Abstract: An example of a flow cell includes a substrate; a first primer set attached to a first region on the substrate, the first primer set including an un-cleavable first primer and a cleavable second primer; and a second primer set attached to a second region on the substrate, the second primer set including a cleavable first primer and an un-cleavable second primer.

Abstract: A delivery device for a collapsible prosthetic heart valve includes an inner shaft, an outer shaft, and a distal sheath. The distal sheath may be disposed distal to the outer shaft and about a portion of the inner shaft to form a compartment with the inner shaft. The compartment may be sized to receive the prosthetic heart valve. The inner shaft and the distal sheath may be movable relative to one another. A spine may extend along the outer shaft, the spine biasing the outer shaft so that the outer shaft tends to bend in a pre-determined direction.

Abstract: A delivery device for a collapsible prosthetic heart valve includes an inner shaft, an outer shaft, and a distal sheath. The distal sheath may be disposed distal to the outer shaft and about a portion of the inner shaft to form a compartment with the inner shaft. The compartment may be sized to receive the prosthetic heart valve. The inner shaft and the distal sheath may be movable relative to one another. A spine may extend along the outer shaft, the spine biasing the outer shaft so that the outer shaft tends to bend in a pre-determined direction.

Abstract: Setup information including credential information for a computing device to connect to a wireless communication connection may be obtained. A machine-readable optical code may be generated based on the setup information. The machine-readable optical code may convey instructions configured to cause an image capture device to, in response to the image capture device capturing an image including the machine-readable optical code, establish the wireless communication connection and authenticate the computing device to the wireless communication connection by virtue of the computing device providing at least some of the credential information included in the setup information. The machine-readable optical code may be presented on a display. The computing device may connect to the wireless communication connection by wirelessly providing at least some of the credential information to the image capture device.

Abstract: In a system and method for assessing the condition of a subject, control parameters are derived from a neurophysiological computational model that operates on features extracted from a speech signal. The control parameters are used as biomarkers (indicators) of the subject's condition. Speech related features are compared with model predicted speech features, and the error signal is used to update control parameters within the neurophysiological computational model. The updated control parameters are processed in a comparison with parameters associated with the disorder in a library.

Abstract: In a system and method for assessing the condition of a subject, control parameters are derived from a neurophysiological computational model that operates on features extracted from a speech signal. The control parameters are used as biomarkers (indicators) of the subject's condition. Speech related features are compared with model predicted speech features, and the error signal is used to update control parameters within the neurophysiological computational model. The updated control parameters are processed in a comparison with parameters associated with the disorder in a library.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the low cost manufacturing a plurality of rigid sputtered magnetic media disks of one or more sizes from a rigid sheet, in which one or more initial steps of preparing the media are performed while the media is in sheet form. The individual disks are then removed from the sheet, and final processing is performed individually on the disks.

Abstract: A multi-chamber treatment/processing apparatus includes: a means for controlling/regulating operation of the apparatus providing the following operational sequence: performing a treatment/processing of at least one magnetic and/or magneto-optical disk in treatment/processing chambers, while each inlet gate and each outlet gate of each treatment/processing chamber is in a closed position and gas is exhausted from each buffer/isolation chamber; opening each of the inlet and outlet gates of each of the treatment/processing chambers and transporting the at least one magnetic and/or magneto-optical disk therein to the adjacent buffer/isolation chamber; closing the outlet gate of each of the treatment/processing chambers; transporting each of the magnetic and/or magneto-optical disk through a respective buffer/isolation chamber and initiating a flow of a respective gas to each treatment/processing chamber; and closing the inlet gate of each treatment/processing chamber immediately upon completion of entry of the at

Abstract: A method of forming a uniform thickness layer of a selected material on a surface of a substrate comprises steps of: (a) providing a multi-stage cathode sputtering apparatus comprising a group of spaced-apart cathode/target assemblies and a means for transporting at least one substrate/workpiece past each cathode/target assembly, each cathode/target assembly comprising a sputtering surface oriented substantially parallel to the first surface of the substrate during transport past the group of cathode/target assemblies, the group of cathode/target assemblies adapted for providing different angular sputtered film thickness profiles; and (b) transporting the substrate past each cathode/target assembly while providing different sputtered film thickness profiles from at least some of the cathode/target assemblies, such that a plurality of sub-layers is deposited on the surface of the substrate/workpiece which collectively form a uniform thickness layer of the selected material.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a magnetic disk comprising a substrate having a non-data zone region and a data zone region and a lubrication layer on the substrate, wherein a portion of the lubrication layer on the non-data zone region has a greater thickness of higher viscosity than a portion of the lubrication layer on the data zone region.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing for providing closer head-to-media spacing, and the resulting disk, includes evenly lubricating a magnetic media disk, increasing the viscosity of a selected non-data zone region of the disk, and removing at least a portion of the lower viscosity region of the lubrication layer in a data zone region of the disk, thereby decreasing the thickness of the lubrication layer in the data zone portion of the lower viscosity region, producing a magnetic media disk capable of closer head-to-media spacing in the data zone portion of the lower viscosity region of the lubrication layer than in the non-data zone portion.

Abstract: A method of forming a uniform thickness layer of a selected material on a surface of a substrate comprises steps of: (a) providing a multi-stage cathode sputtering apparatus comprising a group of spaced-apart cathode/target assemblies and a means for transporting at least one substrate/workpiece past each cathode/target assembly, each cathode/target assembly comprising a sputtering surface oriented substantially parallel to the first surface of the substrate during transport past the group of cathode/target assemblies, the group of cathode/target assemblies adapted for providing different angular sputtered film thickness profiles; and (b) transporting the substrate past each cathode/target assembly while providing different sputtered film thickness profiles from at least some of the cathode/target assemblies, such that a plurality of sub-layers is deposited on the surface of the substrate/workpiece which collectively form a uniform thickness layer of the selected material.

Abstract: A method for treating/processing substrates/workpieces in a multi-chamber treatment/processing apparatus, comprising: providing a multi-chamber treatment/processing apparatus comprising at least a pair of operatively interconnected upstream and downstream treatment/processing chambers; providing each of the chambers with at least one substrate/workpiece; treating/processing the at least one substrate/workpiece positioned in each of the chambers; evacuating process gas from each of the chambers during or upon completion of the treating/processing of the at least one substrate/workpiece positioned therein; removing the at least one substrate/workpiece from the downstream treatment/processing chamber and initiating transport of the at least one substrate/workpiece from the upstream treatment/processing chamber to the downstream treatment/processing chamber, comprising initiating a flow of the process gas to the evacuated downstream treatment/processing chamber prior to completion of transport of the substrate

Abstract: A method for treating/processing substrates/workpieces in a multi-chamber treatment/processing apparatus, comprising: providing a multi-chamber treatment/processing apparatus comprising at least a pair of operatively interconnected upstream and downstream treatment/processing chambers; providing each of the chambers with at least one substrate/workpiece; treating/processing the at least one substrate/workpiece positioned in each of the chambers; evacuating process gas from each of the chambers during or upon completion of the treating/processing of the at least one substrate/workpiece positioned therein; removing the at least one substrate/workpiece from the downstream treatment/processing chamber and initiating transport of the at least one substrate/workpiece from the upstream treatment/processing chamber to the downstream treatment/processing chamber, comprising initiating a flow of the process gas to the evacuated downstream treatment/processing chamber prior to completion of transport of the substrate

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the low cost manufacturing a plurality of rigid sputtered magnetic media disks of one or more sizes from a rigid sheet, in which one or more initial steps of preparing the media are performed while the media is in sheet form. The individual disks are then removed from the sheet, and final processing is performed individually on the disks.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and process within a pass-by sputtering chamber, in which standard cathodes and two or more specially-sized cathodes within the sputtering chamber, mounted colinear with the direction of travel of substrates within the sputtering chamber, enabling performance of rapid adjustment of material deposited on a substrate.

Abstract: The present invention is a manufacturing method of improving the signal-to-medium noise ratio of a magnetic media disk through closer head-to-media spacing, and the resulting disk, by evenly lubricating a magnetic media disk, increasing the viscosity of a selected region of the disk, and removing at least a portion of the lower viscosity region of the lubrication layer, thereby decreasing the thickness of the lubrication layer in the portion of the lower viscosity region, producing a magnetic media disk capable of closer head-to-media spacing in the portion of the lower viscosity region of the lubrication layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a perpendicular magnetic recording medium comprising a substrate and a granular magnetic layer comprising ruthenium or ruthenium oxide in the grain boundaries.

Abstract: Aspects comprise sputtering targets comprising a base material carrier provided with a recessed pattern, such as a looping trench, to receive a more precious material to be sputtered during deposition processes. The looping trench can have a cross-section of varying depth based on an expected variation in the magnetic field. The more precious material is provided at least in the trench, for example by hot pressing, and also can be pressed into a layer across an entirety of a surface of the carrier. During operation, the desired deposition of the precious material can occur from the trench area. Thus, a higher percentage of the precious material in the target is used, reducing inventory costs. The base material can be selected based on characteristics of the more precious material, and based on goals including reducing diffusion of base material into precious material and galvanic reactions.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling access to a multi-purpose entertainment console are disclosed. The methods and systems allow a first user to configure the amount of time per time interval a console is available for other users to access the entertainment features of the console. In one embodiment, when a timer is activated, the timer counts down as the console is used. The console provides a series of notifications that the timer is running low and a notification when time has expired. The user may then turn off the console or ask the first user to add more time. In another embodiment, the timer can be configured with daily or weekly limits. In further embodiments, the timer and system clock may be protected by a security code to prevent tampering. In a further embodiment, the system clock can be referenced for the automatic daily/weekly time allocation to be allocated.