Abstract: Calling plan information is provided whenever a user makes a call that fits within the plan. The user may be assigned an account related to the calling plan with information associated with the account. The information may include a time function such as the time remaining until expiration of the calling plan or the time used in the calling plan. A call made from an originating number that is associated with the calling plan triggers the provision of information. After the information is provided, the call may be routed to a terminating number as dialed by the user. After the call, the information associated with the calling plan may be updated.

Abstract: A fuel supply system for a gas turbine engine comprises a first positive displacement pump (16), a second positive displacement pump (27), said first and second positive displacement pumps (16, 27) being operable simultaneously for the supply of fuel from a low pressure source, and switching valve means (14) downstream of said first positive displacement pump (16) for changing a connection mode between said first and second positive displacement pumps (16, 27) between a series mode and a parallel mode.

Abstract: A method of monitoring the health of a positive displacement hydraulic pump comprising the steps of: establishing a flow path having a known flow number between a high pressure outlet line of the pump (and a low pressure line of the system; progressively changing the speed of operation of the pump; and, noting the speed of operation of the pump at a parameter responsive to the output pressure of the pump changes in response to said change in rotational speed of the pump.

Abstract: A suspension system has an upper link mounted at an inner end to a vehicle body or subframe by an inner spherical joint and connected at an outer end to an upper end of a vertically extending hub carrier, by an outer spherical joint; a lower wishbone, the lower wishbone being mounted at an inner end to a vehicle body or subframe for pivotal movement about a horizontal, longitudinally extending axis, by means of a pair of spaced compliant bushes and connected at an outer end to a lower end of the hub carrier by a lower spherical joint; and an interlinking wishbone, the interlinking wishbone being pivotally connected at a lower end to the lower wishbone, intermediate of the inner and outer ends thereof, by a hinge or revolute joint, the interlinking wishbone being connected at an upper end to the upper link by an intermediate spherical joint, the centre of rotation of the intermediate spherical joint being offset from a line joining the centres of rotation of the inner and outer spherical joints, the intermedia

Abstract: An authenticated RFID system is provided that uses elliptic curve cryptography (ECC) to reduce the signature size and read/write times when compared to traditional public key implementations such as RSA. Either ECDSA or ECPVS can be used to reduce the signature size and ECPVS can be used to hide a portion of the RFID tag that contains sensitive product identifying information. As a result, smaller tags can be used or multiple signatures can be written at different stages in a manufacturing or supply chain. A key management system is used to distribute the verification keys and aggregate signature schemes are also provided for adding multiple signatures to the RFID tags, for example in a supply chain.

Abstract: An ice harvesting prevention mechanism, including an actuator, is provided for an ice maker. The ice maker is arranged to make, harvest and dispense ice to an ice bucket located in an ice receiving position. An ice harvesting prevention device is arranged to prevent dispensing of ice in a first position of the actuator and to permit dispensing of ice in a second position of the actuator. The ice bucket itself, or a movable button carried on the ice bucket, may engage the actuator, when the ice bucket is placed in the ice receiving position, to move the actuator from the first position to the second position. The button may be moved to an “off” position to prevent engagement with the actuator, thereby preventing dispensing of ice when the ice bucket is in the ice receiving position.

Abstract: A global property trading board game having a game board with a continuous travel path divided into stations being associated with respective countries and having markings, including economic values representative of the respective countries' gross domestic product. Movement of a game-piece along the travel path is determined by a chance-controlled device. Each player is allocated a line of credit represented by international business cards in various monetary denominations. The respective players are further assigned a global region constituting a trade-bloc of countries. A player may acquire the assets of any country corresponding to the station in which the game-piece is located, assuming the assets are not owned by another player, by payment of the designated economic value utilizing the player's international business cards. When a competing player's game-piece is located within a station wherein the assets are owned by another player the competing player must pay a tax to that player.

Abstract: A method of simulating a telecommunications network may include providing a database including status information for a plurality of virtual network elements. More particularly, the status information for each of the plurality of virtual network elements may include a respective network element identifier. A communication including a received network element identifier may be received. If the received network element identifier does not correspond to a network element identifier included in the database, status information for a new virtual network element may be added to the database and the status information for the new virtual network element may include the received network element identifier. After adding the status information for the new virtual network element, a communication regarding the new virtual network element may be transmitted. Related systems and computer program products are also discussed.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for providing a usage pattern for a customer of an intelligently-switched telecommunications system. The usage pattern provides historical information concerning the customer's use of the telecommunications system. One embodiment includes communicating either with the telecommunications system or with a data network and receiving a query for the customer's usage pattern. The query could originate from the customer using a computer device operating on the data network or from the customer using a telephonic/wireless device operating on the telecommunications system. The usage pattern is acquired from either a service control point operating on the telecommunications system or a database operating on the data network. The usage pattern is then communicated to the customer along either the data network or the telecommunications system, whereby the customer uses the computer device, or the telephonic/wireless device, to access the usage pattern.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and compositions for producing Factor VIII proteins. Such methods include introducing into a cell a nucleic acid molecule encoding a Factor VIII protein operably linked to a promoter, wherein the promoter is characterized by the ability to produce commercially viable Factor VIII protein; and incubating the cell under conditions for producing commercially viable Factor VIII protein. Also provided are nucleic acid molecules which encode a Factor VIII protein operably linked to a Chinese hamster elongation factor 1-? (CHEF1) promoter, which may be used in the methods provided herein.

Abstract: The invention relates to commercially viable methods for producing biologically active vitamin K dependent proteins, particularly Factor IX. Factor IX is produced at a level of at least about 15 mg/L and is at least 25% biologically active. The method relies upon co-expression of one or more of paired basic amino acid converting enzyme (PACE), vitamin K dependent epoxide reductase (VKOR) and vitamin K dependent ?-glutamyl carboxylase (VKGC) at a preferred ratio so that the vitamin K dependent protein is efficiently produced and processed by a recombinant cell.

Abstract: This invention relates to improvements in thermal management in deformable mirrors. In particular, this invention relates to a deformable mirror comprising a heat spreader used to distribute thermal energy evenly across the mirror. Diamond material 104, on account of its extremely high thermal conductivity, is a preferred choice of heat spreader which permits build up of thermal energy in the mirror 100 to be quickly and evenly distributed across the entire mirror surface, increasing the working life of the mirror.

Abstract: The invention resides in the innovative use of deposition techniques in deformable mirrors. The use of deposition techniques allows contact pads for electrodes to be located wherever convenient. When applied to bimorph mirrors the invention enables both electro-restrictive layers to become active, increasing the stroke of the deformable mirror whilst retaining temperature insensitivity. A controllably-deformable mirror according to the invention comprises a deposition layer; a first electro-restrictive plate; a mirror surface; and a plurality of electrodes comprising a set of electrodes defined as regions on a first surface of the first electro-restrictive plate, the set of electrodes comprising a first electrode and a second electrode; and a common electrode on a second surface of the first electro-restrictive plate.

Abstract: A novel class of peptide nucleic acids are described which include a conjugate attached thereto. The peptide nucleic acids generally comprise ligands such as naturally occurring DNA bases attached to a peptide backbone through a suitable linker.

Abstract: A fuel supply system for a gas turbine engine comprises a first positive displacement pump (16), a second positive displacement pump (27), said first and second positive displacement pumps (16, 27) being operable simultaneously for the supply of fuel from a low pressure source, and switching valve means (14) downstream of said first positive displacement pump (16) for changing a connection mode between said first and second positive displacement pumps (16, 27) between a series mode and a parallel mode.

Abstract: A suspension system for a vehicle with a chain driven rear wheel includes: a rear suspension assembly and chain driven transmission arrangement that offers very high levels of anti-brake lift and anti-squat and does so consistently through a large range of rear suspension movement; a front suspension assembly/steering system with a steering axis inclined in the side view at an angle of castor which intersects the ground in front of the center of the contact patch, the front suspension assembly having a high degree of anti-brake dive; the front and rear suspension assemblies being interconnected in such a way as to offer low resistance to anti-phase motion and higher resistance to in-phase motion.

Abstract: An exemplary method of manufacturing a polymer matrix composite electromagnetic shielding structure includes pretreating a dry fiber reinforcement with a composition including a carrier and a conductive element, laying out the pretreated reinforcement to form a pre-form structure, applying a resin to the pre-form structure, and curing the resin at room temperature. Another exemplary method of manufacturing a polymer matrix composite electromagnetic shielding structure includes laying out a plurality of dry fiber reinforcements, placing at least one ply between any two of the plurality of dry fiber reinforcements, the ply having a non-woven including a conductive material, applying a resin to the plurality of dry fiber reinforcements and the at least one ply, and curing the resin.

Abstract: An aircraft gas turbine engine fuel metering unit incorporating a memory device for storing data relevant to that unit, and an electrical connection arrangement whereby data can be read from and/or written to said memory device by an associated electronic engine controller, said stored data including data relating to at least one of the performance, the identification, the health, and the service life of that fuel metering unit. The invention further resides in an aircraft gas turbine engine fuel supply system and a method of operating such a system.

Abstract: Calling plan information is provided whenever a user makes a call that fits within the plan. The user may be assigned an account related to the calling plan with information associated with the account. The information may include a time function such as the time remaining until expiration of the calling plan or the time used in the calling plan. A call made from an originating number that is associated with the calling plan triggers the provision of information. After the information is provided, the call may be routed to a terminating number as dialed by the user. After the call, the information associated with the calling plan may be updated.

Abstract: A fuel control system for a staged combustion engine comprising, a fuel metering unit including a fuel metering valve having a fuel metering orifice the opening of which is varied to meter the flow of fuel through the metering valve in use, a fuel staging unit receiving fuel from the metering valve of the fuel metering unit and incorporating a staging valve for dividing the flow of fuel from the fuel metering unit to pilot burner and main burner output lines, a connection between a fuel pressure region of said fuel metering unit and a port of said staging valve, and, overthrust detection means causing said staging valve, in response to overthrust detection, to connect said port of said staging valve to low pressure, whereby to drain fuel under pressure from said pressure zone of said fuel metering unit to low pressure to limit or reduce the fuel supplied from the fuel metering unit to the fuel staging unit and thus to the engine in use.