Abstract: A support supports a decoy device in an elevated position above the support with a post. The support comprises a platform member with a front edge and an opposite rear edge with longitudinal sides extending therebetween. The platform member has top and bottom surfaces defining parallel planes between the front and rear edges and the longitudinal sides. The front edge has a width dimension less than the width dimension of the rear edge. The front edge is generally pointed in cross-section. The platform member is formed from a material with sufficient buoyancy to allow the support to substantially float in the water with the decoy device mounted thereto. The platform member top surface has a mount adapted to receive the post of the decoy device. The platform member has a tether connector. The method of using the support is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of performing financial transactions between users of Summa accounts, each Summa account including an electronic messaging system that provides for crediting and debiting at least one financial account associated with each Summa account. The invention also allows each user to define a schedule of receipt charges associated with the identities of other users to be charged as compensation for accepting delivery of their messages. With the user's permission, a record of purchases made from the Summa account may be maintained in a marketing database, increasing the value of use's market identity and the corresponding value of receipt charges they user may collect.

Abstract: Described is an articulating intervertebral disc prosthesis including a first member having a vertebra engaging portion and a bearing surface; a second member having a vertebra engaging portion and a bearing surface, which in use abuts the first member bearing surface to form a first bearing joint, —and motion restraint means adapted to provide ax-ticulation restraint of the bearing joints at predetermined limits of articulation similar to the natural motion restraint of a facet joint; wherein the prosthesis is longitudinally—split into two bodies so that the two bodies can be laterally separated, each body having an articulating bearing joint. Preferably, the second member bearing surface is shaped to include at least a portion of a first substantially circular curve when viewed in a first section, and at least a portion of a second substantially circular curve when viewed in a second section, said first and second curves being of respectively different sizes of circle.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleotide sequences encoding an insecticidal protein exhibiting lepidopteran inhibitory activity, as well as a novel insecticidal protein referred to herein as a Cry1A.105 insecticide, transgenic plants expressing the insecticide, and methods for detecting the presence of the nucleotide sequences or the insecticide in a biological sample.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting various system conditions in a fluid delivery system (such as an HVAC system) based on a motor parameter are disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention relate to detecting: filter condition, frozen coil condition, register condition, energy efficiency, system failure, or any combination thereof. Embodiments of the present invention relate to detecting fluid delivery system conditions based on motor parameters including system current, system power, system efficiency, motor current, motor power, motor efficiency, and/or a change (or rate of change) in motor parameters. Techniques for responding to a clogged filter and a frozen coil are also disclosed. Also disclosed are techniques for characterizing a fluid delivery system off-site, prior to system installation.

Abstract: A method and system for creating a pre-defined electronic transactions is disclosed. the system comprises a server in communication with a database and a computer network, and the server is configured to: (1) receive a request to create a pre-defined electronic transaction from a client computer via the computer network, (2) receive input from the client computer comprising information that at least partially defines the pre-defined electronic transaction, and (3) store the received information in the database.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for non-invasively measuring blood glucose levels in a biological sample based on spectral data. A variety of techniques are disclosed for improving signal-to-noise ratio in the acquisition of spectral data and calculating attenuance of light attributable to blood in a sample. Disclosed techniques include (1) using a standard deviation operation in conjunction with the logarithm function, (2) using a normalization factor, (3) using a ratio factor, (4) accounting for the effect of temperature on various system components such as resistors, and (5) accounting for dark current in a light detector by performing a calibration.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing information via networked computers leverage request handlers, process handlers, and task handlers to provide efficient distributed processing of processing jobs, the processing jobs comprising a process flow, each process flow including (1) a plurality of processing tasks to be performed by task handlers and (2) state information associated with the processing tasks.

Abstract: An Internet-enabled rental vehicle reservation management method and system are disclosed. Via the system and method, authorization limits can be assigned to the users who create and manage replacement rental vehicle reservations through the system, where these authorization limits impose financial commitment monetary limits that the users can make on replacement rental vehicle reservations over a specified period of time. In an exemplary embodiment, these authorization limits are customized on a per user basis.

Abstract: Polynucleotides, nucleic acid constructs, and methods are disclosed for the modification of cellulose and/or lignin content in plant tissues. Plants are genetically engineered with a gene encoding a C3HC4 protein, which leads to increased cellulose content when over-expressed in the plant vascular system. Plant transformants harboring the C3HC4 protein gene show increased content of cellulose and/or decreased lignin content, traits that are thought to improve hardwood trees for cellulose extraction during pulping and papermaking.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are transgenic plants having recombinant DNA which expresses a G1073 transcription factor which provides enhanced resistance and/or tolerance to water deficit. More specifically the DNA constructs comprise a polynucleotide which encodes at least a functional part of a G1073 transcription factor or a homologous transcription factor.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and system for hardware-accelerating the generation of metadata for a data stream using a coprocessor. Using these techniques, data can be richly indexed, classified, and clustered at high speeds. Reconfigurable logic such a field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) can be used by the coprocessor for this hardware acceleration. Techniques such as exact matching, approximate matching, and regular expression pattern matching can be employed by the coprocessor to generate desired metadata for the data stream.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions and methods for separating oil and other contaminants (particularly oleophilic compounds) from water, gas and other carriers. The invention is useful for separating oil, including emulsified oil, from water and other oleophilic compounds from bilgewater and other wastewater. The compositions comprise a hydrocarbon resin and a drying oil, which may be combined in an organic solvent. For example, hydrocarbon resin and tung oil are optionally combined into a naphtha solvent. The invention is also useful for removing a variety of contaminants from an air stream, such as exhaust from internal combustion engines, burners, and other sources.

Abstract: A baking tray includes an outer shell and a bottom plate positioned within the outer shell for supporting a food item. The bottom plate is removable from the outer shell to separate the food item from the outer shell. The baking tray also includes a divider assembly positionable within the outer shell adjacent to the bottom plate. The divider assembly is configured to divide the food item supported on the bottom plate into a plurality of pieces.