Abstract: A high-performance capability assessment model helps a health and life sciences business meet the challenges of the global marketplace. As a result, the health and life sciences business can achieve the clarity, consistency, and well-defined execution of core processes that reduce inefficiencies and waste that result from unnecessary process complexity and exceptions. In addition, the high-performance capability assessment model helps the health and life sciences business to identify specific areas in which improvements may be made, to understand how to make said improvements, and to establish levels of capability along the way to reaching an ultimate capability goal.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical measurement probe for process monitoring, having a distal end, arranged in the region of a process apparatus, with a light entrance opening, and a proximal end coupled to a spectrometer, wherein a shaft comprising a light-guiding connection between the distal and proximal ends of the measurement probe is arranged between the two ends. The measurement probe is characterized in that the measurement probe has, in its distal region relative to the shaft and/or the proximal end, a reduced external diameter (FIG. 1).

Abstract: A subterranean zone is treated by exothermically decomposing hydrogen peroxide in or near the subterranean zone. The decomposed hydrogen peroxide yields at least oxygen and heated water. The oxygen is combusted to further heat the heated water. The heated water is introduced into subterranean zone to treat the subterranean zone. In certain instances, the heated water is heated to produce 100% quality steam. Additional water may be supplied for treating the subterranean zone, for example, by supplying the hydrogen peroxide in solution with water.

Abstract: Well tools including valves operable by low electrical input. One well tool includes a valve which controls fluid communication between pressure regions in a well, the valve including a rotatable member which is biased to rotate, and a brake or clutch which prevents rotation of the member. Another valve includes a barrier which separates reactants, with the valve being operable in response to the barrier being opened and the reactants thereby reacting with each other. Yet another valve includes a barrier which separates the pressure regions, and a control circuit which heats the barrier to a weakened state. Another valve includes a member displaceable between open and closed positions, a restraining device which resists displacement of the member, and a control device which degrades or deactivates the restraining device and thereby permits the member to displace between its open and closed positions, in response to receipt of a predetermined signal.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of processing data including, receiving a URL at a server computer system, utilizing the URL at the server computer system to extract a plurality of server search results from a data store, and transmitting the server search results from the server computer system to the user computer system.

Abstract: A system for a portal architecture may include a model service component. The model service component may be arranged to connect a presentation device to a business manager component. An aspect oriented architecture may be associated with the model service component. A service oriented architecture may be associated with the model service component, the service oriented architecture being arranged orthogonal to the aspect oriented architecture.

Abstract: A method of providing a financial product includes providing a computer processor, determining, using the computer processor, a fluctuating interest rate using a sum of a securities-based interest rate and an additional interest rate, and generating, using the computer processor, a periodic payment product using the fluctuating interest rate, wherein the periodic payment product is characterized by a payment schedule. The method also includes generating, using the computer processor, a plurality of fluctuating periodic payments using the fluctuating interest rate and obtaining an indication to fix the fluctuating interest rate at a fixed interest rate. The method further includes thereafter, determining, using the computer processor, the fixed interest rate and generating a fixed periodic payment using the fixed interest rate.

Abstract: Consumer spend by industry is modeled based on the industry sizes of wallet of consumers having a high share of wallet with a financial institution. A size of wallet is calculated for each consumer in a plurality of consumers. A share of wallet for each consumer is also calculated. A subset of the plurality of consumers whose share of wallet is above a given percentage of their size of wallet is then determined. For each consumer in the subset, an industry size of wallet is determined. A correlation between the industry size of wallet of a given consumer and one or more characteristics of the given consumer is then derived using the industry size of wallet for the consumers in the subset.

Abstract: The present subject matter relates to methods of high-speed analysis of product samples during production of the product. Light is directed to a portion of a product under analysis and reflected from or transmitted through the product toward optical detectors. Signals from the optical detectors are compared to determine characteristics of the product under analysis. Temperature within the monitoring system may be monitored in order to provide compensation for the signals produced by the optical detectors. The products under analysis may be stationary, moved by an inspection point by conveyor or other means, or may be contained within a container, the container including a window portion through which the product illuminating light may pass.

Abstract: Lost circulation of drilling fluid is one of the most serious and expensive problems facing the drilling industry. The present invention relates to an improved drilling fluid for reducing or preventing lost circulation to an underground formation surrounding a well bore in the process of drilling a well. The drilling fluid comprises a base fluid and wax or waxy substance as a primary seepage loss agent. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the seepage loss agent does not include particles having a blend of natural wax and synthetic wax together in a single particle. The invention also provides a method of reducing or preventing lost circulation to an underground formation surrounding a well bore in the process of drilling a well using the drilling fluid of the invention, wherein the primary seepage loss agent is added to the drilling fluid, either before or during drilling, and the drilling fluid is pumped down hole during drilling.

Abstract: A system for valuating users and user generated content in a collaborative environment is described. The system may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store an item, responses to the item, and ratings for each response. The processor may receive responses from the users based on the item provided by the content provider. The processor may receive ratings from the users for each of the responses. The processor may determine a response quality score for each response if the number of users who viewed the response satisfies a view threshold. The response quality score may be based on the ratings received for each response and the number of users who viewed each response. The processor may transform each response and the response quality score of each response into a graphical representation and may provide the graphical representation to the content provider.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for automatically allocating work projects to personnel based on work complexity level and level of knowledge and experience of the personnel. In one implementation, the methods and systems provide a work allocation tool that allows a user to input the level of complexity of the work projects according to one or more predefined criteria. The work allocation tool then automatically determines which of the available personnel has the required level of knowledge and experience to complete the work projects. Personnel who have already exceeded a target number or percentage of work projects in a given time period may be automatically excluded from the allocation. The work allocation tool thereafter randomly selects one of the available personnel and automatically allocates the work projects. An administrator interface allows a manager to define each person's target numbers or percentages and to stop further allocations if needed.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer-usable medium are disclosed for the concurrent display of information between devices. A co-browsing module is implemented to provide concurrent display of information displayed within a Web browser on a mobile device. A co-browsing module implemented on a stationary system queries a co-browsing module implemented on the mobile device to collect information including the device's hardware configuration, the network communications protocol being used, and a session number. The collected information is then used by the co-browsing module on the stationary system to establish a co-browsing session with the co-browsing module on the mobile device. The co-browsing module on the mobile device then provides web display information to the co-browsing module on the CSR's system to control the concurrent display of Web information displayed on the mobile device.

Abstract: A folded, substantially wedge shaped pack useful for holding thin, elongate products such as tobacco sticks includes a back panel, inner front panel, top panel and front closure panel, the front closure panel including a tab at a free end thereof engageable with a closure slot in the inner front panel. The closure tab slides into the closure slot by sliding along a bearing surface and the top panel establishes a raised fulcrum effect which tends to maintain the closure tab in the closure slot when the pack is in a closed condition.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided to control a plurality of applications on a computer having a graphical user interface using a control application installed in addition to an operating system of the computer. An object, representing the control application and having a first sensitive area, is displayed within the graphical user interface. A first user input is received at the first sensitive area on the object. A window slides from the object and includes a plurality of icons corresponding to the plurality of applications while the first sensitive area continues to be displayed. A second user input is received in the window corresponding to at least one of the plurality of icons. At least one of the applications is then controlled based on the second user input.

Abstract: Systems and methods for testing in a testing lifecycle are described herein. In one embodiment, the testing system includes an extraction module to extract at least one test case pertaining to a requirement associated with a first build, a modified requirement and an incremental requirement associated with an updated build. Further, an execution module executes the extracted test cases on the build to verify the requirement associated with the build.

Abstract: A mono hull vessel for retrieving and deploying equipments in offshore region comprising a deck box with an upper deck (2) at its top said upper deck having a lifting and lowering device (3,3?), a hull/pontoon (1) at the base of said vessel, the vessel is characterized in that said hull/pontoon (1) is connected to the deck box by a plurality of columns (4) and said hull/pontoon (1) is made in one piece and is continuous to form the platform for a lower deck (5), the upper and lower deck being configured to allow lifting and lowering of equipment therefrom and thereon respectively.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method identifies textual statement relationships. Textual statement pairs including a first and second textual statement are identified, and parsed word group pairs are extracted from first and second textual statements. The parsed word groups are compared, and a parsed word score for each statement pair is calculated. Word vectors for the first and second textual statements are created and compared. A word vector score is calculated based on the comparison of the word vectors for the first and second textual statements. A match score is determined for the textual statement pair, with the match score being representative of at least one of the parsed word score and the word vector score.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electromechanical system for minimizing passenger door contact with the Passenger Loading Bridge (PLB) floor and subsequent damage to said door, during passenger loading or off loading. The system, as configured at the Cab entry, senses the proximity of the aircraft door by contacting a sensing pad, attached to the PLB floor. This initiates a sequence of events. 1) Both visual and auditory alarms are initiated to alert the passenger loading agents and/or the bridge operator of a fault. 2) The PLB is moved down and away from the door sufficiently to prevent the PLB floor from coming in contact with the door. The loading agents or PLB operator can then perform the necessary steps to reset the device and continue loading.

Abstract: A system provides location-based services through an enhanced mobile device. The system determines a current location of the mobile device, and determines whether the current location of the mobile device falls within one or more geographic regions defined in a database. If the current location falls within one or more of the geographic regions, the system identifies services available within the one or more geographic regions that the mobile device is determined to be within. The system generates a customized menu based on the identified services and displays the customized menu on the mobile device.