Abstract: The present invention provides system and methods for facilitating the acquisition of content. In some embodiment, the systems and method enable a user to acquire and store content on a portable device.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a device for facilitating the acquisition of media assets. In some embodiments, the device includes: a housing; a USB connector projecting outwardly from an end of the housing; a card reader housed in the housing; non-volatile memory housed in the housing and coupled to the USB connector and the card reader; and a barcode disposed on a major surface of the housing, said barcode encoding an identifier that is associated with customer information.

Abstract: A detector element for mass spectrometry of a flux of heavy and light ions, that includes: a first detector to detect light ions that transit through a foil operatively placed in front of the first detector, and a second detector that detects the flux of heavy and light ions.

Abstract: A user-personalized product sampling, recommendation and purchasing system uses customer identification numbers and associated customer profile data to tailor specific product recommendations to a customer at a content sampling station of a retail location. The customer also can use her customer profile to receive the same information from an Internet website of the merchant. In-store sampling stations also may have the capability of checking store inventory and central warehouse inventory and providing recommendations to the customer in accordance with product availability, and optionally may provide the customer with the ability to place product orders directly through the sampling station. The recommendation system also can be used to tailor product recommendations in accordance with a rule-based model and real-time inventory data from a POS database.

Abstract: The present application relates to a sensitive and quantitative method using dansylated glutathione as a trapping agent for the detection of reactive metabolites in the field of drug discovery. The fluorescent tag attached to the dansylated glutathione does not impede the ability of glutathione to react with reactive metabolites.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention includes: a modulated laser light source to transmit an interrogation light beam to a region including a substance for spectroscopic evaluation, a detector responsive to modulated light from the region to provide a corresponding modulated signal, and a signal processing subsystem responsive to the modulated signal to generate a spectroscopic absorption peak representation. This subsystem also estimates absorbance based on a derivative form of an absorption peak and a residual amplitude modulation level corresponding to the absorption peak.

Abstract: An apparatus for electron multiplication by transmission that is designed with at least one foil having a front side for receiving incident particles and a back side for transmitting secondary electrons that are produced from the incident particles transiting through the foil. The foil thickness enables the incident particles to travel through the foil and continue on to an anode or to a next foil in series with the first foil. The foil, or foils, and anode are contained within a supporting structure that is attached within an evacuated enclosure. An electrical power supply is connected to the foil, or foils, and the anode to provide an electrical field gradient effective to accelerate negatively charged incident particles and the generated secondary electrons through the foil, or foils, to the anode for collection.

Abstract: Security of a distribution facility is maintained. Authorization information is read from a security optical card or other technology card presented by a person attempting to engage in a restricted activity within the distribution facility or gain access to the facility. An identity of the person is verified as corresponding to an identity of a cardholder to whom the security optical card was issued. It is confirmed that engaging in the restricted activity or gaining access by the cardholder is permitted in accordance with the authorization information. The person is then permitted to engage in the restricted activity or is given access.

Abstract: An optical motor-vehicle card is provided as a laminated card having a pattern of burn holes that encode information according to a set of fields. One field is an identification field having optically encoded information identifying an authorized holder of the optical motor-vehicle card. Another field is a driving-status field having optically encoded information summarizing an authorized driving status of the authorized holder.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for reading optical cards. A housing has a slot for slidably receiving an optical card. The optical card has physical tracks with an arrangement of physical pits to define on optically encoded biometric. A light detector is fixed in position relative to the housing. An optical train is also fixed in position relative to the housing and is configured to provide optical paths between the light detector and the optical card as the optical card is slid along the slot. A biometric sensor is provided. A processor is coupled with the light detector and with the biometric sensor. The processor has programming instructions to compare a biometric measured by the biometric sensor with the optically encoded biometric read from the optical card with the light detector.

Abstract: Methods are provided for executing a banking transaction for a customer. Account information is read from an optical banking card for a banking account associated with the optical banking card. The account information includes a current balance for the banking account. A request is received from the customer to execute the banking transaction, which effects a change in the balance of the account. A movement of funds is coordinated in accordance with the request to execute the banking transaction. Updated account information is written to the optical banking card. The updated account information includes a new current balance for the banking account that accounts for the movement of funds.

Abstract: According to the invention, a method for distributing drug interaction information for pharmacological compounds is disclosed. In one step, a request is received for a pharmacological compound for administration to a party. A list is received that includes a plurality of other pharmacological compounds associated with the party. A listing of possible drug interactions related to at least one of the pharmacological compound or the plurality of other pharmacological compounds is read from an optical card. It is determined if the pharmacological compound is contraindicated from the listing of possible drug interactions. A subset of the listing of possible drug interactions relevant to use of the pharmacological compound with the plurality of other pharmacological compounds is printed.

Abstract: A method is provided for writing a record to an optical card. A session key is generated randomly. The session key is encrypted using a private key of a public/private key pair associated with a particular cryptographic-key management device. The record is encrypted using the session key. A serial number for the particular cryptographic-key management device, the encrypted private key, and the encrypted record are optically written to the optical card.

Abstract: A cryptographic-key management device is provided. A secure cryptographic module is provided with a first memory storing a private cryptographic key of multiple public/private key pairs. The secure cryptographic module is adapted to zeroize the first memory in response to physical disruption of the module. A secure microcontroller is provided in communication with and adapted to control operation of the secure cryptographic module. The secure microcontroller has a second memory storing the public keys of the public/private key pains and a self-destruct pin whose activation disables the microcontroller. A package encapsulates the secure cryptographic module and the secure microcontroller, and is linked with the self-destruct pin to activate the self-destruct pin in response to a breach of the package.

Abstract: A ventilation system for use with a peaked roof, the roof extending between lower-most extending edges disposed proximate to fascia boards and an upper-most extending peak. A plurality of interconnecting panels are assembled upon at least first and second angled sides of the roof, each of the panels exhibiting a length, width and thickness and defining a plurality of internal and lengthwise extending airflow passages. The panels are further interconnected along at least one of opposing side and end extending edges and so that the airflow passages align between the lower-most extending edges of the roof and the upper-most extending edges, associated with the peak. In this manner, airflow currents are drawn through the aligned airflow passages of the interconnected panels, in an upwardly angled manner, and exhausted along the extending peak.

Abstract: A user-personalized product sampling, recommendation and purchasing system uses customer identification numbers and associated customer profile data to tailor specific product recommendations to a customer at a content sampling station of a retail location. The customer also can use her customer profile to receive the same information from an Internet website of the merchant. In-store sampling stations also may have the capability of checking store inventory and central warehouse inventory and providing recommendations to the customer in accordance with product availability, and optionally may provide the customer with the ability to place product orders directly through the sampling station. The recommendation system also can be used to tailor product recommendations in accordance with a rule-based model and real-time inventory data from a POS database.

Abstract: A quick connect multi-hose connector includes a first carrier assembly characterized by a male housing which carries a plurality of quick connects that are trapped thereon and which are preferably free to rotate with respect thereto, and further includes a second carrier assembly characterized by a female housing which integrally carries a plurality of male configured connectors. The male housing is couplably matable with respect to female housing, wherein the male and female housings have an asymmetrical feature which allows mating to occur only in one predetermined relative orientation therebetween. A coupling feature holds the male and female housings in the mated state until a user elects to release the coupling feature.