Abstract: Systems and methods for preparing and dispensing food contents, typically molten chocolate. In one aspect, a device includes a housing defining a first volume; an inner wall positioned in the housing and bifurcating the first volume into separate second and third volumes; a pressure member operationally connected to the inner wall, where the pressure member is actuatable to move into the second volume; an aperture formed through the housing for fluidic communication with the second volume; an actuator operationally connected to the pressure member, a first deformable pouch positioned in the second volume, where the first deformable pouch includes a generally elongated fluid-tight enclosure, liquid chocolate substantially filling the fluid-tight enclosure, and a fluidic conduit extending through the fluid-tight enclosure. Device also includes a fluidic valve operationally connected to the fluidic conduit and positioned without the fluid-tight enclosure.

Abstract: Systems and methods for preparing and dispensing food contents, typically molten chocolate. In one aspect, a system includes a deformable fluid-tight container shell defining an internal volume and separating the internal volume from an external environment; a semi-solid content contained within the internal volume; a valve stem operationally connected to and disposed at least partially through the deformable container shell; and a valve disposed in the external environment and operationally connected to the valve stem. The semi-solid content may be a hydrophobic matrix with at least partially emulsified hydrophilic components suspended therein; the container shell may be substantially fluid-tight; the valve may be self-cleaning; the internal volume may be in fluidic communication with the external environment where the valve is open but not when the valve is closed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for preparing and dispensing food context typically molten chocolate. In one aspect, a method for treating chocolate includes placing a quantity of chocolate in a pressure-controllable environment; heating the quantity of chocolate to a temperature of about 115 degrees Fahrenheit; decreasing the pressure of the pressure-controllable environment to about 5 Torr; and holding the pressure of the pressure-controllable environment at about 5 Torr for a predetermined period of time. Additional steps may include decreasing the pressure of the pressure-controllable environment to about 5 Torr at an average rate of about 8 Torr per minute; heating the quantity of chocolate to a temperature of about 115 degrees Fahrenheit may occur at a rate of about 2 degrees Fahrenheit per minute; and/or heating the quantity of chocolate to a temperature of about 115 degrees Fahrenheit may occur at a rate of no more than 1 degree Fahrenheit per minute.

Abstract: A system, computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and computer-implemented method for presenting a set of intention objects arranged by coarse time windows is disclosed. In example embodiments, the method may include accessing a set of intention objects belonging to a user. Each of the intention objects may define the intention of the user to undertake an intention and each object may comprise a data structure including a plurality of activity attributes of the intended activity. The method may further include assigning particular intention objects of the set of intention objects to a coarse time window based on the attributes of the respective intention objects. The method may further include presenting at least a portion of the set of intention objects to a user in a day view that is arranged based on the assigned coarse time windows.

Abstract: A method for measuring a glomerular filtration rate in a mammalian kidney comprises a source of reporter and marker fluorescent molecules. The fluorescent molecules are introduced into the blood stream of a mammalian subject. Over a period of time, a measurement of the intensities of the reporter and marker fluorescent molecules is taken. A ratio is calculated to determine the health of the subject's kidney. This method measures volume of plasma distribution based on a fluorescence of a marker molecule relative to a fluorescence of a reporter molecule.

Abstract: A method for measuring a glomerular filtration rate of a mammalian subject comprises a source of reporter and marker fluorescent molecules. The fluorescent molecules are introduced into the vascular system of the mammalian subject. Over a period of time, a measurement of the intensities of the reporter and marker fluorescent molecules is taken. A ratio is calculated to determine the glomerular filtration rate.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a self-penetrating percutaneous optical sensing device for obtaining and transmitting optical signal from intravascular fluid in a blood vessel, the device comprising: (a) an elongated hollow rigid sensor sheath 20 having a proximal end 21, a distal end 22 and a central channel extending along the sensor sheath, wherein the distal end 22 of the sensor sheath 20 is sufficiently sharpened to puncture a cutaneous barrier and the sensor sheath 20 has a sufficient length to allow the sensor sheath 20 to penetrate into intravascular space of a blood vessel; (b) a flexible optical fiber 30 having a proximal end and a distal end situated coherently within the central channel of the sensor sheath 20 wherein the sensor sheath 20 covers a portion of the distal end of the flexible optical fiber 30 and wherein the distal end of the flexible optical fiber 30 aligns with the distal end 22 of the sensor sheath 20; and (c) an optical sensor 40 connected to the distal end of the flexible op

Abstract: A method for measuring a glomerular filtration rate of a mammalian subject comprises a source of reporter and marker fluorescent molecules. The fluorescent molecules are introduced into the vascular system of the mammalian subject. Over a period of time, a measurement of the intensities of the reporter and marker fluorescent molecules is taken. A ratio is calculated to determine the glomerular filtration rate.

Abstract: A system and method for determining whether a flick gesture has occurred is described. A flick gesture is a simple gesture that may be easily detected and is characterized by minimal interference with other applications or gestures.

Abstract: A system and method for determining whether a flick gesture has occurred is described. A flick gesture is a simple gesture that may be easily detected and is characterized by minimal interference with other applications or gestures.

Abstract: A system and method for determining whether a flick gesture has occurred is described. A flick gesture is a simple gesture that may be easily detected and is characterized by minimal interference with other applications or gestures.

Abstract: A method for measuring a glomerular filtration rate in a mammalian kidney comprises a source of reporter and marker fluorescent molecules. The fluorescent molecules are introduced into the blood stream of a mammalian subject. Over a period of time, a measurement of the intensities of the reporter and marker fluorescent molecules is taken. A ratio is calculated to determine the health of the subject's kidney. This method measures volume of plasma distribution based on a fluorescence of a marker molecule relative to a fluorescence of a reporter molecule.

Abstract: A system and method for determining whether a flick gesture has occurred is described. A flick gesture is a simple gesture that may be easily detected and is characterized by minimal interference with other applications or gestures.

Abstract: A device for simultaneously generating electrical power and cooling, including an active layer for intrinsically transducing thermal energy into electrical energy, a first electrical contact having a first work function and a second electrical contact having a second work function, a first electron diffusion barrier positioned between and in electric communication with the active layer and the first electrical contact, and a second electron diffusion barrier positioned between and in electric communication with the active layer and the second electrical contact. The first work function and the second work function are nonidentical. Transduction of thermal energy into electrical energy yields thermally generated electrical carriers of both positive and negative charge, wherein thermally generated electrical carriers are separated according to charge to either the first electrical contact or the second electrical contact, thereby lowering the average thermal energy of the active layer.

Abstract: A method of addressing environmental warming and generating power, including positioning a device for generating electrical power in an environment experiencing undesired warming, the device including an active layer for intrinsically transducing thermal energy into electrical energy, and first and second electrical contacts having different work functions, respective first and second electron diffusion barriers positioned between and in electric communication with the active layer and respective first and second electrical contacts, wherein thermally generated electrons are separated to the first electrical contact and holes are separated to the second electrical contact, and wherein the introduction of thermal energy to the active layer increases the rate at which electron-hole pairs are formed, connecting the device to a power grid, removing thermal energy from the environment via conversion into electricity, and supplying electricity to the power grid, wherein the removal of thermal energy from the enviro

Abstract: An ultrasound system comprises an ultrasound probe, a user interface and a processor. The ultrasound probe comprises a transducer face emitting ultrasound beams into a patient. The probe acquires a volume of ultrasound data comprising a blood vessel. The user interface defines a surface on an image that is based on the volume. The surface bisects the blood vessel and further comprises a plurality of points where at least some of the points are located at unequal distances with respect to the transducer face. The processor is configured to steer a subset of the ultrasound beams to intersect the surface at a 90 degree angle and calculate volumetric flow information through the blood vessel based on the ultrasound data corresponding to the surface.

Abstract: Computer users may integrate any annotation, including ink, highlighter, text-based notes and audio, directly into a Web-based document (WBD) displayed by a Web browser. This integration enables others to view the personalized annotated WBD, which retains its original active links and properties, over the Internet without the need for specialized software. Annotations are integrated into WBDs by freezing the WBD, overlaying an image file containing the annotations onto the WBD, and enabling browser events to pass through the image layer. Annotations may also be integrated into WBDs by using component object technology. By collecting and organizing annotated WBDs, users can be provided with an intuitive Web-based interface for accessing, viewing and searching the annotated WBDs. Users may annotate blank WBDs, effectively converting their Web browsers into online notebooks/scrapbooks.

Abstract: A franchise arrangement is provided that supports physician administered medical services. The franchise arrangement include: a franchisor licensed to practice medicine by a government entity; and a franchisee licensed to practice medicine by the same government entity. The franchisee includes at least one practicing physician administering medical services in accordance with an agreement with the franchisor.

Abstract: The present invention allows computer users to integrate any annotation, including ink, highlighter, text-based notes and audio, directly into a Web-based document (WBD) displayed by a Web browser. This integration enables others to view the personalized annotated WBD, which retains its original active links and properties, over the Internet without the need for specialized software. Annotations are integrated into WBDs by freezing the WBD, overlaying an image file containing the annotations onto the WBD, and enabling browser events to pass through the image layer. Annotations may also be integrated into WBDs by using component object technology. The present invention collects and organizes annotated WBDs, and provides users with an intuitive Web-based interface for accessing, viewing and searching the annotated WBDs. Users may annotate blank WBDs, effectively converting their Web browsers into online notebooks/ scrapbooks.

Abstract: Computer users may integrate any annotation, including ink, highlighter, text-based notes and audio, directly into a Web-based document (WBD) displayed by a Web browser. This integration enables others to view the personalized annotated WBD, which retains its original active links and properties, over the Internet without the need for specialized software. Annotations are integrated into WBDs by freezing the WBD, overlaying an image file containing the annotations onto the WBD, and enabling browser events to pass through the image layer. Annotations may also be integrated into WBDs by using component object technology. By collecting and organizing annotated WBDs, users can be provided with an intuitive Web-based interface for accessing, viewing and searching the annotated WBDs. Users may annotate blank WBDs, effectively converting their Web browsers into online notebooks/scrapbooks.