Abstract: The presence of misfolded proteins in the brain is the hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases. Protein aggregates could have systemic expression and might be found in several tissues including the skin. This demonstrates the presence of phosphorylated Tau (p-Tau) in the skin cells of patients with Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Antibodies against p-Tau (PHF, phosphorylated at S296 and AT8, phosphorylated at S202) were assayed in biopsied tissue from the retro-auricular area in 49 subjects: 20 with AD, 12 with nondegenerative dementia and 17 age-matched controls. Light and confocal microscopies were employed to localize Tau protein by immunohistochemistry and their presence in the skin was confirmed through Western blots. The skin biopsy taken from AD patients presented significantly higher levels of p-Tau (AT8: hyperphosphorylated at Ser 202) when compared both to control subjects and patients with non-degenerative dementia (p<0.001).

Abstract: A hard disk drive or other disk-based storage device comprises a storage disk, a write head configured to write data to the disk, and control circuitry coupled to the write head. The control circuitry comprises a write driver and degauss circuitry associated with the write driver. The degauss circuitry is configured to generate a chirped degauss signal to be applied to the write head by the write driver. The degauss circuitry comprises a ramp generator configured to generate a ramp signal for controlling a frequency of at least a portion of a waveform of the chirped degauss signal. The ramp signal generated by the ramp generator may comprise a current ramp that is applied to a control input of a current controlled oscillator of the degauss circuitry.

Abstract: A hard disk drive or other disk-based storage device comprises a storage disk, a write head configured to write data to the disk, and control circuitry coupled to the write head. The control circuitry comprises a write driver and degauss circuitry associated with the write driver. The degauss circuitry is configured to generate a chirped degauss signal to be applied to the write head by the write driver. The degauss circuitry comprises a ramp generator configured to generate a ramp signal for controlling a frequency of at least a portion of a waveform of the chirped degauss signal. The ramp signal generated by the ramp generator may comprise a current ramp that is applied to a control input of a current controlled oscillator of the degauss circuitry.

Abstract: An error amplifier for use in a disk drive actuator system having an actuator motor for radially positioning a transducing head with respect to a rotatable disk is newly designed to enable full implementation as an integrated circuit. The error amplifier includes a switched-capacitor proportional-integral controller for comparing first and second differential input signals representing a respective actual current and commanded current for driving the actuator motor, and providing a differential output signal. A transconductor-capacitor filter is connected to filter the differential output signal of the switched-capacitor integrator, and provides a motor control signal to control the actuator motor.

Abstract: A combination toolchest and workbench has a base member with an upper surface, and front, back and side edges. An upright rear panel with lateral edges and a top edge, is affixed to the back edge of the base member. A pair of opposed upright side panels, each having a lower edge adjacent to one of the side edges of the base, an upper edge, a forward edge, and a rear edge, are each pivotably attached to one of the lateral edges of the rear panel. The inside surfaces of at least one of the rear and side panels have tool-holding device receptors. The combination toolchest and workbench has a top member and an openable front panel. The combination toolchest and workbench can thus present an array of tools in a securable enclosure.

Abstract: An error amplifier for use in a disk drive actuator system having an actuator motor for radially positioning a transducing head with respect to a rotatable disk is newly designed to enable full implementation as an integrated circuit. The error amplifier includes a switched-capacitor proportional-integral controller for comparing first and second differential input signals representing a respective actual current and commanded current for driving the actuator motor, and providing a differential output signal. A transconductor-capacitor filter is connected to filter the differential output signal of the switched-capacitor integrator, and provides a motor control signal to control the actuator motor.

Abstract: The invention is a combination toolchest/workbench. The toolchest/workbench has a base member with an upper surface, and front, back and side edges. An upright rear panel with lateral edges and a top edge, is affixed to the back edge of the base member. A pair of opposed upright side panels, each having a lower edge adjacent to one of the side edges of the base, an upper edge, a forward edge, and a rear edge, are each pivotably attached to one of the lateral edges of the rear panel. The inside surfaces of at least certain of the rear and side panels have tool-holding device receptors. The toolchest/workbench has a top member and an openable front panel. The toolchest/workbench can thus present an array of tools in a securable enclosure.

Abstract: An actuator circuit includes an H-bridge having sense and power FETs to drive a voice coil motor. A differential amplifier configuration is connected to the H-bridge. A bias circuit connected to the H-bridge and to current sources controls bias current through the one sense FET and one power FET and through the other sense FET and other power FET. A common mode feedback is circuit connected to the voice coil motor to provide common mode feedback to the differential amplifier configuration. The FETs, which may be unmatched, are operated to achieve class AB operation.

Abstract: The brake construction is comprised of first and second U-shaped leg means which are pivotally attached to the bottom surface of the creeper platform and interconnected by means of a tie rod. A manually operated handle is attached to one of the leg means to effect pivoting motion of both leg means between a brake engagement position and a brake release position. When the leg means are in the brake engagement position, they define a generally divergent angle which tends to lock the brake construction in the brake engagement position.