Abstract: A method for selecting which tap coefficients of a programmable finite-impulse-response (FIR) equalizer to fix includes performing an initial calibration to determine an initial value for each tap coefficient of a FIR equalizer. Using these initial values, a “total” FIR equalizer is determined which sets the tap coefficients to their initial values. The method further determines multiple sets of tap coefficients that may potentially be fixed in the FIR equalizer. For each set of tap coefficients that may potentially be fixed, the method determines a “fixed” FIR equalizer that sets the tap coefficients in the set to their initial values and other tap coefficients to zero. The method then determines a phase-difference energy between the “total” FIR equalizer and the “fixed” FIR equalizer for each set of tap coefficients that may potentially be fixed. The set of tap coefficients associated with the lowest phase-difference energy are then fixed.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to energy and the production of cost-effective power sources as hydrocarbons and hydrogen, as well as an oxidizer, such as oxygen. In an embodiment, the method of hydrocarbons, hydrogen and oxygen production includes a number of stages, including water saturation with carbon dioxide to form a saturated carbonated water; passing of the carbonated water through the reactor, which contains a catalyst, with the formation of hydrocarbons, hydrogen and oxygen, that subsequently flow into a separator; separation of reaction products from the initial carbonated water in the separator by liquid and gaseous phase separation, while hydrocarbons are separated from the liquid and gaseous phases, and hydrogen and oxygen are additionally separated from the gaseous phase.

Abstract: An electromechanical rotary actuator including a housing including first end that extends to a second end through an intermediate portion that defines a longitudinal axis, and an internal cavity. An electric motor is arranged within the internal cavity. The electric motor includes a shaft having first shaft end and a second shaft end. A drive member is arranged within the housing along the longitudinal axis. The drive member includes an input shaft operatively coupled to the first shaft end and an output shaft. An output shaft member is coupled to the output shaft of the drive member. At least one bearing assembly supports one of the output shaft member and the first shaft end, and a preload member is arranged within the housing and configured to apply a compressive axial force to the at least one bearing, the drive member and the electric motor.

Abstract: A system and method for patient discharge planning. The system and method include evaluating a patient record including patient data parameters of a patient, predicting a change in the patient record for all possible treatment options, generating a discharge recommendation based on at least one of the patient record and the predicted change in the patient record and displaying the discharge recommendation to a user.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the method of use of effective pharmaceutical formulations for the treatment of diseases caused by apicomplexan parasites, said formulation comprised of a salicylanilide or salicylanilide derivative, disclosed herein, alone or in combination with one or more other active or excipient pharmaceutical substances. The present invention is further directed to the method of use of effective pharmaceutical formulations for the treatment of diseases caused by apicomplexan parasites, said formulation comprised of a combination of salicylanilides or salicylanilide derivatives, disclosed herein. The present invention is further directed to the method of use of effective pharmaceutical formulations for the treatment of diseases caused by apicomplexan parasites, said formulation comprised of a combination of salicylanilides or salicylanilide derivatives, disclosed herein, further comprised of one or more active or excipient pharmaceutical substances.

Abstract: An environmentally friendly apparatus to attract and kill insect pests is described. The apparatus includes two panels, which could be made from one folded sheet, coupled together to form a housing for a pad containing an insect attractant, e.g. a pheromone. The outer surface of the housing has a plurality of louvered vents for dispersion of the scent from the attractant to the environment thus attracting the insect pest. The apparatus is configured to be capable of being on a fruit tree.

Abstract: A system and method allows a user to view communications exchanged between other participants within an online chat room without the user becoming a participant within the online chat room. The online chat room enables ongoing exchanges of electronic communications between two or more participants whose participation within the chat room are mutually revealed to each other. A user is enabled to perceive the existence of the online chat room without the user becoming a participant within the online chat room. Selection of the online chat room by the user is received. Responsive to user selection of the online chat room and without the user becoming a participant within the online chat room, at least some of the communications exchanged between the participants within the online chat room are made perceivable to the user as the communications are exchanged.

Abstract: A disclosed seismic source assembly includes a body having a cavity and a seismic source positioned in the cavity. The cavity is in fluid communication with the water via an aperture oriented in a first direction. One or more surfaces of the body define a water contact significantly larger than an area of the aperture and on a side opposite the first direction. A described method includes forming a source assembly by: providing a cavity having an aperture for transmitting seismic waves; rigidly attaching a base to a side of the cavity opposite the aperture, where a transverse area of the base is significantly larger than an area of the aperture; and positioning a seismic source in the cavity. The source assembly is submerged in the water and triggered.

Abstract: A method of affiliate marketing provides inbound affiliate link credit without coded URLs. Affiliate web sites link directly to merchant web sites, so that all of a merchant site's affiliates potentially contribute to its inbound link credit. The merchant web server parses incoming web page requests, and extracts the referrer. The merchant web server, directly or via an affiliate network manager, consults a database of affiliate web sites to determine whether the referrer is an authorized affiliate. If so, the affiliate is credited for the traffic, and may additionally be credited for user activity at the merchant site. The affiliate network manager writes a cookie to the user terminal to further track the user through the affiliate network. The method reduces or eliminates cookie hijacking and other forms of affiliate fraud, and may be used to track non-affiliate referring web sites.

Abstract: A method of temporarily reducing the diameter of a stent graft (10) and a stent graft with its diameter reduced. The stent graft has a tubular body and self expanding stents.

Abstract: Compositions comprising tetrahydroindolone derivatives in which the tetrahydroindolone moiety is covalently linked to a substituted arylpiperazine moiety and methods for treating neurological and psychiatric conditions using such compositions are disclosed.

Abstract: There are provided methods for creating energy conversion devices based on the giant flexoelectric effect in non-calamitic liquid crystals. By preparing a substance comprising at least one type of non-calamitic liquid crystal molecules and stabilizing the substance to form a mechanically flexible material, flexible conductive electrodes may be applied to the material to create an electro-mechanical energy conversion device which relies on the giant flexoelectric effect to produce electrical and/or mechanical energy that is usable in such applications as, for example, power sources, energy dissipation, sensors/transducers, and actuators.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for advertising with an influential participant in a virtual world. A facilitator rating is determined for each of a plurality of participants in the virtual world. The facilitator rating may indicate an influence of each of the plurality of participants on other participants in the virtual world. One or more participants are identified from the plurality of participants based on the facilitator rating. The one or more participants are utilized to provide an advertisement in the virtual world.

Abstract: Recorded seismic data are represented as a convolution of operators representing a reflectivity series of the earth and a seismic wavelet. The recorded seismic wavelet is represented as a convolution of operators representing a receiver ghost, a source ghost, a ghost-free source system response, an earth filter response, and a receiver system response. The operator representing the receiver ghost is removed from the convolution representing the seismic wavelet. The operator representing the source ghost is removed from the convolution representing the seismic wavelet. The operator representing the ghost-free source response is removed from the convolution representing the seismic wavelet. The operator representing the earth filter response is removed from the convolution representing the seismic wavelet. The operator representing the seismic wavelet is removed from the convolution representing the recorded seismic data.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for holding a footwear toe to a snow travel aid. The apparatus comprises jaws that grasp the toe while permitting pivotal movement of the footwear about the toe in forward and rearward directions and is for use with a heel holder that provides for lateral release. The apparatus comprises one or more resilient elements for biasing the jaws whereby the jaws are biased towards a closed position throughout the operational range of motion of the jaws. Also provided is an apparatus which comprises jaws that grasp the toe while permitting pivotal movement of footwear about the toe, wherein the apparatus is adapted for generally horizontal, forward and rearward translation relative to a longitudinal axis of the snow travel aid, selectively by a user.

Abstract: Alcohols are catalytically oxidized to aldehydes, in particular to benzaldehyde and diformylfuran, which are useful as intermediates for a multiplicity of purposes. The invention also relates to the polymerization of the dialdehyde and to the decarbonylation of the dialdehyde to furan.

Abstract: Alcohols are catalytically oxidized to aldehydes, in particular to benzaldehyde and diformylfuran, which are useful as intermediates for a multiplicity of purposes. The invention also relates to the polymerization of the dialdehyde and to the decarbonylation of the dialdehyde to furan.

Abstract: In exemplary embodiments of this invention, an inertial measurement unit (IMU) includes a cantilevered proof mass and electrostatic drive. The electrostatic drive puts the proof mass into a controlled trajectory in which it oscillates rapidly, for example, by vibrating back and forth in a plane or traveling in a circular or elliptical orbit. The IMU detects lateral or angular acceleration of the IMU, by measuring the perturbations of the proof mass trajectory from the expected motion in a fixed, non-rotating inertial frame. In exemplary embodiments of this invention, the proof mass position and motion are measured by methods of differential potential measurement (with constant slope voltage), differential displacement current measurement, or phase-sensitive or synchronous detection of motion.

Abstract: A roof structure of a building that has a pair of rafter beams and a pair of eave struts extending between and connected to the rafter beams includes a plurality of first banding strips. The first banding strips have opposite distal ends extending between and connected to the rafter beams. A plurality of second banding strips has opposite distal ends extending between and connected to the eave struts. A support sheet is supported on the first and second banding strips, and a shock absorbing member is attached between the support sheet and one of the rafter beams or the eave struts.

Abstract: Iron oxide complexes, pharmacological compositions and unit dosage thereof, and methods for their administration, of the type employing an iron oxide complex with a polyol, are disclosed. The pharmacological compositions employ a polysaccharide iron oxide complex, wherein the polysaccharide is a modified polyol such as a carboxyalkylated reduced dextran. The complex is stable to terminal sterilization by autoclaving. The compositions are suitable for parenteral administration to a subject for the treatment of iron deficiencies or as MRI contrast agent. The complex is substantially immunosilent, provide minimal anaphylaxis and undergo minimal dissolution in vivo. The pharmacological compositions of the complex contain minimal free iron which can be quantified by a variety of methods.