Abstract:
A dynamic, lazy type system is provided for a dynamic, lazy programming language. Consequently, programs can benefit from runtime flexibility and lightweight notation in combination with benefits afforded by a substantial type system.
Abstract:
The present invention concerns a composition comprising complexes of cationic chitosan oligomers derived from the cationic polysaccharide chitosan, wherein said cationic oligomers contain a weight fraction of less than 20% of oligomers with a Degree of Polymerization (DP) 50, and a nucleic acid. These compositions comprising well-defined cationic chitosan oligomers having a certain distribution of chain lengths, and nucleic acid are advantageous to achieve delivery of the nucleic acid into cells of a selected tissue, and to obtain in vivo expression of the desired molecules encoded for by the nucleic acid.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a method for presenting a game having a bonus feature. The method includes initiating a game on at least one of a plurality of gaming machines associated with one another and arranged in a circular bank. The gaming machines are monitored to determine whether a triggering event has occurred on any of the plurality of gaming machines. A bonus feature is initiated on all of the plurality of gaming machines in response to the triggering event. The bonus feature play includes activating indicators associated with each gaming machine located around the circular bank, in a sequential order, for a specific amount of time. At the end of the sequence only one gaming machine indicator remains activated, designating a winner of the bonus feature. The winner is awarded a bonus.
Abstract:
An object comprising an electrically conductive body part, e.g. comprising copper or silver, and a layer comprising a refractory metal, preferably tantalum. At least part of the refractory metal layer has been transformed into an electrically conductive ceramic material, preferably a tantalum boride. The refractory metal layer improves the corrosion resistant properties of the object and the ceramic material prevents oxidation of the refractory metal layer, and thereby passivation of the object during conduction of a current. The object is suitable for use as an electrode in corrosive environments. The object is cost effective because passivation can be avoided without applying a layer of precious metal. Also a method of forming the object in which the ceramic material is preferably provided by applying boride in a gaseous or solid phase and heating the object.
Abstract:
A method includes advertising a policy characterizing communication properties supported by a node. The policy may be distributed to another node in response to a request for the policy. Policy expressions in the policy include one or more assertions that may be grouped and related to each other in a plurality of ways. A system includes a policy generator for generating at least one policy characterizing properties of a node. A policy retriever retrieves a policy from another node and a message generator generates a message to the other node, wherein the message conforms to the policy from the other node.
Abstract:
Methods, systems, and computer program products for converting an object of one type to an object of another type that allow for the runtime operation of the conversion process to be altered or customized. The conversion may occur within an extensible serialization engine that serializes, deserializes, and transforms objects of various types. The runtime operation of the serialization engine is altered by one or more extension routines that implement the desired customizations or extensions, without requiring replacement of other existing routines. Based on type information, identified for an initial object, the object is converted to an intermediate representation which permits runtime modification, including modification of object names, object types, and object data. The intermediate representation of the initial object is modified in accordance with extension routines that alter the runtime operation of the serialization engine, and the intermediate representation is converted to a final object and type.
Abstract:
An object instance is serialized to a serial format, such as an extensible Markup Language (XML) document, based on a mapping between an arbitrary annotated source code file and a schema. The arbitrary annotated source code contains at least one programming type that describes a shape of an object instance and the schema describes a format of a document having a serial format. The mapping defines a correspondence between the shape of the object instance and the format of the document having the serial format. Subsequently, an object instance is converted to the serial format by converting public properties, public fields and method parameters of the object instance to a document having the serial format based on the mapping. Once the mapping is defined, an XML document can also be converted to an object instance based on the mapping.
Abstract:
In the manufacture and use of tubular casing material, a starting material having heat-shrinkable properties is partially shrunk to a controlled reduced calibre and then is further shrunk during use. The shrinking may either take place during use, for example by partially shrinking tubular film material over a stuffing horn or may be carried out during manufacture by partially shrinking a length of tubular film material to a controlled reduced calibre before sale.
Abstract:
A method, system, and gaming machine for enabling a group play bonus feature is described. The method comprises networking a plurality of gaming machines, wherein each gaming machine includes a primary game module and a bonus game module. The method then proceeds to determine which of the plurality of gaming machines are qualified for playing the group bonus game. A first qualified gaming machine is selected and a bonus offer is presented to the qualified gaming machine. The bonus offer includes an initial bonus offer that is user selectable, and an alternative random bonus prize that is awarded if the user instruction indicates that the initial bonus offer has not been accepted. After the user selectable instruction is received, a bonus prize is awarded.
Abstract:
Reader and writer XML processing APIs may process XML documents without blocking a thread by initiating any potential I/O necessary prior to reading from or writing to the XML processing API and by providing a callback which may be notified when the I/O, if any, is complete. The XML processing API may be able to simultaneously process multiple XML documents in various formats and sizes.