Abstract: Digitally-controlled power factor correction circuits, methods, and articles of manufacture are disclosed. A disclosed power supply comprises a power factor correction circuit including a switch, an inductor having a first terminal connected to an input voltage, and a second terminal connected to the switch, a storage capacitor and a load, a value of the inductor selected to operate the power factor correction circuit in discontinuous conduction mode, and a controller programmed to operate the switch to increase a power factor of the power supply.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods useful for diagnosing, treating, and preventing cancer, particularly ovarian cancer and uterine cancer, based on the discovery that the oocyte specific protein, SAS1R (Sperm Acrosomal SLL-P1 Receptor), which is a sperm protein receptor, is also expressed in various cancers, including ovarian cancer and uterine cancer. Six SAS1R variants have been previously identified, and they are encompassed by the invention. The present invention further provides antibodies useful for targeting SAS1R expressing cells and for killing such cells.

Abstract: This technology is generally related to a method for differentiating fertile and sterile plant lines at the DNA level, by detecting polymorphisms in chloroplast DNA and compositions and uses thereof. More specifically, the technology is directed to a method for detecting plant line contamination by detecting polymorphic markers targeting simple sequence repeats (SSRs) that distinguish normal fertile plant lines from cytoplasmic male sterile (cms) plant lines in chloroplast DNA. This method may be applied to plants that have not yet flowered or to plant seeds. The technology also relates to a method of mitigating seed contamination based on this differentiation method by selecting plants essentially free of contamination or rejecting a plant if it exhibits contamination. The technology also relates to a plant seed lot produced by these same processes.

Abstract: A contactless smartcard type integrated circuit needing only two pins for performing a standard ATPG test is disclosed. A scan test may be performed using one pin for the clock and the other pin for the input and input of the scan test data. Additionally, security is enhanced by using an embedded signature generator to avoid observation of the data shifted out.

Abstract: A magnetic read sensor having a hard bias structure that extends beyond the back edge of the sensor stack by a controlled, distance that is chosen to maximize both hard bias field and hard bias magnetic coercivity and anisotropy. The hard bias structure has a back edge that is well defined and that has a square corner at its innermost end adjacent to the sensor stack. The magnetic sensor can be constructed by a process that includes a separate making an milling process that is dedicated to defining the back edge of the hard bias structure.

Abstract: A method and device for processing a carcass-part of slaughtered poultry in a processing line is provided. Means are applied for cutting the membrana and/or removing of the wishbone from the carcass-part. The means for cutting the membrana and/or removing of the wishbone include an arrow-shaped knife and two blades arranged on opposite sides of the knife. After the means for cutting the membrana and/or removing of the wishbone are introduced into the carcass part, the arrow-shaped knife and the two blades are moved in a unitary movement from within the carcass-part in a sideways direction away from the carcass part so as to lift the wishbone legs while they are still connected to the wing joints, and subsequently turn the wishbone legs out of the wing joints of the carcass-part.

Abstract: A switching circuit suitable for a low power oscillator circuit includes control and output circuits, the control circuit arranged to control the output circuit, the control circuit having input and output terminals, the output circuit having input and output terminals and control terminals; wherein the input terminal of the control circuit is connected to the input terminal of the output circuit, and the control terminal of the output circuit is connected to the output terminal of the control circuit, the output circuit first switches connected in series and arranged such that in use at least one of the switches is in a low impedance state at any given time, and the control circuit has second switches connected in series and arranged such that in use at least one of the switches is in a low impedance state at any given time.

Abstract: A plastic pallet described herein may have a plastic upper deck with an upper side on which goods can be stacked. Furthermore, a plurality of plastic skids are present, spaced apart from the upper deck and arranged substantially parallel to the upper deck. Plastic spacer blocks are located between the upper deck and the skids. The upper deck and the skids are manufactured as separate parts which in an assembled state are tightened together by tightening pins. The tightening pins each extend through a bore in each of the spacer blocks and corresponding holes in the upper deck and the skids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a Lactuca sativa seed designated 79-69 RZ, which exhibits a combination of traits including resistance to downy mildew races B1:1 to B1:28, CA-I, CA-IIA, CA-IIB, CA-III to CA-VIII (Bremia lactucae) and currant-lettuce aphid (Nasonovia ribisnigri) biotype Nr:0, and which has crisp, deeply red, deeply dentate leaves, and exhibits very slow bolting. The present invention also relates to a Lactuca sativa plant produced by growing the 79-69 RZ seed. The invention further relates to methods for producing the lettuce cultivar, represented by lettuce variety 79-69 RZ.

Abstract: The invention provides a tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) read sensor with a long diffusion path and ex-situ interfaces in a sense layer structure. The sense layer structure comprises a first sense layer preferably formed of a ferromagnetic Co—Fe film, a second sense layer preferably formed of a ferromagnetic Co—Fe—B film, and a third sense layer preferably formed of a ferromagnetic Ni—Fe film. The sense layer structure has a long diffusion path (defined as a total thickness of the first and second sense layers) and ex-situ interfaces for suppressing unwanted diffusions of Ni atoms. Alternatively, the sense layer structure comprises a first sense layer preferably formed of a ferromagnetic Co—Fe film, a second sense layer preferably formed of a ferromagnetic Co—Fe—B film, a third sense layer preferably formed of a ferromagnetic Co—Fe—B—Hf film, and a fourth sense layer preferably formed of a ferromagnetic Ni—Fe film.

Abstract: The invention relates to a computer-implemented method for providing content to a particular recipient device of a plurality of recipient devices. Copies of one or more content elements of the content are generated and one or more of the copies are modified to obtain modified copies of the content elements. The content elements, including the one or more modified copies of the content elements, are stored in a storage. Selection information is transmitted to the particular recipient device in response to a request for providing the content. The selection information prescribes to the recipient device the modified copy to be retrieved by the recipient device for substantially each content element for which a modified copy is available.

Abstract: A stitcher (1) for connecting strips of rubber material (4, 5) into a substantially continuous strip according to this invention comprises a surface (3), a stitching head (6) placed over it having a stitch unit (7) for stitching the strips of rubber material together along a stitch line, which stitch line includes an angle ? having a longitudinal direction (L) of the continuous strip, a drive mechanism for driving a relative movement of the stitching head with respect to the surface along a first (X) and a second (Y) direction, wherein the second direction is oriented transverse to the first direction, and a control device (11) for controlling the drive mechanism such that the stitch unit follows the stitch line. In one embodiment the stitching head is rotatably connected to the drive mechanism wherein the axis of rotation extends transverse to the surface.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the invention, a trilayer magnetoresistive sensor comprises an underlayer on which a first free layer is deposited. A barrier layer is then deposited after which a second free layer is deposited. A capping layer is then deposited above second free layer. The first free layer is a layer which includes at least a layer of a nitride of an element including at least one of Fe, Co, or Ni, or a multiple laminate structure of a layer containing a nitride of an element including at least one of Fe, Co, Ni and another ferromagnetic layer containing at least one of Fe, Co, or Ni. The combination of the first and second free layers causes anti-parallel coupling.

Abstract: A wound dressing product comprising: a substrate layer having an upper surface and a lower surface; a tacky silicone coating composition present on said upper surface and on said lower surface; and upper and lower release sheets covering said substrate and said tacky silicone coating composition on said upper and lower surfaces, respectively, and adhered to said surfaces by said tacky silicone coating composition, wherein said upper surface is less tacky than said lower surface whereby said upper release sheet can be removed from said upper surface more readily than said lower release sheet can be removed from said lower surface. The same silicone composition is used to form both the upper and the lower surface. Also provided are methods for making such dressings.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for a movable member of an open roof construction for a vehicle comprises a stationary part having a first guide, a locking lever movable in a first direction drives said movable member and locks and an operating part movable in said first direction to control the locking lever. The locking lever comprises a first cam engaging the first guide comprising a first guide part extending substantially parallel to said first direction and a second guide part connecting to said first guide part in a second direction and capable of receiving the first cam of the locking lever to prevent movement of the locking lever. The operating part generates a force on the locking lever in/opposite the second direction when the operating part is moved in a first/second sense along said first direction, such that the first cam moves into/out of the locking second guide part.

Abstract: An animal deterring device has a carrier with a first conductive trace that is separated from a second conductive trace. The carrier has a bottom with a first glue trough disposed beneath the first conductive trace. The first conductive trace is coupled to the carrier by a first fastener that extends from the first glue trough to the first conductive trace.

Abstract: A semi-submersible vessel for offshore operations is suitable to be operated in icy waters and in ice-free waters. The vessel includes an operating deck, at least one lower hull, an essentially vertical connecting structure between the at least one lower hull and the operating deck, and a ballast system. The connecting structure has a water portion and an icebreaking portion arranged on top of each other. The vessel is configured to have an icebreaking draft for icy waters, and a water draft for ice-free waters in which the waterline is substantially level with the water portion. The icebreaking portion has a closed tapered contour. During the water draft, the collective area of the water portion of the connecting structure intersecting the water surface is smaller than the collective area of the icebreaking portion of the connecting structure intersecting the water surface during the icebreaking draft.

Abstract: A magnetic data recording system wherein the wherein adjacent track interference during writing is avoided by modulating the size of a write bubble on the magnetic media in response to a position error signal. If the position error signal indicates that the magnetic head is off-track, circuitry within the magnetic data recording system adjusts the size of the write bubble temporarily to prevent the write bubble from encroaching on a neighboring data track. This adjustment of the write bubble can be accomplished by adjusting power to the write head. Adjustment of the write bubble can also be achieved by adjusting power to a magnetic oscillator in a microwave assisted magnetic recording system (MAMR) or adjusting power to a heating element in a thermally assisted magnetic recording system.

Abstract: A method for obtaining an image indicia includes performing one or more exposures of an imager to capture one or more images, and controlling active portions of an aiming pattern to inhibit capture of the aiming pattern in the one or more captured images or removing the aiming pattern from the one or more captured images. An attempted may be made to decode one or more decodable indicia utilizing the one or more captured images.

Abstract: A support for an object, e.g., a semiconductor substrate, includes a main body having a surface configured and arranged to have a plurality of projections. Each of the projections has an associated electrostatic actuator for displacing a free end of the associated projection relative to the main body at least in a direction in a plane parallel to a main surface of the object.