Abstract: Systems and methods for assessing transaction risk. A consumer tenders a transaction card to a merchant to purchase a good or service. A payment device of the merchant, such as a payment terminal or mobile communication device of the merchant, is used to process the payment utilizing a risk assessment system. Card data received by the payment device is sent to the risk assessment system, which processes card data and generates an indicator representing the risk associated with accepting payment using the card. The indicator is sent to the payment device to provide the merchant input regarding risk associated with using the card (e.g., likelihood of fraud or chargeback) in a seamless manner. If the risk level is too high, the merchant may reject the card. The risk indicator may be based on different types of data from different sources, e.g., data from a first source related to the credit history of the consumer and data from a second source related to the identity of the consumer.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and computer program products are disclosed that teach methods for establishing context of a subsequent electronic real-time communication. One method detects a connection attempt that is initiated by an instigator-identifiable for a subsequent electronic real-time communication that is directed to a target-identifiable. The instigator-identifiable is associated with a first identification characteristic and the target-identifiable is associated with a second identification characteristic. This method subsequently retrieves a reminder reference that is responsive to the first identification characteristic and the second identification characteristic and presents the reminder reference to the target-identifiable. The method also establishes the subsequent electronic real-time communication between the instigator-identifiable and the target-identifiable.

Abstract: A system that communicates information is described. During operation, this system receives an encryption key through a first wireless communication technique, wherein the first wireless communication technique includes near field communication. Then, the system communicates a document through a second wireless communication technique, where the document is associated with a financial transaction being conducted with a commercial establishment. Next, the system receives encrypted information through the second wireless communication technique, where the encrypted information is, at least in part, encrypted using the encryption key, and where the second wireless communication technique includes a technique other than near field communication.

Abstract: A dental patient hand held vibrating device having a interdental mouthpiece portion for insertion into the mouth for gripping between the teeth of the dental patient encountering discomfort resulting from the adjustment of their orthodontic appliances. The hand held device comprises a housing containing a battery and a switch for selectively operating a motor with an off center weight attached to the motor rotating shaft for creating a high frequency vibration that vibrates the entire device. The vibration is transferred from the body of the device to the interdental mouthpiece held between the teeth of the patient. The vibrating interdental mouthpiece reestablishes an adequate blood supply to the teeth and surrounding periodontal structures so as to substantially eliminate the discomfort encountered by a patient that has had their orthodontic appliance adjusted.

Abstract: A span gap runner for detecting and measuring misalignment of rolls in a continuous caster comprises an elongated member having a middle portion recessed from the bottom surface of the member, a position transducer mounted in an aperture of the member and at the midpoint of the member. The member has end portions adapted to span the distance between a three roll segment from a minimum roll spacing to a maximum roll spacing. Span gap is measured between the surface of the middle roll of the three roll segment and a line or plane tangent to the surfaces of the adjacent two rolls.

Abstract: Gas flow through electrodes for electrochemical cells having a porous flow through matrix with electrocatalysts supported on the surfaces of the matrix within the pores, the pores providing a through route for a metastable colloid of electrochemically reducible or oxidizable gas bubbles in liquid electrolyte, with absorption of some of the gaseous component on the walls of the pores. Improved depolarization of the electrode provides long life and stable gas flow through electrodes for electrochemical cells.