Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a portal for commercial transactions. A user interface interfaces to a user performing a commercial transaction. The user is one of a consumer, a vendor, a retailer, a service provider, and a third-party entity. The commercial transaction is related to sale processing of a product or service. A transaction management portal engine manages the commercial transaction performed by the user using user information. A management database provides the user information related to the commercial transaction.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention includes a consumer device used in a transaction. An identifier represents a management entity. The management entity has an established relationship with at least one of a provider, a consumer, and a vendor. A medium encoded with an information section to contain information related a transaction conducted by the consumer at the provider. The transaction involves a product. The information corresponds to a discount for the product provided by at least one of the management entity, the provider, and the vendor. The information is retrieved at the provider via a device reader when the consumer purchases the product to receive the discount after the provider verifies the consumer. Another embodiment of the invention includes a technique to process a transaction. A management entity is verified from an identifier on a device presented by a consumer in a transaction involving a product.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention includes a technique to provide discount coupons for on-line transactions. A discount agent interacts with a client having client information in an on-line transaction allowing the client to purchase a product having product information from a seller. A discount coupon associated with the product is provided. The discount coupon contains discount information for the product. Transaction information and the client information in the on-line transaction are forwarded to the seller. The transaction information includes at least one of payment information, shipping information, the discount information, and the product information.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a technique to display information. A panel containing information to be seen by public is mounted on a vehicle moving in a designated area. A controller controls the panel and communicates with a remote contact device to report vehicle information while the vehicle is moving in the designated area.

Abstract: The invention is a technique to provide security. A pass has primary information on a person to allow the person to enter an area. A first radio frequency identification (RFID) tag attached to the pass contains supplemental information regarding the person. The supplemental information capable of being read by at least an RFID reader located in the area.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention includes a technique to provide exchange transactions of items from entities. A first item having a value is received from a first entity. The first item is verified and advertised. An exchange agreement between the first item and a second item from a second entity is confirmed. The first and second items are exchanged between the first and second entities.

Abstract: A wear indicator is provided for a rotary drilling tool of the type which comprises a bit body having a leading surface for cutting, abrading or reaming a hole in a target substrate material such as a sub-surface formation, the wear indicator comprising or including one or more discrete areas of a visually distinct material to that from which the drilling tool is mainly composed, the visually distinct material being arranged or configured at or adjacent the surface of the bit such that progressive wear of the bit and hence the or each visually distinct discrete area provides a visual indication of surface wear of the tool.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved system for producing mature heterologous proteins, and especially hirudin, by means of yeasts comprising an expression vector containing a sequence coding for the heterologous protein. This improvement is characterized by amplification of the KEX2 gene of yeast, coding for the endoprotease yscF. The amplification is carried out either by integration of one or more copies of all or part of the KEX2 gene in the yeast genome, or by insertion of one or more copies of all or part of the KEX2 gene into the vector for expression of the heterologous protein.

Abstract: The invention relates to new DNA fragments and to their application as a DNA coding fragment for a signal peptide which can be used for the secretion of proteins, said peptide including a sequence of amino-acids which show a degree of correspondence of at least 60% with the sequence of amino-acids (I) or (II), preferably with the sequence (II). The sequences (I) and (II) are as follows: (I) Arg-Phe-Ser-Thr-Thr-Leu-Ala-Thr-Ala-Ala-Thr-Ala-Leu-Phe-Phe-Thr-Ala-Ser-Gl n. (II) Arg-Phe-Ser-Thr-Thr-Leu-Ala-Thr-Ala-Ala-Thr-Ala-Leu-Phe-Phe-Thr-Ala-Ser-Gl n-Val-Ser-Ala.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved system for producing mature heterologous proteins, and especially hirudin, by means of yeasts comprising an expression vector containing a sequence coding for the heterologous protein. This improvement is characterized by amplification of the KEX2 gene of yeast, coding for the endoprotease yscF. The amplification is carried out either by integration of one or more copies of all or part of the KEX2 gene in the yeast genome, or by insertion of one or more copies of all or part of the KEX2 gene into the vector for expression of the heterologous protein.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae productive of a heterologous protein, and more especially of hirudin, characterized by a suppression of the proteolytic function encoded by the PRC1 gene. More specifically, this deficiency is due to a mutation or more especially to a deletion of the PRC1 structural gene.