Abstract: A process for purification of a fragment antibody from a culture medium also comprising at least one impurity is provided. The purification is carried out after the pH of the culture medium has been reduced to a pH at which the fragment antibody is soluble, but one or more of the impurities are insoluble. A process for the preparation of a fragment antibody employing such a purification process is also provided.

Abstract: A device and system for transporting items up and down a folding attic stairway in a building, such as a residential structure, and into an attic space finally resting securely on the floor of the attic.

Abstract: A processing-based bypass “fail open” mode is provided for an intrusion prevention system by a primary process running on a first logical core (lcore) is used as a control plane, which invokes bypass-open run-to-completion threads in other lcores comprising a bypass data plane, and which spawns a secondary process to fully configure intrusion prevention threads on other lcores to create an Intrusion Prevention System data plane. Upon a ready signal from the secondary process, the primary process quiesces such that the secondary process IPS data plane exclusively owns and executes on the other lcores.

Abstract: A processing-based bypass “fail open” mode is provided for an intrusion prevention system by a primary process running on a first logical core (lcore) is used as a control plane, which invokes bypass-open run-to-completion threads in other lcores comprising a bypass data plane, and which spawns a secondary process to fully configure intrusion prevention threads on other lcores to create an Intrusion Prevention System data plane. Upon a ready signal from the secondary process, the primary process quiesces such that the secondary process IPS data plane exclusively owns and executes on the other lcores.

Abstract: A system includes a speaker, an acoustic echo canceller, a post-processor configured to create a post-processed render signal associated with an audio input, and a reference path operatively connected to the speaker, the post-processor, and the acoustic echo canceller. The reference path provides the acoustic echo canceller with access to the post-processed render signal.

Abstract: An apparatus provides both clipping protection and signal level conservation while the system operates in the original width type. The apparatus includes a first shifting unit right shifting a first digital input signal to provide a first shifted signal; a second shifting unit right shifting a second digital input signal to provide a second shifted signal; a combiner combining the first shifted signal and the second shifted signal to provide a combined signal; a soft limiter soft limiting the combined signal by reducing some of the amplitudes of the combined signal to provide a soft limited signal; and a third shifting unit left shifting the soft limited signal to provide an output signal.

Abstract: An apparatus provides both clipping protection and signal level conservation while the system operates in the original width type. The apparatus includes a first shifting unit right shifting a first digital input signal to provide a first shifted signal; a second shifting unit right shifting a second digital input signal to provide a second shifted signal; a combiner combining the first shifted signal and the second shifted signal to provide a combined signal; a soft limiter soft limiting the combined signal by reducing some of the amplitudes of the combined signal to provide a soft limited signal; and a third shifting unit left shifting the soft limited signal to provide an output signal.

Abstract: An input signal is processed through noise suppression (NS) and echo control (EC) via a multipath model that reduces noise pumping effects while maintaining EC performance. A copy of a “noisy” input signal is sent to an EC component before the noisy signal is sent to a NS component, which processes the signal first, when there is a consistent noise level for estimation. The copy of the pre-processing noisy signal is sent to the EC component along with a “clean” or “noise-suppressed” signal output from the NS component. The EC component analyzes the noisy signal as if the EC was the first component in the signal chain to determine what actions to take. The EC component then applies these actions to the clean signal received from the NS component.

Abstract: A process for the extraction of pDNA from cells is provided. In one aspect, the process comprises heating a liquid comprising the cells to an average temperature of from 95° C. to about 120° C. for a time of less than 10 seconds. In certain preferred aspects, the pDNA is extracted by the use of flow-through apparatus.

Abstract: A mixing system provides both clipping protection and signal level conservation while the system operates in the original width type. The mixing system includes a first input multiplier multiplying a first digital input signal by a first gain value to provide a first scaled signal, a second input multiplier multiplying a second digital input signal by the first gain value to provide a second scaled signal, a combiner combining the first scaled signal and the second scaled signal to provide a combined signal, a soft limiter soft limiting the combined signal by reducing some of the amplitudes of the combined signal to provide a soft limited signal, and an output multiplier multiplying the soft limited signal by a second gain value to provide a mixed output signal, wherein the first gain value is a value that is equal to an inverse value of the second gain value.

Abstract: A vehicle control system having a controller and a spatial database adapted to provide spatial data to the controller at control speed. The spatial data provided from the spatial database to the controller includes images collected from an optical sensor subsystem in addition to other data collected by a variety of sensor types, including a GNSS or inertial measurement system. The spatial data received by the controller from the database forms at least part of the control inputs that the controller operates on to control the vehicle. The advantage provided by the present invention allows control system to “think” directly in terms of spatial location. A vehicle control system in accordance with one particular embodiment of the invention comprises a task path generator, a spatial database, at least one external spatial data receiver, a vehicle attitude compensation module, a position error generator, a controller, and actuators to control the vehicle.

Abstract: Video conferencing with reduced bandwidth usage is disclosed. One method comprises receiving an audio stream at a server station connected to a plurality of participants in the video conference, at least one participant being a client station connected to the server station by a network and supplying the audio stream, the server station including a first memory and processor, and the client station including a second memory and processor. A mixing algorithm is performed that determines which video streams of the participants to mix to form a conference video stream for display by at least one of the participants. A video stream from the client station is selectively transmitted to the server station responsive to the mixing algorithm, and the server station transmits the conference video stream and/or the streams to be mixed to the participant(s).

Abstract: An input signal is processed through noise suppression (NS) and echo control (EC) via a multipath model that reduces noise pumping effects while maintaining EC performance. A copy of a “noisy” input signal is sent to an EC component before the noisy signal is sent to a NS component, which processes the signal first, when there is a consistent noise level for estimation. The copy of the pre-processing noisy signal is sent to the EC component along with a “clean” or “noise-suppressed” signal output from the NS component. The EC component analyzes the noisy signal as if the EC was the first component in the signal chain to determine what actions to take. The EC component then applies these actions to the clean signal received from the NS component.

Abstract: A process for cell lysis is provided. The process comprises passing a mixture comprising a suspension of cells and a lysis reagent through a flow-through reactor, wherein the mixture passes through the reactor with pulsed or superimposed oscillating flow. The process is preferably employed for the preparation of biological products, such as pDNA or inclusion bodies.

Abstract: A composition is provided for lowering a pH of a drilling fluid. The composition includes HCl, urea, complex substituted keto-amine-hydrochloride, an alcohol, an ethoxylate, and a ketone. A method of using the composition includes adding the composition to a drilling fluid for a well to assist in lowering a pH thereof. Methods are also provided for performing hydraulic fracturing of an oil or a gas well, for adjusting a pH of a drilling fluid, for adjusting and maintaining a pH of a process fluid, for solubilizing calcium carbonate in an aqueous suspension or dispersion of calcium carbonate, for removing a foulant in a fluid-handling element, and for adjusting a pH and lowering a salt level of turf.

Abstract: A system and method for removing contaminant from sulfur (or sulphur) to a level that allows re-processed sulfur to reenter a supply chain. The system and method melt contaminated sulfur, filters the molten sulfur, and then dispenses the less contaminated sulfur after filtering it. More specifically, solid contaminated sulfur enters a settling tank, while heated molten sulfur circulates through the system and the settling tank. The circulation of the molten sulfur assists in the melting process of the solid sulfur, allowing the solid sulfur to melt efficiently. In preferred embodiments of the system, the system uses steam jacked sulfur lines and steam tracing to maintain temperatures for melting the solid sulfur and maintaining the molten state of the sulfur circulating through the system. Furthermore, the system comprises a programmable logic controller, which controls motors, pumps, valves, and environment monitoring instruments.

Abstract: A mixing system provides both clipping protection and signal level conservation while the system operates in the original width type. The mixing system includes a first input multiplier multiplying a first digital input signal by a first gain value to provide a first scaled signal, a second input multiplier multiplying a second digital input signal by the first gain value to provide a second scaled signal, a combiner combining the first scaled signal and the second scaled signal to provide a combined signal, a soft limiter soft limiting the combined signal by reducing some of the amplitudes of the combined signal to provide a soft limited signal, and an output multiplier multiplying the soft limited signal by a second gain value to provide a mixed output signal, wherein the first gain value is a value that is equal to an inverse value of the second gain value.

Abstract: In particular embodiments, customized content is determined and provided to a user based on a unique identifier stored on a memory device. In one embodiment, a method of delivering content can include: accessing a unique identifier from a memory device that is removably coupled to a computing device, where the memory device includes the unique identifier and preloaded content; using the unique identifier to determine personalized information about a user of the memory device; authenticating the memory device by using the unique identifier from the memory device; determining customized content for the user if the memory device is authenticated, where the customized content is based on the unique identifier; and providing the customized content for presentation to the user along with the preloaded content and the personalized information.