Abstract: A prosthetic implant having a thermally treated ceramic coating and a method of producing a coated prosthetic implant. The ceramic coating is deposited onto the prosthetic implant such as by a plasma spray coating process. The prosthetic implant is thermally treated in a low oxygen environment to increase the hardness and wear-resistance of the ceramic coating for improved articulation of the prosthetic implant.

Abstract: Apparatus facilitating successive installation of casing sections endwise in a well, that includes hanger structure sized for installation at a well head, the hanger structure having a vertical through opening via which successive casing sections are installable vertically in the well, the hanger structure having vertically spaced shoulders for landing casing sections, there being adjustable structure for enabling controllable adjustment of hanger length, whereby uncemented casing weight is applied on the hanger structure.

Abstract: Monoblock orthopedic and/or dental implants are disclosed. The monoblock implants include a ceramic articulating surface and an osseointegrative bone-contacting surface. Methods of making such implants also disclosed.

Abstract: Multi-layered prosthetic constructs, kits, and methods are disclosed. A prosthetic construct can include a first ceramic component having a first surface, the first ceramic component comprising a first ceramic material, and a second ceramic component having a second surface disposed on the first surface of the first ceramic component, the second ceramic component comprising a second ceramic material. The second ceramic material of the second ceramic component can exert a compressive force on the first ceramic material. A ceramic material of the second ceramic component can include a different coefficient of thermal expansion than a ceramic material of the first ceramic component. Optionally, a ceramic construct can include a ceramic component and a membrane disposed onto and bonded to at least a portion of the ceramic component, the membrane configured to provide fracture reinforcement to the ceramic component.

Abstract: The method of installing a plurality of casing sections in a well, that includes providing a hanger supporting the casing sections to extend longitudinally in the well, landing the hanger on structure in the well, whereby weight of the casing sections longitudinally compresses the hanger, cementing the casing sections in position in the well, below the hanger, adjusting the hanger to provide for controllable longitudinal shortening of hanger length, thereby removing exertion of casing weight on the hanger, and removing at least part of the hanger away from the well head.

Abstract: An ironing station having an ironing board stowably mounted in the cabinet for movement between a stowed position and a use position, with a docking station provided on the top wall of the cabinet and having an electrical outlet. An elevation mechanism may be provided for raising the ironing board to an elevated position, and a latch mechanism may be provided for fixing the ironing board in the elevated position.

Abstract: An ironing station has a cabinet defining an interior space, an accessible storage area defined within the interior space of the cabinet, an ironing board stowably mounted in the cabinet for movement between a stowed position and a use position. The ironing board can be coupled to the cabinet via a non-vertical guide rail. A handle can be coupled to the ironing board to aid a user in moving the ironing board between the stowed and use positions. A multi-position docking station can be provided on the top wall of the cabinet for receiving an iron. A cover can be provided for selectively covering the docking station.

Abstract: Methods for bonding a porous tantalum structure to a substrate are provided. The method includes placing a compressible or porous interlayer between a porous tantalum structure and a cobalt or cobalt-chromium substrate to form an assembly. The interlayer comprising a metal or metal alloy that has solid state solubility with both the substrate and the porous tantalum structure. Heat and pressure are applied to the assembly to achieve solid state diffusion between the substrate and the interlayer and the between the porous tantalum structure and the interlayer.

Abstract: The method of installing a plurality of casing sections in a well, that includes providing a hanger supporting the casing sections to extend longitudinally in the well, landing the hanger on structure in the well, whereby weight of the casing sections longitudinally compresses the hanger, cementing the casing sections in position in the well, below the hanger, adjusting the hanger to provide for controllable longitudinal shortening of hanger length, thereby removing exertion of casing weight on the hanger, and removing at least part of the hanger away from the well head.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for increasing telomerase activity in cells. Such compositions include pharmaceutical, including topical, and nutraceutical formulations. The methods and compositions are useful for treating diseases subject to treatment by an increase in telomerase activity in cells or tissue of a patient, such as, for example, HIV infection, various degenerative diseases, and acute or chronic skin ailments. They are also useful for enhancing replicative capacity of cells in culture, as in ex vivo cell therapy and proliferation of stem cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for increasing telomerase activity in cells. Such compositions include pharmaceutical, including topical, and nutraceutical formulations. The method and compositions are useful for treating diseases subject to treatment by an increase in telomerase activity in cells or tissue of a patient, such as, for example, HIV infection, various degenerative diseases, and acute or chronic skin aliments. They are also useful for enhancing replicative capacity of cells in culture, as in ex vivo cell therapy and proliferation of stem cells.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for a speech system that includes one or more speech controls incorporated into one or more speech-enabled applications that run on the speech system. The controls allow applications to be developed with minimal programming effort to incorporate common speech-enabled application functions. A question control provides a customizable template for requesting information from a user. An announcer control allows a speech-enabled application to provide a user with information without having to re-create an entire announcer process each time it is used. A command control provides a simple way to attach command and control functions to speech-enabled applications. A word trainer control provides a way to associate user-selected voice tags with certain information. Providing the controls for use with speech-enabled applications ensures standardized user interfaces across multiple speech-enabled applications.

Abstract: A prosthetic implant having a thermally treated ceramic coating and a method of producing a coated prosthetic implant. The ceramic coating is deposited onto the prosthetic implant such as by a plasma spray coating process. The prosthetic implant is thermally treated in a low oxygen environment to increase the hardness and wear-resistance of the ceramic coating for improved articulation of the prosthetic implant.

Abstract: A robust device messaging framework is disclosed that enables a user to send commands to a device. A provisioning service is used to provision unique device identities and maps user web identities to device identities. The provisioning service also limits device per day provisioning attempts to limit denial of service attacks. A command service allows remote users to issue commands to a device, synchronize outgoing commands with incoming results, receive accurate feedback about whether a command was received, and maintain state information about the device. A device layer encrypts and stores device identities, authenticates itself with the command service, establishes a high-availability Internet connection to receive alerts that a command has issued, and reports results to the server-based command service.

Abstract: An ironing station having an ironing board stowably mounted in the cabinet for movement between a stowed position and a use position, with a docking station provided on the top wall of the cabinet and having an electrical outlet.

Abstract: An ironing station has a cabinet defining an interior space, an accessible storage area defined within the interior space of the cabinet, an ironing board stowably mounted in the cabinet for movement between a stowed position and a use position. The ironing board can be coupled to the cabinet via a non-vertical guide rail. A handle can be coupled to the ironing board to aid a user in moving the ironing board between the stowed and use positions. A multi-position docking station can be provided on the top wall of the cabinet for receiving an iron. A cover can be provided for selectively covering the docking station.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for increasing telomerase activity in cells. Such compositions include pharmaceutical, including topical, and nutraceutical formulations. The methods and compositions are useful for treating diseases subject to treatment by an increase in telomerase activity in cells or tissue of a patient, such as, for example, HIV infection, various degenerative diseases, and acute or chronic skin aliments. They are also useful for enhancing replicative capacity of cells in culture, as in ex vivo cell therapy and proliferation of stem cells.