Abstract: Exemplary aspects of the present invention are directed to a reconfigurable dolly that may include a base, one or more base plates, that may be removable from the base and nest within the base, and one or more caster wheels connected to the base to allow for movement of the reconfigurable dolly relative to the surface on which the reconfigurable dolly may be positioned. The base of the reconfigurable dolly may be configured to be coupled to a base receiving tube. The base receiving tube may be configured for telescoping receipt of a seat receiving tube. The seat receiving tube may be telescopically positionable within the base receiving tube. The seat receiving tube may be configured for receipt and retention of an adjustable seat.

Abstract: Exemplary aspects of the present invention are directed to a reconfigurable dolly that may include a base, one or more base plates, that may be removable from the base and nest within the base, and one or more caster wheels connected to the base to allow for movement of the reconfigurable dolly relative to the surface on which the reconfigurable dolly may be positioned. The base of the reconfigurable dolly may be configured to be coupled to a base receiving tube. The base receiving tube may be configured for telescoping receipt of a seat receiving tube. The seat receiving tube may be telescopically positionable within the base receiving tube. The seat receiving tube may be configured for receipt and retention of an adjustable seat.

Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method may include (1) receiving a set of control performance values and a set of modified performance values, (2) determining a set of comparative performance values based on the set of control performance values and the set of modified performance values, (3) generating a call graph based on the set of comparative performance values, the call graph including a set of nodes, each node corresponding to a function, the function corresponding to a particular comparative performance value included in the set of comparative performance values, and (b) a set of edges connecting the nodes based on relationships between the nodes, (4) weighting each node in accordance with the comparative performance value corresponding to the node, and (5) displaying the call graph via a user interface in accordance with the weighting of each node. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: A drinking bottle assembly includes a bottle having a cavity for storing a fluid and a neck that forms an opening at a dispensing end of the bottle. A removable collar at least partially covers the bottle neck and provides a generally smooth outer surface for a person's mouth and lips to contact when drinking from the bottle. The collar includes a neck attachment for retaining the collar on the bottle. A removable cap can be selectively attached to the collar for opening and closing the bottle.

Abstract: A drinking bottle assembly includes a bottle having a cavity for storing a fluid and a neck that forms an opening at a dispensing end of the bottle. A removable collar at least partially covers the bottle neck and provides a generally smooth outer surface for a person's mouth and lips to contact when drinking from the bottle. The collar includes a neck attachment for retaining the collar on the bottle. A removable cap can be selectively attached to the collar for opening and closing the bottle.

Abstract: Automatically characterizing a behavior of an object or objects by processing object data to obtain a data set that records a measured parameter set for each object over lime, providing a learning input that identifies when the measured parameter set of an object is associated with a behavior, processing the data set in combination with the learning input to determine which parameters of the parameter set over which range of respective values characterize the behavior; and sending information that identifies which parameters of the parameter set over which range of respective values characterize the behavior for use in a process that uses the characteristic parameters and their characteristic ranges to process second object data and automatically identify when the behavior occurs. Also disclosed is a method of tracking one or more objects.

Abstract: Method, apparatus and system embodiments to schedule user-level OS-independent “shreds” without intervention of an operating system. For at least one embodiment, the shred is scheduled for execution by a scheduler routine rather than the operating system. The scheduler routine resides in user space and may be part of a runtime library. The library may also include monitoring logic that monitors execution of a shredded program and provides scheduling hints, based on shred dependence information, to the scheduler. In addition, the scheduler may further optimize shred scheduling by taking into account information about a system's configuration of thread execution hardware. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adaptive and dynamic filtering of threaded programs. An embodiment of a method comprises analyzing the operation of a computer program, the computer program comprising a plurality of program threads; tracking overhead for the computer program; observing program events for the computer program; rationing overhead between program threads in inter-thread program events; and filtering program events based on a dynamic threshold.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an in situ method of screening a compound for pharmacological activity comprising the steps of detecting an initial pattern of neural activity in brain tissue, adding the compound to the brain tissue and detecting a resulting pattern of neural activity, and observing the pharmacological activity of the compound on neural activity by comparing the initial pattern of intracellular neural activity with the resulting pattern of neural activity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for critical path profiling of threaded programs that use messaging. An embodiment of a method includes creating a package slip for a message from a first program thread, the package slip containing information regarding the message, placing the package slip on a queue, the package slip being accessible to a second program thread, and sending the message from the first program thread.

Abstract: A manual planetary power transmission includes two planetary gearsets and three torque-transmitting synchronizer assemblies. Two of the synchronizer assemblies permit the control of one gear member of the planetary gearsets individually. The third synchronizer permits control of two of the planetary gear members individually or simultaneously. The three synchronizer assemblies are manipulable in combinations of three to provide six forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio in the planetary gearsets.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for profiling threaded programs is disclosed. The method may include monitoring information exchanged between a processing unit and first and second threads executed by the processing unit, determining a critical path of thread execution and determining a wait time during which the first thread awaits a synchronization event. The method may also include determining whether the wait time affects the critical path of thread execution and indicating that the wait time is of a high priority if the wait time affects the critical path of thread execution, and indicating that the wait time is of a low priority if the wait time does not affect the critical path of thread execution.

Abstract: Methods, including culture media conditions, which provide for in vitro human stem cell division and/or the optimization of human hematopoietic progenitor cell cultures and/or increasing the metabolism or GM-CSF secretion or IL-6 secretion of human stromal cells and/or a method for assaying the effect of a substance or condition on a human hematopoietic cell population, and/or depleting the malignant cell or T-cell and B-cell content of a human hematopoietic cell population are disclosed. The methods rely on culturing human stem cells and/or human hematopoietic progenitor cells and/or human stromal cells in a liquid culture medium which is replaced, preferably perfused, either continuously or periodically, at a rate of 1 ml of medium per ml of culture per about 24 to about 48 hour period, and removing metabolic products and replenishing depleted nutrients while maintaining the culture under physiologically acceptable conditions. Optionally, growth factors are added to the culture medium.

Abstract: Methods, including culture media conditions, which provide for in vitro human stem cell division and/or the optimization of human hematopoietic progenitor cell cultures and/or increasing the metabolism or GM-CSF secretion or IL-6 secretion of human stromal cells and/or a method for assaying the effect of a substance or condition on a human hematopoietic cell population, and/or depleting the malignant cell or T-cell and B-cell content of a human hematopoietic cell population are disclosed. The methods rely on culturing human stem cells and/or human hematopoietic progenitor cells and/or human stromal cells in a liquid culture medium which is replaced, preferably perfused, either continuously or periodically, at a rate of 1 ml of medium per ml of culture per about 24 to about 48 hour period, and removing metabolic products and replenishing depleted nutrients while maintaining the culture under physiologically acceptable conditions. Optionally, growth factors are added to the culture medium.

Abstract: Methods, including culture media conditions, which provide for in vitro human stem cell division and/or the optimization of human hematopoietic progenitor cell cultures and/or increasing the metabolism or GM-CSF secretion or IL-6 secretion of human stromal cells and/or a method for assaying the effect of a substance or condition on a human hematopoietic cell population, and/or depleting the malignant cell or T-cell and B-cell content of a human hematopoietic cell population are disclosed. The methods rely on culturing human stem cells and/or human hematopoietic progenitor cells and/or human stromal cells in a liquid culture medium which is replaced, preferably perfused, either continuously or periodically, at a rate of 1 ml of medium per ml of culture per about 24 to about 48 hour period, and removing metabolic products and replenishing depleted nutrients while maintaining the culture under physiologically acceptable conditions. Optionally, growth factors are added to the culture medium.

Abstract: An apparatus and related method are disclosed, for receiving, maintaining and growing biological cells ex vivo within a portable cassette, without exposing the cells to the external environment. The portable cassette is used in combination with a processor instrument that facilitates an initial inoculation of the cassette with cells of the kind to be grown and subsequently distributes those cells in a predetermined pattern (e.g., uniformly) throughout a cell growth chamber. Thereafter, the portable cassette is used in combination with an incubator instrument that incubates the cell growth chamber so that the cells are optimally expanded. The same processor instrument then is used to harvest the expanded cells from the portable cassette. Both instruments are configured to condition the portable cassette during stages of the cell growth process, without disturbing the cassette's sterile system.

Abstract: A portable cassette is disclosed, for receiving, maintaining and growing biological cells ex vivo, without exposing the cells to the external environment. The portable cassette is used in combination with a succession of instruments, to inoculate the cassette's cell growth chamber with cells, to then incubate the chamber so that the cells are optimally expanded, and finally to harvest the expanded cells. Each instrument is configured to condition the portable cassette during a stage of the cell growth process, without disturbing the cassette's sterile system. In addition, an updatable memory device associated with the cassette stores significant information about the cassette and its condition during the various steps of the cell growth process. Such information is useful both for subsequent archival purposes and for facilitating a resumption of the cell growth process in the event of any instrument failure or significant alarm condition.

Abstract: A processor apparatus is disclosed, for conditioning a portable cassette as part of a process in which biological cells contained within a sterilizable cell growth chamber of the cassette are maintained and grown ex vivo, without exposing the cells to the external environment. The processor apparatus includes a support configured to removably receive the portable cassette and to be movable in a controlled manner, and it further includes a flow control actuator engageable with a media flow path of the portable cassette, which communicates with the cell growth chamber.