Abstract: A method of presenting real estate data is provided. A plurality of property listings can be presented, and a selection of one of the presented property listings may be received from a user. The user may be associated with a financial profile, which may be specified via user input. In response to receiving the selection by the user, at least one loan offer corresponding to the property listing may be automatically presented, for example, together with the property listing. The loan offer may be at least partially based on the financial profile, and may also be based on a property corresponding to the selected property listing. For example, the property listing and the financial profile may be automatically transmitted to one or more loan providers in response to receiving the selection by the user of the property listing, and in response loan offers may be received from some of the loan providers.

Abstract: A printing method and apparatus is disclosed wherein the printhead has a linear array of nozzles oriented in an axis, and drops of a liquid are printed at a particular location from first and second nozzles of the printhead at a first location. In an embodiment, the nozzles are arranged in groups, each group of nozzles being used to superpose spots of a particular liquid at a different location. A further method is described wherein the printhead is triggered by transferring printing triggers from a processing module to a printhead at print intervals representative of a plurality of fixed units of spatial displacement of the printhead. The present invention is particularly advantageous for the cycling of print nozzles, superposition of spots in linear arrays and fine control of spot positioning. The invention has particular application in the field of printing DNA microarrays.

Abstract: An air-gap optical structure includes a first transmissive optical element, a second transmissive optical element, and a spacer structure disposed between the first transmissive optical element and the second transmissive optical element so as to define an air gap therebetween. The spacer structure includes a spacer having a spacer body, and a nonreflective multilayer interference coating between the spacer body and the second transmissive optical element.

Abstract: A differential pressure valve has a valve body containing a main piston axially moveable therein to open a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet at preset high pressure and to close at a preset lower pressure. A high pressure trigger piston and a low pressure trigger piston are operable in the main piston to alternately engage and lock the main piston to the valve body in one of the closed and open positions. A ball shifts in a port in the main piston to alternately straddle between at least one annular locking groove in the valve body and a release recess in a respective trigger piston. The ball can shift to alternately reside to straddle the valve body and main piston in the locked position or to straddle the main piston and trigger piston in the unlocked position. The trigger pistons and main pistons are mechanically biased to urge the pistons against the fluid pressure at the inlet.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in cooking food includes a hollow tube for receiving food to be cooked and spacer members disposed in the hollow tube. The food and spacer members are alternately placed into the hollow tube, in a similar orientation as coins are arranged in a roll of coins. The spacer members facilitate the conduction of heat to the surfaces of the food. Each item of food has a spacer member or a lid member abutting to it to receive heat from the abutting spacer member and/or lid member as well as from the wall of the hollow tube. The hollow tube can also receive one or more lids. When in use, the hollow tube is placed directly on a cooking surface or is attached to a rotisserie to cook the food. The orientation of the food when in the apparatus reduces the amount of cooking surface required for cooking.

Abstract: A method and system for real-time monitoring of part availability uses a computer-based data integration system communicating with at least one plant related database and at least one supplier related database to collect part usage and shipment data and to assess the collected data to predict an exception to a scheduled part need time. When an exception is predicted, the data integration system generates an alert indication to personnel for taking corrective action.

Abstract: A differential pressure valve has a valve body containing a main piston axially moveable therein to open a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet at preset high pressure and to close at a preset lower pressure. A high pressure trigger piston and a low pressure trigger piston are operable in the main piston to alternately engage and lock the main piston to the valve body in one of the closed and open positions. A ball shifts in a port in the main piston to alternately straddle between at least one annular locking groove in the valve body and a release recess in a respective trigger piston. The ball can shift to alternately reside to straddle the valve body and main piston in the locked position or to straddle the main piston and trigger piston in the unlocked position. The trigger pistons and main pistons are mechanically biased to urge the pistons against the fluid pressure at the inlet.

Abstract: An optical system includes a reflection-angle-selective mirror having a substrate, and a reflection-angle-selective coating structure deposited on the substrate. The reflection-angle-selective coating structure has a higher reflectance for light that is incident upon the reflection-angle-selective coating structure at a first incidence angle within an acceptance-angle deviation from a design incidence angle than for light that is incident upon the reflection-angle-selective coating structure at a second incidence angle greater than the acceptance-angle deviation from the design incidence angle. The optical system may also include a light source.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for associating message types, elements, and/or content with data from one or more data stores are provided. Current limitations on the tracking and management of information contained within or associated with message types and elements are overcome through an association manager or “data linking engine” that provides context-driven workflow management for end-users. The end-users may work in an application context that is not integrated in the messaging system. The application context may include databases, systems, data stores, links in Web pages, etc. If the association manager appends data to a given message, recipients of that message have the ability to access added functionality within the context of the messaging system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dual breast pad and nursing bib apparatus comprising a cup-shaped base flap and a nursing flap, wherein the nursing flap is hingedly coupled to the cup-shaped base flap, and wherein the nursing flap may be rotated between a first closed position and a second bib position. In some embodiments, the apparatus comprises adhesive areas on the cup-shaped base flap and/or on the nursing flap. In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises adhesive flaps hingedly coupled to the cup-shaped base flap.

Abstract: A projection display includes a light source, a spatial light modulator that receives a light from the light source, and an angle-selective coating disposed to receive the light beam from the spatial light modulator. The angle-selective coating is oriented at a non-zero inclination angle to the light beam. The angle-selective coating has a higher transmission for light that is incident upon the angle-selective coating at an incidence angle within an acceptance-angle deviation from a design incidence angle, than for light that is incident upon the angle-selective coating at an incidence angle greater than the acceptance-angle deviation from the design incidence angle. The projection display preferably includes a TIR (total internal reflection) prism disposed to reflect a light beam from the light source to the spatial light modulator, and to receive the light beam from the spatial light modulator. The angle-selective coating is preferably buried within the TIR prism.

Abstract: A method and framework for dynamically aggregating data and functionality to runtime objects in order to increase component reuse and ease integration of disparate objects are presented. The present invention makes possible the reuse and integration of virtually any runtime object without consideration of the platform for which the component was originally created. Runtime aggregation of inheritance, fields, functions, and types is presented. Also, methods presented include: Inheritance, data, and method “eclipsing”; Runtime instantiation on an “as needed” basis; Dynamic runtime transformation of objects; and Aggregation design time cuing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for partial updating of client interfaces in a client-server environment. The client updates the corresponding server-side through a middleware “engine.” Individual interface element change requests may be queued. Programmatically defined events may trigger processing of the change request queue on the client, resulting in partial updating of an interface container, such as a Web page or XML document, in the client interface context. Processing may occur on the server, where resultant client update requests are likewise queued. Alternative programmatically defined events may trigger the return of the server change queue to the client. Only those elements of the interface container affected by changes in the queue are updated. This partial updating method replaces the need for refreshing an entire interface, thus affording a more desktop-like look and feel.

Abstract: A method and system for instructing a computer in a system of a declarative computer programming language. Unlike traditional declarative languages, the programming language may be neither relational nor functional, neither procedural nor imperative. The declarative programming elements may be defined as a meta-description of logic and data. The basic morphology of this meta-description may be a data construct known as a Lattice. Lattices derive declarative power from their inclusion of “Attributes” and “Sites”. Attributes are declarative properties that determine the internal behavior of a Lattice; while Sites are declarative data access points that establish the external relationship a Lattice may have with other Lattices, Lattice Containers, and Lattice Elements. Each of these data constructs are highly adaptable, recursive, and expandable, providing the entire language with a degree of flexibility that facilitates a very high level of abstraction.

Abstract: A well bore pressure containment device is provided. Operating as a single stripping and containment device compatible with a wide range of tool string and tubing sizes, the containment device may be integrated with rotating pressure control systems, and be used during completion and work over operations. The containment device has a spool, and a flexible bladder extending about the interior of the spool. The bladder may be controllably deformed to seal against a tool string passing through the device using an inwardly directed pressure, which preferably is exerted by a fluid in the interstitial space between the spool and the bladder.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dual breast pad and nursing bib apparatus comprising a cup-shaped base flap and a nursing flap, wherein said nursing flap is hingedly coupled to said cup-shaped base flap, and wherein said nursing flap may be rotated between a first closed position and a second bib position. In some embodiments, the apparatus comprises adhesive areas on the cup-shaped base flap and/or on the nursing flap. In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises adhesive flaps hingedly coupled to said cup-shaped base flap.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of inhibiting the sprouting of a plant product by exposing the plant product to a low dose of high-speed electron irradiation at a high dose rate. More specifically, the plant product is exposed a dose of high-speed electron irradiation sufficient to inhibit cell division of its meristematic cells. However, the dose is insufficient to substantially damage the other non-meristematic cells of the plant product. A suitable dose may range from 2.5 to 50 kilorads. The dose rate is also sufficient to inhibit cell division in the meristematic cells of the plant product, and insufficient to substantially damage the non-meristematic cells of the plant product. A suitable dose rate is greater than 106 rads per second. The present invention also includes a plant product treated by the above method.

Abstract: A method of cementing a production casing in a borehole having a surface casing therein wherein cement is pumped down through the production casing thereby cementing the production casing into the borehole and the surface casing. Prior to pumping a special production casing section carrying a tubular expandable resilient bladder is installed in the production casing. The bladder has flanges at either end and slots passing through the flanges. The bladder has an internal thread at one end which mates with an external thread on the casing section thereby anchoring the bladder. The other end of the bladder is free. When installed there is clearance between the bladder and the surrounding surface casing. This permits the bladder to expand upwardly when cement is pumped through and when there is a sufficient head of cement after pumping the bladder collapses and provides a good seal between the production casing section and the surface casing section.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting antigen, including an allergen exemplified by a dust-mite, dispersed in a motile fluid in a given environment that can be inserted in a section of a pipe of a standard vacuum cleaner hose. The apparatus includes a receptacle whose body is formed of nylon, typically with a pore size of from 15 to 60 .mu.m. The receptacle is coated with an antibody that retains the antigen in a contacting relationship. The apparatus is provided with a removable holder, which assists in locating the apparatus in the pipe of the vacuum cleaner. The apparatus can be used directly in an immunoassay for confirming the presence of, or quantifying, the antigen.