42results about How to "Effectively compete" patented technology

The invention provides transgenic plants and transformed host cells which express modified cry 3B genes with enhanced toxicity to Coleopteran insects. Also disclosed are methods of making and using these transgenic plants, methods of making recombinant host cells expressing these delta -endotoxins, and methods of killing insects such as Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata), southern corn rootworm (Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi Barber) and western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte.

A method and device for gaming, in which a primary game is played toward a winning outcome, and in which a possible bonus game is triggered by a particular outcome or outcomes on the primary game. The bonus game differs from the primary game. These devices may utilize "progressive" awards, allowing players to compete against each other for larger awards. Additionally, multiple levels of progressive awards may be offered, with each level based on the amount of the initial wager.

A microstructure-based polarizer is described. The device acts as an electromagnetic wave filter in the optical region of the spectrum, filtering multiple wavelength bands and polarization states. The apparatus comprises a substrate having a surface relief structure containing dielectric bodies with physical dimensions smaller than the wavelength of the filtered electromagnetic waves, such structures repeated in an array covering at least a portion of the surface of the substrate. The disclosed structure is particularly useful as a reflective polarizer in a liquid crystal display, or as polarizing color filter elements at each pixel in a display. Other applications such as polarization encoded security labels, polarized room lighting, and color filter arrays for electronic imaging systems are made practical by the device.

Systems and methods for performing financial transfers. In some instances, the methods include providing a staged transaction system that includes at least two stages. Quotes are accessed for the first and for the second stage of the transaction. One quote associated with a stage of the transaction is selected and used to consummate the financial transfer. Other methods include marketing financial transfer transactions. Such marketing can include providing a flexible rating mechanism; monitoring a financial transaction market; and fixing a rate based at least in part on monitoring the financial transaction market where the flexible rating mechanism provides access to the fixed rate.

The present invention provides the inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase IV based upon or including proline or similar moieties. The inhibitors are useful for treating various disorders, including those of the central nervous system and the prostate. Many of the inhibitors can be reversible, and can cross the blood-brain barrier. Methods of making and using the inhibitors and treatment methods also are provided.

It is known to encapsulate various materials in polyurea microcapsules, but obtaining satisfactory microcapsules incorporating alcoholic materials has proven difficult. A process has now been found where polyurea microcapsules are formed by interfacial polymerization between an aqueous phase and a water-immiscible phase, and properties, particularly the solubility parameters, of the water immiscible phase are closely matched to corresponding properties of the polyurea. Microcapsules prepared by this process have improved stability, mechanical strength and controlled release properties.

Signals in a multi-channel, impaired communication system are post-processed at the receiver. A triangular matrix Decision Feedback Demodulator (DFD) at the receiver extracts channels without requiring delivery of receiver parameters to the transmitter. Multi-Input Multi-Output (MIMO) processing matrices and DFD parameters are computed by first applying matrix transformations to diagonalize the noise covariance matrix of the multiple channels received at the receiver. QR decompositions (i.e., decompositions into orthogonal and triangular matrices) are then applied to the main channels to obtain triangular channel matrices. The noise-diagonalizing transformations and QR decompositions are then combined to form the MIMO postprocessing matrices and DFD parameters. MIMO postprocessing matrices and DFD parameters are computed from training data and then adapted during live data transmission.

A chair construction having a molded plastic shell that is interconnected with a tubular supporting structure in a manner that simplifies the manufacture of the chair and at the same time produces a durable construction that can withstand continuous, normal classroom type use. The supporting structure includes specially formed rear legs, the upper portions of which are interconnected with the back support of the molded plastic shell using a specially designed tube end connector mechanism. More particularly, the molded plastic shell includes integrally molded connector tabs to which the rear legs of the supporting frame of the chair are connected by means of the connector mechanism.

A system, method, and article of manufacture are provided for pricing a cryptographic service on a network utilizing one or more cryptoservers. A request for a cryptographic service is received from a user utilizing a network. The request is received by a cryptographic service provider. A contract is generated based on a variable pricing scheme in response to the request. The contract is sent from the cryptographic service provider to the user utilizing the network. A method is also provided for auditing a security provision on a network utilizing a cryptoserver. A cryptographic key is obtained such as by obtaining it from a trusted source or generating the key. A plurality of users are allowed to request that a cryptoserver use the cryptographic key to sign a message in violation of a security provision. It is determined whether the cryptoserver signed the message in response to the request. An indication of failed security integrity is provided upon determining that the cryptographic server has signed the message.

A turf care system and method uses simultaneously fired pulses of high-pressure liquid jets of the mixture shot toward the ground. The liquid is mixed with dry grass seed shortly before being delivered to a high-pressure liquid/seed pumping system, which uses an accumulator and sequencing valve to produce at regular repetitive intervals pulses of the liquid/seed mixture under high pressure. The pulses are delivered to an elongated hydraulic manifold having multiple nozzles pointed downwardly, which are spaced from one another and the ground by predetermined distances. The momentum of the high-pressure jet of liquid/seed mixture issuing from each nozzle cuts through overlying vegetation to deposit the seeds into the crown of the soil at predetermined desired depth. Spray patterns are determined by nozzle orifice shape, and are preferably selected to provide a shallow knife slit-like opening or trench in the crown of the turf.

Many metal collators have polar or charged functional groups, which render them difficult to transport across a cell membrane. Polyimide-metal collator conjugates of the invention are compounds comprising a first moiety which is a metal collator and a second moiety which is a polyimide, where the polyimide moiety includes three or more nitrogen atoms which are capable of being positively charged at physiological pH. A sperms-L1 conjugate has been shown to accumulate in L1210 cells several hundred fold more than the unconjugated L1 chelator.

System and a method for recording a personal greeting associated with a pre-paid telephone calling card. The system and method include and involve a data storage system for storing data corresponding to a pre-paid telephone calling card and a personal greeting. Also included and involved is a pre-paid telephone calling card processing system that is coupled to the data storage system and which is configured to receive a request to record the personal greeting during a setup call over a telephone network and to cause the personal greeting to be recorded for subsequent playback. The pre-paid telephone calling card processing system is also configured to receive a request to make an outbound telephone call in relation to the pre-paid telephone calling card during an access call over the telephone network and to cause the personal greeting to be played back automatically during the access call.

An on-line system for creating an open market for matching buyers and sellers of brand name products. The system enables buyers to achieve the maximum value in the purchased product by engaging in an open ended on-line reverse auction and a negotiation process with multiple sellers of the specified product. The system enables sellers to generate sales leads and engage in the open ended on-line reverse auction bidding and the negotiation process with buyers.

Provided are computer-based systems, software, and computer-implemented methods for providing a marketplace for e-procurement that leverages asymmetric market forces to the benefit of an advantaged market participant. Such a marketplace additionally, creates a synergistic effect by offering a wide range of procurement methods.

A method and apparatus for playing a multi-hand card game is disclosed. The game allows the simultaneous play of multiple card hands that are created from a first card hand. Each subsequent card hand includes cards whose rank is a function of the rank of cards in the immediately preceding card hand (or the first card hand). The generation of the subsequent card hands may be based on all cards in the first card hand, or may be restrictively applied only to the hold cards from the first card hand. The hold cards may include wild cards, which generate additional wild cards for subsequent hands that are a function of the rank of the wild cards in the first card hand. The card game may also make an award for a subsequent card hand that is the greater of an award for a second winning combination in the subsequent hand or the award for a first winning combination in a preceding card hand.

A system and method of optimizing allocation of services and pricing for those services is described for group transactions having at least three distinct entities. The entities can include a retailer, a plurality of vendors in need of the services and a plurality of service providers who provide the services. The system and method include creating an allocation of services to be performed at the retailer by service providers on behalf of vendors, and a price schedule for the designated for services, and placing the allocation of the services up for commitment by the vendors in discrete increments. Final pricing is determined for the discrete increments of time, services or other discrete measure designated for services based on the amount of time committed to by the plurality of retailers, and schedules the services providers to provide the services on behalf of the vendors at the retailer.

A system for producing petroleum products from oil shale includes one or plural kiln lines made up of plural series-connected, indirect-fired, inclined rotary kilns. Plural kiln lines are operated for parallel processing. Oil shale is advanced through kilns in succession and exhausted from each kiln line substantially free of hydrocarbons. Successive kilns along the advancement of oil shale are maintained at successively higher temperatures. A fuel distinct from hydrocarbons in oil shale, such as syngas from a gasifier or hydrogen gas from a separator, drives pyrolysis to extract hydrocarbons. A refining unit located proximate to the kiln lines upgrades extracted hydrocarbons into petroleum products and separates the petroleum products by criteria. A heat extraction unit recovers heat from exhausted oil shale for reuse in kilns. A method involves drying oil shale followed by heating dry oil shale in successively hotter pyrolysis environments.

An on-line system for creating an open market for matching buyers and sellers of commodity and/or brand name products. The system enables buyers to achieve the maximum value in the purchased product by engaging in open ended on-line reverse auction and negotiation process with multiple sellers of the specified product. The system enables sellers to generate sales leads and engage in open ended on-line reverse auction bidding and negotiation process with buyers.

Methods for treating carpal tunnel syndrome and tarsal tunnel syndrome in a subject involve providing an effective amount of an anti-cytokine agent at or near inflammation in the carpal or tarsal tunnel. Anti-cytokine agents, such as, TNF-a inhibitors, NF-κB inhibitors, IL-1 inhibitors, IL-6 inhibitors, IL-8 inhibitors, IL-12 inhibitors, IL-15 inhibitors, IL-10, Interferon-gamma (IFN-?) act to prevent further inflammation initiated by cytokine factors. One embodiment includes, adding with the anti-cytokine agent one or more of an antibiotic or analgesic. Delivery of the anti-cytokine agent may be provided to the inflamed tissue of the carpal or tarsal tunnel by injection, implantation, or a transdermal patch. These agents, individually or in combination, directly address the underlying inflammation that causes the discomfort, pain, and restricted movement associated with carpal and tarsal tunnel syndrome.