Abstract: A modular soilless garden system for supporting a plant root cultivation medium (such as a substratum mat) is described. The system includes a platform with a subsurface temperature regulation network. The network facilitates passage of a gas or a liquid to regulate the temperature of the plant roots hosted in the cultivation medium. A plurality of foundations connect end to end to form the platform. Two circulation manifolds connect to the terminal ends of the platform to interconnect the distinct subsurface fluid passages.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing write amplification while maintaining a desired level of sequential read and write performance is disclosed. A controller in a multi-bank flash storage device may receive host data for writing to the plurality of flash memory banks. The controller may organize the received data in multi-page logical groups greater than a physical page and less than a physical block and interleave writes of the host data to the memory banks with that striping factor. A buffer RAM is associated with each bank of the multi-bank memory where the buffer RAM is sized as equal to or greater than the size of the multi-page logical group.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing the need to check both a secondary address table and a primary address table for logical to physical translation tasks is disclosed. The method may include generating a fast translation indicator, such as a logical group bitmap, indicating whether there is an entry in the secondary address table that contains desired information pertaining to a particular logical address. Upon a host request relating to the particular logical address, the storage device may check the bitmap to determine if retrieval and parsing of the secondary table is necessary. The system may include a storage device having RAM cache storage, flash storage and a controller configured to generate and maintain at least one fast translation indicator to reduce the need to check both secondary and primary address tables during logical to physical address translation operations of the storage device.

Abstract: A method and system for cache management in a storage device is disclosed. A portion of unused memory in the storage device is used for temporary data cache so that two levels of cache may be used (such as a permanent data cache and a temporary data cache). The storage device may manage the temporary data cache in order to maintain clean entries in the temporary data cache. In this way, the storage area associated with the temporary data cache may be immediately reclaimed and retasked for a different purpose without the need for extraneous copy operations.

Abstract: A method and system for facilitating online payments are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a payment agreement is established at a payment service provider that defines terms of a payment relationship between a merchant and a user. The establishing of the payment agreement includes linking the payment agreement with a payment account of the merchant or user stored at the payment service provider. After establishing the payment agreement, a payment request associated with a transaction is received, whereby the payment request includes a unique identifier to identify the payment agreement stored at the payment service provider. Based on a verification that the payment request complies with terms of the payment agreement, the payment request is processed.

Abstract: A method and system for facilitating merchant-initiated online payments are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a payment service provider's server receives a user's request, via a merchant's server, to establish a merchant-initiated payment relationship or agreement. Accordingly, the payment service provider presents the user with options to customize the terms of the merchant-initiated payment agreement. After the agreement has been established and the terms customized, the merchant server communicates a merchant-initiated payment request to the pavement service provider for a transaction entered into with the user. The payment service provider's server processes the payment request after verifying that processing the payment does not exceed the user-customized terms of the agreement.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of altering gene expression of embryos to provide compositions and methods for efficient generation of transgenic animals. In particular, the present invention provides compositions and methods for generating germline transgenic animals by direct injection of nucleic acid molecules into animals.

Abstract: A method and system pre-emptively perform garbage collection operations of a forced amount on update blocks in a memory device. The amount of garbage collection needed by a certain data write is monitored and adjusted to match the forced amount if necessary. Update blocks may be selected on the basis of their recent usage or the amount of garbage collection required. Another method and system may store control information about update blocks in a temporary storage area so that a greater number of update blocks are utilized. The sequential write performance measured by the Speed Class test may be optimized by using this method and system.

Abstract: A system and method for clearing data from a cache in a storage device is disclosed. The method may include analyzing the cache for the least recently fragmented logical group, and evicting the entries from the least recently fragmented logical group. Or, the method may also include analyzing compaction history and selecting entries for eviction based on the analysis of the compaction history. The method may also include scheduling of different eviction mechanisms during various operations of the storage device. The system may include a cache storage, a main storage and a controller configured to evict entries associated with a least recently fragmented logical group, configured to evict entries based on analysis of compaction history, or configured to schedule different eviction mechanisms during various operations of the storage device.

Abstract: A method, system and program are provided for development of an adaptive computing integrated circuit and corresponding configuration information, in which the configuration information provides an operating mode to the adaptive computing integrated circuit. The exemplary system includes a scheduler, a memory, and a compiler. The scheduler is capable of scheduling a selected algorithm with a plurality of adaptive computing descriptive objects to produce a scheduled algorithm and a selected adaptive computing circuit version. The memory is utilized to store the plurality of adaptive computing descriptive objects and a plurality of adaptive computing circuit versions generated during the scheduling process. The selected adaptive computing circuit version is converted into a hardware description language, for fabrication into the adaptive computing integrated circuit.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of altering gene expression of embryos to provide compositions and methods for efficient generation of transgenic animals. In particular, the present invention provides compositions and methods for generating germ-line transgenic animals by direct injection of nucleic acid molecules into animals.

Abstract: A power transmission belt having a main belt body portion of elastomeric material, a tensile reinforcement such as carbon fiber cord, disposed in said body portion, and a sheave contact portion integral with said main body portion. The elastomeric material includes the reaction product of a polyisocyanate prepolymer composition and a chain extender. The polyisocyanate prepolymer composition is prepared by reacting a diisocyanate and a polyol substantially free of moieties oxidative at less than about 150° C. and at least one triol crosslinker selected from the same group of polyols. Either before or after reacting the prepolymer, a plasticizer selected from the group consisting of alkyl-ether di-alkylesters such as polyethylene glycol di-alkylester is added thereto. The chain extender is an aromatic symmetric primary or secondary diamine chain extenders.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of altering gene expression of embryos to provide compositions and methods for efficient generation of transgenic animals. In particular, the present invention provides compositions and methods for generating germ-line transgenic animals by direct injection of nucleic acid molecules into animals.

Abstract: A dynamic inventory management system and method for the identification of available inventory on a network of media devices and the optimal scheduling of campaigns, treatments, and content items on the available inventory. To optimize performance of the system, the dynamic inventory management system receives input data from a variety of sources. For example, the dynamic inventory management system receives audience metrics and campaign performance data from analytics systems, event and trigger data from event and trigger systems, and network, content, and campaign metadata from network management systems. The data received from these sources, when used in conjunction with additional rules and parameters that are received from system users, allows the dynamic inventory management system to allocate marketing campaigns, treatments, and content items to available inventory in a manner that is advantageous to both advertisers and to the network operator.

Abstract: A power transmission belt having a main belt body portion of elastomeric material, a tensile reinforcement such as carbon fiber cord, disposed in said body portion, and a sheave contact portion integral with said main body portion. The elastomeric material includes the reaction product of a polyisocyanate prepolymer composition and a chain extender. The polyisocyanate prepolymer composition is prepared by reacting a diisocyanate and a polyol substantially free of moieties oxidative at less than about 150° C. and at least one triol crosslinker selected from the same group of polyols. Either before or after reacting the prepolymer, a plasticizer selected from the group consisting of alkyl-ether di-alkylesters such as polyethylene glycol di-alkylester is added thereto. The chain extender is an aromatic symmetric primary or secondary diamine chain extenders.

Abstract: A method, system and program are provided for development of an adaptive computing integrated circuit and corresponding configuration information, in which the configuration information provides an operating mode to the adaptive computing integrated circuit. The exemplary system includes a scheduler, a memory, and a compiler. The scheduler is capable of scheduling a selected algorithm with a plurality of adaptive computing descriptive objects to produce a scheduled algorithm and a selected adaptive computing circuit version. The memory is utilized to store the plurality of adaptive computing descriptive objects and a plurality of adaptive computing circuit versions generated during the scheduling process. The selected adaptive computing circuit version is converted into a hardware description language, for fabrication into the adaptive computing integrated circuit.

Abstract: A system and method to value media inventory for the display of marketing campaigns on a network of media devices. The system measures past marketing campaign performance and efficiency and assigns a campaign impact value to the advertising opportunity achieved by the execution of past campaigns. Summaries of the campaign impact of past campaigns are stored in a benchmarking archive. The system uses the data contained in the benchmarking archive in order to calculate the value of the network's media inventory, namely the capacity or availability of the network of media devices to play or display future campaigns. The value of the media inventory is used to appropriately assign media inventory to new campaigns that are to be shown on the network of media devices.

Abstract: Computational and computer-implemented methodological techniques are described for analyzing and presenting data on the audience response to audio and/or visual media advertising campaigns in public places. In various embodiments, these techniques employ a mechanism that assesses audience behavior to produce audience behavior data and audience exposure to produce audience exposure data, a network of display devices that records media events as media event data in a playlog, and a component that assembles the audience behavior data, audience exposure data, and media event data to produce data identifying media events that could have impacted audience behavior and data assessing campaign effectiveness as a measure of audience exposure.

Abstract: A method, system and program are provided for development of an adaptive computing integrated circuit and corresponding configuration information, in which the configuration information provides an operating mode to the adaptive computing integrated circuit. The exemplary system includes a scheduler, a memory, and a compiler. The scheduler is capable of scheduling a selected algorithm with a plurality of adaptive computing descriptive objects to produce a scheduled algorithm and a selected adaptive computing circuit version. The memory is utilized to store the plurality of adaptive computing descriptive objects and a plurality of adaptive computing circuit versions generated during the scheduling process. The selected adaptive computing circuit version is converted into a hardware description language, for fabrication into the adaptive computing integrated circuit.

Abstract: A flexible shaft coupling device including a coupling sleeve comprising a sleeve shaped body having a central annular portion and a coupling receiving portion at each of two opposing sleeve ends, and at least one end piece coupled to such sleeve. The sleeve's coupling receiving portions include axially extending teeth on their inner surfaces. The flexible shaft coupling sleeve is formed of a polyurethane elastomer composition.