Abstract: An electronic transaction method, funds transfer apparatus and method for facilitating a funds transfer. The methods comprise sending information from a purchaser or payor to a funds transfer system separate from a vendor system or payee, validating and confirming personal financial information at the funds transfer system, and transferring funds from a purchaser or payor account to the vendor or a payee account without exposing either party's financial and account information to the other. Additionally, a funds transfer apparatus is disclosed comprising connections to a payor and payee system and mechanisms for receiving and validating party and transaction information and a mechanism for transferring funds from one party to the other.

Abstract: According to the invention, a process for transferring funds in an online transaction between a first party and a second party is disclosed. In one step, a first account associated with the first party and a second account associated with the second party are determined. At least one of the first account and the second account is a bank account. A first transfer is initiated between the first account and a third account. The third account is not associated with either the first party or the second party. Notification is received that the first transfer has cleared. A second transfer between the third account and the second account is initiated before notification that the first transfer has cleared is received.

Abstract: A market making node in a network routes machine readable documents to connect businesses with customers, suppliers and trading partners. The self defining electronic documents, such as XML based documents, can be easily understood amongst the partners. Definitions of these electronic business documents, called business interface definitions, are posted on the Internet, or otherwise communicated to members of the network. The business interface definitions tell potential trading partners the services the company offers and the documents to use when communicating with such services. Thus, a typical business interface definition allows a customer to place an order by submitting a purchase order or a supplier checks availability by downloading an inventory status report.

Abstract: According to the invention, a process for transferring funds between a payor and a payee in an online transaction is disclosed. In one step, information is received from the payor for debiting a bank account associated with the payor. Authorization is transmitted to the payee to request debits from the payor. The total of all debit requests does not exceed an amount that is authorized. A first request is received from the payee to debit the customer a first portion of the amount. A first debit is initiated from the bank account for the first portion of the amount. A second request is received from the payee to debit the payor a second portion of the amount. A second debit is initiated from the bank account for the second portion of the amount.

Abstract: An electronic transaction method, funds transfer apparatus and method for facilitating a funds transfer. The methods comprise sending information from a purchaser or payor to a funds transfer system separate from a vendor system or payee, validating and confirming personal financial information at the funds transfer system, and transferring funds from a purchaser or payor account to the vendor or a payee account without exposing either party's financial and account information to the other. Additionally, a funds transfer apparatus is disclosed comprising connections to a payor and payee system and mechanisms for receiving and validating party and transaction information and a mechanism for transferring funds from one party to the other.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring runout of using a distance measuring sensor mounted to a rotor and targeted at a circular wall, an electronic inclinometer mounted within a diameter of a hub of the rotor, and a microcontroller in data communication with the inclinometer and the sensor. A computer may be operably connected to the microcontroller and used for programming the microcontroller. A rotatable fixture including a bar mounted to the hub may be used to mount the sensor to a distal end of the bar and the microcontroller and the inclinometer may be mounted on the bar. Runout of a fan shroud circumscribing fan blades of an engine rotor may be measured with the apparatus and method and the bar angularly located between a pair of adjacent blades. The computer may be used to gather data from inclinometer and sensor and calculate runout.

Abstract: Machine readable documents connect businesses with customers, suppliers and trading partners. The self defining electronic documents, such as XML based documents, can be easily understood amongst the partners. Definitions of these electronics business documents, called business interface definitions, are posted on the Internet, or otherwise communicated to members of the network. The business interface definitions tell potential trading partners the services the company offers and the documents to use when communicating with such services. Thus, a typical business interface definition allows a customer to place an order by submitting a purchase order or a supplier checks availability by downloading an inventory status report. Also, composition of the input and output documents, coupled with interpretation information in a common business library, programs the transaction in a way which closely parallels the way in which paper based businesses operate.

Abstract: Provided herein is a process for generating steam comprising supplying a first stream to a steam reformer to produce a second stream comprising essentially 100% steam such that the molecular composition of the first stream is identical to the molecular composition of second stream, wherein the steam reformer comprises a reformer inlet in fluid communication with a reformer outlet, and at least one tube arranged between, and in fluid communication with the reformer inlet and the reformer outlet; and wherein the at least one tube is in thermal communication with a furnace of the steam reformer. A steam reformer for producing steam is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for sampling lubricant from a lubrication system including a pump for pumping lubricant between a reservoir and a sump. The method includes removing a filter from the pump, replacing the filter with a sampling device having a fluid passage, channeling lubricant returned from the sump to the pump into the fluid passage, and discharging lubricant from the pump by discharging lubricant from the fluid passage.

Abstract: A product includes actinium-225 (225Ac) and less than about 1 microgram (?g) of iron (Fe) per millicurie (mCi) of actinium-225. The product may have a radioisotopic purity of greater than about 99.99 atomic percent (at %) actinium-225 and daughter isotopes of actinium-225, and may be formed by a method that includes providing a radioisotope mixture solution comprising at least one of uranium-233 (233U) and thorium-229 (229Th), extracting the at least one of uranium-233 and thorium-229 into an organic phase, substantially continuously contacting the organic phase with an aqueous phase, substantially continuously extracting actinium-225 into the aqueous phase, and purifying the actinium-225 from the aqueous phase. In some embodiments, the product may include less than about 1 nanogram (ng) of iron per millicurie (mCi) of actinium-225, and may include less than about 1 microgram (?g) each of magnesium (Mg), Chromium (Cr), and manganese (Mn) per millicurie (mCi) of actinium-225.

Abstract: A market making node in a network routes machine readable documents to connect businesses with customers, suppliers and trading partners. The self defining electronic documents, such as XML based documents, can be easily understood amongst the partners. Definitions of these electronic business documents, called business interface definitions, are posted on the Internet, or otherwise communicated to members of the network. The business interface definitions tell potential trading partners the services the company offers and the documents to use when communicating with such services. Thus, a typical business interface definition allows a customer to place an order by submitting a purchase order or a supplier checks availability by downloading an inventory status report.

Abstract: A market making node in a network routes machine readable documents to connect businesses with customers, suppliers and trading partners. The self defining electronic documents, such as XML based documents, can be easily understood amongst the partners. Definitions of these electronic business documents, called business interface definitions, are posted on the Internet, or otherwise communicated to members of the network. The business interface definitions tell potential trading partners the services the company offers and the documents to use when communicating with such services. Thus, a typical business interface definition allows a customer to place an order by submitting a purchase order or a supplier checks availability by downloading an inventory status report.

Abstract: A lighted holder for holding a container having therein an individual serving of a liquid, such as a beverage. In one application, the cup holder is installed in a hull of a boat.

Abstract: An electronic transaction method, funds transfer apparatus and method for facilitating a funds transfer. The methods comprise sending information from a purchaser or payor to a funds transfer system separate from a vendor system or payee, validating and confirming personal financial information at the funds transfer system, and transferring funds from a purchaser or payor account to the vendor or a payee account without exposing either party's financial and account information to the other. Additionally, a funds transfer apparatus is disclosed comprising connections to a payor and payee system and mechanisms for receiving and validating party and transaction information and a mechanism for transferring funds from one party to the other.

Abstract: An electronic transaction method, funds transfer apparatus and method for facilitating a funds transfer. The methods comprise sending information from a purchaser or payor to a funds transfer system separate from a vendor system or payee, validating and confirming personal financial information at the funds transfer system, and transferring funds from a purchaser or payor account to the vendor or a payee account without exposing either party's financial and account information to the other. Additionally, a funds transfer apparatus is disclosed comprising connections to a payor and payee system and mechanisms for receiving and validating party and transaction information and a mechanism for transferring funds from one party to the other.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making a semiconductor structure, wherein the method includes forming an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer on a semiconductor layer, forming a conductive plating enhancement layer (PEL) on the ILD, patterning the ILD and PEL, depositing a seed layer into the pattern formed by the ILD and PEL, and then plating copper on the seed layer. The PEL serves to decrease the resistance across the wafer so to facilitate the plating of the copper. The PEL preferably is an optically transparent and conductive layer.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes establishing a logon connection between a host system and one or more client systems through a network; assessing computer security at the host system by scanning each client system after logon; parsing data obtained by scanning each client system; and generating output files containing parsed data. Implementations may include scanning for one or more of: Ethernet adapters, operating system, computer name, antivirus installation, security information, mounted drives, local user information, services, audit policies, shared drives, trusted domains, Internet uniform locators, installed applications, images and movies.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and program storage device is provided for dynamic data formatting during transmittal of generalized byte string data across a computer network. Remote server dynamically changes format of each column string data value from the result set separately, according to actual size of the string data value, and returns it to a client. Small-size data value is returned in a single network return message as varchar type, in-line with the rest of the query data. Medium-sized data value is retrieved without locators and streamed in multiple return network messages in a separate data object following the query data and in the same response. Large-size data value is retrieved using locators and returned as a progressive reference in pieces of specified size, where each piece of data value is separately transferred under client's control when needed, thus eliminating the need to buffer large amount of data.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) step is used to remove excess conductive material (e.g., Cu) overlying a low-k or ultralow-k interlevel dielectric layer (ILD) layer having trenches filled with conductive material, for a damascene interconnect structure. A reactive ion etch (RIE) or a Gas Cluster Ion Beam (GCIB) process is used to remove a portion of a liner which is atop a hard mask. A wet etch step is used to remove an oxide portion of the hard mask overlying the ILD, followed by a final touch-up Cu CMP (CMP) step which chops the protruding Cu patterns off and lands on the SiCOH hard mask. In this manner, processes used to remove excess conductive material substantially do not affect the portion of the hard mask overlying the interlevel dielectric layer.

Abstract: According to the invention, a process for transferring funds between a payor and a payee in an online transaction is disclosed. In one step, information is received from the payor for debiting a bank account associated with the payor. Authorization is transmitted to the payee to request debits from the payor. The total of all debit requests does not exceed an amount that is authorized. A first request is received from the payee to debit the customer a first portion of the amount. A first debit is initiated from the bank account for the first portion of the amount. A second request is received from the payee to debit the payor a second portion of the amount. A second debit is initiated from the bank account for the second portion of the amount.