Abstract: A system and method for providing to a taxpayer a loan in an amount based on the taxpayer's estimated tax refund amount due for a current year, the loan being provided to the taxpayer prior to year end of the current tax year and prior to completion and filing of the taxpayer's current year tax return forms with a taxing authority. The taxpayer's estimated tax refund may be based on historical tax refund data as well as current year income data. A loan granting entity may consider the level of tax refunds that the taxpayer has received in previous years as well as income data for the first three quarters of the year to determine a reasonable estimate of the tax refund amount that the taxpayer will likely receive for the current tax year.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for associating payments with spending vehicles so that an individual who is entitled to receive periodic or special payments (e.g., Social Security checks, 401(k) distributions, dividend payments, tax refunds, etc.) may choose to receive in place of the payment a spending vehicle such as an e-card, a sponsor discount card, a sponsor rebate, or a sponsor coupon for use with purchases of the sponsor's products or services. Sponsors may include companies and organizations interested in offering purchase incentives to their customers. An individual who wishes to receive a spending vehicle rather than the regular payment selects the spending vehicle he or she would like to receive. The individual then assigns his or her right to receive the payment to a third party. The third party may be a sponsor of the spending vehicle or a financial institution that offers spending vehicles from a plurality of sponsors.

Abstract: A portable survey instrument and methodology yield intensity of neutron radiation, intensity of gamma radiation, and a direction of impinging gamma radiation. The instrument uses a neutron detector surrounded by an essentially rectangular moderator with preferably four gamma ray detectors disposed symmetrically about the neutron detector and within the moderator. Material and dimensions of the moderator are selected so that the neutron measurement is equally sensitive to fast and thermal neutrons. The moderator also induces angular responses to the gamma ray detectors. Responses of the gamma ray detectors are combined to yield a parameter indicative of the angular position of a source. The survey instrument is portable and suited for hand held use.

Abstract: A high-speed (over 700) radiographic silver halide film is useful for radiography to provide images with improved contrast and sharpness and reduced fog. The film includes at least one tabular grain silver halide emulsion layer on each side of a film support which grains are dispersed in a hydrophilic polymeric vehicle mixture comprising at least 0.05% of oxidized gelatin, based on the total dry weight of the hydrophilic polymeric vehicle mixture. Where multiple silver halide emulsion layers are disposed on each side of the film support, the emulsion layers closest to the support on each side can include crossover control agents to reduce crossover to less than 15%.

Abstract: A silver halide emulsion comprising radiation sensitive silver halide grains exhibiting a face centered cubic crystal lattice structure containing a hexacoordination complex of an iridium ion in which at least half of the coordination sites in the hexacoordination complex are provided by halogen or pseudohalogen ligands, and at least one coordination site is provided by a ligand comprising a azole ring containing a chalcogen atom and a nitrogen atom, wherein the azole ring is substituted at the 5-position with a halide ion. The invention provides emulsions containing with a preferred class of iridium dopants which are especially useful for improving reciprocity performance in silver halide emulsions with minimal or no impact on other aspects of photographic performance. These dopants give a superior balance of reciprocity and other photographic properties compared to other iridium dopants exemplified in the prior art.

Abstract: A borehole logging system for determining bulk density, porosity and formation gas/liquid fluid saturation of formation penetrated by a borehole. Measures of fast neutron radiation and inelastic scatter gamma radiation, induced by a pulsed neutron source, are combined with an iterative numerical solution of a two-group diffusion model to obtain the formation parameters of interest. Double-valued ambiguities in prior art measurements are removed by using the iterative solution of the inverted two-group diffusion model. The system requires two gamma ray detectors at different axial spacings from the source, and a single neutron detector axially spaced between the two gamma ray detectors. The system can be embodied as a wireline system or as a logging-while-drilling system.

Abstract: A borehole logging system for determining bulk density, porosity and formation gas/liquid fluid saturation of formation penetrated by a borehole. Measures of fast neutron radiation and inelastic scatter gamma radiation, induced by a pulsed neutron source, are combined with an iterative numerical solution of a two-group diffusion model to obtain the formation parameters of interest. Double-valued ambiguities in prior art measurements are removed by using the iterative solution of the inverted two-group diffusion model. The system requires two gamma ray detectors at different axial spacings from the source, and a single neutron detector axially spaced between the two gamma ray detectors. The system can be embodied as a wireline system or as a logging-while-drilling system.

Abstract: This invention provides a silver halide photographic element comprising at least one silver halide emulsion comprising silver halide grains which have associated therewith at least an inner dye layer and an outer dye layer wherein the outer dye layer comprises a dye having at least one substituent that has a positive charge, said photographic element further comprising a cyanine dye of formula (I) or (II) (as described in the specification) that is capable of spectrally sensitizing a silver halide emulsion.

Abstract: A system for measuring density of material which can be embodied to measuring bulk density of material penetrated by a borehole. The probe component of the system comprises a source of neutron radiation and preferably two gamma ray spectrometers. The neutron source induces gamma radiation with energies up to about 10 MeV within the material being measured. Formation bulk density is determined by combining spectra of the induced gamma radiation with preferably two gamma ray spectrometers at differing axial spacings from the source. The high energy and dispersed nature of the induced gamma radiation yields greater radial depth of investigation than that obtainable with prior art backscatter density systems, which typically use gamma ray sources local to a probe and of energy about 1.3 MeV or less. The system can alternately be embodied to measure other material properties and to measure density of materials not penetrated by a borehole.

Abstract: An improved fast neutron detector fabricated with alternating layers of hydrogenous, optically transparent, non scintillating material and scintillating material. Fast neutrons interact with the hydrogenous material generating recoil protons. The recoil protons enter the scintillating material resulting in scintillations. The detector is optically coupled to a photomultiplier tube which generates electrical pulses proportional in amplitude to the intensity of the scintillations, and therefore are an indication of the energy of the fast neutrons impinging upon the detector. Alternating layers of materials are dimensioned to optimize total efficiency of the detector, or to optimize the spectroscopy efficiency of the detector. The scintillating material is preferably ZnS, and the hydrogenous material is preferably plastic. The detector is ideally suited for well logging applications and fast neutron monitor applications.

Abstract: A borehole logging system for determining bulk density, porosity and formation gas/liquid fluid saturation of formation penetrated by a borehole. Measures of fast neutron radiation and inelastic scatter gamma radiation, induced by a pulsed neutron source, are combined with an iterative numerical solution of a two-group diffusion model to obtain the formation parameters of interest. Double-valued ambiguities in prior art measurements are removed by using the iterative solution of the inverted two-group diffusion model. The system requires two gamma ray detectors at different axial spacings from the source, and a single neutron detector axially spaced between the two gamma ray detectors. The system can be embodied as a wireline system or as a logging-while-drilling system.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for measuring radiation in a borehole environment using a YAlO3:Ce (YAP) scintillation crystal. Borehole instruments are disclosed which employ a gamma ray detector comprising a YAP scintillator coupled to a light sensing means such as a photomultiplier tube. One instrument embodiment combines a YAP scintillation detector and a source of pulsed neutrons. Borehole environs are irradiated with neutrons, and induced gamma radiation is measured using a YAP scintillation detector. Response of the detector is used to determine characteristics of the borehole environs. Mechanical and physical properties of YAP are utilized to obtain improved measurements. The relatively short light decay constant of YAP minimized pulse pile-up in the detector when measurements require that the detector be operated during a neutron pulse.

Abstract: High-speed black-and-white photothermographic emulsions and materials comprise chemically sensitized photosensitive silver halide grains, at least 70% of the total photosensitive silver halide projected area being provided by tabular silver halide grains comprising at least 70 mole % bromide (based on total silver halide). The tabular grains have an average thickness of at least 0.02 &mgr;m and up to and including 0.10 &mgr;m, an equivalent circular diameter of at least 0.5 &mgr;m and up to and including 8 &mgr;m, and an aspect ratio of at least 5:1. These high-speed materials can be imaged in any suitable fashion using ultraviolet, visible, infrared, or X-radiation. In one embodiment, they have one or more thermally developable layers on both sides of the support and can be imaged using X-radiation with or without a phosphor intensifying screen in an imaging assembly.

Abstract: A system for measuring density of material which can be embodied to measuring bulk density of material penetrated by a borehole. The probe component of the system comprises a source of neutron radiation and preferably two gamma ray spectrometers. The neutron source induces gamma radiation with energies up to about 10 MeV within the material being measured. Formation bulk density is determined by combining spectra of the induced gamma radiation with preferably two gamma ray spectrometers at differing axial spacings from the source. The high energy and dispersed nature of the induced gamma radiation yields greater radial depth of investigation than that obtainable with prior art backscatter density systems, which typically use gamma ray sources local to a probe and of energy about 1.3 MeV or less. The system can alternately be embodied to measure other material properties and to measure density of materials not penetrated by a borehole.

Abstract: An improved fast neutron detector fabricated with alternating layers of hydrogenous, optically transparent, non scintillating material and scintillating material. Fast neutrons interact with the hydrogenous material generating recoil protons. The recoil protons enter the scintillating material resulting in scintillations. The detector is optically coupled to a photomultiplier tube which generates electrical pulses proportional in amplitude to the intensity of the scintillations, and therefore are an indication of the energy of the fast neutrons impinging upon the detector. Alternating layers of materials are dimensioned to optimize total efficiency of the detector, or to optimize the spectroscopy efficiency of the detector. The scintillating material is preferably ZnS, and the hydrogenous material is preferably plastic. The detector is ideally suited for well logging applications and fast neutron monitor applications.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for measuring radiation in a borehole environment using a YAlO3:Ce (YAP) scintillation crystal. Borehole instruments are disclosed which employ a gamma ray detector comprising a YAP scintillator coupled to a light sensing means such as a photomultiplier tube. One instrument embodiment combines a YAP scintillation detector and a source of pulsed neutrons. Borehole environs are irradiated with neutrons, and induced gamma radiation is measured using a YAP scintillation detector. Response of the detector is used to determine characteristics of the borehole environs. Mechanical and physical properties of YAP are utilized to obtain improved measurements. The relatively short light decay constant of YAP minimized pulse pile-up in the detector when measurements require that the detector be operated during a neutron pulse.

Abstract: An improved fast neutron detector fabricated with alternating layers of hydrogenous, optically transparent, non scintillating material and scintillating material. Fast neutrons interact with the hydrogenous material generating recoil protons. The recoil protons enter the scintillating material resulting in scintillations. The detector is optically coupled to a photomultiplier tube which generates electrical pulses proportional in amplitude to the intensity of the scintillations, and therefore are an indication of the energy of the fast neutrons impinging upon the detector. Alternating layers of materials are dimensioned to optimize total efficiency of the detector, or to optimize the spectroscopy efficiency of the detector. The scintillating material is preferably ZnS, and the hydrogenous material is preferably plastic. The detector is ideally suited for well logging applications and fast neutron monitor applications.

Abstract: An improved fast neutron detector fabricated with alternating layers of hydrogenous, optically transparent, non scintillating material and scintillating material. Fast neutrons interact with the hydrogenous material generating recoil protons. The recoil protons enter the scintillating material resulting in scintillations. The detector is optically coupled to a photomultiplier tube which generates electrical pulses proportional in amplitude to the intensity of the scintillations, and therefore are an indication of the energy of the fast neutrons impinging upon the detector. Alternating layers of materials are dimensioned to optimize total efficiency of the detector, or to optimize the spectroscopy efficiency of the detector. The scintillating material is preferably ZnS, and the hydrogenous material is preferably plastic. The detector is ideally suited for well logging applications and fast neutron monitor applications.

Abstract: An improved fast neutron detector fabricated with alternating layers of hydrogenous, optically transparent, non scintillating material and scintillating material. Fast neutrons interact with the hydrogenous material generating recoil protons. The recoil protons enter the scintillating material resulting in scintillations. The detector is optically coupled to a photomultiplier tube which generates electrical pulses proportional in amplitude to the intensity of the scintillations, and therefore are an indication of the energy of the fast neutrons impinging upon the detector. Alternating layers of materials are dimensioned to optimize total efficiency of the detector, or to optimize the spectroscopy efficiency of the detector. The scintillating material is preferably ZnS, and the hydrogenous material is preferably plastic. The detector is ideally suited for well logging applications and fast neutron monitor applications.

Abstract: An improved fast neutron detector fabricated with alternating layers of hydrogenous, optically transparent, non scintillating material and scintillating material. Fast neutrons interact with the hydrogenous material generating recoil protons. The recoil protons enter the scintillating material resulting in scintillations. The detector is optically coupled to a photomultiplier tube which generates electrical pulses proportional in amplitude to the intensity of the scintillations, and therefore are an indication of the energy of the fast neutrons impinging upon the detector. Alternating layers of materials are dimensioned to optimize total efficiency of the detector, or to optimize the spectroscopy efficiency of the detector. The scintillating material is preferably ZnS, and the hydrogenous material is preferably plastic. The detector is ideally suited for well logging applications and fast neutron monitor applications.