Abstract: A wireless communication system under a contention-based protocol comprises an access point and at least one station, wherein the station is arranged for wirelessly communicating with the access point under the contention-based protocol. In the operations of the wireless communication system, the access point broadcasts a polling usage sequence to assign a time slot for the station, and the station subsequently uses the assigned time slot to transmit a data packet to the access point.

Abstract: An incremental forming tool of a sheet material has a tool holder having an axis and at least one tool rod mounted in the tool holder. The at least one tool rod may have variable shapes, lengths, diameters and radii such that the rotation of the at least one tool rod about the axis of the tool holder on the sheet material simulates an up and down, in and out, and/or side-to-side vibration motion.

Abstract: A side-loading pendulum slicer for slicing short and/or oddly-shaped food products. The pendulum slicer has an aperture in the upstream side of the product holder through which food products are injected. A loading conveyor holds large numbers of food products that are sequentially and individually loaded onto an injecting conveyor that injects the food products through the aperture and into the product holder. A weight that is raised above the aperture is lowered onto the food product to compress the food product against a thickness tray while the product holder reciprocates through a blade adjacent the thickness tray. Slices are removed from the food product and conveyed away for use.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described managing module for locating a target storage device among a plurality of storage devices connected via a network. A computer implemented method includes sending registration information to a central directory, wherein the registration information includes at least an address of one of the plurality of storage devices, and the central directory stores the registration information in a registry. The method also includes sending a request to the central directory for an address for another one of the plurality of storage devices, receiving the address from the central directory if the address is in the registry, and conducting a successive lookup of a closest known address until the address is located if the address is not in the registry.

Abstract: A speaker assembly includes a support structure and a tactile vibrator coupled to the support structure. The tactile vibrator includes a plurality of rigid members coupled to a plurality of suspension members. Each rigid member of the plurality of rigid members has at least one magnetic member coupled thereto for generating tactile vibrations during operation of the speaker assembly. A headphone includes the speaker assembly. A method of operating a speaker assembly includes driving a tactile vibrator having a plurality of magnetic members coupled to a plurality of rigid members and a plurality of suspension members to cause tactile vibrations in the speaker assembly.

Abstract: A method of calculating a climb-dive marker (CDM) that is visibly present on a display even as the aircraft approaches a roll angle of +/?90° is provided. An exemplary CDM method comprises obtaining, an X-axis velocity, a Y-axis velocity, and a Z-axis velocity in aircraft body coordinates of an aircraft; calculating a CDM elevation; and displaying, by the controller, the calculated CDM elevation. The method can further comprise obtaining an angle of attack (AoA) of the aircraft and a roll angle of the aircraft, wherein the AoA is set as the value of the CDM elevation when the roll angle is within a preset range. The CDM elevation may also be calculated using a combination of the AOA and the CDM formula when roll angle is within a second preset range.

Abstract: A combined altitude display apparatus for generating a combined altitude value is provided. The apparatus comprises a first altitude input interface, wherein the first altitude input interface receives a first altitude value; a second altitude input interface, wherein the second altitude input interface receives a second altitude value, wherein the second altitude value indicated by the second altitude input interface has a cyclical range; an altitude output interface, wherein the altitude output interface outputs a third altitude value; and a data fusion component coupled to the first altitude input interface and the second altitude input interface and configured to calculate the third altitude value based on the first altitude value and the second altitude value.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treatment for cancer in a subject comprising the administration of a prodrug, wherein the subject is colonised with an obligate anaerobic microorganism capable of expressing a polypeptide having nitroreductase activity, wherein the polypeptide exhibits preferential reduction of CB1954 to a 4-hydroxylamine (4HX) derivative instead of a 2-hydroxylamine derivative; and is capable of reducing CB1954 to the 4HX derivative with a Km of less than 30 micromolar. The present invention further provides an isolated polypeptide, nucleic acids encoding said polypeptide, vectors and host cells comprising said nucleic acids and vectors and uses of the above in treating solid tumours.

Abstract: An iris biometric recognition module includes technology for capturing images of an iris of an eye of a person, whether the person is moving or stationary. The iris biometric recognition technology can perform an iris matching procedure for, e.g., authentication or identity purposes, by comparing a digital iris image to a reference iris image and, if the digital and reference iris images match, transition an object from a locked to an unlocked state to allow access to the object.

Abstract: The ergonomically optimized self-stabilizing leg mounted mouse pad with integrated mouse storage holster provides a stable working surface area designed specifically for operating a common wireless computer mouse while resting the mouse pad discussed here on other than flat firm surfaces. Such alternative platforms upon which this device can be used effectively would include a user's thigh, the arm of a couch or an automobile's center console. The design features are purposefully engineered to ensure that the invention is self stabilizing on other than a flat firm surface through the use of a contact surface that is a curvilinear concavity with a camphered surface architecture that maximizes the advantage of the weight of the device coupled with the tacky characteristics of the material from which the device is constructed. The device is stable in its intended use without the use of supplemental attachments to secure or stabilize the device.

Abstract: An iris biometric recognition module includes technology for capturing images of an iris of an eye of a person, whether the person is moving or stationary. The iris biometric recognition technology can perform an iris matching procedure for, e.g., authentication or identity purposes, by comparing a digital iris image to a reference iris image and, if at least a portion of the digital and reference iris images match, authenticating a person as authorized to conduct a financial transaction.

Abstract: An iris biometric recognition module includes technology for capturing images of an iris of an eye of a person, whether the person is moving or stationary. The iris biometric recognition technology can perform an iris matching procedure for, e.g., identity purposes by querying a database for data related to an identified person, comparing the data with a plurality of content, and, in response to a determination that the data matches at least one piece of the plurality of content, display the plurality of content specific to the person on a display device.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a wireless communication method carried out by a wireless transmitter capable of offering an unintended wireless device a chance of starting or proceeding with a transmission procedure during a transmission duration of the wireless transmitter. An embodiment of said wireless communication method comprises the following steps: preparing a packet carrying an indication of a clear channel assessment (CCA) threshold level for an unintended wireless device to decide whether to execute a transmission procedure; and transmitting the packet to an intended wireless device under a protocol by which the unintended wireless device is expected to abide.

Abstract: Embodiments of a Z-dimension user-feedback biometric system are provided. In some embodiments, a camera captures subject images positioned along a plurality of Z-dimension positions, including a normal subject image for a mid-range of a capture volume and one or both of the following: (a) a close subject image for a front of the capture volume and (b) a far subject image for a back of the capture volume. In some embodiments, a processing element can be configured to create a normal display image, as well as a close display image (with a first exaggerated quality) and/or a far display image (with a second exaggerated quality). In some embodiments, the first exaggerated quality can be a positive exaggeration of a quality and the second exaggerated quality can be a negative exaggeration of the quality.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described managing module for locating a target storage device among a plurality of storage devices connected via a network. A computer implemented method includes sending registration information to a central directory, wherein the registration information includes at least an address of one of the plurality of storage devices, and the central directory stores the registration information in a registry. The method also includes sending a request to the central directory for an address for another one of the plurality of storage devices, receiving the address from the central directory if the address is in the registry, and conducting a successive lookup of a closest known address until the address is located if the address is not in the registry.

Abstract: A process for forming a sheet metal component. The process includes rigidly clamping a piece of sheet metal to a clamping fixture and plastically deforming the sheet metal to produce a shaped component during a first manufacturing step. The shaped component has a first amount of springback. During a second manufacturing step, a pair of electrodes applies one or more pulses of electrical current at one or more locations on the shaped component while the shaped component is still rigidly clamped to the clamping fixture during. The one or more pulses of electrical current applied to the shaped component provide an electrically-assisted manufactured (EAM) shaped component. The EAM shaped component has a second amount of springback that is less than the first amount of springback.

Abstract: Methods of generating tactile user feedback utilizing headphone devices may involve sending a feedback signal from a computing device to a headphone device operatively connected to the computing device. A tactile vibration may be generated utilizing a tactile bass vibrator of the headphone device in response to the feedback signal. Systems for generating tactile user feedback utilizing headphone devices may include a headphone device operatively connected to a computing device, the headphone device comprising a tactile bass vibrator configured to generate a tactile vibration in response to a feedback signal received from the computing device. The computing device may be programmed to send a feedback signal to the headphone device in response to a predetermined event.

Abstract: A smoking device can include one or more walls defining, at least in part, a combustion cavity, a lower inlet connecting the combustion cavity to an air source, a first flange defining, at least in part, a first recirculation channel open to an upper side of the combustion cavity, a second flange defining, at least in part, a second recirculation channel open to the upper side of the combustion cavity, and an upper inlet connecting the upper side of the combustion cavity to the air source and disposed between the first recirculation channel and the second recirculation channel. While a flame is generated within the combustion cavity, a convection flow from the flame can be directed to the first recirculation channel and the second recirculation channel and past the upper inlet to reduce the upper flow of air from the upper inlet until the flame is reduced.

Abstract: Headphones for stereo tactile vibration, and related systems and methods are disclosed. A headphone comprises a first speaker assembly including a first audio driver and a first tactile bass vibrator. The headphone also comprises a second speaker assembly including a second audio driver and a second tactile bass vibrator. The headphone further comprises a signal processing circuit configured to generate a first tactile vibration signal and a second tactile vibration signal from an audio signal to be received by the headphone. The first tactile vibration signal differs from the second tactile vibration signal. A method of operating the headphone includes generating the first tactile vibration signal and the second tactile vibration signal, and driving vibration of the first and second tactile bass vibrators with the first and second tactile vibration signals, respectively. A stereo tactile vibrator system includes the headphone.

Abstract: A layer of permeable material is positioned on an area of lost circulation lithology in a wellbore. An example of the permeable material includes a planar member with perforations that is rolled into and retained in an annular configuration. The permeable material is lowered into the wellbore adjacent the area of lost circulation and allowed to unroll and expand radially outward against walls of the wellbore. The wellbore wall along the area of lost circulation lithology can be reamed out so the layer of permeable material is out of the way of a drill bit. Applying a bridging agent on the interface where the permeable material contacts the wellbore wall forms a flow barrier.