Abstract: Provided herein are screening methods and systems for the identification and evaluation of candidate GABAergic modulators. These candidate agents or compounds are useful for treating or preventing CNS-related disorders.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus comprising scheduling circuitry, which selects a task as a selected task to be performed from a plurality of queued tasks, each having an associated priority, in dependence on the associated priority of each queued task. Escalating circuitry increases the associated priority of each of the plurality of queued tasks after a period of time. The plurality of queued tasks comprises a time-sensitive task having an associated deadline and in response to the associated deadline being reached, the scheduling circuitry selects the time-sensitive task as the selected task to be performed.

Abstract: Aspects describe an earpiece with structure for positioning and retaining the earpiece and with structure for sealing against the entrance to the ear canal. According to aspects, the retaining structure has at least one substantially elliptical leg configured to follow the curve of the anti-helix and/or the cymba concha at the rear of the concha. The leg increases in thickness from a tip of the earpiece towards the body of the earpiece. The sealing structure is substantially frusto-conical and extends from a nozzle. The nozzle is angled to align with ear geometry. In an example, he sealing structure has a slight radius on an outer surface of the sealing structure. In another example, the sealing structure has a substantially constant thickness from the nozzle to the wide end of the sealing structure.

Abstract: An active noise reduction (ANR) earphone with a housing comprising a front cavity and an exit that is fluidly coupled to the front cavity. An acoustic driver is configured to deliver acoustic energy into the front cavity of the housing. A nozzle is coupled to the housing and is configured to direct acoustic energy from the housing exit to a nozzle exit opening. A microphone is located in the nozzle. A compliant sealing structure is coupled to the nozzle and is configured to couple the earphone to an ear of a user.

Abstract: Embodiments provide methods, systems and apparatus for predictive management of efficient selecting and receiving of retail electric utility service to a facility for a period, by automated selecting of a retail utility service provider corresponding to a selected least cost path of predicted rate plan choices across the period, wherein costs of all possible, viable time-bounded predicted rate plan choices are determined for predicted consumer usage where a predicted market of retail rate formulas for the period are predicted in relation to at least one variable, such as weather.

Abstract: Systems and method include a detector communicatively coupled to a fiber span; and processing circuitry connected to the detector and configured to digitally sample and process an output of the detector, detect phase changes in the output, and identify an electrostrictive response of the fiber span based on the detected phase changes and based on a dependence of the detected phase changes with frequency. A property of the fiber span can be determined on the electrostrictive response. The property of the optical fiber can include one or more of optical fiber material type, optical fiber material property, optical fiber area, optical fiber geometry, optical fiber condition, optical fiber stress and strain, optical fiber temperature. and optical fiber radiation exposure.

Abstract: Navigation assistance systems and methods for use with a surgical instrument to assist in navigation of a surgical instrument during an operation. The system may include sensors that may observe the patient to generate positioning data regarding the relative position of the surgical instrument and the patient. The system may retrieve imaging data regarding the patient and correlate the imaging data to the positioning data. In turn, the position of the surgical instrument relative to the imaging data may be provided and used to generate navigation date (e.g., position, orientation, trajectory, or the like) regarding the surgical instrument.

Abstract: A method at a first electronic device with a display and an input device includes: displaying a message input area along with a graphical input stream in a first application, where the graphical input stream includes a source of predefined graphical images and a source for a coded character set. The method includes detecting entry of one or more objects from the graphical input stream into the message input area and receiving a user input to transmit the contents of the message input area. In response to receiving the user input to transmit, and in accordance with a determination that the one or more objects includes a predefined graphical image, the method includes forming a merged message comprising the contents of the message input area, including the predefined graphical image, where a merged message is an image, and transmitting the merged message to a recipient or another application.

Abstract: Provided are systems, methods, and media for simultaneous, non-atomic request processing of snooped operations of a broadcast scope within a SMP system. An example method includes detecting, by a first controller, based on a set of coherency resolution conditions, whether there are coherency resolution problems between two snooped operations. The method includes in response to detecting, by the first controller, that coherency resolution problems will not result, transmitting, from the first controller to a second controller, an indication signal indicating that coherency resolution problems will not result from the operation. The set of coherency resolution conditions includes: (a) detecting that a second operation of the two snooped operations operation is of a predetermined type, (b) detecting at time of snooping of the second operation that a directory state does not allow for exclusive data, and (c) detecting that the first controller has started committing to an update.

Abstract: A brain computer interface system interprets an individual's neural signals to predict specific phonemes, words, or sentences, thereby enabling the individual to communicate with others through unspoken methods. Specifically, a brain computer interface system captures neural signals from an individual at mesoscopic resolutions using optical neuroimaging techniques. The system applies the captured neural signals to multiple predictive models that have been trained on neural signals captured from previous individuals. The predictive models output predictions as to a phoneme or word that corresponds to the captured neural signals. Therefore, the individual can communicate through the brain computer interface system by only providing neural signals without using verbal, expressive, or physical means.

Abstract: A system having components coupled to an aircraft in operation processes sensor-derived data, performs a localization cross-checking procedure, and dynamically generates updated analyses of the position and orientation of the aircraft. Based on the updated analyses, the system can generate instructions for flight control of the aircraft and can update flight control instructions as new data is received and processed. The system functions to reduce the “worst-case” bounds on a localization estimate for the aircraft to a low enough level that is appropriate for completing a flight operation.

Abstract: A defrost cycle control assembly includes a first sensor that is configured to measure a temperature adjacent a top portion of an outdoor heat exchanger of a heat pump, a second sensor that is configured to measure a temperature adjacent a bottom portion of the outdoor heat exchanger, and a third sensor that is configured to measure an ambient temperature. Further, the defrost cycle control assembly includes a controller that is configured to initiate a defrost cycle of the heat pump based on the temperature adjacent the top portion and the ambient temperature when said temperatures indicate formation of frost at the top portion of the outdoor heat exchanger where the first sensor is disposed. The controller is configured to terminate the defrost cycle when the temperature at the bottom portion reaches a termination temperature which indicates that the frost on the outdoor heat exchanger has melted.

Abstract: An optical transmitter (102,200) is operable to generate an optical signal (260) by modulating a number N of frequency divisional multiplexing (FDM) subcarriers using transformed digital signals which are determined by applying a pseudo FDM (pFDM) transformation to preliminary digital signals representative of multi-bit symbols. Rather than experiencing the effects of the number N of FDM channels, the optical signal experiences the effects of a different number M of pFDM channels, where M?N. In some examples, the number M of pFDM channels is less than the number N of FDM channels, and frequency-dependent degradations may be averaged across different symbol streams. In other examples, the number M of pFDM channels is greater than the number N of FDM channels, and different symbol streams may experience different frequency-dependent degradations. An optical receiver (102,300) is operable to apply an inverse pFDM transformation to recover estimates of the multi-bit symbols.

Abstract: An exhaust system for a cooking or cooktop appliance is provided herein. The exhaust system may include a casing, an image monitor, and an air handler. The casing may define an air inlet and an air outlet above the cooktop appliance. The image monitor may be supported on the casing above a cooktop surface. The image monitor may include an imagining surface extending in a lateral direction between a first edge and a second edge. The air handler may be mounted within the casing in fluid communication between the air inlet and the air outlet to motivate an airflow therethrough. The air outlet may be defined proximal to the first edge and defines a coolant airflow path extending along the lateral direction across the imaging surface from the first edge.

Abstract: An orthopedic device for implanting between adjacent vertebrae comprising: an arcuate balloon and a hardenable material within said balloon. In some embodiments, the balloon has a footprint that substantially corresponds to a perimeter of a vertebral endplate. An inflatable device is inserted through a cannula into an intervertebral space and oriented so that, upon expansion, a natural angle between vertebrae will be at least partially restored. At least one component selected from the group consisting of a load-bearing component and an osteobiologic component is directed into the inflatable device through a fluid communication means.

Abstract: In intervertebral operative spinal procedures, using separate or pre-attached spreader blocks to control the directional growth of a distracting balloon.

Abstract: A dry granulation process using a twin-screw extruder for granulating a powder mixture which includes at least one active ingredient and at least one carrier. The process includes steps of kneading the powder mixture in the screw barrel of the twin-screw extruder at a barrel temperature below a melting point of the at least one active ingredient and a melting point or a glass transition temperature of the at least one carrier to provide a kneaded powder mixture, and extruding the kneaded powder mixture to form granules. Granules and tablets produced using the dry granulation process in the twin-screw extruder are also provided.

Abstract: Non-load-bearing, drug-eluting components, such as a rod cover, that can be added to load bearing spinal implants.

Abstract: A transmitter (102,200) applies a dimensional transformation to preliminary digital drive signals representing symbols, thereby generating transformed digital drive signals (704) designed to represent each symbol using a plurality of first dimensions of an optical carrier (242), the first dimensions distributed over two or more timeslots. The preliminary digital drive signals are designed to represent each symbol using a plurality of second dimensions of the carrier, which differ from the first dimensions. Using the transformed signals, the transmitter generates (706) an optical signal (260). A receiver (102,300) receives (802) an optical signal (360) and determines received digital signals (804) corresponding to the first dimensions. The receiver applies an inverse dimensional transformation to the received digital signals to generate preliminary digital drive signal estimates (806) corresponding to the second dimensions, thereby permitting estimation of the symbols (808).