Abstract: An authentication system 1 that uses sound to transmit one-time password(s) may be equipped with portable terminal(s) 10, authentication terminal(s) 30, and authentication server(s) 50. Portable terminal 10 may be equipped with password generating unit(s) 21 which encrypt information including password generation user identifier(s) issued by authentication server(s) 50 and generate one-time password(s), encoding unit(s) 22 which encode one-time password(s) and generate baseband signal(s), carrier wave generating unit(s) 23 which generate carrier wave(s) in audible band(s), modulating unit(s) 25 which use baseband signal(s) to modulate carrier wave(s) and generate modulated signal(s), and speaker(s) 17 which transmit modulated signal(s) in the form of sound wave(s). One-time password(s) may be input as sound wave(s) from portable terminal(s) 10 to authentication terminal(s) 30.

Abstract: Improved cementing plugs and methods of using these cementing plugs in subterranean wells are disclosed. A cementing plug comprises a hollow mandrel and one or more wiper elements coupled to the mandrel. A nose is coupled to the hollow mandrel and is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. A portion of the nose is positioned within the mandrel when in the retracted position. This portion of the nose is positioned outside the mandrel when in the extended position.

Abstract: A future cost of retirement index is used to quantify the present value of future income. The future cost of retirement index provides a way for an investor to quantify the present cost of funding a secure future income for retirement. Upon establishing a cost of retirement index that quantifies a present value of future estimated investment returns, an investment funds track the index. This permits an investor to accumulate funds that approximate an amount needed to purchase, at a future time, a defined income stream for life. Because the future cost of retirement index fund is not itself an annuity, but is merely a tool that can be used to acquire sufficient assets to purchase an annuity, a future cost of retirement index fund facilitates retirement planning while also preserving asset liquidity.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided that relate to weighted elastomers. The weighted elastomers may comprise an elastomer and a weighting agent attached to an outer surface of the elastomer. An embodiment includes a method comprising providing a fluid that comprises a weighted elastomer, wherein the weighted elastomer comprises an elastomer and a weighting agent attached to an outer surface of the elastomer; and introducing the fluid into a subterranean formation.

Abstract: A method for acquiring and improving seismic data includes activating a first seismic source located below a geophysical surface at a first depth and a second seismic source located below the geophysical surface at a second depth, wherein the second depth is below the first depth, acquiring seismic data with a seismic receiver in conjunction with activating the first seismic source and the second seismic source, and aligning primary reflections within the seismic data to provide improved seismic data. The method may also include determining changes to the regions below the second depth by comparing improved seismic data corresponding to a first acquisition event with improved seismic data corresponding to a second acquisition event. A corresponding system is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: The present disclosure improves upon existing systems and methods by providing a tool for managing processing resources. For instance, the presently described tool may be used to time replacement, plan for uplifts, budget for uplifts/decommissioning of hardware, and/or maintain a plurality of servers. This tool may lead to increased satisfaction, uptime, and a reduction of unexpected costs. The system may include initiating collection of variables to compile a prioritized list of servers, executing, a calculation application for determining a prioritized list of servers' end of life targets based on both technical and business parameters based on the entered variables, and prioritizing uplifts of the servers based on the technical and the business parameters.

Abstract: A method of creating a dynamic audio file may comprise associating a tag with an audio file having audio content and the tag may comprise a location file path of a source of the audio content. A method of updating a dynamic audio file may comprise sending a dynamic audio file, receiving a request for updated audio content, and sending the updated audio content in response to the request. In various embodiments, the dynamic audio file may comprise a tag and initial audio content and the tag may comprise a location file path of the audio content.

Abstract: The present disclosure in general relates to a software compliance analysis and in particular to a system and method to provide compliance scrutiny and in-depth analysis of a software application. In one embodiment, a software compliance analysis method is disclosed, comprising: allowing a user to select one or more industry compliance standards with respect to a particular safety level; initiating a compliance verification process for the software application with respect to one or more normative parameters associated with the safety level; mapping the selected compliance standards with features of one or more analysis tools; analyzing only the mapped features of the one or more analysis tools to calculate a compliance level for the software application; and visually representing compliance of the software application in a multi-stage manner providing one or more suggestive measures to meet a desired compliance level.

Abstract: A banking system controlled responsive to data bearing records includes a card reader that can read identifying data from user cards. The system can authorize operation of an automated banking machine responsive to the read data. The system can provide an electronic transaction receipt to the machine user. A bank computer is operable to submit the receipt to a system address on record with the bank. The address can correspond to an e-mail address, phone number, or other address associated with an account involved in the transaction. The receipt can also include an image associated with the transaction. The system cal also operate to image a check deposited at the machine, and then electronically send the image to the check maker, the payee, and/or a clearinghouse.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a system for expense management. The method may include authenticating a user to a user account, retrieving a unique id (GUID) associated with the user, receiving (from a user device associated with the user) a digital copy of a receipt, and associating the digital copy of the receipt with the GUID. The method may further comprise requesting a record of charge (ROC) associated with the GUID, receiving a record of charge (ROC) associated with a GUID, and/or matching, by the computer-based system, the image of the receipt to the ROC based upon the GUID and information acquired from the digital copy of the receipt.

Abstract: A controlled swell-rate swellable packer comprises a mandrel, a sealing element, and a jacket. The sealing element is disposed about at least a portion of the mandrel, and the jacket covers at least a portion of an outer surface of the sealing element. The jacket comprises a substantially impermeable material with respect to a swelling agent that is configured to cause the sealing element to swell.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, an automated banking machine can cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records. The machine includes a card reader that can read from user cards, card data which corresponds to financial accounts. The machine can operate responsive to the read card data to carry out transactions that transfer and/or allocate funds between accounts. The machine can provide users a transaction receipt. The machine includes a cash dispenser that can dispense cash to authorized users. Value of dispensed cash can be assessed to an account which corresponds to the read card data. The machine is equipped with sensing devices strategically positioned adjacent to machine components. The sensing devices enable the machine to automatically detect servicing activities performed on the machine. The machine is operable to send information corresponding to detected service activity to a service data-collecting computer.

Abstract: Provided herein are new methods, primers, and kits for genotyping HIV-1, including group M viral strains. The methods can be used for HIV-1 drug resistance surveillance and monitoring, for example in resource-poor countries. The disclosed methods can detected more mixed HIV-1 population than previous methods. Given the high efficiency in genotyping diverse HIV-1 group M viral strains from plasma and dried blood spot (DBS) samples and substantial reagent cost saving, the disclosed methods can be used for HIV-1 drug resistance genotyping in both antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naive and -experienced populations for surveillance purposes and patient monitoring.

Abstract: A computer-based system and method to improve the multimodal fusion output at the decision level is disclosed. The method proposes computation of a confidence weighted measure for the individual score values obtained for each modality and fuse these new updated scores to get the final decision. These confidence weights are the performance parameters (measured in terms of F-measure) during the offline training step. The process significantly increases the accuracy of the multimodal system.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products for enabling a holder of a transaction account linked to a financial transaction instrument to delegate management of the transaction account to an assistant. Information relating to the transaction account, including at least identification information relating to the holder of the transaction account, is stored in a database. The database stores financial transaction data relating to financial transactions performed using the financial transaction instrument. A designation of at least one assistant to manage the transaction account on behalf of the holder is accepted and stored. Assistant management authentication data associated with the transaction account is established, to be used by the assistant to execute management instructions at a designated level of management access. An instruction from the assistant is accepted to access transaction data associated with the transaction account.

Abstract: A pre-loading system for a pipe handling apparatus in which a boom is pivotally mounted at one end to a skid and in which an arm is connected to an opposite end of the boom. The pre-loading system has a tensioning assembly with one end affixed to the arm and an opposite end fixedly mounted so as to apply tension to the arm when the arm has a load applied to an end of the arm opposite the boom. The tensioning assembly includes a first cable assembly having one end connected to the arm and an opposite end fixedly mounted, and a second cable assembly connected to the arm and having an opposite end fixedly mounted. The first and second cable assemblies extend from opposite sides of the arm.

Abstract: Methods and reagents for classifying HER2+ breast tumors and for identifying new HER2+ breast tumor classes and subclasses. Methods for correlating tumor class or subclass with therapeutic regimen or outcome, for identifying appropriate (new or known) therapies for particular classes or subclasses, and for predicting outcomes based on class or subclass. New therapeutic agents and methods for the treatment of HER2+ breast cancer.

Abstract: A gas leakage seal for a turbine, including first and second cloth layers having woven warp and weft wires, wherein the first and second cloth layers are brazed together by a flux paste whereby the cloth layers have their edges aligned and the brazing substantially seals gaps between the wires along substantially the entire length and width of the brazed together cloth layers. Weld beads having a thickness greater than the combined thickness of the brazed together cloth layers connect the edges of the cloth layers along their length. The turbine includes two members with aligned recesses in which opposite of the weld beads are received. The seal is made by brushing a nickel and/or cobalt based flux paste on one side of one of the cloth layers, brazing that cloth layer to a side of the second cloth layer to substantially seal the gaps between the wires, and creating weld beads with an electron beam to connect the edges of the cloth layers along their length.

Abstract: A recover to cloud (R2C) service replicates a customer production environment to virtual data centers (VDCs) operated in a cloud service provider environment. Customers provision both a disaster recovery VDC and a test VDC. At A Time of Disaster (ATOD), the disaster VDC is made available to the customer through the cloud. The disaster VDC is allocated a first set of resources dedicated to the specific customer and to disaster recovery. The test VDC, brought on line at A Time of Test (ATOT), is allocated resources from second set of resources arranged in a shared pool, separate from the first set. Provisioning of the test VDC does not disturb critical resource assignments needed in the event of a disaster.

Abstract: A system for selecting music includes a mobile system for processing and transmitting through a wireless link a continuous voice stream spoken by a user of the mobile system, the continuous voice stream including a music request, and a data center for processing the continuous voice stream received through the wireless link into voice music information. The data center can perform automated voice recognition processing on the voice music information to recognize music components of the music request, confirm the recognized music components through interactive speech exchanges with the mobile system user through the wireless link and the mobile system, selectively allow human data center operator intervention to assist in identifying the selected recognized music components having a recognition confidence below a selected threshold value, and download music information pertaining to the music request for transmission to the mobile system derived from the confirmed recognized music components.