Transplatinum complexes with N.sub.2O.sub.2 donor sets as cytotoxic and antitumor agents
Patent 8,324,197
Trans-platinum compounds comprising carboxylato groups are disclosed, with anti-cancer usefulness. The carboxylato groups participate in solubilizing trans-platinum compounds to which they are attached.
Inventors: Nicholas P. Farrell (Richmond)
Assignee: Virginia Commonwealth University (Richmond)
Dec. 4, 2012[private]
Direct current power supply for mission critical applications
Patent 8,325,504
A DC power supply apparatus and method of supplying DC power for mission critical applications utilizes multiple power circuits in one unit, the power circuits being optimizable for efficiency as the load increases or decreases. The individual power supplies may use a multiphase topology within the power circuits, with logic phase shifts between multiphase, and two types of power management circuits arranged in parallel, or an equivalent controller, for implementing: (a) a variable linear or variable exponential precision droop algorithm, and (b) a “virtual bus” or current averaging/active current sharing circuit, the current sharing being provided by a low bandwidth communications link between droop controllers in each of the power circuits. In addition, the droop/paralleling circuitry and/or programmed components may be arranged to implement two types of arc detection and suppression, including: (a) unequal positive and negative current in each power circuit to shut down the output power, and (b) monitoring output current for an arc “signature” to protect against arcs between positive and negative.
Inventors: John B. Kammeter (Richmond); Greg Schlueter (Highland Springs); Vern Stant (Richmond)
Assignee: Power Distribution, Inc. (Richmond)
Dec. 4, 2012
Product dispensing apparatus and system
Patent 8,322,543
A product dispenser including a frame having a first side wall, a second side wall laterally opposed from the first side wall, a lower support surface positioned between the first and second side walls and having a front end longitudinally spaced from a rear end, the rear end being elevated relative to the front, and an upper support surface positioned between the first and second side walls and spaced apart from the lower support surface, the upper support surface having a front end longitudinally spaced from a rear end, the front end being elevated relative to the rear, and a rib connected to the upper support surface and protruding outward from a plane defined by the upper support surface in a direction away from the lower support surface.
Inventors: John Gelardi (Midlothian); Aaron L. Bates (Moseley, Va.); Laurel Thomas (Richmond)
Assignee: MeadWestvaco Corporation (Richmond)
Dec. 4, 2012
Administering contracts over data network
Patent 8,326,755
A method for administering performance of a contract over a data network includes storing a lien waiver and receiving an application for payment over the data network from a contract participant based on performance under the contract. The stored lien waiver is retrieved and sent to the participant via the data network upon approval of the application for payment. The at least one data tag may be included in the lien waiver prior to storing the lien waiver.
Inventors: James C. Petersen (Richmond); Stephen Cole (Durham, N.C.); Todd Barbour (Chapel Hill, N.C.); Sherwood Creedle (South Hill, Va.)
Assignee: Hart Business Solutions, LLC (South Hill)
Dec. 4, 2012
Software factory health monitoring
Patent 8,327,318
A method, system, and computer-readable medium for maintaining a health of a software factory that creates custom software in a standardized manner is presented. In a preferred embodiment, the method includes the steps of: defining work packets to perform sub-functions of a custom software; tracking a transmission of the work packets to an assembly line in a software factory; monitoring any retrieval of software artifacts that are used to create the work packets; monitoring any on-going changes of work activities that are contained in the work packets; determining if execution of the work packets conforms to governance guidelines for the software factory; monitoring the software factory to ensure that the work packets comply with an architecture of the software factory; tracking quality metrics for an execution of the work packets in an assembly line in the software factory; and transmitting all tracked and monitored information described above to a dashboard.
Inventors: Jarir K. Chaar (Tarrytown, N.Y.); Ronald D. Finlayson (Blythewood, S.C.); Thomas A. Jobson, Jr. (New Paltz, N.Y.); Naomi M. Mitsumori (San Jose, Calif.); Francis X. Reddington (Richmond)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation (Armonk, N.Y.)
Dec. 4, 2012
Application server providing personalized voice enabled web application services using extensible markup language documents
Patent 8,326,632
A unified web-based voice messaging system provides voice application control between a web browser and an application server via an hypertext transport protocol (HTTP) connection on an Internet Protocol (IP) network. The application server, configured for executing a voice application defined by XML documents, selects an XML document for execution of a corresponding voice application operation based on a determined presence of a user-specific XML document that specifies the corresponding voice application operation. The application server, upon receiving a voice application operation request from a browser serving a user, dynamically generates a personalized HTML page having media content and control tags for personalized execution of the voice application operation. Hence, a user can personalize any number of voice application operations, enabling a web-based voice application to be completely customized or merely partially customized.
Inventors: Lewis Dean Dodrill (Richmond); Satish Joshi (Glen Allen); Ryan Alan Danner (Glen Allen); Steven J. Martin (Richmond)
Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (San Jose, Calif.)
Dec. 4, 2012
Virtual reality shopping experience
Patent 8,326,704
A solution is provided for a method for a user to shop online in a three dimensional (3D) virtual reality (VR) setting by receiving a request at a shopping server to view a shopping location, having at least one store, and displaying the shopping location to the user’s computer in a 3D interactive simulation view via a web browser to emulate a real-life shopping experience for the user. The server then obtains a request to enter into one of the stores and displays the store website to the user in the same web browser. The store website has one or more enhanced VR features. The server then receives a request to view at least one product and the product is presented in a 3D interactive simulation view to emulate a real-life viewing of the product.
Inventors: Elliott Glazer (Chesterfield); Carol Lee Hobson (New River, Ariz.); Elizabeth Sandra Deming (Brooklyn, N.Y.); Coby Royer (University City, Mo.); Jeffrey Scott Fehlhaber (Glendale, Ariz.)
Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (New York)
Dec. 4, 2012
Method for facilitating financial and non financial transactions between customers, retailers and suppliers
Patent 8,326,753
A new medium of tender employs both a primary barcode and a merchant specific extension barcode that are both associated with specific consumers. The system operates within preexisting merchant platforms and links merchant systems, POS systems, inventory systems, SKU systems, barcode readers and a server. The system allows the ready linking and access of consumer transaction related information including purchase history, credit information, merchandise details and similar information. It further allows for the ready remittance of payment via the ACH network through the eCache computer network or other funding networks based on criteria established by the merchant itself. It further facilitates the administration of consumer rewards or loyalty programs and also facilitates consignment arrangements between suppliers and merchants.
Inventors: Frank Easterly (Midlothian); Clifford Mason (Columbus, Ga.)
Dec. 4, 2012
Process for forming a durable low emissivity moisture vapor permeable metallized sheet including a protective metal oxide layer
Patent 8,323,801
A process for forming a low emissivity, moisture vapor permeable metallized composite sheet by coating a moisture vapor permeable sheet with at least one metal and exposing the freshly deposited metal to an oxidizing plasma thereby forming a protective synthetic metal oxide over the metal. The composite sheet material is suitable for use as a building construction barrier layer such as roof lining and house wrap.
Inventors: John James Barnes (Hockessin, Del.); Ioannis V. Bletsos (Midlothian); Angelo Yializis (Tucson, Ariz.); Michael G. Mikhael (Tucson)
Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company (Wilmington, Del.)
Dec. 4, 2012
Aerosol generator
Patent 8,322,350
An aerosol generator device for delivering an aerosol of a nicotine salt is provided. The aerosol generator comprises: (i) a mouth end; (ii) a first chamber containing a porous material wetted with liquid nicotine, (iii) a second chamber containing a porous material wetted with a solution of a volatile acid, (iv) a third chamber in fluid communication with the first and second chambers, leading to the mouth end, and (v) an outer housing defining a passageway for air through said device. A nicotine vapor can be produced by drawing air along the passageway and through the porous material wetted with liquid nicotine. An acid vapor can be produced by passing air along the passageway and through the porous material wetted with a solution of a volatile acid. Then, the nicotine vapor and the acid vapor can be admixed in the third chamber to form an aerosol of a nicotine salt, which can be drawn out through the mouth end.
Inventors: Peter Lipowicz (Midlothian)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond)
Dec. 4, 2012
Mesoporous filter
Patent H2,273
A particulate filter is provided for passing through select permeate particles in a fluid medium from inflow to outflow regions while restraining reticulate particles. The filter includes a coarse-grain ceramic porous substrate, an intermediate-grain porous ceramic layer, a fine-grain ceramic porous membrane, and a channel there-through. The substrate opens into the outflow region as an outflow cavity. The intermediate-grain porous ceramic layer is disposed on the substrate. The fine-grain ceramic porous membrane is disposed on the layer and opens into the inflow region containing the medium as an inflow cavity. The channel directionally expands and connects the inflow and outflow cavities together by a substantially funnel-shape passage. The inflow cavity permits the permeate particles and the medium but obstructs the reticulate particles. Additionally, a method is provided for producing a particulate filter that passes through select permeate particles in a fluid medium from inflow to outflow regions while restraining reticulate particles. The method includes providing an aluminum oxide substrate, disposing a sol-gel membrane onto the substrate to form a filtration unit, drying the filtration unit, and calcinating the filtration unit.
Inventors: Nicholas V. Nechitailo (Mechanicsville)
Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy (Arlington, Va.)
Dec. 4, 2012
Contamination control garments
Patent 8,318,617
A cleanroom garment containing a nanoweb bonded in a face to face relationship with a fabric, and a second fabric. The garment has a permeability of at least 1 mmin.sup.-1m.sup.-2, and a particle filtration efficiency according to IEST-RP-CC003.3 at 0.5 microns of at least 90% after one wash and at least 50% after 25 washes.
Inventors: Nicole L. Blankenbeckler (Richmond)
Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company (Wilmington, Del.)
Nov. 27, 2012
Portable safety skylight replacement assembly
Patent 8,316,611
A portable skylight replacement safety assembly that includes a first and second support frames releasably connected to each other and having a plurality of support handles and support members which extend substantially perpendicularly from the first support frame for supporting the first support frame on and/or over the skylight on a working surface at a predetermined distance.
Inventors: J. Nigel Ellis (Wilmington, Del.); John Witty (Richmond)
Nov. 27, 2012
Tobacco plants having reduced nicotine demethylase activity
Patent 8,319,011
The present invention generally relates to methods and materials involved in producing tobacco plants having reduced levels of conversion of nicotine to nornicotine. In certain embodiments, the invention is directed to mutations in a nicotine demethylase gene, tobacco plants comprising mutations in a nicotine demethylase gene, and tobacco compositions and products thereof. In other embodiments, the invention is directed toward nicotine demethylase RNA interference, tobacco plants comprising a nicotine demethylase RNA interference transgene, and tobacco compositions and products thereof.
Inventors: Dongmei Xu (Glen Allen); Mark T. Nielsen (Nicholasville, Ky.); Yanxin Shen (Glen Allen)
Assignee: U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC (Richmond)
Nov. 27, 2012
Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors
Patent 8,318,699
The present invention is directed to compounds that are allosteric inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor receptor I, compositions comprising such compounds, and methods of using such compounds and compositions thereof in the treatment of TNF-.alpha. mediated conditions.
Inventors: Mark I. Greene (Penn Valley, Pa.); Ramachandran Murali (Drexel Hill, Pa.); Xin Cheng (Wallingford, Pa.); Raphael Ottenbrite (Midlothian); Yingxin Xiao (North Potomac, Md.)
Assignee: The Trustees Of The University Of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia); Cephalon, Inc. (Wilmington, Del.)
Nov. 27, 2012
Systems, methods and apparatus for identification and evaluation of innovative abilities
Patent 8,317,520
A system, method and apparatus measures and classifies innovation skills and technical capability of individuals based on predefined referencable attributes. The classification is used to help individuals improve their innovative abilities and to build innovation teams. The classifications are stored such that they may be further analyzed and used.
Inventors: Daniel Raymond Swanson (Midlothian)
Nov. 27, 2012
Cassette for receiving flexible packs, as well as method for the formation of a group of packs
Patent 8,316,624
Cassette system with cassette (17, 27, 37, 47) and method for grouping a number of flexible packs (10). It is proposed that the cassette be produced from two parts which are hinged with respect to one another, one or more flexible packs being placed in each part. The parts of the cassette with the flexible pack or flexible packs placed thereon are then moved relative to one another, and more particularly are rotated, in order thus to obtain a group of packs where the packs lie close together. The group thus obtained is then placed in an outer pack such as a box.
Inventors: Nicolaas Martin Prakken (Chester)
Assignee: Blueprint Holding B.V. (Woerden, Netherlands)
Nov. 27, 2012
Shape memory alloy motor
Patent 8,316,840
The invention discloses a novel and efficient drive mechanism for use in a variety of applications. This novel mechanism replaces traditional stepper motors or another analogous art with shape memory alloys. The drive mechanism so disclosed provides substantial operational benefits over conventional motors and other such traditional drive mechanisms that would be used in similar applications. The drive mechanism includes a high gear-ratio worm gear and worm drive which further provides precise, controlled movement of an output shaft. In the illustrative use elaborated upon herein, the motor is used to drive a photovoltaic panel so that the panel may remain in appropriate alignment with the sun throughout the day.
Inventors: Altaii Karim (Harrisonburg, Va.); Thomas Benjamin (Powhatan)
Nov. 27, 2012[/private]
Transplatinum complexes with N.sub.2O.sub.2 donor sets as cytotoxic and antitumor agents
Patent 8,324,197
Trans-platinum compounds comprising carboxylato groups are disclosed, with anti-cancer usefulness. The carboxylato groups participate in solubilizing trans-platinum compounds to which they are attached.
Inventors: Nicholas P. Farrell (Richmond)
Assignee: Virginia Commonwealth University (Richmond)
Dec. 4, 2012[private]
Direct current power supply for mission critical applications
Patent 8,325,504
A DC power supply apparatus and method of supplying DC power for mission critical applications utilizes multiple power circuits in one unit, the power circuits being optimizable for efficiency as the load increases or decreases. The individual power supplies may use a multiphase topology within the power circuits, with logic phase shifts between multiphase, and two types of power management circuits arranged in parallel, or an equivalent controller, for implementing: (a) a variable linear or variable exponential precision droop algorithm, and (b) a “virtual bus” or current averaging/active current sharing circuit, the current sharing being provided by a low bandwidth communications link between droop controllers in each of the power circuits. In addition, the droop/paralleling circuitry and/or programmed components may be arranged to implement two types of arc detection and suppression, including: (a) unequal positive and negative current in each power circuit to shut down the output power, and (b) monitoring output current for an arc “signature” to protect against arcs between positive and negative.
Inventors: John B. Kammeter (Richmond); Greg Schlueter (Highland Springs); Vern Stant (Richmond)
Assignee: Power Distribution, Inc. (Richmond)
Dec. 4, 2012
Product dispensing apparatus and system
Patent 8,322,543
A product dispenser including a frame having a first side wall, a second side wall laterally opposed from the first side wall, a lower support surface positioned between the first and second side walls and having a front end longitudinally spaced from a rear end, the rear end being elevated relative to the front, and an upper support surface positioned between the first and second side walls and spaced apart from the lower support surface, the upper support surface having a front end longitudinally spaced from a rear end, the front end being elevated relative to the rear, and a rib connected to the upper support surface and protruding outward from a plane defined by the upper support surface in a direction away from the lower support surface.
Inventors: John Gelardi (Midlothian); Aaron L. Bates (Moseley, Va.); Laurel Thomas (Richmond)
Assignee: MeadWestvaco Corporation (Richmond)
Dec. 4, 2012
Administering contracts over data network
Patent 8,326,755
A method for administering performance of a contract over a data network includes storing a lien waiver and receiving an application for payment over the data network from a contract participant based on performance under the contract. The stored lien waiver is retrieved and sent to the participant via the data network upon approval of the application for payment. The at least one data tag may be included in the lien waiver prior to storing the lien waiver.
Inventors: James C. Petersen (Richmond); Stephen Cole (Durham, N.C.); Todd Barbour (Chapel Hill, N.C.); Sherwood Creedle (South Hill, Va.)
Assignee: Hart Business Solutions, LLC (South Hill)
Dec. 4, 2012
Software factory health monitoring
Patent 8,327,318
A method, system, and computer-readable medium for maintaining a health of a software factory that creates custom software in a standardized manner is presented. In a preferred embodiment, the method includes the steps of: defining work packets to perform sub-functions of a custom software; tracking a transmission of the work packets to an assembly line in a software factory; monitoring any retrieval of software artifacts that are used to create the work packets; monitoring any on-going changes of work activities that are contained in the work packets; determining if execution of the work packets conforms to governance guidelines for the software factory; monitoring the software factory to ensure that the work packets comply with an architecture of the software factory; tracking quality metrics for an execution of the work packets in an assembly line in the software factory; and transmitting all tracked and monitored information described above to a dashboard.
Inventors: Jarir K. Chaar (Tarrytown, N.Y.); Ronald D. Finlayson (Blythewood, S.C.); Thomas A. Jobson, Jr. (New Paltz, N.Y.); Naomi M. Mitsumori (San Jose, Calif.); Francis X. Reddington (Richmond)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation (Armonk, N.Y.)
Dec. 4, 2012
Application server providing personalized voice enabled web application services using extensible markup language documents
Patent 8,326,632
A unified web-based voice messaging system provides voice application control between a web browser and an application server via an hypertext transport protocol (HTTP) connection on an Internet Protocol (IP) network. The application server, configured for executing a voice application defined by XML documents, selects an XML document for execution of a corresponding voice application operation based on a determined presence of a user-specific XML document that specifies the corresponding voice application operation. The application server, upon receiving a voice application operation request from a browser serving a user, dynamically generates a personalized HTML page having media content and control tags for personalized execution of the voice application operation. Hence, a user can personalize any number of voice application operations, enabling a web-based voice application to be completely customized or merely partially customized.
Inventors: Lewis Dean Dodrill (Richmond); Satish Joshi (Glen Allen); Ryan Alan Danner (Glen Allen); Steven J. Martin (Richmond)
Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (San Jose, Calif.)
Dec. 4, 2012
Virtual reality shopping experience
Patent 8,326,704
A solution is provided for a method for a user to shop online in a three dimensional (3D) virtual reality (VR) setting by receiving a request at a shopping server to view a shopping location, having at least one store, and displaying the shopping location to the user’s computer in a 3D interactive simulation view via a web browser to emulate a real-life shopping experience for the user. The server then obtains a request to enter into one of the stores and displays the store website to the user in the same web browser. The store website has one or more enhanced VR features. The server then receives a request to view at least one product and the product is presented in a 3D interactive simulation view to emulate a real-life viewing of the product.
Inventors: Elliott Glazer (Chesterfield); Carol Lee Hobson (New River, Ariz.); Elizabeth Sandra Deming (Brooklyn, N.Y.); Coby Royer (University City, Mo.); Jeffrey Scott Fehlhaber (Glendale, Ariz.)
Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (New York)
Dec. 4, 2012
Method for facilitating financial and non financial transactions between customers, retailers and suppliers
Patent 8,326,753
A new medium of tender employs both a primary barcode and a merchant specific extension barcode that are both associated with specific consumers. The system operates within preexisting merchant platforms and links merchant systems, POS systems, inventory systems, SKU systems, barcode readers and a server. The system allows the ready linking and access of consumer transaction related information including purchase history, credit information, merchandise details and similar information. It further allows for the ready remittance of payment via the ACH network through the eCache computer network or other funding networks based on criteria established by the merchant itself. It further facilitates the administration of consumer rewards or loyalty programs and also facilitates consignment arrangements between suppliers and merchants.
Inventors: Frank Easterly (Midlothian); Clifford Mason (Columbus, Ga.)
Dec. 4, 2012
Process for forming a durable low emissivity moisture vapor permeable metallized sheet including a protective metal oxide layer
Patent 8,323,801
A process for forming a low emissivity, moisture vapor permeable metallized composite sheet by coating a moisture vapor permeable sheet with at least one metal and exposing the freshly deposited metal to an oxidizing plasma thereby forming a protective synthetic metal oxide over the metal. The composite sheet material is suitable for use as a building construction barrier layer such as roof lining and house wrap.
Inventors: John James Barnes (Hockessin, Del.); Ioannis V. Bletsos (Midlothian); Angelo Yializis (Tucson, Ariz.); Michael G. Mikhael (Tucson)
Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company (Wilmington, Del.)
Dec. 4, 2012
Aerosol generator
Patent 8,322,350
An aerosol generator device for delivering an aerosol of a nicotine salt is provided. The aerosol generator comprises: (i) a mouth end; (ii) a first chamber containing a porous material wetted with liquid nicotine, (iii) a second chamber containing a porous material wetted with a solution of a volatile acid, (iv) a third chamber in fluid communication with the first and second chambers, leading to the mouth end, and (v) an outer housing defining a passageway for air through said device. A nicotine vapor can be produced by drawing air along the passageway and through the porous material wetted with liquid nicotine. An acid vapor can be produced by passing air along the passageway and through the porous material wetted with a solution of a volatile acid. Then, the nicotine vapor and the acid vapor can be admixed in the third chamber to form an aerosol of a nicotine salt, which can be drawn out through the mouth end.
Inventors: Peter Lipowicz (Midlothian)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond)
Dec. 4, 2012
Mesoporous filter
Patent H2,273
A particulate filter is provided for passing through select permeate particles in a fluid medium from inflow to outflow regions while restraining reticulate particles. The filter includes a coarse-grain ceramic porous substrate, an intermediate-grain porous ceramic layer, a fine-grain ceramic porous membrane, and a channel there-through. The substrate opens into the outflow region as an outflow cavity. The intermediate-grain porous ceramic layer is disposed on the substrate. The fine-grain ceramic porous membrane is disposed on the layer and opens into the inflow region containing the medium as an inflow cavity. The channel directionally expands and connects the inflow and outflow cavities together by a substantially funnel-shape passage. The inflow cavity permits the permeate particles and the medium but obstructs the reticulate particles. Additionally, a method is provided for producing a particulate filter that passes through select permeate particles in a fluid medium from inflow to outflow regions while restraining reticulate particles. The method includes providing an aluminum oxide substrate, disposing a sol-gel membrane onto the substrate to form a filtration unit, drying the filtration unit, and calcinating the filtration unit.
Inventors: Nicholas V. Nechitailo (Mechanicsville)
Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy (Arlington, Va.)
Dec. 4, 2012
Contamination control garments
Patent 8,318,617
A cleanroom garment containing a nanoweb bonded in a face to face relationship with a fabric, and a second fabric. The garment has a permeability of at least 1 mmin.sup.-1m.sup.-2, and a particle filtration efficiency according to IEST-RP-CC003.3 at 0.5 microns of at least 90% after one wash and at least 50% after 25 washes.
Inventors: Nicole L. Blankenbeckler (Richmond)
Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company (Wilmington, Del.)
Nov. 27, 2012
Portable safety skylight replacement assembly
Patent 8,316,611
A portable skylight replacement safety assembly that includes a first and second support frames releasably connected to each other and having a plurality of support handles and support members which extend substantially perpendicularly from the first support frame for supporting the first support frame on and/or over the skylight on a working surface at a predetermined distance.
Inventors: J. Nigel Ellis (Wilmington, Del.); John Witty (Richmond)
Nov. 27, 2012
Tobacco plants having reduced nicotine demethylase activity
Patent 8,319,011
The present invention generally relates to methods and materials involved in producing tobacco plants having reduced levels of conversion of nicotine to nornicotine. In certain embodiments, the invention is directed to mutations in a nicotine demethylase gene, tobacco plants comprising mutations in a nicotine demethylase gene, and tobacco compositions and products thereof. In other embodiments, the invention is directed toward nicotine demethylase RNA interference, tobacco plants comprising a nicotine demethylase RNA interference transgene, and tobacco compositions and products thereof.
Inventors: Dongmei Xu (Glen Allen); Mark T. Nielsen (Nicholasville, Ky.); Yanxin Shen (Glen Allen)
Assignee: U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC (Richmond)
Nov. 27, 2012
Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors
Patent 8,318,699
The present invention is directed to compounds that are allosteric inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor receptor I, compositions comprising such compounds, and methods of using such compounds and compositions thereof in the treatment of TNF-.alpha. mediated conditions.
Inventors: Mark I. Greene (Penn Valley, Pa.); Ramachandran Murali (Drexel Hill, Pa.); Xin Cheng (Wallingford, Pa.); Raphael Ottenbrite (Midlothian); Yingxin Xiao (North Potomac, Md.)
Assignee: The Trustees Of The University Of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia); Cephalon, Inc. (Wilmington, Del.)
Nov. 27, 2012
Systems, methods and apparatus for identification and evaluation of innovative abilities
Patent 8,317,520
A system, method and apparatus measures and classifies innovation skills and technical capability of individuals based on predefined referencable attributes. The classification is used to help individuals improve their innovative abilities and to build innovation teams. The classifications are stored such that they may be further analyzed and used.
Inventors: Daniel Raymond Swanson (Midlothian)
Nov. 27, 2012
Cassette for receiving flexible packs, as well as method for the formation of a group of packs
Patent 8,316,624
Cassette system with cassette (17, 27, 37, 47) and method for grouping a number of flexible packs (10). It is proposed that the cassette be produced from two parts which are hinged with respect to one another, one or more flexible packs being placed in each part. The parts of the cassette with the flexible pack or flexible packs placed thereon are then moved relative to one another, and more particularly are rotated, in order thus to obtain a group of packs where the packs lie close together. The group thus obtained is then placed in an outer pack such as a box.
Inventors: Nicolaas Martin Prakken (Chester)
Assignee: Blueprint Holding B.V. (Woerden, Netherlands)
Nov. 27, 2012
Shape memory alloy motor
Patent 8,316,840
The invention discloses a novel and efficient drive mechanism for use in a variety of applications. This novel mechanism replaces traditional stepper motors or another analogous art with shape memory alloys. The drive mechanism so disclosed provides substantial operational benefits over conventional motors and other such traditional drive mechanisms that would be used in similar applications. The drive mechanism includes a high gear-ratio worm gear and worm drive which further provides precise, controlled movement of an output shaft. In the illustrative use elaborated upon herein, the motor is used to drive a photovoltaic panel so that the panel may remain in appropriate alignment with the sun throughout the day.
Inventors: Altaii Karim (Harrisonburg, Va.); Thomas Benjamin (Powhatan)
Nov. 27, 2012[/private]