Abstract: A workload manager is operable with a distributed transaction processor having a plurality of processing regions and comprises: a transaction initiator region for initiating a transaction; a transaction router component for routing an initiated transaction to one of the plurality of processing regions; an affinity controller component for restricting transaction routing operations to maintain affinities; the affinity controller component characterized in comprising a unit of work affinity component operable with a resource manager at the one of the plurality of processing regions to activate an affinity responsive to completion of a recoverable data operation at the one of the plurality of processing regions.

Abstract: An automated liquid inventory monitoring and inventory reconciliation system. The system uses a liquid densitometer to precisely measure the density of liquid being dispensed. This allows the system to account for the significant temperature-induced volume variations existing in common liquids such as gasoline. In the preferred embodiments, a fuel inventory processor tracks the quantity of fuel loaded into the tank and the quantity of fuel dispensed to maintain an ongoing computation of the quantity of fuel that should be present in the tank. An accurate tank depth measurement device is also employed. The processor compares the tank depth measurement to the computed quantity of fuel in the tank and uses the values to create an updated tank strapping chart.

Abstract: A mold for making dry cast concrete blocks includes a pair of vertical shoulder forming sections, one along each of the opposite sides of the mold to form vertical front shoulders of a block. Each shoulder forming section has a shoulder roughening arrangement to result in molded, roughened shoulders of the block. Methods of making such blocks and the resulting block are included.

Abstract: The disclosed technology relates generally to devices comprising conductive polymers and more particularly to electrochemical devices comprising self-compensating conductive polymers. In one aspect, electrochemical energy storage device comprises a negative electrode comprising an active material including a redox-active polymer. The device additionally comprises a positive electrode comprising an active material including a redox-active polymer. The device further comprises an electrolyte material interposed between the negative electrode and positive electrode and configured to conduct mobile counterions therethrough between the negative electrode and positive electrode.

Abstract: A device for determining the presence and/or quantity of one or more analytes in a sample of human body fluid has a container for receiving a sample of body fluid, with an interior that is delimited by a base and by a circumferential surface. It further comprises at least one test strip and a holding element for receiving and holding the one or more test strips. The holding element is designed such that it has a shape corresponding and adapted to the peripheral circumferential surface of the container. The device further comprises an elongate sampling element having an absorbent sampler that takes up the sample of body fluid and by means of which the sample of body fluid is transferred into the container. The sampling element can include an indicator strip for determining whether the amount of liquid sample sufficient for carrying out an assay.

Abstract: A transforming flower doll may include a doll body. The doll body may include a torso with an interior cavity defined in at least a portion of the torso. A head may be connected to the torso. At least one flower may include a stem. The stem may include a stem distal end opposite the head of the doll body. The stem may further include a stem proximal end opposite the stem distal end. The stem proximal end may extend into the interior cavity of the doll body. A sleeve may be connected to the torso between the head of the doll body and the stem distal end of the at least one flower. The sleeve may be configured to substantially cover the doll body in a flower mode position. The sleeve may also be configured to leave the doll body substantially uncovered in a doll mode position.

Abstract: In position-only shading, two geometry pipes exist, a trimmed down version called the Cull Pipe and a full version called the Replay Pipe. Thus, the Cull Pipe executes the position shaders in parallel with the main application, but typically generates the critical results much faster as it fetches and shades only the position attribute of the vertices and avoids the rasterization as well as the rendering of pixels for the frame buffer. Furthermore, the Cull Pipe uses these critical results to compute visibility information for all the triangles whether they are culled or not. On the other hand, the Replay Pipe consumes the visibility information to skip the culled triangles and shades only the visible triangles that are finally passed to the rasterization phase. Together the two pipes can hide the long cull runs of discarded triangles and can complete the work faster in some embodiments.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing network timing functionality. In some embodiments, a grand master clock(s) might receive a first timing signal from a global positioning system (“GPS”) source via a GPS antenna(s), and might send a second timing signal (which might be based at least in part on the first timing signal) to a slave clock(s), in some cases, via one or more network elements or the like. A computing system might calculate various transmission times for the second timing signal to be transmitted between the grand master clock(s) and the slave clock(s), and might calculate any time delay differences in the transmission times, might generate a third timing signal based at least in part on the calculated time delay differences (if any), and might send the third timing signal to one or more network elements, thereby providing Accurate Synchronization as a Service (“ASaaS”) functionality.

Abstract: The invention provides viral vectors (e.g., herpes viral vectors) and methods of using these vectors to treat disease.

Abstract: A method for providing users gaming advice based upon the structure of a game based upon an external activity, where the external activity operates independently of the game. The user provides parameters and receives gaming advice allowing the user to increase their odds of winning by picking high-value picks, even when the high-value picks appear to have poor traditional odds.

Abstract: A machine and method for making bags is described and includes a web, traveling from an input section to a rotary drum, to an output section. The rotary drum includes at least one seal bar, having a first sealing zone, and an adjacent weakening zone. The weakening zone may be a heated perforator, includes a heating wire, or be disposed to create an auxiliary sealed area. The heating wire can have, connected thereto, a source of power that is at an adjustable voltage or magnitude, and/or pulsed, and/or a feedback loop. The heating wire may be an NiCr wire and make intermittent contact with the web and be disposed in an insert. The weakening zone may create a line of weakness that is uniform or varies in intensity, is a separating zone, or includes a heat film, a toothed blade, a row of pins, a source of air, or a source of vacuum. The sealing zones may include temperature zones, cartridge heaters, cooling air, or heated air, or a source of ultrasonic, microwave or radiative energy.

Abstract: An economizer includes a separation wheel, a motor, and a liquid storage portion. The separation wheel is arranged and configured to separate refrigerant into gas refrigerant and liquid refrigerant. The separation wheel is attached to a shaft rotatable about a rotation axis. The motor is arranged and configured to rotate the shaft in order to rotate the separation wheel. The liquid storage portion is arranged and configured to store the liquid refrigerant. The economizer is adapted to be used in a chiller system including a compressor, an evaporator and a condenser.

Abstract: A communication device is removable and operable within a vehicle and is in communication with a data network as the communication device travels in the vehicle. Vehicle identification data is obtained from the communication device, and a type of media file supported by a media system of the vehicle is determined based upon the vehicle identification data. Media content is obtained in a format corresponding to the determined type of media file. When the communication device is within a desired range of a target location, the media content is transmitted to the communication device for presentation on the media system of the vehicle.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method implemented in an agricultural machine harvesting alfalfa plants, the method comprising: receiving, in real time, input corresponding to a plurality of sensed parameters corresponding to alfalfa plant height and cut alfalfa volume; associating the cut alfalfa volume to an alfalfa stem diameter; and automatically determining a feed quality value for the alfalfa plants based on the sensed alfalfa plant height and the alfalfa stem diameter.

Abstract: An admixture includes a cementitious component, an unprocessed biomass component, calcium chloride, calcium carbonate, and an adhesive element. The admixture is suitable for mixing with water to form a flowable material that cures to produce a hardened material. A flowable material includes the admixture and water. A method of producing a flowable material includes turning on a mixer and adding an unprocessed biomass component to a drum of the mixer. The unprocessed biomass component is sprayed with an adhesive element to form a first composition. Calcium carbonate is added to the first composition in the mixing chamber, to form a second composition. The second composition is mixed. A cementitious component is added to the mixed second composition in the mixing chamber, to form a third composition, which is mixed with water and calcium chloride to produce the flowable material. The flowable material cures to form the hardened material.

Abstract: A method and electron linac system for production of radioisotopes is provided. The electron linac is an energy recovery linac (ERL) with an electron beam transmitted through a thin bremsstrahlung radiator. Isotopes are produced through bremsstrahlung photon interactions in an isotope production target that is spatially separated from the bremsstrahlung radiator. The electron beam does not pass through the isotope production target. The electron beam energy is recollected and reinjected into the linac accelerating structure. The reduction of material in the beam by removing the isotope production target and making the radiator thin is the essential aspect of the invention because large spreads in energy and transverse scattering angles caused by material in the beam preclude efficient energy recovery. The method described here can reduce the cost of energy to produce a quantity of radioisotope by more than a factor of 3 compared to a non-ERL bremsstrahlung method.

Abstract: The invention provides viral vectors (e.g., herpes viral vectors) and methods of using these vectors to treat disease.

Abstract: Vessel wound closure systems and method for sealing a puncture wound in a target vessel, such as those puncture wounds that occur from prior interventional procedures. A sealing member is deployed intravascularly into the target vessel, and an anchor member is deployed extravacularly of the target vessel. The sealing member and the anchor member are connected by a suture that may be drawn to tighten the sealing member and the anchor member relative to one another in order to effect the seal of the puncture wound. After tightening, the suture is secured to maintain the sealing member and the anchor member relative to one another in order to maintain the seal. Preferably, the anchor member, the suture and the sealing member are comprised of biocompatible, bioresorbable materials that are absorbed into the body after the sealing of the puncture wound has been achieved.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method provides a designated link in a notification to an intended recipient of the message. The designated link includes a unique identifier associated with the message. Upon receiving a request to access the message, the method authenticates the request. Authentication includes verifying whether the request corresponds to the designated link provided in the notification. If the request passes authentication, the method communicates the message.

Abstract: A device for determining the presence and/or quantity of one or more analytes in a sample of human body fluid has a container for receiving a sample of body fluid, with an interior that is delimited by a base and by a circumferential surface. It further comprises at least one test strip and a holding element for receiving and holding the one or more test strips. The holding element is designed such that it has a shape corresponding and adapted to the peripheral circumferential surface of the container. The device further comprises an elongate sampling element having an absorbent sampler that takes up the sample of body fluid and by means of which the sample of body fluid is transferred into the container. The sampling element can include an indicator strip for determining whether the amount of liquid sample sufficient for carrying out an assay.