Abstract: A sensor system (1) for measuring an electrical signal across a lipid bilayer is formed by a cell (2) and an electrical reader unit (3) which are connectable together. The cell (2) is capable of supporting a lipid bilayer across an aperture (11) in a membrane (10) and has a construction which is cheap to manufacture. The reader unit (3) is a portable device which monitors an electrical signal generated in the connected cell (2) to allow analysis of that electrical signal. The sensor system (1) is intended for use outside of a laboratory setting.

Abstract: An automatically adjustable fifth wheel assembly for a vehicle and trailer combination that adjusts the position of the trailer relative to the vehicle is provided.

Abstract: A method for providing network services includes the ability to dynamically and flexibly configure resources in a network server platform to service classes and sets of network traffic. According to one aspect, a programmable network server platform can be configured to bind multiple traffic classes in a mixture of inline and tap modes to a group of CPUs. Traffic having the associated classes can be configured to pass directly through while sending a copy down to one or more CPUs, as well as load balanced to a group or sub group of CPUs. According to another aspect, different applications or configurations can be run on different groups or sub groups of CPUs allowing complete flexibility.

Abstract: A data acquisition device for an auto triggering thereof comprises a movement detector, a distance detector, a processor, and a data acquiring component. The movement detector detects movement data of the data acquisition device. The movement data indicates a state of movement for the data acquisition device. The state of movement is one of static and dynamic. The distance detector detects distance data between the data acquisition device and an object to which data is to be acquired. The processor receives the movement data to determine the state of movement and, when the state of movement is determined to be static, receives the distance data to determine the distance of the object from the data acquisition device. The data acquiring component acquires the data from the object when the processor initially determines that the state of movement is static and subsequently determines the distance is within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A system and associated method for tracing state information of a target object. The target object is a data item of an application object executed in a virtual machine. Upon detecting a triggering event pertaining to the target object while executing the application object, the virtual machine stores the state information of the target object in a target state info object in a heap space such that the state information is maintained across instances of the virtual machine. The target object is associated with the target state info object by using a weak hash map entry such that the target state info object is garbage collected when the target object is garbage collected and such that the state information is not excessively accumulated. A system dump containing the target object and the target state info object is produced when the application object fails.

Abstract: A method of remote displaying and processing based on Server/Client architecture adopts a technical scheme of specific inter-frame increment compression and data comparison compression of the adjacent area-bits of the inner-frame within the side of Server, thus removing the intricate computation mode in the traditional inter-frame compression scheme, and reducing the resource usage of a computer; the side of the client adopts an increment refreshing mode to display an image, only refreshes the changed part, if the part was changed, then the part was refreshed; so that the refreshing speed of the remote desktop is improved highly, while the system resource usage of the computer is reduced highly.

Abstract: One object of the invention is to provide instrumentation and a method for efficient and reliable assaying and measuring samples. The teachings include an automated self-contained instrument for assaying and measuring samples, wherein the samples are located on wells of sample plates, and the instrument comprises a plurality of units for processing or storing sample plates. The instrument according to the teaching may comprise at least one dispensing unit for dispensing reagents or other assay components to the sample wells, at least two units for simultaneously processing or storing a plurality of sample plates, at least one unit for removing substance from the sample wells, and one or several measurement units, the measurement unit(s) providing a capability for the instrument to optically measure samples in at least two measurement modes.

Abstract: A method for forming a lipid bilayer across an aperture, comprises: (a) providing a cell having a chamber adjacent to a septum comprising a membrane having an aperture capable of supporting a lipid bilayer; (b) depositing one or more lipids on an internal surface of the chamber; (c) introducing an aqueous solution into the chamber to cover the aperture and the internal surface and to form an interface between the solution and lipids; and (d) moving the interface past the aperture at least once to form a lipid bilayer across the aperture.

Abstract: A simple, convenient, contaminant-resistant padding system for adding protective padding to a wide variety of hospital operating room and non-hospital related equipment is disclosed. The padding system includes an anchor having a first surface configured to be affixed to a mounting surface of an object to be protected and a second surface. The anchor also includes a protruding element formed on the second surface. The protruding element extends outward from the second surface. The system also includes a pad having a deformable recess configured to form-fit over the protruding element to hold the pad in place adjacent the mounting surface of the object to be protected. In various embodiments, the protruding element consists of one of the following shapes: hook-shaped, round, ball, oval, square, or rectangular. The deformable recess in the pad has a complementary shape. In various other embodiments, the pads can be shaped to fit over and protect one or multiple sides of an object to be protected.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a medical boom with articulated arms and a base cabinet designed to accommodate modular equipment and utility racks that include video processing, computer, and electronic, and other utility equipment that can be easy inserted and removed from the base cabinet, as well as a method of manufacturing and using the same. The boom includes a stationary base that is configured to be installed into an operating room and one or more boom arms supported by the stationary base and configured to extend over an operating table in the operating room. The structural base includes one or more bays configured to receive a modular rack of electrical equipment. In various embodiments, the structural base cabinet further incorporates wiring to connect the equipment installed in the modular racks to video monitors and other equipment mounted on the articulated booms. The modular racks are preconfigured with a variety of electronic equipment such as computers, video processors and the like.

Abstract: The spam blocker monitors the SMTP/TCP/IP conversation between a sending message transfer agent MTA—0 and a receiving message transfer agent MTA—1; catches MTA—0's IP address IP—0, MTA—0's declared domain D—0, from-address A—0; and to-address A—1; and uses this source and content based information to test for unsolicited messages. It interrupts the conversation when MTA—0 sends a RCPT command and uses the various test results to decide if the message is suspected of being unsolicited. If the message is suspected of being unsolicited and to-address is not in the save_spam database then the spam blocker logs the rejected message, sends an error reply to MTA—0 which forces MTA—0 to terminate the connection before the body of the message is transmitted.

Abstract: The spam blocker monitors the SMTP/TCP/IP conversation between a sending message transfer agent MTA—0 and a receiving message transfer agent MTA—1; catches MTA—0's IP address IP—0, MTA—0's declared domain D—0, from-address A—0; to-address A—1, and the body of the message; and uses this source and content information to test for unsolicited messages. It interrupts the conversation when MTA—0 sends a .\r\n end-of-message indicator and uses the various test results to decide if the message is suspected of being unsolicited. If the message is suspected of being unsolicited then it logs the rejected message and sends an error reply to MTA—0 which forces MTA—0 to send a QUIT command before the body of the message is transmitted; else it logs the allowed message and releases the intercepted RCPT command which allows the conversation between MTA—0 and MTA—1 to proceed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a medical boom with articulated arms and a base cabinet designed to accommodate modular equipment and utility racks that include video processing, computer, and electronic, and other utility equipment that can be easy inserted and removed from the base cabinet is disclosed. The boom includes a stationary base that is configured to be installed into an operating room and one or more boom arms supported by the stationary base and configured to extend over an operating table in the operating room. The structural base includes one or more bays configured to receive a modular rack of electrical equipment. In various embodiments, the structural base cabinet further incorporates wiring to connect the equipment installed in the modular racks to video monitors and other equipment mounted on the articulated booms. The modular racks are preconfigured with a variety of electronic equipment such as computers, video processors and the like.

Abstract: To form a layer separating two volumes of aqueous solution, there is used an apparatus comprising elements defining a chamber, the elements including a body of non-conductive material having formed therein at least one recess opening into the chamber, the recess containing an electrode. A pre-treatment coating of a hydrophobic fluid is applied to the body across the recess. Aqueous solution, having amphiphilic molecules added thereto, is flowed across the body to cover the recess so that aqueous solution is introduced into the recess from the chamber and a layer of the amphiphilic molecules forms across the recess separating a volume of aqueous solution introduced into the recess from the remaining volume of aqueous solution.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a stationary medical boom that can be easily installed on the floor of an existing operating room and that has one or more articulated arms used to position audio, video and medical equipment over an operating table in an operating room. The boom includes a stationary base configured to be attached to the floor of the operating room. One or more articulated boom arms are supported by the stationary base and extend out over the operating table. Articulated appendage arms, extending from the boom arms, are configured to support the audio, video and other medical equipment used in the operating room in the vicinity of the operating table. Both the articulated boom arm and the articulated appendage arm can be moved in either the X and/or Y directions. Consequently, the equipment supported by the appendage arm can be moved in virtually any position around the operating table.

Abstract: The spam blocker monitors the SMTP/TCP/IP conversation between a sending message transfer agent MTA—0 and a receiving message transfer agent MTA—1; catches MTA—0's IP address IP—0, MTA—0's declared domain D—0, sender_address A—0; and recipient A—1; and uses this source and content based information to test for unsolicited messages. It interrupts the conversation when MTA—0 sends a command specifying the recipient (an “RCPT” command) and uses the various test results to decide if the message is suspected of being unsolicited. If the message is suspected of being unsolicited then it logs the rejected message, sends an error reply to MTA—0 which forces MTA—0 to terminate the connection with MTA—1 before the body of the message is transmitted; else it logs the allowed message, releases the intercepted RCPT command which allows the conversation between MTA—0 and MTA—1 to proceed.

Abstract: A method of remote displaying and processing based on Server/Client architecture adopts a technical scheme of specific inter-frame increment compression and data comparison compression of the adjacent area-bits of the inner-frame within the side of Server, thus removing the intricate computation mode in the traditional inter-frame compression scheme, and reducing the resource usage of a computer; the side of the client adopts an increment refreshing mode to display an image, only refreshes the changed part, if the part was changed, then the part was refreshed; so that the refreshing speed of the remote desktop is improved highly, while the system resource usage of the computer is reduced highly.

Abstract: A power pack with human interface devices that includes a power pack housing, which is detachably interfaced to a portable device. The power pack includes a power source internal to the housing for providing power, a light source internal to the housing for producing a light signal associated with a status, which light signal is viewable external to the housing, and an audio source internal to the housing for producing an audio signal associated with the status. The power pack interfaces electrically to the portable device to provide power thereto, and receive therefrom control signals associated with the status, which control signals activate at least one of the light source and audio source according to the status.

Abstract: An improved upper capsule portion (62) of an oral drug delivery capsule (60) that includes an upper capsule portion (62) and a lower cup shaped capsule portion (64), the lower cup shaped capsule portion (64) containing a medical formulation (66), the lower capsule portion (64) being made of a material that disperses in gastrointestinal fluid, the lower capsule portion (64) having a mouth, the upper capsule portion (62) dimensioned to engage with the mouth of the lower capsule portion (64). The improvement is the positioning of a communication device, such as an RFID tag (90), on or integrally with the upper capsule portion (62) so that the communication device can communicate that the oral drug delivery capsule has been ingested. An alternate embodiment with an improved lower capsule portion is also disclosed.

Abstract: A multimedia call center is formed by providing agent group handlers and generic queue handlers, which communicate over a LAN. The generic features of the queue handlers are an input, and a ranked set of outputs, each having a store for a designer-defined destination address. In this way, media input queue handlers can be commanded to route directly to an agent group handler, via a primary output, or to a following queue handler in dependence upon a selection parameter of a call record, e.g. a user dialed digit in response to a menu announcement from an IVR apparatus, and in this case the menu digits will have a corresponding ranking so that the ranked outputs can be used directly for routing to the appropriate next handler. The designer can specify destinations for secondary and other outputs, which could be overflow agent group handlers, further queue handlers, or, in the case of a second stage queue handler, the network input of the first stage queue handler.