Abstract: Vehicle structures for dissipating and distributing energy associated with a collision are described herein. In one embodiment, a rim includes an inner flange and an outer flange that extend around a periphery of the rim, a rim wall that extends around the periphery of the rim and that extends between the inner flange and the outer flange in the vehicle lateral direction, a drop-well portion that is positioned between the rim wall and the outer flange in the vehicle lateral direction, where the rim wall comprises an increased thickness region that is positioned proximate to the drop-well portion, and where a maximum thickness of the increased thickness region is greater than a maximum thickness of the rim wall positioned outside of the increased thickness region, and at least one spoke extending radially inward from the drop-well portion.

Abstract: Vehicle structures for dissipating and distributing energy associated with a collision are described herein. In one embodiment, a rim includes an inner flange and an outer flange that extend around a periphery of the rim, a rim wall that extends around the periphery of the rim and that extends between the inner flange and the outer flange in the vehicle lateral direction, a drop-well portion that is positioned between the rim wall and the outer flange in the vehicle lateral direction, where the rim wall comprises an increased thickness region that is positioned proximate to the drop-well portion, and where a maximum thickness of the increased thickness region is greater than a maximum thickness of the rim wall positioned outside of the increased thickness region, and at least one spoke extending radially inward from the drop-well portion.

Abstract: An approach is provide for creating a secure and user-identifiable service signature. The approach involves creating a signature associated with a service, wherein the service is provided by a service provider to a user in conjunction with another party, and wherein the signature is personalized to the user. The approach also involves presenting the signature to the user via a device receiving a delivery, a link for initiating the delivery, or a combination thereof of the service to the user.

Abstract: A vehicle bumper structure includes a lateral arrangement of hollow lobes forming an energy absorption apparatus attached to a beam. The lobes are designed to provide a predetermined peak force resistance and a predetermined energy absorption capability. Local stiffening to increase the buckling resistance and energy absorption is provided by increased stiffness regions provided in one or more locations on one or more of the lobes. The local increased stiffness regions can be provided by an increased wall thickness surrounding apertures formed in selected shear walls of the lobes or a laterally outward offset in the shape of the shear walls of the lobes.

Abstract: A system and method for gift certificates of securities, other financial instruments, commodities, or other assets are disclosed. In the case of stock, a purchaser enters gift certificate parameters including company name and denomination, as well as payment information. These parameters, together with the market price of the stock, determine the number of shares (which may be a non-integer number) that are being gifted. A provider generates an identifier, part or all of which may be incorporated into a physical or electronic gift certificate for delivery to a recipient who may claim the stock. A database maintains records of the gift certificates that have been purchased and claimed.

Abstract: Compounds, methods of use, and processes for making inhibitors of complement factor D comprising Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or composition thereof wherein R12 or R13 on the A group is an aryl, heteroaryl or heterocycle (R32) are provided. The inhibitors described herein target factor D and inhibit or regulate the complement cascade at an early and essential point in the alternative complement pathway, and reduce factor D's ability to modulate the classical and lectin complement pathways. The inhibitors of factor D described herein are capable of reducing the excessive activation of complement, which has been linked to certain autoimmune, inflammatory, and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as ischemia-reperfusion injury and cancer.

Abstract: Compounds, methods of use, and processes for making inhibitors of complement factor D comprising Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or composition thereof, wherein R12 or R13 on the A group is an amino substituent (R32) are provided. The inhibitors described herein target factor D and inhibit or regulate the complement cascade at an early and essential point in the alternative complement pathway, and reduce factor D's ability to modulate the classical and lectin complement pathways. The inhibitors of factor D described herein are capable of reducing the excessive activation of complement, which has been linked to certain autoimmune, inflammatory, and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as ischemia-reperfusion injury and cancer.

Abstract: Compounds, methods of use, and processes for making inhibitors of complement factor D comprising Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or composition thereof wherein R12 or R13 on the A group is an ether (R32) are provided. The inhibitors described herein target factor D and inhibit or regulate the complement cascade at an early and essential point in the alternative complement pathway, and reduce factor D's ability to modulate the classical and lectin complement pathways. The inhibitors of factor D described herein are capable of reducing the excessive activation of complement, which has been linked to certain autoimmune, inflammatory, and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as ischemia-reperfusion injury and cancer.

Abstract: Compounds, methods of use, and processes for making inhibitors of complement factor D comprising Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or composition thereof, wherein R12 or R13 on the A group is an alkyne (R32) are provided. The inhibitors described herein target factor D and inhibit or regulate the complement cascade at an early and essential point in the alternative complement pathway, and reduce factor D's ability to modulate the classical and lectin complement pathways. The inhibitors of factor D described herein are capable of reducing the excessive activation of complement, which has been linked to certain autoimmune, inflammatory, and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as ischemia-reperfusion injury and cancer.

Abstract: Compounds, methods of use, and processes for making inhibitors of complement factor D comprising Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or composition thereof, wherein R12 or R13 on the A group is an amide substituent (R32) are provided. The inhibitors described herein target factor D and inhibit or regulate the complement cascade at an early and essential point in the alternative complement pathway, and reduce factor D's ability to modulate the classical and lectin complement pathways. The inhibitors of factor D described herein are capable of reducing the excessive activation of complement, which has been linked to certain autoimmune, inflammatory, and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as ischemia-reperfusion injury and cancer.

Abstract: Compounds, methods of use, and processes for making inhibitors of complement factor D comprising Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or composition thereof wherein R12 or R13 on the A group is a phosphonate (R32) are provided. The inhibitors described herein target factor D and inhibit or regulate the complement cascade at an early and essential point in the alternative complement pathway, and reduce factor D's ability to modulate the classical and lectin complement pathways. The inhibitors of factor D described herein are capable of reducing the excessive activation of complement, which has been linked to certain autoimmune, inflammatory, and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as ischemia-reperfusion injury and cancer.

Abstract: Compounds, methods of use, and processes for making inhibitors of complement factor D comprising Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or composition thereof, wherein R12 or R13 on the A group is a carbamate, ester, or ketone substituent (R32) are provided. The inhibitors described herein target factor D and inhibit or regulate the complement cascade at an early and essential point in the alternative complement pathway, and reduce factor D's ability to modulate the classical and lectin complement pathways. The inhibitors of factor D described herein are capable of reducing the excessive activation of complement, which has been linked to certain autoimmune, inflammatory, and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as ischemia-reperfusion injury and cancer.

Abstract: Compounds, methods of use, and processes for making inhibitors of complement factor D comprising Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or composition thereof are provided. The inhibitors described herein target factor D and inhibit or regulate the complement cascade at an early and essential point in the alternative complement pathway, and reduce factor D's ability to modulate the classical and lectin complement pathways. The inhibitors of factor D described herein are capable of reducing the excessive activation of complement, which has been linked to certain autoimmune, inflammatory, and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as ischemia-reperfusion injury and cancer.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes a subsidized access management system detecting a request provided by an access device associated with a user to access network content by way of a secure connection within a network provided by a network service provider, the network content associated with a content provider and maintained by a content provider system, determining that a data usage charge for access by the user to the network content by way of the secure connection within the network is subsidized by the content provider in accordance with a subsidized access arrangement between the content provider and the network service provider, and providing the user with subsidized access to the network content by way of the secure connection within the network in accordance with a rule set associated with the subsidized access arrangement. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method relate to identifying a first color associated with a document, and versions of data to be added to the document are associated with, respectively, a plurality of second colors. The first color and the plurality of second colors are compared to form comparison results, and a particular version of the added content is selected from the plurality of versions of the data based on the comparison results. A modified document that includes the particular version of the data is formed and provided to the client device.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes a content delivery system 1) detecting a request provided by a mobile device associated with a user to access network content by way of a network provided by a network service provider, 2) determining that the mobile device is located within a sponsored geographic area at a time of the request, and 3) providing the user with subsidized access to the network content by way of the mobile device in accordance with a subsidized access arrangement between a sponsoring entity associated with the sponsored geographic area and the network service provider. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for modeling the performance of a laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) device across a wide temperature range is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of positioning the device in an environment chamber operable to create a plurality of environment temperatures; connecting the pins of the device to a measurement system operable to measure at least one device characteristic; operating the environment chamber to set a series of four environment temperatures, acquiring a value of the device characteristic from the measurement system at each temperature, and extracting a temperature parameter set based on the value of the device characteristic at each temperature, then generating a temperature-scaling model for the device.

Abstract: A system and method of providing promotional rewards of stock in a company to customers who engage in a promotional activity, wherein the promotional reward is a fractional share of stock that is transferred to the customer.

Abstract: A system and method for gift certificates of securities, other financial instruments, commodities, or other assets are disclosed. In the case of stock, a purchaser enters gift certificate parameters including company name and denomination, as well as payment information. These parameters, together with the market price of the stock, determine the number of shares (which may be a non-integer number) that are being gifted. A provider generates an identifier, part or all of which may be incorporated into a physical or electronic gift certificate for delivery to a recipient who may claim the stock. A database maintains records of the gift certificates that have been purchased and claimed.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling passengers to swap seats with other passengers, so that they may obtain seats that appear to be unavailable because they are occupied. Passengers use interfaces to specify their desire and/or willingness to switch seats, including to get better seats, give up their seats for compensation, or sit together and/or sit with other passengers, and the conditions, if any, for switching. A processor runs an algorithm reassigning passenger seats based on the conditions inputted at the interface. Passengers are notified of their new seats, and may be charged or compensated for switching seats.