Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices provide virtual, three-dimensional, interactive environments by using a template user interface which defines multiple customizable parameters. An environment generator engine generates a customizable three-dimensional (3D) virtual environment by rendering a 3D model and applying one or more interactive features defined by the customizable parameters. These interactive features can include avatar features, product model features, game features, and/or environment features Additionally, product models are mapped to one or more virtual surfaces of the 3D model based on the customization parameters. The system also causes the virtual interactive environment to be presented, at a display of a user device, and receives user input(s) controlling the virtual avatar to browse the customizable 3D virtual environment.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices provide virtual, three-dimensional, interactive environments with multiple customization layers. A virtual environment platform provides an environment generator engine for generating a computer-generated three-dimensional (3D) space by rendering 3D model and applying one or more surface customizations to the 3D model. Additionally, product models are mapped to one or more virtual surfaces of the 3D model. An avatar customization engine generates a virtual avatar navigable in the computer-generated 3D space. Moreover, the avatar customization engine defines a first set of customization parameters as mutable and a second set of customization parameters as immutable. The system also causes the virtual interactive environment to be presented, at a display of a user device, and receives user input(s) controlling the virtual avatar and selecting at least one product model of the one or more product models. In response, the system presents data associated with the product model.

Abstract: Described herein are devices for applying conductive gels to electrodes and the gel-laminated electrodes produced thereby. The devices permit the reuse of the electrodes by easily applying fresh gels to them for each subsequent use. In a first example embodiment, all of the components of the laminating device are provided in a single housing. In a second example embodiment, the gel applying and drive components are housed within the device, and a replaceable cartridge houses the gels and the gel delivery components. Also described herein are dispensers for storing and dispensing conductive gels that can be readily applied to and removed from an electrode.

Abstract: Systems and methods that include selecting a physical model and a procedural model associated with an industrial plant, projecting a cross-product of the physical model and the procedural model into a unit-operation association set using a projection matrix, the unit-operation association set associating units representing equipment in the industrial plant and operations representing processes performed in the industrial plant, and establishing internal and external adjacency sets within structures, the internal adjacency set identifying connections between inputs and outputs of individual units and operations, the external adjacency set identifying connections between outputs of some units and operation and inputs of other units and operations. These systems and methods may also include generating a hyperstructure representing the industrial plant using the association and adjacency sets.

Abstract: Systems and methods that include selecting a physical model and a procedural model associated with an industrial plant, projecting a cross-product of the physical model and the procedural model into a unit-operation association set using a projection matrix, the unit-operation association set associating units representing equipment in the industrial plant and operations representing processes performed in the industrial plant, and establishing internal and external adjacency sets within structures, the internal adjacency set identifying connections between inputs and outputs of individual units and operations, the external adjacency set identifying connections between outputs of some units and operation and inputs of other units and operations. These systems and methods may also include generating a hyperstructure representing the industrial plant using the association and adjacency sets.

Abstract: Described herein are devices for applying conductive gels to electrodes and the gel-laminated electrodes produced thereby. The devices permit the reuse of the electrodes by easily applying fresh gels to them for each subsequent use. In a first example embodiment, all of the components of the laminating device are provided in a single housing. In a second example embodiment, the gel applying and drive components are housed within the device, and a replaceable cartridge houses the gels and the gel delivery components. Also described herein are dispensers for storing and dispensing conductive gels that can be readily applied to and removed from an electrode.

Abstract: A drug conjugate comprising a targeting agent and an anti-cancer agent, wherein said targeting agent comprises an erythropoietin receptor ligand, is described. The drug conjugate can be used in methods of treating cancer. Also described are methods of treating cancer using the conjugate, methods of diagnosis, methods of imaging and pharmaceutical compositions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system of extracting information about references to entities from a plurality of electronic documents. In an exemplary embodiment, the method and system include (1) applying at least one document quality measure to each of the plurality of electronic documents, (2) recognizing the references to entities in the plurality of electronic documents, (3) using at least one reference quality measure for each of the references to entities, (4) computing at least one topical category associated with each of the references to entities, (5) finding at least one co-occurring term associated with each of the references to entities, and (6) characterizing each of the references to entities by at least one characteristic category.

Abstract: A drug conjugate comprising a targeting agent and an anti-cancer agent, wherein said targeting agent comprises an erythropoietin receptor ligand, is described. The drug conjugate can be used in methods of treating cancer. Also described are methods of treating cancer using the conjugate, methods of diagnosis, methods of imaging and pharmaceutical compositions.

Abstract: A system is provided for selectively presenting a portion of an event to a user. The system includes a first device, a second device, and a network allowing communication between the first and the second device. An application at the first device displays a plurality of sub-events that characterize an event; receives an input from a user whereby the user selects a sub-event from the plurality of sub-events; sends a request to a second device, the request comprising information associated with the selected sub-event; receives media data from the second device whereby the media data represents the selected sub-event; and presents the received media data. An application at the second device receives the request from the first device, selects the media data that represents the selected sub-event from a database using the information associated with the selected sub-event, and sends the selected media data to the first device.

Abstract: A process is described which provides consumers incentive to actively participate in telemarketing presentations for a set amount of time. This process will also: open up a larger market for the telemarketing industry (including many consumers registering their phone numbers on the national Do-Not-Call list and consumers trading in their land line phones for wireless phones), increase the productivity of call centers, raise the call center's calls to sales-ratio, lower the call center's high rate of employee attrition, eliminate the-possibility for call centers to-make abandoned calls, create a positive and exciting public image for the telemarketing industry, and slow the rate for future government regulation of the telemarketing industry.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell structure has a first fluid chamber and a resilient member disposed in the first fluid chamber. An opening permits communication of fluid into the first fluid chamber. An anode cavity and a cathode cavity are in fluid communication with the fluid chamber through the opening.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for stacking cans in substantially vertical alignment. In general, two cans may be so stacked by: squaring the upper rim of the lower can with the lower rim of the upper can; retaining the upper can in position by engaging the inside face of its lower rim; and retaining the lower can in position by engaging the inside face of its upper rim. This result can be achieved with the aid of a coupler, which has: a body; a first flange that extends from the body to engage the inside face of the lower rim of the upper can; a second flange that extends from the body substantially opposite to the first flange and substantially coaxial with the first flange, to engage the inside face of the upper rim of the lower can; and a third flange that extends radially from the body substantially perpendicular to both the first and second flanges to engage both the edge of the upper rim of the lower can and the edge of the lower rim of the upper can.

Abstract: A system for providing flexible billing in a cable environment can establish billing practices based on tier level of service, quality of service or the amount of network resources consumed. A plurality of tiers or levels of service can be defined by parameters including at least a maximum or peak bit rate or bandwidth for providing services over a shared channel. A plurality of levels or tiers of services are defined by maximum bandwidth or bit rate and a subscriber receives service at that subscribe-to level or at a slower data rate depending on availability of shared bandwidth Quality of service is maintaining the specified bandwidth, jitter or delay.

Abstract: A stoker rod assembly employs a stoker rod having a longitudinally extending bore. A holddown device has a base which is mounted in the trough of the discharger floor, an engagement assembly which is inserted through a slot in the bottom wall of the stoker rod and a connecting part extending between the base and the engagement assembly. The slot comprises a first region having a width selected to allow the passage of the engagement assembly into or out of the bore. A second longitudinally extending region has a width selected to allow longitudinal movement of the connecting part. The width of the engagement assembly is greater than the width of the second region, wherein the engagement assembly is retained in the bore when the engagement assembly is positioned above the second region. Bearing wheels or bearing pads in the engagement assembly slidably engage the internal surface of the stoker rod to hold down the stoker rod as the rod oscillates longitudinally in the trough.

Abstract: 4-[(2-chloroethyl)-(2-hydroxyethyl)-amino]benzoyl amino acids of formula (IV), wherein X represents a group (a), where Pro represents hydrogen or a straight or branched chain C.sub.1-6 alkyl group, and salts thereof, and processes for their production.

Abstract: 3-Alkyl- or fluoroalkyl-3-(4-pyridyl)piperidine-2,6-diones, useful in the treatment of breast cancer, of formula ##STR1## wherein R represents an alkyl group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms or a fluoroalkyl group having 2 to 5 carbon atoms and A is hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, are prepared by reacting a 4-pyridylacetate with an alkyl or fluoroalkyl iodide, chloride or bromide, in the presence of a sterically bulky base and reacting the product with acrylamide in the presence of a sodium or potassium branched chain alkoxide. Preferably potassium t-butoxide is used in both stages and they are carried out sequentially at room temperature in an alcoholic or polar, aprotic solvent in a single reaction vessel.

Abstract: There are described compounds of formula I, ##STR1## in which R.sub.3 represents hydrogen, or alkyl C 1 to 6,R.sub.S represents hydrogen, hydroxy, alkoxy C 1 to 6, alkanoyloxy C 2 to 6, alkenyloxy C 2 to 6, nitro, --NR.sub.1 R.sub.2, halogen, alkyl C 1 to 6, hydroxy-alkyl C 1 to 6, or hydroxy-alkoxy C 1 to 6,an adjacent pair of X, Y and Z form a --(CH.sub.2).sub.4 --, --CH.dbd.CH--CH.dbd.CH-- or --O(CH.sub.2).sub.3 -- chain, each of the chains optionally being substituted by one or two C 1 to 6 alkyl groups, and the remaining substituent X or Z represents alkenyl C 2 to 6 optionally substituted by phenyl; halogen; or alkyl C 1 to 9 optionally substituted by one or more of the groups hydroxy, halogen, carbonyl oxygen, phenyl, or alkoxy C 1 to 6,or, when an adjacent pair of X, Y and Z form a chain substituted by one or two C 1 to 6 alkyl groups, the remaining substituent X or Z may be hydrogen, andR.sub.1 and R.sub.

Abstract: There is described a pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more of 1,3-bis(2-carboxychromon-5-yloxy)propan-2-ol; 5-(2-hydroxy-propoxy)-8-propyl-chromone-2-carboxylic acid; 6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-4-oxo-10-propyl-4H-naphtho[2,3-b]pyran-2-carboxylic acid; 6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5-hydroxy-4-oxo-10-propyl-4H-naphtho[2,3-b]pyran-2-carb oxylic acid; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of any one thereof, in combination with one or more of aspirin, indomethacin, phenylbutazone or oxyphenbutazone. (Mixtures of 1,3-bis(2-carboxychromon-5-yloxy)propan-2-ol, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, with aspirin or indomethacin do not form part of the invention).There are also described packages containing the separate components of the composition and pharmaceutical formulations containing the composition.

Abstract: There are described compounds of formula I, ##STR1## in which R.sub.3 represents hydrogen, or alkyl C 1 to 6, R.sub.5 represents hydrogen, hydroxy, alkoxy C 1 to 6, alkanoyloxy C 2 to 6, alkenyloxy C 2 to 6, nitro, -NR.sub.1 R.sub.2, halogen, alkyl C 1 to 6, hydroxy-alkyl C 1 to 6, or hydroxy-alkoxy C 1 to 6,An adjacent pair of X, Y and Z form a --(CH.sub.2).sub.4 --, --CH.dbd.CH--CH.dbd.CH--or --O(CH.sub.2).sub.3 --chain, each of the chains optionally being substituted by one or two C 1 to 6 alkyl groups, and the remaining substituent X or Z represents alkenyl C2 to 6 optionally substituted by phenyl; halogen; or alkyl C 1 to 9 optionally substituted by one or more of the groups hydroxy, halogen, carbonyl oxygen, phenyl, or alkoxy C 1 to 6,Or, when an adjacent pair of X, Y and Z form a chain substituted by one or two C 1 to 6 alkyl groups, the remaining substituent X or Z may be hydrogen, andR.sub.1 and R.sub.