Abstract: Systems and techniques for transferring a file from a first client associated with a first subscriber to a communications system to a second client associated with a second subscriber to the communications system by connecting from the first client to a communications system host; sending, through the communications system host, a request to the second client to establish a direct connection to the second client; when the second client accepts the request, establishing a direct connection to the second client that bypasses the communications system host; and transferring a file over the direct connection.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a silica-based crucible material that includes, before sintering or firing, selected amounts of a thermal expansion stabilizer component (B2O3 and Ca2SiO4) which impart improved thermal shock resistance and enhanced ability to withstand repeated thermal cycling, to a sintered or fired crucible made of the material. An illustrative embodiment of the invention provides a crucible material whose chemical composition comprises, in weight %, about 91% to about 98% SiO2, about 1% to about 8% thermal stabilizer component, and up to about 1.0% of additional oxides including MgO, Al2O3 Fe2O3, CaO and ZrO2.

Abstract: A multi-wire slurry-free wafer cutting apparatus along with a method for optimizing saw operation is disclosed that includes a cutting wire impregnated with a plurality of cutting particles wrapped multiple times around two or more wire guides to form a multi-wire web. A drive mechanism drives the web across an ingot at an optimum speed determined by setting a multi-wire web speed to an initial speed, detecting vibration of the web, identifying the web speed having a lowest vibration, and operating the drive mechanism at that speed as optimum. A cleansing fluid is applied to the multi-wire web that includes a major portion of water and a minor portion of surfactant which cleans the cutting wire and keeps the cut particles free of oxidation. One or more cleansing fluid applicators are configured to apply the cleansing fluid to the multi-wire web close to the ingot in a laminar flow.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for calibrating the VCO element of a phase-locked loop to correct for non-linearities are disclosed. The modulation port of the VCO may be characterized to generate a tuning model, which may then be used to generate a correction signal to be combined with an input signal and applied to the VCO modulation port. The tuning model may be based on a third or higher order polynomial generated from a plurality of open-loop frequency measurements of the VCO.

Abstract: A cartridge for an ion exchanging electrochemical cell, the cartridge comprising at least one spiral wound, textured, bipolar ion exchange membrane having (i) an anion exchange layer abutting a cation exchange layer with continuous contact between the anion exchange layer and the cation exchange layer; and (ii) an exposed textured surface having a pattern of texture features. A method of manufacturing a cartridge for an ion exchange electrochemical cell comprises winding the textured, bipolar ion exchange membrane into a spiral wound membrane.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell 102 comprises an ion exchange membrane 10 having anion and cation exchange materials. The membrane 10 can have separate anion and cation exchange layers 12, 14 that define a heterogeneous water-splitting interface therebetween. In one version, the membrane 10 has a textured surface having a pattern of texture features 26 comprising spaced apart peaks 28 and valleys 30. The membranes 10 can also have an integral spacer 80. A cartridge 100 can be fabricated with a plurality of the membranes 10 for insertion in a housing 129 of the electrochemical cell 102. The housing 129 can also have a detachable lid 96 that fits on the cartridge 100. The electrochemical cell 102 can be part of an ion controlling apparatus 120.

Abstract: A method of modifying the structure of workpiece (1) is provided. The method comprises a first step of causing relative movement between a power beam and the workpiece (1) so that a region (3) of the workpiece (1) is melted and the melted material displaced to form a projection (2) at a first location in the region (3) and a hole (4) at a different location in the region. The melted material is then allowed to at least partially solidify after which the first step is repeated one or more times, with the region corresponding to each repeat intersecting the region (3) of the first step.

Abstract: A waveform acquisition system that captures and digitizes a wideband electrical signal through a bank of front end filters, frequency down converters, and conventional digitizers (A/D converters). A software algorithm reconstructs the composite input signal and applies the necessary corrections to remove the effects of hardware impairments. This approach is possible because it uses a class of filters that exhibit the quality of perfect waveform reconstruction, allowing signals whose spectral components overlap multiple filter bands, to be faithfully reconstructed. A calibration generator switched into the input port serves as a reference for quantifying and removing hardware errors. The channelized analog-to-digital converter (ADC) effectively multiplies the bandwidth and sampling rate of the conventional digitizer performance in a single channel by the number of channels in the system.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for transferring one or more files by connecting to a communications system host; sending, to a client connected to the communications system host, a request to transfer one or more files; when a client permits access to the one or more files, establishing a direct socket connection from the client and bypassing the communications system host; and initiating the transfer of the one or more files from the client over the direct socket connection.

Abstract: An elongate strip for indicating a platform edge includes a base for resting on a platform; a back and a further surface. The arrangement is such that with the device resting on a platform, the further surface takes the place of the platform surface and includes an indicator to indicate an edge of the platform.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for selecting status data. Redundant views are obtained from multiple synchronous redundant devices. It is determined that the redundant views from the multiple synchronous redundant devices are conflicting. A redundant view score is calculated for each of the redundant views based on one or more characteristics from each of at least two characteristic types, wherein the characteristics are associated with weighted scores. One of the redundant views is selected based on the calculated redundant view score for each of the redundant views.

Abstract: A method is provided for improving the solubility of proteins, for example, bacterial toxins. In one embodiment, solubility is improved by introducing point mutations that replace cysteine residues capable of forming intermolecular disulfide bonds with other amino acid residues that do not form such bonds. By abrogating the ability of the cysteine residues to form inter-molecular disulfide bonds, aggregation of the protein is reduced, thereby improving the solubility of the protein. In another embodiment, solubility of the protein is improved by producing truncated forms of the protein that express the LHN domain and a fragment of the Hc domain. Proteins made according to the method of the invention are useful, for example, as immunodiagnostic agents and vaccine components.

Abstract: An apparatus and method that use media packets, such as Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP), packets with a specially define profile to determine the route and round-trip-time information. The route is determined by transmitting by a first network endpoint one or a group of media packets having a number of hops equal to a predefined number and the network address of a second endpoint, incrementing the number of hops upon a non-media packet being received in response to the one or group by a network node because the number of hops was exceeded at that network node. After recording the identification of that network node and incrementing the number of hops, the network endpoint re-transmits the one or group of media packets.

Abstract: A helical textile of uniform thickness having uniform radial weft fibers from a textile ID to a textile OD; and non-interlaced circumferential warp fiber bundles having equal width and height that increases from the textile ID to the textile OD, thereby forming a helical textile having a uniform thickness from textile ID to OD. Other embodiment includes non-interlaced circumferential warp fiber bundles having an equal cross section area, a height that increases from the textile ID to the textile OD, and a width that decreases from textile ID to textile OD. Yet another embodiment includes a helical textile of a uniform thickness having circumferential warp fibers; and more than one radial weft fiber bundles, each radial weft fiber bundle occupying a zone between two selected radial distances between the textile ID and OD, wherein the cross sectional areas of the radial weft fiber bundles increases from helical textile ID to OD.

Abstract: A helical textile having a substantially uniform thickness from ID to OD having circumferential warp fibers; non-interlaced radially aligned weft fibers having fiber lengths that may vary with the textile diameter to maintain constant textile thickness, the warp fibers and weft fibers not interlaced together; and non-reinforcing binding yarns securing the warp fibers to the weft fibers, thereby forming a helical textile.

Abstract: A pilot phase tracking loop for an OFDM receiver including a phase rotator receiving an incoming signal, a fast Fourier transform coupled to a phase rotator output, and a pilot phase error metric including a discrete Fourier transform portion coupled to the phase rotator output. The pilot phase error metric determines a phase error estimate associated with a received OFDM symbol, e.g., a data symbol, from the phase rotator output. A loop filter is coupled to the pilot phase error metric output and an oscillator is coupled to the loop filter output. The oscillator output is coupled to the phase rotator to adjust the phase of subsequent OFDM symbols of the incoming signal. Phase noise introduced by a radio portion of the OFDM receiver and OFDM transmitter is reduced by the baseband portion of the OFDM receiver improving OFDM signal tracking under poor SNR conditions.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for transferring one or more files by connecting to a communications system host; sending, to a client connected to the communications system host, a request to transfer one or more files; when a client permits access to the one or more files, establishing a direct socket connection from the client and bypassing the communications system host; and initiating the transfer of the one or more files from the client over the direct socket connection.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for displaying an image sent between subscribers of a communications system by receiving electronic data corresponding to the image; displaying a blurred view of the image; and gradually displaying a sharper version of the image in response to user input.

Abstract: A submersible fluorometer for measuring a fluorescence of a photosynthetic material in a liquid, the fluorometer includes a set of light emitting diodes (LEDs) for supplying light to direct towards the liquid and a photodiode for measuring a detected light emitted from the liquid. The light is used for measuring the fluorescence of the photosynthetic material in the liquid. The fluorometer also has a water-tight volume for protecting the photodiode from the liquid.

Abstract: An elongate strip for indicating a platform edge includes a base for resting on a platform; a back and a further surface. The arrangement is such that with the device resting on a platform, the further surface takes the place of the platform surface and includes an indicator to indicate an edge of the platform.