Abstract: The invention comprises a method for distributing dead bank cards to customers who have not solicited a bank card or submitted an application. The dead bank card is a bank card (e.g., ATM card, debit card, check card, and the like) which contains all necessary information to be used, including a pre-assigned bank account number, and which only requires activation/approval by the prospective new bank account customer. In one embodiment, the dead bank card is distributed in connection with live credit cards issued to applicants for credit card accounts. Once operative, the bank card and the credit card may be linked together through a rebate/rewards program.

Abstract: This invention relates to an expense reporting system for viewing and manipulating a user's financial transaction data and a method for associating financial transaction data with a user's project data. The system includes a user's financial transaction data hosted in a data storage unit, addressable on a network, and accessible by a remote user on a user interface unit having a user input means and a display; and an expense reporting module having a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows a user to define project category data and associate representations of the user's financial data with the user-defined project category data.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for spalling a material, for example to thermally drill a wellhole, are provided. Such methods may include directing a fluid having a temperature greater than about 500° C. above the ambient temperature of the material and less than about the temperature of the brittle-ductile transition temperature of the material to a target location on the surface of the material, wherein the fluid produces a heat flux of about 0.1 to about 50 MW/m2 at an interface between the fluid and the target location, and thereby creating spalls of the material.

Abstract: A read head system has a housing and a read positioned in the housing with a slot for swiping a magnetic stripe of a financial transaction card with the slot utilized to enable a financial transaction between a buyer and seller. The read head reads data on the magnetic stripe and produces a signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe. The read head includes an output jack configured to be coupled to at least one of a audio jack or microphone port of a mobile device. The read head provides the signal to the mobile device. The slot is oriented and sized to reduce torque applied on the read head as the financial transaction card is swiped through slot in order to maintain accuracy and reliability of the data read by the read head. Decoding of the signal is performed in the mobile device. The decoding includes determining pulses in the signal and converting at least some of the pulses to characters.

Abstract: A body fluid sampling system for use on a tissue site includes a single drive force generator. A plurality of penetrating members are operatively coupled to the force generator. The force generator moves each of the members along a path out of a housing with a penetrating member exit, into the tissue site, stops in the tissue site, and withdraws out of the tissue site. A flexible support member couples the penetrating members to define a linear array. The support member is movable and configured to move each of the penetrating members to a launch position associated with the force generator.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for determining whether a subject is at risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, for example, the wet or neovascular form of age-related macular degeneration. The method involves determining whether the subject has a protective variant and/or a risk variant at a polymorphic site in the HTRA1 gene. In addition, the invention provides a method of treating or slowing the progression of age-related macular degeneration by reducing the expression of the HTRA1 gene, or reducing the biological activity of the HTRA1 gene product.

Abstract: A method is described for reducing a dead volume of a microfluidic circuit that includes, in one embodiment, a reservoir, an outlet, and a microfluidic flowpath fluidly connecting the reservoir and the outlet. The method includes providing a microfluidic flow component between the reservoir and the outlet for performing a function and in fluidic communication with the microfluidic flowpath, wherein the microfluidic flow component includes a total volume including a working volume and a dead volume. The working volume is a volume necessary for the microfluidic flow component to perform the function and the dead volume is a volume unnecessary for the microfluidic flow component to perform the function. The method includes configuring at least one of the reservoir, the microfluidic flowpath, and the microfluidic flow component to reduce the dead volume, such that the working volume of the component is substantially the same as the total volume.

Abstract: A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to enable an individual to complete a financial transaction by swiping a magnetic stripe card through a card reader connected to a mobile device. The size of the card reader is miniaturized to be portable for connection with the mobile device. The card reader is configured to reliably read data encoded in a magnetic strip of the card with minimum error in a single swipe and provide a signal that corresponds to the data read to the mobile device, which then decodes the incoming signal from the card reader and acts as a point-of-sale device to complete the financial transaction. Such an approach enables a person to become either a micro-merchant (payee) or a buyer/customer (payer) without having to purchase expensive card reader devices or software.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device with stressed trench isolation is provided, comprising: providing a silicon substrate (S11); forming at least two first trenches in parallel on the silicon substrate and forming a first dielectric layer which is under tensile stress in the first trenches (S12); forming at least two second trenches, which have an extension direction perpendicular to that of the first trenches, in parallel on the silicon substrate, and forming a second dielectric layer in the second trenches (S13); and after forming the first trenches, forming a gate stack on a part of the silicon substrate between two adjacent first trenches, wherein the channel length direction under the gate stack is parallel to the extension direction of the first trenches (S14). The present invention supply tensile stress in the channel width direction of a MOS transistor, so as to improve performance of PMOS and/or NMOS transistors.

Abstract: Systems and methods of controlling a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system are provided that operate according to signals returned from return air temperature sensors as well as the supply air temperature sensors. Using predetermined temperature setpoints, return temperature information, and supply temperature information, the HVAC system is configured to maintain the temperature of a room first, by the use of its cooling valve, and second and only when the capacity of the cooling valve has peaked, by use of the fan. The presently disclosed improved HVAC system operates more efficiently by avoiding unit loading hopping and minimizing power consumption.

Abstract: The invention relates to a monitoring device for a processor comprising a means for monitoring the power consumption of the processor and a means for analysing the power consumption to detect abnormal operation of the processor.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed for rewarding mortgage customers of a financial institution. The method includes providing enrollment in a mortgage matching system to eligible mortgage customers, wherein eligibility requirements include the requirement that eligible mortgage customers hold both a mortgage account and a checking account with the financial institution. The customer makes periodic mortgage payments from the checking account to the mortgage account. The method monitors continued compliance with the eligibility requirements and submission of the periodic payments using a monitoring engine. The method further includes determining a reward payment amount to be made to each complying mortgage customer, wherein the reward payment amount is a predetermined percentage of principal and interest paid during a predetermined time period. The calculated reward payment amount is transferred to a pre-selected accessible location for each complying mortgage customer.

Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle locating unit wherein an activation signal is received when the vehicle is stolen and in response to the activation signal, a signal indicating the vehicle has been stolen is transmitted. The receiver is energized for an actual duration Non periodically to listen for the activation and other signals. Estimating how long the receiver has been on includes incrementing a counter at a count resolution where Non is typically at least sometimes less than the count resolution. Estimating the total amount of time the receiver was energized is based on a measured on time after it converges with the actual on time.

Abstract: The invention relates to a family of fluorescent compounds of Formula (I). The compounds can be chemically linked to biomolecules, such as proteins, nucleic acids, and therapeutic small molecules. The compounds can be used for imaging in a variety of medical, biological and diagnostic applications, and are particularly useful for the in vivo imaging of regions of interest within a mammal.

Abstract: These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in a body fluid sampling system for use on a tissue site that includes a single drive force generator. A plurality of penetrating members are operatively coupled to the force generator. The force generator moves each of the members along a path out of a housing with a penetrating member exit, into the tissue site, stops in the tissue site, and withdraws out of the tissue site. A flexible support member couples the penetrating members to define a linear array. The support member is movable and configured to move each of the penetrating members to a launch position associated with the force generator. A user interface is configured to relay at least one of, penetrating member performance or a penetrating member setting.

Abstract: A system and method for minimizing the complex phase interaction between non-coincident subwoofer and satellite speakers for improved magnitude response control in a cross-over region. An all-pass filter is cascaded with bass-management filters in at least one filter channel, a[1d preferably all-pass filters are cascaded in each satellite speaker channel. Pole angles and magnitudes for the all-pass filters are recursively calculated to minimize phase incoherence. A step of selecting an optimal cross-over frequency may be performed in conjunction with the all-pass filtering, and is preferably used to select an optimal cross-over frequency prior to determining all-pass filter coefficients.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system that provides flexible data access to a wired underwater communications network through an electromagnetic, non-conductive connection. An underwater data access point is described wherein data access to a cabled network is provided through an electromagnetic connection. An inductive connector system may also be provided to allow transfer of data and/or power between a data access point and a client system.

Abstract: A system for implementing operational process control servers includes an application server for receiving operational process control data from operational process control servers associated with components of the monitored process, a data visualization server for receiving the data from the application server and producing reports based on the data, and a server configuration user interface for facilitating specification of configuration parameters of the operational process control servers according to operational process control unified architecture standards.

Abstract: A method of lancing the tissue of a patient provides a tissue penetration element with a tip configured to penetrate tissue. The tissue penetration element is disposed in proximity to the tissue of the patient. A lancing cycle is initiated. The lancing cycle advances the tip into the tissue during a penetration stroke and displaces the tissue penetration element proximally over a withdrawal stroke. Tissue data is acquired based on an interaction between the tissue penetration element and the tissue during at least a portion of the lancing cycle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for multiuse subcarriers in multipoint-to-point communication using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) are provided. In one embodiment, a remote unit for communicating with a host unit using OFDM is provided, the host unit communicatively coupled to a plurality of remote units in a multipoint-to-point configuration. The remote unit comprises a modulator for modulating up to a plurality of tones with upstream information using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, wherein the modulator is configured to adjust a carrier frequency and timing of the plurality of tones such that spectrally overlapping tones transmitted from the remote unit and at least one other remote unit of the plurality of remote units are orthogonal and combine to form an OFDM waveform when received at the host; and wherein a first tone of the plurality of tones carries both control data and payload data.