Abstract: The invention relates to an oil-and-water emulsion comprising an aqueous phase and an oil phase, said emulsion containing: —15-40 wt. % water; —30-60 wt. % oil; —1.5-18 wt. % of cyclodextrin selected from alpha-cyclodextrin, beta-cyclodextrin and combinations thereof; —12-50 wt. % of saccharides selected from monosaccharides, disaccharides, non-cyclic oligosaccharides, sugar alcohols and combinations thereof. The emulsions according to the present invention are highly stable under ambient conditions, can easily be used as a base for the manufacture of a variety of icings, fillings and toppings. These base emulsions can suitably be aerated (creamed) to produce a creamed icing or filling, or a whipped topping that has excellent ambient temperature stability.

Abstract: Example systems have a defrost system that can receive a first RF signal at a first frequency to defrost a load. An air treatment device can receive a second RF signal at a second frequency and perform an air treatment process. An RF signal source has a power output, and a switching arrangement selectively electrically connects the defrost system and the first air treatment device to the power output of the RF signal source. A controller can electrically connect one of the defrost system and the first air treatment device to the power output of the RF signal source. When the defrost system is electrically connected, the RF signal source outputs the first RF signal at the first frequency, and when the first air treatment device is electrically connected, the RF signal source outputs the second RF signal at the second frequency.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a synthetic tissue model using one or more semi-flexible polymers or resin with at least one embedded mesh material is provided herein. The model provides suitable simulation of animal tissue designed to mimic tissue stiffness through varying the polymerization to simulate tissue stiffness level. Multiple polymers or multiple layers of polymer possessing different polymerization levels can be used to simulate tissues with different layers, such as skin. A mesh incorporated in the model provides durability, and can simulate layers of tissue through selection of the mesh material. A skin model using silicone-like material with a nylon tulle mesh was used to simulate skin for surgical procedures. The nylon tulle mesh increased resistance to tearing over time, due to insertion of surgical tools, thereby increasing usable life of the model and enhancing training as the model simulated skin for longer periods of time.

Abstract: A packaged microelectronic component includes a substrate and a semiconductor die coupled to a top surface of the substrate. A method of attaching the packaged microelectronic component to a secondary structure entails applying a metal particle-containing material to at least one of a bottom surface of the substrate and a mounting surface of the secondary structure. The packaged microelectronic component and the secondary structure are arranged in a stacked relationship with the metal particle-containing material disposed between the bottom surface and the mounting surface. A low temperature sintering process is performed at a maximum process temperature less than a melt point of the metal particles to transform the metal particle-containing material into a sintered bond layer joining the packaged microelectronic component and the secondary structure. In an embodiment, the substrate may be a heat sink for the packaged microelectronic component and the secondary structure may be a printed circuit board.

Abstract: A vaginal cuff surgical model and methods of manufacture and use thereof. The model includes a body (resembling a vaginal cuff) and appendages (resembling uterosacral ligaments) extending from the body. The model (body and appendages) is formed of silicone, rubber, a polymer, or other suitable material with one or more layers of mesh embedded within the polymeric material. The embedded mesh permits suture between the components of the model. The surgical model permits surgical practice of this important component of a total hysterectomy procedure via suturing across the model and to the appendages.

Abstract: A laparoscopic device with obturator. The device facilitates extraction of specimens from a female subject's abdominal cavity through the subject's vagina by also facilitating the suturing of a mesh to the anterior and posterior walls of the subject's vagina. The device includes an elongate sheath that has a flat surface on the front, a curved shape on the back, and an inner port opening formed within the flat surface, where the port opening that enables introduction of instruments or removal of specimens from the peritoneal cavity. An internal obturator can be inserted into the sheath to reduce the size of the port opening into the peritoneal cavity, or can be used to close the inner port opening into the peritoneal cavity. The obturator and sheath can be utilized as firm surfaces against which a user can suture a sacrocolpopexy mesh to the anterior and posteriors vaginal walls.

Abstract: A minimally invasive laparoscopic tissue removal device, namely a morcellator. The device includes, from proximal end to distal end, a handle, handle guard, elongate sheath, and mouth, finally terminating in a safety tip. The elongate sheath and mouth are concentric, such that two elongate, rotating cutting/shredding blades/teeth and one elongate auger feed screw can be positioned along the length of the sheath and mouth. The teeth are opposingly disposed and staggered, such that contact with tissue mass grabs and pulls tissue inwards toward the auger, which transports the tissue proximally toward the outside of the patient's body. A motor unit and gear assembly can be coupled to the teeth and auger to drive rotation of the teeth and auger. A cup assembly can be disposed in overlying relation to the mouth for guiding the tissue mass towards the mouth. Various mechanisms of safely covering the mouth are contemplated as well.

Abstract: A laparoscopic device with obturator. The device facilitates extraction of specimens from a female subject's abdominal cavity through the subject's vagina by also facilitating the suturing of a mesh to the anterior and posterior walls of the subject's vagina. The device includes an elongate sheath that has a flat surface on the front, a curved shape on the back, and an inner port opening formed within the flat surface, where the port opening that enables introduction of instruments or removal of specimens from the peritoneal cavity. An internal obturator can be inserted into the sheath to reduce the size of the port opening into the peritoneal cavity, or can be used to close the inner port opening into the peritoneal cavity. The obturator and sheath can be utilized as firm surfaces against which a user can suture a sacrocolpopexy mesh to the anterior and posteriors vaginal walls.

Abstract: The invention relates to an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions that can be aerated to produce foamed emulsions. More particularly, the invention relates to an aeratable or aerated O/W emulsion comprising a continuous aqueous phase and a dispersed oil phase, said emulsion containing: 25-55 wt. % water; 4-50 wt. % oil; 3-12 wt. % of cyclodextrin selected from alpha-cyclodextrin, beta-cyclodextrin and combinations thereof; 20-60 wt. % of saccharides selected from monosaccharides, disaccharides, non-cyclic oligosaccharides, sugar alcohols and combinations thereof; 1-20 wt. % of polysaccharides; 0-30 wt. % of other edible ingredients; wherein the saccharides are contained in the emulsion in a concentration of at least 60% by weight of water and wherein the polysaccharides are contained in the emulsion in a concentration at least 2% by weight of water. The O/W emulsions are capable of forming foamed emulsions with high firmness and excellent shape retaining properties.

Abstract: The invention relates to an oil-and-water emulsion comprising an aqueous phase and an oil phase, said emulsion containing: 15-40 wt. % water; 30-60 wt. % oil; 1.5-18 wt. % of cyclodextrin selected from alpha-cyclodextrin, beta-cyclodextrin and combinations thereof; 12-50 wt. % of saccharides selected from monosaccharides, disaccharides, non-cyclic oligosaccharides, sugar alcohols and combinations thereof. The emulsions according to the present invention are highly stable under ambient conditions, can easily be used as a base for the manufacture of a variety of icings, fillings and toppings. These base emulsions can suitably be aerated (creamed) to produce a creamed icing or filling, or a whipped topping that has excellent ambient temperature stability.

Abstract: A minimally invasive laparoscopic tissue removal device, namely a morcellator. The device includes, from proximal end to distal end, a handle, handle guard, elongate sheath, and mouth, finally terminating in a safety tip. The elongate sheath and mouth are concentric, such that two elongate, rotating cutting/shredding blades/teeth and one elongate auger feed screw can be positioned along the length of the sheath and mouth. The teeth are opposingly disposed and staggered, such that contact with tissue mass grabs and pulls tissue inwards toward the auger, which transports the tissue proximally toward the outside of the patient's body. A motor unit and gear assembly can be coupled to the teeth and auger to drive rotation of the teeth and auger. A cup assembly can be disposed in overlying relation to the mouth for guiding the tissue mass towards the mouth. Various mechanisms of safely covering the mouth are contemplated as well.

Abstract: In laparoscopic surgery, small (5-12 mm diameter) incisions are made in an abdominal wall through which instruments dissect and remove specimens that may be several centimeters in diameter. Removal of a sample typically requires either enlarging these incisions or morcellating the sample to pass through sub-centimeter ports. A laparoscopic device permits extraction of the sample to be removed in a female using a vagina, which has sufficient elasticity to accommodate removal of large specimens. A posterior portion of the vagina communicates to an abdomen through a few tissue layers, and is distant from vital anatomic structures. Utilizing the vagina is optimal due to its ease of access to the abdomen and repair, minimal scarring and post-operative pain, and faster recovery following surgery. A deployable collection bag is housed in a sheath, which is deployed into the vagina or an abdominal cavity to extract a large (multiple-centimeter) specimen(s) through the vagina.

Abstract: A process and system for recovering gel-mass from a gel-mass-containing waste material. The process comprises retrieving the gel-mass-containing waste material from an encapsulation process; melting the retrieved waste material to provide an oil phase and a non-oil phase; retrieving the non-oil phase to produce a recovered gel-mass; and recycling the recovered gel-mass for combination with fresh encapsulating material to provide a combined encapsulating material for use in encapsulating a same lot of the same product which was being encapsulated in the step that produced the gel-mass-containing waste material from which the gel-mass was obtained. The system comprises a heated accumulator for receiving and melting the gel-mass-containing waste material to provide an oil phase and a non-oil phase; a pumping system; an optional mixer; and a control system.

Abstract: A laparoscopy tool includes a sheath and a control wire slideably disposed within a lumen of the sheath. The sheath has a diameter of less than 1.6 mm and is introduced through an abdominal incision. A handle axially displaces the control wire within the lumen and operates a conventional tip with wire-controlled opposing jaws that is introduced through the umbilicus and has a bore formed in its trailing end. A first set of blades in the bore engage grooves formed in the leading end of the control wire and a second set of blades engages the sheath to prevent sheath retraction. A cam displaces the second set of blades away from the sheath for sheath introduction and removal, and toward the sheath to prevent sheath retraction. The tip is removed through the umbilicus and the tool is removed through the abdominal incision when the surgery is completed.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to benchmarking a server computer (“server”), e.g., a storage system of the server. The process can benchmark a candidate server using data from a production server that is handling live traffic of an application, e.g., a social networking application. The process includes collecting, from the production server, production data that is indicative of a workload of the production server, and generating a benchmark program using the production data. Upon execution of the benchmark program, the candidate server is made to process a workload generated based on the production data. The benchmark program records the performance of the candidate server, which is indicative of a performance of the candidate server in processing a workload similar to the production data. The performance results can be used in determining whether to upgrade the configuration of the production server to that of the candidate server, e.g., to improve performance.

Abstract: A method of treating pelvic prolapse is presented herein. Vaginal support device contains flat superior and inferior surfaces to facilitate affixing of mesh to vagina. Vaginal support device may be used as part of a system in conjunction with a manipulation device to support the vaginal walls. Mesh retention system may also include a holding device and retention mechanism such as a catheter or shaft and corresponding catheter balloon to hold mesh in place.

Abstract: A vaginal cuff surgical model and methods of manufacture and use thereof. The model includes a body (resembling a vaginal cuff) and appendages (resembling uterosacral ligaments) extending from the body. The model (body and appendages) is formed of silicone, rubber, a polymer, or other suitable material with one or more layers of mesh embedded within the polymeric material. The embedded mesh permits suture between the components of the model. The surgical model permits surgical practice of this important component of a total hysterectomy procedure via suturing across the model and to the appendages.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting and analyzing discontinuities in a communications link are disclosed. In some embodiments, the systems and methods operate to project signals into the communications link and detecting reflected signals. The reflected signals are processed to define a transformed distribution of the reflected signals. A peak value in the transformed distribution is selected and a local fit to the selected peak value is performed using a model function. A residue distribution is formed based upon the transformed distribution and the model function. A location of the discontinuity based upon the residue distribution is identified, and another peak value from the residue distribution is selected. Additional systems and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A synthetic tissue model using one or more semi-flexible polymers or resin with at least one embedded mesh material is provided herein. The model provides suitable simulation of animal tissue designed to mimic tissue stiffness through varying the polymerization to simulate tissue stiffness level. Multiple polymers or multiple layers of polymer possessing different polymerization levels can be used to simulate tissues with different layers, such as skin. A mesh incorporated in the model provides durability, and can simulate layers of tissue through selection of the mesh material. A skin model using silicone-like material with a nylon tulle mesh was used to simulate skin for surgical procedures. The nylon tulle mesh increased resistance to tearing over time, due to insertion of surgical tools, thereby increasing usable life of the model and enhancing training as the model simulated skin for longer periods of time.

Abstract: A method of treating pelvic prolapse is presented herein. Vaginal support device contains flat superior and inferior surfaces to facilitate affixing of mesh to vagina. Vaginal support device may be used as part of a system in conjunction with a manipulation device to support the vaginal walls. Mesh retention system may also include a holding device and retention mechanism such as a catheter or shaft and corresponding catheter balloon to hold mesh in place.