Abstract: Embodiments of an isolator are provided. In one embodiment, the isolator includes a damper housing having a radially-extending partition wall through which a central opening is formed. First and second hydraulic chambers are located on opposing sides of the radially-extending partition wall and may be filled with a damping fluid. At least one restricted orifice is formed through the damper housing and fluidly couples the first and second hydraulic chambers. The isolator further includes a damper piston, which extends through the central opening, which is exposed to the damping fluid when the first and second hydraulic chambers are filled therewith, and which is configured to translate along the working axis with respect to the damper housing during operation of the isolator.

Abstract: Method and system for processing a page-image based input document such as PDF and generate output documents, in a page-image based format or another format, which have a different layout than the original document. Certain contents in the original document removed and other contents are reorganized in this process. The method is used to re-target documents for different types of display devices, such as desktop and laptop computers, tablet computers, e-readers, smart phones, etc. When generating the output documents, the method takes into consideration the different form factors of the display devices as well as the different types of user input devices and methods such as touch screen (including different gestures used, whether stylus or finger is used for input, etc.), physical keyboard, mouse, etc. used by the targeted display device, so that each output documents is optimized for a particular type of display device.

Abstract: Embodiments of a fluid damper are provided, as are embodiments of an Auxiliary Power Unit inlet system including a fluid damper. In one embodiment, the fluid damper includes a housing assembly containing first and second hydraulic chambers, which are fluidly coupled by way of a flow passage. A plunger is slidably disposed within the housing assembly and is moves through a range of translational positions in response to variations in damping fluid pressure when the fluid damper is filled with damping fluid. An annulus or other restricted flow path is fluidly coupled between the first and second hydraulic chambers and is at least partially defined by the flow passage and the plunger. The restricted flow path has at least one dimension, such as a length, that varies in conjunction with the translational position of the plunger.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for vibration damping and isolation. The apparatus includes an annular spring portion including a resilient member that is substantially equally resilient in two dimensions, an annular bellows portion including at least two pairs of diametrically opposed bellows providing damping in the two dimensions, and a rigid connection member coupling the annular spring portion and the annular bellow portion in parallel to one another.

Abstract: Embodiments of a gas turbine engine are provided, as are embodiments of an annular bearing support damper and embodiments of a method for manufacturing an annular bearing support damper. In one embodiment, the gas turbine engine includes engine housing and a rotor assembly disposed within the engine housing. A rotor bearing supports the rotor assembly within the engine housing, and an annular bearing support damper is positioned between the rotor bearing and the engine housing. The support damper includes an annular housing assembly having a damping fluid annulus. An array of circumferentially-spaced damper pistons is movably coupled to the annular housing assembly and fluidly communicates with the damping fluid annulus. The damper pistons are fixedly coupled to the rotor bearing and moves in conjunction therewith to force the flow of damping fluid around the annulus during engine operation to reduce the transmissions of vibrations to the engine housing.

Abstract: Embodiments of a fluid damper are provided, as are embodiments of an Auxiliary Power Unit inlet system including a fluid damper. In one embodiment, the fluid damper includes a housing assembly containing first and second hydraulic chambers, which are fluidly coupled by way of a flow passage. A plunger is slidably disposed within the housing assembly and is moves through a range of translational positions in response to variations in damping fluid pressure when the fluid damper is filled with damping fluid. An annulus or other restricted flow path is fluidly coupled between the first and second hydraulic chambers and is at least partially defined by the flow passage and the plunger. The restricted flow path has at least one dimension, such as a length, that varies in conjunction with the translational position of the plunger.

Abstract: A method for automating the management and interpretation of digital documents and their rights metadata to generate user access of a document protected by digital rights management (DRM), comprising the steps of a server obtaining a digital document and its associated rights metadata, the server interpreting the metadata to ascertain DRM useful information including identifications (IDs) of the document and its users and associated digital rights, and the server generating entries for a DRM database including policies associated with the document ID and users IDs based on the ascertained DRM useful information to enable DRM protection to the document.

Abstract: A method and system for managing print job through a process carried out by an online web-store server. The process includes the steps of receiving a print job order by a web-store server, and checking a remote cache via a network to determine whether a PDF file is stored therein. If the matching PDF file does not exist, then the server generates a new PDF file containing the sequence of articles and transmits the new PDF file to the print server, and saves the new PDF file in the remote cache. If the matching PDF exists, then the stored PDF is retrieved from the remote cache, and the print server uses the retrieved PDF file to print the print job without the web-store server creating the new PDF file or transmitting the new PDF file to the print server.

Abstract: A method for manipulating digital files, including the steps of processing all pages of a document from a remote server to generate page images for online displaying of the images, displaying a preview of the page images of the document on a local computer connected to the remote server via a network, temporarily saving information of a user modification, changing only the preview of the page images on the local computer according to the user modification without modifying the document itself on the remote server, and if the modification is confirmed, retrieving the saved information of the user modification and modifying the document according to the user modification.

Abstract: A method for managing the access and use of digital files stored in a file storage networked with multiple servers, including the steps of: a requesting server among the multiple servers that desires to access and use a file stored in the file storage sending to the other servers of the multiple servers a query containing an identification (ID) of the file; each of the other servers receiving the query checking an internal lock list to ascertain whether the file ID is listed therein, if listed then returning a failure message to the requesting server, but if not listed then returning a success message to the requesting server; and the requesting server determining from all returning messages whether a failure message exists, if exists then not to access and use the file, and sending repeated queries at a predetermined time interval, but if not exist then access and use the file, and sending a notice to all other servers when finishing using the file.

Abstract: A method for managing user access of a document protected by digital rights management (DRM), includes the steps of a server checking whether a user who is attempting to access a DRM-protected document has necessary rights to access the document, the server denying the user's access to the document if the user does not have the necessary rights to access the document, the server providing, if the user does not have the necessary rights to access the document, the user with an instant and pre-prepared prompt containing a unique identification (ID) of the document to direct and assist the user to complete required tasks for acquiring rights to the document, and upon completion of the required tasks by the user, the server granting the necessary rights to the user to access the document.

Abstract: The present invention provides a quantitative, automated system and method for assessing the correlation level of two rendered images, thereby removing subjectivity from such evaluation. The objective metric of the present invention determines whether two static images are correlated enough to be undetectable by a human observer. The performance of this method is optimized based upon the capabilities and limitations of the human visual system. Therefore, the resulting assessments are not overly sensitive and reduce the resources required to assess rendered images within a networked simulation environment. Additionally, the simplicity of the method lends itself to implementation within existing and emerging simulation systems with relatively little effort compared to current assessment methods. The system and method of the present invention provide benefits to multiple organizations, such as those engaged in human-in-the-loop simulators, distributed learning, and training applications.

Abstract: Resilient aircraft engine mounts and mounting systems including the same are provided. A resilient aircraft engine mount comprises a base and a pair of opposed spiral springs in parallel forming a clevis with the base. A first spiral spring of the pair of opposed spiral springs has a first center opening extending therethrough. A second spiral spring of the pair of opposed spiral springs has a second center opening extending therethrough that is concentric with the first center opening for accepting a clevis pin. First and second spiral springs are each comprised of a rectangular cross section beam. The resilient aircraft engine mount is tunable in three translational axes to support three degrees of freedom vibration isolation. Two or more resilient aircraft engine mounts provide six degrees of freedom vibration isolation. Resilient aircraft engine mounts attach the aircraft engine to a pylon structure and help isolate vibratory forces.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for the treatment, prevention, or reduction of persistent infections, such as chronic infections, latent infections, and slow infections and cancer. The methods and compositions of the invention are also useful for the alleviation of one or more symptoms associated with such infections and cancer.

Abstract: Launch lock assemblies with reduced preload are provided. The launch lock assembly comprises first and second mount pieces, a releasable clamp device, and a pair of retracting assemblies. Each retracting assembly comprises a pair of toothed members having interacting toothed surfaces. The releasable clamp device normally maintains the first and second mount pieces in clamped engagement. When the releasable clamp device is actuated, the first and second mount pieces are released from clamped engagement and one toothed member of each retracting assembly moves in an opposite direction relative to the other one toothed member of the other retracting assembly to define an axial gap on each side of the first mount piece.

Abstract: Embodiments of a launch lock assembly are provided, as are embodiments of a spacecraft isolation system including one or more launch lock assemblies. In one embodiment, the launch lock assembly includes first and second mount pieces, a releasable clamp device, and an axial gap amplification device. The releasable clamp device normally maintains the first and second mount pieces in clamped engagement; and, when actuated, releases the first and second mount pieces from clamped engagement to allow relative axial motion therebetween. The axial gap amplification device normally residing in a blocking position wherein the gap amplification device obstructs relative axial motion between the first and second mount pieces. The axial gap amplification device moves into a non-blocking position when the first and second mount pieces are released from clamped engagement to increase the range of axial motion between the first and second mount pieces.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for the treatment, prevention, or reduction of persistent infections, such as chronic infections, latent infections, and slow infections and cancer. The methods and compositions of the invention are also useful for the alleviation of one or more symptoms associated with such infections and cancer.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed including receiving, by circuitry of a computer, physiological data comprising physiological information gathered by a physiological sensor regarding a subject, the subject having physiological reactions to an event that is external to the subject, wherein at least one of the physiological data also comprises a first time at which the physiological data was recorded, wherein the first time is based on a global reference time frame; receiving non-physiological data comprising information regarding the external event, wherein at least one of the non-physiological data also comprises a second time at which the non-physiological data was recorded, wherein the second time is based on the global reference time frame; correlating the physiological data with the non-physiological data based on the first and second times; and generating physiological reaction data indicative of a physiological reaction of the subject to the external event.

Abstract: A method and related computer program product for customizing price-related options for printing a compilation of works, including the steps of: compiling the compilation of works; setting different options for customers to print the compilation of works with different prices; and allowing a customer to change one or more of the options to print the compilation of works with a price based on the customer's needs and budget.

Abstract: A system and program implement a process for allowing users of third party vendors to access print shop applications without separate authentication. The process includes the steps of creating a query-string having identification information of a third party vendor and authentication information of a user of the third party vendor. The query-string is created in response to the user's access to the third party vendor's web-site, and is contained in an inline frame and encrypted. Upon receiving the encrypted query-string sent from a third party vendor server to a print shop server, the query-string is decrypted. It is then determined whether the user has an existing account on the print shop server. If the user has an existing account, the user is automatically logged into the print shop server so that the user may access and use any print-on-demand applications on the print shop server without manually inputting user authentication information on the print shop server.