The speed of a nucleic acid amplification reaction, such as the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), can be increased by setting the temperature of heat sources above and below the desired denaturation, annealing, and extension temperatures. The reaction mixture is only contacted with the heat sources long enough for the desired temperatures to be reached.

A method for oral delivery of new drugs, big molecules, proteins, and healin g substances to a target place in the body, via digestive tract, using autonomous mobile self-controlled capsules with sensors.

There is provided a character training and development system for a virtua l environment and related method. A character can be purchased by a user and then registered on a communication network via a unique code. Once registered, a set of attributes can be assigned to the character based on the type and class of t he character. Attribute values can be assigned to the attributes by default or by u...

There is provided a character training and development system for a virtua l environment and related method. A character, such as an animal, human or hum an- like figure, doll, or other animated or cartoon-like object can be purchased by a user and then registered on a communication network via a unique code. Once registered, a set of attributes can be assigned to the character based on the type a...

There is provided a character development and exchange system for a virtua l environment and related method. A character, such as an animal, human or hum an- like figure, doll, or other animated or cartoon-like object can be purchased by a user and then registered on a communication network via a unique code. Once registered, a set of attributes can be assigned to the character based on the type a...

A communications device includes multiple data transceivers, each configured for communication via a respective communication transport mode. The communicati on device has one or more data packets which are associated with one of the communication transport modes. The handheld communication device transmits or receives the data packet(s) via the data transceiver that is configured for communicatio...

Before sending an original text-based message to a receiver that is known t o have a display screen of limited size, a user may indicate a desire to translate the original message, at least in part, into a visually compressed message, wher e the visually compressed message uses abbreviations in place of many of the strin gs of characters in the original message.

A method for supplying heat to a melting furnace for forming a molten produc t using ash-containing fuels. A fuel having an ash component is introduced into a slagging chamber of a slagging combustor and at least partially combusted with a firs t oxidant mixture and a second oxidant mixture within the slagging chamber. Ash component is collected as a layer of molten slag in the slagging chamber. S...

Method for the preparation of inorganic-NP-composite microgels is based on t he reversible transfer of microgels between water and and an organic solvent su ch as tetrahydrofuran (THF). The method is used to produce semiconductor nanocrystals, often referred to as quantum dots (QDs) which are well known for their unique optical, electrical, magnetic and catalytic properties, as the inorganic NPs, ...

A system for determining a rollover property of a vehicle includes sensors capable of sensing lateral acceleration, a first left tire rotational speed, a first right tire rotational speed, and a mass property. The sensors output a lateral acceleration signal, a fir st left tire rotational speed signal, a first right tire rotational speed signal, and a mass property signal. A processing unit receiv...