Abstract: Aspects of the present invention provide multifocal lenses having one or more multifocal inserts comprising one or more diffractive regions. A diffractive region of a multifocal insert of the present invention can provide a constant optical power or can provide a progression of optical power, or any combination thereof. A multifocal insert of the present invention can be fabricated from any type of material and can be inserted into any type of bulk lens material. A diffractive region of a multifocal insert of the present invention can be positioned to be in optical communication with one or more optical regions of a host lens to provide a combined desired optical power in one or more vision zones. Index matching layers of the present invention can be used to reduce reflection losses at interfaces of the host lens and multifocal insert.

Abstract: Methods and systems for resecting and debulking prostatic tissue to utilize a shaft carrying an energy source. The shaft is anchored by a balloon or other structure expanded in the bladder, and the energy source is capable of directing ablative energy radially outwardly from the urethra, where the energy source will be moved in order to remove a pre-defined volume of prostatic tissue.

Abstract: An audit planning system enables users to plan effective audits by identifying audit units having potentially large impacts and risks on an enterprise and enabling users to select audit units to include in audits based on a variety of different criteria. The audit planning system displays the audit units of the enterprise and a visual indicator of the impact and risk associated with each audit unit. The audit planning system enables users to select the displayed audit units to plan an audit. The audit planning system may display audit units in an impacted financial statement, a tree map, a graph, and/or a table. The audit planning system may sort and/or display audit units with visual indicators specifying associated risks, impacts, materiality values, exposures, coverages, and/or audit costs. The audit planning system can further display visual indications of the changes in audit units' associated attributes over time.

Abstract: A method for opening a portion of a passageway of a patient is disclosed. The patient has a first metallic structure attached to a portion of the patient's neck. The method includes obtaining a second magnetic structure, placing the second magnetic structure proximate the first metallic structure attached to the portion of the patient's neck, and pulling the second magnetic structure away from the patient's neck to thereby open the passageway.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) includes a high capacitance solid state circuit region configured to perform predetermined operations, a RFID block comprising a FeRAM block for storing data, and an interface unit configured to transfer to the RFID block an externally-provided unique ID for wirelessly identifying the IC, the unique ID being stored in the FeRAM block. The IC further includes a conductive trace extending through predetermined regions of the IC, the conductive trace being configured as an antenna for the RFID block, wherein the RFID block is configured to receive and transmit information to an external source via the antenna.

Abstract: A vertically conducting semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a topside surface and a backside surface. The semiconductor substrate serves as a terminal of the vertically conducting device for biasing the vertically conducting device during operation. An epitaxial layer extends over the topside surface of the semiconductor substrate but terminates prior to reaching an edge of the semiconductor substrate so as to form a recessed region along a periphery of the semiconductor substrate. An interconnect layer extends into the recessed region but terminates prior to reaching an edge of the semiconductor substrate. The interconnect layer electrically contacts the topside surface of the semiconductor substrate in the recessed region to thereby provide a topside contact to the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: The method for forming a fine pattern of a semiconductor device includes depositing a photoresist film over a semiconductor substrate having an underlying layer, performing a first exposure process using a first exposure mask to form a first photoresist pattern, the first exposure mask defining a first and a second exposure patterns, the first exposure pattern finer than the second exposure pattern, depositing a photoresist film over an entire surface of the resultant including the first photoresist pattern, performing a second exposure process using a second exposure mask to form a second photoresist pattern, the second exposure mask defining a third and a fourth exposure patterns, the third exposure pattern finer than the fourth exposure pattern and disposed between the first exposure patterns, the fourth exposure pattern overlapped with a portion of the second exposure pattern, and patterning the underlying layer using the first and the second photoresist patterns.

Abstract: A system for producing frequency converted light includes a first seed laser operable to provide a first laser signal and a second seed laser operable to provide a second laser signal. The system also includes an optical combiner optically coupled to the first seed laser and the second seed laser. The optical combiner is operative to combine the first laser signal and the second laser signal into a combined laser signal. The system further includes a power amplifier optically coupled to the optical combiner. An intensity of both the first laser signal and the second laser signal are increased by the power amplifier. The system additionally includes a harmonic converter optically coupled to the power amplifier.

Abstract: At least one wrong template for storing features of pattern information imaged on condition unsuitable for biometric authentication is provided and the wrong template information is collated with collation template information produced by extracting features from biometric information when authentication information is registered. When similarity is low, the collation template information is stored in an authentication template. The collation template is collated with the wrong template upon authentication and when similarity is high, authentication processing is not made. Further, when similarity of the collation template information and the wrong template information is high, a guidance message for solving a problem is displayed to the user. Thus, reduction of authentication performance is prevented.

Abstract: To protect a person with a property interest in real property against a loss of market value thereof, a base market value of the real property is determined at a current time when the property interest in the real property arises or thereafter, and a number of types of events that cause the real property to lose market value as compared with the base market value are defined. A number of the defined types of events are selected, and a real estate market value policy is issued to the person at about the current time. The policy promises to compensate the person for any loss experienced by the person if the real property loses market value as compared with the base market value based on any of the selected types of events.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for automatically converting audio input signal data into musical score representation data. Embodiments of the invention identify a change in frequency information from the audio signal that exceeds a first threshold value; identify a change in amplitude information from the audio signal that exceeds a second threshold value; and generate a note onset event, each note onset event representing a time location in the audio signal of at least one of an identified change in the frequency information that exceeds the first threshold value or an identified change in the amplitude information that exceeds the second threshold value. The generation of note onset events and other information from the audio input signal may be used to extract note pitch, note value, tempo, meter, key, instrumentation, and other score representation information.

Abstract: A photochromic optical article comprises a substrate, and a photochromic coating coated on an outer surface of the substrate and having at least two photochromic layers. Each of the photochromic layers has a composition that contains a carrier and at least one photochromic dye. The compositions of the photochromic layers are different from each other.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a multifocal lens having a mostly spherical power region and a progressive optical power region. Embodiments of the present invention provide for the proper alignment and positioning of each of these regions, the amount of optical power provided by each of the regions, the optical design of the progressive optical power region, and the size and shape of each of the regions. The combination of these design parameters allows for an optical design having less unwanted astigmatism and distortion as well as both a wider channel width and a shorter channel length compared to conventional PALs. Embodiments of the present invention may also provide a new, inventive far-intermediate distance zone and may further provide for increased vertical stability of vision within a zone of the lens.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for activating a payment account. The payment account is associated with two identifiers. A payment instrument is provided as having the two identifiers. A first identifier is read at a first point of sale device to activate the payment account. A second identifier is read by a radio frequency identification reader at a second point of sale device to access funds in the payment account. The first point of sale device may not be capable of reading the second identifier.

Abstract: There is provided an information recording and reproducing method and an apparatus for the same capable of optimizing the shift adjustment of a recording pulse recorded in an optical disk even at the time of recording information on the optical disk at a high speed. The shift adjustment value of the recording pulse optimized at a low speed recording on an optical disk is multiplied by a constant value to be taken as the optimum shift conditions of the recording pulse at the high speed recording.

Abstract: Occluding structures may be created within a body lumen by advancing a length of material distally through the body lumen. By drawing a distal location on the advanced length of material in a proximal direction, the material may be compacted into a structure which at least partially occludes the lumen. The occluding structure may be used to remove kidney stones from the ureter in conjunction with lithotripsy and irrigation.

Abstract: Systems for managing workflows to perform chemical or biological reactions using microfluidic devices.

Abstract: An airway implant device for maintaining and/or creating an opening in air passageways is disclosed. Methods of using the device are also disclosed. The airway implant device comprises a deformable element to control the opening of an air passageway. Preferably the deformable element is an electroactive polymer element. Energizing of the electroactive polymer element provides support for the walls of an air passageway, when the walls collapse, and thus, completely or partially opens the air passageway. Some embodiments of the invention include a sensor capable of sensing the possible occurrence of an apneic event and activating the deformable element of the airway implant device. Methods of treating airway disorders such as sleep apnea and snoring with the airway implant device are disclosed herein.

Abstract: A reverse proxy server can provide access to web applications. The reverse proxy system can produce interstitial pages not generated with the web application code and optionally block access to the web application until the interstitial pages have been processed.