Abstract: A communication tool (100) includes a housing (102) having recesses (110) and a set of axial locating elements (112) radially extendable through the recesses (110) and engagably positionable within a profile of a tubing retrievable safety valve (50). An anti rotation device (140) is radially outwardly extendable relative to the housing (112). The anti rotation device (140) operably engages the tubing retrievable safety valve (50) to substantially prevent relative rotation between at least a portion of the communication tool (100) and the tubing retrievable safety valve (50). A cutting tool (148) is radially outwardly extendable relative to the housing (102). The cutting tool (148) is operable to create a fluid passageway (150) between a non annular hydraulic chamber (60) and an interior the tubing retrievable safety valve (50).

Abstract: To provide a catalyst for synthesis reaction which can achieve good yield in the Sonogashira reaction and also can be recovered after the reaction, and a method for synthesizing a compound in which the catalyst for synthesis reaction is used, a perovskite-type composite oxide containing palladium is used as the catalyst for synthesis reaction in the Sonogashira reaction represented by the following reaction scheme (1): R1—X+HC?CR2?R1C?CR2??(1)

Abstract: A system (30) includes an analysis engine (34) and a notification engine (38) for selective notification of a condition (72) of an apparatus (26) monitored by a monitoring device (28). A method executed by the system (30) receives (116) data elements (58) from the monitoring device (28), processes (118) the data elements (58) to detect the condition (72) of the apparatus (26), and determines that the condition (72) defines an exception (74) to a normal condition (70) of the apparatus (26). A first notice (60) of the condition (72) is conveyed (146) to a responsible party (59) at a first instance of determination of the exception (74), and conveyance of a second notice (60) is prevented (140) at a second, subsequent, instance of determination of the exception (74). In addition, communication of the normal condition (70) of the apparatus (26) is prevented.

Abstract: A network includes an account status system for checking the status of checking accounts used to make payments, and a payment account monitoring system that includes linking files that store, for individual credit card accounts, the account numbers for checking accounts used to pay the credit card accounts. The monitoring system periodically retrieves checking account numbers from the linking files and checks the account numbers at the status system. If a negative status is indicated at the status system, an alert is provided to the credit card company.

Abstract: When determining a preferred ratio of supervisors to agents in a call center, one or more operation parameter values are determined for corresponding operation parameters. Based on the one or more operation parameter values, a benchmark ratio is correspondingly modified to provide the desired preferred ratio. Preferably, the benchmark ratio is identified based on a specific industry. At least one survey response concerning an operation parameter may be obtained and used in determining a corresponding operation parameter value. In this manner, a more structured and customized approach is provided in comparison to prior art techniques.

Abstract: A method and system for provides a user with an ability to capture a sample of an experiential environment and deliver that sample to an interactive service to trigger one or more predetermined events. In exemplary embodiments of the invention such triggered events include the delivery of information and services to the user, the execution of tasks and instructions by the service on the user's behalf, communication events; surveillance events and other control-oriented events that are responsive to the user's wishes. In other exemplary embodiments of the invention, the triggered events include transaction-oriented events, entertainment events, and events associated with enhancements to human ability or function.

Abstract: An approach is provided for automatic disabling of network debugging. A debugging command is received for initiating debugging of a router that includes a processor configured to execute a debugging procedure. Utilization of the processor is monitored. A determination is made whether the utilization exceeds a utilization threshold. The debugging procedure is disabled based on the determination that the utilization threshold is exceeded.

Abstract: A filter assembly having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion is described. The filter assembly may include a feed inlet located at the proximal end portion and a first filter element in fluid communication with the feed inlet, the first filter element extending between the proximal end portion and the distal end portion of the filter assembly. Additionally, the filter assembly may include a second filter element in fluid communication with the first filter element, the second filter element extending between the distal end portion and the proximal end portion of the filter assembly. The filter assembly may also include a flow deflector located at the distal end portion of the filter assembly, the flow deflector being configured to deflect a flowable mixture exiting the first filter element toward the second filter element.

Abstract: To determine brand affiliation, a consumer criterion may be identified. A filtered group of one or more consumers may be created in which each consumer in the filtered group is subject to the consumer criterion. A percentage of consumers in the filtered group of consumers having at least one transaction with a brand of interest may then be determined. A percentage of consumers in a control group of consumers having at least one transaction with the brand of interest may also be determined. A ratio comparing the percentage of consumers in the filtered group to the percentage of consumers in the control group may then be calculated. Based on the calculated ratio, the brand affiliation between the consumer criterion and the brand of interest is determined. This affiliation can be leveraged to target marketing materials for one of the brands to consumers of the second brand.

Abstract: A method for the simultaneous operation of multiple seismic vibrators using unique modified pseudorandom sweeps and recovery of the transmission path response from each vibrator is disclosed. The vibrator sweeps are derived from pseudorandom binary sequences modified to be weakly correlated over a time window of interest, spectrally shaped and amplitude level compressed. Cross-correlation with each pilot signal is used to perform an initial separation of the composite received signal data set. Recordings of the motion of each vibrator are also cross-correlated with each pilot, windowed, and transformed to form a source cross-spectral density matrix in the frequency domain useful for source signature removal and for additional crosstalk-suppression between the separated records. After source signature removal in the frequency domain an inverse transform is applied to produce an estimate of each source-to-receiver earth response in the time domain.

Abstract: A traveler safety information correlation system is provided. An interactive, real-time mapping tool is combined with traveler location and alert information data sources. Recorded locations corresponding to human assets are overlaid on geographical maps enabling an operator to determine real or near real-time locations of human assets, such as an organizations employees. Traveler location information may obtained from computerized reservation systems, credit card processing systems, cellular and wireless computer networks, and/or other systems. The traveler safety information correlation system may also be used to generate alerts and to deliver information messages to human assets.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and means for assessing cognitive dysfunction, in particular impulsivity associated cognitive dysfunction, which may for example include Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), substance abuse, and non-toxic addictive/compulsive behaviour. A method may comprise displaying a population of elements to the individual and allowing the sequential selection of elements within the population by the individual. The selection of an element reveals to the individual a characteristic of the selected element which is one of a number of possible characteristics of elements in said population. The sequential selection ends when the individual chooses which of the possible characteristics is possessed by the most elements in the population. The number of elements selected by the individual in making this choice is then correlated to the likelihood that the individual has impulsivity associated cognitive dysfunction.

Abstract: The invention provides apparatus for producing an extrudate product including a plurality of capillary channel. The apparatus comprises an extruder having an inlet, a die including an orifice having a predetermined outer shape and a plurality of needles each having a body including an internal conduit for fluid flow. Each needle further comprises an outlet from the internal conduit at an outlet end. The outlet end of each needle is arranged in a predetermined pattern substantially within the orifice of the die and the conduit of each needle is fluidly connected to a fluid source. In use extrudable material is fed into the extruder through the inlet. The extruder forces the extrudable material around the bodies of the needles towards the die and through the orifice in the die to produce an extrudate having substantially the predetermined outer shape.

Abstract: A system is provided for characterizing optical fibers carrying signal traffic. The system includes a transmitter, a variable optical attenuator (VOA), a receiver, and a computing device. The transmitter propagates an optical test signal along a channel of a fiber pathway. The VOA adjusts the attenuation of the optical test signal from an initial, greater attenuation to a subsequent, lesser attenuation. At the same time, the computing device monitors at least one other channel of the fiber pathway and identifies effects upon the other channel(s) from the optical test signal. The computing device may communicate with the VOA and with other components of the fiber pathway to direct adjustment of the signal strength. A maximum optical test signal strength may thus be achieved that does not negatively affect signal traffic on the other channels, and the fiber pathway may subsequently be tested using the achieved maximum optical test signal strength.

Abstract: A card embossing system for embossing information onto a sheet of material prior to cutting individual cards from the sheet is disclosed. Information is embossed onto the sheet in a pattern of rows and columns. Information on adjacent columns is offset relative to one another. When individual cards are cut from the sheet, they are collected in a receiving tray having a plurality of cells arranged in a pattern of rows and columns such that adjacently stacked cards have embossing which is offset from one another. This prevents nesting of cards and allows for improved feeding from a hopper into a machine for further processing, such as printing or embossing individualized information on each card.

Abstract: An apparatus (300) for obtaining a fluid sample in a subterranean well includes a housing (302) having a sample chamber (314) defined therein. The sample chamber (314) is selectively in fluid communication with the exterior of the housing (302) and is operable to receive the fluid sample therefrom. A debris trap piston (318) is slidably disposed within the housing (302). The debris trap piston (318) includes a debris chamber (326). Responsive to the fluid sample entering the sample chamber (314), the debris trap piston (318) receives a first portion of the fluid sample in the debris chamber (326) then displaces relative to the housing (302) to expand the sample chamber (314).

Abstract: A valve apparatus. The valve apparatus is disposed within a well so that an annulus is formed between an outer portion of the valve and an inner portion of the well. In one preferred embodiment, the valve apparatus comprises an outer mandrel containing an annulus port; an inner mandrel slidably disposed within the outer mandrel, and wherein the inner mandrel contains a production and equalizing port. The valve contains a seal assembly so that pressure from the annulus is isolated from the inner portion of the inner mandrel. In one preferred embodiment, the seal assembly comprises: a first header seal; a first seal ring, abutting the header seal, for sealing with the outer portion of the inner mandrel; a follower seal abutting the seal ring; a second seal ring, abutting the follower seal, for sealing with the outer portion of the inner mandrel; a second header seal; and an equalizing seal abutting the second seal ring.

Abstract: A method for issuing an invitation to a show and compiling demographic information comprising: forming an invitation-only, no-cost-to-attendee ticket website on a server comprising invitee information; using demographic information to select at least one invitee to receive a promotional ticket; transmitting the promotional ticket to a client device of the invitee; using the client device to display the ticket, wherein the promotional ticket comprises invitee information and at least one validation code; wirelessly transmitting the validation code to the server, thereby changing the at least one invitee to at least one invited attendee; comparing the validation code with the invitee information for the at least one invited attendee to authenticate the promotional ticket and track attendance of the at least one invitee; and storing the tracked attendance and the invitee information in data storage.

Abstract: Assemblies and methods for installing and maintaining aerial fiber optic cable are provided. Embodiments include a cable long enough to extend from two elevated support points and to provide enough slack for at least a portion of the cable to extend along the ground. The cable includes a wrapped portion for storing the slack and to elevate the entire cable above the ground. The wrapped portion being releasable in response to a force acting on the cable, such as a falling tree, allowing for at least a portion of the cable to fall to the ground and minimize the likelihood of the tree snapping the cable. Fasteners and frame members may be employed to support the wrapped portion. An embodiment may also include a cut-off apparatus for cutting the cable in response to the cable being pulled further once any slack in the cable has been expended.

Abstract: The links (1) are formed by a set of parts (3, 4, 6, 9, 15) including at least two caps (3, 4) including, on the one hand, means for assembling (13, 14, 15) their feet (3b, 4b) to hold, between their heads (3a, 4a) a decorative casing element (9), and on the other hand, locking means (6, 16) at the junction of their feet (3b, 4b) for immobilising each link (1) on the connecting member. The preferred embodiment includes a rigid tube (15) assembling the feet (3b, 4b) and holding a deformable insert locking the connecting member.