Abstract: A method includes configuring a flash memory device including a first memory sector having a primary memory sector correspondence, a second memory sector having an alternate memory sector correspondence, and a third memory sector having a free memory sector correspondence, copying a portion of the primary memory sector to the free memory sector, erasing the primary memory sector, and changing a correspondence of each of the first memory sector, the second memory sector, and the third memory sector.

Abstract: A lift truck power source includes a hybrid power supply including a storage battery, a capacitor bank, and optionally a fuel cell. The capacitor bank stores power produced during regeneration by either the truck traction system or the lift system and delivers current when current demand exceeds that delivered by the fuel cell. The storage battery or fuel cell acts as a main power supply to deliver current at a rate sufficient to power the lift truck. When the fuel cell is the main power supply, the storage battery stores power during times when current demand is less than that delivered by the fuel cell and delivers current at times when current demand is greater than that delivered by the fuel cell. When the storage battery is the main power supply, the fuel cell supplements the power delivered by the storage battery, and can also recharge the storage battery.

Abstract: An actuation system for a bodily fluid extraction device includes a detector cap, at least one vibration sensor connected to the detector cap, and at least one signal processing unit in communication with the vibration sensor. In addition, the signal processing unit is configured to receive an output signal from the vibration sensor, analyze the received output signal, and to send an actuation signal to the bodily fluid extraction device based on the analysis of the received output signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of substituted 5-isoxazolidinone antibiotics. More specifically the patent relates to the production of compounds that mimic the antibiotic action of ?-lactams, are resistant to ?-lactamase degradation, and inhibit all classes of ?-lactamase.

Abstract: A system for multimodal information services includes a multimodal information service mechanism for providing the multimodal information services. An information user connects to a first network through at least one communication device, the first network connecting to the multimodal information service mechanism, the information user requesting and receiving the multimodal information services from the multimodal information service mechanism through the device. An information source connects to the multimodal information service mechanism via a second network, the information source providing multimodal information to the multimodal information service mechanism to facilitate the multimodal information services.

Abstract: An electromagnetic micropump for pumping small volumes of liquids and gases comprises a magnetic actuator assembly, a flexible membrane and a housing defining a chamber and a plurality of valves. The magnetic actuator assembly comprises a coil and a permanent magnet for deflecting the membrane to effect pumping of the fluid. A plurality of micropumps may be stacked together to increase pumping capacity.

Abstract: An electrochemical-based analytical test strip includes an electrically-insulating substrate and a metal electrode (e.g., a gold metal electrode) disposed on a surface of the electrically-insulating substrate. The metal electrode has an upper surface with hydrophilicity-enhancing chemical moieties thereon. In addition, the electrochemical-based analytical test strip also includes an enzymatic reagent layer disposed on the upper surface of the metal electrode.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a portion of an electrochemical-based test strip comprising includes forming a metal electrode(s) with an upper surface on a surface of an electrically-insulating substrate. The method also includes treating the upper surface of the metal electrode(s) with a hydrophilicity-enhancing composition to form a treated upper surface on the metal electrode with hydrophilicity-enhancing chemical moieties thereon and depositing an enzymatic reagent layer on the treated upper surface of the metal electrode(s).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bioactive material, particularly one which comprises SiO2 and CaO and optionally Na2O and/or P2O5, for use in stimulating vascularisation and pharmaceutical compositions, wound dressings, tissue constructs and delivery systems which include such a bioactive material.

Abstract: A cap for use with a dermal tissue lancing device (that includes a housing and a lancet movable with respect to the housing) includes a proximal end for engaging with the housing, a distal end for engaging with dermal tissue and an opening for a portion of the lancet to pass through. The distal end of the cap includes portions for engaging dermal tissue. These portions are resiliently deformable such that, when the cap contacts and is urged towards dermal tissue, the portions deform resiliently, engaging the dermal tissue and approaching theretogether. A process for the collection of a fluid sample (e.g., blood) from dermal tissue includes providing a dermal tissue lancing device with a housing, a cap and a lancet that is moveable with respect to the housing and the cap. The cap includes a proximal end for engaging with the housing, a distal end for engaging with dermal tissue, and an opening for a portion of the lancet to pass through.

Abstract: A method of making a printed circuit board in which openings of different length are formed using a cover atop one of the openings to prevent dielectric material from an interim layer of heat-deformable dielectric material from entering the opening when the sub-composite having the opening therein is bonded to a second sub-composite. The bonded sub-composites are then provided with a second opening which extends there-through, this second opening being longer than the first. Pins of an electrical component may then be inserted within the first and second openings of different length.

Abstract: A distributed DNS network includes a central origin server that actually controls the zone, and edge DNS cache servers configured to cache the DNS content of the origin server. The edge DNS cache servers are published as the authoritative servers for customer domains instead of the origin server. When a request for a DNS record results in a cache miss, the edge DNS cache servers get the information from the origin server and cache it for use in response to future requests. Multiple edge DNS cache servers can be deployed at multiple locations. Since an unlimited number of edge DNS cache servers can be deployed, the system is highly scalable. The disclosed techniques protect against DoS attacks, as DNS requests are not made to the origin server directly.

Abstract: An electromagnetic micropump for pumping small volumes of liquids and gases comprises a magnetic actuator assembly, a flexible membrane and a housing defining a chamber and a plurality of valves. The magnetic actuator assembly comprises a coil and a permanent magnet for deflecting the membrane to effect pumping of the fluid. A plurality of micropumps may be stacked together to increase pumping capacity.

Abstract: An actuation system for a bodily fluid extraction device includes a detector cap, at least one vibration sensor connected to the detector cap, and at least one signal processing unit in communication with the vibration sensor. In addition, the signal processing unit is configured to receive an output signal from the vibration sensor, analyse the received output signal, and to send an actuation signal to the bodily fluid extraction device based on the analysis of the received output signal.

Abstract: A method and mechanism for a distributed on-demand computing system. The system automatically provisions distributed computing servers with customer application programs. The parameters of each customer application program are taken into account when a server is selected for hosting the program. The system monitors the status and performance of each distributed computing server. The system provisions additional servers when traffic levels exceed a predetermined level for a customer's application program and, as traffic demand decreases to a predetermined level, servers can be un-provisioned and returned back to a server pool for later provisioning. The system tries to fill up one server at a time with customer application programs before dispatching new requests to another server. The customer is charged a fee based on the usage of the distributed computing servers.

Abstract: A dynamic image delivery system receives a client request for an image at an image caching server. The image caching server measures the client's network access speed and looks for an appropriate pre-rendered copy of the requested image that is rendered for the client's network access speed in local storage. If the appropriate rendered copy is found, then the image caching server sends the rendered image to the client. If it is not found, then the image caching server dynamically renders a copy of the image and sends it to the client.

Abstract: A load balancing service for a plurality of customers performs load balancing among a plurality of customer Web servers. Requests for Web content are load balanced across the customer Web servers. The load balancing service provider charges a fee to the customers for the load balancing service. A caching service is also provided that comprises a plurality of caching servers connected to a network. The caching servers host customer content that can be cached and stored, e.g., images, video, text, and/or software. The caching servers respond to requests for Web content from clients.

Abstract: A material handling vehicle includes first and second control handles positioned at opposing ends of an operator compartment. The first control handle is positioned adjacent the forks for driving the vehicle in a fore or forks first direction, and the second control handle is positioned adjacent the back of the vehicle for driving the vehicle in the aft or forks trailing direction. The control handles provide stability for the operator and an intuitive operator interface irrespective of direction of travel.

Abstract: There is described a method of communicating over a public data network, for example the Internet. A user of a public PC, for example one located in an Internet café, uses the Internet browser provided on the public PC to downloaded from a remote trusted web site a secure Internet browser that then runs within the browser provided on the public PC. The user uses the secure Internet browser to browse the Internet. The secure browser has been configured so that no copy of information transmitted into the network or downloaded from the network is cached or otherwise recorded on the hard disc of the terminal. The user may thus browse the Internet without leaving a record of sensitive information (e.g. credit card details) used in the browsing session at the public terminal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of substituted 5-isoxazolidinone antibiotics. More specifically the patent relates to the production of compounds that mimic the antibiotic action of &bgr;-lactams, are resistant to &bgr;-lactamase degradation, and inhibit all classes of &bgr;-lactamase.