Abstract: A system and method for providing a transcription service over a network. The transcription service includes a transcription server, a database, and several communication gateways. A transcription request is received by the system from anyone and includes an audio file, transcription instructions are derived by the system from a requestor profile, from preferences submitted with the audio file, or both. The request is then processed by the transcription server, the audio file is transmitted to at least one transcriber for transcription, transcribers receive the audio file, transcribe the file, and send the transcription back to the transcription server. The transcription server processes the file and sends the transcription to the entity that requested the transcription. Transcription accuracy is validated statistically by the system, thereby enabling reliable transcription from unknown transcription nodes. Profiles may be configured for both transcribers and transcription requestors.

Abstract: A sender can create and send a message that can be delivered to recipients with SMS-enabled wireless stations regardless of the other communication capabilities of the wireless stations and the network or network service providers of the recipients. The sender creates a voice message and sends the message to a message server, which stores the message in an interactive voice response (IVR) system. An SMS notification is sent to the recipient and includes instructions for accessing the voice message from the IVR system. The recipient views the SMS notification and accesses the IVR system. After entering a password or otherwise authenticating the recipient or the recipient wireless station, the recipient retrieves the message from the IVR system. If it is not known whether the recipient has an SMS-enabled wireless station, the message server initiates attempts to send SMS notifications using multiple SMS message generation mechanisms.

Abstract: A multi-layered, composite, inflatable and deflatable article of manufacture is provided. The article includes at least two layers of a flexible, waterproof, air impermeable, optionally water-vapor-permeable material, the two layers forming at least one inflatable compartment therebetween. The two layers have at least one additional layer of a porous insulating material, e.g., batting, disposed between them within the compartment. The layers are all adhesively bonded together about the periphery of the compartment and, optionally, at discrete locations within the periphery of the compartment. The porous insulating layer is otherwise unattached to either of the waterproof layers, and preferably is not otherwise attached to either. The compartment has at least one sealable opening therein through which air may be injected into or removed from the compartment, as desired, to thereby inflate or deflate the compartment to a desired volume and to thereby control its insulative value.

Abstract: A system for determining a parameter of interest of at least one particle in a sample of a fluid obtained from a formation, comprises a view cell containing at least a portion of the sample and at least one window for viewing the sample. A light source illuminates the sample. An imaging system captures at least one image of the illuminated sample. A program executing a set of instructions on a computer analyzes the at least one image and generates an output related to at least one parameter of interest of the at least one particle in said sample.

Abstract: Extending ladders and associated manufacturing methods are disclosed. A ladder in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises a plurality of rung units, each rung unit including a left column, a right column, and a rung extending between the left column and the right column. The ladder may include a first column assembly including a first column and a ring coupled to the first column proximate a distal end thereof, and a second column assembly including a second column and a sleeve coupled to the second column proximate a proximal end thereof. The second column being at least partially disposed within a lumen defined by an internal surface of the first column. The sleeve includes an external guiding surface for contacting the internal surface of the first column and the ring includes an internal guiding surface for contacting an exterior surface of the second column.

Abstract: An apparatus for sealing a passage through tissue includes an elongate shaft and a cylindrical plug disposed on a distal end of the shaft, the plug including a helical thread on its outer surface. Intestinal submucosa may be secured to the plug, e.g., in a cavity in its distal end, that may be delivered into the passage. Alternatively, the plug may be formed from a bioabsorbable material and may be released from the shaft within the passage. The plug is threaded into the passage, thereby engaging the tissue to seal the passage. The shaft is rotated until it engages a blood vessel within the tissue while monitoring blood flow through the vessel. The shaft is rotated to thread the plug into the passage until blood flow ceases through the vessel, whereupon rotation of the shaft is reversed to back the plug until blood flow through the vessel resumes.

Abstract: An ice bin insert (10) separates a single store of ice pieces into separate stashes, namely, into potable and non-potable portions. The insert (10) includes a divider (C, D) dimension to be received within an ice holding cavity of an ice bin (30). Support members (B, E) attached to the divider (C, D) hold the divider (C, D) at a desired position within the ice holding cavity of the ice bin (30). A plurality of perforations (12) are arranged within the divider (C, D) so as to permits ice pieces to flow from a first side thereof to a second side thereof while inhibiting retrieval of ice pieces on the second side from the first side. Preferably, the insert (10) is constructed from a unitary sheet of stainless steel which is bent to define the respective portions or sections thereof.

Abstract: An orthopedic device set, including: a plurality of intervertebral spacer elements, each spacer element having a different axial thickness from each other element, the axial thicknesses being selected to increase by an increment from one element to another; and an instrument for holding ones of the intervertebral spacer elements, the instrument comprising a shaft having a distal end, a selectively grasping subassembly for alternatively rigidly holding each spacer element at the distal end so that the spacer element cannot move relative to the instrument, and releasing the spacer element.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for distributed residual tomographic velocity analysis using dense residual depth difference maps. Prestack seismic imaging is performed using an initial velocity field and interpreted horizons. A residual depth difference is estimated referenced to fixed offset and all horizons. Residual depth difference maps are computed for each offset and each horizon. The residual depth difference maps are back projected to determine slowness perturbation. The initial velocity model may be converted to slowness and the estimated slowness is composited therewith to produce a new slowness volume. The new slowness volume is converted to a new velocity volume for performing prestack seismic imaging. This process is repeated until the slowness perturbation is negligible or reaches a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A device for closing a septal defect, such as a patent foramen ovale, includes a clip formed from a superelastic material that is inserted into a septum wall of a heart. The clip is advanced through a patient's vasculature, e.g., within a delivery apparatus, until the clip is disposed within a first chamber adjacent the septal defect. Tines of the clip are directed through a flap of tissue of the septal defect until the tines of the clip are disposed within a second opposing chamber. The clip then transforms into its relaxed state, wherein the tines of the clip engage with a surface of the second chamber, thereby substantially closing the septal opening.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention includes a method for estimating seismic signal propagation raypaths from seismic source locations through a subsurface formation to seismic receiver locations. Raypaths are determined which minimize the value of an expression which is a function of travel time and distance between a source location and a receiver location. The value of the expression depends on the value of a parameter which balances the weighting of travel time and distance in the expression.

Abstract: An ice bin insert (10) separates a single store of ice pieces into separate stashes, namely, into potable and non-potable portions. The insert (10) includes a divider (C, D) dimension to be received within an ice holding cavity of an ice bin (30). Support members (B, E) attached to the divider (C, D) hold the divider (C, D) at a desired position within the ice holding cavity of the ice bin (30). A plurality of perforations (12) are arranged within the divider (C, D) so as to permits ice pieces to flow from a first side thereof to a second side thereof while inhibiting retrieval of ice pieces on the second side from the first side. Preferably, the insert (10) is constructed from a unitary sheet of stainless steel which is bent to define the respective portions or sections thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for emptying a reel on which a web of material is wound in layers. A frame supports the reel. A carriage is mounted on the frame for reciprocal movement longitudinally in a first direction and in a second direction opposite the first direction over the reel. A knife is mounted on the carriage for movement with the carriage to cut sheets of material from the web as the carriage moves over the reel. A plough removes cut sheets of the material from the reel as the carriage moves over the reel.

Abstract: A data migration, data integration, data warehousing, and business intelligence system including a data storage model is provided that allows a business to effectively utilize its data to make business decisions. The system can be designed to include a number of data storage units including a data dock, a staging area, a data vault, a data mart, a data collection area, a metrics repository, and a metadata repository. Data received from a number of source systems moves through the data storage units and is processed along the way by a number of process areas including a profiling process area, a cleansing process area, a data loading process area, a business rules and integration process area, a propagation, aggregation and subject area breakout process area, and a business intelligence and decision support systems process area. Movement of the data is performed by metagates. The processed data is then received by corporate portals for use in making business decisions.

Abstract: A system is provided for executing a system call originating in a local computer on a first remote computer connected to the local computer via a network. Communication is established between the local computer and the first remote computer via the network. A syscall server is installed in the first remote computer. A reference address is sent from the first remote computer to the local computer via the network through execution of code by the syscall server. A syscall request is built in the local computer with arguments determined using the reference address received from the first remote computer. The syscall request is sent from the local computer to the first remote computer via the network. The syscall request is copied into a stack of the first remote computer through execution of code by the syscall server. Registers are popped from the syscall request in the stack. Execution of a syscall request is initiated on the first remote computer. The result of the syscall request is pushed onto the stack.

Abstract: The method of the present invention provides for processing seismic data over a subsurface area of interest. Downgoing seismic data, which may be VSP data, and surface seismic data are acquired over a subsurface area of interest. An inverse operator is determined from changes in signal characteristics, which may be first-arrival signals, between consecutive depth levels of the downgoing VSP data. The inverse operator is assigned to at least one surface seismic data level. Data levels may be in time or depth. Inverse operators may be interpolated for time or depth level operators for data samples between already determined operators. Inverse operators are applied to seismic data to restore attenuated signal components.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for processing an input seismic record to suppress noise energy, for example multiple energy, and to enhance signal. A primary signal component is determined from an input seismic record. A residual record is obtained from the input seismic record and the determined primary component record, for example, by determining a difference of the two records. A next primary signal component record is then obtained from the residual record. The primary component record and the next primary component record are combined to form a reconstructed record. A subsequent residual record may then be obtained and further primary signal components extracted.

Abstract: The method and system of the present inventions provides a new approach for selecting frequencies comprising a minimal or limited frequency data set for imaging leading to an order of magnitude decrease in computation resources. Seismic data are acquired and transformed a frequency domain. The data may be gathered in any manner. A plurality of minimal frequency subsets are formed comprising selected frequencies. The frequencies may be selected so that more frequencies are selected for shallower image positions. The selected frequencies are imaged to form frequency images. The selected frequencies may be individually weighted to assure a full and balanced bandwidth. The frequency images are composited to form an intermediate or final composited migration image.

Abstract: A lung-assist apparatus includes a tubular housing, a tubular nozzle therein, and a first valve disposed between the housing and nozzle. The housing is implanted across a bifurcation such that the nozzle extends from a first branch communicating with a healthy region of a lung towards a main passage, and terminates proximate a lateral opening in the housing that is disposed within a second branch communicating with a damaged region of the lung. During inhalation, the first valve opens to allow air flow into the first branch, and closes during exhalation to force air through the nozzle, thereby inducing a vacuum for drawing air from the damaged region. A second valve in the second branch opens during exhalation to draw air from the diseased region, and closes during inhalation to prevent air from being drawn into the damaged region.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of determining the extent of recovery of materials injected into oil wells or subsurface formations. The method includes injection of one or more tracers into an oil well or into a formation. Included in the method are the steps of introducing a material of interest into the oil well or into the subsurface formation associated with the bore of the oil well; introducing a tracer into the oil well or into the subsurface formation associated with the bore of the oil well; recovering from the oil well a production fluid, analyzing the production fluid for a concentration of the chemical tracer present in the production fluid; and calculating the amount of material of interest recovered from the oil well using the concentration of the chemical tracer present in the production fluid as a basis for the calculation.