Abstract: A rail for a photovoltaic module arrangement, the rail including a body having at least a top portion, a middle portion, and a bottom portion, the top portion including at least one upper edge in which at least one end of the upper edge defines an angle configured to receive a photovoltaic module on the body, the middle portion including at least one side edge, and the bottom portion including at least a bottom edge.

Abstract: An articulating, steerable surgical probe includes an elongated, flexible transfer tube adapted for insertion into a surgical region for endoscopic laryngeal laser surgery. A lumen is defined by an interior of the transfer tube, and a laser fiber extends through the lumen for delivering a therapeutic laser signal to a distal end of the laser fiber. An articulating tip at the distal end of the transfer tube is responsive to articulating forces from a retractable tether for directing the treatment probe in a direction of the articulation, and a linkage to the tether from a control module effects controlled retraction of the tether for articulating the tip towards a surgical target, such that the articulating tip imposing a bend radius based on a signal loss through the laser fiber.

Abstract: A rail for a photovoltaic module arrangement, the rail including a body having at least a top portion, a middle portion, and a bottom portion, the top portion including at least one upper edge in which at least one end of the upper edge defines an angle configured to receive a photovoltaic module on the body, the middle portion including at least one side edge, and the bottom portion including at least a bottom edge.

Abstract: An articulating, steerable surgical probe includes an elongated, flexible transfer tube adapted for insertion into a surgical region for endoscopic laryngeal laser surgery. A lumen is defined by an interior of the transfer tube, and a laser fiber extends through the lumen for delivering a therapeutic laser signal to a distal end of the laser fiber. An articulating tip at the distal end of the transfer tube is responsive to articulating forces from a retractable tether for directing the treatment probe in a direction of the articulation, and a linkage to the tether from a control module effects controlled retraction of the tether for articulating the tip towards a surgical target, such that the articulating tip imposing a bend radius based on a signal loss through the laser fiber.

Abstract: Human or humanized tissues and organs suitable for transplant are disclosed herein. Gene editing of a host animal provides a niche for complementation of the missing genetic information by donor stem cells. Editing of a host genome to knock out or debilitate genes responsible for the growth and/or differentiation of a target organ and injecting that animal at an embryo stage with donor stem cells to complement the missing genetic information for the growth and development of the organ. The result is a chimeric animal in which the complemented tissue (human/humanized organ) matches the genotype and phenotype of the donor. Such organs may be made in a single generation and the stem cell may be taken or generated from the patient's own body. As disclosed herein, it is possible to do so by simultaneously editing multiple genes in a cell or embryo creating a “niche” for the complemented tissue.

Abstract: A user directed advertisement network includes an ad server having a database for storing advertisements from one or more vendors, and a broker configured with software to receive and store claims including information of advertisement preferences of a principal, and based upon at last one claim to provide to the principal one or more advertisements stored on the ad server that relate to the preferences of the principal. An agent used by the principal and configured with software to provide the claims including the information of the advertisement preferences to the broker, and to receive the advertisements from the broker.

Abstract: A brokered information sharing system including a primary broker configured with software to store cards of a principal, to transmit the cards when requested by the principal, to authenticate the principal, and to provide a master authentication of the principal to at least one issuing party. A selector is used by the principal and is configured with software to provide authentication of the principal to the primary broker, and to request and receive cards from the primary broker.

Abstract: A chewing gum comprising a solid shaped chewing gum composition sanded with a sugar alcohol having a negative heat of solution and a method of mixing same. The method involves coating solid pieces of chewing gum composition with a wetting syrup and sanding the wetted pieces with sugar alcohol crystals. The chewing gum is characterized by intense initial cooling and flavor release.

Abstract: Systems and method are provided for providing a playlist transport bar. The playlist transport bar provides an overlay which graphically represents assets (e.g., programs) of a playlist in a manner that enables a user to simultaneously ascertain a playback position within the playlist and a particular asset. The playlist transport may include asset regions which each correspond to an asset in a playlist and a position indication region which may provide information relating to a playback position.

Abstract: A confectionary comprising a solid shaped confectionary composition sanded with a sugar alcohol having a negative heat of solution and a method of mixing same. The method involves coating solid pieces of confectionary composition with a wetting syrup and sanding the wetted pieces with sugar alcohol crystals. The confectionary is characterized by intense initial cooling and flavor release.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a confectionary item comprising: (a) a tackified matrix core upon which a matrix of non-homogenous powdered materials is formed by applying: (b) at least one deposit of binder that adheres to the gelatin flavored matrix core; (c) a powdered deposit of edible water soluble carbohydrate exhibiting a negative heat of solution; (d) optional additional alternating deposits of (b) and (c) above; (e) an optional, powdered deposit of a low-hygroscopic flow agent applied over the powdered layers (b), (c) and (d) where (d) is applied, which low hygroscopic flow agent can be applied after an optional preceding deposit of aqueous solution of water-soluble binder; and (f) an optional layer of protective coating of a confectioner's glaze and/or confectioner's shellac. The present invention is also directed to the process of making the confectionary item.

Abstract: The invention provides, in one aspect, a method of making a confectionery packet or sachet formed with an edible film and enclosing a center composition. The packet or sachet can be designed to be placed in the mouth, where the film dissolves and the center composition is released. In preferred embodiments, the center composition comprises a sugar alcohol, such as xylitol, that creates a cooling sensation. Many other flavors and/or colors or sensates can also be used in the center composition, and some embodiments include breath-freshening, anti-bacterial, nutriceutical, or pharmaceutical compositions in the center composition. The invention also comprises the edible packets or sachets, especially those composed of film with a desired retained water level suitable for producing a self-sealing film and/or an edible film packet that is stable at room temperature for at least six to twelve months.

Abstract: A dynamic merchandising system creates for each of a plurality of products in a plurality of purchase orders a list of products purchased together. This information is then used to create ordered lists reflecting relationships between various product attributes, e.g., the relationships between different brand names purchased together, different product categories purchased together, different catalog pages of products purchased together, etc. From these ordered relationship lists information may be selected and presented to the customer for the purpose of directing the customer to additional purchasing opportunities.

Abstract: A system and a method for creating user interfaces for software applications. Particularly, the invention allows a developer to segregate the development of the user interface from the development of the underlying application logic. In one embodiment, an application graphical user interface is specified using an XML document as an application interface file. At application compile time this application interface file is parsed, and the specification therein used to retrieve graphical screen components from an interface library to create the user interface. A grammar file can be used to further specify the parsing of the application interface file, and impose consistency upon the interface development process.

Abstract: A communications device includes a symbol encoder for receiving data comprising a symbol and for receiving a first signal having a positive entropy. The symbol encoder adds to the first signal a plurality of delayed versions of the first signal. Each delayed version of the plurality of delayed versions has a plurality of available values. The symbol is represented by a set of delay values, a delay value of the set of delay values including an available value of the plurality of available values for the each delayed version of the plurality of delayed versions. The communications device also includes a transmitter for receiving the encoded data from the symbol encoder and for transmitting the encoded data. For example, the first signal having positive entropy includes a chaotic signal, noise signal, or a positive entropy, baseband signal modulated onto a positive entropy signal having a higher frequency than the baseband signal.

Abstract: A is wound around a drum of a winch mounted on a pressure bar which is placed on a child car seat after it is positioned where it is to be installed, usually on the rear passenger seat of an automobile. Fasteners at the ends of the belts are attached to a respective seat belt on each side of the child car seat, or to an anchoring rod extending from underneath the automobile. As the winch is actuated to tighten the belt the child car seat is pressed into the passenger seat where it can be firmly held in place while an installer tightens a pair of passenger seat belts passed through the child car seat to hold it securely in place.

Abstract: Chewing gum bearing on its outer surface a powder of inert inorganic material, such as calcium carbonate, that is coated with edible wax.

Abstract: Material such as chewing gum is treated to reduce its density by working it and feeding it through a twin-screw corotating extruder configured to provide flow at first and second longitudinal rates, pulling in a plane normal to the axis of flow, and further working and homogenization.