 13 element, zinc or tin, and an organic molecule bonded to the metallic atom through the oxide atom or a nitrogen atom.