Abstract: A device for sealing an aperture in a tissue includes: a foot including a distal portion configured to be disposed distal to the tissue when the device is implanted in a position to seal the aperture; and a flexible wing positionable against a distal surface of the tissue adjacent the aperture such that the flexible wing is disposed between the distal portion of the foot and the distal surface adjacent the aperture.

Abstract: A solid-production system for producing a solid on demand is disclosed herein. In some aspects, the solid-production system includes a cooling block arranged to interact with one or more fluid molds to reduce a first temperature of a fluid dispensed in each of the one or more fluid molds to a second temperature, the second temperature being lower than the first temperature, to solidify the fluid in each of the one or more fluid molds; wherein the cooling block has a thermal mass operable to absorb and store thermal energy transferred by the fluid in each of the one or more fluid molds so as to reduce the first temperature of the fluid to the second temperature.

Abstract: A system, which uses the internet to deliver time sensitive information, includes an overlay node, having a plurality of overlay nodes, which are used to deliver the time sensitive information. To better characterize the connection between a sending node and a receiving node, the sending node periodically requests each overlay node in the path between the sending node and the receiving node to force a retransmission of a packet, while also forwarding that same packet to the next overlay node. In this way, the delay associated with each link in the path can be quantified and recorded by the receiving node. Based on the observed transmission delays, the receiving node may determine an optimal buffer time. This buffer time is the amount of buffering performed at the receiving node prior to outputting the time sensitive information.

Abstract: A system, which uses the internet to deliver time sensitive information, includes an overlay node, having a plurality of overlay nodes, which are used to deliver the time sensitive information. To better characterize the connection between a sending node and a receiving node, the sending node periodically requests each overlay node in the path between the sending node and the receiving node to force a retransmission of a packet, while also forwarding that same packet to the next overlay node. In this way, the delay associated with each link in the path can be quantified and recorded by the receiving node. Based on the observed transmission delays, the receiving node may determine an optimal buffer time. This buffer time is the amount of buffering performed at the receiving node prior to outputting the time sensitive information.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention implements a canteen cup cover that can be deployed in conjunction with the standard military issue canteen and cup. The canteen cup cover of the present invention is most preferably manufactured from a durable metallic material, such as stainless steel. The canteen cup cover has one or more integrated slit-like apertures and may be selectively placed over and removed from the canteen cup, thereby providing enhanced functionality for the canteen cup for certain cooking applications. In addition, the most preferred embodiments of the canteen cup cover comprise an integrated signaling mirror. A specific cooking method, using the canteen cup cover is also disclosed.

Abstract: A nanoscale nanocrystal which may be used as a reciprocating motor is provided, comprising a substrate having an energy differential across it, e.g. an electrical connection to a voltage source at a proximal end; an atom reservoir on the substrate distal to the electrical connection; a nanoparticle ram on the substrate distal to the atom reservoir; a nanolever contacting the nanoparticle ram and having an electrical connection to a voltage source, whereby a voltage applied between the electrical connections on the substrate and the nanolever causes movement of atoms between the reservoir and the ram. Movement of the ram causes movement of the nanolever relative to the substrate. The substrate and nanolever preferably comprise multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and the atom reservoir and nanoparticle ram are preferably metal (e.g. indium) deposited as small particles on the MWNTs.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention implements a cover that can be deployed in conjunction with the standard military issue canteen and cup. The canteen cup cover is most preferably manufactured from a durable and flexible food-grade material. The cross-section of the cover features a ridge and groove arrangement that has been specifically configured to receive the edge of the canteen cup, which typically defines approximately a 45° angle with the body portion of the canteen cup. The cover may be selectively attached to and removed from the canteen cup, thereby providing enhanced functionality for the canteen cup.

Abstract: The invention is a method for determining an in vivo cardiac electrophysiology profile of a compound affecting one or more cardiac ion channels which comprises administering the compound to a rat, and simultaneously measuring one or more periods selected from the group consisting of an atrial refractory period, a ventricular refractory period, and an AV nodal refractory period, and one or more intervals selected from an electrocardiogram interval and a cardiac electrogram conduction interval.

Abstract: There is described a process for labeling an article and/or document for authentication purposes. The article or document (such as BOPP and/or cellulose film) incorporates therein particles having a taggant bound to the surface thereof. The preferred taggant is a DNA strand of at least eight (preferably 25) base pairs long attached to inorganic particles by the addition reaction between an acrylate group and a polar group such as amino or hydroxy. Alternatively silica particles can be modified by reacting first with aminopropyltriethoxy silane and then a reagent selected from: a diacid with a polyethylene glycol spacer group (e.g. polyethylene glycol dicarboxymethyl) succinic anhydride; and/or a diisothiocyanate (e.g. 1,4-phenylene diisothiocyanate (PDITC)) to form functional silica particles capable of reacting directly with a terminal amide and/or hydroxy group of an oligonucleotide such as DNA.