Abstract: The present invention provides a method of making a secure financial transaction over the internet comprising: a virtual credit card terminal (VCT) having a credit card means reader, a digital processing device operatively associated with said credit card means reader and encoding transaction programs that allows opening of an interactive terminal window for processing of the transaction, and wherein said virtual credit card terminal is registered with a VCT gateway.

Abstract: A technique and corresponding circuitry are presented for a process independent, self-calibrating relaxation based clock source. The technique and circuitry presented here can reduce the time and cost needed for calibration significantly. The relaxation based clock source produces a clock signal whose frequency is dependent upon a trim value. Starting from an initial trim value, the clock signal is generated, its frequency is compared with a reference clock frequency value, and the trim value is correspondingly adjusted up or down a bit at a time. After this process has continued for a while, min-max logic is used to determine the maximum and minimum trim values and, based on these, the final trim value for the clock is set. This calibration process can also be used to extract whether, and by how much, the implementation on silicon of a particular chip lies in the fast or slow process corners.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating a cell proliferative disease such as cancer by providing to a subject in need thereof an immunogenic composition comprising plasmid and peptide(s) or analogues thereof. In embodiments of the present invention there is provided methods and compositions for inducing, entraining, and/or amplifying the immune response to MHC class-I restricted epitopes of carcinoma antigens to generate an effective anti-cancer immune response.

Abstract: Provided are novel devices and methods for making a variable density preform, the methods comprising obtaining a slurry comprising a reinforcement particle component and a liquid component; obtaining a die cavity having at least one inlet opening and at least one exit opening defining at least one die cavity flow path therebetween directed toward the exit opening, the at least one exit opening suitably sized or configured to provide for exit of the at least one liquid component while impeding or blocking exit of the at least one reinforcement particle component; and introducing the slurry under pressure, and for a sufficient time period, through the inlet orifice into the die cavity flow path to provide for a decreasing pressure gradient along the flow path direction, to provide for a variable density of the at least one particle component, the particle density increasing in the at least one flow path direction.

Abstract: Millimeter to nano-scale structures manufactured using a multi-component polymer fiber matrix are disclosed. The use of dissimilar polymers allows the selective dissolution of the polymers at various stages of the manufacturing process. In one application, biocompatible matrixes may be formed with long pore length and small pore size. The manufacturing process begins with a first polymer fiber arranged in a matrix formed by a second polymer fiber. End caps may be attached to provide structural support and the polymer fiber matrix selectively dissolved away leaving only the long polymer fibers. These may be exposed to another product, such as a biocompatible gel to form a biocompatible matrix. The polymer fibers may then be selectively dissolved leaving only a biocompatible gel scaffold with the pores formed by the dissolved polymer fibers. The scaffolds may be used in, among other applications, the repair of central and peripheral nerves.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for the assessment of risk of developing lung cancer in smokers and non-smokers using analysis of genetic polymorphisms. The present invention also relates to the use of genetic polymorphisms in assessing a subject's risk of developing lung cancer. Nucleotide probes and primers, kits, and microarrays suitable for such assessment are also provided.

Abstract: A method is described for generating a clinically significant volume of neural progenitor cells from whole bone marrow. A mass of bone marrow cells may be grown in a culture supplemented with fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) and epidermal growth factor (EGF). Further methods of the present invention are directed to utilizing the neural progenitor cells cultured in this fashion in the treatment of various neuropathological conditions, and in targeting delivery of cells transfected with a particular gene to diseased or damaged tissue.

Abstract: The floating drive-on docking system for a watercraft uses a main floatation portion where the watercraft rests when loaded and a pivoting entry portion for creating a low loading angle between the watercraft and the floating drive-on docking system, resulting in only a small amount of propulsion from the watercraft being required to load onto the docking system. The pivoting entry portion has entry features, either rollers or raised bumps, that remain above the waterline when not engaged by the watercraft to keep the loading surfaces free from marine growth that can harm the hull of a watercraft. Wide side guides on the pivoting entry portion assist in positioning the craft for loading onto the docking system.

Abstract: A database system storing a data structure. The data structure includes a plurality of data nodes that each store a type and a value. None of the data nodes are linked directly to one another. The data structure also includes a plurality of context nodes that are each linked to at least two data nodes. The context nodes do not store data. Instead, each of the context nodes indicates a relationship exits between the data nodes connected to it.

Abstract: An enhanced aerial delivery system addresses issues raised when large quantities of fluids, powders, and other agent materials are to be transported in and aerially dispersed by aircraft. Some aspects include positioning and securing of tanks aboard the aircraft to facilitate management and safety of the tanks and aircraft. Other aspects address coupling of the tanks and associated piping to lessen structural effects upon the aircraft. Further aspects deal with channeling, containing, and dumping stray agent materials that have escaped from the agent tanks on board the aircraft.

Abstract: A circuit is presented for determining whether or not to invert a bus, for example a data bus that is operable having multiple widths. The circuit includes comparison circuitry that can receive both the current and next values for the bus and individually compare the current and next values of the bits on the bus to determine whether these have changed. A voting circuit receives the result of these determinations and also receives an indication of width with which the bus is being operated. The voting circuit then determines a bus inversion values based upon whether the number of bits on the data that have changed exceed a value that depends upon the indication of bus width.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) receiver system that is configured to achieve high dynamic range may include at least one antenna and a plurality of receivers connected to the at least one antenna. The plurality of antennas may be configured to provide different gains. The RF receiver system may include an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter subsystem connected to the plurality of receivers. The A/D converter subsystem may include a plurality of A/D converters. An overall digitization range of the A/D converter subsystem may be greater than a digitization range of any of the plurality of A/D converters individually. The overall digitization range of the A/D converter subsystem may be sufficiently large so as to accommodate a desired dynamic range of the RF receiver system.

Abstract: A flash memory storage system includes a memory array containing a plurality of memory cells and a controller for controlling the flash memory array. The controller dedicates a first group of memory cells to operate with a first number of bits per cell and a second, separate group of memory cells to operate with a second number of bits per cell. A mechanism is provided to apply wear leveling techniques separately to the two groups of cells to evenly wear out the memory cells.