Abstract: A fingerprint sensing module includes a sensor substrate having a sensing side and a circuit side, an image sensor including conductive traces on the circuit side of the sensor substrate, and a sensor circuit including at least one integrated circuit mounted on the circuit side of the sensor substrate and electrically connected to the image sensor. The sensor substrate may be a flexible substrate. The module may include a velocity sensor on the sensor substrate or on a separate substrate. The module may further include a rigid substrate, and the sensor substrate may be affixed to the rigid substrate.

Abstract: A system and method provides analysis of pre- and post-project effects on frequency and severity of operational loss. The method includes the computation of the frequency of incidents and the severity of incidents for equipment based on recorded incident data. Risk, a function of frequency and severity, is calculated before and after a project to determine if the project has changed the risk of an incident in a piece of equipment or facility and if the project has changed the nature of risk (i.e. increasing severity while decreasing frequency). The method may be used to compute forecast estimates of future operational losses, assess goals for improving current performance relative to demonstrated industry performance, and determine statistical confidence intervals of forecast such that risk, and changes in risk, may be visually quantified and communicated.

Abstract: Electrolyte for lithium secondary batteries and battery packs includes a lithium salt, a non-aqueous solvent, and an additive. The additive includes two or more members selected from the group consisting of substances A, B and C, wherein A includes one or more fused ring compounds and fused heterocyclic compounds, B includes an alkoxy aromatic compound, and C includes halogenated borane-based salt.

Abstract: Expression systems are disclosed for the direct expression of peptide products into the culture media where genetically engineered host cells are grown. High yield was achieved with a special selection of hosts, and/or fermentation processes which include careful control of cell growth rate, and use of an inducer during growth phase. Special universal cloning vectors are provided for the preparation of expression vectors which include control regions having multiple promoters linked operably with coding regions encoding a signal peptide upstream from a coding region encoding the peptide of interest. Multiple transcription cassettes are also used to increase yield. The production of amidated peptides using the expression systems is also disclosed.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention relate to a super-node formed from a plurality of nodes in a binary tree topology network. The super-node includes a multitasking computing system having a memory, and nodes running the computing system. Each of the nodes are adapted to be docked downtree of and with another node, and are adapted to be docked uptree of and with two other nodes. A first node in the plurality of nodes is docked downtree of and with a parent node running on a first separate computing system. Each node of the plurality of nodes except the first node is docked downtree of and with another one of the plurality of nodes. In this manner, a super-node is formed having more than two sockets available for connection with nodes not running on the multitasking computing system.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for iteratively encoding a portion of a signal are described in which the portion of the signal is quantised and an output bit count is estimated based on the sum of logarithms to base n of values of each sample in the plurality of quantised samples and the total number of samples. The output bit count corresponds to an estimate of the output bit count for the portion of the signal once encoded using a code, such as a Huffman code.

Abstract: The embodiments disclosed herein relate to hetero-nanostructures for efficient solar energy conversions, and more particularly to the fabrication of titanium dioxide hetero-nanostructures and methods of using same for water splitting. In an embodiment, a hetero-nanostructure includes a plurality of connected and spaced-apart nanobeams linked together at an about 90-degree angle, the plurality of nanobeams including a conductive silicide core having an n-type photoactive titanium dioxide shell.

Abstract: A helical multilevel cutting tool has high heat emission efficiency, great strength and excellent durability, and can be positioned easily during drilling operation. The cutting tool includes a cutter shank and a cutter head which are integrally formed, wherein the cutter head is provided with several helical pieces integrally, each helical piece has a cutting blade thereon, a heat emission platform is formed along the cutting blade, a second cutting blade which faces forwardly as viewed in the direction of the cutting operation is formed in front of the heat emission platform, and a cutting blade outer surface is formed between the heat emission platform front surface and the second cutting blade. An outer front cutting blade is formed on the top surface of the cutter head at a position where the blade meets the heat emission platform front surface, and a front cutting blade is formed between the second cutting blade and the center of the cutter head top surface.

Abstract: Systems and methods have been developed for displaying contextually relevant advertisements to users as media objects are being rendered. One or more data sources with contextual information for different portions of each media object are maintained. From this contextual information, keywords may be generated and used to locate contextually-related advertisements. The advertisements are selected based on contextual information about the media object in order to match or otherwise be contextually relevant with the media content being rendered. As the subject matter of the media object changes during rendering, different advertisements related to the new context are provided that replace the prior advertisement. The advertisements are displayed in an area that could be used for other purposes when the rendering device is not rendering media objects.

Abstract: In a laminate, comprising at least one series of metal layers and fiber-reinforced plastic layers which are attached to one another, at least two different series are provided, these series including a transition, and at the location of the transition at least one of the internal layers is discontinuous and all the other layers are continuous.

Abstract: The present invention provides peptides and pharmaceutical compositions thereof for appetite suppression and weight control. Preferred peptides are calcitonin analogs, preferably with specific amino acid changes to make the peptide more amylin-like.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards methods of making titanium diboride products in various sizes. An aspect of the method provides (a) selecting a target average particle size for a target titanium diboride product; (b) selecting at least one processing variable from the group consisting of: an amount of sulfur, an inert gas flow rate, a soak time, and a reaction temperature; (c) selecting a condition of the processing variable based upon the target average particle size; and (d) producing an actual titanium diboride product having an actual average particle size using the at least one processing variable, wherein due to the at least one processing variable, the actual average particle size corresponds to the target average particle size.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of fabricating closed-molded translucent fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) material and parts for use in various applications, such as for use in waterslides and architectural fascia and signage. The method includes: (a) providing a first mold half mateable with a second mold half to define a mold having an internal cavity; (b) disposing a glass fiber pre-form within the internal cavity of the mold, the glass fibers of the pre-form having a preselected refractive index; (c) selecting a transparent thermoset resin having a refractive index when cured that is substantially similar to the refractive index of the glass fibers of the pre-form; (d) injecting the thermoset resin into the internal cavity of the mold until the void space defined within the internal cavity is substantially filled with the resin; (e) allowing the resin to cure; and (f) removing the part from the mold.

Abstract: A valuation system determines in real-time values of plays occurring during games by identifying a play that occurred during a game. The system determines an expectation of scoring prior to the play occurring, and an expectation of scoring that results from the play occurring. The system then calculates a value of the play as the difference between the expectation of scoring that results from the play occurring and the expectation of scoring that existed prior to the play occurring, and any scoring generated by the play.

Abstract: A method of measuring chlorine concentration of a solution comprising making a first measurement of transmission of ultraviolet light at a selected wavelength through a first sample of said solution at a first temperature; making a second measurement of the transmission of ultraviolet light at said selected wavelength through a second sample of said solution at a second temperature, said second temperature being different than said first temperature; and determining the chlorine concentration in said solution using the results of said first and second measurements.

Abstract: An instrument gas conditioning system is provided. The system includes filtering, and optionally drying, a gas stream to obtain a filtered, and optionally dried, gas stream. The filtered, and optionally dried, gas stream is heated in a heater and then regulated through a regulator. The filtered, heated, regulated, and, optionally dried, gas stream may be used as instrumentation gas.

Abstract: A duct section and system, including a laminated shroud, acting as a secondary duct, for aerospace and other applications, and a method for constructing same. The duct structure incorporates a metallic primary duct tube, with a laminated shroud surrounding the primary duct tube and separated therefrom by an annular gap. The laminated shroud includes a metallic inner layer and a polymeric outer layer. Preferably, the thin metallic layer is a corrosion resistant material such as corrosion resistant stainless steel or titanium. In one embodiment of the invention, the outer polymeric layer is a polyimide material, such as polyimide resin-impregnated fiberglass cloth.

Abstract: Compositions for making wettable cathodes to be used in aluminum electrolysis cells are disclosed. The compositions generally include titanium diboride (TiB2) and metal additives. The amount of selected metal additives may result in production of electrodes having a tailored density and/or porosity. The electrodes may be durable and used in aluminum electrolysis cells.

Abstract: A method of computerized monitoring of investment trading includes providing historic trading data for a specific trader, selecting a plurality of trading parameters for the specific trader and obtaining current information regarding the selected parameters, and/or providing historic trading data and applying rules to the current information and/or historic trading data to determine if a rules violation has occurred. The system may be employed to monitor whether market timing of mutual fund investments has occurred. A corresponding computerized system is disclosed.