Abstract: A method for the application of at least two different powder coating layers to a substrate comprising the steps of application of a first powder coating layer followed by the application of a second powder coating layer, without any substantial curing of the first powder coating layer prior to the application of the second powder coating layer, followed by the simultaneous curing of the first powder coating layer and the second powder coating layer, wherein the first powder coating layer or the second powder coating layer comprises 1 to 10 weight % of a conductive component having a resistivity of below 5 ?cm at a packing volume of ?70%.

Abstract: A system for assisting blood flow in a patient includes an implantable pump system for assisting in blood flow from the heart and an implantable control system for communicative connection with the implantable pump system. The control system includes a pacemaker system that is operative to control heart rate and the pump system interdependently to achieve a determined level of blood flow assist. The control system is adapted to increase the heart rate of the patient to above a normal heart rate for the patient under the present conditions of the patient via the pacemaker while controlling the pump system to achieve the determined level of blood flow assist based upon the increased heart rate and a level of assist provided by the pump system.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems and computer program products for providing scan-triggered application services to a user using a scan-able information encoded in a service scan code, such as a bar code, a quick response (QR) code, an RFID code/tag, or an NFC code/tag. In one embodiment, a mobile communication device such as a smartphone, tablet computer or other mobile computer is adapted to include a scan-triggered service client module for scanning and communicating scan code information obtained from a scanable service code. In one exemplary embodiment, service scan code scanning is accomplished by a code scanner that is associated with the smartphone or other mobile computing device. The scan-triggered service client module communicates the obtained scan code information to an associated server application for collecting and processing the scan code information and providing the associated service.

Abstract: Human antibodies, preferably recombinant human antibodies, that specifically bind to human interleukin-12 (hIL-12) are disclosed. Preferred antibodies have high affinity for hIL-12 and neutralize hIL-12 activity in vitro and in vivo. An antibody of the invention can be a full-length antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof. The antibodies, or antibody portions, of the invention are useful for detecting hIL-12 and for inhibiting hIL-12 activity, e.g., in a human subject suffering from a disorder in which hIL-12 activity is detrimental. Nucleic acids, vectors and host cells for expressing the recombinant human antibodies of the invention, and methods of synthesizing the recombinant human antibodies, are also encompassed by the invention.

Abstract: The present invention broadly claims a method for detecting cancer in an individual. The method comprises detecting a deletion in the nucleic acid sequence between residues 10743 and 12125 in mitochondrial DNA. The method comprises obtaining a biological sample from the individual; extracting the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from the sample; quantifying the amount of mtDNA in the sample having a deletion in the nucleic acid sequence between residues 10743 and 14125 of the mtDNA genome; and comparing the amount of mtDNA in the sample having the deletion to at least one known reference sample.

Abstract: A dynamic awards and restrictive tender method and system are provided. The method includes receiving, at a processor of a sales device, a request for a purchase of an item. A purchase rule applicable to the purchase is determined. An update to the purchase rule is received. The request for the purchase is processed based upon the updated purchase rule. At the processor, a notification of a success or a rejection of the processed request for the purchase is provided to a requester initiating the request.

Abstract: A leg protector for protecting the lower leg of a sports player against injury is disclosed. The leg protector comprises a sock and a plurality of protection pads. The sock is worn, in use, over the player's lower leg. Each protection pad comprises a rear surface that is detachably engageable with the worn sock so that, when engaged, the rear surface faces inward towards the player's lower leg and a corresponding front surface faces out away from the player's lower leg. Each of the plurality of protection pads are arranged for placement at a position that protects a respective area of the player's lower leg. A first protection pad can protect an upper shin area; a second protection pad can protect a lower shin and ankle area; and a third protection pad can protect a metatarsal area of the player's lower leg.

Abstract: Electrocoagulation effluent treatment apparatus and methods are disclosed, the apparatus including a primary electrocoagulation reactor chamber having treatment electrodes maintained therein and an effluent inlet and treated effluent outlet. An integrated flotation chamber is located above the reaction chamber, a vacuum device connectable with a vacuum source being received in the flotation chamber and including a foam intake and an output. A sludge chamber is defined below and integrated with the primary reaction chamber and has a settled sludge output.

Abstract: An oral care implement having a flexible handle. In one embodiment, the invention can be an oral care implement comprising: a head; and a handle extending along a longitudinal axis and connected to the head, the handle comprising: a main body integrally formed of a rigid material, the main body comprising a rigid gripping section terminating in a bulbous body, a rigid neck section terminating in a basin, and a flexible strut having a first end connected to the bulbous body and a second end connected to a floor of the basin; a resilient material encasing the flexible strut; and the flexible strut and the resilient material forming a hinge about which the rigid neck section pivots relative to the rigid gripping section upon a force being applied to the head.

Abstract: A coaxial cable connector and a grounding insert extending between an elongated hollow post and a nut interior and providing an electrically conductive path therebetween.

Abstract: A guide catheter system includes a guide catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, an outer wall and a first, second and third electrode wherein the first, second and third electrodes are spaced longitudinally apart from each other on the outer wall of the catheter, and an electrical impulse generator connected to the guide catheter wherein the electrical impulse generator includes a circuit for selecting an adjacent pair of electrodes to use as a bipolar electrode system to send an electrical impulse and a method of use thereof to treat vasospasm.

Abstract: RF communications circuitry, which includes a first tunable RF filter and a second tunable RF filter, is disclosed. The first tunable RF filter is coupled to the second tunable RF filter. The RF communications circuitry operates in one of a first operating mode and a second operating mode. During the first operating mode, the second tunable RF filter receives and filters an upstream RF signal to provide a filtered RF signal. Further, during the first operating mode, the first tunable RF filter augments a frequency response of the second tunable RF filter.

Abstract: An integrated circuit having a substrate, a buffer layer formed over the substrate, a barrier layer formed over the buffer layer, and an isolation region that isolates an enhancement mode device from a depletion mode device. The integrated circuit further includes a first gate contact for the enhancement mode device that is disposed in one gate contact recess and a second gate contact for the depletion mode device that is disposed in a second gate contact recess.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method for identifying one or more of a plurality of sequences differing by one or more single base changes, insertions, deletions, or translocations in a plurality of target nucleotide sequences. The method includes a ligation phase, a capture phase, and a detection phase. The ligation phase utilizes a ligation detection reaction between one oligonucleotide probe, which has a target sequence-specific portion and an addressable array-specific portion, and a second oligonucleotide probe, having a target sequence-specific portion and a detectable label. After the ligation phase, the capture phase is carried out by hybridizing the ligated oligonucleotide probes to a solid support with an array of immobilized capture oligonucleotides at least some of which are complementary to the addressable array-specific portion. Following completion of the capture phase, a detection phase is carried out to detect the labels of ligated oligonucleotide probes hybridized to the solid support.

Abstract: A system is described for tracking a position of a receiver medium as it travels along a media path. A laser provides heat to the receiver medium in a localized area sufficient to permanently alter a physical property of the receiver medium thereby forming a reference mark. A sensor at a downstream position along the media path is adapted to sense the reference mark providing a sensed signal. The sensed signal is analyzed to determine a position of the receiver medium as the receiver medium passes through the second position along the media path by detecting a position of the reference mark.

Abstract: Plant seeds, seedlings, or developing plants are treated with aqueous, dry, or appropriately solvated chemical formulations composed of nucleotides or nucleosides buffered with an effective amount of non-toxic biologically compatible agents, simultaneously with an antioxidant and lipoxygenase enzyme inhibitor. The purpose is to improve or optimize seed germination rate, seedling vigor, and ultimately plant growth characteristics and yield performance. In the preferred embodiment, seeds or other plant tissues are treated with adenosine monophosphate buffered with an excess amount of phosphoric acid salts at about pH 7.0 as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,209,316. The improvement described in this application comprises the simultaneous addition of a similar quantity of propyl gallate to the adenosine monophosphate maintaining pH around 7.0 or below.

Abstract: A method for peer-assisted shopping including receiving, at a first device, a transacting media container comprising base content and supplemental content related to one or more items in the base content. The method also includes receiving a selection of at least one of the one or more items. The method also includes initiating a first shopping cart within the transacting media container of the first device, the first shopping cart identifying the at least one selected item. The method also includes establishing a communication channel with a second device. The method also includes transmitting information to synchronize a second shopping cart associated with the second device with the first shopping cart.

Abstract: Sharing local cache from a failover node, including: determining, by a managing compute node, whether a first compute node and a second compute node each have a local cache, where the second compute node is a mirrored copy of the first compute node; responsive to determining that the first compute node and the second compute node each have a local cache, combining, by the managing compute node, local cache on the first compute node and local cache on the second compute node into unified logical cache; receiving, by the managing compute node, a memory access request; and sending, by the managing compute node, the memory access request to an appropriate local cache in the unified logical cache.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for resolving resource contention in a content distribution network. In one embodiment, a manager entity at a subscriber premises manages requests for content from various subscriber devices in communication therewith. The manager identifies when there is a conflict, and implements a mechanism to resolve the conflict, such as by determining whether one or more conflicting content items may be provided according to an alternate delivery scheme. In one variant, the apparatus may further implement one or more rules for determining whether to adjust delivery of requested content. In another variant, the disclosed concepts may be utilized to provide efficient delivery of content, by providing alternate delivery prior when doing so would be more efficient than allowing for delivery at a first scheduled date/time. The system may take into account bandwidth or network constraints, whether other requests are pending (although there are still sufficient resources), etc.

Abstract: A microwave moisture probe is used in a system and method to measure completeness of mixing in portable total mixed ration (TMR) feed mixers. The probe continuously monitors the moisture concentration of the feed mix and communicates its readings to a processor. The processor processes the data from the probe and determines when the feed has been mixed optimally. The processor then communicates with a display to provide a signal to a user.