Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for forming a stratified cementitious body comprising placing a cementitious slurry comprising a cementitious binder, to form the body in a single pour and curing the slurry to form a stratified cementitious body. The method may also comprise the steps of mixing a cementitious binder and at least one aggregate material with water to form a slurry, pouring the slurry into a mold, allowing the slurry to stratify into layers under the influence of gravitational forces and/or buoyancy forces, optionally applying vibrations to the slurry to encourage the slurry to stratify into layers, and curing the slurry to form a stratified cementitious body.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compounds represented by a formula: R1—O-A-C?C-D, where R1, A, and D are defined as described herein. Compositions and light-emitting devices related thereto are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed, such as those involving a solid state memory device that includes a status register configured to be read with a combined parallel and serial read scheme. One such solid state memory includes a status register configured to store a plurality of bits indicative of status information of the memory. One such method of providing status information in the memory device includes providing the status information of a memory device in a parallel form. The method also includes providing the status information in a serial form after providing the status information in a parallel form in response to receiving at least one read command.

Abstract: An electronic catalog system monitors browsing actions of users to generate user activity data. A data mining component analyzes the user activity data to generate conditional probability data that is presented to users contextually to assist users in selecting items from the electronic catalog. The conditional probability data reflects the frequencies with which users that have performed specific actions, such as viewing a particular item, set of items or web page, or conducting a specific search, have thereafter acquired specific items from the catalog. For example, in one embodiment, when a user selects a first item for viewing in the catalog, the user is notified, for at least one second item, of a frequency with which users who have viewed the first item and then made a purchase have acquired the second item.

Abstract: The present application is directed toward fire-rated wall construction components and wall systems for use in building construction. Embodiments can include tracks for holding studs which incorporate various geometries capable of receiving fire-retardant material, flat straps for use between tracks and fluted wall components, fire sponges for use in fluted wall components, and tracks with protruding grooves or other structures which prevent unwanted air movement between a wallboard component and the track.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for electronic amplification are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes providing a first differential amplification block, providing a second differential amplification block, electrically connecting the first and second differential amplification blocks in a stack between a first voltage reference and a second voltage reference, amplifying a first signal using the first differential amplification block, and amplifying a second signal using the second differential amplification block. A voltage difference between the first and second voltage references defines a power supply voltage, and the first differential amplification block operates over a first range of the power supply voltage and the second differential amplification block operates over a second range of the power supply voltage.

Abstract: Improved user interfaces and methods are provided for presenting item recommendations to a user when the user selects an item to add to an electronic shopping cart. In response to the user's selection, a page generation process generates and returns a page that includes a condensed shopping cart portion and a recommendations portion. The condensed shopping cart portion displays the contents of the shopping cart, but omits some of the item information and/or controls provided on a shopping cart page, thereby preserving more screen real estate for the display of item recommendations. The condensed shopping cart portion also includes a link to the shopping cart page.

Abstract: An application liquid capable of forming a dense silica-based coating film even when embedded into a fine groove, and a method for formation of a silica-based coating film using the application liquid are provided. An application liquid is used including (A) a siloxane polymer, and (B) a base generator represented by the following general formula (I): wherein, R1 and R2 are a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms and which may be the same or different; or one of R1 and R2 is a hydrogen atom and the other is a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms; when R1 and R2 are both a hydrocarbon group, these may bind to one another to form a ring structure; R3 is a linking group; and R4 is a condensed ring.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system and method of predicting sale transaction conversion rate of an item operates through a search of information in response to a query over a network. The system and method can includes discovering available information of the item of interest, extracting certain of the available information of the item, analyzing the certain information by comparing the information to other item information, weighting the information for the item in comparison to other items of the category, calculating a predictive score for the item of interest, and presenting the information of the item of interest ranked according to the predictive score as compared to other items of the category.

Abstract: A negative pressure wound therapy apparatus that can include a wound dressing, a fluid collection device, a vacuum pump comprising a pump motor, and tubing can be powered by auxiliary power sources such as high efficiency batteries, photovoltaic panels or cells, fuel cells, combustion generators, human powered generators, or other mechanical, electrical, or chemical power sources such as hand operated dynamos or wound springs, or any combination of the foregoing. Additionally, the apparatus can include a high efficiency pressure controller for controlling the output of the vacuum pump. In some embodiments, the pressure controller can control the pump without using a processor, and can have other features such as an intermittent delay function and an anti-stall mechanism to reduce the energy consumption of the apparatus.

Abstract: An exercise apparatus combines weight and pneumatic resistance to provide a user with options to work against either or both types of resistances. In one mode, the exercise apparatus includes a user interface, such as, for example, a weight-lifting bar, that a user can move either toward or away from a stationary portion of the user's body. A weight (e.g., a free weight plate) can be selectively coupled to the user interface. A pneumatic resistance device can also be selectively coupled to the user interface independent of whether the user interface is also coupled to the weight. The pneumatic resistance device includes at least one valve to regulate the amount of resistance that the pneumatic resistance device applies to oppose movement of the user interface in at least one direction. At least one actuator may be provided for controlling the at least one valve, the actuator being configured to be manipulated by the user while the user is in an exercise position.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a display device, a first insulating layer is formed on a semiconductor pattern. Ions of a first concentration are injected into source and drain domains of the semiconductor pattern and a lower electrode of the semiconductor pattern by using a mask pattern that selectively overlaps a channel domain of the semiconductor pattern and is positioned on the top of the first insulating layer. The mask pattern is removed. An ion injection process of injecting ions of a second concentration lower than the first concentration into the semiconductor pattern of the channel domain is directly performed in the first insulating layer. A gate electrode that overlaps the channel domain is formed on the top of the first insulating layer. An upper electrode that overlaps the lower electrode is formed on the top of the first insulating layer.

Abstract: A method and system for transportation using a magnetic bearing structure is disclosed. In one aspect, an apparatus for carrying a load comprises a source of magnetic flux and a controller configured to control the position of the source of magnetic flux relative to a magnetizable structure. The source of magnetic flux comprises a first upper portion and a first lower portion of opposite polarities. The first portions are spaced apart horizontally from a first side of the magnetizable structure. The source of magnetic flux further comprises a second upper portion and a second lower portion of opposite polarities. The second portions are spaced apart horizontally from a second side of the magnetizable structure. The second side is opposite the first side. The first and second upper portions are magnetically attracted to an upper portion of the magnetizable structure and the first and second lower portions are magnetically attracted to a lower portion of the magnetizable structure.

Abstract: A positive resist composition including a polymeric compound (A1) having a structural unit (a0) represented by general formula (a0-1) (R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms or a halogenated alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms, R2 represents a divalent linking group, R3 represents a cyclic group containing —SO2— within the ring skeleton thereof) and a structural unit (a1) derived from an acrylate ester containing an acid dissociable, dissolution inhibiting group, an acid-generator component (B) and a fluorine-containing polymeric compound (F1) having a structural unit containing a base dissociable group.

Abstract: A method and system for mutually authenticating a client and a server is provided in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. The method commences with transmitting a token from the server to the client. Thereafter, the method continues with establishing a secure data transfer link between the server and the client. A server certificate is transmitted to the client during the establishment of the secure data transfer link. The method continues with transmitting a response packet to the server, which is validated thereby upon receipt. The system includes a client authentication module that initiates the secure data transfer link and transmits the response packet, and a server authentication module that transmits the token and validates the response packet.

Abstract: Lead distribution systems and methods distribute consumer business leads received from lead sources for routing to one or more destinations that will use the lead and/or will forward the lead to another destination. The system identifies a set of most profitable destinations for each lead based on a margin score, while complying with business rules associated with the lead source and destinations. Each lead source is associated with at least one cost score, reflective of a monetary cost for the lead and of other business considerations associated with the lead source. Candidate destinations are each associated with a revenue score, reflective of an amount to be paid for a lead and of other business considerations associated with the destination. A margin score for each destination is calculated based on the cost and revenue scores, and the lead is distributed, based at least in part on the calculated margin scores.

Abstract: A communications system having a data transfer pipeline apparatus for transferring data in a sequence of N stages from an origination device to a destination device. The apparatus comprises dedicated memory having buffers dedicated for carrying data and a master control for registering and controlling processes associated with the apparatus for participation in the N stage data transfer sequence. The processes include a first stage process for initiating the data transfer and a last Nth stage process for completing data transfer. The first stage process allocates a buffer from a predetermined number of buffers available within the memory for collection, processing, and sending of the data from the origination device to a next stage process. The Nth stage process receives a buffer allocated to the first stage process from the (N?1)th stage and to free the buffer upon processing completion to permit reallocation of the buffer.

Abstract: The present invention is related to telecommunications. A call processing system receives a first call from a caller intended for a first person. A notification regarding the first call is transmitted over a network to a terminal associated with the first person. A user interface is displayed on the terminal via which the first person can indicate that a callback message is to be transmitted to the caller. The callback message is transmitted to the caller, wherein the callback message includes an identification of the first person, a callback control, and text indicating that the caller is to activate the control to initiate another call to the first person. At least partly in response to the caller activating the control, A second call to be placed via which the first person and caller are connected.

Abstract: Coating systems which provide corrosion resistance and, optionally, lubrication, for threaded connections are disclosed. The compositions comprise a first coating composition comprising polymer matrices of polyimides or epoxies which are modified with small amounts of a fluorine containing polymer. Also present in the coating compositions are corrosion inhibiting agents and inorganic particles having a mean diameter of between approximately 10 nm and 10 ?m. Solid lubricants, which may include at least one of PTFE, HDPE, Graphite, and MoS2, are optionally added to provide the first coating with a low coefficient of friction. The coating systems may further comprise a second coating composition, comprising a solid lubricant dispersed within an epoxy resin and a solvent. The first and second coating compositions are deposited on at least a portion of at least one of the pin and box members of the threaded connections.

Abstract: The present invention provides flexible call processing. For example, a call processor system can receive an inbound call intended for a called party and place an outbound call to the called party. The call processing system can provide the called party with a call transfer option.