Abstract: Systems and methods that facilitate persona-based application personalization are disclosed. A persona is a conglomeration of a group of archetypal users that represent the personalization needs of many users and is based on observed behavior and patterns associated with the group of users. Users can be grouped into personas, and the personas can be analyzed to facilitate application personalization at a person level. Individual users can then be mapped to personas based on correlations of their respective individual behaviors and/or usage patters to the usage patterns of the persona as a whole.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for coordinating the installation and removal a motor control center subunit with the power connection and interruption thereof. A system of interlocks and indicators causes an operator to install a motor control center subunit into a motor control center, and connect supply and control power thereto, in a particular order. Embodiments of the invention may prevent actuation of line contacts of the bucket, and shield the line contacts, until the bucket is fully installed in the motor control center. Other embodiments also prevent circuit breaker closure until the line contacts are engaged with a bus of the motor control center.

Abstract: Integrated Combustion Reactors (ICRs) and methods of making ICRs are described in which combustion chambers (or channels) are in direct thermal contact to reaction chambers for an endothermic reaction. Particular reactor designs are also described. Processes of conducting reactions in integrated combustion reactors are described and results presented. Some of these processes are characterized by unexpected and superior results, and/or results that can not be achieved with any prior art devices.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for detecting radial flows of conductive fluid are provided. In an embodiment of the present invention, shields are used to prevent or reduce circulating electrical currents from causing a voltage difference that would adversely affect the measured voltage difference between two adjacent electrodes. The shields may be a conduit through which conductive fluid may flow. Groups of sensors, e.g., two or more, may be placed within the shield. The shields may have any cross-section shape. Generally, once the circulating electrical current flow between the electrode pairs is substantially reduced or eliminated, only the voltage difference from the localized induced electric field remains. This way, a true induced voltage may be measured, and thus an accurate value for the fluid velocity may be determined.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for extending the shelf-life of fresh produce. The method comprises coating the exterior surface of the produce with a coating composition comprising an aqueous solution of from about to about 3 percent by weight of a chitosan or modified chitosan, from about 0.1 to percent by weight of an organic acid, from about 0.02 to about 0.1 percent by weight of a surfactant, and optionally plants growth regulators, antimicrobials, plasticizers and antifoaming agents.

Abstract: A method is provided for pricing used equipment. The method may include automatically collecting data associated with used equipment from one or more data sources, wherein the data includes valuation data and classification data associated with the used equipment. The method may also include automatically operating on the data associated with the used equipment, storing the operated data in a storage system, and determining a machine price based on the valuation data and classification data associated with the used equipment stored in the storage system.

Abstract: A device for wide-field and high resolution imaging of an object surface includes first and second imaging modalities, a lens associated with the second imaging modality. The first imaging modality has a high resolution imaging means with a first observation line. The second imaging modality is arranged in an image plane at a first angle with respect to an object plane and has a second observation line and a wider imaging field than the first imaging modality. The lens associated with the second imaging modality is arranged in a lens plane at a second angle with respect to the object plane, where the second angle being equal to about one-half of the first angle. The first and second imaging modalities are mutually arranged such that the first and second optical axes intersect at a point on the object plane.

Abstract: Novel hapten-carrier conjugates are capable of inducing the production of antibodies, in vivo, that specifically bind to nicotine. These conjugates comprise a nicotine hapten conjugated to an immunogenic carrier protein. The novel conjugates preserve the chirality of nicotine in its native (S)-(?) state, and have good stability properties. The conjugates are useful in formulating vaccines for active immunization, that are used to prevent and treat nicotine addiction. The antibodies raised in response to the nicotine hapten-carrier conjugate are used for passive immunization. These antibodies are administered for prevention and treatment of nicotine addiction.

Abstract: An air bearing surface of a slider is described. In one embodiment, the air bearing surface comprises a center channel. The air bearing surface further comprises a plurality of side channels, wherein at least one side channel of the plurality of side channels is open to the center channel, and a plurality of pocket areas. The center channel, the plurality of side channels, and the plurality of pocket areas are configured to allow air to flow along the center channel toward the trailing edge of the ABS, such that a change in ambient pressure and a change and relative velocity of a head assembly with respect to a data storage medium of a data storage device would not significantly affect the fly height of a head assembly utilizing the ABS.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for generating and isolating an informative content repository of respiratory related biomarkers to accurately determine whether an individual has normal or abnormal pulmonary function. Specifically, methods are directed to determination of whether individuals have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and if so, whether the affected individuals experience rapid long decline or slow lung decline as a result of COPD. Also disclosed is an informative content repository of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease biomarkers, which when linked with other informative content provides a powerful tool for diagnosis, study, therapeutic discovery and development, condition management, health maintenance, and linking chronic obstructive pulmonary disease through pattern of life style, environmental exposure, and genetic susceptibility and inheritance.

Abstract: An assembly and method for manufacturing a composite reinforcement for unitizing a structure are provided. According to one embodiment, the assembly includes a base having a plurality of pins extending outwardly therefrom to define a structure about which a composite fiber is wound to define a composite reinforcement preform. The assembly also includes a plurality of mandrels positioned adjacent to the base and at least a portion of the composite reinforcement preform, and a cap that is positioned over at least a portion of the plurality of mandrels. The cap is configured to engage each of the mandrels to support the mandrels and the composite reinforcement preform during a curing process to form the composite reinforcement.

Abstract: An implantable medical device operates according to a ventricular pacing protocol (VPP) that precludes ventricular pacing in any cardiac cycle where a sensed ventricular event has occurred in the preceding cycle. Improved ventricular sensing, detection and classification is provided.

Abstract: A method comprises observing communication through a virtualized interface between at least one virtual machine (VM) and a driver domain. The method further comprises determining for each of the at least one VM, based on the observed communication through the virtualized interface, an amount of communication between the VM and the driver domain. In certain embodiments, the method further comprises determining for each of the at least one VM, based on the determined amount of communication between the VM and the driver domain, CPU utilization of the driver domain attributable to the VM. In certain embodiments, the driver domain comprises a network driver domain. In certain embodiments, the driver domain comprises an isolated network diver domain.

Abstract: A composition and method of treating symptoms of diarrhea that utilize administering an effective amount of an isolated calcium aluminosilicate anti-diarrheal (“CASAD”), wherein the isolated CASAD is substantially free from T4-dioxin and toxic heavy metal contamination, waiting a period of time; and repeating the administration of the composition until the symptoms of diarrhea are mitigated. The symptoms of diarrhea may be associated with chronic or infectious diseases, inflammatory proteins, treatment using drugs, or treatment using a chemotheraputic agent in a subject in need of treatment. The isolated CASAD is capable of binding inflammatory proteins, drug metabolites, and chemotherapeutic agents. The isolated CASAD can be administered in any suitable form, such as in tablet, powder, or suspension form, and can be administered by any suitable route, such as orally.

Abstract: A sensing platform for monitoring a transmission system may include a sensor that senses one or more conditions relating to a condition of the transmission system or and/or the condition of an environment around the transmission system. A control system operatively associated with the sensor produces output data based on an output signal produced by the sensor. A transmitter operatively associated with the control system transmits the output data from the control system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the treatment of immune system abnormalities that can be found in lethal human cancers and also in the progressive Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) infections and provides medicaments to correct abnormalities in a subject with cancer or HIV-1-infected subjects, in order to allow the immune system to fight the cancer or HIV-1 infections. The present invention also discloses multivalent polypeptides which specifically bind to and enable destruction and/or inactivation of immune cells that have CD11b and CD3 on their surface, therefore dissipating the deleterious effects of the CD11b+ T cells.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for communicating between threads in a processor. The method includes reserving a first portion of a cache in a processor for an inbox. The inbox is associated with a first thread being executed by the processor. The method also includes receiving a packet from a second thread, wherein the packet includes an access request. The method further includes using inbox control circuitry for the inbox to process the received packet and determine whether to grant the access request included in the packet.

Abstract: A self-contained, integrated mobile readpoint unit capable of reading at least one electronic tag that includes a housing, a power source located proximate the housing, at least one reader located proximate the housing that is capable of reading from and writing to the at least one tag and receives power from the power source, and a repositionable antenna structure that includes at least one readpoint antenna capable of communicating a signal to and from the electronic tag.

Abstract: A process control system simulation technique performs real-time simulation of an actual process control network as that network is running within a process plant in a manner that is synchronized with the operation of the actual process control network. This real-time, synchronized simulation system includes a simulation process control network and a process model which are automatically updated periodically during the operation of the actual process control network to reflect changes made to the process control network, as well as to account for changes in the plant itself, i.e., changes which require an updated process model. The disclosed simulation system provides for more readily accessible and usable simulation activities, as the process control network and the process models used within the simulation system are synchronized with and up-to-date with respect to the current process operating conditions.

Abstract: A multifunctional regulator provides a housing having an inlet passage joined with an outlet passage through a poppet valve. The housing has a control diaphragm separating the control chamber into a first volume and a second volume and depending on the differential pressure between the two volumes, the diaphragm will push open the poppet valve. Pressurizing and depressurizing valves join the first volume with the inlet and outlet passages, whereby, with an inlet pressure level within the inlet passage greater than an outlet pressure level within the outlet passage, and with the pressurizing valve admitting the inlet pressure level to the first volume, the diaphragm is displaced into the second volume thereby forcing the poppet valve to open and thereby raising the outlet pressure toward the inlet pressure with fluid flow from the inlet to outlet passages.