Abstract: A water-soluble extract of asiaticoside and madecassoside from Centella asiatica and an isolating method thereof. In the isolating method an aqueous alcohol containing Centella asiatica is subjected to cold-precipitation to obtain an extract. The extract in the aqueous alcohol is treated with a halogenide solvent for layer separation, and then the aqueous layer is extracted with a higher alcohol. The extract in the alcohol layer is washed first with sodium hydroxide and then with water. After being concentrated, the extract is crystallized with ethyl acetate to obtain crystals and the crystals are washed. A method for treating liver cells in a mammal includes administering to a mammal an effective amount of the extract from Centella asiatica containing asiaticoside and madecassoside.

Abstract: A ceramic substrate for an integrated circuit package comprising a mixture of MgO and a glass, where the material has a coefficient of expansion greater than about 5 PPM/° C. and less than about 16 PPM/° C. In one embodiment, the material includes a low temperature composition glass which sinters in the range of about 600-1400° C., and is provided with metal traces selected from the group consisting essentially of copper, silver, gold and alloys thereof. The material preferably includes 30-80 percent MgO by weight, and the low temperature composition glass sinters in the range of about 900-1100° C. In another embodiment, the material includes a high temperature composition glass which sinters in the range of 1400-1800° C., and wherein the coefficient of expansion of the material is greater than about 8 PPM/° C. and less than about 16 PPM/° C.

Abstract: A simple and novel device to remove staple from sheet binding stack of papers comprising of a thin blade having two serrated notches formed by inner 1 and outer members 9 and 10 has been designed. A thin inner blade member is adopted to go beneath the bridge 3 of the staple, lift the legs 7 and 8 of staple out of paper and exposing them for firmly grasping in the two notches 5 and 6 during removal of the staple. The predetermined notches and cross sectional shapes of inner and outer members help to grasp and entangle the leg of the staple and does not allow it to slip and break during removal. The grip provided by the notch and in combination with leverage provided by the inner member by lifting one side of the leg of the staple at a time results in less pin breakage, less slippage and easy removal.

Abstract: A currency converter consisting of a source of exchange rate information with either an object performing the role of currency selection, exchange rate information retrieval, and price display, or objects undertaking currency selection and exchange rate information retrieval and price display. Prices embedded within the document or environment are displayed in the default or selected currency. The appropriate currency for price display is selected by using methods such as a menu used by the user, or by reading system information to choose the currency. The exchange rate information is retrieved from the source of exchange rate information and is then passed to any other price display object or objects, and optionally, any other currency selection and exchange rate retrieval objects or currency selection, exchange rate information retrieval, and price display objects in the document or environment.

Abstract: A method for making an electrode for lithium secondary cells. Lithium and cobalt ions are co-precipitated in an alkaline solution in such a way that the ratio of the former to the latter is 1.05:1 or more and then, are thermally treated to give LiCoO2 powder. This ternary system compound is combined with a current collector and a binder. The electrode has an initial discharge capacity of 160 mAh/g and retains 90% of the initial capacity even after 400 times of charge/discharge cycle.

Abstract: An interferometric method and apparatus for in-situ monitoring of a thin film thickness and of etch and deposition rates using a pulsed flash lamp providing a high instantaneous power pulse and having a wide spectral width. The optical path between the flash lamp and a spectrograph used for detecting light reflected from a wafer is substantially transmissive to the ultraviolet range of the spectrum making available to the software algorithms operable to calculate film thickness and etch and deposition rates desirable wavelengths.

Abstract: A getter pump with high gas sorption velocity includes a cylindrical housing that has an open end and a closed end and defines a chamber with a central axis. Three to eight getter structures are disposed within the chamber. The getter structures are symmetrically arranged around the central axis of the chamber and are substantially parallel to the central axis of the chamber. Each of the getter structures includes a plurality of porous disks of getter material disposed on a central shaft. A heater is centrally disposed within the chamber such that the heater is substantially coaxial with the central axis of the chamber.

Abstract: A synthetic creature (10) in which links (26), representing limbs, are loosely connected by joints (28) to independently interact and implement the physics of everyday life-like actions (18) in a character (16). Elements of mass, positive weight (46), and negative weight (48) are independently handled to mimic the closed-loop control characteristics of real animals. The synthetic creature (10) uses intelligent appearing behaviors (20) built up out of the actions (18) and recursively arranged in a hierarchical behavior tree (72) to cooperate and compete in a run-time computer (202) to give a feeling of autonomy and awareness. Further taught is an authoring environment (200) of tools used to author the character (16), actions (18), and behaviors (20) of the synthetic creature (10), which provide author feedback and simulation testing capability at the various layers (12) of the synthetic creature (10).

Abstract: A video crane game including a display device, such as a video screen, for displaying images. A mechanical crane-like device provided over the display device includes an x-y assembly for allowing a player to control the movement of a selection head in an x-y plane. A z-movement device causes the selection head to move in a z-direction toward and away from the images of the display device. A sensor detects a location of the selection head with respect to the images displayed on the display device when the head is moved just above or contacts the display. A game controller controls the display of the images and determines a game outcome based on the location of the selection head with respect to the displayed images. The displayed images may include multiple selectable image targets, such as prize images associated with a prize, penalty areas, or images associated with a point score. A dispenser dispensing an award to a player of the game apparatus, such as tickets or prizes.

Abstract: Provided is an electrostatic discharge protection circuit according to the invention. In a drain between a gate and a contact plug which is electrically coupled to an input line, a plurality of shallow trench isolation regions are alternately formed in a shape of lattices for extending a current flow path and efficiently increasing a dissipation length. Therefore, a current caused by an electrostatic discharge can be uniformly distributed, so that the inventive electrostatic discharge protection circuit can have an enhanced protective capability.

Abstract: A screw extruder (10) having a barrel (18) which has a bore (26) defining an inner surface (44) and one or more extruder screws (28), positioned within the bore (26). The extruder screw or screws (28) include a central shaft (34) and one or more screw flights (30). The extruder screw or screws (28) farther including one or more dispersive mixing elements (204), (234), (308), (406), (508), (558), which interact with the inner surface of the barrel (44) to form one or more progressively narrowing passages (46) through which material is forced into multiple regions of high elongational and shear stress (480, (120), (214), (310), (410), (510), (564).A second preferred embodiment is a screw extruder (10) having a barrel (18) having a bore (26) defining an inner surface (44) and one or more extruder screws (600), (701), positioned within the bore (26).

Abstract: A slurry providing system, located between a main slurry providing system and a CMP machine, includes a providing barrel, which can either be used as a buffer tank to provide slurry to the CMP machine with interruption, or as an independent backup tank for store slurry. The providing barrel also includes an impeller to stir slurry to prevent slurry deposition, and a liquid level sensor to monitor slurry level. The slurry providing system further includes a pump to continuously provide slurry from the providing barrel when the main slurry providing system is down. There is a pressure-regulating valve between the slurry providing system and the CMP machine.

Abstract: A system is disclosed that provides a goal based learning system utilizing a rule based expert training system to provide a cognitive educational experience. The system provides the user with a simulated environment that presents a business opportunity to understand and solve optimally. Mistakes are noted and remedial educational material presented dynamically to build the necessary skills that a user requires for success in the business endeavor. The system utilizes an artificial intelligence engine driving individualized and dynamic feedback with synchronized video and graphics used to simulate real-world environment and interactions. Multiple "correct" answers are integrated into the learning system to allow individualized learning experiences in which navigation through the system is at a pace controlled by the learner.

Abstract: A system is disclosed that facilitates web-based comparison shopping in conventional, physical, non-web retail environments. A wireless phone or similar hand-held wireless device with Internet Protocol capability is combined with a miniature barcode reader (installed either inside the phone or on a short cable) and utilized to obtain definitive product identification by, for example, scanning a Universal Product Code (UPC) bar code from a book or other product. The wireless device transmits the definitive product identifier to a service routine (running on a Web server), which converts it to (in the case of books) its International Standard Book Number or (in the case of other products) whatever identifier is appropriate. The service routine then queries the Web to find price, shipping and availability information on the product from various Web suppliers. This information is formatted and displayed on the hand-held device's screen. The user may then use the hand-held device to place an order interactively.

Abstract: A system and method for permitting a subject to interact with an electronic image. In one embodiment, the present invention obtains a first electronic image of a scene including the subject. An alpha image of the subject is generated. From the alpha image a characteristic of the subject is determined. The first characteristic is compared against a control box. The correlation between the first characteristic and the control box controls the interaction between the subject and the first electronic image. In another embodiment, the subject interacts with a second electronic image that is different from the first electronic image. In another embodiment, the interaction between the subject and the electronic image is the control of a cartoon character added to the electronic image. In a further embodiment, the cartoon character changes its appearance based upon the characteristic of the subject.

Abstract: A virtual computer monitor is described which enables instantaneous and intuitive visual access to large amounts of visual data by providing the user with a large display projected virtually in front of the user. The user wears a head-mounted display containing a head-tracker, which together allow the user to position an instantaneous viewport provided by the head-mounted display at any position within the large virtual display by turning to look in the desired direction. The instantaneous viewport further includes a mouse pointer, which may be positioned by turning the user's head, and which may be further positioned using a mouse or analogous control device. A particular advantage of the virtual computer monitor is intuitive access to enlarged computer output for visually-impaired individuals.

Abstract: A system is disclosed that provides a goal based learning system utilizing a rule based expert training system to provide a cognitive educational experience. The system provides the user with a simulated environment that presents a business opportunity to understand and solve optimally. Mistakes are noted and remedial educational material presented dynamically to build the necessary skills that a user requires for success in the business endeavor. The system utilizes an artificial intelligence engine driving individualized and dynamic feedback with synchronized video and graphics used to simulate real-world environment and interactions. Multiple "correct" answers are integrated into the learning system to allow individualized learning experiences in which navigation through the system is at a pace controlled by the learner.

Abstract: A playing device system can be used by a number of players with various playing devices at a distance from each other. Each of these devices can be connected to a common host computer via a remote data transmission system and they are controlled by a random symbol generator which determines a winning combination of symbols. In order to simplify the system, the symbol generator is assigned to the host computer, with the playing devices constituting a display indicating the winning combination of symbols generated by the random symbol generator and connected with an input device to participate in the continuous determination of the winnings.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for providing an animatable character displayed via a computer system. The character can be made animatable by utilizing ajoint which connects two portions of the character. When one portion of the character is rotated, or moved, with respect to the other portion of the character, then the dimensions of the portion which is being moved remain the same as prior to motion. Accordingly, the present invention can provide an animatable character by utilizing a single image of the character and moving various portions of the character while maintaining the integrity of the character's dimensions.

Abstract: An anti-fuse structure formed in accordance with the present invention includes a conductive layer base. A layer of anti-fuse material overlies the conductive base layer. On top of the anti-fuse layer is an insulating layer, in which a via hole is formed to the anti-fuse layer. The lateral dimension of the via hole is less than about 0.8 microns. Provided in the via hole is a conductive non-Al plug including a conductive barrier material such as TiN or TiW to contact the anti-fuse material and overlie the insulating layer. Tungsten is effectively used as the non-Al plug. An electrically conductive layer is formed over the plug and is separaged from the anti-fuse layer by at least one-half the depth of the via hole. The structure is then programmable by application of a programming voltage and readable by application of a sensing voltage, which is lower than the programming voltage.