Abstract: The system and methods describe transaction spoofing detection based on a transaction notification from a mobile computing device, determining a location associated with the mobile computing device, determining an entity associated with the location that the transaction notifications are directed to at the geographic location, determining whether the transaction is directed to the first entity and providing an indication on the first mobile computing device indicating the transaction may be a security risk.

Abstract: A method of presenting data on a mobile device is provided, comprising reading a compass and an accelerometer for sensing orientation and movement of the mobile device, initiating a local geographic search or query by pointing the mobile device in a desired direction, determining a boundary for search results, the boundary based on a current location of the mobile device, providing the boundary to a server, storing (a) search rules for a given location, (b) localized storage of POI data, and (c) logic for switching the search from a macro database to a micro database, and initiating a geographic query for points of interest (POIs) that have an associated geographic position within the boundary.

Abstract: Described are a method and device for controlling a temperature of a sample. The sample may be a rheometer sample. A thermal control system comprising a geometry element, heat conductor element, heater element, cooling device and thermal resistance layer is used. The cooling device may be a Peltier element. The heat conductor element is disposed adjacent to and in thermal communication with the geometry element. The heater element is in thermal contact with the heat conductor element. The thermal resistance layer is disposed between and in thermal contact with an element surface of the heat conductor element and a cooling surface of the cooling device. The heater element is operated to cause heat to flow to the geometry element and the cooling device is operated to cool the cooling surface to a temperature that is less than a temperature of the element surface.

Abstract: Described is a device for removal of excess material from a test sample. The test sample may be used in an instrument for measurement of rheological and mechanical properties sample properties. The device includes a test geometry and a trimming ring. The test geometry includes a lower geometry and upper geometry each having a circular outer edge and being centered on an axis of rotation. The trimming ring has a sidewall, a ring axis coincident with the axis of rotation and at least one cutting edge disposed along at least a portion of a circumference of the trimming ring at a diameter that is at least as great as a diameter of one or both the lower geometry and the upper geometry. The device further includes an actuator coupled to the trimming ring and configured to translate the trimming ring in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation.

Abstract: Described are a method and device for controlling a temperature of a sample. The sample may be a rheometer sample. A thermal control system comprising a geometry element, heat conductor element, heater element, cooling device and thermal resistance layer is used. The cooling device may be a Peltier element. The heat conductor element is disposed adjacent to and in thermal communication with the geometry element. The heater element is in thermal contact with the heat conductor element. The thermal resistance layer is disposed between and in thermal contact with an element surface of the heat conductor element and a cooling surface of the cooling device. The heater element is operated to cause heat to flow to the geometry element and the cooling device is operated to cool the cooling surface to a temperature that is less than a temperature of the element surface.

Abstract: A rotary rheometer includes a drive shaft and a dual read head optical encoder that is configured to measure angular displacement or angular velocity of the drive shaft.

Abstract: A rheometer includes a drive shaft, a drag cup motor for rotating the drive shaft, a first measuring object supported by the drive shaft, a second measuring object, a linear position sensor, and processing and control electronics. The linear position sensor includes a target (e.g., an aluminum target) mounted to the drive shaft, and a pair of coils. The linear position sensor is configured to measure thermal expansion of the drive shaft based on a change in impedance of the coils resulting from a displacement of the target relative to the coils. The processing and control electronics are in communication with the coils and are configured to adjust a position of one of the measuring objects relative to the other based on a change in impedance of the coils resulting from a displacement of the target relative to the coils, thereby to maintain a substantially constant measurement gap therebetween.

Abstract: A rheometer includes a drive shaft, a drag cup motor for rotating the drive shaft, a first measuring object supported by the drive shaft, a second measuring object, a linear position sensor, and processing and control electronics. The linear position sensor includes a target (e.g., an aluminum target) mounted to the drive shaft, and a pair of coils. The linear position sensor is configured to measure thermal expansion of the drive shaft based on a change in impedance of the coils resulting from a displacement of the target relative to the coils. The processing and control electronics are in communication with the coils and are configured to adjust a position of one of the measuring objects relative to the other based on a change in impedance of the coils resulting from a displacement of the target relative to the coils, thereby to maintain a substantially constant measurement gap therebetween.

Abstract: A rheometer includes a drive shaft, a drag cup motor for rotating the drive shaft, a first measuring object supported by the drive shaft, a second measuring object, a linear position sensor, and processing and control electronics. The linear position sensor includes a target (e.g., an aluminum target) mounted to the drive shaft, and a pair of coils. The linear position sensor is configured to measure thermal expansion of the drive shaft based on a change in impedance of the coils resulting from a displacement of the target relative to the coils. The processing and control electronics are in communication with the coils and are configured to adjust a position of one of the measuring objects relative to the other based on a change in impedance of the coils resulting from a displacement of the target relative to the coils, thereby to maintain a substantially constant measurement gap therebetween.

Abstract: A method of identifying a cell with increased production of a desired product, the method comprising: (a) providing a population of cells which produce the desired product; (b) introducing a plurality of distinct nucleic acid molecule species into the population of cells, wherein the nucleic acid molecules comprise a first region which is operably-linked to a second region, wherein the first region comprises a promoter region from a first gene, and the second region comprises a nucleic acid sequence from a second gene that is capable of expressing a regulatory product under control of the promoter region; (c) culturing the population of cells under conditions in which the cells express the regulatory product under control of the promoter region; and (d) testing the population of cells for production of the desired product, thereby to identify a cell or cells with increased production of the desired product.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the phase and frequency of the local clock of a USB device, the apparatus comprising circuitry for observing USB traffic and decoding from the USB traffic a periodic data structure containing information about the frequency and phase of a distributed clock frequency, and phase and circuitry for receiving the periodic data structure and generating from at least the periodic data structure a local clock signal locked in both frequency and phase to the periodic data structure. The circuitry for receiving the periodic data structure and generating the local clock signal can generate the local clock signal with a frequency that is a non-integral multiple of a frequency of the periodic data structure.

Abstract: A rheometer includes a drive shaft, a drag cup motor for rotating the drive shaft, a first measuring object supported by the drive shaft, a second measuring object, a linear position sensor, and processing and control electronics. The linear position sensor includes a target (e.g., an aluminum target) mounted to the drive shaft, and a pair of coils. The linear position sensor is configured to measure thermal expansion of the drive shaft based on a change in impedance of the coils resulting from a displacement of the target relative to the coils. The processing and control electronics are in communication with the coils and are configured to adjust a position of one of the measuring objects relative to the other based on a change in impedance of the coils resulting from a displacement of the target relative to the coils, thereby to maintain a substantially constant measurement gap therebetween.

Abstract: A method of controlling one or more devices in data communication with a common controller to perform one or more functions, each of the devices having a synchronous clock, a synchronized real time clock register and a memory, the method comprising: arming the devices such that the devices commence performing the functions synchronously, receive and store to their respective memory data acquired as a result of performing the functions and store to their respective memory time stamp information indicative of the time of acquisition of the acquired data; a trigger device in data communication with the common controller responding to a command to perform the functions by sending a first message to the host controller that includes data indicative of a time of receipt of the command; the host controller responding to the first message by sending the devices a second message including data indicative of the time of receipt by the further device of the command; and the devices responding to the second message by re

Abstract: A rotating union (10) comprises a housing (12), a bushing (14), a fluid conduit (16), an annular seal (18) and a cap (20) secured to the housing and having a fluid inlet. The bushing is received within a cylindrical recess (32) in the housing, and the fluid conduit is rotatably received by the bushing and passes through the bushing and a bore (40) in the housing. The annular seal is received within the housing recess, and sealingly engages a cylindrical outer surface (80) of the fluid conduit and the cylindrical wall (46) of the housing recess. The cap has a circular recess (104) and surrounding annular projection (106) which receives the input end of the fluid conduit. The annular seal is sandwiched between the bushing and the annular projection. When the fluid conduit rotates, its outer surface rotates under friction against the annular seal to maintain the seal.

Abstract: A rotating union (10) comprises a housing (12), a bushing (14), a fluid conduit (16), an annular seal (18) and a cap (20) secured to the housing and having a fluid inlet. The bushing is received within a cylindrical recess (32) in the housing, and the fluid conduit is rotatably received by the bushing and passes through the bushing and a bore (40) in the housing. The annular seal is received within the housing recess, and sealingly engages a cylindrical outer surface (80) of the fluid conduit and the cylindrical wall (46) of the housing recess. The cap has a circular recess (104) and surrounding annular projection (106) which receives the input end of the fluid conduit. The annular seal is sandwiched between the bushing and the annular projection. When the fluid conduit rotates, its outer surface rotates under friction against the annular seal to maintain the seal.

Abstract: A method of controlling one or more devices in data communication with a common controller to perform one or more functions, each of the devices having a synchronous clock, a synchronized real time clock register and a memory, the method comprising: arming the devices such that the devices commence performing the functions synchronously, receive and store to their respective memory data acquired as a result of performing the functions and store to their respective memory time stamp information indicative of the time of acquisition of the acquired data; a trigger device in data communication with the common controller responding to a command to perform the functions by sending a first message to the host controller that includes data indicative of a time of receipt of the command; the host controller responding to the first message by sending the devices a second message including data indicative of the time of receipt by the further device of the command; and the devices responding to the second message by re

Abstract: An optical rheometer system includes a rheometer chamber that can retain a fluid sample to be measured. A light source is provided that creates a light beam incident on the fluid sample. A Peltier heating plate is provided that has a channel region located within the plate. The channel region is configured to substantially transmit a light beam emitted from the light source and incident on the Peltier heating plate. In one embodiment, a rotating optical plate is provided opposed to a first surface of the Peltier plate. The rotating optical plate is substantially transparent such that light from a light beam emerging from the channel region of the Peltier plate can pass through the optical plate and be recorded at a detector. Peltier elements in the Peltier heating plate are arranged to provide uniform heating of sample fluid located on the first surface of the Peltier heating plate. The Peltier elements are further arranged to permit light to pass through the channel substantially unattenuated.

Abstract: An optical rheometer system includes a rheometer chamber that can retain a fluid sample to be measured. A light source is provided that creates a light beam incident on the fluid sample. A Peltier heating plate is provided that has a channel region located within the plate. The channel region is configured to substantially transmit a light beam emitted from the light source and incident on the Peltier heating plate. In one embodiment, a rotating optical plate is provided opposed to a first surface of the Peltier plate. The rotating optical plate is substantially transparent such that light from a light beam emerging from the channel region of the Peltier plate can pass through the optical plate and be recorded at a detector. Peltier elements in the Peltier heating plate are arranged to provide uniform heating of sample fluid located on the first surface of the Peltier heating plate. The Peltier elements are further arranged to permit light to pass through the channel substantially unattenuated.

Abstract: A rotary rheometer having a an upper heating/cooling assembly and a lower heating/cooling assembly located opposite one another opposite a sample gap. The lower heating/cooling assembly may comprise a Peltier heater and the upper heating/cooling assembly preferably comprises a heating element that mates with a heat spreader for heating and cooling the area above the sample and providing more uniform heating and cooling across the sample gap while also minimizing any chimney effect within the rheometer and/or providing heating/cooling capability that is insensitive to changes in the gap between an upper geometry and the lower heating/cooling assembly. The upper heating/cooling assembly may further comprise a cooling channel for cooling the upper heating/cooling assembly.

Abstract: A rotary rheometer having a magnetic thrust bearing. The thrust disk of the magnetic thrust bearing being situated between a pair of magnetic actuator assemblies and extending beyond the circumference of the actuator assemblies so as to encompass the magnetic flux lines generated by the actuator assemblies, thus minimizing likelihood of an undesirable preferential position or side load.