Abstract: A method of producing Fc-containing polypeptides, such as antibodies, having stabilized Fc regions is provided, together with stabilized Fc polypeptides produced according to these methods as well as methods of using such antibodies as therapeutics.

Abstract: A cache server is provided in a network for storing Java objects for retrieval by one or multiple application servers. Application server(s) are configured to request an object from the cache server, rather than requesting the Java object directly from a database, so as to reduce processing load on the database and free up database resources. Responsive to a request for a Java object from an application server, e.g., in an HTTP request, the cache server determines if the object is stored in memory and if so, serializes the requested object and sends the serialized object to the requesting server, e.g., in an HTTP response. The requesting server then deserializes the Java object. If the object is not stored in memory, the cache server instantiates the object (typically by requesting the object from the database), serializes the instantiated object and sends it to the requesting server. Cache coherency methods are also provided.

Abstract: An electronic device, system and method are provided for populating an online payment form. An electronic wallet resident on an electronic device stores data for at least one payment card. A transcoding proxy receives an online payment form from a website of an online vendor, and the electronic wallet is invoked to access data for one of the payment cards. The data is provided to the transcoding proxy, which populates the online payment form. One of the payment cards may be pre-selected for use with a given vendor.

Abstract: Network security is enhanced in a multi-tenant database network environment using a query plan detection module to continually poll the database system to locate and raise an alert for suspect query plans. Security also can be enhanced using a firewall system sitting between the application servers and the client systems that records user and organization information for each client request received, compares this with information included in a response from an application server, and verifies that the response is being sent to the appropriate user. Security also can be enhanced using a client-side firewall system with logic executing on the client system that verifies whether a response from an application server is being sent to the appropriate user system by comparing user and organization id information stored at the client with similar information in the response.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in a process to assist a user to prepare for a veterinary examination includes a computer-readable non-transitory medium storing a veterinary exam practice question, and a plurality of answers that correspond to the veterinary exam practice question, and a processor configured to receive a request from a mobile device, access the medium to retrieve the veterinary exam practice question and the plurality of answers in response to the received request, and provide the retrieved veterinary exam practice question and the plurality of answers for display on the mobile device.

Abstract: A method aligns a character to a sampling grid of an image, where an outline of the character is specified by input pen commands. Points and contours of the input pen commands are determined. An orientation of each contour is determined. A first directed acyclic graph (DAG) is constructed indicating a hierarchical relationship of related contours. Radicals are determined using the first DAG. Simple segments of the contours are determined and merged independently for each radical. Segment pairs and their hinted coordinates are determined. The segment pairs are sorted and a second DAG is constructed for the sorted segment pairs. Collisions between the segment pairs are resolved using the second DAG. The segments pairs, x-free points, and y-free points are fitted to the sampling grid independently for each radical and a result of the fitting is stored in output pen commands.

Abstract: A method aligns a character to a sampling grid of an image. An original uniform width path that traces a skeleton of the character is specified by input pen commands having original coordinates. The width of the original path is rounded to a nearest integer to produce a hinted width. The original path is traversed using the input pen commands to identify segments of the path. The segments are stored in an array. Hinted coordinates are determined for each segment in the array. The array is sorted, and a directed acyclic graph (DAG) is constructed. Collisions between the segments are resolved using the sorted array, the DAG, and the width of the hinted path. The segments are fitted to the sampling grid, and the result is stored in output pen commands, thereby aligning the skeleton of the character to the sampling grid.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods provide a mechanism to enhance the management of data security in a system for users of the systems. Various embodiments include apparatus and methods to manage security of data in an electronic system on an application-by-application basis. Such application-by-application basis can be applied in addition to managing data security globally in the electronic system. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a paper product having at least two plies. Only one outer surface of the tissue paper product has a lotion and a polyhydroxy compound having a molecular weight ranging from about 150 to about 4,000 and selected from the group consisting of glycerols, polyglycerols, polyethylene glycols (PEGs), polyoxyethylenes, polyoxypropylenes, and combinations thereof applied thereto by slot extrusion. The polyhydroxy compound provides the tissue paper product with a Wet Burst greater than about 90 g, a Dynamic Coefficient of Friction less than about 0.9, and a Bending Flexibility less than about 0.042 gf cm2/cm.

Abstract: Network security is enhanced in a multi-tenant database network environment using a query plan detection module to continually poll the database system to locate and raise an alert for suspect query plans. Security also can be enhanced using a firewall system sitting between the application servers and the client systems that records user and organization information for each client request received, compares this with information included in a response from an application server, and verifies that the response is being sent to the appropriate user. Security also can be enhanced using a client-side firewall system with logic executing on the client system that verifies whether a response from an application server is being sent to the appropriate user system by comparing user and organization id information stored at the client with similar information in the response.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method of making an electronic payment from a wireless mobile device. In an embodiment, the method comprises: providing an electronic wallet, the electronic wallet having a persistent store for storing data for one or more payment cards and a wallet security module configured to verify authorized access to the electronic wallet; and permitting access to the data for one or more payment cards stored in the electronic wallet upon verification of authorized access by the wallet security module. In an embodiment, the wallet security module is configured to store one or more of a password and biometric data, and the method further comprises: comparing any subsequently input password or biometric data to a password or biometric data previously supplied by the authorized user and stored in the wallet security module; and if the comparison matches or is within an acceptable range, then permitting access to the data for one or more payment cards stored in the electronic wallet.

Abstract: Enhanced systems and methods for processing invoices, payments, and money transfers are described.

Abstract: Enhanced systems and methods for processing invoices, payments, and money transfers are described. One aspect of the invention is a computer-implemented method (and corresponding system and computer program product) for determining trustworthiness and familiarity of entities for a billing and payment system, the method comprising: categorizing entities into the following four categories based on their trustworthiness and familiarity to the billing and payment system: (1) a first zone for well-known and trusted entities, (2) a second zone for entities that are familiar but not well-known or not as trusted, (3) a third zone for entities that are new to the billing and payment system, and (4) a fourth zone for other entities; re-categorizing entities based at least on their payment transactions made through the billing and payment system during the time they are with the billing and payment system; and treating the entities of different categories differently according to their categories.

Abstract: Enhanced systems and methods for processing invoices, payments, and money transfers are described. One aspect of the invention is a computer-implemented method (and corresponding system and computer program product) for inviting an entity to open an account at a billing and payment system, the method comprising: issuing a check payable to the entity, wherein a checkbox for opening an account at the billing and payment system is printed on an endorsement section of the check along with a reference to additional information regarding additional information related to the account opening; receiving an image of the endorsement section of the check after the check is cleared; determining whether the checkbox is checked in the image; and responsive to a determination that the checkbox is checked, opening an account for the entity at the billing and payment system.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reducing or removing noise in digital images. Image noise reduction methods are described that may be applied to grayscale and color images, for example RGB images. An image noise reduction method may, before applying a noise filtering technique, transform the image values from linear space to flat noise space in which the noise is independent of the signal. An edge-preserving noise filtering technique may then be applied to the image in flat noise space. After noise filtering is applied, the image is transformed from flat noise space back to linear space. For color images, the flat noise space may be converted from linear color space to luminance-chrominance space before applying the noise filtering technique so that different filters can be applied to luminance and color channels. After applying the noise filtering technique, the image is converted back to linear color space.

Abstract: The present invention provides a paper product having at least one ply, wherein only one outer surface of said tissue paper has a polyhydroxy compound and a lotion applied thereto.

Abstract: A chair has a seat 1 and a backrest 2 and the backrest 2 is allowed to be tilted backward by elastic deformation of right and left back frame devices 4. The right and left back frame devices 4 each are composed of two unit frames 43 and 44. The back frame device 4 has a main portion 4a which are disposed outside the right and left sides of the seat 1, upper inward portions 43a and 44a which are connected to an upper rear end of the main portion 4a, lower inward portions 43b and 44b which go under the seat 1 from a lower end portion of the main portion 4a, and forward end portions 43c and 44c which are integrally connected to the lower inward portions 43b and 44b. The forward end portions 43c and 44c are fixed to the base 7.