Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for dropping a ball, plug or dart during oil and gas well operations (e.g., cementing operations) employs a specially configured tool body assembly having valving members (e.g., safety or kelly valves) and valving members holding plugs, balls, or darts to be dropped. A transmitter (or transceiver) provides an ability to generate a wireless signal that is received by receivers (or transceivers) on the tool body assembly. Each receiver (or transceiver) controls an electrical actuator that engages a valving member. Wireless signals can be used to open or close a selected valving member.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a frame and a siderail coupled to the frame for movement between raised and lowered positions. The patient support apparatus has a display screen that, in one embodiment, is coupled to the siderail and in another embodiment is coupled to the frame with a flexible arm. The display screen displays a first graphical user interface when the display screen is positioned at a first position and a second graphical user interface when the display screen is positioned at a second position.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for automatically parsing data from disparate data sources. In some implementations, actions include receiving first data from a first data source, identifying a first regular expression that corresponds to a data format of the first data, selecting a first set of parsing rules from a plurality of parsing rules based on the first regular expression, parsing the first data based on the first set of parsing rules to provide a first set of sub-data, populating data fields of a first data object with respective sub-data from the first set of sub-data, and transmitting the first data object to a computing device.

Abstract: The present invention features hydrophilic IR-transparent porous membranes, particularly hydrophilic IR-transparent porous polyethylene membranes and methods of preparing the hydrophilic membranes by treatment of hydrophobic IR-transparent porous membranes with plasma. The present invention further features spectroscopic sample holders which incorporate the hydrophilic IR-transparent porous membranes and methods of identifying bacteria and other microorganisms in samples by infrared spectroscopy.

Abstract: An automated banking machine includes a card reader operative to read data from user cards. Read card data enables an authorized machine user to select between receiving currency bills that include a programmable tracking device or currency bills that do not include a programmable tracking device. The automated banking machine can dispense the form of currency bills that corresponds to the user's selection. Prior to dispensing a currency bill that has a programmable tracking device, the automated banking machine stores information related to the read card data in the currency bill.

Abstract: A Portal Assessment Design System includes a system for designing assessment models and assessments (e.g., standardized tests). In assessment design, specifications are organized around three basic elements: 1) what knowledge, skill or abilities are important to measure; 2) what is necessary evidence of that knowledge, skill or ability; 3) what performance situations are needed to elicit the required evidence from students and other assessment users. The system includes three modules (i.e., Domain Analysis, Domain Modeling, Conceptual Assessment Framework), each of which targets a specific phase of the design process, for designing an assessment in accordance with the three basic elements. The sequence of modules represents the structure of a design process that helps assessment developers work through successive stages or phases of assessment design, from the gathering of raw information to the creation of a complete set of specifications for an assessment product.

Abstract: A composer of integrated systems solves the technical problem of enabling graphical user interface applications (GAPs) to interoperate (e.g., exchange information) with each other and web services over the Internet, effectively and non-invasively. The system provides a user friendly visualization mechanism that interacts with an accessibility layer to enable organizations to economically and easily define web service driven information exchange between GAPs, by performing point-and-click, drag-and-drop operations on GAPs. The system allows users to rapidly create integrated systems composing GAPs enabled to interoperate with other GAPs and web services, so that organizations extend the life-cycle use of their legacy GAPs in business operations.

Abstract: A method for delivering a scale treatment agent to a hydrocarbon producing system. The method includes the steps of contacting the system with a foam comprising the scale treatment agent, and shutting the scale treatment agent in the system for at least 0.5 hour.

Abstract: Novel uses of reactive surfactants in treating subterranean formations and/or proppant particulates are provided. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a surfactant-treated proppant particulate comprising a proppant particulate that comprises at least one surface that has been allowed to interact with a reactive surfactant.

Abstract: This invention relates to an automated method and system for forming and implementing a performance-based logistic contract through managing the maintenance an item of equipment in accordance with a maintenance plan. Embodiments of the present invention include a method and system for maintaining an item of equipment supports the provision of predictive maintenance in a manner which eliminates or reduces downtime of the equipment. The method includes tracking performance data on the equipment or a particular component of the equipment. At least one required maintenance activity is predicted based upon the performance data with respect to a defined performance standard. Performance of the required maintenance activity is scheduled at a defined respective time based upon the prediction.

Abstract: A system and interface for trading financial instruments. The system consists of an intermediary computer system that is operable to communicate with one or more trader terminals utilizing either a private line, a network or the Internet. The intermediary computer system is comprised of one or more processors and storage media. The intermediary computer system communicates with trader terminals and displays to the trader terminals a listing of financial instruments, and information related to such financial instruments, that are available for trading. The intermediary computer system periodically updates the option adjusted price of financial instruments as to provide the traders with a time period in which the price will remain stable and during which time the traders can confidently execute orders based on the then available price. A timer, which is constantly visible to traders using the electronic trading system, displays the amount of time remaining until the displayed adjusted prices will be updated.

Abstract: A system for predicting healthcare financial risk including the process of accessing patient data associated with one or more patents, accessing geographic and healthcare system data, filtering the patient data, geographic data, and healthcare system data into clean data, and applying a predictive risk model to the clean data to generate patient profile data and to identify a portion of the patients associated with a level of predicted financial risk.

Abstract: Methods and systems for illuminating the pore space or portions thereof of a subterranean formation may use magneto-responsive ionic liquid surfactant. For example, a method may include injecting a treatment fluid comprising a base fluid and at least one magneto-responsive ionic liquid surfactant into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation having a pore space; measuring a local geo-electromagnetic field within the subterranean formation at a first time and a second time; and determining a property of the pore space of the subterranean formation based on differences between the local geo-electromagnetic field at the first time and the second time.

Abstract: Controller and method for adapting a frequency sweep for a vibro-acoustic source element that is configured to generate acoustic waves during a seismic survey. The method includes driving a seismic source element to generate a current frequency sweep; recording seismic data with plural seismic sensors in response to the current frequency sweep; selecting, during the seismic survey, a data subset of the seismic data, wherein the data subset has a size less than 10% of the seismic data; calculating with a processing device an attribute based on the data subset; and calculating a new frequency sweep based on the attribute.

Abstract: Methods for preparing complex multivalent immunogenic conjugates that include simultaneously reacting a plurality or immunogenic-distinct polysaccharides with at least one protein to make the complex multivalent immunogenic conjugates. The simultaneous reaction involves reaction of a hydrazide group on one reactant with an aldehyde or cyanate ester group on the other reactant.

Abstract: The present invention provides an automated system configured to facilitate transfers of cash value from one or more lines of credit to one or more deposit accounts or payment systems. An automated system ensures that requested funds are available in a customer's one or more lines of credit and electronically deposits the requested funds into one or more designated deposit accounts or payment systems. An automated system provides a means for customers to manage lines of credit, setup transfer transactions, define rules governing transfers and view transactional history. The automated system, in network connection with the lending organization's backend systems, may authenticate customer identities and credit accounts as well as insure that the requested funds are available for transfer into a deposit account.

Abstract: During a seismic survey, shots located close to one another are fired at a time interval shorter than an echo time interval and longer than a closest receiver time interval. During the echo time interval which follows a first shot, receivers located within a predetermined distance from the first shot location detect seismic reflections related to the first shot. During the closest-receiver time interval which follows the first shot, at least one seismic receiver located closest to the first shot location detects all the reflections from the first shot reaching this seismic receiver.

Abstract: The invention provides consumers with the services of multiple cards or accounts while allowing consumers to carry a single card, transponder, code and/or other access device. Because the card may access combined services such as financial transaction services and transportation services, the system may facilitate charging the financial account for the transportation services. The system may allow the consumer to use loyalty points or geographic based loyalty points to pay for the transportation services. The system may also limit the use of certain loyalty points based upon the geographic area for certain transportation services in certain geographic areas.

Abstract: The invention includes system for centralized rendering of user interface elements based on configurations as described in XML. A developer may create a definition for a field based on the nature of the information to be displayed to a user within a single file. Such definition will affect all future instances of the particular data type without a need to modify and/or compile code residing either within an HTML file or on a server.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are human monoclonal antibodies that specifically bind both IGF-I and IGF-II with picomolar affinity and potently inhibit the IGF-IR signal transduction function. These antibodies are active in both an IgG and a scFv format. Bispecific forms of these antibodies are also disclosed. Nucleic acids encoding these antibodies, vectors including these nucleic acids, and host cells transformed with these vectors are also disclosed herein. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions including these antibodies. Methods are provided for treating a subject with cancer and for inhibiting phosphorylation of the insulin-like growth factor-I receptor. Methods are also provided for diagnosing cancer.