Abstract: A system is disclosed for providing charge transaction detail comprising financial account spend transactions. Through a mapping of a merchant's item codes with an issuer's item codes, the system provides clients with a more descriptive report based on any one or more transaction instruments associated with the financial account. The charge transaction detail can include anything related to charge or credit card transactions including hotel reservation detail, corporate card detail and corporate purchasing card detail. The transaction detail can be captured from many sources and can include third party data. The clients can use a web application and web page to access the account data and create report views of the information. The system can also includes a create a report capability, which allows users to add filters and data elements to an existing report format and create a report specific to their needs and data.

Abstract: An airline may offer two procedures for redeeming frequent flier miles for tickets on a specified flight of that airline, with one procedure available to frequent flier program members that do not have transactional cards associated with the frequent flier program, and another redemption procedure available to frequent flier program members that have a transactional card associated with the frequent flier program. Cardmembers have improved award seat availability for frequent flier mile redemption, regardless of their status in the frequent flier program. Cardmembers are provided with last seat availability at a base redemption rate. Thus, cardmembers are not subject to limited award seat capacity controls and restrictions that airline frequent flier programs have in place, and cardmembers do not have to use higher redemption rates for last seat availability.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a metallic overlay having enhanced toughness. The metallic overlay may be a weld, a metallic coating, or similar application. The method includes applying a glass forming metallic alloy to a substrate while the alloy is in a molten or semi-molten state. At the interface of the metallic alloy overlay and the substrate the substrate metal becomes at least partially molten and combines with the alloy to form metallurgical bonds. When the metallic alloy cools it experiences a high relative degree of thermal contraction. The metallurgical bonds between the substrate and the alloy constrain the contraction of the alloy at the interface with the substrate. This results in the inducement of compressive stresses in the metallic alloy overlay. The induced compressive stresses inhibit the formation of cracks in the overlay and/or mitigation of the effects of any cracks in the overlay.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a system and method for distributing a transaction instrument. The system includes the steps of: offering for sale, in a retail environment, the transaction instrument; selling a selected transaction instrument; communicating with the issuer of the transaction instrument via an internet accessible web site, and enabling the use of the transaction instrument. The transaction instrument may be, for example, an open pre-paid card. The distribution of the transaction instrument may also include the step of sending a message, through the web site, in substantially real time, causing the pre-paid transaction instrument to be funded but not activated until later through an interactive voice response system, for example. In another example, an associated transaction account may be funded and activated at the time of distribution. Furthermore, an issuer system may be suitably configured to leverage existing Travelers Cheque infrastructure for inventory and related processes.

Abstract: A razor blade is provided that includes a substrate with a cutting edge defined by a sharpened tip and an adjacent facet, a layer of titanium containing material on the cutting edge, a layer of hard carbon material on the titanium containing layer, and an outer layer of polytetrafluoroethylene.

Abstract: A locking bag includes an envelope with a single opening defined between a pair of side wall edges. A pair of plastic zipper portions are disposed on opposite sides of the single pair of side wall edges. A zipper closure clip is slidably attached to the single pair of side wall edges at one corner of the opening of the bag. The zipper closure clip is adapted to clamp the two portions of the plastic zipper together when the zipper closure clip is slid along the opening of the bag. The two plastic zipper portions include suitable means to make the closing of the opening permanent. In one embodiment, the zipper closure is removable from the bag after the bag is permanently closed.

Abstract: A method of removably anchoring well tubing in a well bore may include selecting a well having a bore diameter and an anchor positioned therein. The anchor may have a housing defining an anchor diameter and extension members extending therefrom toward the bore diameter. The bore diameter and anchor diameter may be spaced apart a distance defining an annulus therebetween and extending along the well. A tool sized to cut substantially exclusively within the annulus may be selected. The tool may be positioned within the annulus, rotated, and advanced to drive past the housing to remove the extension members between the housing and the bore diameter to free the anchor.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for facilitating encryption and decryption of data. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an encryption key having a number of characters is located. A character in the encryption key is located to provide a located character in the encryption key. The number of characters in the data is determined. The position of the located character in the encryption key is shifted by a predetermined amount to determine a shifted position of the located character in the encryption key. Accordingly, the shifted position is located at a position in the encryption key that is the located character shifted by the predetermined amount. A first character in the data is translated with the character located at the shifted position to provide an encrypted character. The shifting and translating are repeated for any remaining characters in the data to provide encrypted data.

Abstract: Biguanide and dihydrotriazine derivatives, preferably substituted asymmetrical imidodicarbonimidic diamides derived from hydroxylamines, and compositions containing biguanide and dihydrotriazine derivatives are disclosed. In addition, methods of using the biguanide and dihydrotriazine derivatives, inter alia, as antimicrobial agents and methods of using the dihydrotriazine derivatives in biological assays are disclosed. Methods of making the biguanide and dihydrotriazine derivatives are also disclosed.

Abstract: A uniquely configured quad wedge allows for the creation of a tip-up log splitter that is capable of multiple splits in a single stroke of the drive mechanism. The quad wedge is attached to the piston of a hydraulic cylinder, and is slidably mounted to a framework to allow for movement through a splitting zone. The quad wedge further includes a main splitting blade, along with a pair of splitting wings extending outwardly in a perpendicular manner. The blades each have structures on the ends thereof which are configured to help contain a log during splitting operations, thus avoiding undesired movement or wandering. The log splitter further includes a stripper mechanism positioned near the cylinder housing to allow jammed logs to be easily removed, which includes a recess to house the quad wedge when retracted. A jammed log will necessarily contact the stripper mechanism, causing it to be removed from the blade.

Abstract: A carbon material for electric double layer capacitor electrodes which is obtained by a heat treatment and an activation treatment of a material pitch having a softening point in a range of 150 to 350° C., a ratio of amounts by atom of hydrogen to carbon (H/C) in a range of 0.50 to 0.90 and a content of optically anisotropic components of 50% or greater. The material pitch is preferably a synthetic pitch obtained by polymerizing a condensed polycyclic hydrocarbon such as naphthalene, methylnaphthalene, anthracene, phenanthrene, acenaphthene, acenaphthylene and pyrene in the presence of an ultra-strong acid catalyst such as a hydrogen fluoride-boron trifluoride complex. Electric double layer capacitors having a high electrode density and a high electrostatic capacity per unit volume can be constructed using the carbon material.

Abstract: An apparatus providing uniform microwave processing of products especially those that are likely to absorb microwave energy such as meat and the like. The apparatus uses at least a pair of complimentary processing waveguides. The waveguides are offset along at least one axis thereof so that the energy coupled to the product when traveling through a first waveguide section is presented with a complimentary or mirror image of the field variation applied to the product when traveling in the second waveguide. Energy may be fed to the elongated waveguides through a broad open wall or a wall having narrow openings. Coupling values can therefore be adjusted to transfer a higher percentage of energy in the feeder waveguide as microwaves propagate but then are diminished by a previous coupling section.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming transaction cards. A smooth glossy outer surface may be provided on transaction cards without the use of an over-laminate film. A liquid coating material may be applied to a sheet substrate, which is subsequently subjected to heat and pressure so that the liquid coating material forms a smooth outer surface that may be highly durable and abrasion resistant. Transaction cards may be made using a material that includes a substantial amount of PLA, and may be made to meet ANSI and ISO specifications for transaction cards.