Abstract: A combined birdseed feeder and scooper having its scooper removeably fixed to a valve assembly which enables the scooper to be removeably fixed thereto. Portals are registerable between the bottom of the scooper and the valve assembly to regulate the flow of seed therethrough. The valve assembly is in communication with a bottom disk which maintains a volume of seed therein. The disk has an outer edge which enables a bird to seat thereon and access the seed contained within the base or directly into the valve assembly.

Abstract: A method of conducting an audio-visual conference among a number of conference rooms comprising storing predetermined conference configuration data in a computer system for a plurality of room types and a plurality of combinations of configuration factors, receiving conference variable data, generating a room list of included conference rooms, generating interconnection data for each included conference room according selected by said a computer system performing a recursive process until a feasible set of configuration data is found which permits interconnection to every other included conference room, and if no applicable set of configuration data is feasible, the distribution process returns to a next higher room in said room list.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for separating plasma from blood in a membrane separator and further separator the separated plasma into desired plasma proteins in a plasma separator fluidly connected to the membrane separator to receive the separated plasma.

Abstract: An integrated pre-connected apheresis disposable set for separating plasma from blood in a separation vessel and further separating the separated plasma into desired plasma proteins in a plasma separator fluidly connected to the separation vessel to receive the separated plasma.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for conducing an audio-visual telepresence conference among a number of conference rooms distributed over various locations includes determining a priority of each room in the conference, determining an optimal number of audio-video streams between each room in the conference according to priority, assigning participant displays and participant cameras to other rooms in the conference according to priority, generating and transmitting a configuration script for each room in the conference, performing audio and video diagnostic procedures between each room in the conference, and managed, remote control and monitoring of the conference.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for separating plasma from blood in a separation vessel and further separator the separated plasma into desired plasma proteins in a plasma separator fluidly connected to the separation vessel to receive the separated plasma.

Abstract: A system for digital content collaboration has several conference rooms, each having a digital easel and a group display device providing a plurality of image display locations. Each digital easel has a touch sensitive display and a pointing device to receive annotations and manipulations of digital content items. The group display device displays a plurality of digital content items, each in one of several image display locations. Each digital easel has several predefined image display areas, and each image display area is associated with one of the image display locations of the group display device. The digital easel is operable to receive a selection of a digital content item for any of the plurality of image display locations from a user via the pointing device. Upon receipt of the selection, the system automatically displays the selected digital content item in the associated image display location of the group display device and to simultaneously in the image display area of the digital easel.

Abstract: A method of conducting an audio-visual conference among a number of conference rooms comprising storing predetermined conference configuration data in a computer system for a plurality of room types and a plurality of combinations of configuration factors, receiving conference variable data, generating a room list of included conference rooms, generating interconnection data for each included conference room according selected by said a computer system performing a recursive process until a feasible set of configuration data is found which permits interconnection to every other included conference room, and if no applicable set of configuration data is feasible, the distribution process returns to a next higher room in said room list.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for separating plasma from blood in a separation vessel and further separator the separated plasma into desired plasma proteins in a plasma separator fluidly connected to the separation vessel to receive the separated plasma.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for separating plasma from blood in a membrane separator and further separator the separated plasma into desired plasma proteins in a plasma separator fluidly connected to the membrane separator to receive the separated plasma.

Abstract: A system for digital content collaboration and sharing has first and second collaboration devices each having a display device operable to display digital content items and operable to detect multi-touch hand gestures made on or adjacent a surface of the display device. The system is operable transfer digital content items over a data network between the collaboration devices in response to hand gestures of users on the display devices. Audio/visual content items can play synchronously on two collaboration devices.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for conducing an audio-visual telepresence conference among a number of conference rooms distributed over various locations includes determining a priority of each room in the conference, determining an optimal number of audio-video streams between each room in the conference according to priority, assigning participant displays and participant cameras to other rooms in the conference according to priority, generating and transmitting a configuration script for each room in the conference, performing audio and video diagnostic procedures between each room in the conference, and managed, remote control and monitoring of the conference.

Abstract: Thin cast strip is produced in a twin roll caster by delivering molten steel between the rolls to form a casting pool confined between the rolls by a pair of side dams adjacent the ends of the casting rolls. Steel strip is delivered downwardly to the nip through a metal delivery system having a tundish and core nozzles. One or more of the refractory components, including the tundish, core nozzles and side dams, or portions thereof, are replaced by first preheating the refractory component(s) being replaced at a removed location, and then rapidly transferring the preheated component(s) from the preheating position and installing the same in the operating position by a transfer device. The desired refractory component is rapidly removed and the preheated replacement refractory component rapidly transferred and installed in the operating position in an amount of time that avoids thermal shock to the refractories that are not replaced.

Abstract: A blood component collection system with manipulation and optimization capabilities. In one embodiment, process parameters are derived from an input/configured predetermined blood component yield and which is based upon the maximization of at least one process parameter. Thereafter, the blood component collection procedure is performed with these derived process control parameters. In another embodiment, process parameters are derived from an input total procedure time from a maximized value for at least one of the other process control parameters so as to maximize blood component yield in this fixed time. Thereafter, the blood component collection procedure is performed with these derived parameters.

Abstract: Thin cast strip is produced in a twin roll caster by delivering molten steel between the rolls to form a casting pool. The casting pool is confined between the rolls by a pair of side dams adjacent the ends of the casting rolls. Steel strip is delivered downwardly to the nip through a metal delivery system having a tundish and core nozzles. One or more of the refractory components, including without limitation the tundish, core nozzles and side dams, or portions thereof, are replaced by first preheating the refractory component(s) to be replaced at a removed location, and then rapidly transferring the preheated component(s) from the preheating position and installing the same in the operating position by a transfer device. The desired refractory component is rapidly removed and the preheated replacement refractory component rapidly transferred and installed in the operating position in an amount of time that avoids thermal shock to the refractories that are not replaced.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for collecting and processing whole blood. Whole blood is collected at several remote donor sites and transported to a central blood-processing center, where information regarding demand for blood products is used to direct processing of whole blood into blood products. Whole blood is initially collected in collection bags unattached to satellite bags instead of commonly used multiple bag sets. When the determination is made at the blood processing center as to which blood products are to be made, the appropriate satellite bags and/or other system components are sterile docked to the blood-collection bag and the whole blood is processed. The use of blood-collection bags initially unattached to satellite bags eliminates waste and simplifies the transportation and processing of whole blood. Also disclosed are blood collection systems that remove leukocytes and collect whole blood into blood-collection bags unattached to satellite bags.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for collecting and processing whole blood. Whole blood is collected at several remote donor sites and transported to a central blood-processing center, where information regarding demand for blood products is used to direct processing of whole blood into blood products. Whole blood is initially collected in collection bags unattached to satellite bags instead of commonly used multiple bag sets. When the determination is made at the blood processing center as to which blood products are to be made, the appropriate satellite bags and/or other system components are sterile docked to the blood-collection bag and the whole blood is processed. The use of blood-collection bags initially unattached to satellite bags eliminates waste and simplifies the transportation and processing of whole blood. Also disclosed are blood collection systems that remove leukocytes and collect whole blood into blood-collection bags unattached to satellite bags.

Abstract: A blood component collection system with manipulation and optimization capabilities. In one embodiment, process parameters are derived from an input/configured predetermined blood component yield and which is based upon the maximization of at least one process parameter. Thereafter, the blood component collection procedure is performed with these derived process control parameters. In another embodiment, process parameters are derived from an input total procedure time from a maximized value for at least one of the other process control parameters so as to maximize blood component yield in this fixed time. Thereafter, the blood component collection procedure is performed with these derived parameters.

Abstract: A blood component collection system is disclosed with optimization capabilities. In one embodiment, process parameters are derived from an input/configured predetermined blood component yield and which is based upon the maximization of at least one process parameters. Thereafter, the blood component collection procedure is performed with these derived process control parameters. In another embodiment, process parameters are derived from an input total procedure time from a maximized value for at least one of the other process control parameters so as to maximize blood component yield in this fixed time. Thereafter, the blood component collection procedure is performed with these derived parameters.

Abstract: A blood component collection system with optimization capabilities. In one embodiment, process parameters are derived from an input/configured predetermined blood component yield and which is based upon the maximization of at least one process parameter. Thereafter, the blood component collection procedure is performed with these derived process control parameters. In another embodiment, process parameters are derived from an input total procedure time from a maximized value for at least one of the other process control parameters so as to maximize blood component yield in this fixed time. Thereafter, the blood component collection procedure is performed with these derived parameters.