Abstract: A transponder-reader payment system includes a fob including a transponder, and a RFID reader for interrogating the transponder. The system may further include a personalization system for populating onto the fob and RFID reader identifying information and security and authentication keys which may be used during mutual authentication of the fob and the reader and for completing a transaction. In exemplary operation, the fob and RFID reader may be personalized, the fob may be presented to the RFID reader for interrogation, the fob and reader may engage in mutual authentication, and fob identifying information may be provided to the reader for transaction completion. In another exemplary embodiment, operation of the transponder-reader payment system may be controlled by an activation circuit. Further, the fob may be responsive to multiple interrogation signals.

Abstract: Isolated and purified chemokine peptides, variants, and derivatives thereof, as well as chemokine peptide analogs, are provided.

Abstract: Particulate compositions that comprise macro-particulates, and degradable particulates in an amount sufficient to reduce friction between the macro-particulates, the degradable particulates having a mean particle diameter of at least about 20 times smaller than the mean particle diameter of the macro-particulates are disclosed herein. Also disclosed are fluids that comprise a liquid component, and a particulate composition, the particulate composition comprising macro-particulates and degradable particulates having a mean particle diameter of at least about 20 times smaller than the mean particle diameter of the macro-particulates, wherein the degradable particulates are present in the particulate composition in an amount sufficient to reduce friction between the macro-particulates. Methods of using the particulate compositions and fluids are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for using an invert emulsion fluid in a well bore, comprising placing an invert emulsion fluid in a well bore, wherein the invert emulsion fluid comprises an oleaginous fluid, a non-oleaginous fluid and an emulsifier comprising one or more amines generally represented by the formula: wherein R is a radical selected from the group consisting of abietyl, hydroabietyl, dihydroabietyl, tetrahydroabietyl, and dehydroabietyl, each R? may be the same or different and is an alkyl having from about 1 to about 3 carbons, each A may be the same or different and is NH or O, and the sum of x and y ranges from about 1 to about 20, and contacting the invert emulsion fluid with an acid solution to reversibly convert the invert emulsion to an oil-in-water emulsion.

Abstract: A multiservice network for delivering enhanced communication services to customer devices attached to either the PSTN, such as telephones and fax machines, or devices attached to the Internet or private data networks, such as PCs or other IP devices, is presented. Enhanced services include IP-based faxing, IP-based telephony, IP-based conferencing, Internet call waiting, messaging services, such as unified messaging, and other advanced services such as find-me-follow-me, and desktop telephony. The multiservice network may be managed by a configuration manager for Internet telephony (COMIT).

Abstract: A container (1) for drink is provided with a top (2) and with an outlet (4) that is located at the top and is connected to a flexible dispensing line (5), the container having a chamber (32) at the top in which the dispensing line (5) is accommodated. The dispensing line (5) is provided at its outlet end (6) with a grip element (30) that is located in or close to a cut-out (35) in the peripheral wall. By positioning the flexible tube in the chamber this tube can be hygienically protected from the environment during storage and transport of the container and mechanical damage thereto is prevented, whilst easy handling remains possible. The chamber (32) can be closed by a lid (52).

Abstract: A method for facilitating a wireless transaction includes receiving, by a transaction management system, a transaction request and a spoken authentication code from a transaction requester. After authenticating the spoken authentication code, a transaction code is communicated from the transaction management system to a wireless communication device. The transaction code is then optically scanned from a visual display of the wireless communication device.

Abstract: There is provided a rotatable cutting tool for supporting at least one knife in at least two alternate angular cutting configurations. The cutting tool includes a body that defines at least one cavity extending generally in a longitudinal direction of the body. Each cavity is configured to support one of the knives at predetermined hook and shear angles, and each cavity can be configured to provide a different hook and/or shear angle.

Abstract: Methods of cementing in well bores using cement compositions having elasticity or high compressive strength and low permeability are provided. The cement compositions basically include particulate acid-degradable glass, water, at least one water-soluble polymerizable alkenoic acid monomer, and a water-soluble free-radical initiator.

Abstract: A probe cover (20) is provided including a tubular body extending from a proximal end (24) to a distal end (26). The proximal end defines an opening configured for receipt of a distal end of a thermometer. The distal end of the tubular body is substantially enclosed by a film (36). The distal end includes at least one end rib (38) disposed about an inner circumference thereof. At least one end rib is configured to engage the distal end of the thermometer such that the distal end of the thermometer is spaced apart from the film. The body may extend in a tapered configuration from the proximal end to the distal end. The end rib can include a transverse portion disposed along a surface of the film. The end rib may include a longitudinal portion extending along the body. The longitudinal portion may extend proximally along the body and the transverse portion may project along a surface of the film such that the longitudinal portion and the transverse portion cooperate to receive the distal end of the thermometer.

Abstract: A device for continuous or semi-continuous casting of metals, comprising a casting mold (1) which is open in both ends in the casting direction, means (2) for supplying melt to the mold (1), a first electromagnetic induction coil (4) energized by A.C. current and adapted to induce a stirring motion to the melt (7) in the mold (1), and a second electromagnetic induction coil (3) arranged upstream of the first induction coil (4) and adapted to control the stirring motion of the melt in the region adjacent to the upper free surface (5) of the melt. The second induction coil (3) is arranged to be interchangeably energized by either D.C. or A.C. current. The invention also relates to methods for control of stirring motion in a casting mold (1).

Abstract: A perfume encapsulate comprises an aminoplast capsule, the capsule shell comprising urea-formaldehyde or melamine-formaldehyde polymer and a second polymer comprising a polymer or copolymer of one or more anhydrides, preferably ethylene/maleic anhydride copolymer. The second polymer improves the stability of the capsules with respect to surfactant, thus improving perfume retention properties and enabling use of the capsules in aqueous surfactant-containing products in a way that has not hitherto been possible.

Abstract: A non-oxidative hair coloring composition, comprises yogurt or yogurt-derived material. The invention also provides a method of improving the coloring effects of non-oxidative hair coloring compositions, comprising application to the hair (during or after dyeing) of yogurt or a yogurt-derived material. The invention also covers use of yogurt or yogurt-derived material in a hair care composition for the purpose of improving the coloring effects of a non-oxidative hair dye. The invention can be put into effect by incorporating yogurt or yogurt-derived material into a hair care composition for use during non-oxidative dying of hair (i.e. a non-oxidative hair coloring composition) where it acts to improve dye deposition onto hair, or into a composition for use on hair after dyeing by a non-oxidative method, e.g. a shampoo or conditioner composition, to help maintain the color of dyed hair.

Abstract: A method of stimulating and stabilizing an area of a subterranean formation comprising placing an acid fluid into an area of a subterranean formation and allowing the acid to at least partially dissolve a portion of the area of the subterranean formation; placing a consolidation fluid into the area of the subterranean formation; and, placing an afterflush fluid into the area of the subterranean formation. A method of stimulating and stabilizing an area of a subterranean formation comprising placing an acid fluid into an area of a subterranean formation and allowing the acid to at least partially dissolve a portion of the area of the subterranean formation; placing a consolidation fluid into the area of the subterranean formation; and, placing a fracturing fluid into the area of the subterranean formation at a pressure sufficient to create or extend at least one fracture therein.

Abstract: A mobile provisioning tool system including a software provisioning tool application. The mobile provisioning tool system includes mobile devices capable of conducting wireless communication with wireless access points. A carrier network is connected with the wireless access points and a customer network that includes at least one business application. A provisioning tool application is located on a provisioning server. The provisioning tool application includes a CRM Rep component and an IT Admin component. A software provisioning tool application allows the provisioning workstation to automatically install mobile business services and configure network configuration settings on the mobile device.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of regulating the destruction of mRNA molecules containing an AU-rich element (ARE), for example, methods of stimulating the degradation of an mRNA molecule encoding TNF-?, and methods of inhibiting the degradation of an mRNA molecule encoding GM-CSF. Also provided are methods for identifying compounds that regulate the destruction of mRNA molecules containing AREs.

Abstract: A pump apparatus for an adjustable metering and dispensing pump apparatus for food products including a product piston moving in a product cylinder, the product cylinder being connected to a food hopper and a dispensing nozzle. The pump apparatus also includes a cylindrical valve moving within a central aperture in the product piston to selectively open and close passageways also in the product piston which communicate with intake and outlet ports connected to the product cylinder. The valve is attached to a valve piston moving within a valve piston cylinder and the valve piston cylinder is attached to a source of compressed air, to a sensor and to a control assembly. The control in turn is connected to a foot switch to allow an operator to initiate a cycle of the pump apparatus.

Abstract: A search engine comprising a crawler which crawls the WWW and stores pages found on the WWW in a database. An indexer indexes the pages in the database to produce a primary index. A document mapping section maps pages in the database into a plurality of tiers based on a ranking of the pages. The ranking may be based on portions of the pages which have a relatively higher value context. A processor produces a plurality of sub-indices from the primary index based on the mapping. The sub-indices are stored in a search node cluster. The cluster is a matrix of search nodes logically arranged in a plurality of rows and columns. Search nodes in the same column include the same sub-index. Search nodes in the same row include distinct sub-indices. A search query received by a user is sent to a dispatcher which, in turn, forwards the query to the first tier of search nodes. A fall through algorithm is disclosed which indicates when the dispatcher should forward the search query to other tiers of search nodes.

Abstract: Methods of initiating a fracture tip screenout, that comprise pumping an annulus fluid into an annulus, between the subterranean formation and a work string disposed within a wellbore penetrating the subterranean formation, at an annulus flow rate; and reducing the annulus flow rate below a fracture initiation flow point so that the fracture tip screenout is initiated in the one or more fractures in the subterranean formation, are provided. Also provided are methods of fracturing a portion of a subterranean formation and methods of estimating a fracture initiation flow point.

Abstract: Method of monitoring performance levels across a network, including steps of monitoring in real time performance levels of (i) at least one program application operating on the network, and (ii) at least one component of infrastructure of the network, and consolidating and storing data corresponding to the monitored performance levels. The method further includes steps of monitoring trends in the performance levels of at least one of (i) the at least one application, and (ii) the at least component of infrastructure, and mitigating, using the monitored trends in performance levels, incidents detrimental to capabilities across the network, which are potential outcomes of the monitored trends.