Abstract: A conference calling system enables transfer of control of a conference bridge. The transferor terminal has an option to transfer control of the conference bridge to a transferee terminal. The transferee terminal has an option to accept or reject control of the conference bridge. When the transferee terminal accepts control prior to the transferor terminal severing control, the control of the conference bridge is transferred to the transferee terminal. However, when the transferee terminal rejects or does not accept within a predetermined time the control of the conference bridge, the transferor terminal is provided an option to transfer control of the conference bridge to alternate terminals, one terminal at a time, until an alternate terminal accepts control or the transferor terminal severs control of the conference bridge. As long as a terminal has control of the conference bridge, the conference bridge is not severed.

Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed herein that generally involve applying thermal therapy to tissue (e.g., localized cooling or heating of tissue). In some embodiments, tissue can be cooled or heated by implanting a malleable or deformable thermal device in proximity to the targeted tissue. The thermal device can be left in place following surgery to facilitate application of post-surgical thermal therapy. In some embodiments, the thermal device can be removed post-surgery in a minimally- or non-invasive manner. The thermal device can be connectionless or can include penetrable regions, pre-attached tubing, or detachable connectors to facilitate application of cooling or heating means to the device. Methods are disclosed for utilizing thermal devices and for carrying out various treatment regimens that involve cooling or heating tissue using such devices.

Abstract: The present application is directed to a method and system for providing an insured's health insurance policy information to whom it may concern as desired by accessing an internet data base program to locate the insured's policy information and using the information to determine policy coverage for the insured according to the type of services to be rendered, fees associated there with, and the type of insurance policy held by the insured.

Abstract: An implant device is provided that is configured for implantation at multiple locations between adjacent vertebrae. The implant device comprises an implant body, a first portion of the implant body, and a second portion of the implant body adjustably interconnected with the first portion. The implant body has a compact orientation and an extended orientation to allow the implant body to be shifted from one orientation to the other orientation for being positioned in any one of areas between the spinous processes of the adjacent vertebrae, between laminar regions of the adjacent vertebrae, spanning an opening in the annulus between the adjacent vertebrae, and in the intervertebral space between the adjacent vertebrae.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for improving the efficiency of nucleic acid amplification reactions. The invention encompasses hybrid polymerases that show increased processivity over wild type polymerases as well as decreased exonuclease activity. The invention also encompasses methods, compositions and kits for conducting nucleic acid synthesis and amplification reactions in which non-specific amplification of primers is reduced.

Abstract: A system for notifying when a fire extinguisher is discharged or moved uses a device mounted on the fire extinguisher for monitoring one or more conditions. For example, the device may be interconnected with a trigger detecting mechanism otherwise present on the extinguisher or sense a sudden drop in pressure to detect when the extinguisher is activated. An accelerometer may be provided to detect motion. GPS processing can identify the location of the fire extinguisher when an event occurs. When the device detects a change in one or more of the conditions, or needs to send periodic updates of the fire extinguisher conditions, a message is forwarded from the device to a third party clearinghouse via a wireless communication network. The clearinghouse reviews the data, and forwards the data, as may be appropriate, to one or more authorized parties identified in the database.

Abstract: Livestock grooming articles and methods regarding the use of such livestock grooming articles are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, a livestock grooming article can include coatings configured to inhibit or reduce the buildup of adhesives on the livestock grooming article that are applied to livestock animal hair. In one or more embodiments, the livestock grooming article can increase the appearance of volume to the hair of livestock.

Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed herein that generally involve cooling tissue (e.g., localized cooling of tissue), and in particular applying therapeutic hypothermia to the spinal canal, tissue disposed within the spinal canal, and/or nerve roots extending from the spinal canal. In some embodiments, tissue can be cooled by clamping a cooling instrument to a bone or implant that is proximate to the tissue. The cooling instrument can define a chamber through which a chilled fluid, expandable gas, or other coolant means can be circulated, delivered, or activated to cool adjacent tissue. The degree of cooling can be regulated using a controller, which can be configured to increase or decrease the cooling effect based on any of a variety of measured or predicted physiological or thermodynamic properties. Methods are disclosed for utilizing cooling instruments and for carrying out various treatment regimens that involve cooling tissue using such instruments.

Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed herein that generally involve cooling tissue (e.g., localized cooling of tissue), and in particular applying therapeutic hypothermia to the spinal canal, tissue disposed within the spinal canal, and/or nerve roots extending from the spinal canal. In some embodiments, tissue can be cooled by clamping a cooling instrument to a bone or implant that is proximate to the tissue. The cooling instrument can define a chamber through which a chilled fluid, expandable gas, or other coolant means can be circulated, delivered, or activated to cool adjacent tissue. The degree of cooling can be regulated using a controller, which can be configured to increase or decrease the cooling effect based on any of a variety of measured or predicted physiological or thermodynamic properties. Methods are disclosed for utilizing cooling instruments and for carrying out various treatment regimens that involve cooling tissue using such instruments.

Abstract: An implant device is provided that is configured for implantation at multiple locations between adjacent vertebrae. The implant device comprises an implant body, a first portion of the implant body, and a second portion of the implant body adjustably interconnected with the first portion. The implant body has a compact orientation and an extended orientation to allow the implant body to be shifted from one orientation to the other orientation for being positioned in any one of areas between the spinous processes of the adjacent vertebrae, between laminar regions of the adjacent vertebrae, spanning an opening in the annulus between the adjacent vertebrae, and in the intervertebral space between the adjacent vertebrae.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for evaluating composition of a first file representing a document to be evaluated. An evaluation method transforms the first file to a second file. The second file includes a plurality of objects corresponding to the composition of the first file. The evaluation method also determines parameters based on the plurality of objects; evaluates the parameters based on a plurality of composition rules provided by a rule engine; generates evaluation findings and stores the evaluation findings; and generates an evaluation conclusion based on the evaluation findings. The evaluation conclusion indicates compliance of the document according to the composition rules.

Abstract: Spinal rods are provided that transition from one diameter to another without an extended transition region to which coupling devices may not be attached, allowing coupling devices for mounting the spinal rod to the spine to be secured almost anywhere along the rod's length without having a weakened transition point.

Abstract: A computer system and method of streaming streamable data to a device of a user, the method including determining a next quantum of streamable data from data available from a user queue of streamable data of a current channel based on user information; and streaming the next quantum of streamable data from the user queue to the device of the user. A computer system and method of providing eyes-free highway advisories to a driver, the method including in response to receiving a geographic location of the driver from an application on a wireless device of the driver, streaming current roadway conditions to the wireless device; and monitoring the location of the driver and streaming highway advisories to the wireless device if the driver is within a range of the highway advisory.

Abstract: A numerically controlled machining center for performing work on a workpiece including a plurality of magazines holding a plurality of tools, each magazine positioned a first distance from an adjacent magazine, a plurality of spindles equal to the number of magazines and movable relative to one another independent of the positions of the magazines, the spindles movable apart from one another in a tool loading position to accommodate large magazine sizes and movable toward one another in a working position to allow the tools to work close together to minimize waste, and a table for supporting a workpiece.

Abstract: This invention uses a novel shape of airfoil to achieve an improved lift to drag ratio and to improve performance at higher angles of attack. The airfoil has a three dimensional wave pattern that modifies the shape of a traditional airfoil to coordinate the airflow through channels on both the top and bottom sides. The uniquely shaped airfoil of this invention could have many uses including a wind turbine blade. This invention not only provides for a more efficient device by improving the effective angle of attack and lift/drag ratio, but also provides for a quiet airflow thus greatly reducing nuisance noise over conventional devices.

Abstract: A system encrypts digital content data with a key of a content encryption key (CEK) pair and CEK related share data available to an end user station including a source for generating source encrypted data including content data. The share data is encrypted with a first key of a second encryption key pair associated with a targeted intermediate station including a processor receiving source encrypted data and being in data communication with a portable storage device associated with the end user station, which is associated with a third encryption key pair. The processor generates intermediate station encrypted data by decrypting encrypted share data using a key of the second key pair and encrypting resulting decrypted data using a key of the third key pair. A reconstruction processor uses an algorithm and input share data to reconstruct the CEK. A decryption processor uses the reconstructed CEK to decrypt encrypted content data.

Abstract: A conference calling system enables transfer of control of a conference bridge. The transferor terminal has an option to transfer control of the conference bridge to a transferee terminal. The transferee terminal has an option to accept or reject control of the conference bridge. When the transferee terminal accepts control prior to the transferor terminal severing control, the control of the conference bridge is transferred to the transferee terminal. However, when the transferee terminal rejects or does not accept within a predetermined time the control of the conference bridge, the transferor terminal is provided an option to transfer control of the conference bridge to alternate terminals, one terminal at a time, until an alternate terminal accepts control or the transferor terminal severs control of the conference bridge. As long as a terminal has control of the conference bridge, the conference bridge is not severed.

Abstract: The present invention provides DNA polymerases having increased efficiency of amplification of long amplicons. The present invention also provides for methods of amplifying target nucleic acid molecules with the DNA polymerases for increasing the efficiency of amplification of long amplicons.

Abstract: Utilizing dynamic heuristic transitions between local and remote data for displaying electronic communications is provided. A computer may load one or more folders associated with the electronic communications. The computer may then determine an initial mode for viewing the electronic communications. The computer may then display the remote data upon determining that the initial mode for viewing the electronic communications is an online mode or display the local data upon determining that the initial mode is offline. The computer may then synchronize local data and the remote data to update the local data. The computer may then automatically transition from displaying the remote data to displaying the local data after the update of the local data. The computer may also automatically transition from displaying the local data to displaying the remote data after determining that the local data is out of date.

Abstract: Methods and systems of maintaining, evaluating, and providing therapy to a lung ex vivo. The methods and systems involve positioning the lung in an ex vivo perfusion circuit; circulating a perfusion fluid through the lung, the fluid entering the lung through a pulmonary artery interface and leaving the lung through a left atrial interface; and ventilating the lung by flowing a ventilation gas through a tracheal interface. Maintaining the lung for extended periods involves causing the lung to rebreath a captive volume of air, and reaching an equilibrium state between the perfusion fluid and the ventilation gas. Evaluating the gas exchange capability of the lung involves deoxygenating the perfusion fluid and measuring a time taken to reoxygenate the perfusion fluid by ventilating the lung with an oxygenation gas.