Abstract: A wall block (10) comprises a substantially rectangular core (11) of substantially rigid insulating material which forms structural load bearing elements in a constructed wall. The block (10) has cladding (12) bonded to its lateral surfaces. The cladding (12) is offset from the lateral surfaces with tie cladding (12) overhanging from the lower lateral edges, the overhanging portion abutting against the core (11) of the blocks (10) on the lower course. The core (11) has a longitudinal void (14) provided in the lower surface along its whole length and al least one vertically extending void (15), extending from the longitudinal void (14) to the upper surface of the core. Furthermore, recesses (21) are formed in the vertical edges of the core (11) and being adapted to receive elongated joint seals (22) to affect scaling of the joints between adjacent blocks (10).

Abstract: A method and process line apparatus for processing a sized ore feed excavated from an ore deposit is disclosed. The method involves disposing a processing apparatus in a processing apparatus position relative to the ore deposit, and disposing a first mobile conveyor to receive a sized ore feed at a receiving location located along a length of the first mobile conveyor. The first mobile conveyor is operable to convey the sized ore from the receiving location to a discharge end of the first mobile conveyor. The method also involves disposing a second mobile conveyor to receive the sized ore from the discharge end of the first mobile conveyor at a transfer location along a length of the second mobile conveyor and to convey the sized ore from the transfer location to the processing apparatus. The first and second mobile conveyors are oriented at an operational angle between a length of the first mobile conveyor and a length of the second mobile conveyor.

Abstract: A fuel line protective cover is disclosed. The fuel line protective cover includes a first leg configured to be mounted to a top surface of an engine and configured to extend the length of an engine. The fuel line protective cover further includes at least one second leg configured to be mounted to a side surface of an engine. The first leg and the at least one second leg cooperate to at least partially enclose a high pressure fuel system.

Abstract: An engine system is disclosed. The engine system has an engine block having at least one combustion chamber and at least partially defining a crankcase. The engine system also has an inlet conduit connecting a compressor of a turbocharger with the at least one combustion chamber. The engine system further has an exhaust conduit connecting a turbine of the turbocharger with the combustion chamber and a ventilation conduit connecting the crankcase with the exhaust conduit. The engine system also has a controller in communication with the turbocharger, the controller being configured to adjust the geometry of the turbocharger to maintain a pressure of the crankcase lower than a pressure of the inlet conduit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method provide the capability of metering temporary capacity on demand in a computer system in a way that allows one resource to benefit from unused billed capacity of a different resource. The actual use of a selected resource is monitored. When the selected resource is actually used, before charging the customer for the resource, a check is made to see if there is unused billed capacity of another resource that may be used by the selected resource. If so, the unused billed capacity of the other resource is “stolen” and used by the selected resource. If there is no unused billed capacity of another resource, a resource-time increment is billed for the use of the selected resource.

Abstract: A method is described of compositing a plurality of graphical objects to create an image comprising a plurality of parts, where the parts may be a run of pixels along a scanline or a region of the image. For each part of the image to be composited, the method identifies a set of the graphical objects that contribute to the part, and determines one or more required bit depths for compositing the set. The set is composited within the part at the one or more required bit depths. Thus selected parts of the image may be generated using a higher compositing bit depth.

Abstract: Data storage apparatus comprises a tape drive and a tape cartridge, the tape cartridge having a data storage tape on which write-once-read-many (WORM) data is stored. The data storage apparatus is controlled by providing a format command to the tape drive commanding a formatting operation that conditions the tape for erasure or overwriting of the WORM data. A format command key is provided with the format command to be compared with a key recorded in the cartridge. The format command is enabled in dependence upon the comparison between the format command key and the recorded key.

Abstract: An orthodontic device includes a bracket that has a bracket pad with a first side that is intermittently etched. The bracket pad is malleable so that it can be configured to conform to a tooth. The bracket pad is composed of a single layer of material and is configured to be directly secured to the tooth on the first side A method of fitting an etched, malleable orthodontic device is also provided, and includes the steps of forming a mold of a patient's tooth, applying an etched, malleable bracket pad to the mold, and shaping the etched, malleable bracket pad to fit the mold, thereby forming a custom-fit bracket pad.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a method for making a healthy snack food having an appearance and taste similar to conventional fried snack products without the use of an oil-frying process. The method of the present invention includes the steps of providing food slices from a starch-based food or dough. The food slices can be blanched and a controlled amount of oil can be added to enhance final organoleptical properties. The food slices are then rapidly dehydrated to a much lower moisture content in a primary drying step that simulates conventional frying dehydration rates. A food snack, such as a corn or potato-based snack, produced by this method is a low-fat, ready-to-eat snack having the conventional texture and taste associated with fried snack products.

Abstract: A method is provided of detecting if WORM data has been tampered with, the data having been recorded in a sequence of data sets. Each data set includes a write pass value and the write pass values are incremented at intervals in the sequence according to a predetermined rule providing that the write pass values are incremented each time a predetermined number of the data sets has occurred in the sequence. The data sets are read in sequence and the write pass value of each data set is compared with the write pass value of the preceding data set. An indication is made if the write pass value of any of the data sets differs from the write pass value of the preceding data set by an amount that breaches the predetermined rule.

Abstract: A high resolution X-ray diffraction apparatus includes a source 4 of X-rays and a slit 6 to direct a collimated beam of X-rays 11 onto a sample 16 on a sample stage 8. Detector 10 records the intensity of diffracted X-rays as a function of position along its length. The geometry allows high resolution without the use of a monochromator.

Abstract: Methods for estimating data-dependent jitter (DDJ) from measured samples of a transmitted data signal include a first exemplary step of obtaining a plurality of measurements (e.g., time tags and event counts for selected pulse widths in the data signal). Such measurements may be obtained at predetermined intervals within a transmitted signal or may be obtained at randomly selected intervals, and should yield measurements for each data pulse in a repeating data pattern. An average unit interval value representative of the average bit time of the transmitted signal is determined. Time interval error estimates representative of the timing deviation from each signal edge's measured value relative to its ideal value (determined in part from the calculated average unit interval value) are also determined, as well as a classification for each measured signal edge relative to a corresponding data pulse in the repeating data pattern.

Abstract: Briefly described, one embodiment of a method of recording data in a sequence of data sets onto a data recording medium having a recording capacity up to an end of medium position includes the following steps: deriving a logical count of the amount of data recorded on the recording medium, and comparing the logical count to a reference value to generate a warning of an approach to the end of medium position. Other methods and systems are also provided.

Abstract: A method for distributing sports entertainment includes the step of providing a plurality of video cameras positioned on vehicles or athletes that are participating in sporting events, transmitters for transmitting information from the plurality of cameras to a processing station, retransmission equipment for directing the camera feed from each of the plurality of cameras to separate channels for distribution and remote viewing at viewers' locations, and channel selectors that permit viewers to select from among the various channels, thereby allowing the viewers to select from the plurality of camera feeds. The cameras are simultaneously operated during the sporting event so as to generate a plurality of camera feeds during the event, each feed reflecting the perspective of an individual participant. The plurality of feeds is received by the retransmission equipment and retransmitted to selectable channels, each channel being associated with a respective camera feed.

Abstract: An actuator for an intake manifold tuning valve to regulate airflow in an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine. The actuator includes a motor, control circuit, and sensor all mounted in a housing that has an opening through which an output shaft extends. The output shaft carries a valve blade that is positioned within the intake manifold when the actuator is assembled in place. The sensor provides the control circuit with feedback data indicating the position of the valve blade and this data permits the actuator itself to provide closed loop control of the position of the valve blade using an actuator command received from the engine's electronic control unit. The housing includes a stop member that engages the valve blade at a certain rotational position to thereby enable diagnostic checks of the valve to determine if the blade is present and functioning.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for controlling a simulator to run a software simulation of a data processing system in order to generate simulated timing data indicative of performance of an unmodelled portion of the data processing system not modelled by the software simulation. The software simulation provides a timing accurate model of those parts of the data processing system other than the unmodelled portion. The method of the invention comprises inputting to a controller of the simulator real trace data obtained from execution of a program by the data processing system, the real trace data identifying the sequence of instructions executed by the data processing system, and associated timing data.

Abstract: A data storage apparatus comprises a tape cartridge having a cartridge memory which is configured to store data representing a distinctive identity of the memory and data representing a distinctive identity of the cartridge. The cartridge has a data storage tape storing WORM data in a succession of data sets. Each data set is recorded with data representing a respectively associated data set information table. The data set information table includes an identifying data structure including data representing the identity of the cartridge memory and the data representing the identity of the cartridge. The integrity of all the WORM data written at any point along the tape can be checked against tampering by reference to the data structure that is recorded with each WORM data set.

Abstract: A method of improving and/or prolonging sperm viability which comprises contacting spermatozoa with an isolated, cell-free protein fraction of oviductal apical plasma membrane (APM). This finds use in maintenance of sperm viability to increase the success rate of artificial insemination (AI).

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a process sequence and related hardware for filling a patterned feature on a substrate with a metal, such as copper. The sequence comprises first forming a reliable barrier layer in the patterned feature to prevent diffusion of the metal into the dielectric layer through which the patterned feature is formed. One sequence comprises forming a generally conformal barrier layer over a patterned dielectric, etching the barrier layer at the bottom of the patterned feature, depositing a second barrier layer, and then filling the patterned feature with a metal, such as copper.

Abstract: A method of forming a stitchless, adhesively bonded seam for a garment includes positioning an outside surface of a first sheet of fabric adjacent to an outside surface of a second sheet of fabric, and positioning a first strip of adhesive tape between the first and second sheets of fabric. A second strip of adhesive tape is positioned such that a first side is adjacent to a first portion of an inside surface of the second sheet of fabric, and the second sheet of fabric is folded such that a second portion of the inside surface of the second sheet of fabric overlaps a second side of the second strip of adhesive tape. The adhesively bonded seam is formed by applying energy to the first and second sheets of fabric and to the first and second strips of adhesive tape.