Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing activated carbon, in particular spherical activated carbon, wherein particles are carbonized from an organic precursor substance, wherein the activated carbon obtained from the particles is shock-chilled after carbonization, the temperature gradient being more than 100 K/min.

Abstract: A device for loading a guide wire into the open end of a tubular instrument, such as a catheter. The device can be a block of material having a groove in its surface. The ends of the guide wire and the tubular instrument are placed into the groove and moved toward each other. When the ends meet, the groove guides the guide wire into the open end of the tubular instrument. The groove, or at least a portion of the groove, can have a cross-sectional contour that closely matches the outside radius of the tubular instrument. The groove can have a substantially vertical wall and a substantially non-vertical wall. A variety of attachment mechanisms may be provided for attaching the device to a towel draping a patient.

Abstract: A system and techniques for executing queries of a sparse multidimensional data space in the presence of expressions. A dimension is associated with a set of data references, which reference stored data items. A query expression has dimension or a data reference as an operand. A result space with one or more result dimensions is defined based on the query. A plan is built and executed for retrieving the stored data items associated with the result dimensions, and forming “calculated data items” by evaluating the expression. Executing the plan produces a stream of data tuples, each having a set of data components storing the retrieved data items and/or the calculated data items. Data components are either empty or have data values. An iterative algorithm is employed on the stream to locate the data tuples that are empty at the intersection of each result dimension.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a method and apparatus that provides software products for installation on a user terminal is provided. The method begins by receiving over a communications network a user selection that includes a choice of a plurality of user-selected software products to be downloaded. In response to receipt of the user selection, an installation guide is assembled that includes installation instructions associated with each of the user-selected software products. A single user command is received over the communications network that includes a request to begin downloading the user-selected software products. In response to the request, the user-selected software products and the installation instructions are sequentially downloaded over the communications network to the user terminal.

Abstract: A method of playing back content based on digital rights management (DRM) between a portable storage and a device and a portable storage for the same are provided. The method of playing back content using a portable storage includes requesting the portable storage to transmit a right to play back content protected through digital rights management (DRM), receiving the right to play back the content protected through DRM from the portable storage, and informing the portable storage of completion of the playback when a playback of the content protected through DRM using the right is completed.

Abstract: Described herein are implantable medical devices comprising a biocompatible polymer comprising a triggerable bioadhesive property that allows the device to adhere to body tissue. The triggerable bioadhesive property of the polymer can be triggered or activated by exposure to a stimulus. Also, the present invention pertains to methods of making an implantable medical device comprising a biocompatible polymer comprising a triggerable bioadhesive property that allows the device to adhere to body tissue.

Abstract: A set of headphones is configured with an integrated accessory receiving space and a device connector that interface with a variety of different interchangeable accessories. The accessories can range from a personal media player that can render audio, such as MP3 (Moving Pictures Expert Group, MPEG-1, audio layer 3) content, to rechargeable battery packs, storage devices, and modules that can support wireless communication between the headphones and other devices such as media centers, game consoles, and personal computers (“PCs”). A user can pick an accessory and snap it into the receiving space of the headphones. When so installed, the accessory becomes physically and functionally embedded so that its functionality becomes seamlessly integrated with operation of the headphones.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel implantable or insertable medical devices that provide controlled release of a therapeutic agent. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a therapeutic-agent-releasing medical device is provided, which comprises: (a) an implantable or insertable medical device; (b) a release layer disposed over at least a portion of the implantable or insertable medical device; and (c) a therapeutic agent. The release layer comprises a maleic anhydride polymer selected from (i) a maleic anhydride copolymer and (ii) a maleic anhydride graft polymer. The release layer regulates the rate of release of the therapeutic agent from the medical device upon implantation or insertion of the device into a patient. The present invention is also directed to methods of forming the above implantable or insertable medical devices, methods of administering a therapeutic agent to a patient using such devices, and methods of modulating the release of therapeutic agent from such devices.

Abstract: A device for loading a guide wire into the open end of a tubular instrument such as a catheter. The device can be a block of material having a groove in its surface. The ends of the guide wire and the tubular instrument are placed into the groove and moved toward each other. When the ends meet, the groove guides the guide wire into the open end of the tubular instrument. The groove, or at least a portion of the groove, can have a cross-sectional contour that closely matches the outside radius of the tubular instrument. The groove can have one portion with a shallower depth than the other portion, with the guide wire run in the shallower portion and the tubular instrument in the deeper portion. The guide wire and the tubular instrument can be angled above the device, with just their ends moving along the groove.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided for multiplayer collaborative content editing which allows players to edit content and enjoy a social collaborative process. The arrangement provides a gameplay environment for custom or “honor rule” gametypes, and allows multiple users to participate in a full-featured game environment. The multiple user editing scenarios may be employed on, e.g., a single game console in a splitscreen version, over a LAN with multiple game consoles, or over the internet. Users may toggle between a “Player Mode”, with a similar appearance and capabilities as a player in a traditional multiplayer game, and an “Edit Mode”, which may have different appearance and capabilities. The Edit Mode presents the user with editing functionality and a suitable user interface, as well as a number of additional abilities beyond that of a user in Player Mode.

Abstract: In accordance with various aspects of the invention, implantable and insertable medical devices are provided, which contain (a) a substrate and (b) a polymeric layer disposed on the substrate that comprises a fluorinated polymer to which is grafted an unsaturated monomer having at least one carbon double bond and at least one polar functional group.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a die, a lead, and an electrically-conductive structure that is arranged to facilitate electrical communication between the die and the lead. The device also includes a potting material, in which the electrically conductive structure, the die, and at least part of the lead are embedded. An electrically-conductive housing encases the potting material and forms exterior packaging of the device. During manufacturing, the electrically-conductive structure, the die, and at least part of the lead may be arranged within the electrically-conductive housing either before or after the potting material is disposed in the housing. When the integrated circuit device is operating, heat is removable from the die via a thermal conduction path formed by the electrically-conductive structure, the potting material, and the electrically-conductive housing.

Abstract: Classes of web graph algorithms are extended to run directly on virtual node-type compressed web graphs where a reduction in runtime of the extended algorithms is realized which is approximately proportional to the compression ratio applied to the original (i.e., uncompressed) graph. In the virtual node compression technique, a succinct representation of a web graph is constructed by replacing dense subgraphs by sparse ones so that the resulting compressed graph has significantly fewer edges and a relatively small number of additional nodes.

Abstract: An arrangement for exposing self-describing device-hosted services on a client device to a host application or processes over MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) is provided by which an MTP extension comprising new MTP commands enables the device-hosted services to be backwards and forward compatible with existing MTP implementations. The new MTP commands in the extension enable discovery by the host of device-hosted services provided by a connected client device. In an illustrative example, the device-hosted services include storage services which supplement traditional MTP storages with service features, functional device services which support message-based interaction between the host and client device, and information services which may simply present a rich, static dataset of information to the host rather than providing additional storage or functional capabilities. These device-hosted services advantageously enable richer communication between the host and client device.

Abstract: A ticketing system adapted for use with a cloud-based services platform is provided by a ticket-based authorization model in which the authorization requirements for traversing one or more meshes of resources associated with a cloud service are annotated in links included in a resource that refer to other resources. The meshes are thus self-describing with respect to the association among the resources (i.e., the links) as well as the authorization required to access resources. Resource access requires a principal ticket which asserts that a caller at a client (e.g., a security principal representing a device or identity associated with a user) is authenticated, plus zero or more claim tickets. The claim tickets make additional assertions about the caller that the cloud service may use to check that the caller is authorized to access the resource.

Abstract: An adjustable surfboard transporter that protects the most fragile parts of a surfboard whether in transit or for storage. The surfboard protector or transporter can be adjusted in size to accommodate several different surfboard lengths. The transporter may focus on the most vulnerable parts of the surfboard protecting the nose, tail, and rails. In particular, an adjustable protective cover for the fragile outer perimeter of a surfboard is described. The light and durable form of protection cushions the surfboard to prevent damage from impacts. The system may be easy to use, quick to assemble, and may be broken down to an easily-transportable or storable size.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, medical devices are provided which include a substrate, at least one porous reservoir containing at least one therapeutic agent disposed over the substrate, at least one nanoporous layer disposed over the at least one porous reservoir, and at least one plugged aperture, which may be located within the substrate, within the nanoporous layer, or both. According to another aspect of the invention, a method of forming a medical device is provided which includes (a) forming a porous reservoir over a substrate, (b) forming a nanoporous layer over the porous reservoir, (c) forming an aperture within the substrate or the nanoporous layer, (d) filling the porous reservoir with therapeutic agent through the aperture, and (d) plugging the aperture.

Abstract: Medical copolymers are provided which comprise (a) a polymer backbone comprising (i) a plurality of —C?C— groups within the polymer backbone, (ii) a plurality of —R9— groups within the polymer backbone, wherein R9 comprises a radical-substituted C2-C10 cyclic or heterocyclic group, or (iii) both a plurality of —C?C— groups and a plurality of —R9— groups within the polymer backbone, (b) a plurality of hydrocarbon-based pendant groups along the polymer backbone that comprise a saturated or unsaturated carbon chain of at least four carbons in length, and (c) a plurality of zwitterionic pendant groups along the polymer backbone that comprise a positively charged quaternary ammonium group and a negatively charged phosphate group. Methods of forming such copolymers, medical products that contain such copolymers, and methods of making such medical products are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for at least partially automating generation of video clips chronicling a character's interaction with a video game. The same may combine automatic video clip generation with automatic or user-generated and/or user-edited or created narrative. Multiple video clips may be combined into a video reel prior to or subsequent to uploading the same to a file-sharing site. The video game may be a massive multiplayer online role-playing game.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing an electro-optic device having at least one optically transparent conducting layer with low electrical resistance. The method includes providing a composite substrate that includes an optically transparent and electrically insulating base substrate and an electrically conducting grid disposed in grooves located in the base substrate. Also provided is an electro-optical module having at least one transparent conducting layer. The composite substrate is attached onto the electro-optic module such that electrical contact is established between the grid and the transparent conducting layer of the electro-optic module.