Abstract: An apparatus (100) for controlling the connection speed of first and second downhole connectors (316, 146) in a subterranean well. The apparatus (100) includes a first assembly that is positionable in the well. The first assembly includes the first downhole connector (316) and a first communication medium. A second assembly includes the second downhole connector (146) and a second communication medium. The second assembly has an outer portion and an inner portion. The outer portion is selectively axially shiftable relative to an inner portion, such that upon engagement of the first assembly with the second assembly, the outer portion of the second assembly is axially shifted relative to the inner portion of the second assembly allowing the first and second downhole connectors (316, 146) to be operatively connected to each other, thereby enabling communication between the first communication medium and the second communication medium.

Abstract: An apparatus for imaging includes: a main magnet to generate a substantially uniform main B0 magnetic field through an examination region; and a coil system including a first coil layer and a second coil layer disposed substantially parallel to the first coil layer with a defined air gap in a radial direction, the first coil layer including a first coil array, the second coil layer including a second coil array, the first and second coil arrays being coupled and cooperating to selectively produce a prespecified B1 magnetic field within the examination region.

Abstract: A squirting toy is comprised of a cylindrical housing and a piston that slides within to force water into or out of the housing via a hole therein. The housing is encased within a shell creating a water impervious volume sufficient for the toy to float in water. The shell is soft, so that the gun is not a safety hazard when left floating in a swimming pool. Handles associated with one or both actuating portions of the squirting toy are provided for gripping and operating the squirting toy more effectively.

Abstract: Systems, methods and communication gateways for delivering timely, cost efficient and scalable user alert messages are disclosed. Using electronic communication media, user alert messages are generated by a communication gateway at the request of a requesting entity, such as a credit card issuer. The alert message is associated with a message identifier and then routed to one or more message aggregators based on the content of the alert message initiation request and a routing table. If the first selection of message aggregators is not available or otherwise unable to deliver the user alert message, then the communication gateway can reroute the user alert message to another message aggregator or queue the message for later delivery. The communication gateway can monitor and log the status and ability of the servicing message aggregator in the routing table to better facilitate timely delivery of the user alert messages.

Abstract: Composition for the inhibition of the translation of a Mect1-MAML2 chimeric gene consisting essentially of: (a) a fragment of the nucleic acid encoding the chimeric gene, and (b) a nucleic acid complementary to the fragment, and a method of inhibiting the translation of a Mect1-MAML2 chimeric gene comprising contacting a cell expressing the chimeric gene with the composition, whereupon the translation of the chimeric gene is inhibited.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to methods for designing and optimizing the number, placement, and size of fractures in a subterranean formation and more particularly to methods that account for stress interference from other fractures when designing and optimizing the number, placement, and size of fractures in the subterranean formation. The present invention optimizes the number, placement and size of fractures in a subterranean formation. The present invention determines one or more geomechanical stresses induced by each fracture based on the dimensions and location of each fracture.

Abstract: A system conducts online financial transactions between individuals or between individuals and entities such as banks, merchants and other companies. Each user establishes an online account, which is used to transfer funds to and from other online accounts. Any user may initiate a send money transaction or a request payment transaction with any other entity provided that entity has an e-mail address. The online fund transfer may include a verification of a user's information including verifying a mailing address.

Abstract: A system and method for transmitting information to a group of recipient devices according to a transmission schedule is provided. A sequence of M blocks of information are transformed into N transformed blocks, where M and N are integers and N?M. Each of the N transformed blocks are transmitted to a group of user devices in a network in accordance with a transmission schedule. At one of the user devices, at least some of the N transformed blocks are received. When K distinct transformed blocks have been received, where K is an integer and K<N, the information is reconstructed from the K transformed blocks. In some implementations, at least one recipient device reduces power, after receiving a recipient schedule including a transmission time of at least one desired content, until or near the transmission time of the at least one desired content.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for making an offer for at least one revolving credit product to an applicant. An identifier for each of a plurality of revolving credit products is stored and at least one attribute (145) is associated with each of the revolving credit products. An application for a revolving credit product is received from an applicant (105). One or more of the revolving credit product issuer's (160) objectives are identified. A set of revolving credit products that fit within an applicant profile is created, ranked, and at least one of the top ranking revolving credit products are then offered to the applicant from the set of revolving credit products.

Abstract: An automated assignment system may operate with a computer to automatically assign insurable events to one or more organizational entities associated with an insurance organization. The automated assignment system may categorize the insurable event. In addition, the automated assignment system may identify at least one target organizational entity based on the categorization that is capable of handling the insurable event. Identification of the target organizational entity or entities may be a function of properties associated with the insurable event and the availability of the organizational entity or entities. Automatic assignment may also be a function of the current workload of the target organizational entity or entities.

Abstract: An electrical isolation system specifically adapted for use in street furniture (10) having an electrical supply (24) to working electrical components (20) is described. The system includes an impact sensor (22) located in use within the street furniture and a monitoring unit (30) and an electrical isolator (32) located in use remote from the street furniture. When the impact sensor is activated a signal is sent to the monitoring unit which sends a signal to the electrical isolator to disconnect the electrical supply to the working components of the street furniture. A method of providing electrical isolation in street furniture (10) having an electrical supply (24) to working electrical components (20) is also described.

Abstract: A patient support is provided for supporting a patient. The patient support includes a bedframe and a wheel assembly. The wheel assembly includes a wheel pivotably coupled to the bedframe and a wheel position holder. The wheel position holder has a cam and a cam surface that includes recesses configured to cooperate with the cam to position the wheel.

Abstract: A wireless control system for use with a patient-support apparatus includes a first receiver located on the patient-support apparatus and a wireless hand-held controller configured to wirelessly communicate with the first receiver to control functions of the patient-support apparatus and/or functions of hospital room equipment. The wireless control system may also include a second receiver located apart from the patient-support apparatus. The wireless hand-held controller may be configured to wirelessly communicate with the second receiver to control functions of the hospital room equipment. Additionally, the wireless control system may include a docking station configured to receive and charge the wireless hand-held controller.

Abstract: A payment integrity system that processes data, including data associated with a biometric technology. The system includes a discovery module to receive insurance records from a source of data, which includes the data associated with the biometric technology, the records providing information that pertain to at least one transaction. The discovery module includes a query component and an artificial intelligence engine to process the records to identify a second subset of the records having anomalous information, and provide a second analysis output indicative of the second subset. The system also includes an audit module to determine whether to instruct the artificial intelligence engine to analyze the records according to the outputs. The system facilitates resolution of a claim payment based on the first analysis output and the second analysis output.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a poxvirus vaccine comprising a soluble truncated poxvirus envelope protein. The invention is also directed to a vaccine comprising a nucleic acid encoding such proteins. Also included is an antibody which specifically binds to the proteins and nucleic acid encoding the same, as well as methods of preventing and treating a poxvirus infection using the afore-mentioned vaccine, antibody, protein, and nucleic acid encoding them.

Abstract: An automated banking machine (10) operates to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records such as user cards. The exemplary machine includes a lockable first fascia portion (20) which when unlocked enables access to a chest lock input device (104), inputs to which enable opening a chest door (18) of the machine. Opening the first fascia portion also enables access to an actuator (116) which enables moving a second fascia portion (22) for conducting service activities. A controller (72) in the machine selectively illuminates light emitting devices (118, 126) for purposes of facilitating user operation of the machine. Sensing devices (128) adjacent a card reader slot (28) on the machine enables the controller to detect the presence of unauthorized card reading devices.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for preparing a tax return using electronically distributed tax return data. Electronically distributed tax return data (such as W-2 data or 1099 data) that is stored at a third party's computer system for a taxpayer is accessed to prepare the tax return. The location of the electronically distributed tax return data is provided to a tax preparer that accesses the electronic data and prepares the tax return. The taxpayer provides authorization for the tax preparer to access the electronically distributed tax return data stored at the third party system. After the current tax year, the tax preparer checks the availability of the electronically distributed tax return data. When the electronically distributed tax return data is determined to be available, the tax preparer accesses it and prepares the tax return.

Abstract: An approach provides for recording and editing digital media. A digital media stream is generated from an input signal (such as a live broadcast feed). The digital media stream is transmitted to a browser application configured to concurrently record and edit the digital media stream.

Abstract: Ceremonial installation, comprising a movable object (1), provided with an energy source (4) and a device (6) for actuating the energy source, linked to a computer memory, a programmer (8) of the actuation device and an interface (2) between the programmer and the memory, the actuation device being controlled by a physical separation of the object (1) from a support (2) and/or a physical contact of the object with said support, after said separation and/or a physical and/or chemical parameter of the object or of the environment of the object and/or a defined spatial position of the object.

Abstract: Enabling remote customer service and maintenance using a visual identifier is disclosed. In response to a user enrolling in a service capability associated with a mobile device, the process utilizes a visual identifier to associate the service capability with the customer account, the service and the mobile device. The system allocates a visual identifier for each service capability and enables customer service agents to identify the service capability and mobile device, verify the user and retrieve information for the service interaction.