Abstract: A melt spinnable fiber is provided that comprises a first component comprising a thermoplastic polymer, and a second component comprising thermoplastic starch where the second component is not encompassed by another component or components or if encompassed by another component or components then the second component encompasses a hollow core. A particular use of such a fiber is for removal of the second component in the presence of a solvent in order to produce fibers with desired properties. An agent may be present in the second component for controlling the rate of removal of the second component thereby allowing for physical manipulation of the fiber prior to complete removal of the component. The invention is also directed to nonwoven webs and disposable articles comprising the fibers.

Abstract: An image capture device includes a camera lens configured to capture image data, a microphone configured to receive a voice command from a user, a network interface configured to establish a network connection, a memory storing a computer program, and a processor configured to execute the computer program. The computer program is configured to identify a target subject and an image capture function included in the voice command using natural language processing (NLP). The computer program is configured to search a first database for the target subject and search a second database for the target subject, extract a visual representation of the target subject, detect the target subject in an environment viewed through camera lens, apply the image capture function to the target subject detected in the environment, and capture the image data. The image data includes the target subject with the image capture function applied to the target subject.

Abstract: An absorbent article of the present invention may comprise a topsheet, an outer cover, and an absorbent core disposed therebetween. The outer cover may comprise an extrusion bonded laminate. The EBL may comprise a multi-layer coextruded elastomeric film and a nonwoven. The film may comprise a core layer, a first outer layer, and a second outer layer, wherein the core layer is between the first and second outer layers. The nonwoven may comprise fibers and/or filaments. The first outer layer may be non-adhesively joined to the nonwoven via extrusion coating. Further, the outer cover may be elastic to at least about 50% engineering strain. The nonwoven may have high chemical affinity for the first outer layer. The first outer layer may have a low chemical affinity for the core layer. And, the first outer layer may comprise an amount of draw down polymer greater than about 45 wt %.

Abstract: An image capture device includes a camera lens capturing image data, a microphone receiving a voice command from a user, a network interface, a memory storing a computer program, and a processor configured to execute the computer program. The computer program is configured to identify a target subject and an image capture function based on the voice command and user preference data. The computer program is configured to search a first database for the target subject and search a second database for the target subject, extract a visual representation of the target subject, detect the target subject in an environment viewed through camera lens, and apply the image capture function to the target subject detected in the environment. It is determined if image data is captured by the user and the user preference data is updated based on whether the image data is captured or not.

Abstract: An image capture device includes a camera lens configured to capture image data, a microphone configured to receive a voice command from a user, a network interface configured to establish a network connection, a memory storing a computer program, and a processor configured to execute the computer program. The computer program is configured to identify a target subject and an image capture function included in the voice command using natural language processing (NLP). The computer program is configured to search a first database for the target subject and search a second database for the target subject, extract a visual representation of the target subject, detect the target subject in an environment viewed through camera lens, apply the image capture function to the target subject detected in the environment, and capture the image data. The image data includes the target subject with the image capture function applied to the target subject.

Abstract: An image capture device includes a camera lens. A microphone receives a voice command from a user. A network interface establishes a network connection. A memory stores a computer program. A processor executes the computer program to receive the voice command, parse at least one image capture goal of the user and capture image data of a scene observed by a camera lens. Image features are extracted from the scene including a target subject. A first local database is searched for the target subject. A second remote database is searched for the target subject when the target subject is not found. First quality features are extracted from the scene. Second quality features are loaded from a features database. The first and second quality features are compared. Image capture settings adjustment advice is generated based on the image capture goal, the image features, and the first and second quality features.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a catalytic complex comprising a metal, one or more ligands and one or more counterions, wherein said one or more ligands include a non-racemic chiral ligand and wherein said one or more counterions include a triflimide counterion. Also provided are methods of making said catalytic complex and processes for producing chiral compounds which involve the use of said catalytic complex. In addition, the present invention provides compounds of the formula (2) as defined herein. The compounds of formula (2) may be useful as ligands in catalytic complexes.

Abstract: Absorbent articles comprising a multilayer outer cover comprising a first outer layer and a second outer layer comprising a component that exhibits at least partial elastic recovery after mechanical activation in the machine direction; an inner layer, disposed between the first outer layer and the second outer layer, the inner layer comprising elastic strands; and wherein at least one of the first outer layer and second outer layer is laminated to the inner layer.

Abstract: Database access is described, for example, where data in a database is accessed by an inference engine. In various examples, the inference engine executes inference algorithms to access data from the database and carry out inference using the data. In examples the inference algorithms are compiled from a schema of the database which is annotated with expressions of probability distributions over data in the database. In various examples the schema of the database is modified by adding one or more latent columns or latent tables to the schema for storing data to be inferred by the inference engine. In examples the expressions are compositional so, for example, an expression annotating a column of a database table may be used as part of an expression annotating another column of the database.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention include elastomeric films with a basis weight of about 40 gsm or less or about 25 gsm or less. Other embodiments include elastomeric laminates comprising the elastomeric film bonded to one or more substrates (such as nonwoven fabrics). Methods of the making the elastomeric films and elastomeric laminates are also provided.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a catalytic complex comprising a metal, one or more ligands and one or more counterions, wherein said one or more ligands include a non-racemic chiral ligand and wherein said one or more counterions include a triflimide counterion. Also provided are methods of making said catalytic complex and processes for producing chiral compounds which involve the use of said catalytic complex. In addition, the present invention provides compounds of the formula (2) as defined herein. The compounds of formula (2) may be useful as ligands in catalytic complexes.

Abstract: An absorbent article of the present invention may comprise a topsheet, an outer cover, and an absorbent core disposed therebetween. The outer cover may comprise an extrusion bonded laminate. The EBL may comprise a multi-layer coextruded elastomeric film and a nonwoven. The film may comprise a core layer, a first outer layer, and a second outer layer, wherein the core layer is between the first and second outer layers. The nonwoven may comprise fibers and/or filaments. The first outer layer may be non-adhesively joined to the nonwoven via extrusion coating. Further, the outer cover may be elastic to at least about 50% engineering strain. The nonwoven may have high chemical affinity for the first outer layer. The first outer layer may have a low chemical affinity for the core layer; and the multi-layer coextruded elastomeric film may have a basis weight no greater than about 40 gsm.

Abstract: Absorbent articles in which the outer cover has an extrusion bonded laminate.

Abstract: An outer cover for use with an absorbent article having a layer of nonwoven fibrous material and optionally including a polymeric layer laminated or printed onto the layer of nonwoven fibrous material. The outer cover includes at least one plastic component and at least one elastic component in the nonwoven fibrous material and/or optional polymeric layer. The outer cover can have different structural combinations of spunbond fibers, meltblown fibers, and/or nanofibers. The combination of plastic and elastic components results in an outer cover that has favorable mechanical, physical, and aesthetic properties. The outer cover can be rendered either uniaxially or biaxially stretchable via a mechanical activation process.

Abstract: A melt spinnable fiber is provided that comprises a first component comprising a thermoplastic polymer, and a second component comprising thermoplastic starch where the second component is not encompassed by another component or components or if encompassed by another component or components then the second component encompasses a hollow core. A particular use of such a fiber is for removal of the second component in the presence of a solvent in order to produce fibers with desired properties. An agent may be present in the second component for controlling the rate of removal of the second component thereby allowing for physical manipulation of the fiber prior to complete removal of the component. The invention is also directed to nonwoven webs and disposable articles comprising the fibers.

Abstract: A system and method for investment fund management are provided. The method includes: determining a set of investment strategies based on a predetermined criterion; determining a performance predictor for each investment strategy in the set, wherein the performance predictor is normalized to take into account market conditions; and selecting at least one investment strategy for the investment fund from the set of investment strategies based on the performance predictor. The system includes: a data subsystem configured to receive and store data related to investment strategies; a connection module configured to provide the data subsystem access to external systems; and at least one analyzer, having at least one processor and at least one computational subsystem.

Abstract: An aircraft pylon for mounting a dual-flow or triple-flow jet engine, the pylon including an upper surface for connection to the aircraft, two side flanks, and a flange on the lower portion of the pylon. The pylon further includes at least one portion that extends downstream from the cold flow nozzle of the jet engine and lies in the cold flow and, on the portion thereof extending into the cold flow beyond the nozzle, at least one opening, positioned on one of the flanks of the pylon, by which an air stream is injected into or drawn from the gas flow that flows along the flanks of the pylon.

Abstract: Database access is described, for example, where data in a database is accessed by an inference engine. In various examples, the inference engine executes inference algorithms to access data from the database and carry out inference using the data. In examples the inference algorithms are compiled from a schema of the database which is annotated with expressions of probability distributions over data in the database. In various examples the schema of the database is modified by adding one or more latent columns or latent tables to the schema for storing data to be inferred by the inference engine. In examples the expressions are compositional so, for example, an expression annotating a column of a database table may be used as part of an expression annotating another column of the database.

Abstract: Absorbent articles having a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between said topsheet and said backsheet are disclosed. The absorbent articles include a plasto-elastic material joined to or disposed on at least one of component of the absorbent article to impart sizing or shaping capabilities to the article. The plasto-elastic material has substantially plastic properties when said absorbent article is subjected to an initial strain cycle, for example, when the article is placed on a wearer, and has substantially elastic properties when subjected to a second strain cycle such as when the article is subsequently adjusted to conform to the size of the wearer. The absorbent article can be in the form of diapers, pull-on diapers, training pants, sanitary napkins, wipes, bibs, incontinence briefs or inserts.

Abstract: An absorbent article comprising a topsheet, an outer cover, at least one chassis component, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and outer cover, wherein at least one of the outer cover or chassis component comprises a laminate comprising at least one nonwoven layer and at least one multilayer film, wherein the multilayer film has at least four layers and comprises at least one inner layer comprising one or more elastomeric components, at least one outer layer comprising a plastoelastic component, and at least one additional polymeric layer that is disposed next to an inner layer