Abstract: A twin roll casting system includes a pair of counter-rotating casting rolls, a casting roll controller is configured to adjust at least one process control setpoint for the casting rolls in response to control signals. A cast strip sensor measures at least one parameter of the cast strip. A controller receives measurement signals from the cast strip sensor provides control signals to the casting roll controller. The controller is a data-driven model comprising a database of state-input pairs; and executes the following steps at each time step: measure a state-input similarity between a new state observation and samples, assign a weight to each consequent output of samples based on the similarity measured, and sum the weighted outputs and predict an output of a new state observation. The controller is configured to provide the control signals to the casting roll controller based on the predicted output of the new state observation.

Abstract: A gift exchange platform assigns gifts to individuals in a network of businesses. Each of the businesses offers a set of gifts available for assigning by other businesses or individuals. The gift assignment system receives the set of offered gifts and gift transaction data describing the gifts in a time interval. A fairness score for each business is calculated based on the comparison of the inbound and outbound scores of the business reflecting the value provided by the business and received by the business of gifts. A request is received from a business, individual or an automated gift system to assign a gift to an individual. A gift and a gift offering business are assigned to an individual based on the fairness score of the assigned business. The gift assignment further accounts for an expected value of an individual to the business on redemption of the gift by the individual.

Abstract: A gift exchange platform assigns gifts to individuals in a network of businesses. Each of the businesses offers a set of gifts available for assigning by other businesses or individuals. The gift assignment system receives the set of offered gifts and gift transaction data describing the gifts in a time interval. A fairness score for each business is calculated based on the comparison of the inbound and outbound scores of the business reflecting the value provided by the business and received by the business of gifts. A request is received from a business, individual or an automated gift system to assign a gift to an individual. A gift and a gift offering business are assigned to an individual based on the fairness score of the assigned business. The gift assignment further accounts for an expected value of an individual to the business on redemption of the gift by the individual.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for administering a bidding language for online advertising. In one example, the method includes providing an expressive bidding language that allows an advertiser to specify an ad campaign in a tree structure, receiving the ad campaign that is written in the expressive bidding language, translating the ad campaign into scripts, and using the scripts to access appropriate inventory from an ad inventory database.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for administering a bidding language for online advertising. In one example, the method includes providing an expressive bidding language that allows an advertiser to specify an ad campaign in a tree structure, receiving the ad campaign that is written in the expressive bidding language, translating the ad campaign into scripts, and using the scripts to access appropriate inventory from an ad inventory database.

Abstract: Each bid received via a computer network is an offer for the right to cause at least one advert associated with the bid to be output to at least one device that is part of the computer network or in communication with the computer network in response to the bid being allocated one or more user events. At a time t, at least one rule or decision variable for allocating user events to bids is determined based on bids received before time t and an estimate of bids, user events or user activity occurring after time t. Based on information or data regarding a user event received from one of the devices after time t, the user event is allocated to at least one bid based on the at least one rule or decision variable and the at least one word, term, phrase or string of characters of the bid.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to novel, selectable hybrid polypeptides useful as agents for the treatment and prevention of metabolic diseases and disorders which can be alleviated by control plasma glucose levels, insulin levels, and/or insulin secretion, such as diabetes and diabetes-related conditions. Such conditions and disorders include, but are not limited to, hypertension, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease, eating disorders, insulin-resistance, obesity, and diabetes mellitus of any kind, including type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes.

Abstract: In an on-line ad auction, bids for the right to display at least one advert on a display of a computer of a computer network in response to the bid being allocated a query received from the computer are received via a computer network. At a time t, at least one rule or decision variable for allocating queries to bids is determined based on the bids received before time t and an estimate of at least one of: an estimate of queries to be received after time t; an estimate of events to occur in response to the display of adverts after time t; and/or an estimate of bids to be received after time t. After time t, a query received from the computer is allocated to at least one of the received bids based on the at least one rule or decision variable.

Abstract: A method is taught for offering for purchase user selected earth imagery content in the form of a photo product. The method comprises the steps of receiving earth imagery metadata from a plurality of earth imagery content providers; overlaying the earth imagery metadata on a mapping application provided by a service provider that offers earth imagery content; a user communicating over a channel with the service provider, the user locating a geographical area via the mapping application and dynamically selecting via the on-line interactive man-machine interface a desired geospatial area represented by one or more user defined polygons; converting the user-selected geospatial area represented by one or more polygons to a data string; and transmitting the data string over a channel to a fulfillment provider, the fulfillment provider generating a photo product of the desired geospatial area in a format selected by the user.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel Pancreatic Polypeptide Family (“PPF”) polypeptides and methods for their use.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel Pancreatic Polypeptide Family (“PPF”) polypeptides. The PPF polypeptides of the invention generally include at least two PPF motif, have at least 50% sequence identity to PYY (3-36) over its length and will generally retain, at least in part, a biological activity of a PP, PYY or NPY. Preferred PPF polypeptides of the invention are those having a potency in one of the assays described herein (preferably food intake, gastric emptying, pancreatic secretion, or weight reduction assays) which is greater than the potency of PP, NPY, PYY, or PYY(3-36) in that same assay. In one aspect, the PPF polypeptides of the invention include novel PYY analog polypeptides. In another aspect, the PPF polypeptides of the invention include PPF chimeric polypeptides including a fragment of a PP family polypeptide linked to a second PP family polypeptide, wherein each of the first and second fragments includes a PPF motif.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to novel, selectable hybrid polypeptides useful as agents for the treatment and prevention of metabolic diseases and disorders which can be alleviated by control plasma glucose levels, insulin levels, and/or insulin secretion, such as diabetes and diabetes-related conditions. Such conditions and disorders include, but are not limited to, hypertension, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease, eating disorders, insulin-resistance, obesity, and diabetes mellitus of any kind, including type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes.

Abstract: The Location Enhanced Information Deliver System Architecture (LEIA) customizes the information that is displayed to an information recipient based on optimizing a match between information purveyors, such as advertisers, and the information recipients who are local to an information delivery system. The present location enhanced information delivery system presents the information most suited to the real current audience, as measured by location information systems, rather than to a static predicted audience. While the preferred embodiment discloses a beaconing-style wireless technology, the system concept is easily extensible both to other location-information systems, such as license-plate scanning with cameras, and to utilizing the location-information for private displays of information in addition to public displays of information.

Abstract: A method for superimposing graphic representations of ground locations onto images of ground locations after detecting the presence of material failure(s) or failures in man-made structures in such ground locations including providing an image sensor spaced remotely from the ground and which sequentially captures a number of images of various ground locations to provide digital images of such ground locations; processing captured digital images to determine the presence of a potential material failure in a man-made structure in accordance with predetermined coordinate positions which locate the man-made structures in one or more of the captured digital images; identifying reference points in the ground locations corresponding to the same reference points in the graphic representations of the ground location; and superimposing the graphic representation with the reference points onto at least one of the captured digital images.

Abstract: Electrochemical test strip cards that can be singulated to produce electrochemical test strips are provided. The electrochemical test cards are made up of two or more electrochemical test strip precursors, where each precursor is characterized by the presence of a dry reagent housing reaction chamber bounded by opposing electrodes. In gaseous communication with each reaction chamber of the card is an integrated desiccant. Also provided are methods of using the subject electrochemical test strips cards, as well as kits that include the same. The subject test strips and cards find use in the detection/concentration determination of a number of different analytes, including glucose.

Abstract: A method and system of offering reduced cost telecommunication services to a consumer while simultaneously providing multimedia promotional content to the consumer. A method and system of distributing multimedia content to at least one terminal offering telephony or internet connection services. Video and audio output devices, such as a display screen and terminal speakers, are provided for presenting multimedia promotional content to the consumer. Data input devices are also provided so the consumer may interact with the system to request further information. Promotional contents are centrally managed at one or several centralized locations and distributed to the terminals periodically or as needed. Promotional contents distributed to each terminal may be customized based on the location of the terminal or the usage statistics of the terminal, among several other factors.

Abstract: In a combinatorial exchange, a set of rules can be input for processing of bids received in connection with the exchange. At least one bid can be received from each of a plurality of exchange participants and a desired exchange objective can be defined. A determination can be made as a function of a subset of the rules if an allocation of the bids exists that is optimal for the type of exchange being conducted. If the desired exchange objective is not satisfied, the step of determining an allocation is repeated utilizing a different subset of rules each time until the desired exchange objective is satisfied.

Abstract: Electrochemical test strip cards that can be singulated to produce electrochemical test strips are provided. The electrochemical test cards are made up of two or more electrochemical test strip precursors, where each precursor is characterized by the presence of a dry reagent housing reaction chamber bounded by opposing electrodes. In gaseous communication with each reaction chamber of the card is an integrated desiccant. Also provided are methods of using the subject electrochemical test strips cards, as well as kits that include the same. The subject test strips and cards find use in the detection/concentration determination of a number of different analytes, including glucose.

Abstract: Electrochemical test strip cards that can be singulated to produce electrochemical test strips are provided. The electrochemical test cards are made up of two or more electrochemical test strip precursors, where each precursor is characterized by the presence of a dry reagent housing reaction chamber bounded by opposing electrodes. In gaseous communication with each reaction chamber of the card is an integrated desiccant. Also provided are methods of using the subject electrochemical test strips cards, as well as kits that include the same. The subject test strips and cards find use in the detection/concentration determination of a number of different analytes, including glucose.

Abstract: A method for superimposing graphic representations of ground locations onto images of ground locations after detecting the presence of material failure(s) or failures in man-made structures in such ground locations including providing an image sensor spaced remotely from the ground and which sequentially captures a number of images of various ground locations to provide digital images of such ground locations; processing captured digital images to determine the presence of a potential material failure in a man-made structure in accordance with predetermined coordinate positions which locate the man-made structures in one or more of the captured digital images; identifying reference points in the ground locations corresponding to the same reference points in the graphic representations of the ground location; and superimposing the graphic representation with the reference points onto at least one of the captured digital images.