Abstract: The invention relates to at least one novel neural cell differentiation medium for the production of neural cells from at least one precursor cell capable of lineage specific differentiation; a method for neural cell differentiation using said medium; the use of said medium and said method for lineage specific differentiation of at least one precursor cell towards a neural cell fate; and a kit of parts comprising said at least one said neural cell differentiation medium.

Abstract: A diaphragm pump having an improved wobble plate and cam/bearing assembly for increased pump life and improved inlet and outlet valve design for increased effective sealing area. A cam/bearing assembly includes a cam injection molded directly into an inner race of a bearing to prevent the cam from pulling away from the bearing. The wobble plate is injection molded directly onto an outer race of the bearing to prevent the wobble plate from pulling away from the cam and bearing. Inlet and outlet check valves include rounded peripheral relief zones that form a band, as opposed to a line, of effective sealing area when in the sealed position within a valve seat that eliminate or reduce sealing inconsistencies and increase sealing efficiencies.

Abstract: Embodiments may include a delivery mechanism failover. In one embodiment, a first portion of content and a first direction may be provided in response to a request for the content. The first direction may indicate a delivery mechanism from which to retrieve a second portion of the content. An indication of a failed delivery of the second portion of the content from the delivery mechanism may be received. In some embodiments, the indication of the failed delivery may be stored. Based on the received indication of the failed delivery, the first portion and a second direction may be provided in response to another request for the content, with the second direction indicating that the second portion is to be retrieved from another delivery mechanism.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable medium (CRM) for performing a staged points-to analysis of an object-oriented codebase, including obtaining the codebase and a points-to query, slicing the codebase to obtain a program slice, and performing a type analysis of the program slice to compute a type set. The method, system, and CRM include refining the program slice, after performing the type analysis, by resolving virtual dispatch sites based on the type set, and performing, after refining the program slice, a context-insensitive points-to analysis of the program slice to compute a first points-to set. The method, system, and CRM include re-refining the program slice, after performing the context-insensitive points-to analysis, by resolving the virtual dispatch sites based on the first points-to set, and performing, after re-refining the program slice, a context-sensitive points-to analysis of the program slice to compute a second points-to set, which is provided to a developer.

Abstract: A command log selectively logs commands that have the potential to create conflicts based on instance locks. Lock times can be used to distinguish cases where the instance is locked by the application host at a previous logical time from cases where the instance is concurrently locked by the application host through a different name. A logical command clock is also maintained for commands issued by the application host to a state persistence system, with introspection to determine which issued commands may potentially take a lock. The command processor can resolve conflicts by pausing command execution until the effects of potentially conflicting locking commands become visible and examining the lock time to distinguish among copies of a persisted state storage location.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable medium (CRM) for performing a staged points-to analysis of an object-oriented codebase, including obtaining the codebase and a points-to query, slicing the codebase to obtain a program slice, and performing a type analysis of the program slice to compute a type set. The method, system, and CRM include refining the program slice, after performing the type analysis, by resolving virtual dispatch sites based on the type set, and performing, after refining the program slice, a context-insensitive points-to analysis of the program slice to compute a first points-to set. The method, system, and CRM include re-refining the program slice, after performing the context-insensitive points-to analysis, by resolving the virtual dispatch sites based on the first points-to set, and performing, after re-refining the program slice, a context-sensitive points-to analysis of the program slice to compute a second points-to set, which is provided to a developer.

Abstract: A server has a processor and a memory storing instructions executed by the processor to maintain an ephemeral gallery of ephemeral messages. An ephemeral message is posted to the ephemeral gallery. The ephemeral message has an associated message duration parameter and a gallery participation parameter. An ephemeral message is removed from the ephemeral gallery in response to the identification of an expired gallery participation parameter.

Abstract: A deploy service is provided to determine a set of software artifacts that needs to be transmitted to a target machine upon receiving an application deployment request from a user of a client device. For instance, the deploy service may compare versions of software artifacts on the target machine with the software artifacts of the application that the user desires to deploy to determine the set of software artifacts that needs to be transmitted. Instead of having to transmit the entire application, some embodiments transmit only a small portion that is reflective of what has been changed between the old version of the application and the new version of the application. This enables the transfer of large files across the Internet to be more efficient.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for composing message processing pipelines. Embodiments utilize intra-pipeline communication links to physically and/or temporally decouple pipeline stages, configure branching message flows, and bridge protocols. The use of intra-pipeline communication links permits composition of a message processing pipeline without having to alter the pipeline components or application. Each communication link is itself an application with incoming and outgoing message processing pipelines that bridge messages across time and/or space and application logic for satisfying message processing requirements.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for persistent application activation and timer notifications. A durable instance manager, instance execution hosts, and an instance store interoperate to transition instances between executing and persisted states. System properties are associated with an instance. System properties can define re-activation conditions, that when satisfied, indicate that an instance is to be re-activated for execution. System properties can define timers as well as indications that instances are in a persisted but ready to run state.

Abstract: A rendezvous abstraction that is used to correlate messages within message exchange. The rendezvous abstraction may be instantiated to correlate messages regardless of the type of message exchange pattern, and regardless of the underlying protocols used to communication message. Messages exchanges of primitive protocols are modeled as unilateral message exchanges. The rendezvous abstraction is used to correlate messages of the unilateral message exchange, and serves as an abstraction that is used to represented the rendezvous point where the message of the message exchange pattern are handled. Accordingly, instead of focusing on the protocol-specific mechanisms for correlation, if even available, the application author may simply work with a standard rendezvous abstraction.

Abstract: A deploy service is provided to determine a set of software artifacts that needs to be transmitted to a target machine upon receiving an application deployment request from a user of a client device. For instance, the deploy service may compare versions of software artifacts on the target machine with the software artifacts of the application that the user desires to deploy to determine the set of software artifacts that needs to be transmitted. Instead of having to transmit the entire application, some embodiments transmit only a small portion that is reflective of what has been changed between the old version of the application and the new version of the application. This enables the transfer of large files across the Internet to be more efficient.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for coordinating application sate and communication mediums state. Embodiments of present invention provide a mechanism for a communication medium to provide a view of message content for a message (a peek) to an application along with the communication medium preventing further access to the message (a lock) until the application signals back how to handle the message. Thus, the communication medium indicates that the message is locked for the duration of processing at the application. Indicating that the message is locked significantly reduces the chance of the message being provided to another application (or another consumer of the same application) during the time the application is processing the view of message content.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for hierarchically disassembling messages. The functionality of disassemblers and framers is decoupled such that framers for different types of messages can be utilized at the same level in a hierarchy without having to also change disassemblers. Virtually any level of disassembly is possible to address any corresponding level of message nesting. Disassembly can be performed on a per message or per session basis.

Abstract: One way to improve fuel efficiency of a vehicle is to detect the vehicle operational shortcomings related to fuel consumption by determining whether fuel used during operation of the vehicle is normal fuel use or wasted fuel use. Considerations of idling, speeding and inappropriate gear shifts are some ways to measure the amount of fuel wasted due to operator shortcomings. Communicating this information to the operator in real-time so adjustments can be made will improve vehicle fuel efficiency. These techniques are applicable to tracking employment of other driving best practices as well.

Abstract: A deploy service is provided to determine a set of software artifacts that needs to be transmitted to a target machine upon receiving an application deployment request from a user of a client device. For instance, the deploy service may compare versions of software artifacts on the target machine with the software artifacts of the application that the user desires to deploy to determine the set of software artifacts that needs to be transmitted. Instead of having to transmit the entire application, some embodiments transmit only a small portion that is reflective of what has been changed between the old version of the application and the new version of the application. This enables the transfer of large files across the Internet to be more efficient.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a computer-implemented method includes receiving a request for a reliability estimate associated with an ad hoc application. In response to the request, one or more components associated with the ad hoc application and upon which the ad hoc application relies are identified. The method also includes generating a directed graph. The directed graph identifies one or more dependency relationships among the identified components. The method also includes calculating, based at least in part on the directed graph, a reliability estimate for the ad hoc application.

Abstract: One way to improve fuel efficiency of a vehicle is to improve the usage of various gears. One way to measure the amount of fuel wasted due to suboptimal gear shifting is to compare the actual gear used for various driving conditions with the optimal gear used. Such comparisons may be combined with determinations of amount of fuel used to determine how much fuel has been lost due to suboptimal shifting. These techniques are applicable to tracking employment of other driving best practices as well.

Abstract: An instance persistence command for an update to a state of an instance of an application can be issued. In response to the persistence command, a transaction with an instance store can be initiated. As part of the transaction, a first representation of the update can be stored in the instance store and a second representation of the update can be stored in a queue. The transaction can be committed after storing the first and second representations. After the transaction is committed, the second representation can be processed to store a third representation of the update in a query store. Application instance state information in the query store can be updated and queried without locking the instance store so that such operations in the query store can be performed asynchronously with operations in the instance store.

Abstract: Processing messages. Messages are processed based on a characteristic derived from information in messages, metadata about messages, or other information external to messages. Values for one or more pieces of information are received. At least one of the values for one or more pieces of information is associated with a first message. Queries are received. The queries specify one or more of the pieces of information. At least a portion of the plurality of values for the one or more pieces of information is processed in conjunction with the one or more queries to create one or more normalized characteristics for the first message. The one or more normalized characteristics for the first message are in a same format irrespective of the format of the pieces of information. The first message, and/or other messages, is processed based on at least one of the one or more normalized characteristics.