Abstract: Provided is a system which allows a user to efficiently locate and contact those individuals the user would like to communicate with. The system can also collect or access data about users in order to determine the best contact point to use at a particular time. Some of the data may include information pertaining to a user's appointments, schedule, activities, location and/or contact point usage. The system can monitor the data and may determine an individual's usage patterns in order to select or suggest contact points that are the best to contact a particular user at a particular time. The system may also determine or receive settings that allow for the routing of communications to particular contact points based on how the user receiving the communication would prefer to be contacted. Further, the system may securely route sensitive communications and prevent or limit forwarding of the sensitive information.

Abstract: The present invention in one or more embodiments provides a base for supporting shifter, wherein the base includes longitudinal axis, a first cross-section including a first border defining therein a first aperture, and a second cross-section positioned spaced apart from the first cross-section along the longitudinal axis and including a second border defining therein a second aperture. The base as provided is believed to be advantageous in supporting the shifter while allowing arrangement for the air duct to pass through and therefore to improve comfort for the rear-seat passenger without having to necessarily increase the interior packaging size.

Abstract: A system and method that allows for information relating to data and communication resource usage to be gathered and analyzed such that particular data transactions and usage can be classified based on purpose and/or type. Further, the system and method provide reporting based on amount of usage and/or purpose or type of usage so that associated costs and usage can be calculated applied and allocated to particular accounts, divisions, groups or individuals within and outside of a company or entity. Further, the system may restrict data usage of devices to data usage that can be allocated to particular accounts based on purpose, source, destination or other.

Abstract: A system and method that allows for information relating to data and communication resource usage to be gathered and analyzed such that particular data transactions and usage can be classified based on purpose and/or type. Further, the system and method provide reporting based on amount of usage and/or purpose or type of usage so that associated costs and usage can be calculated applied and allocated to particular accounts, divisions, groups or individuals within and outside of a company or entity. Further, the system may restrict data usage of devices to data usage that can be allocated to particular accounts based on purpose, source, destination or other.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for forming and maintaining an ad hoc mesh network suitable for reliable voice and data communications in underground, industrial and other hazardous environments. This invention includes support for cooperative negotiation of dedicated transmission bandwidth for all fixed network nodes, determination of network time synchronization without a pre-determined time master, discovery and merging of adjacent ad hoc mesh networks, and routing techniques for voice, data and network status packets which react instantaneously to network topology changes. Furthermore this invention provides a reliable communication network for mobile nodes carried by personnel and sensor nodes that are fixed or mobile that supports voice, data and tracking/situation awareness.

Abstract: A system and method that allows for information relating to data and communication resource usage to be gathered and analyzed such that particular data transactions and usage can be classified based on purpose and/or type. Further, the system and method provide reporting based on amount of usage and/or purpose or type of usage so that associated costs and usage can be calculated applied and allocated to particular accounts, divisions, groups or individuals within and outside of a company or entity. Further, the system may restrict data usage of devices to data usage that can be allocated to particular accounts based on purpose, source, destination or other.

Abstract: A system and method that allows for information relating to data and communication resource usage to be gathered and analyzed such that particular data transactions and usage of network accessible software applications can be classified based on purpose and/or type. Further, the system and method provide reporting based on amount of usage and/or purpose or type of usage so that associated costs and usage can be calculated applied and allocated to particular accounts, divisions, groups or individuals within and outside of a company or entity. Further, the system may disable features of or access to network accessible software applications based on lack or use, limited use or other metrics that fall outside of threshold ranges or values.

Abstract: A system and method that allows for information relating to data and communication resource usage to be gathered and analyzed such that particular data transactions and usage can be classified based on purpose and/or type. Further, the system and method provide reporting based on amount of usage and/or purpose or type of usage so that associated costs and usage can be calculated applied and allocated to particular accounts, divisions, groups or individuals within and outside of a company or entity. Further, the system may restrict data usage of devices to data usage that can be allocated to particular accounts based on purpose, source, destination or other.

Abstract: Disclosed prosthetic valves can comprise a sewing ring configured to secure the valve to an implantation site. Some disclosed valves comprise a resiliently collapsible frame having a neutral configuration and a collapsed deployment configuration. Some disclosed frames can self-expand to the neutral configuration when released from the collapsed deployment configuration. Collapsing a disclosed valve can provide convenient access to the sewing ring, such as for securing the valve to the implantation site, as well as for the insertion of the valve through relatively small surgical incisions. Examples of delivery systems and methods for deploying the valves exhibit reduced patient trauma.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a single-step method for rapidly and efficiently preparing protein-polymer conjugates, including an insulin-polymer conjugate. According to the method of the present invention, a protein and hydrophilic polymer are contacted in the presence of at least one organic solvent and at least one metal chelator, under conditions that promote the formation of a conjugate of the protein and polymer. Thus, the invention is directed to the site-specific modification of selected proteins, such as insulin, with poly(ethylene glycol) at residue PheB1. The invention also provides a pharmaceutical formulation for encapsulating the conjugate in a biodegradable polymer.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a single-step method for rapidly and efficiently preparing protein-polymer conjugates, including an insulin-polymer conjugate. According to the method of the present invention, a protein and hydrophilic polymer are contacted in the presence of at least one organic solvent and at least one metal chelator, under conditions that promote the formation of a conjugate of the protein and polymer. Thus, the invention is directed to the site-specific modification of selected proteins, such as insulin, with poly(ethylene glycol) at residue PheB1. The invention also provides a pharmaceutical formulation for encapsulating the conjugate in a biodegradable polymer.

Abstract: Disclosed prosthetic valves can comprise a sewing ring configured to secure the valve to an implantation site. Some disclosed valves comprise a resiliently collapsible frame having a neutral configuration and a collapsed deployment configuration. Some disclosed frames can self-expand to the neutral configuration when released from the collapsed deployment configuration. Collapsing a disclosed valve can provide convenient access to the sewing ring, such as for securing the valve to the implantation site, as well as for the insertion of the valve through relatively small surgical incisions.

Abstract: A system allowing a user to efficiently locate and contact those individuals the user would like to communicate with and for collection of data about users to determine the best contact point to use at a particular time. The system monitors the data and may determine an individual's usage patterns in order to select or suggest contact points that are the best to contact a particular user at a particular time. The system may also allow for the routing of communications to particular contact points based on how the user receiving the communication would prefer to be contacted. The system allows for the single selection of an icon by an individual and automatically determines the contact point to contact the particular user. If further allows for the particular user to push out to others updated contact information.

Abstract: Provided is a system which allows a user to efficiently locate and contact those individuals the user would like to communicate with. The system can also collect or access data about users in order to determine the best contact point to use at a particular time. Some of the data may include information pertaining to a user's appointments, schedule, activities, location and/or contact point usage. The system can monitor the data and may determine an individual's usage patterns in order to select or suggest contact points that are the best to contact a particular user at a particular time. The system may also determine or receive settings that allow for the routing of communications to particular contact points based on how the user receiving the communication would prefer to be contacted. Further, the system may securely route sensitive communications and prevent or limit forwarding of the sensitive information.

Abstract: A multiple container holder assembly is a convertible assembly having a base portion and an upper panel assembly. The base portion includes one or more container wells each adapted to support a container. The upper panel includes one or more retaining apertures each adapted to support a container. The base portion is disposed in a first portion of a bin housing and the upper panel assembly is slidably supported on the bin housing between first and second positions. In the first position the retaining apertures of the upper panel are configured to align with the container wells of the base portion. In the second position the retaining apertures of the upper panel are configured to be disposed over a second portion of the housing, such that when the upper panel is in the second position, the container wells and the retaining apertures are accessible for supporting a container.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring the efficiency and effectiveness of individuals and automated systems by using transaction based measurements of communications that are normalized into a velocity score to depict excellent performance versus poor performance. Individual velocity scores may be aggregated to grade a person, a group, a department, a company or an industry or geography. The velocity score includes a plurality of weights that are used to provide higher or lower velocity scores depending on criteria selected by the entity.

Abstract: Provided is a system for comparing telecommunications resources between a first company and a group of companies. A storage is accessible by a system computer, the computer having a network connection. An interface module allows the first company to access the system computer, and a comparison module receives a comparison request. The comparison request includes a group selection and a criteria selection that includes telecommunications services criteria associated with a telecommunication. The comparison module compares the telecommunications services criteria data related to the first company with telecommunications services criteria data related to the group. A telecommunications metric module generates a telecommunications metric related to the comparison of the telecommunications services criteria data of the first and second companies.

Abstract: A dry-dock walking machine for installation on the deck surface of a dry-dock is operable for transporting a ship to a selected location relative to the dry-dock. There is provided a plurality of laterally spaced-apart, parallel support beams rigidly interconnected and dimensioned to extend transversely beneath the ship and across at least a portion of its width to engage its hull and support it above the deck surface. A lifting jack assembly is mounted on each end of each support beam, and they are spaced apart so that each support beam has a lifting jack assembly positioned adjacent each lateral side of the ship. A stabilizer mechanism is mounted on each support beam adjacent each lifting jack assembly operable for selectively engaging a lateral side the ship's hull to establish and maintain lateral stability of the ship relative to the support beams.

Abstract: A multiple container holder assembly is a convertible assembly having a base portion and an upper panel assembly. The base portion includes one or more container wells each adapted to support a container. The upper panel includes one or more retaining apertures each adapted to support a container. The base portion is disposed in a first portion of a bin housing and the upper panel assembly is slidably supported on the bin housing between first and second positions. In the first position the retaining apertures of the upper panel are configured to align with the container wells of the base portion. In the second position the retaining apertures of the upper panel are configured to be disposed over a second portion of the housing, such that when the upper panel is in the second position, the container wells and the retaining apertures are accessible for supporting a container.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve configured to replace a native heart valve and having a support frame configured to be reshaped into an expanded form in order to receive and/or support an expandable prosthetic heart valve therein is disclosed, together with methods of using same. The prosthetic heart valve may be configured to have a generally rigid and/or expansion-resistant configuration when initially implanted to replace a native valve (or other prosthetic heart valve), but to assume a generally expanded form when subjected to an outward force such as that provided by a dilation balloon or other mechanical expander.