Abstract: A system and method of security monitoring and response delivery for a user having a user's device by a monitoring service whose services include monitoring the user upon request. The method includes maintaining a user profile for each user in a user database, maintaining response provider information in a response provider database in which response providers are predetermined and include providers of at least one of assistance and emergency services which are selected from among public, private, commercial and non-commercial providers; receiving a transmission of a request for monitoring from a user sent via the user's device over the communication system; and commencing monitoring of the user via the user's device using advanced decision making and analysis tools employing higher logic.

Abstract: A ball cap blocking and stretching system includes a steamer and a stretcher on which the crown of the ball cap is positioned, and a brim positioner. The steamer has a crown-contourer for contouring the crown that has a hemispherical shape and includes at least one aperture for emitting steam; and a steam generator located substantially within and in communication with the crown-contourer. The stretcher includes a front-contourer overlappingly provided adjacent to the crown-contourer so that the inside surface of the crown of the ball cap covers the front-contourer and the crown-contourer; a mover for cooperatively moving the front-contourer relative to the crown-contourer for stretching at least the perimeter of the crown in cooperation with the steamer; and a stretcher fixator for temporarily fixing the position of the front-contourer relative to the crown-contourer when the mover is moved. Additionally provided is a ball cap blocking and stretching kit and method.

Abstract: An automated shopping system and method in which a user places an order for at least one provider, a degree of matching between each order-provider pairing is computed as a score by an iterative scoring system, scoring correction takes place when the score is determined to be incomplete, and the score, and optionally a ranking of providers is reported to the user. The iterative scoring system includes a scoring correction system that determines whether a score is based on complete information or whether additional information and determination of a revised score is required. Additional information from outside the system may be requested including requesting information determined to be incomplete from the user or the provider and/or requesting verification of provider information from a third party, and the score may be updated to obtain a revised score based on the additional information received.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically managing a multi-step process in which human providers are selected, typically for employment and dating services. The selection process includes background checking, testing, interviewing, and acceptance by the provider and selecting entity, through automated sequencing, coordinating, tracking, status reporting, and an optional human intervention. The invention includes a system and method for automatically scoring and ranking human providers by a set of selection criteria, typically multiple choice options. The system determines the relevance of the questions and answers and stores it in a continuously updating Knowledge-base. The answers may be spoken, written, or entered directly into the system. The system includes testing and interviewing human providers with respect to the selection criteria; and the resulting scoring information is stored and may be used in future assessments.

Abstract: A cremation container designed to be mounted on a living tree includes an inner chamber for cremation ashes therein, a front face having a first opening on the top in communication with the inner chamber. The opening is for insertion of the cremation ashes in the inner chamber as well a memorial time capsule of remembrances of the deceased. The container further includes mounting features for mounting the container to a living tree.

Abstract: A vehicular windshield bag mounting assembly which permits mounting of a windshield bag having a generally planar structure onto a support bar of a curved windshield of a vehicle while maintaining generally planar structure of the bag so that warping of the bag is substantially prevented, includes a bag spacer having a curved side surface which engages the support bar of the windshield and a flat side surface; a backer plate which is flat, which is inserted into the windshield bag for support, and which is attached to the flat side surface of the bag spacer; and fastening devices for attaching the backer plate to the flat side surface of the bag spacer, and for attaching the bag spacer to the support bar of the curved windshield. A mounted vehicular windshield bag includes a windshield bag having a generally planar structure; and the mounting assembly.

Abstract: A method of forming a water soluble biocidal film on a solid household, food preparation, or medical surface, which protects the solid surface against reinfection by microorganisms, includes providing a liquid biocidal composition comprised of, based on total weight of the liquid biocidal composition from 0.1 to 5.0 wt. % of a phenolic biocide; from an amount effective to impart film-forming properties to the liquid biocidal composition up to 8 wt. % of a polyvinyl pyrrolidone polymer or copolymer; and an aqueous alcoholic solvent in which the phenolic biocide and the polyvinylpyrrolidone polymer or copolymer are dissolved; treating the solid surface with the liquid biocidal composition; and evaporating the aqueous alcoholic solvent to provide a clear film, wherein a ratio of the phenolic biocide to the polyvinylpyrrolidone polymer or copolymer is selected to range from 1:0.8 to 1:3 so that a complex there between is provided which dries clear.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an interlayer dielectric film by vacuum ultraviolet CVD including the steps of placing a wafer in a vacuum chamber having a window; causing a first gas that contains silicon atoms to flow through the vacuum chamber; exposing the wafer to light emitted from a Xe2 excimer lamp through the window; and maintaining an atmosphere in the chamber at a first temperature which is less than 350° C. to form an insulating film on the wafer which substantially fills stepped portions of the wafer to provide step coverage and which has a substantially flat top surface.

Abstract: A polymer material containing a repetitive unit having a formula: The polymer material has a higher glass transition temperature and a lower water absorption than those of deuterated PMMA, but has a transparency equivalent with that of deuterated PMMA. The material also shows neither light absorption nor scattering in an operating wavelength region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same in which the semiconductor device includes a substrate; an MOS transistor formed on the substrate; an interlayer dielectric provided on at least a portion of the MOS transistor; a hydrogen occluding material which is an interstitial hydrogen occluding compound, which is provided on the interlayer dielectric, and which is employed as a wire by being disposed in the vicinity of the top of the MOS transistor; and a ferroelectric capacitor which has a height which is greater than that of the MOS transistor, wherein the hydrogen occluding material is placed between the MOS transistor and the ferroelectric capacitor.

Abstract: An image processing method using multiple images includes the steps of imaging multiple differently focused images Im (m=1, . . . , n); deriving an identical equation based on superposition models realized between the multiple differently focused images Im and desired images I, obtaining a solution by substituting multiple images Im and the functions Tmk and Tk of different focusing into the identical equation; performing an image process for generating desired image I based on this solution; and selectively generating a desired image I by controlling the function Tk.

Abstract: A process for preparing a hydrocarbon conversion catalyst for use in a Fluid Catalyst Cracking (FCC) unit includes the steps of preparing a modified alumina-silica composite by reacting alumina with an acid to obtain an acidified alumina, aging the acidified alumina for from 0.25 to 60 hours, adding a silica source to the acidified alumina to obtain the composite; preparing a dispersed precursor slurry of the modified alumina-silica composite, and a rare earth exchanged USY zeolite (REUSY) containing at least one rare earth oxide present in an amount ranging from 3.8 to 4.0 wt %, and optionally kaolin clay; spray-drying the slurry to obtain spherical particles; and subjecting the spherical particles to calcination.

Abstract: Enameled steel and process for enameling a zinc or zinc-alloy precoated steel surface includes providing steel having a surface to be precoated and enameled; applying a zinc or zinc-alloy coating having a thickness ranging from 1 to 30 &mgr;m to the surface of the steel to provide the zinc or zinc-alloy precoated steel surface; subjecting the zinc or zinc-alloy precoated steel surface to a heat pretreatment at a temperature of at least 500° C.; and enameling the zinc or zinc-alloy precoated steel surface with a vitreous enamel composition which has a content of adherence-providing oxides selected from the group consisting of Co, Ni, Cu, Sb and Mn of less than 0.1% by weight for a white enamel layer and less than 2.5% by weight for a colored enamel layer by firing the vitreous enamel composition to provide a vitreous enamel layer thereon.

Abstract: An antiperspirant suspension which is finely divided, which is contained in a non-aqueous phase, and which has improved efficacy for perspiration reduction when used on human skin, includes at least one basic aluminum-zirconium-halogenohydrate complex as active ingredient in which at least 60% of the zirconium content can be directly titrated after dissolving in 0.1 n HCl with EDTA at a pH of 0.8, wherein the active ingredient optionally contains an amino acid. A process for the synthesis of the antiperspirant suspension includes mixing an aluminum salt which is effective as an antiperspirant with a zirconium salt which is effective as an antiperspirant, optionally in the presence of an amino acid, in a non-aqueous oil phase in the absence of water to provide a mixture; and grinding the mixture.

Abstract: 3-(alk-2-ynyloxy)carbonyl-5-oxazolidine carboxylic acid and its analogs having a formula and wherein R1 is hydrogen, aryl, heteroaryl, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, R2 and R3 are independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, R4 is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, R5 and R6 independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl,alkynyl, arly, heteroaryl, alkoxy, alkeyloxy, alkynyloxy, aryloxy, heteroaryloxy.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a semiconductor device is fabricated by: forming an insulation layer on a substrate; forming a groove in the surface of the insulation layer; forming a diffusion protection layer on the surface of the insulation layer including inside of the groove; forming a reaction layer on the diffusion protection layer; forming an oxide layer on the surface of the reaction layer; forming a layer of a wiring material on the oxide layer to embed the groove; forming a layer of a mixture of the reaction layer, the layer of the wiring material and the oxide layer by annealing; and removing the diffusion protection layer, the mixture layer and the layer of the wiring material from the surface of the insulation layer except for the diffusion protection layer, the mixture layer and the layer of the wiring material in the groove.