Abstract: A method for modeling financial variables describing a client over a time period. The method may comprise the step of generating a first simulation of the time period. Generating the first simulation may comprise the steps of assigning the client to a first health-related state and advancing the first simulation from a first interval of the time period to a second interval of the time period. A probability that the client will transition from the first health-related state to a second health-related state may be calculated, the client may be randomly assigned to either the first health-related state or the second health-related state considering the probability. According to various embodiments, the methods may also comprise the steps of calculating a client income for the second interval; and calculating a plurality of client expenses for the second interval. Also, the various health-related states may include one or more of a healthy state, a long term care (LTC) state, a disabled state and a dead state.

Abstract: The invention relates to biomarkers for predicting whether a patient infected with Hepatitis B virus (HBV) will respond to interferon (IFN) therapy. The invention also relates to methods and kits for predicting whether a patient will respond to IFN therapy using said biomarkers.

Abstract: The cardiac pump, which is suitable for implantation into a ventricle of a human heart, has a primary blood flow path through a housing, a rotatable pump member disposed within the housing for causing blood to flow along the primary flow path, the pump member being rotatably coupled to the housing about an upstream bearing and a downstream bearing. The pump member includes an impeller shroud defining a secondary flow path in fluid communication with the primary flow path. The downstream bearing comprises a rotational bearing member and a stationary bearing seat for the bearing member, there being a circumferential transition between the bearing seat and the bearing member, the circumferential transition being disposed in the secondary flow path and arranged to be washed by blood passing along the secondary flow path.

Abstract: The pump, which is for implantation into a human heart, has a flow path through a housing (1), a rotatable pump member (21) within the housing for causing fluid to flow along the flow path, the pump member being rotatably coupled to the housing about an upstream bearing (32) and a downstream bearing (33). The downstream bearing comprises a bearing member (34) on the pump member and a complementary bearing formation (35) on the housing, The pump has a mechanical adjuster (42) for fine adjustment of the position of the bearing formation (35) along an axis (A) of the pump member; the mecahnical adjuster being preferably one or more screws (42) for adjustable movement of a boss (40) along the axis (A), the adjustable movement being permitted by flexure of a plate member (41) integral with the boss.

Abstract: There is provided a method for replicating HCV virus in vitro which comprises the following steps: (i) fusing an HCV-infected white blood cell with a hepatocyte cell to produce a fused cell; and (ii) culturing the fused cell so that HCV replication may occur. There is also provided a fused cell capable of replicating HCV virus in vitro which is made by fusing an HCV-infected white blood cell with a hepatocyte cell, and uses of such a fused cell to screen for anti-HCV drugs and assessing patient responsiveness to therapy before treatment.

Abstract: A method of determining a propagation time of signals from a USB Host Controller to an attached USB device is presented. In an embodiment, the method insludes: the USB device sending a message or data packet to the USB Host Controller; the USB device starting a local timer upon transmission of the message or data packet; the USB Host Controller responding to the message or data packet by issuing a handshake token; and the USB device stopping the local timer on receipt of the handshake token; wherein the local timer value represents twice the propagation time of signals from the USB Host Controller to the USB device.

Abstract: A method of synchronising the operation of a plurality of SuperSpeed USB devices and a plurality of non-SuperSpeed USB devices is provided. The method includes establishing a SuperSpeed synchronisation channel for each of the plurality of SuperSpeed USB devices; establishing a non-SuperSpeed synchronisation channel for each of the plurality of non-SuperSpeed USB devices; synchronising a respective local clock of each of the plurality of SuperSpeed USB devices; synchronising a respective local clock of each of the plurality of non-SuperSpeed USB devices; and synchronising the SuperSpeed and non-SuperSpeed synchronisation channels so that the SuperSpeed and non-SuperSpeed devices can operate in synchrony.

Abstract: Integrated photo detector receptor with Memristor Memory cell to perform simultaneous image capture and image matching as part of meta-security camera.

Abstract: A method of reducing jitter in a local clock of a synchronised USB device attached to a USB Hub, the USB Hub having a local clock and repeater circuitry, comprising: observing a USB data stream with the USB Hub, the data stream having a data stream bit rate; the USB Hub decoding a periodic signal structure in the USB data stream; the USB Hub generating an event signal in response to decoding of the periodic signal structure; and the USB Hub locking a frequency of the local clock of the USB Hub to the periodic event signal. The local clock of the USB Hub is adapted to be a clocking source for the repeater circuitry of the USB Hub at substantially an integer multiple of a frequency of the data stream bit rate.

Abstract: A system for synchronising the operation of a measurement instrument having a microcontroller, a local oscillator and function circuitry to an external timebase is provided. The system includes a USB Host Controller; an interrupt generator adapted to respond to ITPs by generating respective interrupts and passing the interrupts to the microcontroller; and a timer for measuring an interval between receptions of the ITPs in a time domain of the local oscillator.

Abstract: A synchronization apparatus, comprising: a USB device having a USB microcontroller, circuitry for observing USB traffic, and circuitry for decoding from a USB data stream a periodic data structure (such as a clock carrier signal) containing information about a distributed clock frequency and phase and outputting a decoded carrier signal; and circuitry for receiving the decoded carrier signal, for generating a software interrupt upon receipt of a predefined data packet (such as a SOF packet) and for passing the software interrupt to the USB microcontroller; wherein the USB microcontroller is configured to respond to the software interrupt (such as with an interrupt service routine provided therein) by generating an output signal adapted to be used as a synchronization reference signal.

Abstract: The generator comprises: at least one energy capturing float (2) which is movable in response to wave motion; a reaction member (1) to be positioned below the energy capturing float; connecting lines (4a, 4b,4c,4d) for connecting the at least one energy capturing float to the reaction member and defining a spacing (D3) between the energy capturing float and the reaction member; energy convertors (3a,3b,3c,3d) for converting relative movement between the reaction member and at least one respective energy capturing float to useful energy. The generator includes depth setting means such as adjustable lines (8a,8b) connected to auxiliary floats (7a,7b) or adjustable mooring lines (9a,9b 9c,9d) securing the reaction member to the sea bed B for setting the depth (D1) of the reaction member in the sea.

Abstract: A method of determining the downstream propagation time of signals from a USB Host Controller across one or more USB cables and one or more USB Hubs to a SuperSpeed USB device, including locking a clock of the SuperSpeed USB device to information that includes a first timestamp, transmitting a plurality of signals to the USB Host Controller, each of the signals containing a second timestamp indicative of a local time of the SuperSpeed USB device when the respective signal was generated by the SuperSpeed device; the USB Host Controller creating a third timestamp indicative of a time of reception from the SuperSpeed USB device; determining a time period from one or more respective time differences between corresponding second and third timestamps, the time period being indicative of a sum of a downstream propagation time and an upstream propagation time; and determining the downstream propagation time from the time period.

Abstract: The generator comprises a float (1) which is movable in response to wave motion in a body of water, a submersible reaction member (2) of adjustable buoyancy, with at least two buoyancy configurations, connected to the float and arranged to resist movement of the float caused by the wave motion, an energy converter (5) for converting such reciprocal movement to useful energy; and biasing means such as a spring 6 for directionally biasing the reciprocal movement. Displacement of the float relative to the reaction member is permitted and reciprocal movement generated in response to such displacement.

Abstract: A method of synchronising a compound SuperSpeed USB device, comprising: providing data communication between a host computing device and the compound SuperSpeed USB device across the SuperSpeed USB communication channel; establishing a SuperSpeed USB communication channel to a SuperSpeed USB function of the compound USB device; establishing a non-SuperSpeed synchronisation channel to a non-SuperSpeed USB function of the compound USB device; and synchronising a local clock of the compound USB device to a periodic data structure within a data stream in the non-SuperSpeed synchronisation channel so that the local clock can enable synchronous operation of the compound USB device with one or more comparable USB devices.

Abstract: A method of determining the downstream propagation time of signals from a USB Host Controller across one or more USB cables and one or more USB Hubs to a SuperSpeed USB device, including locking a clock of the SuperSpeed USB device to information that includes a first timestamp, transmitting a plurality of signals to the USB Host Controller, each of the signals containing a second timestamp indicative of a local time of the SuperSpeed USB device when the respective signal was generated by the SuperSpeed device; the USB Host Controller creating a third timestamp indicative of a time of reception from the SuperSpeed USB device; determining a time period from one or more respective time differences between corresponding second and third timestamps, the time period being indicative of a sum of a downstream propagation time and an upstream propagation time; and determining the downstream propagation time from the time period.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the phase and frequency of the local clock of a USB device, the apparatus comprising circuitry for observing USB traffic and decoding from the USB traffic a periodic data structure containing information about the frequency and phase of a distributed clock frequency, and phase and circuitry for receiving the periodic data structure and generating from at least the periodic data structure a local clock signal locked in both frequency and phase to the periodic data structure. The circuitry for receiving the periodic data structure and generating the local clock signal can generate the local clock signal with a frequency that is a non-integral multiple of a frequency of the periodic data structure.

Abstract: The cardiac pump, which is suitable for implantation into a ventricle of a human heart, has a primary blood flow path through a housing, a rotatable pump member disposed within the housing for causing blood to flow along the primary flow path, the pump member being rotatably coupled to the housing about an upstream bearing and a downstream bearing. The pump member includes an impeller shroud defining a secondary flow path in fluid communication with the primary flow path. The downstream bearing comprises a rotational bearing member and a stationary bearing seat for the bearing member, there being a circumferential transition between the bearing seat and the bearing member, the circumferential transition being disposed in the secondary flow path and arranged to be washed by blood passing along the secondary flow path.

Abstract: A method of synchronizing a compound Super Speed USB device, comprising: providing data communication between a host computing device and the compound Super Speed USB device across the Super Speed USB communication channel; establishing a Super Speed USB communication channel to a Super Speed USB function of the compound USB device; establishing a non-Super Speed synchronization channel to a non-Super Speed USB function of the compound USB device; and synchronizing a local clock of the compound USB device to a periodic data structure within a data stream in the non-Super Speed synchronization channel so that the local clock can enable synchronous operation of the compound USB device with one or more comparable USB devices.

Abstract: The pump is of an axial flow rotary type suitable for implantation into the human heart or vascular system. The pump has an elongate tubular casing (1) including an electric motor (4) and defining an inlet (2) for blood, an outlet (3) for blood longitudinally spaced from the inlet and a substantially axial blood flow path (8) from the inlet to the outlet. An elongate rotatable element (7) is arranged to fit within the casing with spacing (15) between an outer surface of the rotatable element and an inner surface of the casing; the rotatable element comprises an electric motor rotor portion (10) arranged to be driven by the electric motor stator and a primary substantially axial blood flow path along the inside of the rotatable element. A rotary impeller (11) is provided axially spaced from the rotor portion for impelling blood along the primary flow path.