Abstract: A telescoping slide assembly support system includes a stationary slide and a slide support coupled to the stationary slide and to a rack included in an equipment cabinet.

Abstract: Techniques and tools are described for creating and using application identifiers that act as “fingerprints” for applications. In one aspect, an identifier generation algorithm is applied to application data and an application identifier is generated. The application data comprises graphical icon data, and can further comprise other data (e.g., executable name, registry data). The identifier generation algorithm can be a hashing algorithm that generates a hash value. The application identifier can be sent in a database query, and a database can return results indicating, for example, whether metadata can be obtained from a metadata service, or whether the software application is of a particular type (e.g., a gaming-related application). Application identifiers can be stored, for example, in a data file along with one or more other application identifiers for other software applications. Described techniques and tools can be used in a graphical user interface-based gaming activity center.

Abstract: A system and method for small built-in antennas that can be incorporated into short range communication devices such as cordless headsets are disclosed. The antenna is a built-in bifurcated inverted F antenna. The antenna generally includes two signal radiating and receiving arms of substantially equal electrical length extending generally parallel to each other along a longitudinal length of the antenna, the arms defining an opening therebetween extending along the longitudinal length of the antenna, a signal component in communication with the two arms for transmitting and receiving signals between the two arms and a signal contact of the wireless communication device, and a grounding component in contact with a grounding plane for grounding the antenna. The antenna may include an extension sloped relative to the grounding plane and extending between the grounding component and the arms to minimize the profile of the antenna.

Abstract: Parental controls for entertainment digital media are provided that allow a parent to restrict multiple user's access to entertainment content. One or more updatable rating definition files with dynamic data are used to define rating levels and content descriptors for a regional rating system. Entertainment content definition files define the rating level and content descriptors for entertainment content. User permission settings define a particular user's access rating level and content descriptors. The rating definition file can be used to compare the entertainment content definition file and user permission settings in determining if a user is allowed access to particular entertainment content.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing distributed multiplexed bus interconnects are described. The multiplexed bus interconnect contains one or more multiplexers to route signals through the bus interconnect. An amount of signaling wiring present within a distributed multiplexed bus interconnect is optimized by eliminating individual signaling wires based upon whether an Intellectual Property core connected to the multiplexed bus interconnect transmits or receives signals from the distributed multiplexed bus interconnect.

Abstract: An insertion tool and method for easily inserting a guide wire into a guide wire lumen of a catheter, particularly a rapid exchange catheter, for use in an endoscope. The insertion tool includes a main body having a main lumen and a funnel-shaped extension having a funnel lumen that merges with the main lumen. The funnel lumen has a first large opening and a second smaller opening aligned with the guide wire lumen of the catheter such that, when the catheter is disposed in the main lumen, the guide wire may be easily inserted into the large opening of the funnel-shaped extension and into the guide wire lumen of the catheter. Also, a re-insertion tool and method for re-inserting a guide wire into a channel of a catheter. The re-insertion tool is particularly useful in combination with an endoscope and an SOE catheter disposed therein.

Abstract: Various technologies related to links to content are described. Links can be generated from data acquired via a network. A link can be presented as part of a graphical user interface as a canned message according to the link data. The links can be presented as part of a graphical user interface for an operating system shell. For example, appropriate links can accompany the representation of an application. When activated, the links present content relevant to the application. The techniques can be applied to computer games.

Abstract: A quick-mount support includes a fixed retainer adapted to extend into a first retainer aperture and a movable retainer having an arcuate slot and adapted to extend into a second retainer aperture. The quick-mount support further includes a pivotable actuator, apparatus for mounting the pivotable actuator for pivoting movement about an actuator pivot axis, and a driver coupled to the pivotable actuator and arranged to move in the arcuate slot in the movable retainer. Movable retainer pivots about the retainer pivot axis toward and away from the fixed retainer in response to pivoting movement of the pivotable actuator about the actuator pivot axis. In one illustrative embodiment, the mounting apparatus comprises an elastic, deformable O-ring for pivotally mounting the pivotable actuator about an anchor mount so that the actuator pivot axis can shift as the driver moves in the arcuate slot.

Abstract: A new type of transgene system is disclosed which allows efficient protein expression in a target host such as a plant, but avoids the undesirable result of the migration of the transgene into related host system and/or to the environment via the pollen. The methods described herein may also be applied to the expression of virtually any protein of interest (e.g. a toxic protein) in eukaryotic (yeast, insect, mammalian cells, etc.) and prokaryotic (E. coli, etc.) organisms.

Abstract: A surgical system or assembly for performing cardiac surgery includes a surgical instrument; a servo-mechanical system engaged to the surgical instrument for operating the surgical instrument; and an attachment assembly for removing at least one degree of movement from a moving surgical cardiac worksite to produce a resultant surgical cardiac worksite. The surgical system or assembly also includes a motion tracking system for gathering movement information on a resultant surgical cardiac worksite. A control computer is engaged to the attachment assembly and to the motion tracking system and to the servo-mechanical system for controlling movement of the attachment assembly and for feeding gathered information to the servo-mechanical system for moving the surgical instrument in unison with the resultant surgical cardiac worksite such that a relative position of the moving surgical instrument with respect to the resultant surgical cardiac worksite is generally constant.

Abstract: A method of distributing wide band data using a neutral-to-ground circuit within an electrical wiring installation includes modifying a load center with an interface module which interfaces to the neutral-to-ground circuit and configuring the interface module to compensate for varying impedance within the neutral-to-ground circuit to improve data transmission characteristics. Multiple embodiments are included within the method for compensation of varying impedance including channel sounding, spectral waterfilling, and communications using spread spectrum techniques, for example, frequency hopping and direct sequencing techniques.

Abstract: A method for the ligation of expressed proteins which utilizes inteins, for example the RIR1 intein from Methanobacterium thermotrophicum, is provided. Constructs of the Mth RIR1 intein in which either the C-terminal asparagine or N-terminal cysteine of the intein are replaced with alanine enable the facile isolation of a protein with a specified N-terminal, for example, cysteine for use in the fusion of two or more expressed proteins. The method involves the steps of generating a C-terminal thioester-tagged target protein and a second target protein having a specified N-terminal via inteins, such as the modified Mth RIR1 intein, and ligating these proteins. A similar method for producing a cyclic or polymerized protein is provided. Modified inteins engineered to cleave at their C-terminus or N-terminus, respectively, and DNA and plasmids encoding these modified inteins are also provided.

Abstract: A system, method and program storage device tangibly embodying a program of instructions for determining whether to allow transmission of data from a source destined for a destination over a network, comprising: acquiring a string of a predetermined length in bits (L) from the data; partitioning the acquired string into a partition of phrases, each of the phrases in the partition being unique and having one or more bits; determining a number of phrases (N) in the partition; estimating a normalized complexity (C) for the Kolmogorov Complexity in the acquired string via 1 C ≡ N 2 ⁢ L ;

Abstract: Hose coupling devices that securely connect an end of a hose to a fitting member using a retention mechanism operated by multi-threaded engagement of the fitting member with a collar member. The multi-threaded engagement also may operate a hose advancement mechanism. The advancement mechanism axially advances a hose during multi-threaded engagement so that the hose may be more effectively gripped by the retention mechanism.

Abstract: A system and method for network security analysis are provided, wherein points of high vulnerability in the network may be identified by evaluating the complexity of data in the network. Points of low complexity are determined to be highly vulnerable, while points of high complexity are determined to be less vulnerable.

Abstract: A combination carpenter square and bevel/sliding bevel having three triangle-shaped adjoining legs, with an articulating joint between the hypotenuse leg and each adjoining leg. The other two non-hypotenuse legs are capable of forming a substantially 90 degree angle between the two non-hypotenuse legs to function as a carpenter's square. At least one of the articulating joints at the hypotenuse leg is capable of tightening and loosening. The hypotenuse leg also consists of a slot positioned longitudinally of the hypotenuse leg. The tightening and loosening articulated joint joins the hypotenuse leg with an adjacent non-hypotenuse leg through the slot, which allows the adjacent non-hypotenuse leg movement about the joint relative to the hypotenuse leg to function as a bevel. The articulated joints allow the combination square and bevel/sliding bevel to be folded into a compact shape.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer readable medium for managing a financial transaction of a user at a merchant, including authenticating the user via a device of the user while the user is at the merchant; transmitting activation information for activating a reusable, pre-existing, unaltered and permanent credit or debit card account number of the user from the user device to a financial institution for processing financial transactions, while the user is authenticated; submitting a payment request including the account number to the financial institution from the merchant, while the account number is activated; and de-activating the account number after the payment request is processed by the financial institution. The financial institution only accepts and processes payment requests received from merchants while the account number is activated, and the financial institution declines payment requests while the account number is de-activated.

Abstract: The invention provides improved methods using trehalose for preparing and cooking meat. More particularly, it provides for the addition of trehalose to uncooked meat to obtain decreased shrinkage during cooking. In addition, it provides for the addition of trehalose to increase the meat's liquid retention during cooking. Specific benefits include the ability to increase the meat's water retention and fat retention during cooking. The invention provides certain levels of trehalose concentration. It also provides certain combinations of trehalose, salt, and sodium phosphate. Furthermore, it provides for trehalose usage without the addition of starch.

Abstract: A virtual hard drive (VHD) file manager system for a virtualized logical server cloud including a master repository and a VHD file manager. The VHD interfaces virtualization software and a server cloud manager to manage VHDs for logical servers of the server cloud. The master repository stores multiple master component files associated with the stored VHDs. The master component files include at least one core file and at least one delta file. The VHD file manager enables copying of the master component files to deploy VHDs in the server cloud, manages creation and storing of new delta files and corresponding VHDs in the master repository, and generates and maintains meta information to maintain file relationship integrity.