Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed that relate to encrypting data of a data item for storing in a data storage system comprising a plurality of disks having stripes. A blinding factor is constructed based on a stripe blind that is assigned to a stripe with which the data item is associated and a unique identifier associated with the data item. A first logic operation is performed between the blinding factor and an encryption key to create a blinded encryption key for the data item. The data item is decrypted by identifying the stripe blind with the unique identifier and recreating the data item's blinding factor based on the stripe blind and the unique identifier. A second logic operation, which is selected based on the first logic operation, is performed between the blinding factor and the blinded encryption key to recreate the encryption key.

Abstract: A gaming system comprises a wager input device for receiving wagers and at least one display for displaying a challenge-play game. The system further comprises a controller operative to detect an issuance of a challenge by a first player and an acceptance of the challenge by a second player to participate in the challenge-play game. The controller detects receipt of a wager input from at least one of the first and second players, and in response thereto, causes the at least one display to display the challenge-play game. The controller determines at least one outcome of the challenge-play game, and based upon the at least one outcome, adjusts the positions of one or both of the first and second players in a standings chart.

Abstract: A test insert for an integrated circuit according to the present invention comprises access contacts and an electrical path. Furthermore, there may be additional access contacts and a plurality of different electrical paths. The electrical path is comprised of a plurality of tracks, each track provided at a single layer of the integrated circuit and connected to the other tracks by interconnecting vias. The vias provide interlayer contacts and thus allow the tracks to be connected into a single electrical track. In one embodiment, an access contact is connected to ground; another contact is connected to a reference voltage; and connected to various points in the electrical path are transistor-resistor pairs. The transistor-resistor pairs are in connected between earth and a third access contact. If the electrical path is intact at the track connected to a transistor-resistor pair, a current can flow between contact and the respective earth of the transistor-resistor pair.

Abstract: 6-Methyl-5-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-N-{[5-(methylsulfonyl)pyridin-2-yl]methyl}-2-oxo-1-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-1,2-dihydropyridine-3-carboxamide 4-methylbenzenesulfonate and a novel crystalline form thereof are disclosed together with processes for preparing such salt and form, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such a salt and form, and the methods of treatment using such a salt and form.

Abstract: Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for deterministically skewing transmission of content streams. A content stream comprising one or more video frames is received. The content stream is buffered in a buffer, wherein the buffer allows simultaneous read access to the content stream at a plurality of locations. One or more video frames of the content stream are transmitted from the buffer to a first device associated with a first subscriber beginning at a first location in the buffer based on a first transmission delay parameter. One or more video frames of the content stream are transmitted from the buffer to a second device associated with a second subscriber beginning at a second location in the buffer based on a second transmission delay parameter.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates generally to a method and system for providing a flow through battery cell and uses thereof. In one embodiment, the flow through battery cell includes an inlet for receiving a flow of water, a solid oxidizer coupled to said inlet for reacting with said flow of water to generate a catholyte, wherein the solid oxidizer comprises at least one of: an organic halamine, a succinimide or a hypochlorite salt, a galvanic module coupled to the solid oxidizer for receiving the catholyte and generating one or more effluents and an outlet for releasing the one or more effluents.

Abstract: A social network advertises to its members with engagement interfaces. An engagement interface comprises a call to action and a link to perform the action within the social network from within the engagement interface. Responsive to a user selection of the link to perform the action, the engagement interface modifies one or more objects within the social network associated with the call to action according to the selection of the link to perform the action. The engagement interface may be refreshed on the user's screen to indicate to the user that the action has been performed. An engagement interface may also be presented to a user from the social network or from an external system apart from the social network.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention, reducing electrical energy stored in a load or in one or more leads for connecting a power supply with the load is achieved by plasma process power circuitry including a switch in operative connection with at least one of the leads for enabling/interrupting power to the load; a first electrical nonlinear device; an energy storing device arranged in series with the first electrical nonlinear device; and a pre-charging circuit in operative connection with the energy storing device, the pre-charging circuit configured to charge the energy storing device to a pre-determined energy level while power to the load is enabled.

Abstract: Described herein is a hover toy system having a source of air flow and a hover toy in a shape selected from the group consisting of a surfboard, a skateboard, a snowboard or other board like structure.

Abstract: The gasifier described includes, in its preferred embodiments, a vertically elongated (“oblong”) primary gasifier chamber with an auger and a fluidized bed, allowing for large amounts of fuel input when necessary. The gasifier further includes a gas treatment chamber receiving gases discharged from the gasifier chamber. The fluidized bed in the gasifier chamber as well as the gas treatment chamber contain metallic particles, with these metallic particles circulating in a closed loop between the gasifier chamber and the gas treatment chamber. This system offers numerous benefits. Some or all of said metallic particles can serve as a catalyst in the gasification of the gasifiable materials being processed, including serving as a catalyst for a Fisher Tropsch chemical process in the gasification of said gasifiable materials. In the gas treatment chamber particularly, some or all of said metallic particles serve to clean gases produced in the gasification of said gasifiable materials.

Abstract: A system for visually capturing and monitoring the contents and events surrounding a cargo container is provided. The system includes a camera such as a digital camera or still camera.

Abstract: A device, method, and computer-readable medium are provided. The device includes, but is not limited to, an antenna configured to receive a multipath signal and a processor operably coupled to the antenna to receive the multipath signal. The processor is configured to determine a training signal transmitted from a second device to create the received multipath signal; sample the received multipath signal; and determine channel coefficients based on the sampled multipath signal and the determined training signal using a mixed-norm convex optimization process, wherein the channel coefficients characterize a channel associated with the multipath signal.

Abstract: A method of gravel packing a hole in a subterranean formation having a filter cake coated on the surface thereof that includes injecting into the hole a gravel pack composition comprising gravel and a carrier fluid comprising a base fluid and at least one iminodiacetic acid or salt thereof is disclosed.

Abstract: Compositions comprising unsaturated fatty chains have reduced or eliminated base off-odour with the incorporation of a photobleach.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of injecting LPG gas into a diesel fuel engine for combustion with diesel fuel therein. One aspect includes injecting LPG gas into an air-stream of an engine air intake or manifold, measuring the percentage of LPG gas injected into the airstream or other efficiency gauge, varying the rate of injection of LPG gas into the airstream in response to the measured percentage of LPG gas therein and injecting the LPG gas at a pre-determined rate so as to maintain an LPG gas concentration in the air intake stream in the range of 0.2% to 0.6% by volume of LPG gas.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a pipe handling system for use with a tubular joining system (such as a welding or forging assembly) located on a drilling rig at a wellbore. In one aspect, a method of forming a string of pipe using a joining assembly at a wellbore is provided. The joining assembly includes an internal joining tool and an external joining tool. The method includes the step of picking up the pipe joint using an elevator. The method further includes the step of positioning a lower end of the pipe joint adjacent an end of a string of pipe disposed in the external joining tool. The method also includes the step of moving the internal joining tool from a first position to a second position relative to the elevator, wherein the second position is between the pipe joint and the string of pipe. The method further includes the step of forming a connection between the pipe joint and the string of pipe.

Abstract: A system for the communication of data used in the operation of a powered vehicle comprises a plurality of controllers onboard the powered vehicle for controlling operations of the vehicle. At least one of the controllers has a memory in which data is stored and the data is accessible and used by at least two of the controllers for controlling vehicle operations. A communication link is provided between the at least two controllers for sharing data stored in the memory of one of the controllers to control operations of the powered vehicle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing pockets containing a napkin (5). To this end, two web-shaped layers (1, 2) of a flat, flexible material are moved along a transport path and held at a distance apart from one another in one section of the transport path. Napkins (5) are individually picked up from a stack and placed between the layers (1, 2). Only then, downstream of the section in the web direction, are adjacent regions of the layers (1, 2) placed in contact with one another and joined to one another. The pockets formed in this manner are cut from the web-shaped layers (1, 2). In the section, a respective napkin (5) is moved in a direction essentially at a right angle to the web direction and placed between the layers (1, 2) in a position oriented essentially parallel with the web direction.

Abstract: System and method for assessing the occurrence of an unknown substance in a sample that comprises multiple entities. A reference library is provided comprising a plurality of reference data sets representative of at least one known substance. A first feature of the entities is assessed wherein the first feature is characteristic of the unknown substance. A region of interest is selected wherein the region of interest comprises at least one entity exhibiting the first feature. A spatially accurate wavelength resolved Raman image is obtained wherein each pixel in the image is the Raman spectrum of the sample at the corresponding location. The spatially accurate wavelength resolved image is assessed to thereby identify the unknown substance.

Abstract: A system and methodology that facilitates adaptive link diversity for enhanced coverage and capacity during user data communication in a UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) is provided. Specifically, current radio conditions associated with the user data are monitored and analyzed. Moreover, a switching and/or concurrent transport mechanism is implemented for communication between a NodeB and UE (User Equipment), when the current radio conditions change beyond a predefined level. In particular, a CS (Circuit Switched) over HSPA (High Speed Packet Access) connection is reconfigured to an R99 (Release 99) CS connection, or a concurrent R99 CS connection is provided along with the CS over HSPA connection, when detected that radio conditions have degraded beyond a predefined threshold. In one aspect, the selection between switching to a new transport mechanism and, adding a concurrent transport mechanism is based on an analysis and/or operator defined conditions.