Abstract: A system and method tracks touches in a healthcare environment in order to analyze paths of transmission and contamination for the purpose of eliminating and containing transmission of colonizing, drug-resistant pathogens. Touches are identified and tracked with the use of recording devices. Each touch is logged and a touch graph is generated to identify transmission paths.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for generating a preview of a digital content item using social network analysis. Members of a social network who acquire the digital content item may identify interesting portions of the digital content. When a member of the social network requests a preview of the digital content item, typically in anticipation of an acquisition of the digital content item, the interesting portions of the digital content item identified by fellow social network members are considered in the generation of the preview. Selection of the interesting content for preview may include more identified content, as well as social network relationship and role magnitudes. The digital content item may include: text, such as books or articles; multimedia such as audio/video; and interactive, such as games or virtual worlds.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel system and method for continual simulation of the optimal deployment of selecting one or more geographic locations for production of a good or service. Synthetic nodes and hypothetical configurations may be introduced into the mapping, or existing nodes removed, and the estimated communication, and thus performance, cost of these changes automatically and continuously calculated. The energy of the resultant composite order embedding algorithm is measured with the addition of one or more collections of instantiated or synthetic test nodes. In a case when the energy of the order embedding algorithm is sufficiently lower in one configuration than another, a decision module (DM) may be used to automatically determine whether the nodes corresponding to the test nodes should be planned.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for managing variable operating mode applications that vary a cognitive load of the output of the applications presented to users wearing head mounted display devices. A tolerance level is indicative of the cognitive load of each operating mode of an application is established. In a vehicle setting, the operating mode of the application is selected to enable the safe operation of the vehicle based in part upon the tolerance level associated with the operating mode. If errant operations of vehicles are detected, then an application server modifies the tolerance level and synchronizes the modified tolerance level with head mounted display devices including the application.

Abstract: A restricted access device such as a cellphone, a tablet or a personal computer, analyzes contemporaneous keyboard inputs of a password and gestures to authenticate the user and enable further access to applications and processes of the restricted access device. The gestures may be facial gestures detected by a camera or may be gestures made by an avatar rendered on a display of the device. The password may be shorted based upon the context of the authentication as well as any gestures occurring during password entry. The gestures may be learned by the restricted access device during the password entry process.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for managing variable operating mode applications that vary a cognitive load of the output of the applications presented to users wearing head mounted display devices. A tolerance level is indicative of the cognitive load of each operating mode of an application is established. In a vehicle setting, the operating mode of the application is selected to enable the safe operation of the vehicle based in part upon the tolerance level associated with the operating mode. If errant operations of vehicles are detected, then an application server modifies the tolerance level and synchronizes the modified tolerance level with head mounted display devices including the application.

Abstract: Cooling systems and methods for cooling in a power plant using a phase change material. In one embodiment, a phase change material container includes at least one phase change material which may be in the form of a slurry; and at least one conduit for transporting the fluid through the phase change material when located in the phase change material container. The system may also comprise an air flow chamber; and a phase change material flow system including a pump for pumping phase change material from an outlet of phase change material container, to at least one phase change material spray nozzle. The phase change material flow system is configured to ensure that solidified phase change material is returned to the phase change material container.

Abstract: A system and method for communicating information between vehicle operators. The method includes receiving a request from a send vehicle operator to communicate a vehicle information message from a send vehicle. The method also includes generating the vehicle information message at the send vehicle. The method further includes sending the vehicle information message from the send vehicle to a receive vehicle.

Abstract: Surfaces having a hierarchical structure—having features of both microscale and nanoscale dimensions—can exhibit superhydrophobic properties and advantageous condensation and heat transfer properties. The hierarchical surfaces can be fabricated using biological nanostructures, such as viruses as a self-assembled nanoscale template.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for managing a plurality of services in a service catalog. Metadata is received about one or more services. The metadata is analyzed to determine whether to perform a management activity on the service catalog, the management activity including recommending one or more services in the service catalog or coupling two or more services in the service catalog. If it is determined that the received metadata is insufficient, a signal is generated to gather additional metadata within a time period the metadata is determined to be insufficient.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products for modifying of service levels based on contextual data of meeting entries in electronic calendars. An example system includes an electronic calendar module executed by a central processing unit. The electronic calendar module is configured to store a meeting entry for a scheduled meeting. The meeting entry includes contextual data for the scheduled meeting. A context-determining module is configured to determine a context for the scheduled meeting based on the contextual data. A service-modifying module is configured to automatically modify a service level of the scheduled meeting based on the context of the scheduled meeting.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products for modifying of service levels based on contextual data of meeting entries in electronic calendars. An example system includes an electronic calendar module executed by a central processing unit. The electronic calendar module is configured to store a meeting entry for a scheduled meeting. The meeting entry includes contextual data for the scheduled meeting. A context-determining module is configured to determine a context for the scheduled meeting based on the contextual data. A service-modifying module is configured to automatically modify a service level of the scheduled meeting based on the context of the scheduled meeting.

Abstract: An apparatus for suspending a liner within a bore comprising a central tubular member and first and second sets of radially expandable arms. Each set of arms are expandable by corresponding longitudinally movable cones spaced apart along the tubular member. The apparatus further includes a seal located between the first and second sets of radially expandable arms and a selectably longitudinally compressible sleeve located between the first and second sets of radially expandable arms.

Abstract: A system, method and computer product for managing resources for tasks. An example system includes a rules database storing requirements and restrictions associated with a task. A graphical user interface contains resource icons of resources that can, at least partially, fulfill the requirements of the task and a virtual service agent (VSA) icon of a VSA associated with the task. When a resource icon is attempted to be dragged and dropped onto the VSA icon, the graphical user interface permits or prohibits the dragging and dropping responsive to a rules-checking module that checks violations of the restrictions. Furthermore, an agent-checking module ensures that at least one resource includes a software agent configured to answer natural language questions. The software agent queries data repositories and applies language processing, information retrieval, and machine learning to arrive at a conclusion.

Abstract: A system, method and computer product for managing resources for tasks. An example system includes a rules database storing requirements and restrictions associated with a task. A graphical user interface contains resource icons of resources that can, at least partially, fulfill the requirements of the task and a virtual service agent (VSA) icon of a VSA associated with the task. When a resource icon is attempted to be dragged and dropped onto the VSA icon, the graphical user interface permits or prohibits the dragging and dropping responsive to a rules-checking module that checks violations of the restrictions. Furthermore, an agent-checking module ensures that at least one resource includes a software agent configured to answer natural language questions. The software agent queries data repositories and applies language processing, information retrieval, and machine learning to arrive at a conclusion.

Abstract: An sleeve valve for a well assembly includes at least one set of passages extending through a tubular body between the central passage and an exterior of the tubular body and a sleeve slidably located within the central passage of the valve body adapted to selectably sealably cover or uncover the at least one sets of passages. A shifting tool for actuating the sleeve valve is connectable to a tool string and includes a shifting bore with an actuating piston extending from a central bore through the shifting tool and first and second key bores extending radially inwards from the outer surface each having a piston keys located therein. Each of the first and second piston keys is operably connected to the actuating piston so as to be extended from the outer surface when the central bore is supplied with a pressurized fluid.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for tracking user participation in a shared media session. A shared media session is connected to, where the shared media session includes a plurality of participants. A first identity is determined for a first participant with a first confidence level. The first participant is identified as the first identity if the first confidence level is above a first threshold. An amount of participation is tracked for the first identity. The amount of participation by the first identity is displayed on an electronic calendar for the shared media session to the plurality of participants.

Abstract: A method for tracking user participation in a shared media session. A shared media session is connected to, where the shared media session includes a plurality of participants. A first identity is determined for a first participant with a first confidence level. The first participant is identified as the first identity if the first confidence level is above a first threshold. An amount of participation is tracked for the first identity. The amount of participation by the first identity is displayed on an electronic calendar for the shared media session to the plurality of participants.

Abstract: A method for reducing noise in a shared media session. An indication is received from one or more of the participants in the shared media session. If the received indication is a first indication that indicates a background noise is present in the shared media session, the following steps are performed: a first counter is incremented for each of the first indications received from one or more of the plurality of participants, it is determined whether a background noise is present in the shared media session if the first counter exceeds a first threshold, an the shared media session is selectively muted such that the background noise is reduced if the background noise is determined to be present in the shared media session.

Abstract: Heat exchanger. The heat exchanger includes a thermal contact plate defining a cavity in fluid communication with a first pipe and a plurality of stationary elements substantially perpendicular to the first pipe each defining a cavity wherein each cavity is in fluid communication with the first pipe and at least one cavity includes a wick. A plurality of movable elements are provided wherein the movable elements and the stationary elements are substantially parallel, alternatingly arranged and a portion of the movable elements overlaps a portion of the stationary elements. A working fluid is provided in the first pipe and cavities or stationary elements and thermal contact plate.