A method, terminal and program for processing a speech signal, in which the speech signal is received over a network from a transmitting device, wherein the frequency components in the received speech signal are limited to a predetermined frequency range and the received speech signal has been filtered using a transmitter frequency response over the predetermined frequency range. The received speech signal is decoded. The decoded speech signal is filtered using a receiver frequency response which is complementary to the transmitter frequency response over the predetermined frequency range to thereby reduce distortion in the speech signal introduced over the predetermined frequency range by using said transmitter frequency response.

In conventional communication systems, telephonic devices are designed to receive speech signals (as acoustic signals) from a user and convert the speech signals to digital signals before encoding the speech signals in a speech encoder for transmission over the communication system. The telephonic devices are designed to yield a frequency response of the transfer function representing all stages from the acoustic signal to the digital signal that matches the characteristics of the sending Intermediate Reference System (IRS) specified in ITU-T P.48 standard, "Specification for an Intermediate Reference System", ITU-T Recommendation P.48, 1988. The frequency characteristics of the Intermediate Reference System according to ITU-T P.48 are shown in FIG. 1.
The frequency characteristics of the IRS provide an emphasis to the speech frequency band that is considered most important for speech intelligibility. That is, more weight is given to the second formant frequencies rather than to the first formant frequencies, which is known to increase intelligibility of clipped speech, as discussed in I. B Thomas, "The Influence of First and Second Formants on the Intelligibility of Clipped Speech," Journal of Audio Engineering Society, Vol. 16, No. 2, 1968. It can be seen in FIG. 1 that the speech signal is a narrowband signal with frequencies limited to the range 0 to 4 kHz. Frequency components of the speech signal below 2 kHz and above 3.4 kHz are attenuated by the frequency response of the IRS, whilst a gain is applied to frequency components of the speech signal between 2 kHz and 3.4 kHz by the frequency response of the IRS. It can also be seen that frequency components below 300 Hz are strongly attenuated.
By concentrating the energy of a narrowband signal into the second formant frequencies the intelligibility of the narrowband signal is improved, allowing improved intelligibility of a speech signal at a receiver of a call without increasing the bandwidth requirements.
Thus, conventional communication systems, for example the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) based on fixed line and/or mobile networks, are designed to have average frequency responses as defined in the IRS specification, that emphasize the second formant frequencies. However, the increase in intelligibility of the speech signals comes at the expense of speech naturalness. A speech signal is distorted by applying the frequency response shown in FIG. 1 such that applying the frequency response alters the perception of the speech signal, i.e. it does not sound completely natural (or unaltered). The naturalness of the speech is affected because different levels of attenuation (or amplification) are applied to different frequency components of the speech signal (i.e. the frequency response shown in FIG. 1 is not flat).
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,132 by Bowker et al there is described a method of enhancing a speech signal transmitted between telephone stations, wherein the enhancement is performed at some point along the connection between the transmitting and receiving telephone stations, such that the speech signal is enhanced before arriving at the receiving telephone station. The frequency range 100 to 300 Hz is amplified relative to the remainder of the telephone passband before supplying the speech signals to the receiving telephone station.
In the paper by Y. Qian and p. Kabal "Combining Equalization and Estimation for Bandwidth Extension of Narrowband Speech", in Proc. IEEE Int. Conf. Accoust. Speech Sign. Process., 2004, pp. 713-716 there is disclosed the use of a fixed equalizer to filter received speech signals prior to applying a system of Artificial Bandwidth Extension (ABE). The equalization is employed to expand the apparent bandwidth of the narrowband speech signal. Equalization is applied both at low frequencies as well as at high frequencies. Their equalizer is designed specifically for the ITU-G.712 specification (G.712 "transmission performance characteristics of pulse code modulation channels", ITU-T Recommendation G.712, November 1996) and provides a 10 dB gain in the frequency range 3.8 to 4 kHz and a 10 dB gain at 100 Hz. Between 100 and 3800 Hz the frequency response of the equalizer is essentially flat.
The two prior art systems described above apply fixed gains to particular sections of the speech signal, such as the low frequency components (e.g. 100-300 Hz) and/or the high frequency components (e.g. 3.8-4 kHz). This results in a different level of attenuation (or amplification) for different frequency components of the speech signal. Although the naturalness of the speech signal can be improved to a certain degree by the prior art systems described above, the speech signals will not sound completely natural when using one of the prior art systems described above.
It is an aim of embodiments of the present invention to improve the naturalness of the speech signal.

Speech signal processing to improve naturalness


A method of fabricating a gate of a fin type transistor includes forming hard masks to define active regions of a substrate. A shallow trench isolation method is performed to form a first device separation layer, and then an etch-back process is performed such that the active regions protrude. Sidewall protection layers are formed on sidewalls of the active region, and a second device separation layer is formed thereon, thereby obtaining a device isolation region. The sidewall protection layers include an insulation material with an etch selectivity with respect to an insulation material composing the device isolation region. The device isolation region is selectively etched to form recesses for a fin type active region. Dry etching and wet etching are performed on the silicon nitride to remove the hard masks and the sidewall protection layers, respectively. Gates are formed to fill the recesses.

1. Field of the Invention
This disclosure relates to manufacturing techniques for semiconductor devices, and more particularly, to a method of fabricating a gate of a fin type transistor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Semiconductor devices are becoming more highly integrated and can be operated at lower power and at higher speed. Particularly, methods have been developed to prevent a short channel effect and improve device reliability. A fin type transistor such as FinFET (Fin Field Effect Transistor) formed using such a method has been introduced to enhance a current characteristic.
A fin type transistor includes a fin type active region. Both sidewalls of the fin type active region can be used as channels, and thus, the current flowing into the channels can be substantially increased.
One exemplary method used to expose the sidewalls of the fin type active region is a FinFET fabrication method implemented with a damascene process. In more detail, device isolation regions defining active regions are formed and then portions of the device isolation regions are recessed to expose the sidewalls of the active regions.
However, when the recesses that expose the sidewalls of the active regions are formed in the device isolation regions, various etching and cleaning processes are generally required. The various etching and cleaning processes can include etching and cleaning processes performed with respect to silicon oxide. Hence, it is often very difficult to prevent etch damage to the silicon oxide layer in the device isolation regions, for example, which mainly includes a silicon oxide layer. As a result, it is also difficult to precisely control the widths of the recesses.
Gate lines are filled in the recesses formed in the device isolation regions so that gates are disposed on the sidewalls of the active regions. However, if the widths of the recesses are larger than the initially determined widths of the recesses, a bridge may be formed between the gate lines, resulting in defective device operation.
Accordingly, a method to be used to precisely control the widths of recesses and form the recesses exposing sidewalls of active regions defined by device isolation regions is needed. Since the device isolation regions mainly include a silicon oxide layer, a special development of a process and/or etch conditions is required to prevent undesirable etch loss and cleaning loss caused by the silicon oxide layer.
Embodiments of the invention address these and other disadvantages of the conventional art.

Method of fabricating gate of fin type transistor


A scalpel blade sheath which encloses and retains a scalpel blade therein. A scalpel handle is selectively inserted into the sheath whereby the scalpel blade is securely attached to the scalpel handle in preparation for cutting operations. The sheath is selectively slipped onto the scalpel handle to expose the blade for the cutting operation. The sheath is repositioned over the scalpel blade to protect the blade (and the user thereof) when the cutting operation is concluded. When the blade is to be removed from the scalpel handle after the cutting operation, the scalpel blade is retained within the sheath for safe and sanitary disposal of the blade and the sheath.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns medical-surgical instruments such as scalpels, in general, and a sheath for safely and securely enclosing a scalpel blade, in particular.
2. Prior Art
Although surgical scalpels have been in use for centuries, there has been little in the way of advancement of the basic design thereof. In recent years, the commercially-important surgical scalpels have been those having disposable blade portions. In this type of scalpel, the blade component is detachable from the handle component and disposed of by deposit in a special container, for example, which may thereafter be handled without hazard. It will be appreciated, however, that such disposable surgical scalpel blades still present a hazard to the individual who must detach and transfer the blade component.
Demand by hospital administrators and liability insurance carriers for a disposable scalpel and/or scalpel blade has increased considerably in recent years because of the potential for transmission of serious diseases. The ultimate in desirability is a surgical scalpel blade which may be disposed of safely and securely.
Attempts to satisfy the need have been made. For example, some surgical knives comprise a hollow handle component having a slidably extensible blade therein. In effect, the latter instruments employ the handle component as a sheath for the blade component when not in use. Typically, such sheathable blade assemblies are not contemplated for disposal after a single use. Furthermore, such cutting instruments do not provide a positive means for preventing the unsheathing of the blade portion by a careless handler when disposal of the blade is desired.


We present a “directory extension” (hereinafter “DX”) to aid in prefetching between proximate levels in a cache hierarchy. The DX may maintain (1) a list of pages which contains recently ejected lines from a given level in the cache hierarchy, and (2) for each page in this list, the identity of a set of ejected lines, provided these lines are prefetchable from, for example, the next level of the cache hierarchy. Given a cache fault to a line within a page in this list, other lines from this page may then be prefetched without the substantial overhead to directory lookup which would otherwise be required.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to computer storage management, and, more particularly, to victim prefetching in a cache hierarchy.
2. Description of the Related Art
Memory latency in modern computers is not decreasing at a rate commensurate with increasing processor speeds. This results in the computing device idly waiting for the system to fetch processes from the memory, thereby not fully taking advantage of the faster processor speeds.
Approaches to mitigating memory latency include multithreading and prefetching. The term "multithreading" refers to the ability of a processor to execute two programs almost simultaneously. This permits the processing of one program or "thread" while the other is waiting for data to be fetched. The term "prefetching," as used herein, traditionally refers to retrieving data expected to be used in the future. Each results in increased complexity, as well as increased off-chip traffic. In the case of multithreading, the increased traffic is due to decreased per thread cache capacity, yielding higher miss rates. Prefetching increases traffic by fetching data which is not referenced before castout. As used herein, the term "castout" refers to the process by which data is removed from the cache to make room for data that is fetched.
A number of approaches to prefetching are described in the prior art and/or are implemented in computer systems. These generally include the fetching of data based on currently observed access behavior such as strides (where accesses are to a series of addresses separated by a fixed increment), or via previously recorded access patterns, or by direct software instructions. Each of these approaches have some advantages. However, they either require increased program complexity (for software instructions), have problems dealing with nonregular access patterns (in the case of, for example, stride-based prefetching), or unnecessary complexity (in the case of, for example, recorded access patterns). Further, these earlier approaches do not utilize information readily available to the processor, namely the identity of recently discarded cache lines coupled with their status and location in the storage hierarchy.

International Business Machines Corporation


A method that enables the recipient to receive notification of the letter mail, flats and/or packages (mail) that the recipient is going to receive prior to the delivery of the mail. The recipient is then able to inform a post or courier e.g., Federal Express®, Airborne®, United Parcel Service®, DHL®, etc. of the manner in which the recipient would like the mail delivered. The post and courier hereinafter will be referred to as “carrier”. For instance, the recipient may want the mail physically delivered to their house faster or slower, or the mail physically redirected to the recipient's temporary address, or physically delivered to the recipient's agent, or physically delivered to the recipient's attorney, or physically returned to the mailer, or have the carrier open the physical mail and have the post e-mail or fax the contents of the envelope to the recipient and/or parties designated by the recipient.

People have directly transmitted information from one person to another. Information was first transmitted by spoken words and later by written words. Writings enabled people to transmit information by messengers from a location in which the sender of the writing was present to another location where the receiver was present. In time, postal services were developed in which a person would deliver letters to the post office in one city and an agent of the post office would deliver that letter to a post office in another city, where the letter mail would be picked up by the person to whom the letter was sent.
Ever since the numeric codification of streets and buildings received general acceptance, an individual's name and household postal address have been linked. The sender of a letter or package would deliver a letter or package to the post that had the correct recipient postal address, and the post would deliver the letter or package to the numeric street address of the recipient of the letter or package. A correct recipient postal address for the delivery of the letter or package to the recipient included: the name of the recipient; the street address of the recipient; the city and state of the recipient; and the zip code of the recipient. Thus, the correct recipient postal address is usually the actual location of the recipient.
Typically, it takes the post three to five days to deliver letters and/or packages to a recipient. Sometimes, recipients of letters and packages like to know what letters and packages they are going to receive before they receive them. For instance, if someone is going on a trip, they may want to receive their bills, e.g., credit card, electric, gas, oil, hospital, doctor, etc. before they leave on the trip so that they may pay the bills before a finance charge for late payment of the bill is applied to their account. Someone may also want to receive a package before they go on a trip so that they may take the contents of the package on the trip. The recipient may also want to delay delivery of a particular letter or package until they return from their trip. The reason for the foregoing may be that the recipient does not want to retrieve the letter or package at the post office or have the letter or package waiting at a vacant house.


An autoperfusion dilatation catheter useful in angioplasty comprises a conventional catheter shaft and an inflatable balloon. The catheter is designed such that the balloon, when inflated, has an outer surface relief-structure whereby when this outer surface is fully inflated and exerts pressure on the inner surface of a blood vessel, blood continues to flow between the outer surface of the balloon and the blood vessel surface. Preferably, the relief structure is a channel formed in the outer surface of the balloon by the pressure of a band attached to the catheter and which presses against the outer surface of the balloon.

This invention relates to a dilatation balloon catheter, useful for medical procedures such as angioplasty, which permits fluid flow, e.g., perfusion (blood flow), around the outer peripheral surfaces of the balloon when the latter is inflated and in contact with surrounding surfaces such as the inner lining of the walls or the atheromatous plaque of a blood vessel (artery or vein) such as a coronary artery, as well as to methods of making and using the same.
Dilatation balloon catheters are well known and used daily in medical practice for life-saving coronary angioplasty procedures wherein atheromatous plaque adhering to a blood vessel wall and blocking or restricting blood flow therein is compressed to reestablish and/or increase blood flow by dilating the lumen of the artery. Compression of the plaque is effected by inflation of the balloon while it is positioned in the blood vessel so that it is located adjacent to and surrounded by the plaque.
Depending on the location of the plaque and the size of the blood vessel, a pre-shaped and pre-dimensioned catheter having a pre-shaped and pre-dimensioned inflatable balloon adhered thereto (by fluid seals), is selected. The interior of the catheter typically possesses two lengthwise channels (lumen): one for fluid inflation of the generally tubular shaped balloon (e.g., to an inflated diameter of 1-7 mm, larger or smaller diameters being possible) with which it is in sealed communication, and the other for insertion of a guidewire running the full length of the catheter to assist in positioning it during a medical operation.
Many such catheters have been disclosed as well as details of construction, methods of preparation and methods of use. See, e.g., the disclosures of U.S. Pat. No. Reissue 33,166 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,169,263, 4,323,071, 4,411,055, 4,571,240, 4,573,470, 4,582,181, 4,597,755, 4,616,653, 4,619,263, 4,638,805, 4,641,654, 4,664,113, 4,692,200, 4,748,982, 4,771,776, 4,771,778, 4,775,371, 4,782,834, 4,790,315 and 4,793,350, all of whose entire disclosures are incorporated by reference herein.
One of these references addresses the problem of occlusion of blood flow during an angioplasty procedure. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,3I5. As noted therein (column 1), during an angioplasty procedure, blood flow is cut off during the period of time the balloon remains inflated. As a result, the myocardium becomes ischemic with potentially serious consequences and the patient experiences chest pain. Thus, inflation duration must necessarily be relatively short, e.g., typically less than 180 seconds, commonly less than 150 seconds. Longer inflation times would be very desirable since better plaque compression could be effected, thereby increasing the probability of a successful procedure. Moreover, higher risk patients (e.g., those for whom any duration of blood occlusion in the particular vessel involved is an especially dangerous event) for whom angioplasty is contraindicated could have access to this valuable procedure.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,315 attempts to solve the blood flow occlusion problem by providing a lumen or channel inside the length of the body of the catheter between the proximal and distal ends of the catheter shaft. A plurality of openings in the side wall of the catheter on the proximal and distal sides of the balloon provide blood flow past the balloon through this lumen. However, this design has siqnificant drawbaoks. For example, the blood flow provided is relatively small, e.g., only 60-70 ml/min., significantly less than normal flow (e.g., 100-120 ml/min. for coronary arteries). Moreover, the profile of this design (i.e., total cross-sectional diameter of the catheter shaft) is much larger than that of a normal catheter due to the need for a large lumen to accommodate the resultant blood flow volume. Such a high profile catheter itself represents a danger, e.g., even of occluding or seriously impeding blood flow, for many patients, significantly lessening the applicability of its limited advantages to both a wide cross-section of patients and to various complexities of obstructions. Moreover, even where it can be employed, this prior art catheter is bulky and makes it difficult to cross blockages and/or access lesions in distal vasculature.
Thus, there remains a need for an improved dilatation balloon catheter, e.g., which permits continued blood flow when the balloon is inflated in a blood vessel, has an optimally low profile, and enhances patient safety and availability of angioplasty and other balloon catheter-based procedures to a wider class of patients, inter alia.

Autoperfusion dilatation catheter having a bonded channel


A stowage system particularly for space applications comprises a flight bag (10), a backpack (66), a backpack adapter plate (96), and a pressurized stowage rack (104). The flight bag (10) is fabricated of a Kevlar/Nomex fabric, and its lid (18) includes an integral transparent panel (22) so that the contents of the bag may be readily identifiable without opening the bag. Beneath the lid (18) is a payload restraint net (24) which is removably attached to the interior liner of the bag to restrain small stowage items. The mesh comprising the net preferably includes one or more access slits (28) for accessing the interior of the case without removing the net and thereby risking loss of contents from the bag. The flight bag (10) also includes a plurality of hook and loop (VELCRO.RTM.) patches (30) about its periphery so that it may be collapsed upon itself for storage when not in use, and may additionally be rafted or trained to other flight bags if desired. The backpack (66) of the inventive stowage system comprises various configurations and can accommodate up to four flight bags or some combination of unique payload and/or foam. Web straps (72, 74, 76, 80, 82, 86), integral to the bag's structure, attach the bag and its contents to the backpack adapter plate (96) via quick release buckles (98, 100). A clear longitudinal panel (102) on the lid (68) allows quick identification of backpack and flight bag contents.

This invention relates generally to systems for storing items for travel, including clothing, bulk non-perishable food, and hard durable items, and more particularly to soft stowage systems for compactly and flexibly securing and retaining items in a space flight environment.
State of the art stowage systems for space vehicles typically include multiple metal stowage containers and on-board lockers or racks for receiving either the containers or individual items to be stowed. However, these current approaches to manned space logistics management are too costly in terms of analysis, configuration control, late versus early access, crew time required, and wear on equipment. Furthermore, the available upmass (launch weight capacity) is a constant, as is the pressurized volume available for stowage, for each existing and planned mated space vehicle, and any stowage system developed must operate within those fixed parameters. Also, upcoming manned spaceflights on space orbiters (like the U.S. space shuttle) or space stations are planned to be of longer duration and will thus require additional passive stowage capability for crew clothing, consumables, and items required to support science research.
Accordingly, what is needed is an improved stowage system which is lightweight, containerized, durable, convenient to transfer on-orbit, permits late access to load or remove items at the last minute, permits ready identification of the location of particular contents, and offers increased capacity over currently available systems.


An enhanced sensitivity laser vibrometer with increased output signal strength and more sensitive surface vibration detection, is provided by using a reflective mirror assembly to repeatedly bounce the sensing laser beam against the acoustic pressure-sensing diaphragm to magnify the acoustic incident pressure wave being detected. The enhancement in signal strength, in terms of power spectral density, is a function of the number of bounces squared and the detection of surface vibrations with a displacement of smaller than 4 picometers is demonstrated experimentally.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a laser vibrometer for the detection of acoustic signatures propagated through air and other media, and more particularly to such a system capable of enhanced resolution of such signatures.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Vibrometer technology involves the detection and analysis of pressure waves, such as acoustic waves or water waves, that might bear information regarding agitation sources of interest to the observer. Conventional microphones are capable of detecting such waves with varying degrees of accuracy and resolution satisfactory for general applications. All microphone-like devices and technologies possess a pressure-sensing interface, including but not limited to, a diaphragm that receives the incoming acoustic pressure waves and conform its physical motion to mimic that of the incident acoustic, i.e., pressure, waves. In conventional microphones, additional mechanical parts are in general connected to the diaphragm so as to convert the motion of the diaphragm into signals of electrical nature that allow further processing and applications. Such auxiliary mechanical parts might include an electrically conducting rod to induce alternating electrical currents that approximate the motion of the diaphragm, and hence the incoming pressure waves, or alternatively, to induce a capacitance which subsequently leads to a measurable electrical current. Unfortunately, such auxiliary mechanical parts add significant weight to the assembly, and alter/limit the resultant frequency response towards the lower end. Furthermore, such added weight also negatively impacts the sensitivity of the diaphragm assembly in detecting the incoming pressure waves, e.g., acoustic waves, due to the fact that such mechanical parts have innate inertia which can only be overcome by larger amplitude pressure waves, to move and generate detectable output signals.
A more modern alternative, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,554,836 and 5,883,715, involves use of laser vibrometers, i.e. optical microphone technology that does not require auxiliary mechanical components. Instead, a beam of light, such as a laser, is split into two parts, one which forms a reference beam and the second which forms a sensing beam which impacts the target surface, e.g., the pressure-sensing diaphragm, and is reflected therefrom, the sensing beam. The sensing beam is heterodyned with the reference beam to produce a phase modulated signal, an interference pattern. This interference pattern models the surface displacement of the target surface, is converted via, an optical interferometer, i.e., a Michelson interferometer, and photodetectors, i.e., photodiodes, to generate a usable, alternating electric current, which mimics the motion/vibration of the target surface, i.e., the pressure-sensing diaphragm.
A known refinement on the laser vibrometer involves using optical grating-like devices consisting of a structure of interdigitated fingers constructed with semiconductors using processes similar to MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) technology. Instead of using optical interferometers and photodiodes to determine the diaphragm movement, an optical beam is shone onto the semiconductor MEMS like structure while the back-diffracted light beam intensity is monitored. Movements of the interdigitated fingers cause the back-diffracted light beam intensity to exhibit similar temporal changes and thus by monitoring the diffracted light beam intensity, interpretation of the diaphragm movement can be obtained.
In some state-of-the-art optical microphones, an optical fiber probe is deployed with a pressure-sensing diaphragm attached to the tip thereof. The probe light is projected onto the sensing interface and the back-reflected light is collected by the optical fiber tip and sent to the optical interferometer for signal retrieval. In such approaches, the detection sensitivity is very limited due in part to the fact that the aperture of optical fiber is generally very limited, especially for the single-mode fiber that is needed for the said fiber-optic microphones to avoid the generation of higher order modes that would diminish the detected signal output. As a result, the probe light beam must be projected onto the pressure-sensing interface within a very tight angle from normal incidence. This means that the probe light beam can only interrogate the pressure-sensing interface once and hence no possibility of further boosting up the detected signal strength.
Frequently, the detection, resolution and analysis of pressure waves from very weak acoustic signals is required, such as detection of molecules emitted from certain explosives and detection of submerged submarines. In general, optical microphones suffer from limited sensitivity and scalability of output which limits their applicability to analysis of such weak signals. This limited sensitivity results from use of optical interferometers for the detection mechanism, wherein the wavelength of the light beam involved is used as a gauge to monitor the scale of movement of the pressure-sensing diaphragm. Because the optical light sources have a wavelength of approximately 1 micrometer, it becomes increasingly difficult to detect diaphragm movements in scales smaller than 1 nanometer (10−9 meter). Further, with weak signals and longer standoff distances, i.e., the distance between the source and sensing interface or diaphragm, it may become necessary to detect diaphragm movements in the order of 1 picometer (10−12 meter). In fact, for the above examples, involving very weak pressure waves, at distances in the tens of meters away from the diaphragm, it is necessary to detect vibrations of the diaphragm even less than 1 picometer (10−12 meter).

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army


Query integration across databases and file systems is disclosed. An example method may include streaming data managed by a first database file system for a query. The method may also include streaming data managed by a second database file system for the query. The method may also include joining the streaming data managed by the first database file system with the streaming data managed by the second database file system.

Databases are used to collect, access, and manage data. Databases are typically organized to support processing of the data. For example, databases are commonly used to implement reservation systems for airlines, car rentals, and hotel chains. Databases are also commonly used to maintain bank account and other financial and customer records, to name only a few non-limiting example uses of databases in various types of businesses.
A database management system (DBMS) may be implemented to define, create, query, and administer databases. Example DBMSs include, but are not limited to, the PostgreSQL system. Other commercial and proprietary DBMSs are also available. While different DBMSs can operate with different databases using standard interfaces (e.g., the SQL standard), the databases are generally not portable across different DBMSs. That is, one type of DBMS often cannot access data stored in a different database structure or format.


A GaN-based LED includes a substrate; an epitaxial layer over the substrate; a current spreading layer over a P-type layer; and a P electrode over the current spreading layer. The epitaxial layer includes the P-type layer, a light-emitting area, and an N-type layer. An annular reflecting layer and a metal reflecting layer are formed between the P electrode and the epitaxial layer. The geometric center vertically corresponds to the P electrode; the annular reflecting layer is formed between the current spreading layer and the P-type layer; the metal reflecting layer is formed between the current spreading layer and the P electrode; and a preset distance is arranged between the annular reflecting layer and the metal reflecting layer. The annular reflecting layer and the metal reflecting layer reduce light absorption of the P electrode and improve light extraction efficiency.

Existing blue and green LEDs adopt GaN-based III-V component semiconductor material. Most light is transmitted from the P-type layer due to small hole concentration of P-GaN layer of the GaN-based LED epitaxial wafer and thin P-type layer. P-type layer's inevitable absorption of light results in low LED chip external quantum efficiency and greatly decreases the LED light-emitting efficiency. Adoption of ITO layer as the current spreading layer can enhance the transmittance. However, the LED voltage is high and shortens the service life. In addition, under impressed voltage, the LED service life is shortened due to uneven current diffusion, which leads to large current density in some areas. In short, the existing GaN-based LED has relatively low external quantum efficiency (EQE) due to the non-uniform current distribution and the electrode's absorption of light reflected on it.
Therefore, many studies are made on improving LED's light-emitting efficiency, mainly concerning such technologies as pattern substrate technology, distributed current blocking layer (i.e., current blocking layer), distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) structure, transparent substrate, surface roughening, photonic crystal technology, etc.
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional LED structure, comprising a substrate 100, a bottom-up-laminated N-type layer 101, a light-emitting area 102, a P-type layer 103, a metal reflecting layer 104, a current spreading layer 105, a P electrode 106 and an N electrode 107 on the exposed surface of the N-type layer 101. The metal reflecting layer 104 (typically, Al or Ag material) reflects part of light emitted by the light-emitting layer and extracts light sideways, as shown in Light 1a. However, it may still be impossible or difficult for some light exit from the side or above, as shown in Light 1b, making the light emitted from light-emitting layer not efficiently extracted, resulting in loss of light and affecting the light-emitting efficiency of the chip.

Xiamen Sanan Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.


In a network system including a server apparatus, client apparatus, and database, when a registration request of catalog data of a catalog is received from the client apparatus, the catalog data is registered in the database as one file of the catalog. When a registration request of merchandise information to be associated with the catalog data is received from the client apparatus, the merchandise information is registered as one page of the catalog data. Hence, the merchandise information of the catalog can be associated with catalog data of each page.

Systems which register catalogs in a database and manage them have been proposed recently. For example, in patent reference 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-76924), collected catalogs are registered in a database. In accordance with search conditions, a desired catalog can be found and browsed from those registered in the database.
However, if a catalog about, e.g., tours in Kyushu is registered, a Fukuoka course, Kumamoto course, Nagasaki course, and the like are included in the catalog. In addition, schedules and optional information common to these courses are also often contained together. In patent reference 1, such a tour catalog is registered in the database as one catalog file. In browsing, each catalog is downloaded.
However, since a catalog file which is actually found and downloaded from the database contains even the data of courses unnecessary for the user, the file download takes a long time. In addition, since the unwanted data are contained, it is difficult for the user to find desired information after the download.
The efficiency becomes lower if course information desired by the user is contained in a plurality of catalog files.
Furthermore, a result obtained by narrowing a number of tour courses to desired courses cannot be saved on a predetermined server apparatus. For this reason, examination results in the past cannot be referred to later.

Document management method, network system, and information processing apparatus


A sample detection system including an anti-resonant waveguide, including a sample having a first index of refraction, a top layer and a substrate surrounding the sample, where the top layer has a second index of refraction, and the substrate has a third index of refraction. The second index of refraction, and the third index of refraction are both greater than the first index of refraction. A detection device of the system includes a low power light source used to direct light into the sample and generate an anti-resonant optical mode in the sample, and an analyzing system to detect the interaction of the light propagating in the sample.

In the last several years many different approaches for automated detection of biological materials have been proposed and developed. These commonly are biosensors and biochip readers which often use live organisms or biological molecules, such as antibodies, nucleic acids (e.g., DNA chips), or enzymes as biological recognition elements to specifically bind target analytes. The specific binding of the target can be monitored by a recognition signal.
One of the most sensitive detection techniques available today is based on fluorescence excitation of dye-labeled targets. Current detection devices mostly fall into one of two categories, the first employs a white light source (usually a high power arc lamp) with CCD detector, and the second using laser excitation with photomultiplier tube (PMT) light collection in combination with a scanning technique. To meet the detection demands, a fluorescent scanner usually has a sensitivity of detecting at least 2-5 fluorphores per μm2; a resolution of 10 μm (pixel size) or better; and has a dynamic range of 5 orders of magnitude. Moreover, it needs to perform scanning of one slide in reasonable amount of time, typically five minutes or less per fluorescence channel. Problems with systems employing a white light source include the need of expensive filters and the short lifetime of arc lamp, which can be costly; while the approach using lasers is not practical for multicolor exaction due to the high cost of multiple lasers. Both types of scanners are costly and large enough to take up a substantial portion of a workbench.
A common disadvantage of all fluorescence based reading is the relatively inefficient use of the excitation light, due to the limited interaction with the fluorescence molecules. This increases the demand on the excitation source as well as on the detection system because unused excitation light is transmitted, scattered or absorbed elsewhere, decreasing the operational efficiency of the system and increasing background noise.
In order to improve the interaction, fluorescence readers employing optical waveguides have been proposed. A general disadvantage of conventional waveguide approaches is that the substance itself (e.g., liquid, which contains the molecules of interest) are not used as an optical waveguide, since the refractive index is lower than the index of the surrounding material (e.g., glass polymer, PDMS). Therefore, conventional optical waveguides typically provide only a weak interaction via evanescent waves with the target molecules, which are specifically bound to the waveguide surface. Existing waveguides also do not efficiently maintain light in the waveguide due to enhanced light scattering if the layer bound to the surface is inhomogeneous.
Thus, due to the required sensitivity of detection, and the inefficiency in the fluorescence excitation of existing systems, high powered light sources are necessary in order to obtain a sufficient amount of emitted fluorescing light. Such high powered light sources take up large amounts of physical space, require large amounts of energy to operate, and have a comparatively short life span requiring removal, replacement, and oftentimes realignment of lamp.
It is to be understood that fluorescent microscopes, as well as other detectors which employ fluorescence concepts, have the same issues regarding effective illumination and light collection from a sample and therefore face the same challenges as discussed above.

Fluorescence reader based on anti-resonant waveguide excitation


Disclosed is a class of bridged phthalides and sulfinate esters which exhibit reversible thermochromism. At room temperature and in the presence of base, these compounds are substantially colorless but upon the application of heat they become colored, reverting to their original colorless or weakly colored state upon cooling. This colorless to colored, temperature-dependent cycle can be repeated many times. These compounds have utility as temperature sensors and as thermal pH indicators.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to novel chemical compounds, and more specifically, it relates to a new class of compounds which, in the presence of base, exhibit color upon the application of heat and a reversion to the original substantially colorless state upon cooling.
(2) Description of the Related Art
A number of compounds which undergo a change in color upon the application of heat and a reversion to their original color upon cooling are known in the art. This reversible, thermal triggering of a color change is called thermochromism. Examples of such compounds include spiropyrans, ethylenic compounds, e.g., dixanthylene, bianthrone, and xanthylideneanthrone, and disulfides, e.g., diphenyldisulfide and .beta.-dinaphthyldisulfide. For a review of thermochromism and thermochromic compounds reference can be made to, for example, Sabongi, G. J., Chemical Triggering, Reactions of Potential Utility in Industrial Processes, Ch. 5, pp. 240 to 278 (1987); and Day, J. H., Chem. Rev., 63, 65 (1963).
U.S Pat. No. 4,567,019 discloses 3,3'-bis(p-aminophenyl)phthalides which behave as thermochromes in the presence of certain organic acids. This thermochromic behavior is suspected to be the result of a temperature dependent hydrogen bonding equilibrium between one of the amine radicals of the phthalide and the --OH or --SH group of the acid.


A digital advertising system includes an advertisements module that provides a number of digital advertisements for display on a digital display device. A digital sign module including the digital display device displays digital advertisements provided by the advertisements module, and captures video analytics data relating to previous viewers of the digital advertisements displayed by the digital sign module. A data mining module retrieves the video analytics data from the digital sign module and generates trained advertising models based thereon using a data mining algorithm. A content management system module coupled to the advertisements module and the data mining module receives the digital advertisements and the trained advertising models and generates a subset of the advertisements for display based on the trained advertising models.

Digital signage is the term that is often used to describe the use of an electronic display device, such as a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), Light Emitting Diode (LED) display, plasma display, or a projected display to show news, advertisements, local announcements, and other multimedia content in public venues such as restaurants or shopping malls. In recent years, the digital signage industry has experienced tremendous growth, and it is now only second to the Internet advertising industry in terms of annual revenue growth.
The deployment of digital signs is growing rapidly for good reason. They enable advertisers to show advertising (ad) content that is more engaging and dynamic and to easily change the content in real time based on new promotions, time of day, even weather and other events. Currently there is no way to determine the effectiveness of the ad content. One of the main challenges in the digital signage industry has been providing digital signage operators with some clear return on investment (ROI) data. What is needed is a way for ad content to be targeted and adapted to the specific demographics of the people viewing it.


Described here are systems and methods for generating x-ray phase contrast images from conventional x-ray attenuation data. X-ray attenuation coefficients generated over a range of x-ray energies are used to compute the x-ray phase signal up to a calibration constant. This calibration constant is computed from provided calibration data, which may be obtained using a dedicated x-ray differential phase contrast imaging system to measure the decrement of the refractive index of a calibration phantom.

The field of the invention is systems and method for x-ray imaging. More particularly, the invention relates to systems and method for generating x-ray phase contrast images from x-ray attenuation data.
X-rays have been widely used in medical imaging since their discovery in 1895. These relatively energetic photons interact with tissues that have different attenuating properties to generate contrast for visualization of the difference between tissues. Microscopically, the interaction between x-ray photons and tissue is described by different cross-sections of physical processes such as photoelectric, Compton scattering, and others. In the diagnostic x-ray energy range (10 keV-150 keV), the photoelectric effect is predominant for contrast resolution, while the other physical processes only contribute to degrade image quality. The relative contrast between two tissue types drops quickly with increases in x-ray beam energy. However, when the x-ray beam energy is too low, the deposition of x-ray energy in tissues increases, and harmful radiobiological effects may occur. Thus, a delicate balance between the contrast needed for medical diagnosis and the potential detrimental effects of x-ray deposition must be achieved for x-ray-based medical imaging.
To improve contrast resolution such that the local difference between two neighboring local regions of tissues could be better differentiated in medical diagnosis, x-ray computed tomography ("CT") was introduced in the 1970s. In this method, projection information is acquired from many different view angles and the local distribution of the x-ray attenuation coefficients is reconstructed from the acquired projection data. The introduction of CT methods significantly enhanced physicians' capabilities in medical diagnosis. However, similarly to the conventional x-ray projection method, the requirement of lowering radiation dose favors to use higher energy beams, but at the cost of a decrease in contrast resolution. In addition to the balance between contrast resolution and radiation dose, when high spatial resolution is needed for visualization of fine structures, the noise level of both x-ray projection and CT imaging increases dramatically. In order to maintain the required contrast-to-noise ratio ("CNR") for visualization of differences between tissues, a high radiation dose is required to compensate for the increase in noise level.
Since its conception, x-ray imaging has been successfully used in medical diagnosis, but the sole contrast mechanism, x-ray absorption, significantly limits wider and safer applications. An ongoing goal in the use of x-rays in medical applications is to have the lowest possible radiation dose, while maintaining the highest possible spatial and contrast resolution, in addition to having quantitative imaging capabilities.
The limitation of a single contrast mechanism in x-ray imaging has motivated investigators to explore the possibility of multiple contrast mechanisms. As a result of wave-particle duality, x-ray beams can also be viewed as waves. The only difference from the familiar wave examples is that the x-ray wavelength is very short, often on the order of angstroms. Due to their wave nature, x-rays will not only be attenuated when they penetrate through matter, but will also experience distortions in wave-front due to the interaction of the wave with the particles inside of the medium. As a result, a local phase shift will be generated in the x-ray wave after exiting the object. Physically, local phase shifts of x-ray waves are determined by the distribution of local electron density in the object. Namely, when x-rays propagate through matter, the internal structural information of the material is encoded into the corresponding wave-front distortions. Thus, by detecting the wave-front distortion in x-ray waves, one may potentially obtain the structural information of an object. Several methods have been used to extract wave front distortion; these methods are collectively referred to as x-ray phase contrast imaging methods.
Currently, the majority of investigations are still limited to the use of x-ray synchrotron radiations. The experimental results from the synchrotron facilities provide very important insights into two aspects. The first is an understanding of x-ray phase contrast signatures of specific diseased tissues for use in medical diagnosis. The second is the use of nearly ideal coherent x-ray beams to determine relevant physical parameters for future medical devices which would use conventional x-ray tubes. However, to make x-ray phase contrast imaging practical in routine medical practice, the following issues must be addressed.
First, independent of the contrast mechanism used in imaging, x-ray photons must be sufficiently energetic to be able to penetrate through the image object. In preclinical applications, such as tissue specimen imaging, photon energies can be as low as 10 keV for acceptable signal level at the detector plane. However, when a more attenuating object is imaged, such as an entire organ or portion of the human body, the low energy photons will be entirely absorbed. Therefore, it is important to extend the preclinical experimental conditions to higher energy x-ray photons. Ideally, the mean x-ray energy should be on the order of 50 keV for most human clinical applications. In addition to photon energy, it is also important that there is sufficient photon flux in order to achieve the required signal-to-noise ratio ("SNR") at the detector. Therefore, any potentially useful phase contrast imaging method should use a conventional diagnostic x-ray tube and realistically-sized image objects to further demonstrate the clinical relevance of each proposed phase sensitive imaging method.
Second, currently, for physical phantom or tissue specimen experiments, x-ray radiation dose is not a major concern. One can always increase the x-ray exposure level to increase the SNR to demonstrate feasibility of a given phase contrast imaging scheme. However, in clinical applications, the feasibility of achieving acceptable SNR at a clinically acceptable radiation dose level needs to be demonstrated.
Third, currently, due to limited x-ray source capacity when using conventional x-ray tube sources, the data acquisition time has been prolonged significantly to boost the SNR. While this may be acceptable in preclinical experiments, for routine clinical applications, data acquisition must take within seconds or even sub-seconds, not hours as used in the current laboratory work. In order to address this issue, aside from a more powerful x-ray source and improved detector, it is also important to explore innovative data acquisition and corresponding imaging processing methods to reduce data acquisition time.
Fourth, when x-ray phase contrast imaging is used, it often involves a different requirement on the spatial coherence of the x-ray beams compared with standard x-ray imaging. When a spatially coherent x-ray wave is scattered by a granular structure inside the image object, the coherence will be diminished. As a result, the SNR of the phase contrast mechanism drops, and may even be completely lost. This is in stark contrast with the absorption contrast mechanism which is much more independent of the structure of the image object. Therefore, the phase contrast mechanism should perhaps be combined with conventional absorption contrast for medical diagnosis. Instead of using phase contrast as the sole contrast mechanism in medical diagnosis, a potential new paradigm in the future of x-ray imaging could be multi-contrast imaging, where the complementary information from each contrast mechanism is combined for use in medical diagnosis.
In light of the foregoing drawbacks, there remains a desire to provide systems and methods for generating x-ray phase contrast images that are readily attainable in the clinical setting without requiring specialized hardware systems or increased dose exposure to subjects.

Systems and methods for generating x-ray phase contrast images using a conventional x-ray imaging system


Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for placing targeted messages in communications within a software application using machine learning models. An example method generally includes retrieving, from a repository, a data set of targeted messages. For each respective targeted message in the data set of targeted messages, an effectiveness score for a party associated with the respective targeted message, a distance score between the party associated with the respective targeted message and a host party, and a match score between the party associated with the respective targeted message and the host party. Based on the effectiveness score, the distance score, and the match score for each respective targeted message in the data set of targeted messages, a message is selected to be included in one or more communications by the host party. The one or more communications including the selected message are generated and output for transmission.

Software applications are generally deployed for use by many users for the performance of a specific function. These applications may be deployed as web applications accessible over the Internet or a private network or as desktop applications including static components executed from a local device and dynamic components executed from content retrieved from a network location. These applications can include financial applications, such as tax preparation applications, accounting applications, personal or business financial management applications, or the like; social media applications; other electronic communications applications; and so on.
Some applications may include components that allow targeted messages to be presented to a user while the user is interacting with the application (e.g., in an interstitial page between different components of a web application, in a dedicated messaging panel in an application, in electronic communications sent to the user after a user begins interacting with the application, etc.). These messages may be textual messages that require a minimal amount of overhead to add to network communications between a client device and an application. However, some messages may include audio and/or visual components which may impose more overhead for transmitting the message to a client device.
In some cases, the targeted messages presented to a user may be randomly selected by a message placement engine. These targeted messages, however, may not be relevant to the user. Even where a targeted message may be relevant to a user, the user may not actually qualify for the content included in the targeted message. In either case, i.e., delivering targeted messages to a user that are not relevant to the user or targeted messages including content that a user is not qualified for, resources (e.g., network bandwidth, user data caps, power usage (e.g., when the messages include multimedia content such as video or audio content), etc.) are wasted, which could be used for other productive purposes.
Thus, techniques are needed for presenting targeted messages that are relevant to a user of the software application.

Training and using machine learning models to place targeted messages in software applications


A process and apparatus for the production of a single-crystal article, such as a turbine blade, by casting a molten metal into a casting mold with a single crystal seed crystal at the bottom of the casting mold. The casting mold is heated and vacuum-purified after which the seed crystal is introduced into an opening at the bottom of the mold in a matter of a few seconds whereafter the molten metal is immediately cast onto the seed crystal in the casting mold. The seed crystal is carried by a holder which is lifted to bring the seed crystal into the open bottom of the casting mold in sealed relation in the mold.

A process and apparatus are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,857,436, by which production of single-crystal structural parts is achieved by means of a single-crystal seed crystal placed at the bottom of a casting mold. This process and apparatus has the disadvantage that the seed crystal surface is subjected to an aggressive atmosphere due to the evaporation of volatile components from the casting mold during the entire purification and warm-up time of the casting mold, which increases the risk of polycrystal growth, slip formation and a high concentration of crystal defects at least in the initial phase of crystal growth. Additionally, the conventional seed crystals usually have a large number of defects, i.e. are defect-rich and thereby disadvantageously tend toward polycrystalline growth. These disadvantages lead to a low reproducibility of the single-crystal cultivation and thus to high waste.

Process and apparatus for production of single-crystal turbine blades


Aspects of the present subject matter are directed to a method comprising contacting an fluid, optionally containing an added organic material, with a non-thermal plasma to form a disinfection composition, wherein the disinfection composition is a liquid, and contacting a surface with the disinfection composition, wherein the surface is at least partially disinfected upon contact with the disinfection composition. Additional aspects of the present subject matter are directed to a method comprising forming a disinfection composition by contacting an organic material with a non-thermal plasma, wherein the disinfection composition is a liquid. A further aspect of the present subject matter is directed to a disinfection composition comprising an organic material contacted by a non-thermal plasma, wherein the disinfection composition is a liquid.

Plasma is an ionized gas. However, in addition to ions and electrons, plasma typically contains chemically active molecules as well as electronically excited atoms and molecules all of which do not remain in their active state for a long time (less than several seconds in most cases at atmospheric pressure) outside plasma. Recently, plasmas have been shown useful for disinfection and sterilization of materials, water, air, and living tissues. Current technologies include applying plasma itself or blowing active agents produced in plasma directly to the surface being sterilized to inactivate micro-organisms. In order to place the active agents in the plasma in direct contact with the surface, the device generating the plasma or a flow transporting mechanism (such as a tube) is placed in an appropriate position.

Materials for disinfection produced by non-thermal plasma


An oil-pressure cylinder in a crushing device is connected to a crushing jaw via a pivot shaft so that the crushing jaw can open and close. The extension of oil-pressure cylinder causes the crushing jaw to close and crush the object to be crushed. Oil-pressure cylinder has a piston with a greater pressure-receiving area on the head side than on the rod side. An acceleration valve serves to switch the extension/retraction operations of the oil-pressure cylinder. During a rod unloaded interval, beginning when the crushing jaw starts to close and ending when the crushing jaw comes into contact with the object to be crushed, the acceleration valve makes communication between a head-side port and a rod-side port in the cylinder continuous, while the oil path from the rod side to a tank is blocked. The oil from the rod side is made to flow to the head side. This speeds up the movement of the rod in the closing operation during the unloaded interval before the crushing jaw comes into contact with the object being held on a fixed jaw at which time communication of the head-side oil-port with the rod-side oil port is interrupted.

The present invention relates to an oil-pressure device. More specifically, the present invention relates to an oil-pressure device which operates with an oil-pressure cylinder unit to actuate a working device which performs prescribed operations on objects such working device being, for example, a crusher used for dismantling concrete buildings.
Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, a crusher as shown in the drawings is generally used at sites where a concrete building is to be demolished in order to crush or cut concrete pieces, steelwork, and the like. This crusher comprises a movable upper jaw 2, driven by an oil-pressure operated cylinder unit 1, the cylinder unit 1 having a cylinder C in which is carried rod R to one end of which is attached piston 17 slidable in the cylinder, extension/retraction movement of the rod in the cylinder being effected with oil pressure acting on opposite faces of piston 17.
The cylinder unit 1 is attached at an end via a pivot shaft 5 to a fixed lower jaw 3. At an opposite cylinder end, the cylinder rod R is attached by pivot shaft 6 to upper movable jaw 2. The fixed lower jaw 3 is attached to an end of a power shovel boom or similar unit. Extension/retraction of the cylinder rod R in cylinder C, effects pivoting of upper jaw 2, which is pivoted to the lower jaw with pivot 4, between closed and open positions of same in respect to the fixed jaw 3.
When the crusher is used to crush a piece of concrete or the like, the retraction of cylinder rod R causes movable upper jaw 2 to open wide. A piece of concrete is then scooped onto fixed lower jaw 3. Then, the extension of cylinder rod R causes movable upper jaw 2 to close against the concrete piece, and the oil-pressure force effects a further closing movement of jaw 2 against the concrete piece and crushing it.
In the prior art crusher described above, when fixed lower jaw 3 and movable upper jaw 2 are used to crush pieces of concrete and the like, the opening of movable upper jaw 2 is achieved by retracting cylinder rod R. Therefore, the amount of oil needed for retraction is decreased by the volume of the rod, and the opening operation for movable upper jaw 2 is relatively fast. In contrast, once movable upper jaw 2 has been opened, cylinder rod R is extended during an interval in which no load is applied, from the beginning of the closing operation of movable upper jaw 2 to its contact with the piece of concrete. A large amount of oil is needed to extend cylinder rod R, and although the closing force of movable upper jaw 2 is strong, the speed at which this occurs is very slow. Thus, it has been extremely difficult to speed up operations.


Disclosed are biaxially oriented film or sheet articles comprising:. (a) a base or inner layer of a film or sheet of a crystalline homopolymer of a C.sub.3-10 alpha-olefin monomer or of a certain propylene copolymers; and PA0 (b) at least one surface layer of a broad molecular weight distribution propylene polymer material, optionally containing a propylene homopolymer having an isotactic index greater than 80, or certain propylene copolymers.

In many film application, such as packaging of foodstuffs, chemical and hazardous materials and in medical applications, the industry requires films having certain properties. In the packaging of foodstuffs, for example, the films must have high puncture resistance, high clarity and gloss, and reduce permeability to gases and/or vapors. The films used to manufacture containers for chemicals and hazardous waste materials must have high puncture resistance, high elongation strength, high tear resistance and chemical resistance. Films used in medical applications, such as blood bags, must have a high puncture resistance, low modulus, high tear resistance and auto clavability.
Polypropylene provides a combination of desirable properties, such as tolerance of high temperature, retardation, or prevention, of moisture vapor transmission and approval for contact with food and medical solutions. Thus, polypropylene has been widely used in film and sheets for packaging of foodstuffs, chemical and hazardous materials and medical applications. However, polypropylene does suffer from relatively poor brittleness, low impact strength and clarity.
Attempts have been to overcome the shortcomings of polypropylene in films and sheets by modifying the polypropylene itself or by coextruding the polypropylene with other polyolefin type resins. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,514,534 discloses a modified polypropylene comprising low molecular weight polypropylene, a peroxide, a nucleating agent and linear low density polyethylene for biaxially oriented films to improve clarity.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,720 discloses modified polypropylene comprising a reactor blend of a high molecular weight propylene/olefin random copolymer with a lower molecular weight substantially isotactic propylene homopolymer. The reference teaches that the modified polypropylene having a molecular weight distribution of from about 5 to about 10 can be extruded or coextruded for use in film applications.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,719 are disclosed multilayer films comprising at least two layers of modified polypropylene-based compositions comprising a blend of a propylene-ethylene copolymer, an ethylene-butene copolymer and optionally an elastomer in either or both layers.

Biaxially oriented propylene polymer film or sheet articles


One example includes a light-emitting diode (LED) system. The LED system includes an LED array comprising a plurality of LEDs that are each activated via an LED current provided therethrough to provide illumination. The system also includes an LED controller configured to sequentially activate the plurality of LEDs via at least one LED driver system configured to selectively provide the LED current through each sequential one of the plurality of LEDs in an activated state in response to an activation signal. The at least one LED driver system includes a voltage clamp configured to maintain a substantial constant amplitude difference of a driver voltage associated with the LED current from the activated state to a deactivated state.

The use of light-emitting diode (LED) strings instead of fluorescent bulbs for use in illumination of a backlight for a display, such as a television, a monitor for a laptop computer, or an LED wall, is increasing drastically based on consumer demands for better picture quality. In addition, typical LED light efficacy can be much better than conventional lighting systems for such displays, thus consuming significantly less power. In addition, among other advantages, LED systems can be smaller and more environmentally friendly, and can have a faster response with less electro-magnetic interference (EMI) emissions. A number of LED regulation techniques exist for typical LED systems. A typical LED system that can be implemented for a display can utilize different colored LEDs, such as red, green, and blue. However, delays between activations of LEDs in a given sequence, such as in scanning by rows, can result in a lack of uniformity in intensity across the display, especially in low grayscale conditions.


A method of automatically selecting a securities portfolio from a plurality of securities includes selecting investment characteristics and investment limits considered important for investment objectives; selecting a safety level for the portfolio; constructing a matrix having entries corresponding to (a) the selected characteristics and limits, and (b) the candidate securities; establishing an objective function corresponding to the constructed matrix; and determining the securities portfolio based on the matrix and the objective function. The investment characteristics may include dividends, rate of growth of earnings, financial strength, safety, predictability of earnings, and performance rankings provided by an advisory service. The safety level may be provided as a number of stocks to include in the portfolio. The selected investment limits may relate to limitations on the amount of investment in each candidate security. At least one selected investment limit may relate to a standardized commercial rating or a measure of financial strength.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to automated portfolio selection. More particularly, this invention relates to methods and systems for automated selection of an investment portfolio based on the user""s own criteria and his relative valuations thereof.
2. Background
All stocks, in varying degrees, from blue chips to highly speculative start-ups, are risky. Although in stock market investing it is generally accepted that xe2x80x9cthe more risk the more gain,xe2x80x9d every investor must put some limit on risk when investing. In order to reduce total risk, even the least risk-averse investor should buy a large number of different stocks to construct a diversified portfolio.
Each investor has his own personal and economic characteristics which determine how much capital the user can invest, his need for cash income, and his willingness to accept risk. Since every stock has its own characteristics relating to earnings, dividends, growth potential, volatility and safety, the user should be able to construct a portfolio which is exactly tailored to his needs. The central problem every investor faces is, therefore, to find some rational systematic method of selecting this portfolio from the thousands of stocks available. Ideally, the combination of individual securities should constitute, as it were, a xe2x80x9csynthetic securityxe2x80x9d which has the set of characteristics which best satisfy his particular requirements.
This invention provides, in one aspect, an automated portfolio selection system that utilizes technological advances to solve the xe2x80x9cmixxe2x80x9d problem involved in portfolio selection. The system according to the present invention uses mathematical programming and computers to enable systematic selection, from the millions of combinations of stocks that could be bought with the capital available from a universe of candidate stocks, that combination of stocks that provides the maximum satisfaction of any particular investor""s requirements.
In one aspect, this invention provides a method of automatically selecting a securities portfolio from a plurality of securities. The method includes selecting investment characteristics and investment limits considered important for investment objectives; selecting a safety level for the portfolio; constructing a matrix having entries corresponding to (a) the selected characteristics and limits, and (b) the candidate securities; establishing an objective function corresponding to the constructed matrix; and determining the securities portfolio based on the matrix and the objective function. In some embodiments of this invention, the investment characteristics may be selected from the group comprising: dividends, rate of growth of earnings, financial strength, safety, predictability of earnings, and performance rankings provided by an advisory service. In some embodiments, the safety level is provided as a number of stocks to include in the portfolio.
The selected investment limits may relate to limitations on the amount of investment in each candidate security. At least one selected investment limit may relate to a standardized commercial rating or a measure of financial strength.
In some embodiments, the establishing of the objective function further comprises: standardizing units of all factors; and establishing a degree of importance of factors. In some embodiments, the standardizing units of all factors includes, when a factor is specified in units of xe2x80x9cdollars per sharexe2x80x9d, dividing the factor by the price. The establishing of the objective function may include, when a factor is specified in units of xe2x80x9cdollars per sharexe2x80x9d, using the actual value; and when a factor is a non-dollar factor, multiplying the factor by the price.
In some embodiments, the selected portfolio provides an optimum portfolio for a particular investor based on the investor""s risk-tolerance and revealed preferences for cash income and capital appreciation.
In another aspect, this invention provides a computer-based system programmed to perform the methods of this invention.
In yet another aspect, this invention provides a method of revealing relative effects on achievement of an investor""s objectives of adding or subtracting one dollar of investment in each security in that investor""s portfolio.


Real-time participation within a media presentation is disclosed. A participant overlay may be generated by preprocessing a media presentation to extract a time-variant metadata stream associated with one or more interactive regions depicted in the media presentation. The participant overlay includes simulated physics, which may include boundaries of the interactive regions defined in accordance with content in said media presentation. A participant's interaction with said media presentation through the interactive regions may be captured and combined with the media presentation for display on a display. The interaction may comprise a user action upon one or more elements in the media presentation, a user action expressed in the media presentation through an avatar, or a user action in said media presentation in connection with a game element.

An annoying aspect of seeing a movie at a theater is distraction caused by conversations held between viewers during the presentation of the movie. It is not that conversation in and of itself is annoying so much as that it is someone else's conversation. On the other hand, it is enjoyable to share remarks, observations, and jokes with friends and family while watching a movie at home. To this end, a popular television series, Mystery Science Theater 3000, was based upon conversations that were held between viewers of a movie, typically an appallingly bad movie. In Mystery Science Theater 3000, two robots and a human space pilot commented and made jokes while the movie was presented. The movie was shown on a movie screen, as though in a movie theater, and the robots and human commentators appeared in silhouette, as though they were seated in the movie theater watching the movie.
It is known to provide players with the ability to talk to one another while playing a video game over a network. In fact, headsets are available for this purpose. As is known, players have a persona or avatar in such games that is a representation of the player. Thus, a player may participate in a game and talk with other players while doing so.
In the case of one or more individuals passively viewing a media presentation, such as a movie, there is no way to interact with the movie within the movie space itself. That is, those individuals viewing the movie cannot be a part of the presentation of the movie outside of offering up comments in their living room or in the movie theater. Simply put, they are not a part of the action on the screen. This is due, in part, to the fact that a media presentation, such as a movie, is static in that it exists with a beginning, middle, and end before it is presented to an audience.
In the case of a video game, players are participants in the unfolding drama of the game and cannot act as bystanders. This is due, in part, to the fact that a video game is dynamic in that the narrative of a video game is created in real-time as the players interact with the game.
B. Burrill, T. Kirste, J. Weiss, Time-varying Sensitive Regions in Dynamic Muti-Media Objects: a pragmatic approach to content-based retrieval from video, Information and Software Technology, Vol. 36, No. 36, pp. 213-223 (1994) describe a general concept for accessing the contents of the dynamic media by two points of view, i.e. those of hyper-media and information retrieval. Burrill et al. introduce the general concept of Sensitive Regions (or "hot-spots") by reverse engineering techniques from established technologies. Burrill et al. also describe three applications being developed which explore a variety of aspects associated with Sensitive Regions, i.e. the HyperPicture-System which manages such data, MOVie experiments with the creation of editing of Sensitive Regions in the cinematically oriented context, and Share ME which explores issues associated with the use of Sensitive Regions in the interface to multi-media applications.
D. Wistendahl, L. Chon, System for mapping hot-spots in media content for interactive digital media programs, U.S. Pat. No. 5,708,845 (13 Jan. 1998) disclose a system for allowing media content to be used in an interactive digital media program. Such system comprises Frame Data from the media content in object mapping data (N Data) representing the frame addresses and display location coordinates for objects appearing in the media content. The N Data are maintained separately from the Frame Data for the media content, such that the media content is kept in tact without embedded codes and can be played back on any system. The system establishes linkages connecting the object mapped by the N Data the other functions to be performed in conjunction with display of the media content. Selection of an object appearing in the media content with pointer results in initiation of the interactive function. Accordingly, a broad base of existing non-interactive media content, such as movies, videos, advertising, and television programming can be converted to interactive digital media use.
While the art provides a rudimentary scheme for interaction with media through various mapping techniques, there has been no attempt in the art to address the effects of such interaction, such that the interaction is coordinated with the content in a realistic way.
It would be advantageous to provide an experience in which one or more individuals could interact with a media presentation without previously being a part of the presentation itself.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for real-time viewer interaction with a media presentation

SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA LLC


A device protects an electric load, such as a motor, from excessive current levels. The current flows from a source to the load through a switch and a primary winding of a current sensing transformer. The voltage across a secondary winding of the current sensing transformer is rectified to produce a voltage which is measured to determine the level of current through the load. The voltage across the secondary winding also powers components of the device. In a first mode of operation, current from the secondary winding is applied to charge a power supply capacitor. In a second mode of operation the level of the rectified voltage is sensed to produce a sample of the level of the current flowing through the load. From this sample the change in temperature of the load since a previous sample is calculated and used to derive the present load temperature. When the present load temperature exceeds a defined threshold level, the switch is opened to disconnect the load from the electricity source.

The present invention relates to devices which sense the magnitude of electrical current flowing through a conductor and cut off the flow of electricity when the current magnitude exceeds a given threshold, and more particularly to such devices which are capable of controlling the supply of electricity to a motor.
Large three-phase motors often are coupled to electricity supply lines by contactors which close and open to turn on and off the motor. The contactor, such as the one described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,536,868, in essence is a relay which is capable of switching large three-phase electric currents. In a simple installation, the contactor is operated by a signal applied to its control input by the operator opening or closing an electric switch. Thus, a large magnitude current to the motor can be controlled by switching a relatively small magnitude electric current to the control input.
As a safety feature, it is often desirable to include a mechanism which can detect when the current flowing through the contactor exceeds a safety threshold, and respond by disabling the contactor to cut off the flow of electricity to the motor. Such a device is commonly referred to as an overload relay. Previously this overload protection was provided by passing some or all of the motor current through a set of bi-metallic switch elements. The current flow heated bi-metallic material of the switch by an amount that corresponded to the magnitude of the current. When the motor current exceeded the safety threshold for a defined period of time, the heat caused the bi-metallic material to bend opening the switch contacts and terminating the application of current to the control input of the contactor. The level of current at which the bi-metallic switches open was difficult to calibrate and tended to become miscalibrated over time.
With the advent of solid state circuits, it became possible to incorporate an electronic sensing and control mechanism to perform the overload protection previously performed by the bi-metallic switching. The use of electronics provided a more reliable device and one that was easier to calibrate. However, such circuits often became relatively complex requiring low voltage power supplies and numerous components to adequately sense the electricity and activate the contactor mechanism.


An intraocular lens implant including a carrying member, a telescope, and at least one mechanical fastener that fixedly attaches the telescope to the carrying member. Either the carrying member or the telescope may be integrally formed with the at least one mechanical fastener. For example, the carrying member may be formed with a female fastener which mates with a corresponding male fastener formed on the telescope. Alternatively, the carrying member may be formed with a male fastener which mates with a corresponding female fastener formed on the telescope.

Intraocular inserts comprising telescopes are known. European Published Patent Application EP-A-212616 describes an intraocular lens that includes an anterior convex lens and a posterior concave lens. The contour of the lens can be selectively changed by varying the amount of fluid therein in order to change its refractive power. The lens is intended solely as a replacement for the natural lens of the eye.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,074,368 also describes an intraocular lens that includes an anterior convex lens and a posterior concave lens with high magnification proposed for the relief of conditions such as macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. The lens has many relatively low power lens surfaces arranged in a relatively long lens assembly which extends, when implanted, through almost the entire depth of the eye, from the pupil nearly to the retina. Implanting such a lens would necessitate major surgery. Moreover, the proposed lens does not provide a replacement for the natural lens for a wide field of view.
French Published Patent Application 2,666,735 describes an implant that includes a lens-shaped optical portion and a fastening assembly for securing the implant in the eye. The optical portion includes at least one closed internal cavity which contains a fluid or vacuum, forming a refraction chamber changing the optical properties of the lens.
Applicant/assignee's U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,354,335 and 5,391,202, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference, describe intraocular inserts with a positive (converging) lens facing the anterior side of the eye and a negative (diverging) lens facing the posterior side, the two lenses forming a Galilean telescopic system. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,354,335, the lenses are assembled in a body member, the positive lens being generally flush with the anterior face of the body member. The negative lens may either be flush with the posterior face of the body member, or may project posteriorly therefrom. The body member anterior and/or posterior faces may be convex. In U.S. Pat. No. 5.391,202, the positive lens projects anteriorly from the anterior face of the body member which is preferably a soft lens constructed from a material such as a silicone.
In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/882,972, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, the present applicant/assignee discloses a further intraocular implant comprising a telescope body having an anterior end and a posterior end and including one or more windows sealed to the telescope body at the anterior end and/or the posterior end. There are at least two lenses disposed within the telescope body intermediate the anterior and posterior ends. The lenses may be a so-called reverse Galilean telescope, i.e., a negative lens faces the anterior side of the eye while a positive lens faces the posterior side of the eye. One of the features of the system is that the lenses are doublet lenses. The windows may be formed without optical power, or alternatively, may comprise a prism.
In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/882,973, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, the present applicant/assignee discloses yet another intraocular implant comprising a telescope (either Galilean or reverse Galilean) which extends through at least a portion of a lens capsule of the eye and forwardly thereof toward the anterior side of the eye, the telescope not penetrating the vitreous of the eye. The intraocular lens implant is supported within the lens capsule by loops, in the absence of a lens within the lens capsule. One of the features of the system is that the telescope may be tilted such that light from outside the eye is focused by the telescope on a low resolution but operative section of the retina. Other optional features of the system include one or more lenses having a graded index of refraction, holographic (diffusing) lenses, and/or doublet lenses which help prevent chromatic aberrations. The patent application also discloses a method for manufacturing an intraocular insert telescope employing laser fusing to join the lenses to the telescope body. Alternatively or additionally, the method employs glass particles having a low temperature melting point as a joining medium.

Intraocular carrying member with attachment for telescope


An electronic device may be provided with electronic device structures such as housing structures, antenna structures, printed circuits, and structures associated with electrical components. The structures may be attached to each other using adhesive. A liquid pressure sensitive adhesive precursor material is deposited onto one or more surfaces of structures to be bonded. Light or heat can be applied to cure the liquid adhesive material and form pressure sensitive adhesive layers. During curing, chemical bonds are formed between the adhesive material and the structures. Assembly equipment may press the structures together to form pressure sensitive adhesive bonds that can be reworked without disturbing the chemically bonded portions of the adhesive material. The pressure sensitive adhesive may include conductive particles for forming conductive paths.

This relates generally to adhesives and, more particularly, to pressure sensitive adhesives formed from liquid that can be used for coupling structures in electronic devices.
Adhesives are widely used to attach structures to each other. As an example, electronic devices such as computers and cellular telephones often contain adhesives for mounting components to housing structures, for attaching housing structures to each other, and for otherwise assembling structures within a completed device.
Liquid adhesives can be applied between parts to be joined. Heat or ultraviolet light can be applied to cure a liquid adhesive and form an adhesive joint between the parts. Liquid adhesive joints of this type can be difficult to control and may not be reworkable.
Pressure sensitive adhesives form bonds under pressure. The use of pressure sensitive adhesives is often preferred over liquid adhesives due to ease of assembly and, in some situations, an ability to rework assembled parts. Metal particles can be included in pressure sensitive adhesives to promote conduction. A conductive pressure sensitive adhesive may be used to form a ground path in an electronic device.
Pressure sensitive adhesive joints can be formed from pressure sensitive adhesive tape. Pressure sensitive adhesive tape includes a plastic carrier film that it typically die cut to form pressure sensitive adhesive areas in desired patterns. Assembly of parts using tape-based pressure sensitive adhesive tape can be cumbersome. Tape-based joints are also sometimes difficult to rework, because they tend to tear unpredictably and leave unwanted residues on disassembled parts.
It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide improved pressure sensitive adhesive joints for electronic devices.

Liquid-based pressure sensitive adhesive for grounding applications


A protection circuit for transistor that avoids the use of performance hindering resistors or diodes or capacitors includes a routing circuit for routing an electrostatic discharge current around the transistor and a detection circuit that switches on the routing circuit when a breakdown current in the transistor exceeds a threshold.

Transistors may be employed in a wide variety of electronic circuits including integrated circuits. Applications for transistors include amplifiers, digital processing circuits, RF circuits, DC circuits, and many other applications too numerous to mention.
A transistor may be vulnerable to breakdown caused by electrostatic discharge. For example, an electrostatic discharge may cause excessive current flow in the gate of a field-effect transistor (FET) and damage its gate structure. Breakdowns in an FET caused by electrostatic discharge may cause a failure of an entire integrated circuit as well as an entire electronic system or subsystem that employs a damaged FET.
One prior method for avoiding electrostatic discharge damage to an FET is to employ a relatively large resistor on the gate of the FET. A resistor at the gate of an FET may limit an amount of electrostatic discharge current into the FET and avoid damage to its gate structure. Unfortunately, a relatively large resistor on the gate of an FET may severely limit its performance in an amplifier application, e.g. by limiting gain and/or noise performance of an FET amplifier circuit.
Another prior method for avoiding electrostatic discharge damage to an FET is to employ diodes that limit an amount of reverse bias voltage on the gate of the FET. Unfortunately, diodes may hinder the performance of an FET amplifier and may not be practical in many other types of FET circuits.
Another prior method for avoiding electrostatic discharge damage to an FET is to employ capacitors that prevent electrostatic discharge current from reaching the gate of the FET. Unfortunately, the capacitors may not be practical in amplifier circuits and may increase the size and cost of integrated circuits.