Abstract: A folding chair that may be positioned in a folded position or a working position. The chair includes a front leg assembly that has first and second legs and a rear leg assembly that has third and fourth legs with first and second shafts slidably mounted therein. The first and second shafts are pivotably attached to the front leg assembly. A first cap is mounted on a pivot end of each of the third and fourth legs. A second cap is mounted on a proximal end of each of the first and second shafts. The second caps engage the first caps when the chair is in the working position and the first and second caps are spaced apart from each other when the chair is in the folded position. A locking assembly connects to at least one of the first and second shafts.

Abstract: A portable electronic display device includes an electronic display surface having at least one display panel that displays a graphical and/or textual message, memory that stores a plurality of the messages, and one or more switches on the device that allow user selection of one of the messages. The device further includes a controller that disables the one or more switches if none of the switches are selected after a predetermined period of time after power is turned on to the display device, or if none of the switches are selected after a predetermined period of time subsequent to the last switch selection occurrence. In this manner, a person is prevented from subsequently changing the message via the one or more switches.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is provided for selecting a recommended investment portfolio based in part on socially responsible considerations. A portfolio of securities is identified for potential inclusion in the recommended investment portfolio. Socially responsible investing (SRI) scores are provided for the identified securities, and the identified securities are ranked relative to each other based on their SRI scores in a computerized ranking engine. A processor receives an entry of initial weightings for each of the identified securities, or data by which initial weightings for each of the identified securities can be objectively calculated; the ranking of the identified securities based on their SRI scores; and an SRI multiplier algorithm that is correlated with the relative ranking. The initial weightings or the data are unadjusted by socially responsible considerations.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods of preparing substrates that enhance the Raman signal of analytes in surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The SERS-active substrate comprises an array of metal nanoparticles at least partially embedded in a template. The substrate's uniform and readily reproducible SERS-active properties with a wide range of analyte concentrations substantially enhance the power and utility of SERS. This invention also provides sensors, as well as Raman instruments, comprising the SERS-active substrates.

Abstract: A light source presuming apparatus includes: a candidate light source color obtaining unit which obtains candidate light source colors; a guide light source color holding unit which holds guide light source colors for guiding obtainment of parameters of a color adaptation model showing color adaptation of the sight sense from the candidate light source colors to a reference light source color; a guide parameter obtaining unit which obtains such parameters so as to be guided to the guide light source colors; an error converging unit which obtains light source colors, as correction candidate light source colors, having the relation showing the color adaptation of the sight sense with the reference light source color by using the color adaptation model shown by guide parameters, substitutes the correction candidate light source colors for the candidate light source colors, and converges errors included in the candidate light source colors; and a light source color presuming unit which presumes the correction can

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for measuring trace ingredients in water, which make it possible to perform detection and quantitative determination of silica, phosphorus or arsenic in a sample solution. The method includes adding a molybdate ion to a sample solution under an acidic condition, then adding a fluorescent counter cationic pigment thereto, and measuring the time required for the fluorescence emitted by the resultant solution to be attenuated to a prescribed intensity. The measuring apparatus includes an excitation light source which irradiates excitation light to the above-modified solution; a fluorescence detector which detects the fluorescence emitted by the solution; means for measuring the time required for the fluorescence detected by the fluorescence detector to be attenuated to a prescribed intensity; and control means for determining the concentration of silica, phosphorus or arsenic in the sample solution from the time measurement.

Abstract: A first end position in a widthwise direction of a medium at a first position in a lengthwise direction of the medium, while a second end position in the widthwise direction of the medium at a second position in the lengthwise direction of the medium, and a comparison of the detected first end position with the detected second end position is performed to make predetermined processing according to the compared result.