Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for automatically managing incentives associated with an electric vehicle charging transaction is provided. Incentives are received from a set of sources to form received incentives, by an incentive service. Applicable incentives are selected from the received incentives based on an identification of an electric vehicle, a charging station, and a set of principals associated with the electric vehicle charging transaction, by the incentive service. A set of selected incentives is identified from the received incentives for utilization in the electric vehicle charging transaction. The set of selected incentives is sent to an energy transaction planner, wherein the energy transaction planner incorporates the set of selected incentives into an energy transaction plan that is used to control the electric vehicle charging transaction.

Abstract: A rearfoot post comprises a stop segment and an elastic segment operatively coupled along an axis of rotation. The stop segment is fabricated from a firm or rigid material. The elastic segment compresses and expands in response to foot motion. The elastic segment can include an elastomer or a spring. In some embodiments, the stop segment and the elastic segment are operatively coupled by a hinge, and the axis of rotation coincides with the axis of the hinge. Depending on service applications, a plate can be attached to the bottom of the stop segment and to the bottom of the elastic segment. Embodiments of the rearfoot post also include a heel cup. A heel cup with a flat bottom is advantageous for controlling stability of the foot and reducing shock on the heel.

Abstract: A coalescence voice mail service provider enables a user to access all of the user's voice mail systems implemented within the various telecommunications systems the user has accounts with. Using any one of the telecommunications devices of the user, the user accesses voice mail from any one or more of the user's cell phone, home phone, work phone, PDA, home computer and work computer. A voice mail broker communicates with each of these different voice mail systems to collect voice mail messages and send messaging for manipulating such voice mail messages to and from each of the telecommunications systems. Such a system provides the user with a single interface for accessing the user's diverse voice mail systems.

Abstract: The present invention provides antisapstain compositions comprising a haloalkynyl compound, an azole and an unsaturated carboxylic or sulphonic acid. The compositions of the invention are surprisingly effective at protecting wood and other cellulosic substrates, in particular at providing antisapstain activity. The invention also provides methods for treating wood and other cellulosic substrates with said compositions.

Abstract: An approach is provided that prints print jobs based on energy demand data. The print job manager, which is a software application running on an information handling system receives a print request, the print request including a print job. The print job manager retrieves energy demand data. The energy demand data corresponds to a power grid that is a power source for a printer accessible from the information handling system. If the energy demand data indicates a a non-elevated energy demand, then the print job is printed on the printer. On the other hand, if the energy demand data indicates an elevated energy demand, then the print request is stored in a storage and the process waits until the energy demand is not elevated, at which time the print job is printed on the printer.

Abstract: Systems and methods of application integration, including constructing an application integration adapter in dependence upon a profile including data describing the adapter, receiving instructions to alter the adapter, and altering the adapter in dependence upon the instructions. Exemplary embodiments of the invention include communicating integration messages among applications through the adapter as altered. In typical embodiments, receiving instructions to alter the adapter includes detecting changes in the adapter profile. In such embodiments, detecting changes in the adapter profile includes creating a copy of the profile, and periodically comparing the profile and the copy. In other exemplary embodiments, receiving instructions to alter the adapter includes receiving from an application an administrative integration message bearing the instructions to alter the adapter. In such embodiments, altering the adapter in dependence upon the instructions includes updating the profile.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compound of formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, wherein: Ring A is (4-12)-membered heterocyclyl; Ring B is a fused benzene ring selected from the group consisting of: Ring A, ring B, ring C, R1, R1a, R2, R3, R4, L2, n, t, w, and z are as defined in the specification. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of formula (I) and methods of treating a condition that is mediated by the modulation of glucokinase, the method comprising administering to a mammal an effective amount of a compound of formula (I).

Abstract: A deterministic UDF processing mechanism processes user-defined functions (UDFs) using multiple hash tables. Data access patterns for a UDF are collected, and an appropriate hash table set is then determined for the UDF from the data access patterns. If a UDF accesses some similar columns and some disjoint columns, the similar columns are grouped together, and one or more hash tables are allocated to the similar columns. Disjoint columns are allocated their own hash tables. In addition, the allocation of hash tables may be adjusted based on historical access patterns collected over time. By dynamically allocating and adjusting sets of hash tables to a deterministic UDF, the performance of the UDF is greatly increased.

Abstract: Cigarettes are manufactured using modified automated cigarette making apparatus. Those cigarettes possess smokable rods having wrapping paper having additive materials applied thereto as patterns. The additive materials, which can include a starch and/or a polymer, are applied to a continuous paper web either online or offline the cigarette making apparatus. The formulation can be applied to the paper web using application apparatus possessing a series of rollers. In particular, a wrapping paper for a smokable rod can include a pattern of bands having a water-insoluble material comprising a starch ester, a starch-coated inorganic filler, and/or a thermoplastic polymer in an amount such that the material is sufficiently deformable so as to (a) reduce an amount of pressure to apply the bands, (b) decrease paper diffusivity, and (c) maintain paper opacity at a level acceptable for commercial production of the smokable rods.

Abstract: Apparatus for bonding rubber O-Rings from cord stock, rubber extrusions and extruded tubing materials, consists of heated die-sets, holding fixtures, electronic module, assembly device, spring clamping and pneumatic clamping arrangement. The combined heated die-set and holding fixture are two separable heat conductive blocks having a common interface. Apertures are located across the interface having diameters or matching shapes of extrusions, these apertures are slightly less than the cord or extrusion dimensions, the rubber is axially mated in the open heated aperture, and will stay unlovable when the clamping device is closed. The electronic module controls both a heating and timing device for proper control of maintaining a constant temperature and accurate timing cycle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compound of formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, wherein: Ring A is (4-12)-membered heterocyclyl; Ring B is a fused benzene ring selected from the group consisting of: Ring A, ring B, ring C, R1, R1a, R2, R3, R4, L2, n, t, w, and z are as defined in the specification. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of formula (I) and methods of treating a condition that is mediated by the modulation of glucokinase, the method comprising administering to a mammal an effective amount of a compound of formula (I).

Abstract: A filtered cigarette possesses a smokable rod and a filter element. The smokable rod is secured to the filter element using tipping material. The cigarette possesses more than one layer of tipping material. An outer layer of tipping material can overlie at least a portion of an underlying inner layer of tipping material, and during use by the smoker, the outer layer can be removed from the cigarette. Thus, it is possible for a cigarette manufacturer to provide a cigarette that can be used as such by the smoker, or that can be adapted by the smoker to provide a different sensory experience (e.g., the visual, organoleptic, trigeminal, aromatic, and tactile characteristics of the cigarette can be altered by removal of the outer tipping material). Alternatively, the use of the outer layer of tipping material can be used to improve the physical integrity of the cigarette.

Abstract: A needle-free injector device comprising a latch having a safe position which disables the triggering of the device, and a ready position which restrains movement of a dispensing member but enables triggering and a triggered position which permits movement of the dispensing member is disclosed. An additional safety mechanism blocks the triggering of the device until removed. A cap is provided to maintain the sterility and stability of the drug formulation and is configured such that the cap removal is required prior to placing the device in a ready to trigger state.

Abstract: A rescue device includes a control module to sense an avalanche, sense the direction of the surface and establish a target path to the surface. A nozzle is selected or oriented by the control module along the target path. A fluid reservoir is connected to the nozzle to force a fluid through the nozzle along the target path to the surface. This allows rescuers to identify the location of a victim and also provides an air path to the victim.

Abstract: An instant messaging client presents messages and removes the messages from display after a predetermined amount of time. In one preferred embodiment, the predetermined amount of time is agreed upon by all participants during a policy negotiation. Each message may be associated with a display time and when the current time differs from the display time by a predetermined amount, the message is removed from the display. Messages may also be presented in a non-editable display area to prevent manual logging of the messaging content.

Abstract: A filtered cigarette possesses a smokable rod and a filter element. The smokable rod is secured to the filter element using tipping material. The cigarette possesses more than one layer of tipping material. An outer layer of tipping material can overlie at least a portion of an underlying inner layer of tipping material, and during use by the smoker, the outer layer can be removed from the cigarette. Thus, it is possible for a cigarette manufacturer to provide a cigarette that can be used as such by the smoker, or that can be adapted by the smoker to provide a different sensory experience (e.g., the visual, organoleptic, trigeminal, aromatic, and tactile characteristics of the cigarette can be altered by removal of the outer tipping material). Alternatively, the use of the outer layer of tipping material can be used to improve the physical integrity of the cigarette.

Abstract: A needle-free injector device comprising a latch having a safe position which disables the triggering of the device, and a ready position which restrains movement of a dispensing member but enables triggering and a triggered position which permits movement of the dispensing member is disclosed. An additional safety mechanism blocks the triggering of the device until removed. A cap is provided to maintain the sterility and stability of the drug formulation and is configured such that the cap removal is required prior to placing the device in a ready to trigger state.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fabric sail (1) which maintains a minimal surface. An elastic boundary is attached to the edges of an elastic membrane, and the edges (4) are shaped so that the membrane of the sail maintains a minimal surface configuration despite being deformed by the boundary. The sail therefore distributes strain across the sail surface and is thus free of wrinkles and creases. Points on the elastic membrane itself can be displaced but still form a minimal surface as defined by the boundary and the displaced surface connection points. In addition, strain matching allows the boundary and the elastic membrane to optimally share the strain caused by any deformation.

Abstract: Deployment descriptor files are generated for automation of installation and integration of computing system solution components by associating configurable behavioral models with a system solution design, configuring instantiations of the models to contain behavioral parameters, and, responsive to a user defining a connection between two model instances, displaying an intelligence form according to an expertise level of the user, receiving user inputs establishing configuration and option parameters for the connected model instances, saving the configuration and option parameters in a sub-template that defines the interface between the model instances in the system solution design, generating deployment descriptors by extracting the behavioral and configuration parameters from each sub-template, and packaging the configured behavioral model instances and deployment descriptor files into an application package for automatic deployment.

Abstract: A filtered cigarette includes a smokable rod and a filter element. The smokable rod is secured to the filter element using tipping material. The tipping material includes at least one flavorant providing a sensory characteristic. The cigarette may include more than one layer of tipping material. An outer layer of tipping material can overlie at least a portion of an underlying inner layer of tipping material, and during use by the smoker, the outer layer can be removed from the cigarette. Thus, it is possible for a cigarette manufacturer to provide a cigarette that can be used as such by the smoker, or that can be adapted by the smoker to provide a different sensory experience (e.g., the visual, organoleptic, trigeminal, aromatic, and tactile characteristics of the cigarette can be altered by removal of the outer tipping material, and or by provision of a tipping material layer that is treated with a flavorant and/or provides a desirable diffusivity).