Abstract: A system and process linking an external computer with a system of a lending institution, a market information vendor or brokerage company, to provide for simultaneous tracking of one or more investments by a Plan to ensure each Plan's investment provides adequate collateral for the lender. Further, the system provides access to Plan component values via electronic means to the various parties of interest; the Plan participant, the Plan administrator, the Plan lender, and the Plan sponsor. Finally, the system creates forecasts of a Plan using assumptions to enable a reader of the illustration to understand the employee participant and employer sponsor benefits and costs of the program.

Abstract: An improvement in a method of propagating, and an article useful in association with, or produced by, the method of propagating. Plants are produced in mats by steps including: providing a bottom net made of a material that is pervious to moisture, positioning a sheet of a fabric, depositing a layer of planting medium on said fabric, spreading viable wildflower seed over said medium, moistening said medium and said seeds, germinating seeds in the medium, such that roots of seedlings from said seeds intermesh with the fabric forming a sod mat; wherein the bottom net is sufficiently pervious to permit essentially unimpeded root contact with earth below the bottom net.

Abstract: Device and method includes providing a digital electrical computer system receiving the input information at an input device, the input information including amounts of contribution for employees in a defined contribution plan; processing the input electrical signals from a first format such that for each of the employees, a respective coverage amount is computed by using the contributions to the defined contribution plan; processing the input electrical signals such that for each of the coverage amounts, a corresponding insurance premium is calculated; generating a billing statement at the printer from output electrical signals, the output electrical signals corresponding to billing statement data including the employees coverage amounts and the insurance premiums; and storing the billing statement data; recalling the stored billing statement data, and for each of the employees in the defined contribution plan terminated prior to an end of a year for the defined contribution plan, using the stored billing st

Abstract: A machine and methods for making and using the same, involve a digital electrical information processing system to make a template program for organizing subsequently input template data. A builder program is used to make the template include a page having: a first portion that includes a set of data elements for representing the subsequently input data such that if the subsequently input data includes a time series data, then the first portion includes sets of up to twelve time series numeric data elements, and if the subsequently input data includes numeric data elements, then the first portion includes no more than four sets of numeric data elements, each of the sets including no more than ten numeric data elements; a second portion having at least one chart with at least one plot for depicting each of the numeric data elements from the first portion of the page; and a third portion having text characterizing at least one of the numeric data elements in the first portion.

Abstract: A method for using a digital electrical apparatus to electrically process signals in generating output for insurance documentation for a first insurance policy for a first risk having a claims cost reflecting: a concurrent second insurance policy for a second risk, the second risk being different from the first, the policies being for the same insured person, and the second policy affecting a claims cost of the first policy; the method including the steps of: in a digital electrical computer apparatus comprising a digital computer having a processor, the processor electrically connected to a memory device for storing and retrieving operations including machine-readable signals in the memory device, to an input device for receiving input data and converting the input data into input electrical data, to a visual display unit for converting output electrical data into output having a visual presentation, to a printer for converting the output electrical data into printed documentation, wherein the processor is p

Abstract: A multilayer electrical device such as a printed circuit board, and method for making the electrical device, having a tooth structure for joining at least one of the layers. The method includes the following steps: providing a base; preparing the base and adding a conductive layer to the base; applying a dielectric material to the conductive layer; preparing the applied dielectric material for receipt of the conductive coating; forming openings (vias) through holes in the applied dielectric coating; etching cavities in the applied dielectric material; applying a conductive coating to the cavities in the applied dielectric material; and forming a metal layer on the conductive coating to produce a tooth structure set in the dielectric coating. The tooth structure preferably has obtuse teeth in the range of 1-2 tenths of a mil deep that mechanically join a dielectric material to a subsequently added metal layer.

Abstract: A computerized human communication arbitrating and distributing system, including a controller digital computer and a plurality of participator digital computers, each of the participator computers including an input device for receiving human-input information from a human user and an output device for presenting information to the user, each said user having a user identity. A connection, such as Internet, links the controller computer with each of the participator computers. Controller software runs on the controller computer to arbitrate in accordance with predefined rules including said user identity, which ones of the participator computers can interact in one of a plurality of groups through the controller computer and to distribute real time data to the respective ones of the groups.

Abstract: A system and process linking an external computer with an illustration system of an insurance carrier and a system of an independent lending institution, via modem, to determine the optimal premium structure for a contemplated variable life insurance product using a portion of the policy owner's money and a lending institution loan to finance the premium. The system and process can also provide for simultaneously tracking several variable life insurance policy cash values to ensure each individual policy cash value is adequate for collateral purposes.

Abstract: A computer system, and methods for making and using it, for manipulating digital electrical signals to produce an illustration of a decomposition of property into separately valued components. The computer system includes a digital electrical computer controlled by a processor. The processor is programmed for manipulating digital electrical signals representing input data to the computer, the input data characterizing at least two components decomposed from the property, the manipulating including transforming the digital electrical signals into modified digital electrical signals representing respective values for each of the components, the values being computed to reflect taxation for the components. An input device is coupled to the computer and operable for converting the input data into the digital electrical signals and communicating the digital electrical signals to the computer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improved mobile radio telecommunications employs the transmission of a pilot reference signal within the coherence band of the modulated carrier wave. The receiver in this system uses instantaneous phase estimation techniques of the pilot and carrier received waveforms to provide immunity from phase distortion introduced by the channel.

Abstract: A protective sleeve comprising a combination of a mouth and a sleeve, the combination comprising a sleeve having a first and second flaps extending beyond the sleeve, each flap having a proximate side and a distal side, with the sleeve having an opening between the flaps and having a protective mouth. The mouth includes a lip formed by folding the first flap along a line and away from the opening until the first flap is adjacent to the sleeve; a second lip formed by folding the second flap over the opening until the second flap is adjacent to the first lip; and including joints adjacent to the proximate and distal sides of the second flap, the joints being located to urge the flaps in an orientation planar with the sleeve.

Abstract: A computerized system for initiating, processing, preparing, storing, and transmitting illustrations of life insurance in conjunction with a mortgage, the illustrations being devoid of a cost containment clause. A computer accesses a database into which data is written and from which data is read, the data including information regarding the life to be insured, general applicant information, insurance information, mortgage information, and predetermined text data for incorporation into insurance illustrations. The computer is operable by connecting to the database and at least one PC, including input and display apparatus, to permit data to be entered in and retrieved from the database. The computer is also provided with the capability of merging entered or stored data with the predetermined text data to compile the data and text into output embodying an illustration of life insurance in conjunction with a mortgage for the home buyer.

Abstract: A computerized system for initiating, processing, preparing, storing, and transmitting illustrations of universal life insurance. A computer accesses a database into which data is written and from which data is read, the data including information regarding the life to be insured, general applicant information, insurance information and predetermined text data for incorporation into insurance illustrations. The computer is operable by connecting to the database and at least one other digital computer, including input and display apparatus, to permit data to be entered in and retrieved from the database. The computer is also provided with the capability of merging entered or stored data with the predetermined text data to compile the data and text into output embodying an illustration of life insurance.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods characterized by an electric neural network including a node having multipliers respectively receiving signals representing feature vector elements and signals representing weight vector elements to produce product signals, a summer to add the product signals with a bias signal and output a sum signal to a hard limiter, the hard limiter for outputting a preliminary output signal of polarity. In response to the output signal of polarity, one of at least two logic branches is enabled. In response to such enabling, weight elements are assigned to a next weight vector to be used in subsequent processing by the one of the at least two logic branches until a label is to be produced.

Abstract: A method for controlling chemical distribution of substances in a solid state (and products produced thereby), the method comprising the steps of mixing particles of a first powder and a triggerable granule facilitator to form first microcapsules, the first microcapsules each having a core of one of the particles and a cladding of the facilitator; and triggering the facilitator while dry mixing the microcapsules to form substantially spherical granules of the microcapsules, the granules each having a controlled chemical distribution.The method also includes the steps of mixing particles of a second powder with the facilitator to form second microcapsules, the second microcapsules each having a core of one of the particles of the second powder and a cladding of the facilitator; and then mixing the first and the second microcapsules prior to said triggering step.

Abstract: A system for producing an optical gain, the system including a host having a light conducting path doped with thulium, holmium, and at least one rare earth selected from the group consisting of europium and terbium in respective amounts sufficient to produce an optical gain by energizing the thulium to a .sup.3 H.sub.4 state to produce an optical gain by a .sup.3 H.sub.4 -.sup.3 F.sub.4 transition, producing a 1.47 .mu.m wavelength output. There is subsequent energy transfer from the .sup.3 F.sub.4 state of the thulium to a .sup.5 I.sub.7 state of the holmium, and energy transfer from the .sup.5 I.sub.7 state to the rare earth selected from the group consisting of europium and terbium. The system can include oscillator, amplifier, and superluminescence source configurations. A method for making and a method for using the system are included.

Abstract: A system for producing an optical gain. The system includes an optical fiber having a core and a cladding, the core being doped with Pr.sup.3+ ; and a source producing light to energize the Pr.sup.3+ to the .sup.1 G.sub.4 state and produce an optical gain by a .sup.1 G.sub.4 -.sup.3 H.sub.5 transition at a wavelength in the range of 1.25 to 1.34 microns. The system also includes a method of making and a method of using the same.

Abstract: A system for producing an optical gain, the system including a host having a light conducting path doped with thulium, holmium, and at least one rare earth selected from the group consisting of europium and terbium in respective amounts sufficient to produce an optical gain by energizing the thulium to a .sup.3 H.sub.4 state to produce an optical gain by a .sup.3 H.sub.4 -.sup.3 F.sub.4 transition, producing a 1.47 .mu.m wavelength output. There is subsequent energy transfer from the .sup.3 F.sub.4 state of the thulium to a .sup.5 I.sub.7 state of the holmium, and energy transfer from the .sup.5 I.sub.7 state to the rare earth selected from the group consisting of europium and terbium. The system can include oscillator, amplifier, and superluminescence source configurations. A method for making and a method for using the system are included.

Abstract: An electrode for a biosensor (e.g., a glucose biosensor) has a layer of an electrically insulating polymer formed in situ on its operating surface by electropolymerization. For example, a diaminobenzene and a dihydroxybenzene (e.g., 1,3-diaminobenzene and resorcinol) are copolymerized on the electrode's surface by immersing the electrode in a circulating dilute solution of the monomers in deaerated phosphate buffer, and applying a small, continuously cycling voltage between that electrode and another electrode (e.g., from 0.00 V to 0.80 V) until current flow between the electrodes decreases to a minimum. Because the polymer is electrically insulating, polymerization ceases while the polymer layer is still very thin (e.g., 10 nm). An analyte sensing agent, e.g., an enzyme such as immobilized glucose oxidase, is imbedded in the polymer, but with a number of its analyte recognition sites unblocked.

Abstract: A cross between a female variety known as CL61-620 with a mixture of male varieties has produced an improved variety of sugar cane.