Abstract: A system and method for providing financial account messages to customers while accessing web sites is disclosed. Methods, systems and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention enable a financial account issuer to provide an application to customer's computer system over a network. The application may be configured to provide various messages associated with the customer's financial account provided by the financial account issuer while the customer browses web sites. The financial account messages may be configured to provide interactive and dynamically changing account status information based on attempted purchases of goods and/or services by the customer at merchants' web sites. The application may also be configured to provide rating information associated with web sites accessed by the customer.

Abstract: A system and method for providing financial account messages to customers while accessing web sites is disclosed. Methods, systems and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention enable a financial account issuer to provide an application to customer's computer system over a network. The application may be configured to provide various messages associated with the customer's financial account provided by the financial account issuer while the customer browses web sites. The financial account messages may be configured to provide interactive and dynamically changing account status information based on attempted purchases of goods and/or services by the customer at merchants' web sites. The application may also be configured to provide rating information associated with web sites accessed by the customer.

Abstract: An arm is pivotally coupled to a support structure at one end and a patient care equipment support, such as a service head, is pivotally coupled to the arm at the other end. The arm has a first portion and a second portion coupled to the first portion for extension and retraction relative to the first portion. Brakes are provided to brake the extension and retraction of the portions of the arm, to brake the pivoting movement of the arm relative to the support structure, and to brake the pivoting movement of the patient care equipment support relative to the arm. Each of the brakes is releasable.

Abstract: A system for supporting patient care equipment alongside a patient support is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes a plurality of arms supported by a support structure. The arms may be pivoted to either side of the patient support. The arms may be stored in a console. At least one of the arms may carry service conduits that provide medical air, oxygen, vacuum, nitrogen, nitrous oxide, or electricity.

Abstract: A stretcher includes a brake mechanism and a steer mechanism operated by side actuator pedals and a brake-actuating bar and a wheel-actuating bar. The brake-actuating bar, wheel-actuating bar, and side actuator pedals are connected such that movement is coordinated.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises an architectural system and a patient adjustment device. The patient adjustment device is coupled to the architectural system and adapted to pull on a patient receiver to move a patient received by the patient receiver and located on a bed relative to the bed to adjust the position of the patient.

Abstract: A patient support includes a lower frame, an upper frame supported above the lower frame, an equipment carrier coupled to the upper frame, and an actuator operable to adjust the orientation of the equipment carrier to compensate for the upper frame changing its orientation between the Trendelenberg and reverse Trendelenberg positions.

Abstract: An automated machine for handling and embedding tissue samples contained on microtome sectionable supports. The machine includes an input member configured to hold a plurality of the microtome sectionable supports prior to a tissue embedding operation. An output member is configured to hold a plurality of the microtome sectionable supports after the tissue embedding operation. A cooling unit is configured to hold at least one of the microtome sectionable supports during the tissue embedding operation. A motorized carrier assembly is mounted for movement and configured to hold at least one of the microtome sectionable supports. The carrier assembly moves the support from the input member to the cooling unit and, finally, to the output member. A dispensing device dispenses an embedding material onto the microtome sectionable support and at least one tissue sample carried by the microtome sectionable support during the embedding operation.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for performing dynamic Web-based market analysis are disclosed. A Web server presents a Web page including content to a user, via a browser located at the user's computer or workstation. The content in the Web page may be provided by third party entities that pay predetermined fees to have the Web server render their content in a Web page. While the user views the site, detailed user activities associated with the content, including in-view activities associated with viewable content in the Web page, are collected in a client side data store. After a trigger event occurs, such as the client side data store fills up, the collected data is sent back to the Web server where its is stored in a server side data store. An analytical program executed by the Web server retrieves the collected response data from the data store and performs market analysis on the collected response data.

Abstract: An automated pricing system (10) is provided. The system (10) obtains inventory information, specifying the rates and/or availability of a plurality of travel arrangements, from one or more computer reservation systems (24). The inventory information is stored in a database (14) along with one or more portfolios of information (relating to a travel agency and each business entity customer of the travel agency) that can be used to discount the listed rates of the travel arrangements. In response to a specific travel itinerary from a customer, the system (10) automatically retrieves the inventory and/or discount information from the database (14) and determines the lowest-priced, available travel arrangements conforming to the itinerary. Consequently, a travel agent using the system (10) does not have to spend time manually determining the lowest-priced travel arrangements.

Abstract: A system and method for providing financial account messages to customers while accessing web sites is disclosed. Methods, systems and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention enable a financial account issuer to provide an application to customer's computer system over a network. The application may be configured to provide various messages associated with the customer's financial account provided by the financial account issuer while the customer browses web sites. The financial account messages may be configured to provide interactive and dynamically changing account status information based on attempted purchases of goods and/or services by the customer at merchants' web sites. The application may also be configured to provide rating information associated with web sites accessed by the customer.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for performing dynamic Web-based market analysis are disclosed. A Web server presents a Web page including content to a plurality of users, via browser applications located at each user's client site. While each user views the site, detailed activities by each user are collected in a client side data store located in each client site. After a completion event occurs at each client site, such as a respective client side data store fills up, the collected activity data is sent back to the Web server, where its is stored in a server side data store. An analytical program executed by the Web server retrieves the collected response data from the server side data store and performs market analysis. The analytical program produces results that reflect the success of the content presented in the Web page, and these results are used by a middleware program executed on the Web server to update the content presented in the Web page on a “real-time” and automatic basis.

Abstract: The invention relates to compounds of formula (I): Fm(—A1)(—Bn)(—Wo) wherein F is a colorant-signal molecule with a maximum absorption value ranging from 600-1200 nm; A is a &bgr;-amyloid plaque binding biomolecule; B is a &bgr;-amyloid plaque binding colorant; and W is a &bgr;-amyloid plaque binding hydrophilic low-molecular structural element. The invention also describes the use of these compounds in in vivo an din vitro diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease by means of near infra-red radiation (NIR radiation) as a constrasting agent in fluoresecence and transillumination diagnosis in the NIR range. Diagnostic agents containing said componenets are also disclosed.

Abstract: Compounds of formula I ##STR1## are described, as well as the process for their production and their use in pharmaceutical agents.

Abstract: An automated system (10) is provided for identifying alternate low-cost travel arrangements. The system (10) obtains inventory information specifying the rates and/or availability of a plurality of travel arrangements, from one or more computer reservation systems. The inventory information is stored in a database (14) along with one or more portfolios of information (relating to a travel agency and each business entity customer of the travel agency) that can be used to discount the listed rates of the travel arrangements. In response to travel request information received from a customer, the system (10) automatically retrieves the inventory and/or discount information from the database (14) and determines a plurality of low-cost alternate travel arrangements that are available to the customer Consequently, a travel agent using the system (10) does not have to spend time manually identifying alternate low-cost travel arrangements.

Abstract: An automated travel planning system (10) is provided. The system (10) includes a database (12) which stores information relating to each individual traveler and business entity customer of a travel agency and also information relating to the travel agency itself. This information may include, for example, data concerning the frequent flyer/renter programs in which a traveler participates, smoking and seating preferences for a traveler, preferred travel vendors of a business entity, restrictions on fare classes (e.g., business or coach classes only) imposed by a business entity on its employees, and promotions available to a travel agency. When travel request information is received from a specific customer (individual and/or business entity) of the travel agency, the system automatically retrieves information relating to the customer from the database and also information relating to the travel agency.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for an exponentially faster technique than is presently utilized in routers for looking-up destination addresses and matching them to a prefix in order to determine an output data link for routing of the data message to a destination. The basic algorithm includes arranging the prefix and corresponding output data link information in sub-databases arranged by prefix length and then using a multi-step prefix length binary search algorithm to sort through the sub-databases to determine a best matching prefix for routing of the data packet. Various refinements of the basic algorithm are disclosed to further enhance the search time including adding markers representative of sub-database entries having a longer prefix length and also various searching methodologies to minimize the number of searching steps including rope searching in various formats.

Abstract: An automated system (10) is provided for selecting an initial computer reservation system. The system (10) includes a database (12) which stores data relating to each computer reservation system (30) utilized by a travel agency. The database (12) also contains one or more informational portfolios that can be used to determine the computer reservation system preferences of various parties, such as, for example, an individual traveler, a business entity employing the traveler, and the travel agency. In response to travel request information received from a customer, the system (10) automatically retrieves data/information from the database (12) and determines a target computer reservation system which most likely will be used to book travel arrangements. Consequently, the system (10) optimizes the hits-to-bookings ratio for each computer reservation system (30) utilized by the travel agency.

Abstract: The new use of ipsapirone for the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease by improving memory is described.

Abstract: 8.alpha.-acylamino ergolines are useful dopamine agonists.