Abstract: A studio light and deflection cone softens the harsh light that is produced by studio lighting instruments, in order to show fewer wrinkles and imperfections on the actors' faces and to create more appealing and flattering facial features for the purpose of photography. The cone attaches to the front of a studio lighting instrument. As light is projected into the rear of the cone, it passes through a primary gel frame that is covered with light deflecting material that spreads the beam. Inside the cone, the light reflects off the ultra-white interior of the cone, is intensified, and passes through the secondary gel frame that is covered with light deflecting material. Upon leaving the cone, the light passes through the control grid at the very front of the cone that narrows the spread of the light exiting the cone in degrees to produce a very soft and controlled light.

Abstract: A modular acetabular cup assembly (10, 100, 200, 300, 350) for use with multiple bearing liners (32, 110, 212, 310, 354) is disclosed. The acetabular cup assembly includes a shell (12) having a tapered inner wall (28) and two circumferential grooves (24, 26). The shell (12) may be used with polyethylene, ceramic, metal, and other types of liners.

Abstract: A composition including particles of a carrier having on a surface thereof a compound according to structure (A) wherein either m is 1 and R is according to structure (B) in which n is an integer from 3 to 7, or m is 2 and R is according to structure C in which p is an integer from 1 to 10. Such compositions are useful for a variety of applications, for example the preparation of mortars and cements.

Abstract: This invention provides compositions of matter, articles of manufacture and methods for delivering and/or affixing a stem cell to a target tissue. This invention also provides related nucleic acids, vectors, cells, methods of production, and kits.

Abstract: A cutter comprises a superhard construction, the cutter having a cutting edge defined by a rake face, and a flank extending therefrom. The cutter also has first and second regions, the first region abutting the second region along a boundary, the first region having a different material composition from the second region. At least the second region comprises superhard material, the material of the first region has a different coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) from the material of the second region. The second region extends around the peripheral edge of the first region defined by the boundary to form a collar therearound, the first region and/or the second region extending to and/or forming at least a part of the rake face.

Abstract: A hydraulic brake apparatus, a movable barrier apparatus, a hydraulic brake kit, a method of stopping movement of a movable barrier, and a method installing a hydraulic brake assembly are described herein. A selectively operable piston mechanism converts rotation of a drive shaft of a movable barrier into hydraulic pressure used to operate a brake configured to stop movement of the drive shaft.

Abstract: A “write-squeeze-verify” method is used for verification of the data that has been written in the annular bands of a shingled magnetic recording disk drive. The writing of data along a track overwrites a portion of the previously written track and thus “squeezes” the data of the previously written track to thereby form a “shingled data track” (SDT). The data in each SDT is read back and verified by performing an error correction check using error correction bits associated with the data written in the SDT, or by comparing the readback data with the data stored in memory. If the data read back is not verified, a write error counter is incremented and a write error frequency is calculated. One or more attempts to write the data can be performed. If the data in the SDT cannot be verified after the attempted rewrite(s), then a “re-try fail” is reported.

Abstract: An inhaler is disclosed. It comprises a housing to receive a strip of blisters each having a puncturable lid and containing a dose of medicament for inhalation by a user, a mouthpiece through which a dose of medicament is inhaled by a user and, an actuator operable to sequentially move each blister into alignment with a blister piercing member. The actuator is also operable to cause the blister piercing element to puncture the lid of a blister such that, when a user inhales through the mouthpiece, an airflow through the blister is generated to entrain the dose contained therein and carry it out of the blister and via the mouthpiece into the user's airway.

Abstract: Cutting elements for earth-boring tools include one or more recesses and/or one or more protrusions in a cutting face of a volume of superabrasive material. The superabrasive material may be disposed on a substrate. The cutting face may be non-planar. The recesses and/or protrusions may include one or more linear segments. The recesses and/or protrusions may comprise discrete features that are laterally isolated from one another. The recesses and/or protrusions may have a helical configuration. The volume of superabrasive material may comprise a plurality of thin layers, at least two of which may differ in at least one characteristic. Methods of forming cutting elements include the formation of such recesses and/or protrusions in and/or on a cutting face of a volume of superabrasive material. Earth-boring tools include such cutting elements, and methods of forming earth-boring tools include attaching such a cutting element to a tool body.

Abstract: A two-step pulse lamp sintering process using a series of low energy light pulses to pre-treat the target before applying one or more higher energy pulses to sinter the metallic nanoparticles. The pulses can be provided so that nanoparticles are not sintered by the low energy pulse(s), but are sintered by the high energy pulse(s).

Abstract: A method of controlling fouling in a membrane filtration system (5) of the type where gas is used to clean or scour the membranes (6) wherein the method includes supplying the gas to the system with a continuously variable flow rate. A continuously variable valve arrangement (17) is also disclosed.

Abstract: A membrane module (5) including a plurality of porous membranes (6) extending in an array and mounted, at least at one end, in a header (8). The header (8) has a number of distribution apertures (11) for distributing a fluid into the module (5) and along a surface or surfaces of the membranes (6). An elongate chamber (10) having one open end (13) and another end is in fluid communication with the distribution apertures (11) for distributing the fluid to the distribution apertures (11).

Abstract: A method of cleaning a membrane surface immersed in a liquid medium with a fluid flow, including the steps of providing a randomly generated intermittent or pulsed fluid flow along the membrane surface to dislodge fouling materials therefrom. A membrane module is also disclosed comprising a plurality of porous membranes (6) or a set of membrane modules (5) and a device (11) for providing a generally randomly generated, pulsed fluid flow such that, in use, said fluid flow moves past the surfaces of said membranes (6) to dislodge fouling materials therefrom.

Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for implanting, positioning, removing, replacing and operating intra-aortic balloon pumps.

Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for implanting, positioning, removing, replacing and operating intra-aortic balloon pumps.

Abstract: An Inhaler for delivering an aerosolised dose of a powdered drug for inhalation by a user is disclosed. The inhaler comprises a drug entreinment device to a receive a package having a piercable lid containing a dose to be delivered, the device including a drug outlet tube terminating with a primary piercing element to pierce an opening in said lid when a package is located in the inhaler, a secondary piercing member to pierce a plurality of peripheral openings in said lid and, an airflow path to enable the supply of a charge of gas into the package via said peripheral openings to scour the interior of a pierced package such that all or substantially all of the dose is entrained in the gas and flows out of the package via the drug outlet tube. A medicament pack is also disclosed.

Abstract: Various techniques are disclosed for operating, at a live casino gaming table, a table game having a flat rate play session costing a flat rate price. In one embodiment, the flat rate play session may span multiple plays on the gaming table over a pre-established duration. In at least one embodiment, a given gaming table may be operable to simultaneously or concurrently host both flat rate game play and non-flat rate game play to different players at the gaming table. In one embodiment, the gaming table may include an intelligent multi-player electronic gaming system which is operable to identify price parameters, and/or operable to determine a flat rate price of playing a flat rate table game session based on those price parameters. Additional aspects relate to automated start/stop/suspend/end of flat rate table game sessions.

Abstract: A component, e.g. a prosthetic ball and socket joint like an acetabular cup of a prosthetic joint, having a male or female location feature in a surface thereof for mutual interfit with a fixing member of a fixing assembly for securing the fixing member to the surface of the component and optionally for securing the component to a second component by means of a fixing screw.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for assessing equipment related risk based on electrical event data. An electrical event is an electrical voltage or current that falls outside a nominal range during an event duration. The electrical event data for electricity supplied to electrically-powered equipment is analyzed and one or more types of equipment related risk associated with an electrical event are quantified based on the electrical event data. A visual representation of the quantified one or more equipment related risks is provided.

Abstract: A continuous process for making a pita chip or other similar products using a continuous pressing step that occurs shortly after a continuous oven initial cooking step. Applicants' invention produces a final product with characteristics of a traditionally cooked pita chip using equipment that provides for significant increases in manufacturing throughput. The use of a continuous oven with the relatively concurrent pressing step allows for the production of a flat chip piece on a continuous product line.