Abstract: A method system and computer product are provided to drive a process that includes powering up the computer; executing a basic input output system procedure; requesting information about and/or from a user; receiving information about and/or from the user; offering access to at least one computational functionality by the computer at least partly on the basis of the received information; and fulfilling the boot-up procedure. The offering of access to at least one computational functionality may include visually presenting an image to the user that when selected directs the computer to launch an associated software program and/or initiate a web service or a communications session. The computational functionality may include or provide accessibility to a web service via the Internet and/or establishing and maintaining a communications session.

Abstract: The subject mater herein relates to requesting data from a database and, more particularly, to database query table substitution. Various embodiments provide systems, methods, and software to evaluate requests for data from a database and make table substitutions in the request to reduce a number of tables queried. Some embodiments include receiving a data request including data from two or more database table columns and building a list of all database tables specified in the data request. Some such embodiments further include, for each column in the data request, identifying each table from the list of all tables within which the column is present and identifying a least number of one or more tables that together include all of the columns of the data request. The data request may then be modified by changing the table of one or more of the columns in the received data requests.

Abstract: The application relates to methods, and systems for nucleotide sequencing comprising producing polymerase reactions that comprise both catalytic and non-catalytic divalent metal ions. Polymerase/template/primer complexes are immobilized on a substrate. The complexes are exposed to a solution comprising a non-catalytic metal and nucleotides labeled with a detectable label on a portion of the nucleotide that is released upon incorporation. The cognate nucleotide is sequestered in the active site of the polymerase, unable to proceed to incorporation. After observing the sequestered cognate nucleotide, the complex is exposed to a catalytic metal, resulting in the incorporation of the bound cognate nucleotide and consequent release of the label resulting in a single-base extended primer.

Abstract: A graphical user interface (GUI) presents a primary icon in a minimal visual area of a video display screen of a computer. Selecting the primary icon directs the computer to display a line of segments, where each segment associated with one or more software programs or electronic documents. The GUI allows a user to directly access items of visual and/or audio media by selecting one or more documents or software programs associated with a selected segment. The GUI optionally allows selected a line or segment for transmission from the computer to another computer, wherein copies one or more documents or software applications are transmitted to the second computer.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a user selection of a musical piece; providing performance cues to a user to perform musical events on a musical instrument, wherein the performance cues are synchronized to expert performance data of the musical piece; receiving audio data corresponding to musical events performed by the user on the musical instrument; detecting fundamental frequencies associated with the user-performed musical events; determining an extent to which the user-performed musical events have been correctly or incorrectly performed; providing real-time or near real-time audio feedback and/or visual feedback indicating the extent to which the user-performed musical events have been correctly or incorrectly performed; and using the expert performance data as real-time or near real-time audible or real-time or near real-time visual feedback; reporting user performance data of a session to a server; and storing the user performance data in a database.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a user selection of a musical piece; providing performance cues to a user to perform musical events on a musical instrument, wherein the performance cues are synchronized to expert performance data of the musical piece; receiving audio data corresponding to musical events performed by the user on the musical instrument; detecting fundamental frequencies associated with the user-performed musical events; determining an extent to which the user-performed musical events have been correctly or incorrectly performed; providing real-time or near real-time audio feedback and/or visual feedback indicating the extent to which the user-performed musical events have been correctly or incorrectly performed; and using the expert performance data as real-time or near real-time audio and/or video feedback by controlling an output level of the expert performance data output to the user during a session.

Abstract: A graphical user interface (GUI) presents a primary icon in a minimal visual area of a video display screen of a computer. Selecting the primary icon directs the computer to display a line of segments, where each segment associated with one or more software programs or electronic documents. The GUI allows a user to directly access items of visual and/or audio media by selecting one or more documents or software programs associated with a selected segment. The GUI optionally allows selected a line or segment for transmission from the computer to another computer, wherein copies one or more documents or software applications are transmitted to the second computer.

Abstract: A method, system and computer-readable medium are provided for enabling the organization, presentation and selection of icons related to information technology processes on the basis of frequency of launching of applications or use of services related the selected icons. In a first version, certain icons related to individual information technology processes are associated with an enclosing icon displayed by a computer at least partly on the basis of a history of frequency of use of applications software or related services. The user may direct the computer to display or cease displaying the icons by selecting the enclosing icon. In a second version the enclosing icon may be additionally or alternately associated with and/or disassociated from the enclosing icon at least partly on the basis of user instruction. In a third version, the selected icons may be personalized by associating textual, graphical and/or photographic data as provided by the user.

Abstract: Provided are compositions comprising recombinant DNA polymerases that include amino acid substitutions, insertions, deletions and/or heterologous or exogenous features that confer modified properties upon the polymerase for enhanced single molecule sequencing. Such properties can include reduced reaction rates at one or more steps of the polymerase kinetic cycle, increased closed polymerase/DNA complex stability, enhanced metal ion coordination, reduced exonuclease activity, decreased branching fractions, and the like. Polymerases that exhibit branching fractions that are less than the branching fractions of the polymerases from which they were derived, or branching fractions that are less than about 25% for a phosphate-labeled nucleotide analog, are also provided. Also provided are nucleic acids which encode the polymerases with the aforementioned phenotypes, as well as methods of using such polymerases to make a DNA or to sequence a DNA template.

Abstract: A graphical user interface (GUI) presents a primary icon in a minimal visual area of a video display screen of a computer. Selecting the primary icon directs the computer to display a line of segments, where each segment associated with one or more software programs or electronic documents. The GUI allows a user to directly access items of visual and/or audio media by selecting one or more documents or software programs associated with a selected segment. The GUI optionally allows selected a line or segment for transmission from the computer to another computer, wherein copies one or more documents or software applications are transmitted to the second computer.

Abstract: A thermal engine with a heated external chamber capable of generating highly compressed fluid, releasing work energy when injected into a cylinder of an engine equipped with a one cycle cam shaft, thus producing power on every one half revolution of the crank shaft. The exhaust stroke is utilized to pressurize the fluid in the system by forcing the spent fluid into a manifold, pressurized fluid is prevented from returning to the engine by a one way gate valve. The fluid is then forced into a pre-cooler tank through an adjustable one way valve then into a cooling tank through a one way valve where it cooled and pressurized and returned to the expansion chamber through a one way valve and the process is repeated. The engine speed is controlled by a bypass system connecting the expansion chamber and the manifold.

Abstract: A graphical user interface (GUI) tool is presented to a user for interacting with an underlying database. The GUI tool includes a field selection and attribute selections for the field. The user selects a field and an attribute for that field and is presented with a first list of values retrieved from the database for the selected attribute. Next, the user selects a filter for the attribute within the GUI tool and a second reduced list of values is presented to the user within the GUI tool representing the filtered first list of values acquired by applying the filter.

Abstract: Provided are compositions comprising modified recombinant polymerases that exhibit branching fractions that are less than the branching fractions of the polymerases from which they were derived, or branching fractions that are less than about 25% for a phosphate-labeled nucleotide analog. Also provided are compositions comprising modified recombinant polymerases that exhibit closed polymerase/DNA complexes with increased stability relative to the parental polymerases. Also provided are compositions comprising modified recombinant polymerases that exhibit decreased rate constants relative to the parental polymerases. Provided are methods for generating polymerases with the aforementioned phenotypes. Provided are methods of using such polymerases to make a DNA or to sequence a DNA template.

Abstract: A method, system and computer-readable medium are provided for enabling the organization, presentation and selection of icons related to information technology processes. In a first version, icons related to individual information technology processes are associated with an enclosing icon displayed by a computer. The user may direct the computer to display or cease displaying the icons by selecting the enclosing icon. In a second version the enclosing icon may be associated with another enclosing icon, wherein icons are organized into a presentation hierarchy. In a third version, the icons may be personalized by associating textual, graphical and/or photographic data as provided by the user.

Abstract: A method, system and computer-readable media for enabling a user of a computer to initiate a defragmentation process of a hard disc of a hard disc drive are provided. One version of the method includes (a.) presenting an icon identifying a defragmentation process, the presentation comprised within a desktop startup display of a computer; and (b.) in response to only a single action performed by a user, directing the computer to execute the defragmentation process. The single action may be a depression of, i.e., a clicking, a button of a computer mouse, a pointing device, or a television remote control, or of a key on a key pad of a computer. The computer may be a personal computer, a wireless telephone, a computer game console, a digital television, or a personal digital assistant.

Abstract: Compositions, kits, methods and systems for nucleotide sequencing comprising producing polymerase reactions that exhibit two kinetically observable steps within an observable phase of the polymerase reaction. Two slow step systems can be produced, for example, by selecting the appropriate polymerase enzyme, polymerase reaction conditions including cofactors, and polymerase reaction substrates including the primed template and nucleotides.

Abstract: Provided are compositions comprising recombinant DNA polymerases that include amino acid substitutions, insertions, deletions, and/or exogenous features that confer modified properties upon the polymerase for enhanced single molecule sequencing. Such properties can include enhanced metal ion coordination, reduced exonuclease activity, reduced reaction rates at one or more steps of the polymerase kinetic cycle, decreased branching fraction, altered cofactor selectivity, increased yield, increased thermostability, increased accuracy, increased speed, increased readlength, and the like. Also provided are nucleic acids which encode the polymerases with the aforementioned phenotypes, as well as methods of using such polymerases to make a DNA or to sequence a DNA template.

Abstract: A method, system and computer-readable medium are provided for enabling the organization, presentation and selection of icons related to information technology processes. In a first version, icons related to individual information technology processes are associated with an enclosing icon displayed by a computer. The user may direct the computer to display or cease displaying the icons by selecting the enclosing icon. In a second version the enclosing icon may be associated with another enclosing icon, wherein icons are organized into a presentation hierarchy. In a third version, the icons may be personalized by associating textual, graphical and/or photographic data as provided by the user.

Abstract: Provided are compositions comprising recombinant DNA polymerases that include amino acid substitutions, insertions, deletions and/or heterologous or exogenous features that confer modified properties upon the polymerase for enhanced single molecule sequencing. Such properties can include reduced reaction rates at one or more steps of the polymerase kinetic cycle, increased closed polymerase/DNA complex stability, enhanced metal ion coordination, reduced exonuclease activity, decreased branching fractions, and the like. Polymerases that exhibit branching fractions that are less than the branching fractions of the polymerases from which they were derived, or branching fractions that are less than about 25% for a phosphate-labeled nucleotide analog, are also provided. Also provided are nucleic acids which encode the polymerases with the aforementioned phenotypes, as well as methods of using such polymerases to make a DNA or to sequence a DNA template.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing collaterals are described. A method may include receiving qualifying criteria from a client. The qualifying criteria may define assignments of one or more collaterals. An assignment tool may be generated based on the qualifying criteria. The assignment tool may include a number of stored attributes and one or more interaction attribute to be determined based on a customer interaction. The assignment tool may be used to assign a collateral to a customer. Additional methods and systems are disclosed.