Abstract: A tulip head apparatus includes a chuck housing configured to join to a head of a screw. The chuck housing comprises an upward slot extending from a bottom for enabling the chuck housing to expand to enable entry of the head and to contract to retain the head. A plurality of downward slots extends from a top for enabling a portion of the chuck housing to contract and expand. A plurality of hook structures are disposed about the top. A rotating head includes a hollow portion having a circular groove and to accept the chuck housing in which a contraction of the portion enables entry of the chuck housing and expansion of the portion engages the hook structures with the groove to secure the chuck housing within the rotating head and enable the rotating head to rotate about the chuck housing.

Abstract: A computerized method of automatically determining a user's potential liking for an unknown audio file, based upon a reference audio file that the user likes. Each audio file is analyzed into various frequency and amplitude bins, each bin having a time length that is at least a substantial fraction of the audio file's normal playing time. Each bin is further scored according to the complexity or information content of the audio signal in that bin. Corresponding bins from the reference audio file and one or more unknown audio files are then compared on a per-bin basis, and the results aggregated according to an anticipated user affinity score using an anticipated user affinity algorithm. The method can be used by an internet server to accept song input from users (using user computerized devices), and in turn suggest other high user affinity score songs that the user may like.

Abstract: A pedicle depth measuring apparatus comprises an outer tubular member comprising a first end and a second end. A head member is joined to the second end. The head member comprises a base surface comprising an opening. An inner member is slidable within the outer tubular member. The inner member comprises a first end and a second end, the second end being slidable through the opening. The second end further comprises a marker disposed at a distal end. The marker comprises a material that is radiographically distinguishable, in which a placement of the marker within a cannulation of a patient's pedicle is observable. An indicator member is operable for indicating a distance between the marker and the base surface, in which the distance indicates a choice of a size of a pedicle screw for mitigating damage to the patient's nerve root.

Abstract: A pedicle screw comprises a head. A shaft is joined to the head. The shaft comprises a first threaded portion, a middle portion and a second threaded portion. The middle portion comprises a modified threaded portion being configured to mitigate damage to a patient's nerve root. A first marker is joinable to the shaft proximate the modified threaded portion. The first marker comprises a material being radiographically distinguishable from the shaft in which a placement of the modified threaded portion is observable.

Abstract: A tulip head apparatus comprises a chuck housing configured to join to a head of a screw. Said chuck housing comprises an upward slot extending from a bottom for enabling said chuck housing to expand to enable entry of the head and to contract to retain the head. A plurality of downward slots extends from a top for enabling a portion of the chuck housing to contract and expand. A plurality of hook structures are disposed about said top. A rotating head comprises a hollow portion having a circular groove and to accept said chuck housing in which a contraction of said portion enables entry of said chuck housing and expansion of said portion engages said hook structures with said groove to secure said chuck housing within said rotating head and enable said rotating head to rotate about said chuck housing.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for simulating propagation of an electromagnetic field, performing phase retrieval, or sampling a band-limited function. A system practicing the method generates transformed data using a discrete Fourier transform which samples a band-limited function f(x) without interpolating or modifying received data associated with the function f(x), wherein an interval between repeated copies in a periodic extension of the function f(x) obtained from the discrete Fourier transform is associated with a sampling ratio Q, defined as a ratio of a sampling frequency to a band-limited frequency, and wherein Q is assigned a value between 1 and 2 such that substantially no aliasing occurs in the transformed data, and retrieves a phase in the received data based on the transformed data, wherein the phase is used as feedback to an optical system.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for simulating propagation of an electromagnetic field, performing phase retrieval, or sampling a band-limited function. A system practicing the method generates transformed data using a discrete Fourier transform which samples a band-limited function f(x) without interpolating or modifying received data associated with the function f(x), wherein an interval between repeated copies in a periodic extension of the function f(x) obtained from the discrete Fourier transform is associated with a sampling ratio Q, defined as a ratio of a sampling frequency to a band-limited frequency, and wherein Q is assigned a value between 1 and 2 such that substantially no aliasing occurs in the transformed data, and retrieves a phase in the received data based on the transformed data, wherein the phase is used as feedback to an optical system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel method of treatment or prophylaxis of osteoarthritis, which comprises administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of an alpha 7 nicotinic AcetylCholine receptor agonist of Formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for obtaining a reproducible sample of solid particles. The reproducible sample is obtained by receiving solid particles into a collection system that includes a sheltered volume. Solid particles that settle outside of the sheltered volume are purged from the collection system. The remaining solid particles inside the sheltered volume correspond to the reproducible sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides various processes for fluidizing molecular sieve catalyst compositions in a fluidized bed reaction system. The invention comprises fluidizing a molecular sieve catalyst composition with a reactive fluidizing medium under conditions effective to convert at least a portion of the fluidizing medium to additional product. The invention is ideally suited for implementation into an oxygenate to olefin reaction system, in which the fluidizing medium optionally comprises byproducts of the oxygenate to olefin conversion reaction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for making olefin product from an oxygenate-containing feedstock. In the method, a silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieve catalyst is contacted with the oxygenate-containing feedstock in a reactor at an average catalyst feedstock exposure index of at least 1.0. The method produces lower coke yield and provides an olefin product which is low in C1-C4 paraffin content. The invention is particularly effective in producing an olefin product having a very low propane content.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for making olefin product from an oxygenate-containing feedstock. In the method, a silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieve catalyst is contacted with the oxygenate-containing feedstock in a reactor at an average catalyst feedstock exposure index of at least 1.0. The method produces lower coke yield and provides an olefin product which is low in C1-C4 paraffin content. The invention is particularly effective in producing an olefin product having a very low propane content.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for making olefin product from an oxygenate-containing feedstock. In the method, a silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieve catalyst is contacted with the oxygenate-containing feedstock in a reactor at an average catalyst feedstock exposure index of at least 1.0. The method produces lower coke yield and provides an olefin product which is low in C1-C4 paraffin content. The invention is particularly effective in producing an olefin product having a very low propane content.

Abstract: A process for separating a gaseous mixture comprising C.sub.1 chlocarbons and noncondensible gases into a liquid component comprising the C.sub.1 chlorocarbons and a component comprising the noncondensible gases. The method employs a liquid hydrocarbon having an average molecular weight within a range of about 142 to 422 to adsorb the C.sub.1 chlorocarbons from the gaseous mixture. The present process is especially useful for separating methyl chloride from a gaseous mixture resulting from an oxychlorination process where the gaseous mixture further comprises, methane, water vapor, and hydrogen chloride.