Abstract: A system for providing retirement location advice may comprise at least one subsystem that receives location characteristic preference input from a customer, at least one subsystem that finds possible locations that a customer could afford during their retirement based on a retirement plan of the customer and the location characteristic preference input of the customer, and at least one subsystem that displays the possible locations found.

Abstract: A method and system for using individualized customer models when operating a retail establishment is provided. The individualized customer models may be generated using statistical analysis of transaction data for the customer, thereby generating sub-models and attributes tailored to customer. The individualized customer models may be used in any aspect of a retail establishment's operations, ranging from supply chain management issues, inventory control, promotion planning (such as selecting parameters for a promotion or simulating results of a promotion), to customer interaction (such as providing a shopping list or providing individualized promotions).

Abstract: Cement compositions containing biowaste ash and methods of cementing in subterranean formations using such cement compositions. Examples of suitable biowaste ash include agricultural waste ash, municipal waste ash, waste-water treatment waste ash, animal waste ash, non-human-non-animal industrial waste ash, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Methods of performing electrostatic discharge testing on a transaction card are disclosed. A transaction card may be placed on an insulated surface. A grounding probe may be placed at a first location on the transaction card. A discharge probe may be charged to a known voltage level. The discharge probe may then be discharged at a second location on the transaction card. A discharge wave shape may be recorded from the ground probe, and one of a pass condition and a fail condition may be assigned based on at least the value of the known voltage level as compared to a reference voltage level. The first location and the second location may each be selected from a plurality of areas on the transaction card.

Abstract: The invention provides a nucleic acid encoding the 37-kDa pneumococcal surface adhesion A protein (PsaA) from Streptococcus pneumoniae. The invention also provides purified polypeptides encoded by the nucleic acid encoding the 37-kDa protein from and the nucleic acids comprising unique fragment of at least 10 nucleotides of the 37-kDa protein. Additionally, multiple antigenic peptides that provide protection against S. pneumoniae challenge are provided. These multiple antigen peptides comprise the peptides that immunospecifically bind to the monoclonal antibodies. Also provided are vaccines comprising such immunogenic peptides, and methods of conferring protective immunity against Streptococcus pneumoniae infection by administering therapeutic composition comprising the immunogenic peptides of the invention.

Abstract: An integrated customer communications computer system is configured to provide outbound customer communications. The communications computer system generates documents associated with the communications in a predefined format, in real-time or in batch, by merging templates comprising static data received from a template repository, dynamic data received from at least one component of an account opening system, and static content for the templates received from a content repository. The communications computer system includes a communication manager, a plurality of transmission channels, an interface for managing the templates and the content, and a document repository. Various embodiments are described, including a computer implemented method of providing customer communications using an integrated customer communications component and/or module.

Abstract: A road data apparatus is disclosed that predicts road conditions comprising a land surface data generator which derives a land surface data output from a plurality of current and forecast weather and location data, said current and forecast weather and location data comprising surface temperature, subsurface temperature, and precipitation depth, a pavement data generator which derives a road temperature and a road condition from said land surface data output and a plurality of pavement generator input data, said plurality of pavement generator input data comprising road layer data; and a roadway status indicator generator which derives a roadway status indicator from said road temperature, road condition and precipitation data. In one embodiment, the roadway status indicator is communicated to an end user through a distribution network.

Abstract: A hierarchical framework for a library of software process management methodologies includes at a first level of hierarchy, a collection of activities that describe the process, wherein each activity requires the use of a unique skill set domain. At a second level of hierarchy, the framework includes a collection of tasks that describe the activity. At a third level of hierarchy, the framework includes a collection of steps that describe the task. For each methodology, a portion of the activities are categorized across a set of taxonomies common to a plurality of methodologies contained in the library such that the portion of activities is reusable for the plurality of methodologies.

Abstract: In an approach to financial management, a data representation is formed that defines a number of data elements and relationships between the data elements according to one or more regulatory requirements. Data characterizing availability of particular ones of the data elements for a financial institution are accepted, and actual or potential compliance by the financial institution with at least some of the regulatory requirements is then analyzed. The analysis can include identifying gaps in collection of values associated with the data elements for the regulator requirements, which can relate to calculation requirements and/or to reporting requirements for the regulations. Data representing computations associated with the regulatory requirements can be stored and the computations can then be executed to validate other implementations of the calculation.

Abstract: A patient-support apparatus includes a patient-support deck movable from a use position to a stowed position. The patient-support deck is configured to engage receivers of the patient-support apparatus to support the deck in a cantilevered configuration. The patient-support deck may be secured to the patient-support apparatus by a locking mechanism. A storage structure is configured to support the patient-support deck in a stowed position. The storage structure is configured to deflect under load to prevent damage to the storage structure or patient-support deck.

Abstract: A compound which is 3-hydroxybutyl 3-hydroxybutyrate enantiomerically enriched with respect to (3R)-hydroxybutyl (3R)-hydroxybutyrate of formula (I) is an effective and palatable precursor to the ketone body (3R)-hydroxybutyrate and may therefore be used to treat a condition which is caused by, exacerbated by or associated with elevated plasma levels of free fatty acids in a human or animal subject, for instance a condition where weight loss or weight gain is implicated, or to promote alertness or improve cognitive function, or to treat, prevent or reduce the effects of neurodegeneration, free radical toxicity, hypoxic conditions or hyperglycaemia.

Abstract: A method of prioritizing processes of an organization includes determining a plurality of processes capable of being performed by the organization, determining a plurality of goals or challenges associated with the organization, and generating a process impact matrix indicating respective impact levels for each process. Each respective impact level is indicative of an impact of each process on each of the plurality of goals or challenges. The method further includes converting each respective impact level to an impact score, determining, for each of the plurality of processes, a relative impact score based on the respective impact levels, and prioritizing each process based on the relative impact scores.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a messaging service may comprise receiving first user credentials and second user credentials corresponding to first user and second user respectively. In addition, systems and methods for providing a messaging service may include generating first capabilities and second capabilities, the first capabilities being based on roles corresponding to the first user and the second capabilities being based on roles corresponding to the second user. Moreover, systems and methods for providing a messaging service may include allowing a messaging session between the first user and the second user based on the first capabilities and the second capabilities.

Abstract: A support structure for use on a rig floor and for supporting a unit used to manipulate tubular components through a wellhead comprises a support plate adapted to securely mount the support structure to said unit, a passage in the support plate of sufficient diameter to allow tubular components to pass therethrough, a plurality of rig engaging members and at least one tensile member mount. The unit used to manipulate tubular components through a wellhead may be a compact snubbing unit or may be a push/pull unit. The support structure may further comprise a worker platform to support a worker above the rig floor. Various push/pull system embodiments.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for detecting a crack in a human tooth, especially one covered by a restoration, such as a crown, the approach is to stress the suspect tooth and, by means of acoustic emission techniques, analyze the characteristics of the resultant acoustic emission from the tooth. To aid the identification of a crack from the acoustic emission signal, a baseline may be obtained by performing this procedure at a time when the tooth is known not be cracked, e.g., when a restoration is placed on it. This baseline acoustic emission signature is recorded. This procedure is repeated at intervals. The subsequent measurements are compared with the baseline to identify changes that indicate the initiation and growth of a crack. The invention includes apparatus for implementing the method. The approach is to integrate the acoustic emission pulser and sensor into commercially available dental instruments, e.g., a tooth polisher and a water syringe.

Abstract: A casket comprises a casket shell adapted to receive the remains of a deceased having a pair of side walls, a pair of end walls, and a bottom wall, and a casket cap closable on the casket shell. A dish assembly is mounted to an underside of the cap. The dish assembly includes a cap panel comprising a sheet of magnetic material. At least one medallion having text and/or graphics representing a life aspect of the deceased is removably mounted on the cap panel. The medallion comprises a medallion blank having at least one magnet on a rear side thereof and having a recess on a front side thereof, a two-dimensional image positioned in the recess of the medallion blank, and a transparent layer of material overlying the two-dimensional image. The transparent layer of material is dome-shaped in cross section such that a peripheral outer edge of the layer is thinner than a central portion of the layer. The magnet removably secures the medallion blank to the magnetic material of the cap panel.

Abstract: A system for handling a transaction for a client service center comprising only one interface configured to communicate with a plurality of data stores to access data, interact with a user via a single screen device, and display one at a time on the single screen device a plurality of subsequent and dependent screen views to enable the user to view the data and implement a sequence of steps selected by the user to complete a transaction, wherein the interface does not display and does not notify the user of access to data on the different data stores, and wherein the screen views are displayed in a determined order based on the transaction and the steps selected by the user to reveal the data and the steps in a hierarchical manner from more general data and steps to more detailed and dependent data and steps.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a security paper that cannot be forged with respect to forgery attempts with non-aqueous solvents, characterized in that it comprises on its surface and/or in its bulk, clusters formed of elementary particles that are both insoluble in water and in solvents, amalgamated with an agglomerating agent that is also insoluble in water but almost instantaneously soluble in at least one non-aqueous solvent so as to release said elementary particles in the paper, which elementary particles are preferably less than 20 ?m, and more preferably still less than 10 ?m, they are coloured and are advantageously intense pigment dyestuffs such as those used for producing inks or paints.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining a thickness of a wall of a pipe, featuring a signal processing module configured to respond to signaling containing information about traveling stress waves transmitted to and reflected back from a wall of a pipe by a sensor band that includes a series, ring or array having multiple transducers circumferentially arranged and mounted around, and attached to or clamped onto, an outside wall of the pipe; determine a profile of a thickness of the wall of the pipe corresponding to circumferential locations of the multiple transducers based on the signaling received from the sensor band, and the provides corresponding signaling containing information about the profile of the thickness of the wall of the pipe; and another module configured to receive the corresponding signaling and provide a visual indication of either data or a graph of the thickness of the wall of the pipe.

Abstract: A system for drilling a borehole according to the present invention includes a control system and a drill rig, including a water injection system and an air injection system. The control system receives information from the drill rig that relates to at least one drill parameter. The control system processes information relating to the drill parameter, determines whether to implement a hole defect mitigation routine, including a drilling phase defect mitigation routine or a retraction phase defect mitigation routine following completion of the drilling phase. The control system determines whether the drill parameter is within a predetermined specification for the monitored drill parameter, chooses a hole defect mitigation routine based on the monitored drill parameter when the monitored drill parameter is outside the predetermined specification, and controls the drill rig to implement the chosen hole defect mitigation routine.