Abstract: A method for identifying knowledgeable and available contacts in a given instant messaging system for possible communication purposes. The method includes a computer receiving a keyword and searching for the keyword in correspondence files of users of the instant messaging system. Based on the results of the search, the computer identifies users that have used the keyword in their correspondence. The computer determines the availability of each of the identified users and ranks the identified users based on predefined criteria, which includes at least the determined availability.

Abstract: Servers, storage medium and methods associated with control of power management services of remote servers of a remote computing service are disclosed herein. In embodiments, a storage medium may have instructions to enable a local server to query a remote computing service having one or more remote servers. The instructions may enable the local server to receive a record from the remote computing service in response to the query. The record may include information related to power management services available from the one or more remote servers. The instructions may enable the local server to transmit power management commands, based on the information, to the remote computing service to at least partially control power consumption by the one or more remote servers. Other embodiments may be disclosed or claimed.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a therapy device, including a body, an energy source disposed on the body for emitting a desired wavelength of electromagnetic radiation, and a proximity sensor for sensing proximity of the device to a desired surface. Also disclosed are a material dispensing system disposed on the body for dispensing a desired material for use with the device and accessories and compositions used with the therapy device, including interchangeable energy source-containing heads and interchangeable material containers. Methods for using the therapy device are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the drying of a wet substrate, the method comprising treating the substrate with a solid particulate material at ambient or elevated temperature, the treatment being carried out in an apparatus comprising a drum comprising perforated side walls, wherein the drum comprising perforated side walls is rotated so as to facilitate increased mechanical action between the substrate and the particulate material. Preferably, the drum comprising perforated side walls has a capacity of between 5 and 50 litres for each kg of fabric in the load and is rotated at a speed which generates G forces in the range of from 0.05 to 0.99 G, and the method is carried out at a temperature of between 5° and 120° C. Preferably, the solid particulate material comprises a multiplicity of particles at a particle to fabric addition level of 0.1:1-10:1 by mass, wherein the particles comprise polymeric particles, non-polymeric particles, or mixtures of polymeric and non-polymeric particles.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the cleaning of a soiled substrate, the method comprising treating the substrate with a non-polymeric solid particulate cleaning material and wash water, the treatment being carried out in an apparatus comprising a drum comprising perforated side walls and having a capacity of between 5 and 50 litres for each kg of fabric in the washload, wherein the solid particulate cleaning material comprises a multiplicity of non-polymeric particles at a particle to fabric addition level of 0.1:1-10:1 by mass, each of the particles being substantially cylindrical or spherical in shape, and wherein the drum comprising perforated side walls is rotated at a speed which generates G forces in the range of from 0.05 to 900 G. The non-polymeric particles may comprise particles of glass, silica, stone, wood, or any of a variety of metals or ceramic materials.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the cleaning of a soiled substrate, the method comprising treating the substrate with a solid particulate cleaning material and wash water, the treatment being carried out in an apparatus comprising a drum comprising perforated side walls and having a capacity of between 5 and 50 litres for each kg of fabric in the washload, wherein said solid particulate cleaning material comprises a multiplicity of polymeric particles at a particle to fabric addition level of 0.1:1-10:1 by mass, each particle being substantially cylindrical or spherical in shape and having an average density in the range of 0.5-2.5 g/cm3 and an average volume in the range of 5-275 mm3, and wherein said drum comprising perforated side walls is rotated at a speed which generates G forces in the range of from 0.05 to 900 G. The polymeric particles may comprise foamed or unfoamed polymeric materials which may comprise either linear or crosslinked polymers.

Abstract: In order to maintain a constant laser output pulse power in a RF-energized, sealed-off, diffusion cooled, pulsed, CO2 gas-discharge laser, each laser output pulse is generated by train or burst of shorter RF pulses. When the time between laser output pulses becomes short enough that the power in one pulse would be reduced by gas-discharge heating effects of a previous pulse, power in the RF pulse trains is varied by varying the duration or duty cycle of pulses in the bursts, thereby keeping output-pulse power in the laser output pulses constant. RF pulses in any burst can have a different duration for tailoring the temporal shape of a corresponding laser-output pulse.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the treatment of polymeric particles recovered after use in cleaning processes for soiled substrates, the method comprising treating the particles with a particle cleaning agent. Preferably, said agent comprises at least one surfactant. Preferably said agent comprises an aqueous medium. Typically, the polymeric particles comprise particles of nylon or polyester. The invention also provides a method for cleaning a soiled substrate, the method comprising the steps of: (a) treating polymeric particles with a particle cleaning agent; and (b) treating a moistened substrate with a formulation comprising a multiplicity of said treated polymeric particles. Most preferably, the substrate comprises a textile fibre or fabric.

Abstract: An electric motor that includes an electronic motor controller is described. The electronic motor controller includes a motor management circuit and a power supply circuit physically separate from the motor management circuit. The motor management circuit includes an insulated metal substrate, driver components operably attached to the insulated metal substrate and operable to provide output signals for application to windings of the electric motor, at least one current sensor operable for sensing an amount of current applied to the windings of and electric motor, and at least one control device operably attached to the insulated metal substrate for controlling operation of the driver components. The power supply circuit includes a composite circuit card and power processing components operably attached to the circuit card and operable to convert an input voltage into at least one output voltage to be supplied to the motor management circuit.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing trusted signaling of domain-specific security policies. One method includes intercepting a connection request to a remote server from a client device on a domain and returning a security certificate with policy information for regulating the communications with the target server.

Abstract: A water filtration unit, comprising: a housing; a passive separator in the housing to receive a pressurized source of particulate-heavy water, to separate most of the particulate mass from the water and to output particulate-lean water; particulate egress means disposed at least partly within the housing to receive, and allow disposal of, the particulate separated from the water; at least one filtration module in the housing to each receive the particulate-lean water simultaneously, to filter remaining particulate and contaminants from the particulate-lean water by allowing passage of the water through porous filtration media of each module under gravity; and at least one outlet conduit coupled to an outlet in a wall of the housing to receive filtered water from the filtration modules and provide the filtered water to a fluid sink outside the housing.

Abstract: A seal element for sealing between tissue lumens includes a first material for allowing tissue ingrowth and a second sealant material.

Abstract: A stepped structure (100) comprising a plurality of separate run portions (1), wherein at least one of said plurality of separate run portions (1) comprises upper and lower sheets (20) each sheet having a forward longitudinal end portion (14, 24) bent downwards and a rear longitudinal end portion (12, 22) bent upwards, and a core material (30) between said upper and lower sheets (10, 20).

Abstract: A media object authentication system uses layers of security features based on digital watermarks embedded in media objects. The system generates a first digital watermark with a message payload carrying data about the object, such as a hash of text data printed on the object. The first digital watermark is combined with a content signature derived from features of the media object, such as frequency domain attributes, edge attributes, or other filtered version of the media signal (e.g., image photo on a secure document) on the media object. This combination forms a new digital watermark signal that is embedded in the host media object. To verify the object, the digital watermark payload is extracted and compared with the data about the object. The combined digital watermark and content signature is also evaluated to authenticate the media signal on the media object.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for use in the cleaning of soiled substrates, the apparatus comprising: (a) housing means (1), having: (i) a first upper chamber having mounted therein a rotatably mounted cylindrical cage, and (ii) a second lower chamber (3) located beneath the cylindrical cage; (b) at least one recirculation means (4); (c) access means (10); (d) pumping means (8); (e) a multiplicity of delivery means (6), wherein the rotatably mounted cylindrical cage comprises a drum (2) comprising perforated side walls, wherein up to 60% of the surface area of the side walls comprises perforations, and the perforations comprise holes having a diameter of no greater than 25.0 mm. The method involves cleaning the soiled substrate by treatment of the moistened substrate with a formulation comprising solid particulate cleaning material and wash water, the method being carried out using the apparatus of the invention.

Abstract: Methods for making bioabsorbable copolymer filaments are provided herein. The methods include drying the polymer pellets to be extruded, melt extrusion of copolymer components, stretching the filaments in one or more draw steps and permitting the drawn filaments to relax. The copolymer preferably contains units derived from glycolide or glycolic acid and units derived from an alkylene carbonate, such as, for example, trimethylene carbonate.

Abstract: Flowable bioabsorbable compounds are provided which are useful in producing surgical adhesive or sealant compositions.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating a travelling web of material in a predetermined gaseous atmosphere comprising a chamber (1) through which a moving web of material (2) is transported from an inlet at a first end of the chamber (1) to an outlet at a second end and a means for introducing and controlling gas (5) intended to provide said predetermined gaseous atmosphere within said chamber (1), wherein said inlet and outlet each comprise a sealing means (4a, 4b) designed to enable passage of said web of material (2) therethrough whilst minimising the ingress of an external gas boundary layer (3) around said web of material (2) characterised in that said apparatus also comprises one or more re-circulation channels (7, 8) adapted to re-circulate gases within said chamber (1) from the second end of the chamber to the first end of the chamber thereby negating or substantially negating any pressure difference within the chamber (1) between said inlet and outlet.

Abstract: A 3-D LADAR imaging system incorporating stacked microelectronic layers is provided. A light source such as a laser is imaged upon a target through beam shaping optics. Photons reflected from the target are collected and imaged upon a detector array though collection optics. The detector array signals are fed into a multilayer processing module wherein each layer includes detector signal processing circuitry. The detector array signals are amplified, compared to a user-defined threshold, digitized and fed into a high speed FIFO shift register range bin. Dependant on the value of the digit contained in the bins in the register, and the digit's bin location, the time of a photon reflection from a target surface can be determined. A T0 trigger signal defines the reflection time represented at each bin location by resetting appropriate circuitry to begin processing.