Abstract: Disclosed herein are a method and system for distributing funds associated with a game. The method receives a plurality of requests to enter the game and processes each request to issue a corresponding ticket in the game. Each ticket is associated with a donation to a selected charity and a pledge amount. The method determines a total pool of funds derived from the tickets and determines a winning ticket of the game from the plurality of tickets issued in response to the requests. The method then distributes the total pool of funds between a charity pool and a prize pool, dependent upon the donations and the pledge amount associated with the winning ticket.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a method and system for distributing funds associated with a game. The method receives a plurality of requests to enter the game and processes each request to issue a corresponding ticket in the game. Each ticket is associated with a donation to a selected charity and a pledge amount. The method determines a total pool of funds derived from the tickets and determines a winning ticket of the game from the plurality of tickets issued in response to the requests. The method then distributes the total pool of funds between a charity pool and a prize pool, dependent upon the donations and the pledge amount associated with the winning ticket.

Abstract: A battery cell design is disclosed that provides a predictable pathway through a portion of the cell (e.g., the cell cap assembly) for the efficient release of the thermal energy that occurs during thermal runaway, thereby reducing the chances of a rupture in an undesirable location. Furthermore the disclosed design maintains the functionality of the cell cap as the positive terminal of the cell, thereby having minimal impact on the manufacturability of the cell as well as its use in a variety of applications.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a method, system, and computer program product for conducting a lottery in conjunction with a communications network. The method conducts a lottery tournament among a plurality of entries, wherein each entry is associated with ticketing information, including a gaming token. In particular, the method organises a tournament draw among the plurality of entries, wherein the tournament draw provides a schedule of knockout matches for the entries. The schedule includes a plurality of rounds of matches, each match being a contest between a plurality of the entries. For each round of matches, the method determines a winner for each match in the round, based on a predefined gaming algorithm and the gaming tokens. Each determined winner proceeds to a subsequent round of matches in the schedule, and the method identifies a winner of a final round match of the schedule as a winner of the lottery tournament.

Abstract: A method of detecting and classifying mental states, comprising the steps of: detecting bio-signals from one or more than one bio-signal detector; transforming the bio-signals into one or more than one different representations; detecting values of one or more than one property of the transformed bio-signal representations; and applying one or more than one mental state detection algorithm to the detected properties in order to classify whether the bio-signals indicate the presence of a predetermined response by a subject.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring one or more components of a wireless communication network. Preferably, an alarm system is linked to one or more components of a wireless communication network to determine whether the one or more components have been tampered with, removed or otherwise disabled. The monitored component can be a ground system in a cellular telephone network. The alarm system can include at least one conductive path linked to a ground bar of a ground system in a cellular telephone network such that if the ground bar is removed from the cellular telephone network the at least one conductive path is severed thereby generating an alarm signal. The alarm signal may take the form of an audible alarm (e.g., a horn), a visual alarm (e.g., flashing lights) and/or a signal transmitted to a monitoring station indicating that the ground bar has been removed and the equipment at the tower site is now vulnerable to lighting strikes.

Abstract: A graphical user interface on a computer provides for the analysis of location specific data and the presentation of analysis results for visual comparison by a user. Results of the analysis are visually presented as icons subdivided into regions and arranged in such a way that the user is able to associate each icon with a data location. A visual presentation of results in the icons and regions allows a user to visually compare the analysis results in two or more data sets according to location. The graphical user interface further provides for the definition and adjustment of an analysis through the interaction of a user with a graphical representation of the analysis. In some cases, the visual presentation of results tracks the analysis adjustments so the user can visually observe the effects that the adjustments have on the results. A method of interacting with the interface to define an analysis and represent results and a method of presenting two or more data sets using the interface are described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring one or more components of a wireless communication network. Preferably, an alarm system is linked to one or more components of a wireless communication network to determine whether the one or more components have been tampered with, removed or otherwise disabled. The monitored component can be a ground system in a cellular telephone network. The alarm system can include at least one conductive path linked to a ground bar of a ground system in a cellular telephone network such that if the ground bar is removed from the cellular telephone network the at least one conductive path is severed thereby generating an alarm signal. The alarm signal may take the form of an audible alarm (e.g., a horn), a visual alarm (e.g., flashing lights) and/or a signal transmitted to a monitoring station indicating that the ground bar has been removed and the equipment at the tower site is now vulnerable to lighting strikes.

Abstract: A biochemical sensor apparatus having an optical radiation source, a sensor array, and a photodetector array is disclosed. Each sensor of the sensor array includes fluorophores for fluorescence (generating response radiation) when mixed with analytes of interest and exposed to stimulus radiation. An array of photodetectors, such as a CMOS imaging array is used to detect the response radiation. The detected response radiation is converted to digital values and the digital values used to analyze various properties of the analytes present in the sensors.

Abstract: Low molecular weight polypeptides with chemokine activity were conjugated to water-soluble polymers and retain biological activity. These conjugated chemokines demonstrate enhanced and unexpected biological properties when compared to unconjugated chemokines.

Abstract: A switch fabric for switching data traffic according to a plurality of links. The data traffic may convey audio information, video information, or any other type of information. The switch fabric includes input, output and at least one intermediate stages, each stage including a plurality of switching elements. The switching elements of the input and output stages respectively have external input and output ports. The switch fabric further includes a switch fabric controller. The switch fabric controller includes a link database including information about the plurality of links. The switch fabric controller is operative to search the link database to identify symmetrical links and to establish internal pathways between the input stage and the output stage through the at least one intermediate stage, wherein at least two symmetrical links identified by the searching are realized using a common switching element of the at least one intermediate stage.

Abstract: A grain threshing device (10) comprising a receptacle (12) or receiving a portion of crop head. The receptacle (12) has a plurality of longitudinal ribs (30) on inner surfaces. One or more flexible arm members (28) are arranged on a rotating shaft (22) within the receptacle (12) such that the flexible arm members (28) strike the ribs (30) during rotation. The action of the flexible arm members (28) and ribs (30) on the crop head within the receptacle (12) separates the grain from the crop head.

Abstract: A USB host in one form comprises a plurality of endpoints and a state machine operable to queue user requests of multiple USB devices connectable to the host, host endpoints being dynamically allocated to corresponding endpoints of the USB devices. An exemplary method comprises, while a USB host is connected to multiple USB devices, allocating one or more host endpoints to corresponding endpoints on a USB device connected to the host; at least partially completing a user request between the one USB device and the USB host; re-allocating the host endpoints to corresponding endpoints of another USB device; and at least partially completing a user request between the other USB device and the host.

Abstract: A closure tool (10, 40) for closing heavy-duty clips (11) as used for example in the building trade and in agriculture has a body (13), a pair of handles (14) mounted on the body (13) on pivots (15) and a pair of anvils (18, 20) movable relative to each other from a spaced position to closure position in response to relative movement of the handles (14) and the body (13). A moving member (17) is engaged by the handles (14) and is movable therewith, and one of the anvils (18) is connected to and movable with the moving member (17). The handles (14) may have spigots (44) engaged in a slot (43) in a cylindrical moving member (17) in a barrel part (41) of the body (13), or each handle (14) may have a quadrant shaped first gear engaging a rack second gear moving member slidably mounted in the body.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed toward an optical excitation/detection device that includes an arrayed plurality of photodetectors and separately formed photoemitters, as well as a method for making such a device. A CMOS fabricated photodetector array including a plurality of individual photoreceptors is selectively etched back between photoreceptor locations to reveal a plurality of recessed regions having a certain geographic profile. A plurality of semiconductor blocks, each having light emitting capability and each having a certain geometric profile that is complementary in size and shape to the certain geometric profile of the recessed regions, are separately fabricated. These blocks are included within a fluid to form a slurry. The slurry is then flowed over the CMOS fabricated photodetector array in accordance with a fluidic self-assembly technique, and the included semiconductor blocks are individually deposited within each of the plurality of recessed regions in the CMOS fabricated photodetector array.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for variable document printing are disclosed in which a graphical user interface is configured to allow user manipulation of layout rules associated with content containers within a template for variable document generation. One method involves creating a layout for a variable data document based upon a template. The method firstly sets at least one container in the template to form the layout, and then establishes at least one constraint associated with each selected one of at least one feature of the container, the establishing including, for each feature, detecting a user instigated selection of the corresponding feature. The layout is then modified to thereby generate the document by placing content into the containers, wherein at least one dimension of the least one container and/or a position of the at least one container in the layout are varied based on a property of the placed content on a condition that each constraint in the layout is satisfied.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed toward an optical excitation/detection device that includes an arrayed plurality of photodetectors and discrete photoemitters, as well as a method for making such a device. A CMOS fabricated photodetector array includes an arrayed plurality of photoreceptor areas and photoemitter areas, wherein each photoreceptor area includes a CMOS integrated photoreceptor and each photoemitter area includes at least two buried electric contact pads. The CMOS array is selectively etched back at the locations of the photoemitter areas for regions to reveal the buried contact pads. A plurality of discrete semiconductor photoemitter devices (such as, for example, light emitting diodes) are inserted into, and mechanically retained within, the regions of the CMOS fabricated photodetector array.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed toward an optical excitation/detection device that includes an arrayed plurality of photodetectors and separately formed photoemitters, as well as a method for making such a device. A CMOS fabricated photodetector array including a plurality of individual photoreceptors is selectively etched back between photoreceptor locations to reveal a plurality of recessed regions having a certain geographic profile. A plurality of semiconductor blocks, each having light emitting capability and each having a certain geometric profile that is complementary in size and shape to the certain geometric profile of the recessed regions, are separately fabricated. These blocks are included within a fluid to form a slurry. The slurry is then flowed over the CMOS fabricated photodetector array in accordance with a fluidic self-assembly technique, and the included semiconductor blocks are individually deposited within each of the plurality of recessed regions in the CMOS fabricated photodetector array.