Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing communication in a multiprocessor are disclosed. In one exemplary implementation a first processor receives a request to provide a communication resource for an application executing on the first processor to communicate with a remote application. In response to the communication request, the first processor opens a communication resource on a second processor, and implements communication operations between the application executing on the first processor and the remote application using the communication resource on the second processor.

Abstract: Virtual storage systems, virtual storage methods and methods of over committing a virtual RAID storage system are described. According to one aspect, a virtual storage system includes a virtual storage space, a physical storage space, a mapping system configured to associate a plurality of addresses of the virtual storage space with respective addresses of the physical storage space and a controller configured to automatically remove a portion of the mapping system according to a prioritization protocol which specifies removal of portions of the mapping system according to an order.

Abstract: A sports simulator network with reward potential. In one embodiment, the system includes a first sports simulator and a second sports simulator. The simulators are configured to allow a plurality of participants to play a sports scenario upon payment. Each participant of the sports simulators achieves a score for the sports scenario. The first sports simulator is configured to communicate with the second sports simulator to determine a winner with a best score for the sports scenario between the first sports simulator and the second sports simulator. When this happens, at least a portion of the cumulative amount of the payments is aggregated to pay a reward to the winner.

Abstract: In some example pliable air duct systems, inflatable ducts of various diameters and lengths are created by selectively assembling pre-existing stock pieces in different combinations. In some examples, the stock pieces include disconnectable longitudinal joints and disconnectable circumferential joints, wherein the longitudinal joints enable interconnecting multiple stock pieces to achieve a desired tube diameter, and the circumferential joints allow connecting multiple tube segments end-to-end to produce an air duct assembly of a desired length. To control the volume and/or the direction of air discharged from the duct, the duct assembly, in some examples, includes an adjustable register comprising a movable pliable sheet that overlies a discharge opening in a pliable sidewall of the duct. In some examples, the inflatable duct includes one or more cutout patterns on the duct's sidewall to provide guidance in creating a sidewall discharge opening of a proper size and location.

Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing communication in a multiprocessor are disclosed. In one exemplary implementation a first processor receives a request to provide a communication resource for an application executing on the first processor to communicate with a remote application. In response to the communication request, the first processor opens a communication resource on a second processor, and manages communication operations between the application executing on the first processor and the remote application using the communication resource on the second processor.

Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing communication in a multiprocessor are disclosed. In one exemplary implementation a first processor receives a request to provide a communication resource for an application executing on the first processor to communicate with a remote application. In response to the communication request, the first processor opens a communication resource on a second processor, and implements communication operations between the application executing on the first processor and the remote application using the communication resource on the second processor.

Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing communication in a multiprocessor are disclosed. In one exemplary implementation a first processor receives a request to provide a communication resource for an application executing on the first processor to communicate with a remote application. In response to the communication request, the first processor opens a communication resource on a second processor, and manages communication operations between the application executing on the first processor and the remote application using the communication resource on the second processor.

Abstract: In some example pliable air duct systems, inflatable ducts of various diameters and lengths are created by selectively assembling pre-existing stock pieces in different combinations. In some examples, the stock pieces include disconnectable longitudinal joints and disconnectable circumferential joints, wherein the longitudinal joints enable interconnecting multiple stock pieces to achieve a desired tube diameter, and the circumferential joints allow connecting multiple tube segments end-to-end to produce an air duct assembly of a desired length. To control the volume and/or the direction of air discharged from the duct, the duct assembly, in some examples, includes an adjustable register comprising a movable pliable sheet that overlies a discharge opening in a pliable sidewall of the duct. In some examples, the inflatable duct includes one or more cutout patterns on the duct's sidewall to provide guidance in creating a sidewall discharge opening of a proper size and location.

Abstract: Embodiments of a radiation detector and subassemblies thereof are provided having a scintillator with a face and a reflector constructed and arranged to redirect a majority of light leaving the face of the scintillator at an angle within a range of 45 to 135 degrees compared to the direction in which the light was traveling when it left the face. In other embodiments a method is provided including receiving radiation into a scintillator having a face, producing light with the scintillator in response to the radiation, allowing at least a portion of the light to leave the face, and reflecting a majority of the light leaving the face at an angle within a range of 45 to 135 degrees compared to the direction in which the light was traveling when it left the face with a reflector. Other embodiments are directed to a reflector including a plurality of prisms having a first face and a second face with a barrier on the first face.

Abstract: Embodiments of a radiation detector and subassemblies thereof are provided having a scintillator with a face and a reflector constructed and arranged to redirect a majority of light leaving the face of the scintillator at an angle within a range of 45 to 135 degrees compared to the direction in which the light was traveling when it left the face. In other embodiments a method is provided including receiving radiation into a scintillator having a face, producing light with the scintillator in response to the radiation, allowing at least a portion of the light to leave the face, and reflecting a majority of the light leaving the face at an angle within a range of 45 to 135 degrees compared to the direction in which the light was traveling when it left the face with a reflector. Other embodiments are directed to a reflector including a plurality of prisms having a first face and a second face with a barrier on the first face.

Abstract: An imitation cheese composition having a fracturability of about 4.9 N to about 9.8 N at 21° C., the composition containing moisture, preferably in an amount that is at least 55% by weight, a hydrocolloid, a cheese-derived component, preferably in an amount less than about 15% by weight of the composition, cheese flavoring that is natural or artificial and an acidulent, preferably in an amount that causes a pH of the composition to be not greater than 4.6. The composition is sufficiently firm such that it can be at least one of sliced, cut, shredded or grated. Preferably, protein in an amount not greater than 6% by weight of the composition is present, and/or the acidulent is in a total titrateable amount of less than 1.5% by weight of the composition, resulting in an imitation cheese having a flavor, texture and consistency that was only previously attainable in a pasturized process cheese product.

Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing communication in a multiprocessor are disclosed. In one exemplary implementation a first processor receives a request to provide a communication resource for an application executing on the first processor to communicate with a remote application. In response to the communication request, the first processor opens a communication resource on a second processor, and manages communication operations between the application executing on the first processor and the remote application using the communication resource on the second processor.

Abstract: An imitation cheese composition containing moisture, preferably in an amount that is at least 55% by weight, a hydrocolloid, a cheese-derived component, preferably in an amount less than about 15% by weight of the composition, cheese flavoring that is natural or artificial and an acidulent, preferably in an amount that causes a pH of the composition to be not greater than 4.6. The composition is sufficiently firm such that it can be at least one of sliced, cut, shredded or grated. Preferably, protein in an amount not greater than 6% by weight of the composition is present, and/or the acidulent is in a total titrateable amount of less than 1.5% by weight of the composition, resulting in an imitation cheese having a flavor, texture and consistency that was only previously attainable in a pasturized process cheese product.

Abstract: Implementations of a method for associating a charitable donation with a discounted transaction include, providing a certificate asociated with a discount for at least one vendor to a customer, receiving notification of a discounted transaction using the certificate, and determining a charitable donation associated with the discounted transaction. In other implementations, a method for associating a charitable donation with a discounted transaction includes generating certificates associated with a vendor. The certificates have a face value usable in exchanges with the vendor. The method further includes selling the certificates to at least one customer at a price less than the face value. The method also includes determining a charitable donation associated with the sale of each certificate based at least in part on either the face value of the certificate sold or the price of the certificate sold.

Abstract: Virtual storage systems, virtual storage methods and methods of over committing a virtual RAID storage system are described. According to one aspect, a virtual storage system includes a virtual storage space, a physical storage space, a mapping system configured to associate a plurality of addresses of the virtual storage space with respective addresses of the physical storage space and a controller configured to automatically remove a portion of the mapping system according to a prioritization protocol which specifies removal of portions of the mapping system according to an order.

Abstract: A collapsible toothbrush includes a body member that has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is pivotally coupled to the second portion such that the first portion is selectively positionable adjacent the second portion facilitating compact storage of the body member. The first portion has a plurality of bristles. The bristles are adapted to be rubbed against teeth of the user for cleaning the teeth of the user. The bristles are positioned opposite the second portion of the body member such that the body member is adapted for is held in a hand of the user when the bristles are used to clean the teeth of the user.

Abstract: A housing for a microwave circuit is formed from a base made of metal matrix composite material and walls made of sheet metal. The base and the walls are joined together by diffusion soldering. Some holes to receive feedthroughs are formed at the junction of the base and a wall.

Abstract: A universal I/O interface is presented which allows communication with a number of different instruments independent of the underlying I/O configuration. The universal I/O interface is a set of Component Object Model (COM) interfaces that are independent of the underlying I/O bus and API. In addition, the universal I/O interface allows instrument data to be parsed and instrument commands to be formatted in a programming language independent way. In the preferred embodiment, the universal I/O interface comprises an ActiveX Automation Server that abstracts the APIs for various possible underlying I/O buses and vendor software libraries into a single universal I/O interface. This allows instrument application programmers to design applications that are universally supported on any number of instrument I/O buses.

Abstract: An equalizer employed with a receiver for cancelling an interfering signal due to low cross-polarization isolation. The present equalizer provides a simple and inexpensive cross-polarization interference cancellation system. The equalizer uses an error signal generated in a residual carrier detector to determine the magnitude of an interfering signal and inputs a cancelling signal to the co-polarized channel until power in the error signal is minimized. In the equalizer, the determination of the magnitude of the interfering signal is performed at baseband (after demodulation but prior to data detection) and the cancellation is performed at RF, prior to dispersive microwave elements. In the receiver, co- and cross-polarized signals are received and amplified. A copy of the cross channel input signal is supplied to each receiver channel. An RF vector modulator is used to control the phase and amplitude of the cross-polarized signal prior to summation with a desired co-polarized signal.

Abstract: Co-oligmers of the formula R.sub.f --E.sub.m --(S).sub.n --[M.sub.1 ].sub.x --[M.sub.2 ].sub.y --H and mixtures thereof, wherein R.sub.f is a perfluoroalkyl group, E is a linkage group, M.sub.1 represents a non-ionic hydrophilic monomer unit, M.sub.2 represents an anionic hydrophilic monomer unit, n and m are optionally 0 or 1, and x and y represent the number of monomer units present in the novel co-oligomers, the sum of x and y being between 5 and 200, and y/(x+y) being between 0.01 and 0.98; are useful as additives in polar-solvent fire-fighting compositions when used in conjunction with polysaccharides and other adjuvants. They improve dynamic foam stability and vapor suppressing ability of the foam, thereby reducing the flammability of polar solvent contaminated foams and consequently improving extinguishment and burnback resistance.