Abstract: A multiple-input follower amplifier is coupled through a configuration of switching devices to an upper reference voltage at a number of its inputs and to a lower reference voltage at the remaining number of its inputs to form a voltage interpolator. The output of the voltage interpolator is a voltage between the upper and lower reference voltages proportional to the number of inputs coupled to each reference voltage. The voltage interpolator may be constructed so that the interpolated voltage may be selected through a reduced number of signal lines, such as by a row/column selection scheme. A voltage reference circuit providing the upper and lower reference voltages may also implement a row/column selection mechanism, thereby allowing a decoding scheme common to both a voltage reference circuit and a voltage interpolator in a digital-to-analog converter.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide packet timing recovery stress testing by generating packet delay variation (PDV) with a uniformly distributed probability density function (PDF). A delay-step method determines a delay for each packet in a stream of packets generated at a regular interval. In the delay-step method, delay-steps are determined for each packet based on delay target values. To generate PDV with a uniform PDF, the delay target values are randomly selected based on a pre-biased PDF which is a uniform distribution that is pre-biased by a pre-bias function. The pre-bias function increases the values of small delay target values so that an increased number of delay target values are at the extremes of the uniform distribution, which causes the delay-step method to result in a PDV with a uniform distribution.

Abstract: A system and method for concentration and load-balancing of requests in a distributed computing environment. In accordance with an embodiment, a system and a method for reducing the number of connections in an Internet environment using one or a plurality of connection handlers which handle the connection from the client to the server, and a listener which determines which connection handler to use to handle the connection. Whereas prior solutions required a (n×m) number of connections to handle requests, the invention allows there to be only m connections which significantly reduces resource requirements and allows scalability.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to perform a software migration. According to one embodiment of the invention, end-user specific platform information is collected to be used by a set of one or more migration scripts to perform the software migration. The migration scripts are to be executed on an end-user server and generate log files to be used to restart the software migration if an error occurs during the software migration.

Abstract: An apparatus and process is disclosed for the electrolytic removal of metal from a device, such as a medical device. More particularly, the apparatus of the invention includes a mandrel having slots or openings therein to expose portions of a metallic device, such as a stent, to an electrolytic solution to remove metal from the exposed portion.

Abstract: The feature of automatic retry of container-managed transactions configures the container to allow automatic retries of container-managed transactions that have been rolled back due to exceptions thrown at runtime. More specifically, on a per method basis, the container can be instructed to retry a failed transaction as using a new one up to a specified number of times if that method was the originator of the transaction that has been rolled back. The enabling of automatic transaction retries is accomplished either at deployment time by setting properties in the deployment descriptor of an instance of a class, such as EJB, or at runtime by setting properties on the EJB via a console on the application server. The automatic retry of container-managed transactions is a convenient feature that may alleviate the client of the task of explicitly coding transaction retries. In addition to programming convenience, retrying transactions using this feature may also offer performance benefits.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is a method of changing information in a first database and a second database. The method includes receiving new information. The method also includes receiving a first record from the first database, the first record corresponding to the new information. The method further includes receiving a second record from the second database, the second record corresponding to the new information. The method also includes merging the new information, the first record, and the second record into a final record.

Abstract: A method and system for revising installation software is disclosed. The method includes causing an installation program to configure at least a portion of the installation program using an update. An example of a system of the present invention is an installation architecture. Such an installation architecture includes an installation program. The installation program is configured to update at least a portion of the installation program.

Abstract: Methods of improving the uniformity and adhesion of low resistivity tungsten films are provided. Low resistivity tungsten films are formed by exposing the tungsten nucleation layer to a reducing agent in a series of pulses before depositing the tungsten bulk layer. According to various embodiments, the methods involve reducing agent pulses with different flow rates, different pulse times and different interval times.

Abstract: The current invention relates to an implantable medical device made of semi-crystalline poly(ester amide) (PEA) polymer.

Abstract: A development-oriented split-source directory structure, that can be used with an application server and which solves a number of the problems associated with traditional Enterprise Archive (EAR) files. In particular, the split-source directory structure presents a clean separation between human-readable source files stored in a source control system and generated java class files. The two directories (source and output) appear like a single application. In addition, the split-source directory structure supports an abstraction layer and mappings that allow a physical file location to be mapped to a virtual location. In this manner, the system provides flexibility in how the build structure can be laid out for a particular application development.

Abstract: A multi-level classification scheme for classifying subscriber traffic at a network node coupled between subscribers of network services and providers of the network services includes two levels of classification. The subscriber traffic is received at the network service node. A first portion of the subscriber traffic is selectively routed from a plurality of first level routers to a plurality of second level routers within the network service node. The first portion of the subscriber traffic is then selectively routed from the second level routers to network applications executing within the network service node for processing.

Abstract: A health care claim payment system and method receives a claim for a health care service provided to a participant in a benefits plan. The claim is received by a payment services system, and a portion of the claim is payable by the participant. The payment services system remits the portion of the claim payable by the participant on behalf of the participant so that payment can be remitted to the provider in a single payment and accepts risk of delinquency and/or non-payment by the participant. In one example, the health care provider receives payment for the participant portion and employer portion of the claim within 30 days of issuing a health care service.

Abstract: Coatings for implantable devices or endoluminal prosthesis, such as stents, are provided, including a method of forming the coatings. The coatings can be used for the delivery of an active ingredient or a combination of active ingredients.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a discone antenna including a cone-shaped element whose physical shape is at least partially defined by at least one pleat.

Abstract: A split formation method of forming an electrochemical cell includes providing the electrochemical chemical cell with an electrolyte for activation of the cell. A wait period is then conducted without a charge being applied. Thereafter, the cell is initially charged to an amount falling into a predetermined state of charge (SOC) range. After the charge is applied, the cell is stored for an extended period of time in a controlled temperature environment. A degassing procedure may be performed after storage to provide a uniform distance between the electrodes. Upon completion of the storage period a further charge is applied to cell that is higher than the initial charge. The cell is then allowed to stabilize for a predetermined amount of time at a set temperature.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a machine and a method for converting a web of preformed pouches to dunnage units. In one exemplary embodiment the machine includes a drive, a blower, and a sealing mechanism. The drive is arranged to move the web of preformed pouches along a path of travel through the machine. The blower is positioned with respect to the path of travel, to inflate the preformed pouches. The sealing mechanism includes a heating element support and a heating element. The heating element support includes a sealing side and a belt preheating side. The heating element is disposed around at least a portion of the heating side and at least a portion of the belt preheating side. The drive includes a belt that is disposed around the heating element. The sealing mechanism is positioned with respect to the path of travel, to provide seals to the pouches to form inflated dunnage units.

Abstract: Coatings for implantable devices or endoluminal prosthesis, such as stents, are provided, including a method of forming the coatings. The coatings can be used for the delivery of an active ingredient or a combination of active ingredients.

Abstract: An abrading head for a high-speed rotation atherectomy device is disclosed. The head has its center of mass laterally displaced from the rotational axis of the drive shaft. As the drive shaft spins, centrifugal force forces the abrading head radially outward. At high speeds, and the abrasive portion of the head may subtend an abrading cylinder larger than at low speeds or at rest. The abrading head has two components, each having a different density. The connection portion may be an incomplete cylinder, which fastens onto the drive shaft, and may be a relatively low density metal, such as stainless steel. The eccentric portion may be a relatively high density metal, such as tungsten or tantalum, and is attached to the connection portion.