Abstract: A nasal comfort device provides humidified air to the nasal passages of a user. The device, which is attachable to a user's face, may include an evaporative surface and a reservoir that is fluidically connected to the evaporative surface. The reservoir may be positioned remotely from the evaporative surface and connected to the evaporative surface with a conduit. A support structure may include one or more support arms which maintain the evaporative surface below the nose. In some embodiments, the device may filter air instead of, or in addition to, humidifying the air. Medications or other agents may be included in the liquid being evaporated or on the evaporative surface.

Abstract: Described herein are methods of treating cancer by administering a therapeutically effective amount of at least one texaphyrin metal complex or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative, and performing stereotactic radiosurgery to the patient. In some embodiments, at least one texaphyrin metal complex or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative is administered while the patient is undergoing a radiation therapy. Also described herein are methods for detecting various cancerous tumors, lesions, or metastases in a patient by administering an effective amount of at least one texaphyrin metal complex or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative before a patient undergoes stereotactic radiosurgery. Also described herein are methods for visualizing tumors not otherwise visualized; methods for detecting the margins of a tumor; and methods for improving the targeting of the SRS radiation.

Abstract: A two-part, high-density card retention system includes a tapered channel in a chassis or housing and a mating wedge that runs the length of the housing, with the lead wedge being cammed towards a flat channel surface by drawing the wedge inwardly and locating the edge of the board to be mounted between the wedge and the opposing straight channel wall. The mounting provides continuous high-pressure contact between the board and the straight channel wall for maximal thermal transfer and robust anti-vibration and anti-shock mounting of the board to the chassis. Because no additional assemblies are mounted to the edge of the board, the boards may be spaced apart by a fine pitch, thus to minimize the size of the module into which the boards are mounted.

Abstract: In the field of avionics, it is difficult to justify initiation of new aircraft programmes for replacement of small numbers of niche aircraft. Instead, in many cases, retrofitting existing aircraft is preferred for economic reasons. In this respect, upgrading existing braking systems to accommodate replacement of existing brake units employing sintered friction materials with brake units employing carbon-carbon composite friction materials is desirable. However, when upgrading the braking systems it is necessary to ensure that the integrity of the existing airframe is not compromised by the use of the new brake assemblies employing the carbon-carbon composite friction materials. Consequently, the present invention replaces existing pressure control valves of existing braking systems with an electronic control unit coupled to a pressure control servovalve, thereby ensuring proper application of hydraulic pressure to brake assemblies.

Abstract: A novel multi-roll toilet paper dispenser (9), comprising a housing (10) having a removable top (11), a locking device (33), an open bottom (12), a front (13), a back (14), a first side (15), a second side (16), a storage rack (44), consisting of a curve surface (17), a first end (18), and a second end (19), a handle (20) attached to a first pin (21), inserted in hole (31) in said first side (15), said first pin (21) attached to said first end (18) of said storage rack (44), a second pin (22) inserted in hole (32) in said second side (16), said second pin (22) attached to second end (19) of said storage rack (44), a first tube support (23) having a first end (25) inserted in hole (34) in said first side (15), said first tube support (23) having a second end (26) inserted into hole (35) in said second side (16), a second tube support (24) having a first end (27) inserted in hole (36) in said first side (15) said second tube support (24) having a second end (28) inserted in hole (37) in said second side (16).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) and method for preheating welds uses a centered induction plate (12) having preferably a plurality of induction coils (30, 32) to impart the generation of heat in the materials to be welded (14), being interactively controlled by at least a temperature sensor (90, 92) and power supply control loop (16) so that even preheating can be obtained for a selected length of time given the parameters of the weld desired.

Abstract: A relief structure alignment layer comprising a relief structure surface incorporating at least one indentation, the at least one indentation having an internal surface extending from the relief structure surface, wherein the relief structure alignment layer has a surface memory alignment layer arranged to impart a preferred liquid crystal director alignment to a liquid-crystal material in contact therewith as well as methods for configuring a liquid crystal material within a cell having a relief structure alignment layer by applying at least one of an electric field and a magnetic field and phoretic displays comprising at least on relief structure alignment layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the integration of drug dispersion methods into a drug or medicine delivery system. The drug dispersion methods used include shear (e.g., air across a drug, with or without a gas assist), capillary flow or a venturi effect, mechanical means such as spinning, vibration, or impaction, and turbulence (e.g., using mesh screens, or restrictions in the air path). These methods of drug dispersion allow for all of the drug in the system to be released, allowing control of the dosage size. These methods also provide for drug metering, fluidization, entrainment, deaggragation and deagglomeration. The present invention also provides for the integration of a drug sealing system into the device. The drug sealing system provides a way of blocking the migration of drug from one area of the package to another.

Abstract: A wheel end or other assembly for facilitating rotation about an axis includes a tubular housing, a spindle that extends into the housing, and a double row antifriction bearing between the housing and spindle. The bearing includes at least one separate inner race that fits over the spindle, with the axial position of that race determining the setting for the bearing. Preferably, a spacer fits around the spindle between the inner race and a backing element. The assembly is unitized by deforming the end of the spindle outwardly against the end of the separate inner race with the deformation being sufficient to drive the inner race toward the backing element and collapse the spacer, if present. The deformation of the end of the spindle continues until bearing produces a torque that reflects a desired preload in the bearing.

Abstract: A heating element of a printhead has a conductive layer deposited over a substrate, and a resistive layer deposited over and in electrical contact with the conductive layer.

Abstract: A method, and associated apparatus is described for calculating an inverse transform for transform coded data. In a main embodiment, an 8×8 Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) (200) is arranged in columns of coefficients (202,204,206), the last coefficient is selectively modified to control mismatch in a known manner. The inverse DCT is performed selectively so as to apply abbreviated processing to groups composed entirely of zero-valued coefficients (204). For the purpose of selecting whether abbreviated processing is to be applied, a data group (206) is considered a zero-valued group if the only non-zero coefficient contained therein is a coefficient modified for mismatch control. Further the effect that the modified coefficient has on the output can be pre-calculated, said pre-calculated values being used to compensate for ignoring the non-zero coefficient.

Abstract: A hybrid frequency synthesizer includes an analog phase lock loop (PLL), a digital PLL, and a control circuit to control an output oscillator. The control circuit assigns control of the output oscillator between the analog PLL and/or the digital PLL depending on a state of lock of the analog PLL and/or the digital PLL. During a frequency acquisition mode, the digital PLL provides a coarse control of the output oscillator. During a phase capture mode, the analog PLL provides a fine control and the digital PLL provides a coarse control of the output oscillator. During the phase capture mode, the analog PLL control signal and the digital PLL control signal may be given a percentage of control over the output oscillator depending on the state of lock of the analog PLL and/or the digital PLL. During a phase lock mode, the analog PLL controls the output oscillator.

Abstract: An inventory management system is provided that utilizes radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to drive RFID tags to provide a notification signal, such as by illuminating light emitting diodes (LEDs) embodied by the RFID tags. The RFID tags may be placed on medication bins within a pharmacy pick-station in order to indicate which medication to select for processing an order or in which medication bin to place a particular medication being restocked. A method and computer program product for managing inventory, as well as an automated dispensing cabinet are further provided.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure, fluid ejection device, and methods for manufacturing the same are provided, such that a contact to a substrate is formed from a conductive layer.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring the applications of carbon-carbon brakes of an aircraft to determine brake condition and operate a brake maintenance program or charge a brake system user. The system and method includes monitoring each actuation of the brakes and making a separate record of each actuation of the brakes in which there is relative movement of the facing friction surfaces that cause wear, and from that separate record determining brake usage. The monitoring may include measuring changes and processing the signals to distinguish between those which fall below and those which are above a threshold value. The method and system may comprise sensing a plurality of braking parameters having values dependent upon the wear in the system and different faults of the system, and identifying and recording wear and faults based on combinations of values of the parameters.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed glass package and method for manufacturing the hermetically sealed glass package are described herein using an OLED display as an example. Basically, the hermetically sealed OLED display is manufactured by providing a first substrate plate and a second substrate plate and depositing a frit onto the second substrate plate. OLEDs are deposited on the first substrate plate. An irradiation source (e.g., laser, infrared light) is then used to heat the frit which melts and forms a hermetic seal that connects the first substrate plate to the second substrate plate and also protects the OLEDs. The frit is glass that was doped with at least one transition metal and possibly a CTE lowering filler such that when the irradiation source heats the frit, it softens and forms a bond. This enables the frit to melt and form the hermetic seal while avoiding thermal damage to the OLEDs.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining, from DCT coded data used in MPEG video coding, the number of bits required to represent an output value which would be obtained after an inverse transform is performed on said transform coded data. The method comprises obtaining a sum of coefficient values within said transform coded data (204) and comparing this sum to a predetermined threshold value (206). As a consequence of said comparison a processor decides which inverse transform implementation, out of a number of pre-determined implementations, should be performed when decoding said transform-coded (208,210). For example, eight bit-processing routines may be used, which are more economic than nine bit routines if the sum is less than a threshold value.

Abstract: An ice-making machine having an ice-forming surface upon which ice is formed, a refrigeration system including a microchannel evaporator that cools the ice-forming surface, and a water-supply system. The microchannel evaporator includes a microchannel tube that facilitates a distributed cooling effect in a contact area between the microchannel tube and the ice-forming surface. In some embodiments, the microchannel tube includes a series of recessed portions that define insulated regions and divide the tube into non-insulated regions. The insulated and non-insulated regions can be dimensioned to form individual ice cubes on the ice-forming surface. In other embodiments, spaces between microchannel tubes and/or spaces between the ice-forming surface and microchannel tubes can form insulated regions at least partially defining the size and shape of ice produced by the ice-making machine.

Abstract: An MPEG decoder (100-180) can use different formats (linear tiled etc) for image data memory (150) for reference pictures when decoding subsequent pictures. Each format brings advantages and disadvantages. The disclosure illustrates that it is possible for different video sequences to have characteristics which match one image buffer format well, but not another, for example where there is a lot of motion or only a little motion between images. Advantageously, the decoder employs a parameterised image buffer format and analysis of the incoming stream and/or measured decoding performance (190) so as to dynamically choose (90, 160, 170) the best image buffer format for the current part of a stream. Cache control features can also be controlled (198) to suit the particular data received.

Abstract: An image control system for controlling a menu on a display, comprises a menu arranged as a plurality of simultaneously displayed menu items in a loop and a selector (12) to select an item from the menu, the loop and the selector being moveable with respect to each other. A user input device (4) comprises a control device (6; 16) to generate a control signal to move the loop and the selector (12) relative to each other. The control device (6; 16) has a loop configuration, with movement around the loop of the control device causing corresponding relative movement between the selector (12) and the loop of the menu. Correlation between the loop configuration of the control device and the loop of menu items enables a user to intuitively navigate around a menu of items and select a desired one.