Abstract: A plating system and method include a bone plate with at least a first vertebral engaging portion and a second vertebral engaging portion connected by flexible intermediate portions to permit translation of the vertebrae to which the bone plate is attached. The bone plate may further include a guide assembly extending between the vertebral engaging portions that permits at least uni-directional translation while enhancing resistance of the bone plate to bending forces.

Abstract: A low power distributed transmitter includes a signal generator, signal partitioning module, signal processing module, a plurality of amplifiers, and a transmitting module. The signal generator is operably coupled to generate a signal to represent base-band data in accordance with a particular transmission protocol. The signal partitioning module is operably coupled to partition the signal into a plurality of signal partitions based on a peak-to-average ratio of the signal. The signal processing module processes the plurality of signal partitions to in accordance with the particular transmission protocol to produce processed signals. Each of the amplifiers amplifies a corresponding one of the processed signal partitions to produce amplified signal partitioned. The transmitting module transmits, via an antenna or a plurality of antennas, the amplified signal partitions as a composite amplified signal.

Abstract: A radio receiver includes a low-noise amplifier, pulse-to-signal conversion module, and intermediate frequency stage. The low-noise amplifier is operably coupled to receive and amplify an M-bit signal at a radio frequency. The M-bit signal at a radio frequency is representative of a pulse signal that is carried on a radio frequency. The pulse-to-signal conversion module demodulates the M-bit signal to produce an N-bit signal at an intermediate frequency. For example, the pulse-to-signal conversion module performs pulse-width demodulation, pulse-density demodulation, or pulse-position demodulation to recapture the N-bit signal. The intermediate frequency stage steps down the frequency of the N-bit signal to produce a base-band digital signal.

Abstract: A low power distributed transmitter includes a signal generator, signal partitioning module, signal processing module, a plurality of amplifiers, and a transmitting module. The signal generator is operably coupled to generate a signal to represent base-band data in accordance with a particular transmission protocol. The signal partitioning module is operably coupled to partition the signal into a plurality of signal partitions based on a peak-to-average ratio of the signal. The signal processing module processes the plurality of signal partitions to in accordance with the particular transmission protocol to produce processed signals. Each of the amplifiers amplifies a corresponding one of the processed signal partitions to produce amplified signal partitioned. The transmitting module transmits, via an antenna or a plurality of antennas, the amplified signal partitions as a composite amplified signal.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with methods for the selection of precursor ions of a sample polypeptide for fragmentation in mass spectrometry, together with methods for determining at least one putative amino acid sequence for a sample polypeptide, apparatus and computer programs for same.

Abstract: A system of monitoring operation for a conveyor belt installation includes a conveyor belt having steel or other relatively magnetically permeable reinforcing material, the system including, in proximity to the conveyor belt, a magnetic field generator, and a sensor unit at a position downstream from the field generator, the sensor unit sensing the magnetic field emanating from the passing conveyor belt, and a monitoring unit to receive data related to the magnetic field properties sensed by the sensor unit during a plurality of passages of each part of the length of the conveyor belt past the sensor unit, the monitoring unit incorporation comparison elements to compare a received set of data with an earlier received set of data, and output elements to provide an output signal representative of reinforcement damage or deterioration when subsequently received data has departed from earlier received data by more than a prescribed extent.

Abstract: A consolidated vacuum sublimation module (VSM) can comprise an upper body portion, a middle body portion, a lower body portion, a bushing, and a seal. A vapor director cartridge can be loaded with a crude material and manually inserted into a cartridge-holding member of the lower body portion. Assembly of the middle and upper body portions form a structural unit that can compressively and sealably connect to the lower body portion. During sublimation, heat is effectively transferred to the lower body portion that contains the crude material. A substantial fraction of the middle body portion is conically tapered about a central longitudinal axis to promote desublimation. The middle body portion is a unitary structure that consolidates valving, cooling, and desublimation functions.

Abstract: Skeletal stabilization systems include a base, a longitudinal member, and a retaining member. The base includes an engagement surface with a surface area that is positionable in contact with a bone to atraumatically or traumatically engage the base to the bone. The retaining member engages the base to retain the longitudinal member relative to the base so that the longitudinal member can provide a desired stabilization effect to one or more adjacent bony portions.

Abstract: There is provided an orthopedic plate and port structures for the plate. The plate can be non-rigid and includes at least one hole for receiving an anchor or an anchor retaining device. The at least one hole can include a rigid port structure that prevents or resists deformation of the plate when the anchor or anchor retaining device is engaged thereto.

Abstract: A process for isolating a carbon fraction representative of the carbon contained in a specimen of a condensed phase carbonaceous composition. The carbon fraction is isolated in the form of a carbon oxide gas that may be introduced into a mass spectrometer for determining the proportion of the carbon isotope content of the composition that is constituted by 13C. A novel apparatus is provided which is useful in conducting the process.

Abstract: A novel apparatus and process for isolating a nitrogen fraction representative of the nitrogen contained in a specimen of a condensed phase nitrogenous organic composition. In the process the nitrogen fraction is isolated in the form of a dinitrogen gas that may be introduced into a mass spectrometer for determining the proportion of the nitrogen isotope content of the composition that is constituted by 15N.

Abstract: A handheld audio system having a radio signal decoder that includes a method for adjusting a system clock. Adjusting the system clock includes receiving a signal at a rate of a receive clock, wherein the signal includes data at a transmit rate. An error term is determined between the receive rate and the transmit rate. Based on the receive clock and the error term, where the error term is non-zero, a clock signal is generated.

Abstract: A method for signal strength detection begins by comparing a signal strength representation of a signal with a signal strength representation of a reference signal. The method continues by adjusting, when the signal strength representation of the signal compares unfavorably with the signal strength representation of the reference signal, at least one of the signal strength representation of the signal and the signal strength representation of the reference signal until the signal strength representation of the signal compares favorably with the signal strength representation of the reference signal. The method continues by determining signal strength of the signal based on the adjusting of the signal strength representation of the signal and signal strength of the reference signal.

Abstract: A method for adjusting automatic gain control (AGC) of a radio receiver begins when a primary AGC module establishes an AGC setting for the radio receiver to produce a primary AGC setting. The method continues when a supervisory AGC module compares performance of the radio receiver utilizing the primary AGC setting with a plurality of performance thresholds. The method continues with the supervisory AGC module adjusting the primary AGC setting to produce adjusted AGC setting when the performance of the radio receiver utilizing the primary AGC setting compares unfavorable with a first performance threshold of the plurality of performance thresholds. The method continues with the supervisory AGC module overwriting the primary AGC setting with alternative AGC setting when the performance of the radio receiver utilizing the primary AGC setting compares unfavorable with a second performance threshold of the plurality of performance thresholds.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to radiolabeled 3-cyanoquinolines of the formula: and methods of synthesizing the same, wherein G1, G2 R1, R4, Z, X, and n are as defined herein. The present invention is also directed to a radiolabeled intermediate compounds of formula (VII): wherein PG, G1, R1, R4, R10, and R11 are as defined herein, and synthesis of the same.

Abstract: A method for mitigating interference from a switched-mode power supply begins by comparing a channel of interest of a plurality of channels with a switching rate of a switch-mode power supply. The method continues when the channel of interest compares unfavorably to the switching rate by adjusting the switching rate of the switch-mode power supply until the channel of interest compares favorably to the switching rate.

Abstract: A controllable oscillator includes an output oscillation adjust module operably coupled to an oscillator for producing an effective output oscillation based on an oscillation control signal. The output oscillation adjust module includes an output select block that produces the effective output oscillation from a sequence of selected taps from the plurality of taps of the oscillator. A tap adjust control generator, responsive to the oscillation control signal generates a sequence of tap adjust control signals that command the output select block to select the sequence of selected taps from the plurality of taps. The tap adjust control generator includes an integrator having an integrator output, responsive to the oscillation control signal and a modulo(x) module for producing the sequence of tap adjust control signals based on the integrator output.

Abstract: A programmable sample rate ADC includes a delta sigma modulator for producing a digital signal, and a programmable decimation filter, that includes X stages of integration, a down-sampling stage for down-sampling by a factor of N, and Y stages of differentiation. The programmable sample rate ADC produces a digital output signal at a substantially constant frequency.

Abstract: A digital clock generator includes a base clock generator for generating a base clock signal at a variable base clock frequency in response to a control signal. A digital clock controller generates a digital clock signal having a substantially constant number of digital clock cycles over a predetermined period.

Abstract: Therapeutic polymers containing a hydroxamate group that preferentially binds to active forms of a matrix metalloproteinases, thus inhibiting their enzymatic activity. The implantation of such material modifies tissue turnover and remodelling in its vicinity.