Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a device with shared hardware resources to provide separate execution environments for control and data functions are disclosed. A processor may be configured to generate a first request to access control functions of the device in response to execution of a first thread, and generate a second request to access data functions of the device in response to execution of a second thread. A communication unit may send first indicative of the first request and second data indicative of the second request to the device via first and second ports, respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a device with shared hardware resources to provide separate execution environments for control and data functions are disclosed. A processor may be configured to generate a first request to access control functions of the device in response to execution of a first thread, and generate a second request to access data functions of the device in response to execution of a second thread. A communication unit may send first indicative of the first request and second data indicative of the second request to the device via first and second ports, respectively.

Abstract: A sealant having a specific gravity in the range of from about 0.7 to about 1.6 for heavy oil and/or coal bed methane fields is disclosed. The sealant has a binder including an oxide or hydroxide of Al or of Fe and a phosphoric acid solution. The binder may have MgO or an oxide of Fe and/or an acid phosphate. The binder is present from about 20 to about 50% by weight of the sealant with a lightweight additive present in the range of from about 1 to about 10% by weight of said sealant, a filler, and water sufficient to provide chemically bound water present in the range of from about 9 to about 36% by weight of the sealant when set. A porous ceramic is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for recovering and purifying refolded heparin binding proteins produced in heterologous host cells includes the step of incubation of the solubilized protein with a polyanionic species such as dextran sulfate.

Abstract: A sealant having a specific gravity in the range of from about 0.7 to about 1.6 for heavy oil and/or coal bed methane fields is disclosed. The sealant has a binder including an oxide or hydroxide of Al or of Fe and a phosphoric acid solution. The binder may have MgO or an oxide of Fe and/or an acid phosphate. The binder is present from about 20 to about 50% by weight of the sealant with a lightweight additive present in the range of from about 1 to about 10% by weight of said sealant, a filler, and water sufficient to provide chemically bound water present in the range of from about 9 to about 36% by weight of the sealant when set. A porous ceramic is also disclosed.

Abstract: A hand-held colorimetric device (101) suitable for use by blind or colour-blind individuals to determine the colour of a surface-under-test (SUT), for example of a fabric, has an aperture (110) which, in use, is covered by the SUT (113) whose colour is to be determined. Six LEDs (115A, 115B, 116B, 117A and 117B) arranged in pairs (115A/115B, 116A/116 B, 117a/117B) emitting red/orange, green, and blue light illuminate the SUT and diffuse reflections therefrom containing red/orange, green, and blue spectrum sample values are used to determine the luminous reflectivity and chromaticity values for the colour of the SUT. The measured values are compared with colorimetric values of reference surfaces to determine the colour of the SUT. The colorimetric device may output the name of the colour aurally.

Abstract: The system provides an automated, centralized back-end payroll service with a full-featured web-based payroll system. Both aspects of the system have access to a central database, including: profile information on employers and employees; timesheet, salary and hourly wage data; overtime data; employee benefit data; and information regarding third-party providers and miscellaneous payees.

Abstract: The system provides an automated, centralized back-end payroll service with a full-featured web-based payroll system. Both aspects of the system have access to a central database, which includes, for example: profile information on employers and employees; timesheet, salary and hourly wage data; overtime data; employee benefit data; and information regarding third-party providers and miscellaneous payees. The full-featured payroll system functionality is implemented in a manner that provides employers and employees (to the extent security policies permit) with a robust, data-driven user interface via a standard web browser. The central database provides the system's back-end (server-side) payroll service functionality with constant access to the data.

Abstract: A process is described for purifying plasmid DNA from prokaryotic cells comprised thereof. This process comprises the steps of: (a) digesting the cells; (b) incubating the cells for about 4 to 24 hours to effect lysis and solubilization thereof, without effecting enzymatic digestion of RNA; (c) removing lysate contaminants from the cells to provide a plasmid DNA solution; (d) filtering the solution through a tangential flow filtration device to obtain a retentate containing the plasmid DNA; and (e) collecting the retentate.

Abstract: Electrical contact device such as a terminal or a contact surface, has electrodeposited nickel thereon. The crystallites of the nickel are preferentially oriented with at least 50 percent of the volume {100} atomic planes substantially parallel to the contact surface. For many purposes, the preferentially oriented nickel surface is comparable to a gold plated contact surface.

Abstract: A method for the production of an article suitable as a circuit element is formed by admixing vanadium dioxide or doped vanadium dioxide with a binder of vanadium pentoxide and phosphorus pentoxide then heating and shaping the admixture into a shape.

Abstract: A polyconductor device is connected in series with a pair of current carrying contacts of a relay switch to delay the current surge through the contacts during the closure thereof. The polyconductor device has a negative temperature-resistance characteristic such that its electrical resistance value at temperatures below a predetermined transition temperature is at least several orders of magnitude larger than its resistance value at temperatures above the transition temperature. When the contacts are initially closed, only a small electric current passes through the polyconductor device which is in its high resistance state. After a predetermined time, the current heats the device to a critical temperature at which time polyconductor device switches to its low resistance state and the current flows essentially unimpeded thereby. During the heat-up time the contacts of the relay switch have completed bouncing and are in a stable, closed condition.

Abstract: An article suitable as a circuit element is formed by admixing vanadium dioxide or doped vanadium dioxide with a binder of vanadium pentoxide and phosphorous pentoxide then heating and pressing the admixture into a shape.