Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes accessing, from a first sensor of a wearable device, motion data representing motion of a user and determining, from the motion data, an activity level of the user. The method includes selecting, based on the activity level, an activity-based technique for estimating the breathing rate of the user, which is used to determine a breathing rate of the user. The method further includes determining a quality associated with the breathing rate and comparing the determined quality with a threshold. If the determined quality is not less than the threshold, then the method includes using the determined breathing rate as a final breathing-rate determination for the user. If the determined quality is less than the threshold, then the method includes activating a second sensor of the wearable device and determining, based on data from the second sensor, a breathing rate for the user.

Abstract: Adaptive respiratory condition assessment can include capturing signals generated by sensors of a portable device positioned to sense a user's body. The sensors can generate the signals in response to sensor-detected movements of the user's body measured along multiple axes and corresponding to lung activity in the user's body during respiratory cycles. A preferred axis of measurement can be selected using signal processing performed by a signal processor embedded in the portable device. Waveforms generated from signals corresponding to signals generated in response to movements of the user's body measured along the preferred axis can be filtered for extracting biomarkers from the waveforms using the signal processor. The one or more biomarkers extracted correspond to the lung activity. Based on the biomarkers, a respiratory condition of the user can be determined. A notification based on the respiratory condition as determined can be generated and conveyed with the portable device.

Abstract: Adaptive respiratory condition assessment can include capturing signals generated by sensors of a portable device positioned to sense a user's body. The sensors can generate the signals in response to sensor-detected movements of the user's body measured along multiple axes and corresponding to lung activity in the user's body during respiratory cycles. A preferred axis of measurement can be selected using signal processing performed by a signal processor embedded in the portable device. Waveforms generated from signals corresponding to signals generated in response to movements of the user's body measured along the preferred axis can be filtered for extracting biomarkers from the waveforms using the signal processor. The one or more biomarkers extracted correspond to the lung activity. Based on the biomarkers, a respiratory condition of the user can be determined. A notification based on the respiratory condition as determined can be generated and conveyed with the portable device.

Abstract: A process for forming high surface area graphene structures includes: depositing at least one metal on a surface of silicon carbide; heating the at least one metal and the silicon carbide to cause at least one of the metals to react with a portion of the silicon carbide to form silicide regions extending into an unreacted portion of the silicon carbide and graphene disposed between the silicide regions and the unreacted portion of the silicon carbide; and removing the silicide regions to provide a silicon carbide structure having a highly irregular surface and a surface layer of graphene.

Abstract: A process for forming high surface area graphene structures includes: depositing at least one metal on a surface of silicon carbide; heating the at least one metal and the silicon carbide to cause at least one of the metals to react with a portion of the silicon carbide to form silicide regions extending into an unreacted portion of the silicon carbide and graphene disposed between the silicide regions and the unreacted portion of the silicon carbide; and removing the silicide regions to provide a silicon carbide structure having a highly irregular surface and a surface layer of graphene.

Abstract: A process for forming graphene, includes: depositing at least a first and a second metal onto a surface of silicon carbide (SiC), and heating the SiC and the first and second metals under conditions that cause the first metal to react with silicon of the silicon carbide to form carbon and at least one stable silicide. The corresponding solubilities of the carbon in the stable silicide and in the second metal are sufficiently low that the carbon produced by the silicide reaction forms a graphene layer on the SiC.

Abstract: A process for forming graphene, includes: depositing at least a first and a second metal onto a surface of silicon carbide (SiC), and heating the SiC and the first and second metals under conditions that cause the first metal to react with silicon of the silicon carbide to form carbon and at least one stable silicide. The corresponding solubilities of the carbon in the stable silicide and in the second metal are sufficiently low that the carbon produced by the silicide reaction forms a graphene layer on the SiC.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention pertain to preserving the privacy of users in on-line systems while also enabling verification that the users are who they purport to be. Confidential personal information may be communicated from a user to a trusted third party via a web-based application or other service. However, the personal information is encrypted so that the application or service is unable to access it. The trusted third party accesses the personal information and uses it to verify that a user ID such as an email address is associated with a particular user. This information is provided to the web-based application or service to certify the identity of the user. As a result, the application or server verifies to other users that the certified user is who he/she purports to be.

Abstract: A computer system includes an object oriented framework that provides a set of application integration interfaces that support programmatic updating operations for maintaining locally stored copies of resources such as hypertext document pages from remote servers on a computer network. The updating operations continually check for updates to the data at the remote server and download updated versions of the resources to maintain concurrency of the locally stored copy. The updating operations are performed while a connection to the remote network is left idle, to maximize usage of on-line connection time. The updating operations also can be programmatically scheduled by a client program of the updating operations. The updating operations include updating the contents of a folder or directory in a local file system as specified in a file at a remote server on the network, and providing automatically updating and populating groups of sites or document pages organized by category.

Abstract: A computer system includes an object oriented framework that provides a set of application integration interfaces that support programmatic updating operations for maintaining locally stored copies of resources such as hypertext document pages from remote servers on a computer network. The updating operations continually check for updates to the data at the remote server and download updated versions of the resources to maintain concurrency of the locally stored copy. The updating operations are performed while a connection to the remote network is left idle, to maximize usage of on-line connection time. The updating operations also can be programmatically scheduled by a client program of the updating operations. The updating operations include updating the contents of a folder or directory in a local file system as specified in a file at a remote server on the network, and providing automatically updating and populating groups of sites or document pages organized by category.

Abstract: A computer system includes an object oriented framework that provides a set of application integration interfaces that support programmatic updating operations for maintaining locally stored copies of resources such as hypertext document pages from remote servers on a computer network. The updating operations continually check for updates to the data at the remote server and download updated versions of the resources to maintain concurrency of the locally stored copy. The updating operations are performed while a connection to the remote network is left idle, to maximize usage of on-line connection time. The updating operations also can be programmatically scheduled by a client program of the updating operations. The updating operations include updating the contents of a folder or directory in a local file system as specified in a file at a remote server on the network, and providing automatically updating and populating groups of sites or document pages organized by category.

Abstract: A computer system includes an object oriented framework that provides a set of application integration interfaces that support programmatic updating operations for maintaining locally stored copies of resources such as hypertext document pages from remote servers on a computer network. The updating operations continually check for updates to the data at the remote server and download updated versions of the resources to maintain concurrency of the locally stored copy. The updating operations are performed while a connection to the remote network is left idle, to maximize usage of on-line connection time. The updating operations also can be programmatically scheduled by a client program of the updating operations. The updating operations include updating the contents of a folder or directory in a local file system as specified in a file at a remote server on the network, and providing automatically updating and populating groups of sites or document pages organized by category.

Abstract: A computer system includes an object oriented framework that provides a set of application integration interfaces that support programmatic updating operations for maintaining locally stored copies of resources such as hypertext document pages from remote servers on a computer network. The updating operations continually check for updates to the data at the remote server and download updated versions of the resources to maintain concurrency of the locally stored copy. The updating operations are performed while a connection to the remote network is left idle, to maximize usage of on-line connection time. The updating operations also can be programmatically scheduled by a client program of the updating operations. The updating operations include updating the contents of a folder or directory in a local file system as specified in a file at a remote server on the network, and providing automatically updating and populating groups of sites or document pages organized by category.