Abstract: An orthodontic appliance may include an archwire and multiple orthodontic brackets. The archwire may fit within a human mouth and contain multiple male connectors. Each orthodontic bracket may have a configuration that facilitates attaching the orthodontic bracket to a single tooth. Each orthodontic bracket may allow one of the male connectors to be locked into the orthodontic bracket with a snapping action. The male connector may be unable to slide with respect to the orthodontic bracket after being locked in the orthodontic bracket. A manual unlocking action may allow the male connector to disengage from the orthodontic bracket.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance can include an archwire, ties, and multiple orthodontic brackets. The archwire can include multiple male fasteners and interproximal loops. Each male fastener may be inserted into an orthodontic bracket and tied into place. The male fastener may not be able to slide relative to the orthodontic bracket after it is tied to the orthodontic bracket.

Abstract: Hybrid orthodontic archwire designs are disclosed. Hybrid archwires may have bracket-archwire sections and interproximal archwire sections in which each section can vary in cross-section shape, size, and/or material properties. Bracket-archwire sections may be configured to promote torque control and may have rectangular cross-sections. Interproximal archwire sections may be configured to be bent into force-promoting loops and may have round cross sections. Each archwire section may be straight or bent into any shape. Hybrid archwires may have sliding sections and non-sliding sections. Non-sliding sections may have male connectors configured to prevent the archwire from sliding relative to the orthodontic brackets and/or may have cross-sectional shapes, sizes, or coatings that resist sliding relative to sliding sections. Sliding sections may have linear archwire segments. Hybrid archwires may have distal or posterior non-sliding sections and an intermediate anterior or medial sliding section.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance may include an archwire and multiple orthodontic brackets. The archwire may fit within a human mouth and contain multiple male connectors. Each orthodontic bracket may have a configuration that facilitates attaching the orthodontic bracket to a single tooth. Each orthodontic bracket may allow one of the male connectors to be locked into the orthodontic bracket with a snapping action. The male connector may be unable to slide with respect to the orthodontic bracket after being locked in the orthodontic bracket. A manual unlocking action may allow the male connector to disengage from the orthodontic bracket.

Abstract: Non-sliding orthodontic appliances may include an archwire having male fasteners for locking in place with brackets in a non-sliding manner and interproximal loops for exerting forces on the brackets. Appropriate forces may be calculated according to vectors between initial and ideal tooth positions. The brackets may be transferred to a patient's teeth using indirect bonding trays which contain slots for holding and aligning each bracket. The trays may include integrated handles for facilitating handling, may be sectioned into smaller pieces for easier application, and/or may be labeled for facilitating proper registration. Superposition of a digital placement plan and clinical model after bonding may illustrate the accuracy of bracket placement. The archwire may comprise atraumatic ends to avoid patient discomfort. A color registration system can be used to facilitate the attachment of the archwire to the brackets. The archwire may be locked into place with the brackets using crimpable stops.

Abstract: Systems and methods for fabricating indirect bonding trays are disclosed. Physical models of a patient's teeth can be created with non-functional placeholder brackets, impressions of which can be transferred to indirect bonding trays. This can create wells in which functional brackets can be placed into, reducing errors created from transferring functional brackets from the physical model onto the indirect bonding trays.

Abstract: Hybrid orthodontic archwire designs are disclosed. Hybrid archwires may have bracket-archwire sections and interproximal archwire sections in which each section can vary in cross-section shape, size, and/or material properties. Bracket-archwire sections may be configured to promote torque control and may have rectangular cross-sections. Interproximal archwire sections may be configured to be bent into force-promoting loops and may have round cross sections. Each archwire section may be straight or bent into any shape. Hybrid archwires may have sliding sections and non-sliding sections. Non-sliding sections may have male connectors configured to prevent the archwire from sliding relative to the orthodontic brackets and/or may have cross-sectional shapes, sizes, or coatings that resist sliding relative to sliding sections. Sliding sections may have linear archwire segments. Hybrid archwires may have distal or posterior non-sliding sections and an intermediate anterior or medial sliding section.

Abstract: Systems and methods for fabricating indirect bonding trays are disclosed. Physical models of a patient's teeth can be created with non-functional placeholder brackets, impressions of which can be transferred to indirect bonding trays. This can create wells in which functional brackets can be placed into, reducing errors created from transferring functional brackets from the physical model onto the indirect bonding trays.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for assessing whether a subject is at risk of developing a neurological disorder, diagnosing or confirming whether a subject is afflicted with a neurological disorder, assessing a neurological disorder is developing in a subject who has been identified as being at risk of developing the neurological disorder, assessing whether a subject afflicted with a neurological disorder is likely to benefit iron a therapy, assessing whether a subject afflicted with a neurological disorder has benefited from a therapy, treating a subject afflicted with a neurological disorder, and prophylactically treating a subject who has been identified as being at risk, of developing a neurological disorder. The present invention also provides epitopes, compounds and compositions relating to these methods.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance may include an archwire and multiple orthodontic brackets. The archwire may fit within a human mouth and contain multiple male connectors. Each orthodontic bracket may have a configuration that facilitates attaching the orthodontic bracket to a single tooth. Each orthodontic bracket may allow one of the male connectors to be locked into the orthodontic bracket with a snapping action. The male connector may be unable to slide with respect to the orthodontic bracket after being locked in the orthodontic bracket. A manual unlocking action may allow the male connector to disengage from the orthodontic bracket.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance may include an archwire and multiple orthodontic brackets. The archwire may fit within a human mouth and contain multiple male connectors. Each orthodontic bracket may have a configuration that facilitates attaching the orthodontic bracket to a single tooth. Each orthodontic bracket may allow one of the male connectors to be locked into the orthodontic bracket with a snapping action. The male connector may be unable to slide with respect to the orthodontic bracket after being locked in the orthodontic bracket. A manual unlocking action may allow the male connector to disengage from the orthodontic bracket.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring video assets provided by a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN) includes an expert test monitoring platform (ETMP) configured to emulate MCDN client systems at a facility of an MCDN service provider. The ETMP may be used to obtain remote control response metrics, along with internal performance data, for client systems in the ETMP. Historical metrics and historical data may be logged along with the release version for the client systems, which may then be used to correlate operational performance when analyzing client system characteristics.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance may include an archwire and multiple orthodontic brackets. The archwire may fit within a human mouth and contain multiple male connectors. Each orthodontic bracket may have a configuration that facilitates attaching the orthodontic bracket to a single tooth. Each orthodontic bracket may allow one of the male connectors to be locked into the orthodontic bracket with a snapping action. The male connector may be unable to slide with respect to the orthodontic bracket after being locked in the orthodontic bracket. A manual unlocking action may allow the male connector to disengage from the orthodontic bracket.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance may include an archwire and multiple orthodontic brackets. The archwire may fit within a human mouth and contain multiple male connectors. Each orthodontic bracket may have a configuration that facilitates attaching the orthodontic bracket to a single tooth. Each orthodontic bracket may allow one of the male connectors to be locked into the orthodontic bracket with a snapping action. The male connector may be unable to slide with respect to the orthodontic bracket after being locked in the orthodontic bracket. A manual unlocking action may allow the male connector to disengage from the orthodontic bracket.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a control server from a first terminal, first input selecting a first media device and a second media device. The first media device and the second media device are coupled to a media switch. The method includes updating control data to generate updated control data in response to the first input. The updated control data associates the first media device with a location of a facility. The location is associated with a port number of a particular controller. The method also includes sending a signal from the control server to the media switch to instruct the media switch to send a first video output of the first media device and a second video output of the second media device to the first terminal.

Abstract: An interband cascade laser including: a ridge waveguide having alternating first and second regions; wherein the first region has a constant width, and the second region has a width that matches that of the first region at boundaries between the first region and the second region, and the width of the second region increases to a maximum that is larger than the width of the first region, such that a partially-corrugated sidewall along each side of the ridge waveguide is formed; wherein the first region comprises a grating structure, and due to periodic nature of the first region, the grating structure is in a form of a sampled grating; and wherein the partially-corrugated sidewall increases waveguide losses for radiation in higher order lateral modes as compared to the fundamental waveguide mode.

Abstract: Non-sliding orthodontic appliances may include an archwire having male fasteners for locking in place with brackets in a non-sliding manner and interproximal loops for exerting forces on the brackets. Appropriate forces may be calculated according to vectors between initial and ideal tooth positions. The brackets may be transferred to a patient's teeth using indirect bonding trays which contain slots for holding and aligning each bracket. The trays may include integrated handles for facilitating handling, may be sectioned into smaller pieces for easier application, and/or may be labeled for facilitating proper registration. Superposition of a digital placement plan and clinical model after bonding may illustrate the accuracy of bracket placement. The archwire may comprise atraumatic ends to avoid patient discomfort. A color registration system can be used to facilitate the attachment of the archwire to the brackets. The archwire may be locked into place with the brackets using crimpable stops.

Abstract: Hybrid orthodontic archwire designs are disclosed. Hybrid archwires may have bracket-archwire sections and interproximal archwire sections in which each section can vary in cross-section shape, size, and/or material properties. Bracket-archwire sections may be configured to promote torque control and may have rectangular cross-sections. Interproximal archwire sections may be configured to be bent into force-promoting loops and may have round cross sections. Each archwire section may be straight or bent into any shape. Hybrid archwires may have sliding sections and non-sliding sections. Non-sliding sections may have male connectors configured to prevent the archwire from sliding relative to the orthodontic brackets and/or may have cross-sectional shapes, sizes, or coatings that resist sliding relative to sliding sections. Sliding sections may have linear archwire segments. Hybrid archwires may have distal or posterior non-sliding sections and an intermediate anterior or medial sliding section.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring video assets provided by a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN) includes an expert test monitoring platform (ETMP) configured to emulate MCDN client systems at a facility of an MCDN service provider. The ETMP may be used to test monitor MCDN performance by acquiring a baseband video signal and performing a test operation including at least one check point condition. The check point condition may be associated with a masked region of the video signal and may also involve a test of an audio channel. A plurality of test operations and/or check point conditions may be defined and executed on the baseband video signal, while the results of the test operation may be logged.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance can include an archwire, ties, and multiple orthodontic brackets. The archwire can include multiple male fasteners and interproximal loops. Each male fastener may be inserted into an orthodontic bracket and tied into place. The male fastener may not be able to slide relative to the orthodontic bracket after it is tied to the orthodontic bracket.