Abstract: A breathing assistance unit for providing pressurized heated humidified air at to a user is configured to increase user compliance. The breathing assistance unit has means for generating positive emotional and cognitive states of a user about the therapy.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a first isolation region between fins of a first group of fins and between fins of a second group of fins. The first a second group of fins are formed in a bulk semiconductor substrate. A second isolation region is formed between the first group of fins and the second group of fins, the second isolation region extends through a portion of the first isolation region such that the first and second isolation regions are in direct contact and a height above the bulk semiconductor substrate of the second isolation region is greater than a height above the bulk semiconductor substrate of the first isolation region.

Abstract: A method for specifying the layout of computing system resources includes receiving a request for a virtual machine, the request comprising a processor requirement and a memory requirement, gathering resource groupings, each resource grouping comprising a latency penalty between a processor and at least a memory. The method further includes calculating a proportionality for each resource grouping, wherein the proportionality comprises a minimum of: an amount of the processor requirement the resource grouping can satisfy and an amount of the memory requirement the resource grouping can satisfy, sorting the resource groupings based on at least the proportionality for each resource grouping to create an ordered list and binding, based on the ordered list, at least one resource group to the virtual machine, wherein the at least one resource group satisfies the processor requirement and the memory requirement.

Abstract: An outdoor unit (ODU) for an air conditioning system includes a baffle or other airflow direction control such that the cooling air from a condenser is at least partially directed over the compressor to provide air movement around the compressor to assist in thermal transfer of heat from the compressor. In one system, curvilinear frustoconical baffles are positioned in a conventional barrel-type outdoor unit to direct airflow toward the compressor before being discharged from the unit. When any of the ODUs is part of a heat pump system for providing heating and cooling, a retractable or movable air diverting system is employed when in the heating mode to prevent airflow through the condenser from reaching the compressor.

Abstract: An offshore hydrocarbon-production umbilical having concentrically: an outer sheath, at least two cross-wound armouring layers, and a core enclosed by the armouring layers, and comprising a plurality of elongate active umbilical components, wherein each armouring layer comprises a plurality of reinforced polymer strips. The use of reinforced polymer strips to form the armouring layers achieves a reduced weight but still flexible arrangement, which is significantly easier to manufacture as far fewer strips are required to form the armouring layers compared with the large number of steel wires of conventional armouring layers.

Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for motion estimation in a sequence of video images. The method comprises a) subdividing each field or frame of a sequence of video images into a plurality of blocks, b) assigning to each block in each video field or frame a respective set of candidate motion vectors, c) determining for each block in a current video field or frame, which of its respective candidate motion vectors produces a best match to a block in a previous video field or frame, d) forming a motion vector field for the current video field or frame using the thus determined best match vectors for each block, and e) forming a further motion vector field by storing a candidate motion vector derived from the best match vector at a block location offset by a distance derived from the candidate motion vector. Finally, steps a) to e) are repeated for a video field or frame following the current video field or frame.

Abstract: A method for installing a paver system includes positioning a first grid substrate adjacent to a second grid substrate. The first grid substrate and the second grid substrate are flexibly bridged with a first paver piece. A first portion of the first paver piece is movably coupled with the first grid substrate at a first joint, and a second portion of the first paver piece is movably coupled with the second grid substrate at a second joint, the first and second grid substrates and the first paver piece forming an articulated paver linkage. A second paver piece is coupled with the second grid substrate. A third paver piece is coupled with the first grid substrate. The articulated paver linkage is fit within the specified area by movement of at least one of the first, second and third paver pieces and the first and second grid substrates. The movement is transmitted along the articulated paver linkage to maintain a specified alignment and spacing of the first, second and third paver pieces.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system relating to a strap or band with an integrated battery are disclosed. The band or strap is designed to retain some flexibility and to interface with an electronic user device (e.g., smart watch, smartphone, etc.).

Abstract: An analytical test strip has mutually-insulated first and second electrodes arranged to define a sample-receiving chamber. Electrically-insulating layers are disposed over respective electrodes. First and second electrical contact pads are electrically connected to the first electrode, and a third pad to the second electrode. A first side of the test strip has a first electrically-insulating layer and the third pad, and a second side has the second electrically-insulating layer and the first and second pads. The third pad extends longitudinally from the sample-receiving chamber farther than does the first electrically-insulating layer. Methods for determining an analyte in a bodily-fluid sample and analytical test systems for use in the determination of an analyte in a bodily-fluid sample are also described.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system and method for optimizing a developer's ability to find and navigate relevant documents, relationships, and other information related to an identifier in the code they are developing. An inline viewport is presented to the user in response to the user selecting an identifier in the code whereby the user is able to see relevant information related to the identifier in a spatially consistent location with the code they are investigating. Further, the developer has the ability to make changes to the code in the viewport without leaving the current editor.

Abstract: Embodiments herein provide device isolation in a complimentary metal-oxide fin field effect transistor. Specifically, a semiconductor device is formed with a retrograde doped layer over a substrate to minimize a source to drain punch-through leakage. A set of high mobility channel fins is formed over the retrograde doped layer, each of the set of high mobility channel fins comprising a high mobility channel material (e.g., silicon or silicon-germanium). The retrograde doped layer may be formed using an in situ doping process or a counter dopant retrograde implant. The device may further include a carbon liner positioned between the retrograde doped layer and the set of high mobility channel fins to prevent carrier spill-out to the high mobility channel fins.

Abstract: A method of filling an aluminum container with wine, and an aluminum container filled with wine, characterized in that the wine has a pH between 2.9 and 3.5 and the filled aluminum container of wine has a molecular sulphur dioxide content of between 0.4 and 0.8 mg/L and further characterized in that prior to filling the wine was micro-filtered in a two stage microfiltration treatment wherein the filter pore diameters are 1.0 ?m or less in the first stage filter housing and 0.20 ?m to 0.45 ?m in at least one subsequent stage filter housing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing an aircraft structure. A drivable support may be driven from a first location to a second location to bring the drivable support together with at least one other drivable support to form a drivable support system. A structure may be held in a desired position using the drivable support system.

Abstract: A disconnectable buoyant turret mooring system for an FPSO is vulnerable to damage from collisions between the buoy and the buoy turret cage during mating and de-mating operations. It is therefore desirable that the buoy separate quickly from the turret of the FPSO vessel during a disconnect operation. A buoy turret cage is provided with a certain degree of porosity that allows a flow of seawater from the outside of the receptor to the inner surface of the receptor. Introducing water in this way relieves the suction forces and allows for a quicker separation of the buoy from the turret of the FPSO vessel, minimizing the time during which an uncontrolled collision between the buoy and the FPSO vessel is most likely. Filling a portion of the turret above the mooring buoy with water prior to releasing the buoy also decreases the separation time.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of controlling a communications link and apparatus configured to perform this method. This invention is particularly related to but in no way limited to MIMO (multiple inputs multiple outputs) wireless communications systems. The method comprises the steps of determining at the receiver the quality of the communications link and based on this, selecting a group of transmission parameters and an element from this group. These selections are then communicated to the transmitter. The transmission parameter may be the transmission configuration such as the modulation and coding scheme. The invention minimises the required feedback signalling from the receiver to the transmitter by exploiting temporal correlation of the parameter being controlled, whilst allowing rapid selection of the parameter.

Abstract: A method for installing a paver system includes positioning a first grid substrate adjacent to a second grid substrate, the first and second grid substrates form a paver support surface. At least the first grid substrate includes an integrated boundary ridge extending along the first paver support surface. The first grid substrate is interlocked with the second grid substrate with a first paver piece bridging the first and second grid substrates to form a paver linkage. Movement of at least the first paver piece is arrested beyond the integrated boundary ridge by directly or indirectly engaging at least the first paver piece against the integrated boundary ridge. In another example, movement of the first paver piece is arrested by anchoring at least the first paver piece on the first and second paver support surfaces through distribution of forces incident on at least the first paver piece through the paver linkage.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments involve real-time commenting in experience-sharing sessions. An exemplary method involves: (a) a server system facilitating an experience sharing session between a sharing device and one or more viewing devices, wherein the server system receives media in real-time from the sharing device and transmits the media to the one or more viewing devices in real-time, wherein the media comprises video; (b) during the experience sharing session, the server system receiving one or more comments from one or more of the viewing devices; (d) the server system filtering the received comments in real-time based on filter criteria; and (e) the server system initiating real-time delivery, to the sharing device, of one or more of the received comments that satisfy the filter criteria.

Abstract: An analytical test strip has mutually-insulated first and second electrodes arranged to define a sample-receiving chamber. Electrically-insulating layers are disposed over respective electrodes. First and second electrical contact pads are electrically connected to the first electrode, and a third pad to the second electrode. A first side of the test strip has a first electrically-insulating layer and the third pad, and a second side has the second electrically-insulating layer and the first and second pads. The third pad extends longitudinally from the sample-receiving chamber farther than does the first electrically-insulating layer. Methods for determining an analyte in a bodily-fluid sample and analytical test systems for use in the determination of an analyte in a bodily-fluid sample are also described.

Abstract: A method of operating a brake-assist-steering system of a vehicle comprises the steps of receiving a signal from a wheel position detector. A theoretical wheel speed for an inside non-steered wheel is computed. A brake operably associated with the inside non-steered wheel is actuated when an actual wheel speed of the inside non-steered wheel is greater than the theoretical wheel speed of the inside non-steered wheel.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer readable medium that facilitate user authentication via voice biometrics in a network system featuring interactive voice response system access is provided. The voice biometric authentication mechanisms alleviate identity theft occurring via specific interactive voice response transactions. A voice biometrics authentication system interfaces with an interactive network platform and may be hosted by a third party provider of voice biometric technologies.