A level of trust is determined based on a combination of scores for one or more successful authentications. Scores indicate relative degrees of reliability for authentications, so that differing authentication methods may correspond to different scores. The determined level of trust can then be used to allow or deny access to a resource, and can be used to specify the type of access that is allowed, if applicable.

A consumable order assistance system is provided for computer peripheral devices. The system includes a personal computer, at least one computer peripheral device, a communication link, and a consumable order assistance computer program. The personal computer has a web browser and a messaging system. The at least one computer peripheral device has a messaging system. The communication link signal couples the personal computer with a provider of a consumable for the computer peripheral device via...

A sensor is applied to the wall of a container or is integrated into the wall. An alternating voltage is applied to the sensor in order to measure the level of the contents of the container, the capacitance or the electrical field produced being a measure for the fill level.

A device for measuring fill levels, in particular liquid fill levels, is provided, which device has a capacitive sensor and, connected to the sensor, a unit for analyzing a measuring signal from the sensor. The device for measuring fill levels may be manufactured cost-effectively and enables highly accurate measurements. The sensor has at least two base components including finger-shaped electrodes projecting therefrom. The electrodes are situated offset from one another, and the base components...

A method of determining intracellular levels of water-soluble and fat-soluble antioxidants. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell lysates are prepared from an individual and analyzed by HPLC, either directly or after extraction with organic solvents to extract fat-soluble antioxidants. The levels of antioxidants are compared to normal levels as an indication of the overall oxidative health of the individual.

Estimating toner levels. A method embodiment includes maintaining a running pulse width count, sensing a toner level, and comparing the running pulse width count with an expected pulse width count to estimate a toner level. If the estimated toner level deviates from the sensed toner level, the running pulse width count and the sensed toner level are used to estimate the remaining toner level.

A circuit for providing programmable voltage output levels in a logic device includes a pull-up device for driving an output pad with either a first voltage output level or a second voltage output level. A charge pump generates a pumped voltage. A first clamp regulator, coupled to the charge pump and the pull-up device, receives a first reference signal. The first clamp regulator, in response to the first reference signal, generates a first voltage from which the first voltage output level is de...

In accordance with the present invention, there are provided methods to modulate plant lignification. For example, the level of the enzyme phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), a key enzyme in the production of lignin precursors, can be increased or decreased, as desired, to increase or decrease lignification levels. Alternatively, the level of lignin precursors in the plant can be modulated either by enhancing the plant's ability to produce such precursors, or by causing the compounds which are re...

A high/low and low/high analogue level converter circuit for integrated circuits in which a high/low converter circuit comprises, supplied at a first voltage value, a converter module which receives a logic input signal of analogue level adapted to this first voltage value and delivers a logic signal inverted and replicated with analogue level adapted to this first voltage value, and, supplied at a second voltage value, a differential converter module which from inverted and replicated logic sig...

A thermal liquid level measuring system including a heat sensor with a sheathed heating resistor and a measuring resistor. Power is supplied to the heating resistor in a series of pulses. The measuring resistor is connected to two filters which extract the a.c. and d.c. components from the measuring signal. A temperature measuring device determines the difference in temperature of the liquid and the gas above the liquid. A computer receives signals from the filters and the temperature measuring ...