Abstract: A method, performed in a character entry system, for interrelating character strings so that an incomplete input character string can be completed by selection of a presented character string involves computing relationship scores for individual character strings in the system from documents present in the character entry system, in response to inputting of a string of individual characters that exceeds a specified threshold, identifying at least one selectable character string from among contextual associations that can complete the input character string in context based upon an overall ranking score computed as a function of at least two other scores, and providing the identified at least one selectable character string to a user for selection.

Abstract: A system and method for confirmation of hedge fund information, comprising performing an asset/liability confirmation by comparing corroborating data received from a third party independent of the hedge fund to a list of hedge fund assets/liabilities to identify third party confirmed assets/liabilities that correspond to the corroborating data. A price input confirmation is performed to identify a fund-provided value of an asset/liability as a confirmed value when it substantially corresponds a third party value of each asset/liability. Assigning a unique identifier to a confirmation instance and associated the unique identifier to a report identifying the proportion of the fund's NAV attributable to the total value of third party confirmed assets/liabilities and attributable to the total confirmed value of assets/liabilities. A second report identifying generated risk and/or performance data includes the unique identifier to certify that the asset/liability and price input confirmations have been performed.

Abstract: A system and method for record archive disposition is implemented with a computer system comprising one or more computer processors operatively connected to memory. Archival records are stored in memory, each archival record being associated with at least one metadata attribute. At least one or more legal holds are stored in memory, each legal hold having legal hold metadata attributes. A deletion candidate list is generated with at least one of the processors for at least one record type by including on the deletion candidate list archival records identified as having one or more archival record metadata attributes corresponding to the at least one record type, and excluding from the deletion candidate list identified archival records if a selected set of legal hold metadata attributes for at least one legal hold corresponds to at least a subset of metadata attributes for the identified archival records. Archival records included on the deletion candidate list are deleted from memory.

Abstract: A processor-implemented system and method for optimizing a transaction between one or more users of a good or service and one or more suppliers of the good or service is disclosed herein. Information is received from a user indicative of conditions upon which the user intends to obtain the good or service within a given period of time. Information is received from a supplier indicative of conditions upon which the supplier intends to supply the good or service within a given period of time. The probability of the user obtaining the good or service within the given period of time is determined, and committed and non-committed users are aggregated into groups having common characteristics. An optimal transaction and a maximum transaction are determined based on information received from the users and suppliers.

Abstract: A distractor and measuring device includes a first handle operatively connected to a first paddle and a second handle operatively connected to a second paddle. The first and second handles are pivotally connected to one another such that movement of the handles relative to one another causes the paddles to move relative to each other. At least one transducer is positioned on at least one of the first and second handles for measuring an amount of force applied during distraction. A measurement rod is pivotally connected to the device and is movable in a longitudinal direction relative to the first and second paddles. A potentiometer is operatively connected to the measurement rod to measure the angular orientation of the measurement rod.

Abstract: A method for providing a financial contract having a payout amount based on a specific return on an asset for a performance period. The method includes the step of determining the total return, risk-free return and common factor return associated with the asset over the performance period. Next, a specific return on the asset over the performance period based on the total return, risk-free return and common factor return is calculated. Finally, the payout amount is provided if the specific return meets payout criteria.

Abstract: A garment hem adjustment system and method, comprising a plurality of fasteners mounted on a surface of a garment proximal to the hem of the garment. The fasteners are aligned in a first column along an inseam of the garment and in a second column along an outseam of the garment. The fasteners are spaced apart a predetermined distance corresponding to a desired adjustment of the garment hem. The lowermost fastener in the first and second columns is adapted to releasably connect to the remaining fasteners in the column. Means are provided for preventing the garment hem from sagging between the columns of fasteners when the lowermost fastener in each column is releasably connected to another fastener in the column.

Abstract: A system and method for effecting modular investment position calculation is disclosed. The system and method comprise a data architecture having multiple stored calculation components. The calculation components include base calculation components and variant calculation components. A calculation spine is assembled by a master control module based upon information received by the master control module indicating that a variant version of a base calculation is to be performed. The calculation spine includes at least some of the base calculation components and at least one of the variant calculation components. The calculation spine is executable by the at least one programmable processor using data received by the processor such that, when the calculation spine is executed, the variant version of the base calculation will be performed using the data.

Abstract: An invisible ink, a method for preparing an invisible ink, and an invisible ink product are disclosed herein. An invisible ink comprising a first ink combined with a second ink is applied to a print medium. The first ink comprises a color developer activator without a color former leuco dye and the second ink comprises a color former leuco dye without a color developer activator. The first ink is prepared with a polyvinyl alcohol binder, dispersant/surfactant, and a wetting agent. The second ink is prepared with a polyvinyl alcohol binder, grind aid, dispersant/surfactant and defoamer. Heat generated by rubbing and/or scratching the invisible ink on the print medium activates the color former leuco dye and activator to change the color on the printing medium.

Abstract: A logical third axle gear train for a bicycle, comprising a power gear operatively connected to at least one sprocket and adapted to be rotatably mounted on a bicycle frame. A drive gear is operatively connected to a hub assembly on which a drive wheel is mounted. A conversion gear adapted to be rotatably mounted on the bicycle frame is disposed between the power gear and drive gear to transmit torque from the power gear to drive gear. The drive wheel is removable from the bicycle frame without manipulation of a chain for driving the sprocket.

Abstract: A method, performed in a character entry system involves computing contextual associations between multiple character strings based upon occurrence of character strings relative to each other in documents present in the system, wherein the computing contextual associations involves i) identifying pertinent documents present in the system, ii) creating a list of character strings contained within documents in the system; and iii) creating an interrelationship between the character strings to contents of the system; in response to the user inputting a specified threshold of individual characters, identifying at least one selectable character string from among the character strings used in creating the computed contextual associations that can complete the incomplete input character string in context; providing the identified at least one selectable character string to a user for selection; and receiving, in the system, the user's selection and completing the incomplete input character string based upon the sele

Abstract: An animal waste disposal system, comprising a collection bag having an open end and a closed bottom. A waste removal tool is attached to the closed bottom of the collection bag. The waste removal tool including opposing jaws, with each jaw terminating in a blade portion. The opposing jaws are movable from an open position where the opposing jaws are separated from one another to a closed position where the blade portion of one opposing jaw is in close proximity to the blade portion the other opposing jaw.

Abstract: A system is provided that includes a party file having a plurality of party records with each of the plurality of party records having party information relating to one of a plurality of parties. Also included is an account file having a plurality of account records with each of the plurality of account records having account information relating to one of a plurality of accounts. Each of the plurality of account records also includes a link to at least one of the plurality of party records. Finally, a transaction file is included having a plurality of transaction records with each of the plurality of transaction records having transaction information relating to one of a plurality of transactions. Each of the plurality of transaction records includes a link to one of the plurality of account records.

Abstract: A method provided for matching a buy order having a buy order price and a sell order having a sell order price that includes the step of determining if the buy order price is not less than the sell order price. Next, an NBBO price range is identified and it is determined whether the buy order price and the sell order price are within the NBBO range. A midpoint between the buy order price and the sell order price is then calculated. Finally, the buy order and the sell order is matched at the midpoint if the buy order price is not less than the sell order price and the buy order price and the sell order price are within the NBBO range.

Abstract: A system and method for confirmation of hedge fund information, comprising performing an asset/liability confirmation by comparing corroborating data received from a third party independent of the hedge fund to a list of hedge fund assets/liabilities to identify third party confirmed assets/liabilities that correspond to the corroborating data. A price input confirmation is performed to identify a fund-provided value of an asset/liability as a confirmed value when it substantially corresponds a third party value of each asset/liability. Assigning a unique identifier to a confirmation instance and associated the unique identifier to a report identifying the proportion of the fund's NAV attributable to the total value of third party confirmed assets/liabilities and attributable to the total confirmed value of assets/liabilities. A second report identifying generated risk and/or performance data includes the unique identifier to certify that the asset/liability and price input confirmations have been performed.

Abstract: An anti-pooling vest to be worn by a patient undergoing a hemodialysis procedure is disclosed for inhibiting intradialytic hypotensive symptoms in the patient during the course of hemodialysis treatment. The anti-pooling vest includes an inflatable bladder for applying a compressive pressure on the internal organs within the abdomen of the patient during the hemodialysis procedure to reduce the pooling of blood within the patient's internal organs. A pump, such as, for example, a manually compressible bulb or an electrically powered pump, in fluid communication with the bladder is operable to inflate the bladder to a predetermined pressure and a pressure relief valve in fluid communication with the bladder is operable to decrease the pressure within the bladder to the predetermined pressure.

Abstract: A method for calculating pricing information for a financial instrument consisting of a plurality of underlying financial instruments that includes the steps of: calculating a default time vector for a plurality of default scenarios wherein each default time vector includes a measure of a likelihood of default for each of the plurality of underlying financial instruments; calculating one or more cash flows for a subset of the default scenarios thereby forming a training set; training a neural network with the training set; and using the neural network to estimate one or more cash flows for a remaining number of the plurality of default scenarios.