Abstract: A compact power adapter is disclosed. In one embodiment, a compact power adapter is facilitated by improved approaches to construct and assemble the power adapter. According to one aspect, connectors can serve to electrically couple blades (or prongs) of a power adapter plug to a printed circuit board assembly internal to a housing for the power adapter. The connectors serve to couple AC power to the printed circuit board assembly where the AC power can be converted to DC power. The connectors also facilitate assembly of the power adapter in that reliable interconnections can be provided without wires, soldering or other custom assembly operations. In one embodiment, a base for a power adapter plug of a power adapter can include a metal base connected to a blade (or prong) of the power adapter plug. The metal base can provide mechanical support to the blade as well as electrical connectivity to an internal terminal for the power adapter plug.

Abstract: A cosmetic compact (1) comprises a container (9) to hold liquid cosmetics, and a stopper (5) for to the compact (1). The stopper comprises a protrusion (7) that cooperates with a dispensing orifice (8) of the container. The stopper is connected by a hinge (6) to a lid (2) or base (3) of the compact, preferably to the lid. The stopper may thus serve as a latch for the lid of the compact. The hinged connection (6) may be a web integrally formed with the stopper and the adjacent part of the compact, or it may comprise a pin or protrusion.

Abstract: A method for forming a thin film photovoltaic device. The method provides a transparent substrate including a surface region. A first electrode layer overlies the surface region. A copper layer is formed overlying the first electrode layer and an indium layer is formed overlying the copper layer to form a multi-layered structure. At least the multi-layered structure is subjected to a thermal treatment process in an environment containing a sulfur bearing species to forming a bulk copper indium disulfide. The bulk copper indium disulfide material has a surface region characterized by a copper poor surface region having a copper to indium atomic ratio of less than about 0.95:1 and n-type impurity characteristics. The bulk copper indium disulfide material excluding the copper poor surface region forms an absorber region and the copper poor surface region forms at least a portion of a window region for the thin film photovoltaic device.

Abstract: Provided is an image encoding method and device capable of encoding moving image random allowing access with low delay and high compression. The image encoding method which inputs image data and encodes the image data using a reference picture about the image data and a difference between the reference picture and the image data, and performs the steps of: setting an image output availability parameter indicating that it is possible to decode the image data to output the same if past pictures fall within a fixed range have been decoded, when decoding the image data which has been encoded; calculating influenced range information indicating a range where pictures encoded in the past influence a target picture to be encoded when encoding the image data; and controlling a range of the reference picture upon encoding such that the influenced range information calculated does not exceed the image output availability parameter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reinforcing element for an article of clothing, in particular for a goalkeeper glove, that allows a bending in a first direction, but resists bending in a second direction. The reinforcing element includes at least one bending area that has a curvature with a shape that allows bending of the reinforcing element in the first direction and blocks a bending of the reinforcing element in the second direction.

Abstract: Compounds are provided that act as potent antagonists of the CCR1 receptor, and have in vivo anti-inflammatory activity. The compounds are 4-amino-3-imidazoyl-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine derivatives and are useful in pharmaceutical compositions, methods for the treatment of CCR1-mediated disease, and as controls in assays for the identification of competitive CCR1 antagonists.

Abstract: A synchronizing ring includes a conical ring body with an inner friction surface and an outer installation surface, which bound the ring body and extend conically. The ring body is bounded in the axial direction at a largest cone diameter by a gear wheel surface with a gear wheel extending substantially perpendicular to the synchronizing ring axis and is bounded at a smallest cone diameter by a surface. A recess is provided at the surface of the synchronizing ring for fixing the inner ring with a security against rotation of the inner ring. A raised or displaced portion is provided at the surface of the synchronizing ring and an undercut is provided at the inner ring, so that the displaced portion can engage in the undercut in such a way that an overall height of the synchronizing ring set is not enlarged by the displaced portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for mixing and distributing sauce is disclosed. The apparatus may include a mixing-pump device coupled a linear arm for distributing sauce over a rotating turntable. The turntable may include an improved gripping device for coupling to a pan. The apparatus may also include a self-expelling concentrated sauce vat which couples to the mixing-pump device. The apparatus may also include a self-expelling concentrated sauce cassette which couples to the mixing-pump device.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and machine-readable media are disclosed for tracking and reporting information related to compliance with a set of security requirements by one or more entities handling financial transaction information. According to one embodiment, a system can comprise one or more acquirer systems, each adapted to process information related to a plurality of financial transactions for entities involved in the transaction. A tracking and reporting system can be communicatively coupled with each of the acquirer systems. The tracking and reporting system can be adapted to collect at least a subset of the information related to the plurality of financial transactions, collect compliance information related to the entities involved in the transaction, the compliance information for each entity indicating that entity's compliance with the set of security requirements, and generate one or more reports based on the information related to the plurality of financial transactions and the compliance information.

Abstract: Coding of received audio signals and the resulting application of electrical stimuli applied to electrodes used in a cochlear implant system are disclosed together with a method of fitting this new coding strategy. One of the aims is to improve place specific stimulation representing pitch by applying near threshold electrical stimuli with limited and focused excitation fields. A range of stimulation rates and a minimal range of current levels above threshold are used for creation of a dynamic loudness percept for a cochlear implant recipient. Another aim is to disclose a coding scheme based on a model of physiological measures (i.e. refractoriness, adaptation, spread of activation field, spatiotemporal acoustical cochlear activation patterns and spontaneous activity) to estimate the proportions of available excitable auditory neurons close to the electrodes available for stimulation.

Abstract: A trench structure of an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) is formed as a trench net in a P region and extends into an N? layer. The trench net separates the P region into P wells and floating P layers. The P wells contact an emitter electrode while the floating P layers are not in direct contact with the emitter electrode. A gate formed of conductive material and having a surrounding insulation oxide layer is formed in the trench net. An N+ layer may be formed above each floating P layer under the gate. The floating P layers are isolated from the gate and are also not connected to the emitter electrode.

Abstract: An electrodeless plasma lamp apparatus includes a waveguide body having at least a first material and a second material. At least one of the materials has a dielectric constant of less than two. In a specific embodiment, the apparatus also includes an RF power source coupled to the waveguide body to provide RF power to the waveguide body at least one frequency that resonates within the waveguide body. A bulb containing a fill which forms a plasma to cause emission of light when the RF power is provided to the waveguide body.

Abstract: Radiosurgical techniques and systems treat behavioral disorders (such as depression, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (“OCD”), addiction, hyperphagia, and the like) by directing radiation from outside the patient toward a target tissue within the patient's brain, typically without imposing surgical trauma. The target will often be included in a neural circuit associated with the behavioral disorder. A cellularly sub-lethal dose of the radiation may be applied and the radiation can mitigate the behavioral disorder, obesity, or the like, by modulating the level of neural activity within the target and in associated tissues. Hypersensitive and/or hyperactive neuronal tissue may be targeted, with the radiation downwardly modulating hyperactive neuronal activity. By down-regulating the activity of a target that normally exerts negative feedback or a limiting effect on a relevant neural circuit, the activity of the circuit may be increased.

Abstract: A web application security scanner (WASS) includes a login manager configured to perform an automated login to a web site. The automated login may be performed when the login manager detects that a login session has ended. The login manager is configured to determine credentials for the web site to allow the WASS to access the web site. The WASS may then use the credentials to continue scanning the web site. Thus, previously unscannable web pages may be accessed in the web site because of the automated login process.

Abstract: A method for reading data in an integrated circuit includes receiving a read command, which is associated with an enhanced data read, and receiving a first address from a plurality of input/output pins. The method includes receiving a first performance enhancement indicator and determining whether an enhanced read operation is to be performed based on at least information associated with the first performance enhancement indicator. The method includes waiting n clock cycles, where n is an integer, then outputting data from a memory array in the integrated circuit using the plurality of input/output pins concurrently. The method also includes performing an enhanced read operation, if it is determined that the enhanced read operation is to be performed. In an embodiment of the method, performing an enhanced read operation includes receiving a second address and a second performance enhance indicator without receiving a read command.

Abstract: Surface mounted lighting fixtures having a troffer channel and a frame that extends around the troffer channel. The troffer channel includes a top wall and side walls. To impart a “back” to the fixture, the troffer channel is positioned in the frame so that the upper surface of the lighting fixture is defined by the top wall of the troffer channel and so that the fixture is mounted to a ceiling via the top wall of the troffer channel. The side walls of the troffer channel are preferably angled relative to the top wall to reflect light out of the fixture as desired. Tie brackets, lamp holder brackets, electrical components, and traditional louvers and lensed door components may be supported by the lighting fixture. An installation bracket may be provided to facilitate installation of the lighting fixture.

Abstract: Recording devices with adjustable and lockable recording medium width guides, and support mechanisms for adjustable and lockable recording medium width guides are disclosed. A recording device includes a pair of recording medium width guides that control the widthwise position of a recording medium upon discharge from the recording device. A support mechanism supports the width guides and can lock the position of the width guides. The support mechanism includes a pair of sliding members individually coupled with one of the width guides, and a pressure member that clamps the sliding members together at a position where the sliding members overlap. The pressure member is configurable to clamp the sliding members together, and to unclamp the sliding members.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and kits for the selective ablation of pain-sensing neurons. The methods comprise administration of a vanilloid receptor agonist to a ganglion in an amount that causes death of vanilloid receptor-bearing neurons. Accordingly, the present invention provides methods of controlling pain and inflammatory disorders that involve activation of vanilloid receptor-bearing neurons.

Abstract: A method of treating a metal surface of a portion of a substrate processing system to lower a defect concentration near a processed surface of a substrate includes forming a protective coating on the metal surface, wherein the protective coating includes nickel (Ni) and a fluoropolymer. Forming the protective coating on the metal surface can further include forming a nickel layer on the metal surface, impregnating the nickel layer with a fluoropolymer, and removing fluoropolymer from the surface leaving a predominantly nickel surface so the fluoropolymer is predominantly subsurface. A substrate processing system includes a process chamber into which a reactant gas is introduced, a pumping system for removing material from the process chamber, a first component with a protective coating, wherein the protective coating forms a surface of the component which is exposed to an interior of the substrate processing chamber or an interior of the pumping system.