Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealing a puncture or incision formed percutaneously in tissue separating two internal portions of the body of a living being with an anchor, a sealing plug and a filament connecting the anchor and sealing plug. The method and apparatus provide for automatic tamping and/or cinching of the sealing plug when the apparatus is withdrawn from the puncture site. The automatic tamping and/or cinching is facilitated by transducing a motive force generated by the withdrawal of the apparatus into a tamping and/or cinching force.

Abstract: A vertebral implant for insertion into a patient includes first and second end members and a spacer member. The end members and the spacer member form an elongated shape with a longitudinal axis. At least one of the end members may include a recess that receives the spacer member. At least one attachment member is coupled to each of the end members. The attachment member is positioned away from the recesses.

Abstract: Described is an electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometer comprising a miniaturized radio-frequency (RF) microwave cavity resonator. The miniaturized RF microwave cavity resonator receives a carrier signal from a circulator, modulates the signal path signal, and reflects the carrier signal back to the circulator to amplify the carrier signal prior to demodulation. A mixer receives and demodulates the carrier signal and outputs an audio signal to generate an ESR spectrum for analyzing a chemical composition of a fluid sample. The ESR spectrum represents a magnetic susceptibility of the fluid sample to a magnetic resonance cause variation in a resonant frequency of the miniaturized RF microwave cavity resonator. In a desired aspect, the carrier signal is split into two paths prior to demodulation. The two paths are demodulated by different mixers to produce two separate outputs, an absorption spectrum and a dispersion spectrum.

Abstract: A vertebral implant for insertion into a patient includes first and second end members that include recesses for engaging a spacer member and a distractor. The end plates include a bone contact surface and an oppositely facing surface. A peripheral surface extends around a perimeter of the end members. The recesses may extend inward from the oppositely facing surfaces. Further, the recesses may extend inward from the peripheral surfaces. The recesses for engaging the spacer member and distractor may be separate from each other or may intersect one another. A spacer may engage the end plates to establish a desired vertebral spacing. The spacer may be positioned between the implants after a desired distraction is obtained with a distractor that engages the end plates.

Abstract: A multi-stage minimally invasive surgical procedure and associated instruments are disclosed. First, the surgical site is prepared. After preparation, the bone screws or anchors are attached to the bone. Subsequent to insertion of the screws, a rod or connecting member is positioned within the yoke portion of the bone screw. Caps are then placed in a pre-lock position within the yokes. The bone screws may be compressed together or distracted along the rod or connecting member, thereby setting the final spacing of the bones or bone segments. Finally the caps are moved to a final lock position to fix the screws to the rod or connecting member to maintain the bones in position relative to each other.

Abstract: Certain example embodiments disclosed herein relate to online survey systems and/or methods. In certain example embodiments, the questions to be asked are substantially insulated from an application that asks the questions. This abstraction may be accomplished in certain example embodiments by dynamically generating a computer-accessible (e.g., web-based) survey from one or more definition files. For example, a survey may be defined via a response definition file and a user interface definition file, thereby enabling the definition files to be read and the survey to be presented with the appropriate questions, validations, and transformations being specified by the response definition file, and with the look and feel being specified by the user interface definition file. Answers to questions may be persisted for a respondent in a storage location remote from the respondent. Such online surveys systems and/or methods may be suitable for census-related activities.

Abstract: Certain example embodiments disclosed herein relate to online survey systems and/or methods. In certain example embodiments, the questions to be asked are substantially insulated from an application that asks the questions. This abstraction may be accomplished in certain example embodiments by dynamically generating a computer-accessible (e.g., web-based) survey from one or more definition files. For example, a survey may be defined via a response definition file and a user interface definition file, thereby enabling the definition files to be read and the survey to be presented with the appropriate questions, validations, and transformations being specified by the response definition life, and with the look and feel being specified by the user interface definition file. Answers to questions may be persisted for a respondent in a storage location remote from the respondent. Such online surveys systems and/or methods may be suitable for census-related activities.

Abstract: Silicon compositions with the silicon compound ingredient A alkenylated PolyOrganoSiloxane (POS) containing an F1 fraction and an F2 fraction that are different from each other; F2, an adherence enhancer comprising a linear monoalkenylated silicon oil (A2.1) at one of its ends and/or a long linear ?,?,-alkenylated silicon oil (A2.2) and/or a “weakly alkenylated linear oil. Applications: non-stick silicon coatings obtained from crosslinking/polyaddition for PET.

Abstract: An upgradeable patch panel assembly and associated method of upgrading a patch panel assembly. The upgradeable patch panel assembly including a panel base having an aperture sized to receive a scanner interface cable. The method including removing a first cover from the panel base, inserting a scanner interface cable through the existing aperture in the panel base, and attached an upgraded cover to the panel base. Upgrading the patch panel assembly is completed while the assembly remains mounted to a frame and without disconnecting rear cable connections. The upgraded patch panel assembly provides jack-occupancy monitoring capabilities.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealing a puncture or incision formed percutaneously in tissue separating two internal portions of the body of a living being with an anchor, a sealing plug and a filament connecting the anchor and sealing plug. The method and apparatus provide for a tamping device that is coilable in some configurations and stiff and straight in other configurations. The coilable tamping device may also automatically tamp the sealing plug when the apparatus is withdrawn from the puncture site. The automatic uncoiling and tamping is facilitated by transducing a motive force generated by the withdrawal of the apparatus into a tamping force.

Abstract: A process of regulating the water content of water-fluidized oil sand ore during processing of the ore is disclosed. The weight (mo) of a sample charge of oil sand ore having a bulk volume (Vt) is determined. The inter granular voids of the sample charge are then filled with water, and the weight (ma) of the added inter granular water is determined. A target specific gravity value (SGmix) is selected for the fluidized oil sand ore. The volume of additional water, ?V, to add to a sample charge of bulk volume Vt, to achieve the target specific gravity value (SGmix) is calculated by solving the following equation: ? ? ? V = V t · ( ( m o + m a ? ? ? w · V t ) - SG mix SG mix - 1 ) + m a ? ? ? w The determined volume ?V of additional water per bulk volume Vt of oil sand ore to be processed is added to the oil sand ore, producing water-fluidized oil sand ore. The ore is then processed to concentrate the bitumen.

Abstract: Equipment and a process for separating bitumen from oil sand in a process stream are disclosed. The equipment includes several processing vessels and one or more local area radio frequency applicators to selectively heat the process stream in local areas of the equipment. The local area can be adjacent to an input or output of a component of the equipment. Also disclosed is equipment for processing an oil sand—water slurry, including a slurrying vessel, a slurry pipe, and a local area radio frequency applicator. The local area radio frequency applicator is located outside of the slurry pipe, and heats the local area without significantly heating the contents of the slurrying vessel or of the downstream portion of the slurry pipe.

Abstract: An aspect of the invention concerns a method of determining the permittivity of a substance using a probe having known dielectric characteristics, a planar end surface normal to the axis of the probe, a signal source, and a signal receiver. In this aspect, the method is carried out by contacting the substance with the planar end surface of said probe to form an interface between the probe and the substance. The method further involves measuring the reflection coefficient of the substance by (1) transmitting a signal through the probe to the interface, (2) receiving the signal reflected from the interface, and (3) comparing said transmitted and reflected signals, and then calculating the permittivity of said substance from the reflection coefficient as so measured.

Abstract: An upgradeable patch panel assembly and associated method of upgrading a patch panel assembly. The upgradeable patch panel assembly including a panel base having an aperture sized to receive a scanner interface cable. The method including removing a first cover from the panel base, inserting a scanner interface cable through the existing aperture in the panel base, and attached an upgraded cover to the panel base. Upgrading the patch panel assembly is completed while the assembly remains mounted to a frame and without disconnecting rear cable connections. The upgraded patch panel assembly provides jack-occupancy monitoring capabilities.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealing a puncture or incision formed percutaneously in tissue separating two internal portions of the body of a living being with an anchor, a sealing plug and a filament connecting the anchor and sealing plug. The method and apparatus provide for a tamping device that is coilable in some configurations and stiff and straight in other configurations. The coilable tamping device may also automatically tamp the sealing plug when the apparatus is withdrawn from the puncture site. The automatic uncoiling and tamping is facilitated by transducing a motive force generated by the withdrawal of the apparatus into a tamping force.

Abstract: Methods and systems for compensating for crosstalk in a telecommunications jack are disclosed. One method includes manufacturing a circuit board having a zone of crosstalk compensation between a first wire pair and a second wire pair, the zone of crosstalk compensation including a capacitive coupling connected between the first wire pair and the second wire pair and a second capacitive coupling selectively connectable in parallel with the capacitive coupling. The method further includes determining a crosstalk value generated by the jack including the manufactured circuit board. The method also includes, upon determining that the crosstalk value is outside of a crosstalk pass band, adjusting the zone of crosstalk compensation by altering an electrical connection between the second capacitive coupling and the capacitive coupling after the circuit board has been manufactured.

Abstract: A local positioning system uses at least one node to track a location of a mobile tag. The system measures flight times of signals communicated between the node and the tag to determine values indicative of the range of the tag from the node. If desired, the values may be filtered in an effort to increase the accuracy of the range estimation. As an example, a Kalman filtering algorithm may be used. Multiple antennas are used at both the node and the tag to provide more accurate range estimates and to determine when the tag is entering a dead zone where signals are blocked or attenuated by obstacles.

Abstract: The present application discloses intervertebral implants and methods of using the implants. The implants may include inferior and superior surfaces, and a sidewall that together form the body of the implant. An inner chamber is formed between the surfaces and the sidewall. An opening extends through the body to access the inner chamber. A cover plate is sized to extend across the opening. The cover plate is adjustable between an open position to access the inner chamber, and a closed position to prevent the bone growth material from escaping from the inner chamber.

Abstract: Silicone composites subject to reticulation or reticulated, particularly for creating a coating or water-repellent and anti-adhesive film for flexible substrates such as paper or similar in the form of natural or synthetic polymer films. These compounds contain reticulating polyorganosiloxanes that have SiH units and unsaturated polyorganosiloxanes, preferably vinylated, suitable for reacting with the reticulating agent in an addition reaction and in the presence of platinum to form the reticulated anti-adhesive coating on the flexible substrate, plus at least one additive (D) to promote adhesion to it.

Abstract: Novel chemical agents are described. More specifically, hybrid molecules comprising a vitamin D receptor agonist moiety and an HDAC inhibitor moiety are described herein.