Abstract: Infection control or protective clothing articles, such as gowns, to be worn by healthcare workers in a medical environment, for example a hospital or assisted living facility are disclosed. The articles are formed of a hydrophobic, breathable, poly-olefin-based web with a controlled pore size less than or about equal to the size of most bacterial or viral particles. The articles can also be made from composites including the polyolefin-based web. Methods of manufacturing the articles are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus to effect at least partial breakdown of a discrete material or product item or a combination of discrete material or product items. The apparatus includes a treatment vessel in which the discrete material or product item or combination of discrete material or product items are located for treatment. There is at least one entry for introduction of at least one working fluid, at least one pressurisation arrangement to increase pressure on the material or product item or combination of material or product items within the treatment vessel. At least one decompression arrangement to rapidly reduce the pressure on the material or product item or combination of material or product items within the treatment vessel may also be provided. The at least one pressurisation arrangement and the at least one decompression arrangement are operable to cause repeated pressurisation and rapid decompression on the material or product item or combination of material or product items within the treatment vessel.

Abstract: A method of at least partially breaking down a material or product item or combination of material or product items. The method includes the steps of introducing said material or product item or combination of material or product items into a treatment vessel, introducing at least one working fluid into the treatment vessel, repeatedly increasing pressure on the material or product item or combination of material or product items in said treatment vessel to above atmospheric pressure and then subsequently depressurising the material or product item or combination of material or product items in the treatment vessel to achieve a pressure reduction in the vessel to effect at least partial breakdown of said material or product item or combination of material or product items.

Abstract: An extendable and retractable column which is formed from at least three linked sections. The linked sections include a plurality of individual sections linked end to end. As the linked sections are extended, each of the individual sections engage adjacent individual sections to form a column. As the linked sections are retracted, each of the individual sections disengage from the adjacent individual sections and the column may be retracted for compact storage.

Abstract: An extendable and retractable column which is formed from at least three linked sections. The linked sections include a plurality of individual sections linked end to end. As the linked sections are extended, each of the individual sections engage adjacent individual sections to form a column. As the linked sections are retracted, each of the individual sections disengage from the adjacent individual sections and the column may be retracted for compact storage.

Abstract: An exemplary sound processor included in a cochlear implant system used by a recipient is configured to generate a spectral input signal representative of spectral energy contained within a frequency band of a plurality of frequency bands of an audio input signal presented to the recipient. The sound processor further receives a predetermined system noise threshold that is determined prior to the audio input signal being presented to the recipient and that is based on a predicted or measured spectral energy level of system noise generated by a theoretical or test cochlear implant system associated with, but distinct from, the cochlear implant system. The sound processor determines whether a spectral energy level of the spectral input signal exceeds the system noise threshold and, based on this determination, performs an action that impacts stimulation provided to the recipient by the cochlear implant system. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An extendable and retractable column which is formed from at least three linked sections. The linked sections include a plurality of individual sections linked end to end. As the linked sections are extended, each of the individual sections engage adjacent individual sections to form a column. As the linked sections are retracted, each of the individual sections disengage from the adjacent individual sections and the column may be retracted for compact storage. Methods of forming such an expandable/retractable column are also presented.

Abstract: An exemplary sound processor included in a cochlear implant system used by a patient generates a spectral input signal representative of spectral energy contained within a frequency band of an audio signal presented to the patient. The sound processor determines whether a spectral energy level of the spectral input signal exceeds a predetermined system noise threshold that is based on a characterization of system noise generated by the cochlear implant system within the frequency band. The sound processer then generates a spectral output signal by 1) including the spectral input signal in the spectral output signal if the spectral energy level exceeds the predetermined system noise threshold, and 2) excluding the spectral input signal from the spectral output signal if the spectral energy level does not exceed the predetermined system noise threshold. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An extendable and retractable column which is formed from at least three linked sections. The linked sections include a plurality of individual sections linked end to end. As the linked sections are extended, each of the individual sections engage adjacent individual sections to form a column. As the linked sections are retracted, each of the individual sections disengage from the adjacent individual sections and the column may be retracted for compact storage. Methods of forming such an expandable/retractable column are also presented.

Abstract: An extendable and retractable column which is formed from at least three linked sections. The linked sections include a plurality of individual sections linked end to end. As the linked sections are extended, each of the individual sections engage adjacent individual sections to form a column. As the linked sections are retracted, each of the individual sections disengage from the adjacent individual sections and the column may be retracted for compact storage.

Abstract: Described are compounds that inhibit androgen receptor action, pharmaceutical compositions including the compounds, and methods of using the compounds and compositions for treating disorders and conditions in a subject.

Abstract: An extendable and retractable column which is formed from at least three linked sections. The linked sections include a plurality of individual sections linked end to end. As the linked sections are extended, each of the individual sections engage adjacent individual sections to form a column. As the linked sections are retracted, each of the individual sections disengage from the adjacent individual sections and the column may be retracted for compact storage.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of fragmenting a discrete waste product item or a combination of discrete waste product items involving introducing the discrete waste product item or combination of discrete waste product items into a pressure vessel, subjecting the item or items to an atmosphere of superheated steam in the vessel of at least 0.5 bar above atmospheric pressure, subsequently decompressing the vessel to achieve a pressure reduction of at least 0.5 bar in at most 5 seconds, and repeating the steps to effect fragmentation of the waste product item or combination of waste product items.

Abstract: In one invention embodiment two microphones are attached to the ear cup and are configured as an end-firing array. The end-firing array suppresses unwanted sounds using an adaptive spectral method and spectral subtraction. According to a second embodiment, Automatic Calibration of an end-firing Microphone Array is provided.

Abstract: An extendable and retractable column which is formed from at least three linked sections. The linked sections include a plurality of individual sections linked end to end. As the linked sections are extended, each of the individual sections engage adjacent individual sections to form a column. As the linked sections are retracted, each of the individual sections disengage from the adjacent individual sections and the column may be retracted for compact storage.

Abstract: An extendable and retractable column which is formed from at least three linked sections. The linked sections include a plurality of individual sections linked end to end. As the linked sections are extended, each of the individual sections of the linked chains engage individual sections of adjacent linked chains to form a column. As the linked sections are retracted, each of the individual sections of the linked chains disengage from the individual section of the adjacent linked sections and the individual linked sections may be rolled up for compact storage.

Abstract: In one invention embodiment two microphones are attached to the ear cup and are configured as an end-firing array. The end-firing array suppresses unwanted sounds using an adaptive spectral method and spectral subtraction. According to a second embodiment, Automatic Calibration of an end-firing Microphone Array is provided.

Abstract: An extendable and retractable column which is formed from at least three linked sections. The linked sections include a plurality of individual sections linked end to end. As the linked sections are extended, each of the individual sections of the linked chains engage individual sections of adjacent linked chains to form a column. As the linked sections are retracted, each of the individual sections of the linked chains disengage from the individual section of the adjacent linked sections and the individual linked sections may be rolled up for compact storage.

Abstract: An extendable and retractable column which is formed from at least three linked sections. The linked sections include a plurality of individual sections linked end to end. As the linked sections are extended, each of the individual sections of the linked chains engage individual sections of adjacent linked chains to form a column. As the linked sections are retracted, each of the individual sections of the linked chains disengage from the individual section of the adjacent linked sections and the individual linked sections may be rolled up for compact storage.

Abstract: A method of fragmenting a discrete waste product item or a combination of discrete waste product items, the method comprises the steps of: (e) introducing said discrete waste product item or combination of discrete waste product items into a pressure vessel, (f) subjecting said item or items to an atmosphere of superheated steam in the vessel of at least 0.5 bar above atmospheric pressure, (g) subsequently decompressing the vessel to achieve a pressure reduction of at least 0.5 bar in at most 5 seconds, and (h) repeating steps (b) and (c) to effect fragmentation of said waste product item or combination of waste product items.