Abstract: In providing composite programming content from different sources on a program channel, a host processor joins IP multicast groups for which “live” contents from multiple sources are provided. Specifically, the host processor collects packets containing the live contents based on their destination addresses associated with the IP multicast groups. Segments of the received live contents are selected to realize the composite programming content, which is provided on the program channel.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the delivery of content in a network via a user premises gateway device in communication with one or more user devices. The gateway device receives content from an optical network (e.g., EPON), processes the content onto one or more communication channels, and delivers it to the user devices. In one variant, the gateway includes switching functionality to receive all available programs, or only a portion thereof, and providing specific ones on an as-needed basis to the user device(s) via the channels. Video on Demand (VOD) and pay-per-view (PPV) as well as other unicast services may also be provided by the gateway apparatus. A DOCSIS or other data channel, as well as a dedicated guide data channel, may be among the provided channels.

Abstract: A magnetic field modem (26) includes an electro-magnetic radiation shielded (90) transmitter section (34) and a receiver section (36). The electro-magnetic radiation shielded (90) transmitter section (34) modulates data and transmits the data via a magnetic field through a radio frequency shield (20). The receiver section (34) receives the magnetic field through the radio frequency shield (20) and demodulates the data. The transmitter section includes an oscillator (40), a modulator (50), an amplifier (70), a magnetic transducer (80), and a non-ferrous magnetic shield (90). The oscillator (40) generates a carrier signal. The modulator (50) connects to the oscillator (40) and modulates the carrier signal with the data. The amplifier (70) connects to the modulator (50) and amplifies the modulated carrier signal. The magnetic transducer (80) connects to the amplifier (70) and converts the modulated carrier signal into a modulated magnetic signal.

Abstract: An irradiation apparatus configured to be coupled to an irradiation chamber containing a material to be irradiated, comprising: a support structure; one or more radiation sources coupled to the support structure; and a heat exchange mechanism thermally coupled to the one or more radiation sources. The heat exchange mechanism comprises one or more of a thermoelectric cooling device, a vapor chamber, a heatsink, a heat dissipation structure, a fan, and a cooling coating. The one or more radiation sources comprise one or more UV radiation sources, one or more UV-C radiation sources, one or more visible radiation sources, or a combination thereof. Optionally, the one or more radiation sources comprise a plurality of radiation sources arranged in an array. Optionally, the one or more radiation sources deliver a combination of wavelengths to the material to be irradiated.

Abstract: A sizing caliper for facilitating the selection of a femoral component of a knee prosthesis includes a caliper body, two drill guide bodies, a stylus tower configured to be slidably linked to each other wherein as the caliper body and the stylus tower are linearly displaced at an equal rate relative to the drill guide body portions and the drill guide holes remain located at the midpoint of an anterior/posterior dimension defined by the distance between the tip of the stylus and the base portion. The caliper body comprises a base portion configured to couple and decouple from the caliper body using a sliding mechanism.

Abstract: In providing composite programming content from different sources on a program channel, a host processor joins IP multicast groups for which “live” contents from multiple sources are provided. Specifically, the host processor collects packets containing the live contents based on their destination addresses associated with the IP multicast groups. Segments of the received live contents are selected to realize the composite programming content, which is provided on the program channel.

Abstract: A cementing assembly is mounted to a lower end of a running string. The running string has an obstruction in it such as a cable preventing a wiper dart from passing through. A production string liner wiper plug is secured to the running tool with a shear pin or other device. A dart is temporarily suspended above the liner wiper plug in a manner that cement can be pumped around the dart and through an open bore in the wiper plug. Picking up to let dogs extend followed by setting down releases the dart. Picking up again exposes a lateral port to circulate out contaminated cement. Setting down closes the port and pressure launches the plug to push the cement into the annulus surrounding the string being run in. A passage without restrictions results at the top of the cemented string after the running tool is pulled out of the hole.

Abstract: A leash includes a container housing to be carried on a collar, chain, harness or other similar restraint, readily available for use. An outer end of a leash strap can be pulled by a user to dispense the leash strap for use, and the leash can be retracted and rewound in the container housing. The leash can be latched in a retracted configuration to prevent unwanted extension of the leash, and can be unlatched by a user for extension or storage of the leash in the retracted configuration. In one form the leash includes a thumb wheel that can be turned by a user on an inner rotatable spool in an unlatched position, and rotation of the thumb wheel is prevented in a latched position.

Abstract: Bulk material storage units that can be placed on flatbeds that can be hauled in various manners, including rail cars or trucks, to the destination and removed from the flatbed for temporary storage at the destination, freeing the transportation mode, e.g., rail cars or trucks, to be used elsewhere. Embodiments of the bulk material storage unit of the present invention replace rail hopper cars or truck trailers to hold the bulk material during transportation as well as provide temporary storage at the desired location, e.g., the origin or destination, without tying up transportation resources.

Abstract: A sizing caliper for facilitating the selection of a femoral component of a knee prosthesis includes a caliper body, a drill guide body, a stylus tower and a graduated stylus slidably coupled to the stylus tower. The caliper body, the stylus tower and the two drill guide body portions are configured to be slidably linked to each other, whereby as the caliper body and the stylus tower are linearly displaced, in opposite directions along the longitudinal axis L of the sizing caliper, relative to the two drill guide body portions, the caliper body and the stylus tower are linearly displaced at an equal rate relative to the drill guide body portions and the drill guide holes remain located at the midpoint of an anterior/posterior dimension defined by the distance between the tip of the stylus and the base portion.

Abstract: A grooming device includes hair collectors and a scraper. The scraper uncovers the hair collectors when the device is pressed down for use, and scrapes the hair collectors to eject hair collected when the device is released. Ejection of collected hair can also be controlled manually. A collection chamber may be provided, and multiple combs may be mounted on a rotatable dowel that recede within the rotatable barrel, or with sliding plates around and offset from the dowel as the dowel is rotated. A door or window on a surface of the collection chamber can be opened to empty the chamber of collected hair.

Abstract: Content that is delivered nearly on-demand, in overlapping streams that start in staggered intervals on different channels, is played on-demand for the user using a storage system in conjunction with the receiver. A portion of the content corresponding to the staggering interval of the various streams is pre-cached and employed for playback when the user initiates on-demand playback. Content from the most-recently-started stream at the time of playback initiation is then buffered, and playback switches from the pre-cached content to the buffered content at a preselected alignment point.

Abstract: A method for ranking services in a web services architecture and a web services architecture are provided. The web services architecture has a hierarchy of services (401, 406, 408, 410) with a root originating service requestor (401) and a service of a first level in the hierarchy calling a service of a lower level. The originating service requestor (401) indicates a preference regarding one or more services and a ranking machine (405) provides a choice algorithm based on the preference. The originating service requestor (401) invokes services of one or more levels of hierarchy. At each level of the hierarchy (401, 406, 408, 410), a service uses a directory (411) to find a set of possible lower-level services and the ranking machine (405) applies the choice algorithm to the set of possible lower-level services.

Abstract: A diverse radio receiver system includes a radio frequency (RF) circuit board, a plurality of RF receivers disposed on the RF circuit board, and switching circuitry disposed on the RF circuit board. The switching circuitry includes transmission lines and switches connecting each RF receiver with (1) a selected one antenna of a plurality of antennas and (2) an impedance matching circuit providing impedance matching of the selected one antenna with the RF receiver. The switching circuitry is configured to implement a plurality of selectable switch configurations, each switch configuration connecting each RF receiver of the plurality of RF receivers with a selected antenna of the plurality of antennas. The impedance matching circuits of the switching circuitry may comprise impedance matching transmission line stubs. The diverse radio receiver system may be configured to receive an RF signal transmitted by a wireless magnetic resonance (MR) receive coil.

Abstract: The subject innovation provides for systems and methods to optimize control systems for networked industrial sensors or devices and methods for self sensing, communicating with, monitoring of, controlling and optimizing utilization of networked industrial sensors and related control systems primarily in an industrial automation environment. The invention provides self-sensing and communication with sensors, and integration of control methods and strategies with decision support and logistics systems, to optimize specifically defined operational and performance objectives.

Abstract: Disclosed are immunogenic compositions, and methods for their use in the formulation and administration of therapeutic and prophylactic pharmaceutical agents. In particular, the invention provides immunogenic compositions and methods for preventing, treating, managing, and/or ameliorating a viral or microbial infection, or one or more symptoms thereof, including, for example, those infections giving rise to shipping fever, bovine respiratory disease complex, and/or bovine viral diarrhea, particularly in susceptible or infected animals.

Abstract: Described herein are mechanisms for automatically generating a computer-executable program that transforms a first table in a first format to a second table in a second format by way of user-provided examples. A user provides an exemplary input table of a first format, where the input table may be a portion of the first table. The user also provides an exemplary output table of a second format, wherein contents of the output table correspond to contents of the input table. Based upon these user-provided examples, a table transform program is automatically generated, wherein the table transform program, when executed over the first table generates the second table.

Abstract: A method includes ranking services in a web services architecture and a web services architecture. The web services architecture has a hierarchy of services with a root originating service requester and a service of a first level in the hierarchy calling a service of a lower level. The originating service requestor indicates a preference regarding one or more services and a ranking machine provides a choice algorithm based on the preference. The originating service requestor invokes services of one or more levels of hierarchy. At each level of the hierarchy, a service uses a directory to find a set of possible lower-level services and the ranking machine applies the choice algorithm to the set of possible lower-level services. In one embodiment, the set of possible lower-level services is referred to the ranking machine from the directory and a preferred sequence is returned by the ranking machine to the directory.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and compositions for identifying viral-specific polynucleotide sequences in a biological sample, and particularly in samples of veterinary origin. Also disclosed are oligonucleotide primer pairs, as well as labeled oligonucleotide detection probes useful in detecting the presence of one or more particular species, strains, types, or subtypes of one or more mammalian pathogens of viral origin, as well as systems, diagnostic kits and articles of manufacture comprising virus-specific primers and labeled detection probes, including those useful in identifying viral components of a multivalent vaccine, and quantitating the potency of particular attenuated, live viruses that comprise a livestock vaccine. In certain embodiments, real-time, quantitative PCR methods have been utilized to identify and distinguish between the three known genetic subtypes of bovine viral diarrhea viruses (BVDV-1a, BVDV-1b, and BVDV-2) in a multivalent bovid shipping fever vaccine.

Abstract: A tool and method for drilling a secondary hole (window) from a pre-determined position within a well bore into the adjacent rock or formation. The invention includes an internal (relative to the production tubing) primary deflection wedge transitioning into an externally attached (relative to the production tubing) conical device that aids in the exit from the production tubing through the production casing, where a significant standoff exists between the smaller production tubing (completion) and the larger ID production casing. The primary deflection wedge serves as a directional guide to exit the production tubing. The conical device provides a way to transition and support a milling device to exit the adjacent casing at a desired angle without having the milling device move off the preferred course. This two-part assembly is called a tandem wedge kick off assembly.