Abstract: A method of operating a channel induction furnace so as to receive electric arc furnace (EAF) dust, basic oxygen furnace (BOF) sludge/dust and/or other iron and volatile metals containing materials as a feed stream on a batch, continuous or semi-continuous basis together with a iron-containing material feed, and therefrom produce an iron-containing hot metal or pig iron product while recovering iron value from the feed materials and recovering volatile metal components contained in the feed materials.

Abstract: A switch segments variable length frames into cells for transmission over a cell-based switch fabric and handles rate differences between the input data rate and the switch fabric data rate. The fabric handles multiple cell packets by maintaining a switch path until a certain number of cells are transmitted as indicated in a length field in the first data cell. The first cell contains a full data payload, and a length field value sufficient to handle a maximum length frame. Subsequent cells can contain less than a full data payload, with the number of valid bytes in the cell being indicated in the length field. The last cell used to segment the frame contains an end of frame indicator. The indicator signals the destination port side of the switch to terminate the packet path in the switch fabric prematurely—before the number of cells indicated in the first data cell.

Abstract: An automated banking machine which dispenses cash and includes a mechanism for accepting deposited items. Deposited items may be provided to the machine in envelopes which are first passed to a user from an envelope storage area (132) in the machine through a transport (124) and which are presented to the user through an opening (244). A user may thereafter include deposit items in the dispensed envelope. The deposited items are passed through the opening (244) and are deposited in a deposit-holding container (128). The deposited items may be marked by an inkjet printer with indicia corresponding to the transaction or properties of the deposited item. The operation of the printer is caused by a controller (56) which controls the operation responsive to one or more environmental parameters.

Abstract: A tube shaped and fluid inflatable and electrically heatable in-situ pipe repair device comprising a first outer elastomeric tube layer and a resistive heating component comprised of electrically conductive fibers braided over an elastomeric core. The tube shaped device also contains an inner annulus. The device is fluid sealable and is connectible to a fluid supply and vacuum source. It is also connectible to an electrical power source. The device may also comprise two tube shaped layers configured to fit snuggly together with a resistive heating component held between the two layers. The resistive heating component may be a braided fiber-elastomeric core combination or a conductive fiber configured in a sinusoidal wave or similar pattern.

Abstract: An automated banking machine (10) is operative to carry out financial transactions and includes a user interface (15). The user interface includes a card reader (16) which is operative to read data on user cards which identify user's financial accounts. A fascia of the machine includes a keypad (404, 438, 458) through which users input confidential data. Covers (400, 422, 430) prevent unauthorized persons from viewing confidential inputs to the keypad. Alternatively, movable panels (462, 464) are movable to prevent unauthorized viewing of confidential inputs. Alternatively a keypad cover is selectively collapsible to prevent digit access. A visual indicator is operative to indicate to a user that keypad inputs are being encrypted. Disinfecting techniques may be used to disinfect manual contact surfaces of the machine.

Abstract: A roadway vehicle sensor includes a coextrusion having a linear conductive section and a linear non-conductive section forming a vehicle deformable closed housing. The linear conductive section has an inwardly projecting conductive plunger along the length thereof which is fused to wedge removal arms. The linear non-conductive section has a pair of inwardly projecting insulating wings having wing tips spaced apart a distance defining a plunger gap. The insulating wings also define a contact chamber into which the plunger protrudes only upon deformation of the vehicle deformable housing by a vehicle. Preferably, the vehicle deformable housing has a flat side on the exterior for engagement with a roadway surface. A contact assembly in the contact chamber has one or more flat conductive lane switch segment, each flat conductor lane switch segment having a width which avoids phantom switch closures.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to oligodeoxynucleotides that suppress an immune response. Methods are disclosed for preventing or treating inflammatory arthropathies by administering a therapeutically effective amount of a suppressive oligodeoxynucleotide.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to oligodeoxynucleotides that suppress an immune response. Methods are disclosed for preventing or treating an immune-mediated disorder, such as, but not limited to, an autoimmune disease, by administering a therapeutically effective amount of a suppressive oligodeoxynucleotide. Also disclosed are methods of suppressing an immune response in a subject by administering a therapeutically effective amount of a suppressive oligodeoxynucleotide.

Abstract: A patient support surface comprises a cover defining an interior region, a modifiable support layer situated in the interior region and having at least one air bladder, and a sensor layer situated in the interior region and having at least one sensor configured to detect a physiological parameter of a patient atop the patient support surface.

Abstract: An automated banking machine which dispenses cash and includes a mechanism for accepting deposited items. Deposited items may be provided to the machine in envelopes which are first passed to a user from an envelope storage area (132) in the machine through a transport (124) and which are presented to the user through an opening (244). A user may thereafter include deposit items in the dispensed envelope. The deposited items are passed through the opening (244) and are deposited in a deposit-holding container (128). The deposited items may be marked by an inkjet printer with indicia corresponding to the transaction or properties of the deposited item. The operation of the printer is caused by a controller (56) which controls the operation responsive to one or more environmental parameters.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transaction card assembly that includes a transaction card and a carrier. The transaction card includes four sides, of which two are connected to the carrier. A magnetic stripe extends across the transaction card and a portion of the carrier. The transaction card and carrier collectively form a substantially rectangular-shaped transaction card assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptide mimotopes of lipooligosaccharide from nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae as vaccines.

Abstract: The apparatus for weighing a load in motion includes a rigid member, a plurality of strain gages mounted within the rigid member and forming a Wheatstone bridge network for measuring a force exerted by such load onto the rigid member and an accelerometer mounted within the rigid member for measuring gravitational acceleration of the load. A controller mounted in remote location compensates the measured force according to a measurement from the accelerometer and according to a predetermined algorithm to determine the actual weight of the load. Strain gages and accelerometer are connected to the controller by way of a wiring connection. The apparatus can be easily retrofitted into existing applications, particularly for loading scrap metal by way of a crane.

Abstract: A drilling rig is provided which is adapted to selectively drill using coiled tubing and jointed-pipe. The rig includes a base, a mast, a top drive slidably mounted to said mast for performing jointed-pipe operations, and a tubing injector for performing coiled tubing operations, mounted on said mast for selective movement from a first position in which the injector is in line with the mast and a second position in which the injector is out of line with the mast to permit jointed-pipe operations by the top drive. The rig is uniquely suited to easily and quickly assemble bottom hole assemblies (BHA's), and to connect such BHA's to coiled tubing.

Abstract: An acoustic sensor for use in a downhole measurement tool includes a piezo-composite transducer element. In various exemplary embodiments, the acoustic sensor further includes a composite backing layer, at least one matching layer, and a barrier layer deployed at an outermost surface of the sensor. Exemplary embodiments of this invention may advantageously withstand the extreme temperatures, pressures, and mechanical shocks frequent in downhole environments and thus may exhibit improved reliability. Exemplary embodiment of this invention may further provide improved signal to noise characteristics. Methods for fabricating acoustic sensors and downhole measurement tools are also provided.

Abstract: A plunger apparatus operates to propel one or more jets of gas through one or more internal orifices and/or nozzles out through an aperture and into a liquid load whereby a transfer of the gas into the liquid load causes turbulent aeration to the liquid load during a plunger rise. This action can boost the carrying capacity of a plunger lift system resulting in improved well production.

Abstract: A computer program is provided that causes a computer to enable a user to make an electronic payment via a communication network. A user is authenticated to a server computer. The computer retrieves identification information stored in a memory region of the computer, and transmits the identification information to a server computer via the communication network. In addition, the computer displays a personal-finance toolbar on a portion of the display screen, and the computer receives from the server computer, via the communication network, financial information of at least one financial account corresponding to the user. The computer displays, on the tool bar, at least some of the financial information received from the server computer. The computer concurrently displays on the display screen the tool bar and a Web page of a Web site, which is a purchase page on which the user may input purchase information.

Abstract: An acoustic logging system that measures distribution of foam cement and other material in a casing-borehole annulus. The distribution is preferably displayed as map. A borehole tool utilizes at least one acoustic transducer with a known frequency response and mounted on a rotating scanning head that is pointed essentially perpendicular to the borehole wall. The response of the transducer is used to measure an original impedance map of material within the borehole-casing annulus. A fast Fourier transform is used to generate a FFT map from the data comprising the original impedance map. The original impedance map is then combined with the FFT map using logic rules to obtain a final impedance map that is indicative of material within the casing-borehole annulus.

Abstract: A device may include a first network module to capture network data at a first location in a network and a second network module to capture network data at a second location in the network different from the first location in the network. The device may include a control module to receive control commands relating to the first network module and the second network module. The control module may forwarded the control commands to the first network module and the second network module. The control module may receive the captured network data from the first network module and the second network module.

Abstract: Prepaid services include associating a plurality of users with a prepaid services account. The account is configured to track a prepaid balance associated with the account as well as to allow at least a subset of the plurality of users associated with the account to draw down the prepaid balance at least generally at the same time. Drawing down the prepaid balance includes allocating a portion of the prepaid balance to each respective user, monitoring a provision of service, and repeating, selectively, the allocating and monitoring.