Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a frame, a patient support coupled to the frame, a plurality of casters and a wheel coupled to the frame, a motor coupled to the wheel and operable to rotate the wheel to propel the patient support apparatus along a floor, and an electrical system comprising a controller configured to signal operation of the motor to rotate the wheel to propel the patient support apparatus along the floor. The electrical system further includes user inputs adjacent at least one end of the frame and adjacent at least one side of the frame. The user inputs including forward and reverse switches that are engaged to determine whether the patient support apparatus is propelled in a forward direction or a rearward direction, respectively.

Abstract: Methods of reducing the viscosity of a viscosified treatment fluid; providing a clean-up composition comprising a carboxylic acid; a chlorite-based breaker system comprising an alkali metal compound and an activator wherein the activator comprises a metal and an amine. Placing a viscosified treatment fluid in a subterranean formation via a well bore penetrating the subterranean formation; first contacting the viscosified treatment fluid with the chlorite-based breaker; and then contacting the viscosified treatment fluid with the clean-up composition; and, allowing the viscosity of the viscosified treatment fluid to reduce.

Abstract: A mineral water producing method includes the steps of inputting basic data to obtain data about human mineral intake and data about average mineral intake from food; selecting a water supply area to obtain data about mineral intake from daily water intake; selecting an eating habit and a physical/mental condition; inputting personal body weight and calculating mineral intake; setting a daily water intake and calculating a daily mineral supplement; and outputting mineral water. A mineral water producing apparatus includes a water inlet and a water outlet; a first filter being connected at a first end to the water inlet and at a second end to the water outlet; at least one mineral substance container being located between and connected to the second end of the filter and the water outlet; and a controller for controlling the mineral substance container to supply a mineral substance.

Abstract: An interactive computer architecture is provided that can be employed as a bridge between a mainframe-based computing environment and a distributed server-based computing environment. A request/reply contract can be expressed within the mainframe-based environment and employed as the basis for generating a web service in the distributed computing environment.

Abstract: A mass spectrometry (MS) method which includes generating in a vicinity of the quadrupole ion trap hydrogen molecules, directing at least part of the hydrogen molecules into the quadrupole ion trap cell, applying AC and DC voltages to quadrupole ion trap cell electrodes to create a combined AC/DC trapping field, placing sample ions inside the quadrupole ion trap cell, cooling at least part of said ions using said hydrogen molecules as a buffer gas, changing the combined AC/DC trapping field to eject the ions from the quadrupole ion trap cell, and detecting the ejected ions.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a frame and a mattress support deck coupled to the frame. The mattress support deck is movable between a horizontal position to support a patient in a lying position and a chair egress position to support the patient in a sitting position. The patient support apparatus has at least one actuator coupled to the mattress support deck and operable to move the mattress support deck between the horizontal position and the chair egress position. Control circuitry is coupled to the at least one actuator and is operable to command operation of the at least one actuator. In response to the control circuitry receiving a chair lockout signal, the at least one actuator is prevented from being operated to move the mattress support deck into the chair egress position.

Abstract: Exemplary methods and systems for facilitating SMS data transfer services in mobile devices are described. An exemplary method includes sending a first SMS message to a device with a payload of the first SMS message including machine-readable information. Next, a second SMS message may be received from the device with a payload of the second SMS message including machine-readable information. The first or second SMS message payloads may include, for example, a synchronization message, a call message, call data, or a scheduling message.

Abstract: In one of many possible embodiments, a system is provided for modeling telecommunication switch investments. The exemplary system includes a telecommunication switch modeling application configured to determine equipment quantities having capacity to satisfy switch design parameters descriptive of at least one model telecommunication switch, and calculate model investments associated with the equipment quantities. The exemplary system also includes a telecommunication switch investment modeling application configured to weight the model investments in accordance with at least one of a network parameter descriptive of an actual telecommunication switch and a “what-if” input descriptive of a hypothetical telecommunication switch configuration to form weighted investments that are specific to at least one of the actual telecommunication switch and the hypothetical telecommunication switch configuration.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of locking systems that include a barrel lock. The barrel lock is configured to damage, deface, and/or capture a key that is inserted into the barrel lock. Additionally, some embodiments include a locking mechanism adapter that can allow the locking mechanism to be operated by a key if the user has knowledge about the properties of the barrel lock.

Abstract: A method of producing sulfur modified organosilane compounds that can be used in asphalt binders which method involves: combining together an organosilane or mixtures of organosilanes, a sulfide, a halogen acceptor and solvent to form a reaction mixture; and allowing the organosilane to react with the sulfide in the presence of a halogen acceptor to produce a sulfur modified organosilane compound. The sulfur modified organosilane compound can be introduced into a polymer modified or unmodified asphalt binder in which the sulfur modified organosilane compound reacts with components in the asphalt mixture to form a modified asphalt. The organosilanes used to produce the sulfur modified organosilanes can be from a source of waste products (such as Direct Product Residue) in which case the waste products can be reused in asphalt binders.

Abstract: A mechanism for adjusting the relative angular orientation of two coaxial components includes a mandrel having a cylindrical central section between upper and lower splined sections, a sleeve rotatably and slidably disposed around the mandrel's central section, and generally cylindrical upper and lower ratchet members positioned, respectively, about the mandrel's upper and lower splined sections. The ratchet members have internal grooves which receive the mandrel splines for torsional load transfer while permitting limited rotation relative to the mandrel, but their axial positions relative to the mandrel are fixed. The upper and lower ends of the sleeve have circumferentially-arrayed ratchet teeth engageable, respectively, with corresponding teeth on the upper and lower ratchet members. The central sleeve has torque-transferring external splines slidable within matching grooves on the inner surface of a cylindrical tool housing enclosing the mechanism.

Abstract: A track system for a railway system includes a base plate configured to be supported on a railroad tie. The system also includes a drive rail and a guard rail. The drive rail includes a head portion, a web portion, and a base portion. The head portion is configured such that wheels of a train car used in the railway system roll thereon. The web portion connects the head portion and the base portion. The base portion is supported on the base plate. The guardrail includes a head portion, a web portion, and a base portion. The head portion of the guardrail is configured to contact the wheels to prevent the wheels from slipping off the drive rail. The web portion of the guardrail connects the head portion of the guardrail and the base portion of the guardrail. The base portion of the guardrail is retained in a support on the base plate.

Abstract: A banking system operates to allocate funds in accounts in response to data bearing records in the form of paper financial checks. A mobile phone has a camera and a programmable memory. The memory stores phone user data, including a bank account number and an electronic signature. The camera can be used to capture an image of a paper check which has the phone user as the payee. The phone can wirelessly transmit the account number, the electronic signature, and the check image to a bank deposit system. The system can store the check image and the electronic signature in correlated relation in a deposit transaction record. The system can cause the phone user's bank account to be credited a cash value corresponding to the check value. Confirmation of the check deposit can be transmitted to the user's phone.

Abstract: A conversational question generation system dynamically generates conversational questions for insurance claim processing. The conversational question generation system includes various modules and graphical user interfaces that provide a streamlined mechanism for creating new conversational questions for insurance claim processing. The conversational question generation system may include various levels of usability that distinguish between a question programmer of the conversational question generation system and an insurance claim agent that uses the created conversational questions. In generating conversational questions, the conversational question generation system may include graphical user interfaces directed to the question details, the answer details, the question text, or other aspects of the conversational questions.

Abstract: A guidewire (100) for use with interventional magnetic resonance imaging has a guidewire body (102) having a distal end and a proximal end and reserving a space therein, a dipole antenna (108) disposed in the space reserved within the guidewire body, the dipole antenna being adapted to be electrically connected to a signal processing system through a first signal channel (110) through the proximal end of the guidewire body, and a loop antenna (112) disposed in the space reserved within the guidewire body toward the distal end of the guidewire body, the loop antenna (112) being adapted to be electrically connected to the signal processing system through a second signal channel (114) through the proximal end of the guidewire body. The dipole antenna and the loop antenna are each constructed to receive magnetic resonance imaging signals independently of each other and to transmit received signals through the first and second signal channels, respectively, to be received by the signal processing system.

Abstract: A pump assembly having an inhibitor tube is provided for lifting produced fluids to the surface. The pump assembly includes a pump and may optionally include a gas separator. The pump assembly includes an inhibitor tube having an outlet configured to be in fluid communication with the suction opening of either the pump or the gas separator. The inhibitor tube allows for the separation of gas from the produced fluid prior to the produced fluid entering the gas separator or the pump.

Abstract: Flow control devices can include functionalized surfaces on inner regions of walls. A functionalized surface can include a hydrophilic and/or a hydrophobic material that can affect fluid flowing in a flow path of a wall to facilitate fluid selection by the flow control device. Fluids may be switched in a flow control device using a functionalized surface even when a density and viscosity of different oil and water mixtures of the fluids are the same.

Abstract: A banking system operates responsive to data read from data bearing records. The system includes an automated banking machine comprising a card reader. The card reader includes a movable read head that can read card data along a magnetic stripe of a card that was inserted long-edge first. The card reader includes a card entry gate. The gate is opened for a card that is determined to be properly oriented for data reading. The card reader can encrypt card data, including account data. The machine also includes a PIN keypad. The card reader can send encrypted card data to the keypad. The keypad can decipher the encrypted card data. The keypad can encrypt both deciphered card data and a received user PIN. The card data and the PIN are usable by the machine to authorize a user to carry out a financial transfer involving the account.

Abstract: A well screen inflow control device with check valve flow controls. A well screen assembly includes a filter portion and a flow control device which varies a resistance to flow of fluid in response to a change in velocity of the fluid. Another well screen assembly includes a filter portion and a flow resistance device which decreases a resistance to flow of fluid in response to a predetermined stimulus applied from a remote location. Yet another well screen assembly includes a filter portion and a valve including an actuator having a piston which displaces in response to a pressure differential to thereby selectively permit and prevent flow of fluid through the valve.