Abstract: A system for trading goods over a computer network based on image processing includes an image processor that analyzes a picture received from a user to build a description of entities in the picture and correlations among the entities, a description interpreter that analyzes the description to determine an underlying message in the picture and detect information regarding the user's interests, emotions and affinities to goods and services, wherein the information is stored with the user's profile, the user's list of items to trade, and the user's past transaction history, and a trade matching component that uses the user's profile and produces a ranked list of other users with items to trade, or intermediary trade steps, when another user initiates a new trading transaction.

Abstract: A method includes electronically receiving at a user device of a second party a digital promise to pay a certain amount of money in exchange for goods or services from the second party, the digital promise to pay being generated by a user device of a first party; electronically sending a request from the user device of the second party to a user device of a third party to electronically transfer the digital promise to pay to the user device of the third party in exchange for goods or services from the third party. Sending the request includes sending at least one set of preferences defined at least by the first party. The method further includes electronically receiving at the user device of the second party from the third party one of an acceptance or a rejection of the request to transfer the digital promise to pay.

Abstract: A method includes electronically receiving at a user device of a second party a digital promise to pay a certain amount of money in exchange for goods or services from the second party, the digital promise to pay being generated by a user device of a first party; electronically sending a request from the user device of the second party to a user device of a third party to electronically transfer the digital promise to pay to the user device of the third party in exchange for goods or services from the third party. Sending the request includes sending at least one set of preferences defined at least by the first party. The method further includes electronically receiving at the user device of the second party from the third party one of an acceptance or a rejection of the request to transfer the digital promise to pay.

Abstract: A method includes electronically receiving at a user device of a second party a digital promise to pay a certain amount of money in exchange for goods or services from the second party, the digital promise to pay being generated by a user device of a first party; electronically sending a request from the user device of the second party to a user device of a third party to electronically transfer the digital promise to pay to the user device of the third party in exchange for goods or services from the third party. Sending the request includes sending at least one set of preferences defined at least by the first party. The method further includes electronically receiving at the user device of the second party from the third party one of an acceptance or a rejection of the request to transfer the digital promise to pay.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods, and computer program products for matching candidates and job positions using cognitive computing. Aspects include: collecting candidate information of certain candidates and job information of certain job openings from various information sources, creating one candidate document for each of the candidates and storing the candidate document created in a candidate database, and creating one job document for each of the job openings and storing the job document created in a job database, extracting certain cognitive features from each of candidate documents in the candidate database, and each of the job documents in the job database using cognitive computing; and matching the candidates in the candidate database with the job openings in the job database by ranking the extracted cognitive features and cognitive computing. The extracted cognitive features may include a list of personality traits and a list of concepts.

Abstract: A method of managing digital promises includes receiving transaction information and a request for a digital promise ranking. The transaction information includes identifying information of a first party and/or a second party. Each digital promise belongs to the first party and has a corresponding owner. A relationship score is calculated between the corresponding owner of each digital promise and the second party. An affinity score is calculated between the corresponding owner of each digital promise and the second party. A reputation score is calculated for the owner of each digital promise. A final score of each digital promise is calculated based on the relationship score, the affinity score and the reputation score. The digital promise rank is generated based on the final score of each digital promise.

Abstract: A method includes electronically receiving at a user device of a second party a digital promise to pay a certain amount of money in exchange for goods or services from the second party, the digital promise to pay being generated by a user device of a first party; electronically sending a request from the user device of the second party to a user device of a third party to electronically transfer the digital promise to pay to the user device of the third party in exchange for goods or services from the third party. Sending the request includes sending at least one set of preferences defined at least by the first party. The method further includes electronically receiving at the user device of the second party from the third party one of an acceptance or a rejection of the request to transfer the digital promise to pay.

Abstract: Controllable variable inertia water storage system for heating and/or cooling, comprising: a plurality of water storage volumes for storing and heating water, these being either a vessel comprising sub-volumes or independent multiple vessels, said volumes being interconnected in series; a water inlet and outlet connect to the interconnected volumes; an independent water heater and/or cooler for each volume. Method for operating said system comprising: defining target sub-temperatures for each volume, wherein said target sub-temperatures are sequentially higher for each volume, in the direction of the water flow from inlet to outlet; increasing the target sub-temperatures in periods of forecasted higher demand, and, inversely, decreasing the target sub-temperatures in periods of forecasted lower demand; heating the volumes up to the target sub-temperatures, when the user indicates so or when a source of heat is available.

Abstract: Glass, glass compositions, methods of preparing the glass compositions, microfluidic devices that include the glass composition, and methods of fabricating microfluidic devices that include the glass composition are disclosed. The borosilicate glass composition includes silicon dioxide (SiO2) in a range from about 60% to 74% by total composition weight; boric oxide (B2O3) in a range from about 9% to 25% by total composition weight; aluminum oxide (Al2O3) in a range from about 7% to 17% by total composition weight; and at least one alkali oxide in a range from about 2% to 7% by total composition weight. In addition, the borosilicate glass has a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) that is in a range between about 30×10?7/° C. and 55×10?7/° C. Furthermore, the borosilicate glass composition resists devitrification upon sintering without the addition of an inhibitor oxide.

Abstract: Glass, glass compositions, methods of preparing the glass compositions, microfluidic devices that include the glass composition, and methods of fabricating microfluidic devices that include the glass composition are disclosed. The borosilicate glass composition includes silicon dioxide (SiO2) in a range from about 60% to 74% by total composition weight; boric oxide (B2O3) in a range from about 9% to 25% by total composition weight; aluminum oxide (Al2O3) in a range from about 7% to 17% by total composition weight; and at least one alkali oxide in a range from about 2% to 7% by total composition weight. In addition, the borosilicate glass has a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) that is in a range between about 30×10?7/° C. and 55×10?7/° C. Furthermore, the borosilicate glass composition resists devitrification upon sintering without the addition of an inhibitor oxide.

Abstract: Glass, glass compositions, methods of preparing the glass compositions, microfluidic devices that include the glass composition, and methods of fabricating microfluidic devices that include the glass composition are disclosed. The borosilicate glass composition includes silicon dioxide (SiO2) in a range from about 60% to 74% by total composition weight; boric oxide (B2O3) in a range from about 9% to 25% by total composition weight; aluminum oxide (Al2O3) in a range from about 7% to 17% by total composition weight; and at least one alkali oxide in a range from about 2% to 7% by total composition weight. In addition, the borosilicate glass has a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) that is in a range between about 30×10?7/° C. and 55×10?7/° C. Furthermore, the borosilicate glass composition resists devitrification upon sintering without the addition of an inhibitor oxide.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a glass composition that can be used to make glass frits suitable for use in the manufacturing of microreactors. The glass compositions, after final sintering to produce a finished microreactor, have a surface crystalline layer of 30 ?m or less, or are completely amorphous throughout. Generally, the borosilicate glasses of the invention have a composition of B2O3=12-22 mol %; SiO2=68-80 mol % and additional components selected from the group consisting of either (a) Al2O3=3-8 mol % and Li2O=1-8 mol %, or (b) K2O=0-2 mol % and Na2O=0-2 mol %, except that both K2O and Na2O cannot both equal zero at the same time. One borosilicate glass has a composition, in mole percent (mol %) of B2O3=18-22 mol %, SiO2=75-80 mol %, K2O=0-2 mol %, and Na2O=0-2 mol %, except that both K2O and Na2O cannot both equal zero at the same time.

Abstract: Structured catalysts comprising thick porous inorganic catalyst support coatings disposed on monolithic catalyst support structures, the support coatings having open interconnected porosities of controlled pore size but being characterized by improved durability, physical integrity, and adherence sufficient for use in liquid phase applications under harsh reaction conditions, and methods for making and using them, are disclosed.

Abstract: A hermetic porting assembly (10) for a glass or glass ceramic reactor (100) includes a metallic connector member (12) having a metal aperture (120), and a glass member (13) having a glass aperture (130). The glass member (13) is positioned within the metal aperture (120), wherein the metallic connector member (12) has a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than the glass member (13) and wherein at least a portion of the glass member (13) is held within the metallic aperture of the metallic member by a fused glass-to-metal hermetic compression seal (14).

Abstract: Structured zeolite coated structures comprising thick porous inorganic zeolite coatings disposed on monolithic support structures, which can be honeycomb shaped, are disclosed. The zeolite coatings have open interconnected pores of controlled pore size and are characterized by improved durability, physical integrity, and adherence sufficient to enable use as supports for catalysts in liquid phase applications under harsh reaction conditions. Methods for making zeolite coated structures are also disclosed.

Abstract: Glass, glass compositions, methods of preparing the glass compositions, microfluidic devices that include the glass composition, and methods of fabricating microfluidic devices that include the glass composition are disclosed. The borosilicate glass composition includes silicon dioxide (SiO2) in a range from about 60% to 74% by total composition weight; boric oxide (B2O3) in a range from about 9% to 25% by total composition weight; aluminum oxide (Al2O3) in a range from about 7% to 17% by total composition weight; and at least one alkali oxide in a range from about 2% to 7% by total composition weight. In addition, the borosilicate glass has a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) that is in a range between about 30×10−7/° C. and 55×10−7/° C. Furthermore, the borosilicate glass composition resists devitrification upon sintering without the addition of an inhibitor oxide.

Abstract: Structured catalysts comprising thick porous inorganic catalyst support coatings disposed on monolithic catalyst support structures, the support coatings having open interconnected porosities of controlled pore size but being characterized by improved durability, physical integrity, and adherence sufficient for use in liquid phase applications under harsh reaction conditions, and methods for making and using them, are disclosed.

Abstract: Structured zeolite coated structures comprising thick porous inorganic zeolite coatings disposed on monolithic support structures, which can be honeycomb shaped, are disclosed. The zeolite coatings have open interconnected pores of controlled pore size and are characterized by improved durability, physical integrity, and adherence sufficient to enable use as supports for catalysts in liquid phase applications under harsh reaction conditions. Methods for making zeolite coated structures are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to glasses of high refractive index having the following composition of oxides, expressed in percentages by weight: SiO2 29-35, B2O3 0.5-5, Li2O 0.5-3, Na2O 4-8, K2O 0-2, PbO 28-40, BaO 4-14, La2O3 4-12, TiO2 3-8, ZnO 0-8, ZrO2 0-4, Nb2O5 0-5, with: Li2O+Na2O+K2O 5.5-9; their use for the production of segments for multifocal corrective lenses; and multifocal corrective lenses incorporating at least one such segment in their structure.