Abstract: What is disclosed is a weathering test apparatus with an In situ, Real-time Color Measurement System (IRCMS) with an input optic connected to a light pipe placed in the chamber between a light source and a test specimen in turn connected to a color measuring sensor and the associated processing and storage system to determine the color of a specimen in a continuous fashion within the enclosure of the weathering device. The color obtained is then compared a stored value or reference to determine the color evolution over time and can also be compared with the Standard Reference Materials (SRM) to determine when standardized testing has achieved acceptable color change values.

Abstract: Generally speaking, the present invention is a water-soluble copolymer film comprising a hydrolyzed copolymer of vinyl acetate and a second monomer, the resultant polyvinyl alcohol copolymer having a degree of hydrolysis, expressed as a percentage of vinyl acetate units converted to vinyl alcohol units, of from about 90% to 100%. The second monomer is preferably selected from the group of monomers having carboxylate functionality or sulfonate functionality. The resulting water-soluble copolymer film is disclosed for use in making pouches to contain a unit dose of liquid detergent, such as a liquid laundry detergent. However, it is an aspect of the copolymer film that film solubility is not significantly affected adversely by the detergent. Such film produces pouches having a greater storage shelf-life over prior art water-soluble film.

Abstract: The system contains an RF demodulator. A packet aggregation switching device is in communication with the RF demodulator. At least one packet processing engine is in communication with the RF demodulator. The packet aggregation switching device controls communication between the RF demodulator and the packet processing engine. An RF modulator may also be in communication with the packet processing engine along an egress path. The packet aggregation switching device may output traffic into the egress path.

Abstract: A self-biasing negative transconductance LC oscillator that uses self-biasing circuitry to regulate a current source that feeds negative transconductance circuitry and direct current (DC) bias circuitry to apply a DC bias between control inputs and outputs of the negative transconductance circuitry is disclosed. A current source setpoint is based on the voltage swing of the oscillator, which can then be controlled by the DC power supply that powers the oscillator. In one embodiment of the present invention, the negative transconductance circuitry includes a pair of p-type metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS) cross-coupled field effect transistors (FETs), which have a limit applied to their gate to source voltages. Limiting the gate to source voltages of the FETs limits the percentage of the oscillation cycle that the FETs spend in the triode region and thus reduces the noise contribution of the FETs and allows for less power consumption for a given noise requirement.

Abstract: A resilient mat system where a mat has overall mat thickness T, and the mat has an upper layer with an upper layer thickness t, and a plurality of supporting resilient substructure columns, each column having a relatively uniform height h, such that T=t+h, wherein the ratio of h:t>3.5 for values of T>about 0.9 inch. Each column has a column wall that surrounds a central void in the column with the void opening at a bottom of the column. The column has lower zone that is a more compressible, relatively collapsible zone, and an upper zone that is a less compressible, relatively uncollapsible zone. There is a fenestrated mat connector with connector fenestrations sized and numbered to receive the bases of a plurality of columns from two mats therein.

Abstract: A resilient mat system has at least one mat with a mat thickness T, an upper layer with an upper layer thickness t, and a plurality of supporting resilient substructure columns, each column having a relatively uniform height h, such that T=t+h, wherein the ratio of h:t>3.5 for values of T> about 0.9 inch. Each column wall surrounds a central void in the column, the void opening at a bottom of the column. The column has in a bottom region of the column wall a lower zone that is a more compressible, relatively collapsible zone, and in an upper region of the column wall above the lower zone an upper zone that is a less compressible, relatively uncollapsible zone. The resilient mat system optionally has a relatively rigid ramp structure bordering at least one mat on at least two sides, and the ramp structure is preferably attached to a floor base to retain the mat, whereby the mat is removable from the border of the ramp. Alternatively, the ramp structure is attached to at least a portion of the mat.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for the defragmentation of a file system with little or no free space. Defragmenting file fragments in a memory file system comprises determining a defragmentation sequence for re-ordering fragments of files in the file system; determining if at least one fragment in the file system is moved more than once in the defragmentation sequence; removing the at least one fragment from the file system if it is moved more than once in the sequence; determining the defragmentation sequence without considering the at least one removed file fragment; rearranging the remaining file fragments on the file system according to the determined defragmentation sequence; and replacing the removed file fragments in the file system after the defragmentation.

Abstract: A clamp for attaching a medical device to an OR table rail, including two closable clamp jaws that close to an extreme position that leaves inadequate room for the rail. A handle actuates the jaws apart, and a spring biases them together through a range of jaw positions. A lock member is biased to swing through a range of lock positions in which it progressively engages and locks the jaw mechanism through its range of jaw positions. A pair of bars carries the medical device on the clamp, and allows it to be adjustably positioned with respect to the rail.

Abstract: A product package comprises a primary package formed within a secondary package. The primary package comprises an edible or non-edible, water-soluble film container. The secondary package comprises a blister-card having at least one blister defining a cavity, and a foil backing. In one embodiment, the film container comprises a first film layer portion and a second film layer portion. The first film layer portion is formed intimately within the cavity of the at least one blister of the blister-pack. The second film layer portion is formed adjacent to the first film layer portion to define a container cavity between the first and second film layer portions.

Abstract: A card game with an optional side bet and methods for playing this game. The method comprises the player placing an ante bet and a blind bet to enter the game and optionally placing the optional side bet. The dealer deals a plurality of Hole cards to the players, and the players are then given the option to place a first play bet or check. The dealer deals a plurality of community cards, turning at least one of the community cards face up, and the players are given the option to place a second play bet or check. The dealer turns the remaining community cards face up, and the players are then given the option to place a third play bet or check. The dealer receives a plurality of dealer Hole cards. After the dealer Hole cards are revealed, the hands are determined by combining two dealer Hole cards with the community cards to form a dealer's hand. The ante, blind, play and optional bets are then resolved, the optional side bet resolved according to a predetermined criteria.

Abstract: Wagering game methods and apparatus for playing a Draw Poker type live casino and/or electronic game against a dealer and/or a pay table. Players place an ante wager to participate in the game. Each player and the dealer are dealt initial hands. Each player may discard any portion including all of his or her cards. The dealer discards according to predetermined criteria. Discarded cards are replaced by community draw cards in a specified order to complete final hands. Alternatively, each player and the dealer may be dealt their initial hands and replacement cards from their own associated decks. The ante wager is paid if the player's final hand outranks the dealer's final hand. An optional ante wager is paid according to a paytable if the player's final hand achieves at least a minimum bonus qualifying rank.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and software is disclosed in which links in web pages are provided with an indication of the most frequently used path from a given link. The most frequently used path is selectable by a user so as to enable the user to directly view the web page at the end of the path or at any point along that path.

Abstract: A clamp for attaching a medical device to an OR table rail, including two closable clamp jaws that close to an extreme position that leaves inadequate room for the rail. A handle actuates the jaws apart, and a spring biases them together through a range of jaw positions. A lock member is biased to swing through a range of lock positions in which it progressively engages and locks the jaw mechanism through its range of jaw positions. A pair of bars carries the medical device on the clamp, and allows it to be adjustably positioned with respect to the rail.

Abstract: Improved method of encoding and repairing data for reliable storage and transmission using erasure codes, which is efficient enough for implementation in software as well as hardware. A systematic linear coding matrix over GF(2q) is used which combines parity for fast correction of single erasures with the capability of correcting k erasures. Finite field operations involving the coding and repair matrices are redefined to consist of bitwise XOR operations on words of arbitrary length. The elements of the matrix are selected to reduce the number of XOR operations needed and buffers are aligned for optimal processor cache efficiency. Decode latency is reduced by pre-calculating repair matrices, storing them in a hashed table and looking them up using a bit mask identifying the erasures to be repaired.

Abstract: Methods for isolating patched genes, including the mouse and human patched genes, as well as invertebrate patched genes and sequences, are provided. Decreased expression of patched is associated with the occurrence of human cancers, particularly basal cell carcinomas of the skin. The patched and hedgehog genes are useful in creating transgenic animal models for these human cancers. The patched nucleic acid compositions find use in identifying homologous or related proteins and the DNA sequences encoding such proteins; in producing compositions that modulate the expression or function of the protein; and in studying associated physiological pathways. In addition, modulation of the gene activity in vivo is used for prophylactic and therapeutic purposes, such as treatment of cancer, identification of cell type based on expression, and the like. The DNA is further used as a diagnostic for a genetic predisposition to cancer, and to identify specific cancers having mutations in this gene.

Abstract: Methods for isolating patched genes, including the mouse and human patched genes, as well as invertebrate patched genes and sequences, are provided. Decreased expression of patched is associated with the occurrence of human cancers, particularly basal cell carcinomas of the skin. The patched and hedgehog genes are useful in creating transgenic animal models for these human cancers. The patched nucleic acid compositions find use in identifying homologous or related proteins and the DNA sequences encoding such proteins; in producing compositions that modulate the expression or function of the protein; and in studying associated physiological pathways. In addition, modulation of the gene activity in vivo is used for prophylactic and therapeutic purposes, such as treatment of cancer, identification of cell type based on expression, and the like. The DNA is further used as a diagnostic for a genetic predisposition to cancer, and to identify specific cancers having mutations in this gene.

Abstract: A system of easy-to-use, credit-card-sized reference cards is presented, where the reference cards are printed with useful information such as word lists in a foreign language or medical or professional guides. The cards can be strung on a lanyard or a chain and carried around the user's neck, or alternatively kept in a wallet or purse.

Abstract: Capping head assemblies that are useful for applying pre-threaded closures onto containers with improved sensitivity. The novel features of the devices are a simple and novel means of adjusting the torque in a magnetic clutch assembly. In addition, the advantage of preventing contamination by water and other liquids during the filling and capping of liquid containers, and further, have the capability of being greased without having to disassemble the device. In addition, these can be accomplished without changing the capability of being able to read the adjustment scales on the outside surface of the magnetic clutch assembly and the adjustment scales on the outside surface of the upper spring assembly for adjusting the tension in the spring.

Abstract: A playing card wagering game has a player hand compete against a dealer hand according to rank or count of the player hand and dealer hand. At least one player places a first wager on the card wagering game and a second wager on at least one side bet event. The player hand and dealer hand are completed with playing cards. Relative rank or relative count of the player hand and dealer hand are determined. The first wager is resolved based upon the determined relative rank or relative count by determining if the dealer hand wins or the player hand wins, thereby also determining a losing hand. The second wager is resolved according to rules that comprise comparing rank or count of the losing hand to a paytable, preferably only the losing rank of either the player or dealer hand.