Abstract: A system of hardware and software provides a systematic and systemic method for performing assessment the effectiveness of different levels within an institution. The system includes template driven definitions that span multiple tiers of hierarchically arranged operating units within the institution thereby providing flexibility and customization to handle a user-definable model of the institution's organization. In particular, a model is stored of a plurality of organizational levels of the institution, wherein each organizational level includes at least one respective, associated node. For any node, at least one customizable assessment project associated with that node is created and presented to a user; then, the at least one customizable assessment project is completed based, at least in part, on first input received from the user.

Abstract: A method of treating or preventing age-related retinal dysfunction involves administering to a patient a pharmaceutically effective amount of a synthetic retinal derivative repeatedly over a duration of at least about 3 months. Effective synthetic retinal derivatives include 9-cis-retinyl esters, 11-cis-retinyl esters, derivatives and congeners thereof, and combinations thereof. Suitable ester substituents include carboxylates of C1-C10 monocarboxylic acids and C2-C22 polycarboxylic acids.

Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine is disclosed which is able to operate with high combustion efficiency, and low nitrous oxide emissions during gas turbine operations. The combustor consists of a can-type configuration which combusts fuel premixed with air and delivers the hot gases to a turbine. Fuel is premixed with air and is delivered to the combustor with a high degree of swirl motion. This swirling mixture of reactants is conveyed through a flowpath that expands; the mixture reacts, and establishes a central recirculation zone. An imperforate trapped vortex cavity is disposed proximal to the swirler apparatus which provides for a second reaction zone. Fresh fuel/air reactants are exchanged with burned products in the trapped vortex and a pilot flame is established in the trapped cavity. The imperforate trapped cavity is not supplied with either fuel or air, but is cooled on a backside of the cavity with a flow of cooling air.

Abstract: An extreme ultra violet light source apparatus by which EUV light can be efficiently obtained uses a driver laser which can realize a desired pulse width with substantially homogeneous intensity. The apparatus generates extreme ultra violet light by applying a laser beam to a target, and includes a chamber in which extreme ultra violet light is generated; a target supply unit which supplies a liquid or solid metal target to a predetermined position within the chamber; a laser beam generating unit which synthesizes pulse laser beams having delays different from one another to generate a single pulse laser beam or a pulse train laser beam having substantially homogeneous intensity, and applies the laser beam to the target supplied by the target supply unit to generate plasma; and a collector mirror which collects the extreme ultra violet light radiated from the plasma and outputs it.

Abstract: Exemplary systems and methods for LED light engines include an LED package with electrical leads, each lead forming a compliant portion for making electrical and mechanical connection upon insertion into a receptacle of a circuit substrate. In an illustrative example, the electrical and mechanical connections may be formed upon the insertion of the compliant portion into the receptacle and without further process steps involving solder. Various examples may further include an elongated thermal dissipation member extending from a bottom of a package that contains the LED, where the elongated thermal member (e.g., tab) may be in substantial thermal communication with the LED die. As an example, the tab may provide a substantially reduced thermal impedance for dissipating heat from the LED die. Upon insertion into a circuit substrate, the LED package may be releasable by mechanical extraction without applied heat to facilitate repair or replacement, for example.

Abstract: A charged particle beam apparatus can be constructed with a smaller size (resulting in a small installation space) and a lower cost, suppress vibration, operate at higher speed, and be reliable in inspection. The charged particle beam apparatus is largely effective when a wafer having a large diameter is used. The charged particle beam apparatus includes: a plurality of inspection mechanisms, each of which is mounted on a vacuum chamber and has a charged particle beam mechanism for performing at least an inspection on the sample; a single-shaft transfer mechanism that moves the sample between the inspection mechanisms in the direction of an axis of the single-shaft transfer mechanism; and a rotary stage that mounts the sample thereon and has a rotational axis on the single-shaft transfer mechanism. The single-shaft transfer mechanism moves the sample between the inspection mechanisms in order that the sample is placed under any of the inspection mechanisms.

Abstract: A device and method for fluorescence observation have good operability, high sensitivity, and high acid reliability. The device is used for fluorescence observation using evanescent light. The angle of incidence of the excitation light is adjusted so that the excitation light is totally reflected from the surface of a substrate irrespective of the angle of the substrate surface. The method includes a step of shining the excitation light on the observation substrate while continuously varying the angle of the excitation light with respect to the observation substrate. In addition, the method includes a step of sensing the shone excitation light via optical sensors, and a step of setting the angle of total reflection according to the result of the sensing by the optical sensors. In the present device and method, the direction in which the shone excitation light travels varies with the angle of incidence.

Abstract: Provided is a white LED including a reflector cup; an LED chip mounted on the bottom surface of the reflector cup; transparent resin surrounding the LED chip; a phosphor layer formed on the transparent resin; and a light transmitting layer that is inserted into the surface of the phosphor layer so as to form an embossing pattern on the surface, the light transmitting layer transmitting light, incident from the phosphor layer, in the upward direction.

Abstract: A Comprehensive Neuromuscular Profiler (CNMP) allows the observation of human and equine muscle functionality and characteristics. The CNMP consists of an integrated system which combines EMG technology, electromagnetic range-of-motion (ROM) technology, and functional capacity sensors. Output signals from the devices are digitized and stored in computer memory. The data may be transmitted to a server computer for further analysis. The server computer examines the data to determine patterns and consults an expert database to determine a diagnosis based on the patterns and combinations of patterns detected.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mechanical drum brake capable of returning brake shoes into the initial position thereof when the braking operation is released. In the mechanical drum, the brake shoes are smoothly returned to the initial position thereof due to leaf springs, which are fixed to the back plate and interpose an adjusting nut of an adjuster therebetween, when braking is released.

Abstract: A radar absorbing composite includes a (CNT)-infused fiber material disposed in at least a portion of a matrix material. The composite absorbs radar in a frequency range from about 0.10 Megahertz to about 60 Gigahertz. The CNT-infused fiber material forms a first layer that reduces radar reflectance and a second layer that dissipates the energy of the radar. A method of manufacturing this composite includes disposing a CNT-infused fiber material in a portion of a matrix material with a controlled orientation of the CNT-infused fiber material within the matrix material, and curing the matrix material. The composite can be formed into a panel which is adaptable as a structural component of a transport vessel or missile for use in stealth applications.

Abstract: Correcting a time of reception of a data packet is disclosed. A radio-frequency input is converted to a data-output signal. A data clock is recovered from the data-output signal. A phase offset is measured between the data-output signal and the data clock. A time of reception is corrected based at least in part on a timestamp. The timestamp is a sampled value of a counter at a time of reception of a data packet and the phase offset. The time correction can be used to calculate a distance estimate.

Abstract: A fin-semiconductor region (13) is formed on a substrate (11). A first impurity which produces a donor level or an acceptor level in a semiconductor is introduced in an upper portion and side portions of the fin-semiconductor region (13), and oxygen or nitrogen is further introduced as a second impurity in the upper portion and side portions of the fin-semiconductor region (13).

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to systems and methods for providing tailored RF pulse trains, based on estimated B0 and B1 profiles, for uniform saturation for MRI techniques. The tailored pulse trains are optimized to minimize residual longitudinal magnetization in target tissue. The B0 and B1 profiles can be measured a priori over a desired region of a patient, e.g., the heart, and can overcome or mitigate SAR and B1 inhomogeneity constraints. In exemplary embodiments, the tailored pulse trains can include hard pulses with unequal weighting. In other embodiments, the tailored pulse trains can include BIR-4 pulse trains that are optimized to minimize residual longitudinal magnetization in target tissue. The tailored pulse train designs can improve the immunity to B1 variation while maintaining low RF power. MRI systems, methods, and controllers for providing tailored pulse trains are described.

Abstract: A semiconductor device for transmitting-signal amplification which has a fine resolution, a high dynamic range, a small occupied area, and low power consumption, is realized. An input signal amplitude is reduced every one half by a ladder network, and a transconductance amplifier stage is arranged corresponding to each node of the ladder network. An output of the transconductance amplifier stage is coupled to an output signal line in common. According to a control word WC<21:0>, the transconductance amplifier stage is enabled selectively, and the output current which appears in the output signal line is added.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for a limiting amplifier with improved phase noise. The improved limiting amplifier includes an input port, an output port, and one or more cascaded gain stages. The input of a first gain stage is connected to the input port of the limiting amplifier. The output of a last gain stage is connected to the output port of the limiting amplifier. Among the cascaded gain stages, an output of each gain stage is connected to an input of an adjacent gain stage. Each gain stage i, 1<i<n?1, is configured so that it is capable of selecting at least one lowpass filter corner frequency ?pi, and thereby reducing the phase noise of the gain stage through the broadband noise reduction for frequencies greater than ?pi. Here, ?pi is selected from a plurality of values associated with the gain stage to optimize the phase noise of the limiting amplifier by trading off reducing the broadband noise of the gain stage versus maintaining a sufficient output slew-rate of the gain stage.

Abstract: An electret condenser includes a fixed film 110 including a conductive film 118 to be an upper electrode, a vibrating film 112 including a lower electrode 104 and a silicon oxide film 105 to be an electret film, and a silicon oxide film 108 provided between the fixed film 110 and the vibrating film 112 and including an air gap 109. Respective parts of the fixed film 110 and the vibrating film 112 exposed in the air gap 109 are formed of silicon nitride films 106 and 114.

Abstract: Each of memory cells (MC) includes one transistor and one resistance variable element. The transistor includes a first main terminal, a second main terminal and a control terminal. The resistance variable element includes a first electrode, a second electrode and a resistance variable layer provided between the first electrode and the second electrode. A first main terminal of one of two adjacent memory cells is connected to a second main terminal of the other memory cell, to form a series path (SP) sequentially connecting main terminals of the plurality of memory cells in series.