Abstract: A method of treating a subterranean formation including providing a well bore that includes a filter cake on at least a portion of the well bore and contacting at least a portion of the filter cake with a filter cake degradation fluid comprising a relative permeability modifier. The method also includes allowing the relative permeability modifier to retain at least a portion of the filter cake degradation fluid in the well bore for a time sufficient to contact the filtercake and allowing the filter cake to degrade.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and system of tracking real time use of I/O control blocks on a processing unit basis, in a multiprocessing system, such that in the case of a processing unit failure, a list accurately and concisely identifies the control blocks that need to be recovered. This eliminates the need to scan all the I/O control blocks, greatly reducing the overall system recovery time and minimizing impact to the rest of the running system. The preferred embodiment of the invention uses a task control block structure to record which I/O control blocks are in use by each Processing Unit. Also, the lock word structure defined in the I/O control blocks is provided with an index back into the task control block to facilitate managing the task control block entries.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new method for removing and recovering of acid gases from a gaseous mixture in an absorption plant by adding an organic acid to a stream of the rich absorbent in the desorber in order to release acid gas by shifting the acid gas equilibrium towards the gas side, and the organic acid is subsequently separated from the absorbent. With this method, the energy consumption of the process is substantially reduced. The invention also relates to an apparatus for performing this method.

Abstract: Methods for improving adhesion between a shape memory alloy and a polymeric material include functionalizing a surface of the shape memory polymer with a phosphorous containing compound or an organosilane coupling agent. Other methods include surface texturing the shape memory alloy surface, independently or in combination with the functionalization.

Abstract: Techniques and methods are used to control allocations to a higher level cache of cache lines displaced from a lower level cache. The allocations of the displaced cache lines are prevented for displaced cache lines that are determined to be redundant in the next level cache, whereby castouts are controlled. To such ends, a line is selected to be displaced in a lower level cache. Information associated with the selected line is identified which indicates that the selected line is present in a higher level cache. An allocation of the selected line in the higher level cache is prevented based on the identified information.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product provides the capability to compare data object definitions in a database in a less costly and less time-consuming manner than previous techniques. A method of comparing multiple versions of data item definitions in a database comprises generating a first version of comparison information relating to a plurality of data item definitions in the database by comparing information relating to data item definitions obtained from a first source and information relating to data item definitions obtained from a second source and generating a second version of comparison information relating to a plurality of data item definitions in the database by comparing information relating to data item definitions obtained from a first source and information relating to data item definitions obtained from a second source to the first version of comparison information.

Abstract: A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices may include clutches and brakes. Moreover, the torque transmitting devices are selectively engageable in combinations of at least four to establish at least ten forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member.

Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed for manipulating the tongue. An implant is positioned within at least a portion of the tongue and may be secured to other surrounding structures such as the mandible and/or hyoid bone. In general, the implant is manipulated to displace at least a portion of the posterior tongue in an anterior or lateral direction, or to alter the tissue tension or compliance of the tongue. Methods and devices are also disclosed for manipulating other soft tissue structures, including the soft palate and pharyngeal airway.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are generally, but not exclusively, related to the area of interactive auctions, particularly to interactive Internet-based auctions that may be simultaneously televised and where bidders may input bids over channels other than the Internet. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Abstract: In general, a method includes monitoring, by a personal access point, an amount of backhaul bandwidth available for multimedia and signaling communications by measuring a level of latency associated with existing multimedia and signaling communications.

Abstract: Methods for the fermentative production of four carbon alcohols is provided. Specifically, butanol, preferably isobutanol is produced by the fermentative growth of a recombinant bacterium expressing an isobutanol biosynthetic pathway.

Abstract: For combining light from different light sources that are spatially apart, an optical system comprises a prism assembly that comprises a totally-internally-surface and a dichroic filter. The totally-internally-surface and the dichroic filter are configured for reflecting light of different colors or polarizations, so as to combine light of different polarization or colors into a single beam.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a method and system for determining changes in a customer that have occurred between contact center visits. The invention is operable to compare data captured from a previous interaction and data captured from a current interaction and compare the two in order to determine if the customer has had any changes to their appearance or otherwise since their last contact center visit.

Abstract: A system for designing and ordering a stent graft is described. The system includes a user interface for designing and ordering the stent graft, and a centralised data processor remote from and in communication with the user interface for processing and storing entered information. The user interface further includes a selection portion for selecting a stent graft design and a design portion for entering a plurality of design parameters related to the stent graft design. A verification portion is also provided to verify details of a completed stent graft design with an ordering portion to order the completed stent graft design. In one embodiment the verification portion includes the capability to display a 3-dimensional view of the completed stent graft design.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for collecting network traffic information is arranged to receive network traffic elements including one or more key fields having respective key field values. The apparatus and method further classify received network traffic elements into one of a plurality of flows dependent on the key field value of one or more key fields defined by a flow profile. The method and apparatus are further configurable to vary the flow profile, create a flow record and export the flow record to a collecting node.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for simulating a distributed business process are disclosed. The methods and apparatus simulate an interdependent business process, such as a financial transaction system, in a secure distributed manner. Each business entity that is part of the interdependent business process models itself on a local client device at any chosen level of detail. A simulation server connects the separate client based simulations into one large simulation. Details of each local simulation may be hidden from other simulation participants. However, interruptions in business flow caused by simulated disruptions introduced at the simulation server and/or a client device are propagated to all of the effected simulation participants via the simulation server. In addition, if a client based model is not available, the server supplies a software agent to replace the inputs and outputs normally associated with that portion of the overall simulation.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of extracting infectious pathogens from a volume of blood including the steps of creating a fibrin aggregate confining the pathogens and introducing a fibrin lysis reagent to expose the pathogens for analysis. The fibrin lysis reagent is preferably composed of plasminogen and streptokinase frozen in coincident relation until the fibrin lysis reagent is needed whereby streptokinase enzymatically reacts with plasminogen to form plasmin upon thawing. The plasminogen is suspended in an aqueous salt solution prior to freezing including NaCl and Na3PO4.

Abstract: An optical intensity control system for use with an optical switch providing individual signal paths between input and output ports. The system has a optical splitters connectable to output multiplexers of the switch and also has variable optical intensity controllers (VOICs) for insertion into the individual signal paths. The VOICs individually control the intensity of optical signals present in the signal paths in accordance with intensity control signals. An equalizer is connected to the splitters and to the VOICs, for producing an estimate of the optical power of each individual switched optical signal and generating the intensity control signals. The equalizer is adapted to controllably isolate individual switched optical signals.

Abstract: Multiple communication types (e.g. chat, email, voice, etc.) are integrated into a call center. Embodiments can allow a single agent to handle multiple endpoints and multiple communication types. An agent user interface allows the agent to have control over accepting multiple communications and provides information to the agent about the communications and the customer. The agent can drag and drop canned responses, images, URLs, or other information into a window for immediate display on a customer's computer. The system also provides flexibility in transferring large amounts of historic and current data from one agent to another, and from storage to an active agent. The system also provides for “blending” of different communication types to provide a single interface to the agent.