Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleic acid fragments encoding amino acid sequences for organic acid biosynthetic enzymes in plants, and the use thereof for the modification of, for example, organic acid biosynthesis and secretion in plants. In particularly preferred embodiments, the invention relates to the combinatorial expression of citrate synthase (CS) and/or malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and/or phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) in plants to modify, for example, organic acid synthesis and secretion.

Abstract: Authenticating the identity and validating the profile of an individual who presents himself to another party as having a certain identity and corresponding profile data occurs during an Internet transaction. A trusted party gives a definitive answer regarding the authentication of identity and validity of profile data. The trusted party can be a financial institution that has an established relationship with the individual. For example, the financial institution can be a bank that issues a debit or credit card to the individual. The trusted party can also provide the profile data of the individual to the other party, rather than have the individual provide such data. The trusted party can also update the individual's profile data held by the other party when such data is no longer current.

Abstract: An implant is arranged with a thread which can be exposed to a jaw bone and which has a first extent in the longitudinal direction of the implant. Thread flanks are assigned second extents between the inner and outer peripheries of the thread. Along all or most of the first extent, the thread flanks are arranged with one or more grooves that can extend in the peripheral direction and can be situated on the second extents. The groove or grooves are arranged to participate in the process by which the implant fuses with the jaw bone (2).

Abstract: A smart card transaction allows a consumer to load value onto a smart card and to make purchases using a smart card with a mobile telephone handset over the telecommunications network. For loading, the system includes: a mobile telephone handset including a card reader; a gateway computer; a funds issuer computer; and an authentication computer. The mobile telephone handset receives a request from a user to load a value onto the smart card. The handset generates a funds request message which includes the value and sends the funds request message to a funds issuer computer. The funds issuer computer debits an account associated with the user. Next, the handset generates a load request message with a cryptographic signature and sends the load request message to an authentication computer which authenticates the smart card. The handset receives a response message which includes a cryptographic signature and an approval to load.

Abstract: Disclosed drilling systems offer multiple methods providing access to the open borehole without first tripping the drill string. In some embodiments, a drill bit has a tool port that is blocked by a plug during normal drilling operations. When a tool is deployed through the interior of the drill string, the tool port opens, enabling the tool to enter the borehole beneath the drill string and perform logging or sampling operations. The plug may be attached to the drill bit by a hinge or pivot, or alternatively, the plug may be discarded and a replacement seated in place after the tool is retracted into the drill string. In other embodiments, the drill bit itself is detachable, allowing the bit to be parked in the hole or in a side bore. If desired, the bit can be re-attached by lowering the drill string to the bottom of the hole.

Abstract: Automobile accident claims initiation systems and methods are described. An insured driver may initiate a claim by operating a mobile device. The system provides automated inquiries to the driver through the mobile device. The driver provides responses to the inquiries using the mobile device. The driver may provide images and audio data, as well as personal information and information on the parties and vehicles involved in the accident. The system may automatically arrange for services such as a rental car or a tow truck. The system may provide claim information, such as a claim number to the driver by transmitting information to the mobile device.

Abstract: A business method for promoting goods and services of providers includes the steps of designating a group of targeted recipients, and storing demographics information of each recipient in an electronic database. A plurality of direct mail items including provider promotions is generated, and each marked with a machine-readable ID code unique to each of the recipients. The direct mail items are sorted by their respective ID codes into cooperative mail packages, each mail package containing multiple items with common ID codes. The mail packages are then forwarded to respective recipients. After redemption of a direct mail item by a recipient, the ID code is read and electronically linked with the recipient's demographics information contained in the electronic database. A report is generated based on the direct mail items redeemed. The report may include a geographic map which plots respective locations of recipients, and/or a listing of receipts grouped into a plurality of demographics segments.

Abstract: A system and method for managing the distributed generation of power from a plurality of vehicles is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes determining location information for the plurality of vehicles, determining that a demand for power in a first portion of the power grid has reached a power threshold, determining that the location information associated with a set of the plurality of vehicles satisfies a similarity threshold with the first portion of the power grid, and transmitting a request to a first group of vehicles in the set of vehicles to discharge power. In addition, the method may include receiving a response from at least some of the electric vehicles to which a request was transmitted, and determining whether to request the discharge of power from additional vehicles in the set of the plurality of vehicles based, at least in part, on the number of responses containing a confirmation of the discharge of power.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to enterprise application integration. In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in a computer system including a service oriented architecture (SOA), where the system includes a composite application configured to present sales targeted information by combining services from multiple application resources on a network, wherein the multiple application resources include: a sales force automation (SFA) tool configured to automate sales and sales force management functions; a real-time predictive analytics tool configured to evaluate customer purchasing data and recommend products or services based on the customer purchasing data; a knowledge management tool configured to search and retrieve data across multiple integrated applications; and a calendar tool configured to manage appointment scheduling.

Abstract: An infrastructure to develop, store, maintain and deliver methodology content to end users includes a database of metadata containing definitions of explicit and implicit relationships between methodology objects representative of published documents. The infrastructure includes an integrated suite of tools including a methodology development tool, multiple user interfaces including a methodology finder and a methodology browser, and an estimating tool that integrates the methodology content into the project planning process.

Abstract: A voicemail system includes a voicemail bookmarking procedure that permits users to bookmark voicemail messages during message playback. Upon receiving a bookmark request from a user, the procedure generates a bookmark pointer defining a starting point for subsequent playback of the message. The bookmark pointer can be based, in part, on a timing offset value entered by the user while making the bookmark request. The timing offset value defines a user-selected playback starting point that occurs before the message time at which the bookmark request was made. The value of the timing offset can be user selected.

Abstract: An enhanced network adapter framework, in which parameters are stored in a configuration table, the parameters being customized for a network and an application. A network adapter customized for the network and the application is instantiated based on invoking a generic network adapter which externally references the configuration table, and communication between the application and the network is effected using the instantiated network adapter.

Abstract: A microarray apparatus is provided which contains at least one chip having source and drain electrodes positioned on an array of carbon nanotube transistors which allows for electronic detection of nucleic acid hybridizations, thereby affording both increased sensitivity and the capability of miniaturization.

Abstract: Improved methods of placing and/or diverting treatment fluids in subterranean formations are provided. In one embodiment, the methods comprise: introducing a diverting material into a subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore to reduce or prevent the flow of fluid into a first portion of the subterranean formation; introducing a first fluid into a second portion of the subterranean formation having a higher fluid flow resistance than the first portion of the subterranean formation; allowing the diverting material to be removed from the subterranean formation after at least a portion of the first fluid has been introduced into the second portion of the subterranean formation; and introducing a second fluid into the first portion of the subterranean formation.

Abstract: Method for applying a fire-resistant coating to a substrate, comprising of applying a layer of liquid fire-resistant coating to a carrier, creating a layer of flexible solid coating as a result of at least partial curing of the layer of liquid coating, removing the layer of flexible solid coating from the carrier; and applying the flexible solid coating layer to the substrate.

Abstract: A method is provided for use in secure electronic communication. The method may include obtaining a password shared with an intended key exchange entity and sending a key exchange request including a first value to the intended key exchange entity. The method may also include receiving a key exchange reply including a permutation of a first quadratic residue of the first value, and calculating a second quadratic residue of the first value based on the key exchange reply. Further, the method may also include determining a second value shared with the key exchange entity based on the first quadratic residue and the second quadratic residue.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a treatment fluid for a well includes: (a) a water-soluble polymer, wherein the water-soluble polymer comprises a polymer of at least one non-acidic ethylenically unsaturated polar monomer; (b) an organic crosslinker comprising amine groups, wherein the organic crosslinker is capable of crosslinking the water-soluble polymer; (c) a Lewis acid; and (d) water; wherein the treatment fluid is a crosslinkable polymer composition.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a treatment fluid for a well includes: (a) a water-soluble polymer, wherein the water-soluble polymer comprises a polymer of at least one non-acidic ethylenically unsaturated polar monomer; (b) an organic crosslinker comprising amine groups, wherein the organic crosslinker is capable of crosslinking the water-soluble polymer; (c) a weak organic acid; and (d) water; wherein the treatment fluid is a crosslinkable polymer composition.

Abstract: The invention generally features compositions and methods based on the structure-based design of alpha 1-3 N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferase (alpha 3 GaINAc-T) enzymes from alpha 1-3 galactosyltransferase (a3Gal-T) that can transfer 2?-modified galactose from the corresponding UDP-derivatives due to substitutions that broaden the alpha 3Gal-T donor specificity and make the enzyme a3 GaINAc-T.