Abstract: A system for analyzing data is disclosed. In one general aspect it includes a data analysis user interface responsive to user interaction to initiate actions on the data. An action logging interface is operative to create a logged sequence of actions as the user initiates them through the data analysis user interface. And a token-based authoring user interface responsive to user selection commands to select action-tokens corresponding to the actions logged by the action logging interface to create an authored set of actions that has an authored sequence that can be different from the logged sequence.

Abstract: A method for non-surgical rejuvenation of facial skin to correct both Type 1 aging changes in the epidermis layer of the skin causing visual changes in the skin and Type 2 aging changes in the dermis layer of the skin causing damage to supportive elements of the skin. The method includes the steps of exfoliation of the facial skin, stimulation of new dermal collagen deposition, removal of at least one of pigment and superficial blood vessels, relaxation of facial expression muscles, filling of soft tissue defects including at least one of deep facial lines and contour deformities, and tightening of the facial skin, and the steps of the method are applied according to a selected one of a plurality of age determined regimens.

Abstract: A rheometer uses a removable integrated environmental control cartridge that includes at least one environmental control unit, at least one supply port operative to interact with the supply port for a chassis of the rheometer. It also includes at least one mechanical alignment interface that is operative to interact with the mechanical alignment interface of the chassis to align both the mobile part with respect to the fixed part and the chassis supply port with respect to the environmental control cartridge part. In another general aspect, a rheometer can use an environmental control cartridge interface operative to report an identity of the integrated environmental control cartridge to an environmental control cartridge identification interface of its chassis.

Abstract: Banking transaction processing apparatus and methods are disclosed. In one general aspect, a banking transaction processing method includes accessing a first authorization code from a first device, such as a credit card, and a second authorization code from a second device, such as a portable phone, at a merchant location, These codes are provided to an authorization module at the merchant location, and a relationship between the first and second authorization codes is evaluated. A transaction authorization indication can then be provided from the authorization module for an in-person transaction with the merchant.

Abstract: Improved methods and apparatus for installing fasteners are disclosed. In one general aspect, a method of installing fasteners in partitions is presented. This method includes providing a threaded fastener having a first end engaged with an anchoring nut and a head at a second end. A driver head engages with the head of the threaded fastener with a driver head, and the anchor nut is then pushed through an opening to a second side of the partition. The driver head is used to then simultaneously both draw the head of the threaded fastener away from the partition and turn the head of the fastener to advance the fastener through the anchoring nut.

Abstract: In one general aspect, a spectroscopic apparatus is disclosed for investigating heterogeneity of a sample area. The apparatus includes an image acquisition system operative to acquire images of a plurality of sub-areas in the sample area and a sub-area selection interface operative to receive a selection designating one of the sub-areas for which an image has been obtained. A spectrometer has a field of view and is operative to acquire a spectrum of at least part of one of the sub-areas in its field of view, and a positioning mechanism is responsive to the sub-area selection interface and operative to position the field of view of the spectrometer relative to the sample area based on a received selection.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of automated blood cell analysis uses technologies from other systems to create a new, robust, improved type of automated microscope, which uses electronic motors and a closed loop control system to minimize ambient factors, such as jarring and temperature changes. Pre-stained blood smear slides are first coated with a thin film of oil and are loaded into a carousel from which they can individually be analyzed. The slides are moved under a low magnification microscope; an optimal area of examination is determined; a focal plane map is calculated for that area, and the positions of white blood cell candidates are computed. The slide is then moved under a high power microscope where a refined focal plane map is computed and the individual white blood cell candidates are imaged. The cells are preclassified and the images are made available for analysis by the technician.

Abstract: A method of obtaining information about a heterogeneous pharmaceutical mixture is disclosed. This method involves applying an image enhancement agent, such as a stain, to the mixture. An image of the mixture can then be obtained, and information about a distribution of components of the mixture in the image can also be obtained based on spatial information derived from the application of the image enhancement agent.

Abstract: In one general aspect, a financial advisor support method is disclosed that includes presenting on a wireless handheld device a list of accounts of different types held by a household entity at different institutions, receiving through the wireless handheld device account selection commands for a selected account in the list presented in the step of presenting, and presenting on the wireless handheld device account information for the selected account in response to the step of receiving.

Abstract: In one general aspect, a particle characterization instrument is disclosed that includes a first spatially coherent light source with a beam output aligned with an optical axis. A focusing optic is positioned along the optical axis after the coherent light source, and a sample cell is positioned along the optical axis after the focusing optic. The instrument also includes a diverging optic positioned along the optical axis after the sample cell, and a detector positioned outside of the optical axis to receive scattered light within a first range of scattering angles from the diverging optic. In another general aspect, an instrument can direct at least a portion of a first beam and at least a portion of a second beam along a same optical axis and a can receive scattered light from the sample cell resulting from interaction between the sample and either the first beam or the second beam.

Abstract: In one general aspect, a spectroscopic method for monitoring heterogeneity of a sample is disclosed. In this method, sampled spectroscopic measurements are acquired over a range of different micro locations in a macro-sample of the sample. This step is repeated for micro-locations in further macro-samples of the sample, and a statistical measure of chemical heterogeneity is derived from the acquisitions. In another general aspect, differently sized samples are acquired, and a statistical measure of chemical heterogeneity is derived from these acquisitions.

Abstract: A chemistry analyzer precision pump is disclosed. In one general aspect, it has a pump block that defines a first pump chamber with a fluid port at a first end, an opening for a piston at a second end, and a seal mount located between the opening and the port. A second, smaller, pump chamber also has a fluid port at a first end, an opening for a piston at a second end, and a seal mount located between the opening and the port. A first seal is mounted at the first seal mount and a second seal is mounted at the second seal mount. A first piston is mounted to reciprocate in the first pump chamber, past the first seal, and a second, smaller piston is mounted to reciprocate in the second pump chamber, past the second seal. The first and second pistons and the first and second pump chambers can be conically shaped.

Abstract: Source data is analyzed and visualized for a user. As the user adjusts graphical query devices, the displayed data is filtered and the visualization is updated accordingly. The invention is particularly useful where the data relates to chemical compounds in that a SAR table is preferably generated, presented in the visualization, and updated according to the query device settings. The displayed SAR table entries may also be clustered as a function of similarity with respect to a chosen property, such as molecular weight or some topological characteristic. A hierarchy of similarity may then be indicated in the SAR table using, for example, a dendrogram.

Abstract: In one general aspect, a method of deriving information about behavior of a target system is disclosed. The method includes accessing one or more temporal variables for the target system, providing an identifier node at the top of a hierarchy of a tree-structured belief network, and assigning a different sub-tree in the network to each of the accessed temporal variables. The method also involves accessing evidence data, and deriving information about the behavior of the target system for the evidence data based on the tree-structured belief network.

Abstract: Converters that employ synchronous rectification, such as DC/DC converters, are disclosed. These converters can control their synchronous rectifiers to selectively block or pass a negative current from flowing in their output lines. Also disclosed are converters which can operate as slaves based on timing signals from other daisy-chained converters. Open-loop synchronous rectifier driving circuitry is further disclosed to allow converters to operate independently of any timing information from their output stages.

Abstract: A search system and method are disclosed. In one general aspect the method features fingerprinting digitally stored documents and queries based on one or more topic models. Similarities between document and query fingerprints can be detected to search for documents. Topic summaries can also be derived from the documents and queries based on the topic models.