Abstract: A benchmarking computing application is configured to create a benchmark run for a segment of customer profiles. Customer profiles from the segment include a parameter, termed an adjustment parameter, that may affect energy consumption by the associated customer. The results of the benchmark run include energy consumption values for individual customer profiles in the segment, an average energy consumption value for the entire segment of customer profiles, and also adjustment energy consumption value. The adjustment energy consumption value reflects the portion of energy consumption by a particular customer attributed to the difference between the average value of the adjustment parameter for the segment and the value of the adjustment parameter for the particular customer profile.

Abstract: Extruded polystyrene foams are made with an added brominated styrene-butadiene polymer as a flame retardant. The blowing agent is a mixture of carbon dioxide, ethanol and water, which may also contain a C4-C5 hydrocarbon. The blowing agent mixture overcomes a tendency of the brominated styrene-butadiene to form very small cells. This allows the foam to expand fully to form good quality, low density extruded foam.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of providing an arranged display of data associated with a set of time periods is presented. In this method, values of a first data type are accessed, the values being observed during each of multiple time periods. An order for the time periods is determined based on the values of the first data type. A selectable region for each of the time periods is displayed, the regions being arranged according to the order. In response to a user selection of one of the selectable regions, a value of a second data type is displayed, the value of the second data type being observed during the time period of the selected one of the selectable regions.

Abstract: A method and system to determine customer segmentation based on energy consumption patterns is provided. An example system includes a communications module, a clustering module, and a matching module. The communications module obtains energy consumption data in the form of a plurality of value days. The clustering module groups the value days associated with a certain period of time into a set of clusters. The matching module identifies a customer profile as associated with a cluster from the set of clusters based on results of examining value days associated with the customer profile.

Abstract: A benchmarking computing application is configured to create a benchmark run for a segment of customer profiles. Customer profiles from the segment include a parameter, termed an adjustment parameter, that may affect energy consumption by the associated customer. The results of the benchmark run include energy consumption values for individual customer profiles in the segment, an average energy consumption value for the entire segment of customer profiles, and also adjustment energy consumption value. The adjustment energy consumption value reflects the portion of energy consumption by a particular customer attributed to the difference between the average value of the adjustment parameter for the segment and the value of the adjustment parameter for the particular customer profile.

Abstract: Inflammatory cytokines e.g. IFN-?, serve as initiating stimuli for mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) immunosuppresive activity in vivo. Other inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF alpha, the molecule hemoxygenase I, and TLR ligation of MSC, may also provide such a response. Activated MSC's promote tissue regeneration in conditions such as aging, where regeneration is impaired. Wound healing in aged mammals was enhanced by restoring tensile strength to the levels of younger mammals. Activated MSCs were useful in treating wounds in diabetic primates.

Abstract: Provide a foamable polymer composition containing: (i) a thermoplastic polymer matrix and a blowing agent, (a) the thermoplastic polymer matrix containing a styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer having a weight-averaged molecular weight in a range of 90,000 to 150,000 and polymerized acrylonitrile concentration in a range of five to twenty weight-percent relative to total polymer matrix weight; and (ii) a blowing agent containing water, 1,1,1,2-tetrafluouroethane and at least one of difluoromethane and 1,1-dilluoroethane; (b) cooling the foamable polymer composition to a foaming temperature; and (c) extruding the foamable polymer composition and allowing the blowing agent to expand the foamable polymer composition into a polymeric foam having an average vertical cell size in a range of 0.5 millimeters to 1.8 millimeters and a density in a range of 24 to 40 kilograms per cubic meter and a Normalized Roughness Quotient of 3.5 or less in a Milled Surface Test.

Abstract: There is provided a first dock for a portable hard disk, where the first dock is connectable to a host device. There is also provided a corresponding method for accessing content on the host device during use of the dock. It is advantageous that the host device is able to access content from portable hard disks that are docked with the first dock and a second dock.

Abstract: A system and method for complete message delivery to a multi-mode communication device is presented. The communication device is adaptable to communicate with one or more carrier networks and one or more data networks. When a new message is received for the communication device, a message notification is sent to the device via a first network. The communication device parses the message notification and retrieves the complete message via a second network. Alternatively, the message notification may be delivered and the complete message may be retrieved via the same network.

Abstract: There is provided a first dock for a portable hard disk, where the first dock is connectable to a host device. There is also provided a corresponding method for accessing content on the host device during use of the dock. It is advantageous that the host device is able to access content from portable hard disks that are docked with the first dock and a second dock.

Abstract: A textile structure with pheromone particles comprises a textile and plural pheromone particles adhered to the textile. The scent given off by the pheromones of the opposite sex can cause a particular behavior or physiological response to provide an effect of sexual arousal and increase sex appeal, thus making it easier for the wearer to develop interpersonal relationship. The textile can be fabricated into different styles of clothes to be worn by the wearer, thus increasing the convenience in use.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for transaction processing. The apparatus may be a transaction terminal including a keypad, a circuit for interacting with the transaction customer and a link communicatively connecting the keypad and the customer-interaction circuit. The cashier may interact with the keypad, while the customer (and not the cashier) may interact with the customer-interaction circuit. The link may communicate a dollar amount for the transaction between the keypad and the customer-interaction circuit. Accessories for the keypad may include a check reader, a display or a receipt printer. Accessories for the customer-interaction circuit may include a smart-card reader, a magnetic-strip reader and biometric readers. The customer-interaction circuit may include a port for connection to a remote service provider. That port may be the only remote-access port in the transaction terminal.

Abstract: Prepare an alkenyl-aromatic foam having good surface quality, high thermal insulating properties and low density using an extrusion method by expanding a foamable polymer composition of an alkenyl-aromatic polymer composition containing less than 20 weight-percent covalently bonded halogens and having a polydispersity of less than 2.5 and a water solubility greater than 0.09 moles per kilogram and 2.2 moles per kilogram or less at 130 degrees Celsius and 101 kilopascals pressure and 0.8-2 moles per kilogram of a blowing agent containing 0.4 moles per kilogram or more of a chlorine-free fluorinated blowing agents and water at a concentration of at least 0.22 moles per kilogram; wherein moles per kilogram are relative to kilograms of alkenyl-aromatic polymer. The resulting foam has a density of 64 kilograms per cubic meter or less and a thermal conductivity of 32 milliwatts per meter-Kelvin or less after 180 days.

Abstract: A permanent magnet motor includes stator, rotor, and shaft; multiple rotor magnetic poles are disposed on the rotor; each rotor magnetic pole contains an arc surface and a first inclined section and a second inclined section extending respectively from both sides of the arc surface; a trap is formed between two second inclined section of two abutted rotor magnetic poles connected by a tangent section; multiple magnets are respectively disposed in each rotor magnetic pole; both ends of each magnet being disposed at where close to two second inclined sections; and a central portion of each magnet is indented inwardly towards a center of the rotor to effectively upgrade performance efficiency of the motor.

Abstract: Embodiments introduce redundant optical channels to significantly extend the lifetime of parallel optical transceivers. A plurality of transmitters, N, transmit on a plurality of optical channels, where N is an integer number of optical channels greater than 1. One or more redundant channels, M, are also provided. N+M multiple input shift registers provide multiple paths for signals from each of the transmitters to connect to N+M laser diodes. In the event up to M of the N+M laser diodes fail, the multiple input shift registers connect the N transmitters to functioning ones of the N+M laser diodes thus extending the life of the device. A corresponding scheme is also described for the receiver side.

Abstract: A permanent magnet motor includes stator, rotor, and shaft; multiple rotor magnetic poles are disposed on the rotor; each rotor magnetic pole contains an arc surface and a first inclined section and a second inclined section extending respectively from both sides of the arc surface; a trap is formed between two second inclined section of two abutted rotor magnetic poles connected by a tangent section; multiple magnets are respectively disposed in each rotor magnetic pole; both ends of each magnet being disposed at where close to two second inclined sections; and a central portion of each magnet is indented inwardly towards a center of the rotor to effectively upgrade performance efficiency of the motor.

Abstract: A food slicing device includes a container for containing a food product for slicing. The container has an open bottom end and is arranged so that a food product can be fed by gravity in a direction towards the bottom end. A movable slicer is provided as well as driving means to move the slicer. Supporting means support the food product contained within the container. The supporting means includes at least two supports, a first of the supports having a fixed position relative to the container and a second of the supports being movable with the slicer. The second support being arranged to slide across a downward facing surface of the food product as the slicer slices through the food product. The supporting means is arranged so that as the slicer slices through the food product, the food product slice can fall away from the food product under gravity.

Abstract: Local data maps of an optical imaging system are stitched together into a composite global data map based on a merit function supporting closed-form processing. Overlapping regions of the local data maps are defined as difference maps that are given a parametric description. Corrective orientations of the local data maps are derived by collectively matching parametric descriptions of the corrective orientations for the overlapping local data maps to the parametric descriptions of the corresponding difference maps.

Abstract: The present invention is an intelligent, adaptive system that takes in information and reacts to the specific information given to it, using a set of predefined heuristics. Therefore, each individual's information (which can and is unique) will feed the engine, and then provide a unique experience to that individual. One embodiment of the present invention discussed herein focuses on Mathematics however the invention is not limited thereby as the same logic can be applied to other academic subjects.

Abstract: Embodiments introduce redundant optical channels to significantly extend the lifetime of parallel optical transceivers. A plurality of transmitters, N, transmit on a plurality of optical channels, where N is an integer number of optical channels greater than 1. One or more redundant channels, M, are also provided. N+M multiple input shift registers provide multiple paths for signals from each of the transmitters to connect to N+M laser diodes. In the event up to M of the N+M laser diodes fail, the multiple input shift registers connect the N transmitters to functioning ones of the N+M laser diodes thus extending the life of the device. A corresponding scheme is also described for the receiver side.