Abstract: An appliance comprising a sealable chamber (10) and a door (12) for the sealable chamber (10), wherein in an opened position the door (12) allows access to the chamber (10); and a venting system for allowing air to escape from the sealable chamber (10) when the door (12) is in closed position, wherein the venting system includes a vent flap (11), the vent flap (11) moveable from a closed position sealing the vent system to an open position allowing air to escape. The venting system allows an appliance, such as dishwasher, to expel unwanted air or vapour in a controlled manner whilst the appliance remains closed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a template based parallel checkpoint save for a massively parallel super computer system using a parallel variation of the rsync protocol, and network broadcast. In preferred embodiments, the checkpoint data for each node is compared to a template checkpoint file that resides in the storage and that was previously produced. Embodiments herein greatly decrease the amount of data that must be transmitted and stored for faster checkpointing and increased efficiency of the computer system. Embodiments are directed to a parallel computer system with nodes arranged in a cluster with a high speed interconnect that can perform broadcast communication. The checkpoint contains a set of actual small data blocks with their corresponding checksums from all nodes in the system. The data blocks may be compressed using conventional non-lossy data compression algorithms to further reduce the overall checkpoint size.

Abstract: An exercise device includes a belt configured to be secured around the waist, hips or torso of a person, or to a fixed object adjacent a person. The belt has a front portion configured to be disposed at the front of the person and a back portion configured to be disposed at the back of a person. A pair of spaced apart elastomeric cords are mounted from a proximal cord end to the front portion of the belt and a grip mounted to a distal end of the elastomeric cord. A method of using the device and exercises that can be used therewith are also disclosed.

Abstract: An adaptable body conditioning apparatus is disclosed having a relatively rigid platform and gripping attachment with a handle and a stem rotatably receivable through an opening at the platform. A flexible material bushing abuts a threaded shaft of the stem and is received in a retention cavity formed in the handle. A flex limiter is threadably engaged on the threaded shaft of the stem and is manually adjustable along the length of the shaft. The limiter is utilized to limit the amount of tilting movement allowed to the handle under the influence of user weight applied at the handle when in use.

Abstract: A convertible roof system employs a convertible roof assembly and a cover assembly which operably covers at least a portion of a vehicular area within which the convertible roof is stowed. In a further aspect of the present invention, the cover assembly includes a dual-acting deck lid. Another aspect of the present invention employs a movable main pivot bracket for the convertible roof assembly. Furthermore, an additional aspect of the present invention allows a stowed and collapsed convertible roof assembly to at least partially move with a stowage area cover when the cover is opened to allow rearward access into the stowage area.

Abstract: A method of recovering hydrocarbons from water-containing hydrocarbonaceous materials can include forming a constructed permeability control infrastructure. This constructed infrastructure defines a substantially encapsulated volume. A mined or separately collected water-containing hydrocarbonaceous material can be introduced into the control infrastructure to form a permeable body of hydrocarbonaceous material. The permeable body can be heated sufficient to initially remove water therefrom as a water vapor. The water vapor can be removed from the infrastructure via an outlet which can be controlled or shut off when the permeable body is sufficiently dewatered. The dewatered permeable body can be heated sufficient to remove hydrocarbons therefrom. During heating the hydrocarbonaceous material is substantially stationary as the constructed infrastructure is a fixed structure. Removed hydrocarbons can be collected for further processing, use in the process, and/or use as recovered.

Abstract: A improved MOSFET (50, 51, 75, 215) has a source (60) and drain (62) in a semiconductor body (56), surmounted by an insulated control gate (66) located over the body (56) between the source (60) and drain (62) and adapted to control a conductive channel (55) extending between the source (60) and drain (62). The insulated gate (66) is perforated by a series of openings (61) through which highly doped regions (69) in the form of a series of (e.g., square) dots (69) of the same conductivity type as the body (56) are provided, located in the channel (55), spaced apart from each other and from the source (60) and drain (62). These channel dots (69) are desirably electrically coupled to a highly doped contact (64) to the body (56). The resulting device (50, 51, 75, 215) has a greater SOA, higher breakdown voltage and higher HBM stress resistance than equivalent prior art devices (20) without the dotted channel. Threshold voltage is not affected.

Abstract: A low leakage bipolar Schottky diode (20, 40, 87) is formed by parallel lightly doped N (32, 52, 103) and P (22, 42, 100) regions adapted to form superjunction regions. First ends of the P regions (22, 42, 100) are terminated by P+ layers (21, 41, 121) and second, opposed ends of the N regions (32, 52, 103) are terminated by N+ layers (31, 51, 131). Silicide layers (24, 34, 44, 54, 134, 124) are provided in contact with both ends of the parallel N and P regions (22, 32, 42, 52, 100, 103), thereby forming at the first end ohmic contacts (28, 48) with the P+ regions (21, 41, 121) and Schottky contacts (37, 57) with the N regions 32, 52, 103) and at the second, opposite end, ohmic contacts (38, 58) with the N+ regions (31, 51, 131) and Schottky contacts (27, 47) with the P regions (22, 42, 100). When forward biased current flows in both N (32, 52) and P (22, 42) regions thereby reducing the forward drop.

Abstract: A wireless audio headphone communication system has an audio input for receiving an audio signal from an audio source. A wireless transceiver receives and transmits radio frequency communications with a wireless audio headphone, the communications including an audio control signal that conforms to a wireless audio control protocol of a wireless communication protocol. A converter converts the audio control signal between the wireless audio control protocol transceived by the wireless transceiver and a local control protocol for controlling the audio source.

Abstract: Devices and methods for treating heart valves include members that assist the valve in closing during at least a portion of the cardiac cycle. Such devices include members configured to alter the shape of a valve annulus, reposition at least one papillary muscle, and/or plug an orifice of the valve so as to provide a coaptation surface for the valve leaflets.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling distribution of crop material to a cleaning sieve of an agricultural combine, for reducing grain loss, including while the combine is tilted sidewardly relative to horizontal, involving controlling the angular orientation of a distributor disposed between a threshing system of the combine and the sieve, for distributing a mat of the crop material onto the sieve evenly across an extent thereof. The angular orientation of the distributor can be set in advance of tilting of the combine, to adjust for a variety of conditions, including uneven outputting of the crop material from the threshing system, and the set orientation can be automatically maintained or actively adjusted to control a desired operating parameter such as grain loss, even as the combine is variously tilted and the angular orientation of the sieve relative to the combine is independently adjusted to maintain the sieve horizontal.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel methods for reducing the complexity of preferably a genomic sample for further analysis such as direct DNA sequencing, resequencing or SNP calling. The methods use pre-selected immobilized oligonucleotide probes to capture target nucleic acid molecules from a sample containing denatured, fragmented (genomic) nucleic acids for reducing the genetic complexity of the original population of nucleic acid molecules.

Abstract: A method of recovering hydrocarbons from hydrocarbonaceous materials can include forming a constructed permeability control infrastructure. This constructed infrastructure defines a substantially encapsulated volume having substantially permeable side walls and a substantially impermeable cap. A comminuted hydrocarbonaceous material can be introduced into the control infrastructure to form a permeable body of hydrocarbonaceous material. The permeable body can be heated sufficient to remove hydrocarbons therefrom without contamination or substantial leaching of materials outside of the impoundment. During heating the hydrocarbonaceous material is substantially stationary as the constructed infrastructure is a fixed structure. Removed hydrocarbons can be collected for further processing, use in the process, and/or use as recovered.

Abstract: A CRC redundancy calculation circuit is presented which is pipelined to run at high frequencies and configured to operate on an arbitrary multiple of the base granularity of the data packet. Additionally, the CRC redundancy calculation circuit provides the same multiple of outputs that provide intermediary output remainder values. Thus, for example, a circuit which processes 24 bytes of packet data per cycle and which the packets have a 4 byte granularity, the CRC redundancy calculation circuit provides 6 output remainder values, one for each 4 byte slice of data.

Abstract: Described herein is technology for, among other things, improving playback of media streams by maximizing bandwidth utilization. The technology may be implemented via a remote playback device on a network. It involves monitoring requests for portions of streaming media content and the associated responses to the requests and then adjusting request parameters to more effectively utilize available bandwidth. The effective available bandwidth may be controlled by moderating requests in order to induce behavior favorable to media streaming in the flow control mechanisms which control the amount of data sent in response to a request.

Abstract: The present technology is related to the field of bone-tendon-bone implants, grafts, and components thereof, for implantation in mammals, particularly for implantation in humans. More particularly, the present technology relates to assembled implants that comprise a length of tendon and at least two bone components or intermediate bone blocks that are assembled to form a bone-tendon-bone implant, and methods of making such implants. In some embodiments, implants of the present technology provide a first grip on the tendon prior to implantation and a second grip during or after implantation. In some embodiments, bone block assemblies or intermediate bone blocks of the present technology have a first geometric configuration prior to implantation and a second geometric configuration during or after implantation.

Abstract: Various embodiments include apparatus, methods, and systems that operate to extend the processes of reading, modifying, and writing data stored in or being provided to a memory array without interrupting a continual stream of data to be written into the memory array. Embodiments may include an apparatus comprising a memory array, and an error code module coupled to the memory array with a data buffer having a plurality of data burst registers operable to receive a plurality of data bursts to be written to the memory array on a corresponding plurality of consecutive clock cycles. The error code module is operable to perform a read/modify/write process on each of the plurality of data bursts within a time period no longer than a period of two consecutive cycles of the plurality of consecutive clock cycles.

Abstract: Systems and methods apply ultrasound energy to the thoracic cavity. The systems and methods make use of an ultrasound energy applicator comprising an ultrasound transducer carried by a housing to generate ultrasound energy at a prescribed fundamental therapeutic frequency laying within a range of fundamental therapeutic frequencies not exceeding about 500 kHz. An ultrasonic coupling region is carried by the housing. The coupling region is adapted, in use, to contact skin. The coupling region is also sized to transcutaneously conduct ultrasound energy in a diverging beam that substantially covers an entire heart. The applicator can also include an assembly worn on the thorax, which stabilizes placement of the housing on the thorax during transcutaneous conduction of ultrasound energy.

Abstract: In general, the present disclosure describes various techniques for programmable, pattern-based unpacking and packing of data channel information, including still image, video, and audio component data. One example device comprises a programmable processor having a plurality of processing pipelines. The processor is configured to receive pattern information that specifies a pattern for a plurality of input data components, the pattern information comprising a plurality of pattern elements that are each associated with one or more of the input data components, and each input data component being selected from a component group consisting of a still image data component, an audio data component, and a video data component. For example, the input data components may comprise pixel data components, such as color channels. The processor is further configured to provide each input data component to a selected processing pipeline of the processor in accordance with the pattern information.

Abstract: A method of recovering hydrocarbons from hydrocarbonaceous materials can include forming a constructed permeability control infrastructure. This constructed infrastructure defines a substantially encapsulated volume. A comminuted hydrocarbonaceous material can be introduced into the control infrastructure to form a permeable body of hydrocarbonaceous material. The permeable body can be heated sufficient to remove hydrocarbons therefrom. During heating the hydrocarbonaceous material is substantially stationary as the constructed infrastructure is a fixed structure. Removed hydrocarbons can be collected for further processing, use in the process, and/or use as recovered.