Abstract: System, method, and apparatus for providing access to remote computing services are described. The method includes authenticating a user and a client device; establishing a connection to a server computer including: a server program executing on the server computer detecting the connection; the server program creating a blocking process on the server computer to block access of the user to a service on the connection, authorizing, using a client program executing on the client device and the server program, the user to use the service on the server computer including: terminating the blocking process, the user using the service; and the user closing the connection to the server computer. Embodiments of the present invention provide secure remote access to computing services.

Abstract: A centralized social network tool is configured to interface with and integrates into one or more videogames and/or videogame series. The social network tool may be integral to the theme of the games and be pervasive within game play. The social network may drive progression of the story and interaction between characters. According to another aspect of the invention, the members of the social network may include actual members (corresponding to real people) and virtual members (e.g., artificial intelligence controlled bot members). The virtual members may be part of the social network and may interact with real members within and outside of the game as part of the theme of the game.

Abstract: A system and method are configured to provide a videogame to one or more players. The videogame may involve a series of different virtual geographic locations at which players perform activities. A group of players may be associated with each location. The players may include virtual players controlled by artificial intelligence and one or more real world players. Players may progress through the videogame by moving from location to location, performing objectives at the various locations, and interacting with the players at the locations.

Abstract: A cat litter box having a side wall defining an interior and a bottom surface within the interior formed from a main door and multiple secondary doors which form on opening. Each door includes a slat connected below the slatted edge on an underside thereof traveling most of a length of the slatted edge, and the doors are hingedly attached to the side wall of the housing. Provided is a means for manipulating the main door upwards and downwards such that the main free edge can be pushed against the slat of an adjacent one of the secondary doors to provide a downward force against each the secondary door to reveal the opening. In this manner, any contained soiled litter can periodically be dumped and the contents removed, resulting in an easy-to-use, sanitary cat litter box system.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for controlling an electronic device. The method includes detecting a gesture on a touch-sensitive input mechanism of the electronic device, the gesture comprising an origin point and an end point, and executing a command associated with the gesture, the command comprising a back command if the end point is located left of the origin point with respect to an orientation of the electronic device or comprising a forward command if the end point is located right of the origin point with respect to the orientation of the electronic device, wherein a dedicated non-gesture input mechanism to input the command is absent from the electronic device.

Abstract: A centralized social network tool is configured to interface with and integrates into one or more videogames and/or videogame series. The social network tool may be integral to the theme of the games and be pervasive within game play. The social network may drive progression of the story and interaction between characters. According to another aspect of the invention, the members of the social network may include actual members (corresponding to real people) and virtual members (e.g., artificial intelligence controlled bot members). The virtual members may be part of the social network and may interact with real members within and outside of the game as part of the theme of the game.

Abstract: A blade for a turbomachine extends in use, in a radial direction relative to the axis of the turbomachine. The turbomachine has at least one operating condition which generates supersonic fluid flow at the blade. The blade is adapted to provide, at the supersonic operating condition, a leading edge sweep angle which varies such that successive radial positions (i) to (iii) along the leading edge are at respective sweep angle turning points. Position (i) is the radially inner and position (iii) the radially outer of the positions. Position (i) is at or radially outward of the 30% span position, where 0% span is the radially innermost point of the leading edge and 100% span is the radially outermost point of the leading edge.

Abstract: The present technology provides a method, system and computer program product for managing the synchronization of a mobile electronic device, wherein management and adjustment of the synchronization process can be provided at least in part on a session by session basis. The synchronization process may be configurable via a user interface. Aspects of the user interface, such as prompts or degree of user configurability, may be adjusted depending on one or more factors, such as link effective speed or expected synchronization time.

Abstract: A processing device may generate a data encryption key configured to encrypt unique data within a clone of an encrypted data set and associated with a set of transaction identifiers of a transaction based file system. The processing device may further wrap the data encryption key with a wrapping key, create a cloned encrypted data set with the data encryption key, and store the wrapped data encryption key with the cloned encrypted data set indexed by at least one of the set of transaction identifiers.

Abstract: A system and method are configured to provide a videogame to one or more players. The videogame may involve a series of different virtual geographic locations at which players perform activities. A group of players may be associated with each location. The players may include virtual players controlled by artificial intelligence and one or more real world players. Players may progress through the videogame by moving from location to location, performing objectives at the various locations, and interacting with the players at the locations.

Abstract: A centralized social network tool is configured to interface with and integrates into one or more videogames and/or videogame series. The social network tool may be integral to the theme of the games and be pervasive within game play. The social network may drive progression of the story and interaction between characters. According to another aspect of the invention, the members of the social network may include actual members (corresponding to real people) and virtual members (e.g., artificial intelligence controlled bot members). The virtual members may be part of the social network and may interact with real members within and outside of the game as part of the theme of the game.

Abstract: A manually operable hand tool for installing laminate flooring includes an elongated shaft and a base member statically connected to the elongated shaft and including a downwardly averted shoulder spaced from a distal end of the shaft. A first handle is slidably engaged with the shaft, and a stop member is statically affixed to the distal end of the shaft. A second handle is connected to the base member and extends upwardly from a top surface thereof. Such a second handle is forwardly offset at an oblique angle biased towards the averted shoulder and is securely welded to the base member for providing an additional gripping surface seated above the base member for applying additional weight to the base member during installation procedures.

Abstract: A blade for a turbomachine extends in use, in a radial direction relative to the axis of the turbomachine. The turbomachine has at least one operating condition which generates supersonic fluid flow at the blade. The blade is adapted to provide, at the supersonic operating condition, a leading edge sweep angle which varies such that successive radial positions (i) to (iii) along the leading edge are at respective sweep angle turning points. Position (i) is the radially inner and position (iii) the radially outer of the positions. Position (i) is at or radially outward of the 30% span position, where 0% span is the radially innermost point of the leading edge and 100% span is the radially outermost point of the leading edge.

Abstract: A process for preparing a compound of formula (A), (B) or (C): wherein P is H, CH3 or a hydroxyl protecting group; X is O, a protected ketone, OH, a protected hydroxyl group or H; Y is OH, a protected hydroxyl group or H; W is C(CH3)OH, C(CH3)(C(CH3)3)OH or COCH3; Z is C2-C10 alkyl or C2-C10 arylalkyl; and ? is a single bond or a double bond, is disclosed. The process is a reductive alkylation in the presence of hydrogen and a reductive alkylation catalyst.

Abstract: This invention relates to intermediates useful in the preparation of opiate alkaloids, particularly morphinane compounds. The invention also relates to processes for preparing such intermediates and to processes which utilise such intermediates in the synthesis of morphinane compounds.

Abstract: A method for separating and isolating a target chromosome from a cellular sample by using a DNA probe with a fluorescein tag. Magnetic beads bound to anti-fluorescein isothiocyanate antibody were reacted with the fluorescently labeled pool of chromosomes and then separated in suspension by exposure to a magnetic field.

Abstract: This invention is a new-type, full-scale, tank-target silhouette for use in tank gunnery practice with the main gun of a tank. The new target employs lightweight sheet material that is corrugated in the manner of an accordion-door (or pleated) configuration to produce a self-supporting, rigid target silhouette which can be raised and lowered, and which can sustain multiple hits without collapsing. The corrugation configuration, when clamped along the bottom edge of the ridges and grooves, provides the necessary rigidity for the target to stand upright without other vertical structural members which could be hit and destroyed.

Abstract: A method of evaluating thermal stability of a fuel and an apparatus used therein. The method includes heating the fuel to a given temperature, directing light through the heated fuel a first time wherein the light is of an intensity and of a wavelength to induce fluorescence and obtaining a first fluorescence data, directing the light through the fuel at least a second time that is later in time and obtaining a second fluorescence data, and measuring any changes to fluorescence from the heated fuel over time.

Abstract: A videoconferencing station is disclosed which includes apparatus for establishing a wireless Personal Area Network (PAN) in the immediate vicinity of the videoconferencing station. In one preferred embodiment, the PAN is a Bluetooth piconet. A Bluetooth-enabled cellular telephone may then be used to make an audio connection via the telephone network to a remote user not in a conference room equipped with a videoconferencing station. The remote user may thereby participate in at least the audio portion of the videoconference. Video portions of the conference may similarly be transmitted if video-enabled phones are used.