Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices, methods of forming such devices, and elements of such devices. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a heating member that can be formed of a heating element conformed to a heater substrate configured as a truncated cone (or similar shape) having a first end of a first size and a second end of greater size. In some embodiments, the disclosure provides methods of forming an aerosol delivery device, which can include providing a shell, providing a heating member formed of a heating element conformed to a substrate, configuring the heating member as a truncated cone (or similar shape) having a first end of a first size and a second end of greater size, and inserting the heating member within the shell.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices, methods of forming such devices, and elements of such devices. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a heating member that can be formed of a heating element conformed to a heater substrate configured as a truncated cone (or similar shape) having a first end of a first size and a second end of greater size. In some embodiments, the disclosure provides methods of forming an aerosol delivery device, which can include providing a shell, providing a heating member formed of a heating element conformed to a substrate, configuring the heating member as a truncated cone (or similar shape) having a first end of a first size and a second end of greater size, and inserting the heating member within the shell.

Abstract: A method for socially connecting payment card holders is provided. The method involves providing one or more databases configured to store payment card holder information including at least purchasing and payment activities attributable to the payment card holders; providing one or more databases configured to store payment card holder profiles; generating the payment card holder profiles based on the payment card holder information; providing the payment card holder profiles to payment card holders that have been granted access to the one or more databases configured to store the payment card holder profiles; and effecting targeted interaction between the payment card holders based at least in part on the payment card holder profiles. A system for socially connecting payment card holders is also provided.

Abstract: A method for socially connecting payment card holders is provided. The method involves providing one or more databases configured to store payment card holder information including at least purchasing and payment activities attributable to the payment card holders; providing one or more databases configured to store payment card holder profiles; generating the payment card holder profiles based on the payment card holder information; providing the payment card holder profiles to payment card holders that have been granted access to the one or more databases configured to store the payment card holder profiles; and effecting targeted interaction between the payment card holders based at least in part on the payment card holder profiles. A system for socially connecting payment card holders is also provided.

Abstract: Fabric softening compositions comprising two specific encapsulated perfume compositions provide an improved laundry experience to consumers.

Abstract: Fabric softening compositions comprising two specific encapsulated perfume compositions provide an improved laundry experience to consumers.

Abstract: A facility management system includes a work order system configured for receiving a request for service, retrieving, from a contract database, one or more pieces of key data extracted from a contract in response to the request, preparing a work order ordering corrective work based on the request and the retrieved pieces of key data, and outputting the work order to a vendor for completion of the corrective work. The system includes a billing system configured for receiving terms extracted from an invoice submitted by the vendor for performing the corrective work, the terms comprising an invoice price for performing the corrective work and determining whether to approve payment of the invoice. Determining includes comparing the invoice price for performing the corrective work to the contract price for performing the type of service and approving payment of the invoice when the invoice price matches the contract price.

Abstract: A system evaluates contract quality and includes a processing device configured for retrieving from a contract database, data extracted from a contract, evaluating a number of vendors competitively bidding on the contract, based at least in part on the extracted data, thereby resulting in a cost score, evaluating a time prior to contract termination at which competitive bidding takes place, based at least in part on the extracted data, thereby resulting in a time score, and evaluating a quality of the contract based on individual evaluation of a plurality of critical fields, based at least in part on the extracted data, thereby resulting in a quality score. The processing device is further configured for determining a contract evaluation score based at least in part on the cost score, the time score, and the quality score.

Abstract: A system for evaluating an invoice for work includes a processing device configured for determining one or more billing data parameters comprising a threshold payment amount based on information associated with the invoice or the work, retrieving from a historical billing database, historical billing data corresponding to the one or more determined billing data parameters, comparing the retrieved historical billing data including the threshold payment amount with at least a portion of the information extracted from the invoice including billing information extracted from the invoice, and determining whether to approve the invoice based on the comparison, wherein determining whether to approve the invoice is dependent upon the comparison of the threshold payment amount with the requested payment amount corresponding to billing information extracted from the invoice.

Abstract: A method for evaluating an asset for replacement includes retrieving one or more pieces of information corresponding to the asset, each piece of information corresponding to one or more factors, wherein each factor has an associated factor weight, determining, by a processing device, an associated factor score for each factor based at least in part on the pieces of information corresponding to the factor, the factor score for each factor also based at least in part on the associated factor weight, and determining a replacement eligibility score based upon the factor scores associated with two or more of the factors. In some embodiments, the method includes comparing a plurality of replacement eligibility scores corresponding to a plurality of assets and initiating creation of a schedule for the plurality of assets based on the comparison.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of DNA amplification with a first primer that has a random sequence of nucleotides at its 3? end and a generic sequence 5? of the random nucleotides, as well as a second primer with the generic sequence of the first primer. The disclosure further relates to a method of precipitating DNA on a solid medium to improve DNA amplification. In a preferred embodiment, the presently disclosed methods are used for high-throughput genotyping of DNA samples, such as bloodstains or trace amounts of DNA.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of DNA amplification with a first primer that has a random sequence of nucleotides at its 3? end and a generic sequence 5? of the random nucleotides, as well as a second primer with the generic sequence of the first primer. The disclosure further relates to a method of precipitating DNA on a solid medium to improve DNA amplification. In a preferred embodiment, the presently disclosed methods are used for high-throughput genotyping of DNA samples, such as bloodstains or trace amounts of DNA.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of DNA amplification with a first primer that has a random sequence of nucleotides at its 3′ end and a generic sequence 5′ of the random nucleotides, as well as a second primer with the generic sequence of the first primer. The disclosure further relates to a method of precipitating DNA on a solid medium to improve DNA amplification. In a preferred embodiment, the presently disclosed methods are used for high-throughput genotyping of DNA samples, such as bloodstains or trace amounts of DNA.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of DNA amplification with a first primer that has a random sequence of nucleotides at its 3′ end and a generic sequence 5′ of the random nucleotides, as well as a second primer with the generic sequence of the first primer. The disclosure further relates to a method of precipitating DNA on a solid medium to improve DNA amplification. In a preferred embodiment, the presently disclosed methods are used for high-throughput genotyping of DNA samples, such as bloodstains or trace amounts of DNA.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of DNA amplification with a first primer that has a random sequence of nucleotides at its 3′ end and a generic sequence 5′ of the random nucleotides, as well as a second primer with the generic sequence of the first primer. The disclosure further relates to a method of precipitating DNA on a solid medium to improve DNA amplification. In a preferred embodiment, the presently disclosed methods are used for high-throughput genotyping of DNA samples, such as bloodstains or trace amounts of DNA.