Abstract: To protect a person with a property interest in real property against a loss of market value thereof, a base market value of the real property is determined at a current time when the property interest in the real property arises or thereafter, and a number of types of events that cause the real property to lose market value as compared with the base market value are defined. A number of the defined types of events are selected, and a real estate market value policy is issued to the person at about the current time. The policy promises to compensate the person for any loss experienced by the person if the real property loses market value as compared with the base market value based on any of the selected types of events.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and system for determining an absorption costing sequence for items in a business operation. More specifically, embodiments provide an efficient mechanism for sequencing items for absorption costing, thereby also improving the efficiency of subsequent absorption costing mechanisms by reducing the number of sequencing operations performed during costing. In one embodiment, an initial hierarchy is created from a bill of materials (BOM) including items for which an absorption cost will be calculated. Thereafter, an iterative method is performed to modify the initial hierarchy and reposition each parent item at a level above all of the children items corresponding to the parent item. An absorption processing sequence for the items is then determined from the modified hierarchy. As such, all items may be efficiently repositioned before absorption costing is performed.

Abstract: A luminaire is described having a pot-shaped housing for the reception of electrical components and for the releasable mounting of a functional unit having at least one main lighting surface and whose special features consist of the facts that the preferably planar main lighting surface of the functional unit extends parallel to the base wall of the housing or its mounting surface and is bounded at the marginal side by a peripheral flat frame made of heat conducting material; and that the flat frame is connected in a heat conducting manner to at least one LED carrier which is located in the functional unit in the region of the rear side of the flat frame and its surface carrying the LEDs is directed to a reflector arranged between the base wall of the housing and the main lighting surface such that the main lighting surface is illuminated substantially uniformly by diffuse light.

Abstract: A financial services and transaction network including multiple networked validation stations and remote terminals allows users to access a number of financial services and transactions. A user visiting a remote terminal indicates a desired service or transaction. The user provides any currency or funding information needed for the selected service, after which the remote terminal issues the user a transaction voucher. The user can take this transaction voucher to any of the validation stations in order to authenticate the user's identity and activate the voucher. Once the voucher is activated, the user or a recipient of the voucher can present the voucher at any remote terminal to receive funding or otherwise complete the transaction or service, subject to recipient authentication. The user provides necessary information using the remote terminal or validation station, or supplies the information using the voucher, which is collected upon performance of the requested service or transaction.

Abstract: A method of confirming the validity of an identification presented by an individual in a financial transaction includes receiving transaction information at a transaction device that is usable to perform the financial transaction. The method also includes determining the need for identification information based at least in part on the transaction information. The method further includes receiving identification information at the transaction device. The identification information is obtained from an identification of the individual and the identification information has a format. The method also includes transmitting the identification information to a host computer system. At the host computer system and based at least in part on the format of the identification information, the validity of the identification from which the identification information was obtained is accessed.

Abstract: Web-based user interface systems and methods for searching metadata-driven relational databases. Instead of requiring developers to determine the exact type and number of search criteria for each application, the present invention advantageously provides a user-customizable search interface that, in certain aspects, leverages dynamic HTML, JavaScript, and dynamic SQL. A user may choose the exact type and number of search parameters, enabling the user to build a custom report without requiring the user to write any code. The system dynamically builds a SQL search query based on the user identified search parameters. Once a user has built a custom search using the interface, that search may be saved for re-use, and shared with other users.

Abstract: An improved venturi apparatus for facilitating the mixture of fluid substances. The apparatus preferably comprises a first funnel section operative to receive a fluid and channel the same through a first cylindrical section or passageway. The first cylindrical section is fluidly connected to an intermediate passageway having a diameter larger than the first cylindrical section. At least one sidearm passageway is fluidly connected to the intermediate passageway into which at least one second fluid is introduced. The at least one sidearm passageway is preferably configured to fluidly interconnect with the intermediate passageway at approximately the medial portion of the intermediate passageway. Fluidly connected to the intermediate passageway is a second cylindrical section that is operative to direct the flow of the intermixed fluids to a second exit funnel section.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving Ct determination in PCR amplification curves by correcting PCR data for temperature shifts that may occur during the PCR process. A double sigmoid function with parameters determined by a Levenberg-Marquardt (LM) regression process is used to find an approximation to the portion of the curve in the region after the temperature shift, termed “CAC”, the cycle where the temperature shift occurred. A robust linear approximation is determined for the portion of the curve in the region before the temperature shift. Values of the fluorescent intensity for the cycle CAC or CAC+1 are determined using both the linear approximation and the LM process, and a difference in these values is subtracted off of the portion of the data set representing the portion of the curve before the temperature shift occurred to produce a shift-corrected data set. The shift-corrected data set may be displayed or otherwise used for further processing.

Abstract: An operation input reception unit (201) receives an operation input for a virtual vehicle to be run on the running path. Further, a running condition managing unit (203) manages the running condition of the virtual vehicle based on the received operation input. Then, a video generation unit (204) generates a front image appearing in front of the virtual vehicle, based on image information stored in an image information storage unit (202) and the managed running condition. Meanwhile, a load calculation unit (205) calculates a load to be imposed on the virtual vehicle, based on the managed running condition. Further, a tire drawing unit (206) draws a tire image whose shape is changed according to the calculated load. Then, a display control unit (208) synthesizes the generated front image and the tire image, and displays the synthesized image.

Abstract: Methods and systems for estimating atmospheric conditions are disclosed according to embodiments of the invention. In one embodiment, a method may include receiving reflective atmospheric data and solving a flow equation for motion coefficients using the reflective atmospheric data. Future atmospheric conditions can be estimated using the motion coefficients and the reflective atmospheric data. In another embodiment of the invention, the flow equation is solved in the frequency domain. Various linear regression tools may be used to solve for the coefficients. In another embodiment of the system, a radar system is disclosed that predicts future atmospheric conditions by solving the spectral flow equation.

Abstract: A flash memory device comprises a memory cell array, an input buffer unit, an output driver unit, first and second page buffer units, and first and second data handling units. The memory cell array includes two or more memory banks. During a data input operation, the first and second data handling units respectively receive first and second input data from the input buffer unit, and transfer the first and second input data to the first and second page buffers alternately after receiving the external address signals. During a data output operation, the first and second data handling units respectively receive first and second output data from the first and second page buffer units, and transfer the first and second input data to the output driver unit alternately after receiving the external address signals, so that the output driver unit outputs the first and second input data to the external device alternately.

Abstract: A two-gain-stage linear error amplifier is provided with frequency compensation and independently selectable stage gains and a reasonably small compensation capacitor to promote stability with a reasonable phase margin over a wide load range so that the invention is useful as a low drop out (LDO) voltage regulator circuit device that is stable over a wide load range.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a resource leak on a first web server uses a second web server. A first HTTP request message is received from a client at a first Web server and includes an identifier of an information component stored on the first Web server which generates a reply to the first HTTP request message including the information component, and sends the reply to the client. Multiple duplicate HTTP request messages for the information component are generated at the first Web server in response to the receiving of the first request, for analyzing a resource leak on the first Web server. Each of the duplicate HTTP request messages includes the identifier of the information component. The duplicate HTTP request are transmitted to a second Web server and multiply any existing resource leak, thereby facilitating detection, diagnosis and/or analysis. The transmitting to the second Web server maintains the first Web server free from receiving the multiple HTTP request messages.

Abstract: A system and method for generating an encryption key using physical characteristics of a biometric sample is described. In one embodiment, the biometric feature(s) from a sample are analyzed to generate a feature vector. After discretizing the feature(s), the resultant feature vector is translated into a bit vector. The bit vector is the secure biometric key that results from the biometric(s). The secure biometric key is used to generate at least one cryptographic key. A similar process is used to access the cryptographic key secured by the secure biometric key. If the access biometric key matches the secure biometric key, the cryptographic key is revealed and access is allowed. In another embodiment, if the access biometric key does not match the secure biometric key a camouflaging process is used to provide an unauthorized user a bogus secure biometric key indistinguishable from the correct secure biometric key.

Abstract: A fragrance diffuser kit is provided comprising a decanter, a fragrance refill set, a removable snuffer cap and a removable decorative vented lid. The decanter may be selected from a plurality of unique and decorative designs that are suitable for prominent display as a piece of home décor. The fragrance refill set comprises a bottle of high-quality fragrance composition for filling the decanter and a replacement wick, whereby the user may select and change the fragrance emitted by the fragrance diffuser. The decanter incorporates a wick holder having a top opening that communicates with a top opening in the decanter body so that a wick from the fragrance refill set may be inserted and held in a position to absorb and emit the fragrance composition contained in the decanter. The snuffer cap may be used to stop the emission of the fragrance composition and the vented lid may be used to hide the wick and snuffer cap, if present.

Abstract: The present invention provides siRNA molecules that target Filovirus gene expression and methods of using such siRNA molecules to silence Filovirus gene expression. The present invention also provides nucleic acid-lipid particles that target Filovirus gene expression comprising an siRNA that silences Filovirus gene expression, a cationic lipid, and a non-cationic lipid.

Abstract: A protein containing one or more activatable groups, e.g., an antibody, is subjected to partial or complete reduction of one or more such bonds to form reactive groups; the resulting protein is reacted with a drug which is reactive with some of the reactive groups, such as certain radiometals, chelating agents, and toxins, so as to form a conjugate useful in, e.g., in vitro diagnosis, in vivo imaging, and therapy.