Abstract: The present invention relates to a more robust article dispensing apparatus that is relatively simple in construction and usage for dispensing articles in a clean and protective environment. More specifically, the apparatus accepts, separates, and dispenses articles from a nested stack of articles such as beverage cup lids one at a time.

Abstract: Methods and kits are provided for diagnosing, monitoring, or predicting the conditions of pre-eclaimpsia, fetal chromosomal aneuploidy, and pre-term labor in a pregnant woman, as well as for detecting pregnancy in a woman, by quantitatively measuring in the maternal blood the amount of one or more mRNA species encoding human chorionic gonadotropin ? subunit (hCG-?), human placental lactogen (hPL), human corticotropin releasing hormone (hCRH), KiSS-1 metastasis-suppressor (KISS1), tissue factor pathway inhibitor 2 (TPFI2), placenta-specific 1 (PLAC1), or glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), and comparing the amount of the mRNA species with a standard control.

Abstract: A programmable device can configure memory access parameters to optimize the performance of one or more of its memory units. A memory unit includes one or more programmable delay units connected with clock, control and/or data signals. The configuration data of the programmable device specifies delay values for each programmable delay unit. A programmable delay unit includes at least two signal paths having different timing characteristics. A switching circuit controlled by configuration data is used to select one of the signal paths as the output of the programmable delay unit. Programmable delay units can be connected in series or in parallel to increase the number of possible delays and/or to specify timing parameters of portions of the memory unit in absolute or relative terms. Programmable delay units can be used to vary the timing characteristics of the memory unit and to control the voltage split used to read data.

Abstract: In order to efficiently use each of storage physical devices fast in access rate for each data block even where a deviation in access frequency exists within a file, in a storage system comprising a plurality of the storage physical devices, a policy is stored within the storage system in advance with respect to the placement of file's data blocks, and data of each file is evaluated with respect to the policy upon storage of the file's data blocks. A decision as to in which storage physical device the corresponding data blocks should be located, is made based on the evaluation result of the policy.

Abstract: A computer system acquires mapping information of data storage regions in respective layers from a layer of DBMSs to a layer of storage subsystems, grasps correspondence between DB data and storage positions of each storage subsystem on the basis of the mapping information, decides a cache partitioning in each storage subsystem on the basis of the correspondence and sets the cache partitioning for each storage subsystem. When cache allocation in the DBMS or the storage subsystem needs to be changed, information for estimating the cache effect due to the change in cache allocation acquired by the DBMS is used for estimating the cache effect in the storage subsystem.

Abstract: According to the invention, systems and methods are provided for analyzing the diversity of a set of critical telecommunication circuits. For example, according to one embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for analyzing the diversity of critical telecommunication circuits, the method comprising: determining a critical circuit set comprising a first critical circuit and a second critical circuit; identifying a first set of telecommunication resources associated with the first critical circuit; identifying a second set of telecommunication resources associated with the second critical circuit; and comparing the first set of telecommunication resources with the second set of telecommunication resources to determine whether the critical circuit set is diverse.

Abstract: Methods and system for achieving improved copyright protection for programmable logic devices are disclosed. One preferred embodiment comprises a programmable logic device comprising a programmable element programmed by a mutated programming pattern, said mutated programming pattern causing the PLD to generate a mutated output; and a circuit element that translates the mutated output into a normal output.

Abstract: Circuits, methods, and apparatus that provide integrated circuits having memories with multiple sizes. The memories may be dedicated embedded memories, or they may be distributed memories formed using memories or lookup tables in logic elements or other appropriate circuits. Configuration bits not needed by logic elements used for distributed memories can be used for data storage as well. These various memories may be combined or otherwise linked or chained together in different combinations to form larger memories of varying sizes.

Abstract: A method for developing a manufacturing process includes measuring, in a first testing environment, a primary property of a nano-engineered material at one or more positions to provide one or more measurements. The method also includes determining whether the one or more measurements satisfy a first tolerance criterion and taking a further action based on whether the one or more measurements satisfy the first tolerance criterion. Additionally, a method of measuring thermal properties of a nano-engineered material includes irradiating a nano-engineered material with laser radiation, wherein the laser radiation impinges on a first surface of the nano-engineered material at one ore more locations, capturing at least one image of the nano-engineered material, and analyzing the at least one image to characterize the thermal properties of the nano-engineered material.

Abstract: A host computer HA1 or the like is provided with a target program 3 that receives the provision of logical volumes 212, a volume interface program 12A that provides an interface for the logical volumes 212 to the target program 3, and a volume filter program 12B that selects one logical volume from the copying source volume 212A and copying destination volume 212B, and provides the selected logical volume to the target program 3 via the volume interface program 12A.

Abstract: A programmable device with an improved system for loading configuration data compresses configuration data by composing configuration data out of pairs of control words and data words. The configuration data is divided into configuration words. Each configuration word is further divided into a number of configuration blocks. In a control word/data word pair, the control word determines which configuration blocks in the configuration word will be loaded with the data word. Each configuration block designated by the control word will be simultaneously loaded with the data word. By taking advantage of the symmetry within the control word, typically only a small number of control word/data word pairs will be required to load a complete control word. If a given control word does not have sufficient symmetry, the programmable device can instead use an alternate system for loading the configuration word.

Abstract: According to the invention, an insertion system for collating sheets of printed material for insertion into an envelope is disclosed. The insertion system includes an insertion machine, application software and an operating system. Included in the application software is a first function and a second function, where the first function performs tracking for each packet and the second function controls operation of the insertion machine. Each packet includes a plurality of pieces of printed material that may ultimately be sealed in an envelope. The operating system runs the application software at any given instant and executes the first and second functions.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical system comprising a substrate including a surface region and a flexible member coupled at a first end to the surface region. The system further comprises a base region and a tip region. The system also comprises a reflective member coupled to the flexible member, including a reflective surface and a backside region, the backside region being coupled to the second end of the flexible member, the reflective surface being substantially parallel to the surface region while the reflective member is in a first state and being substantially non-parallel to the surface region while the reflective member is in a second state. The flexible member moves from a first position characterized by the first state to a second position characterized by the second state and the angle between the first state and the second state is greater than 12°.

Abstract: A system and method for adaptively providing a power supply voltage. The system includes an input/output subsystem configured to receive a first voltage, an analog subsystem configured to receive a second voltage and coupled to the input/output subsystem, a first digital subsystem configured to receive a third voltage and coupled to the input/output subsystem, and a second digital subsystem configured to receive a fourth voltage and coupled to the input/output subsystem, the first digital subsystem, and the analog subsystem. Additionally, the system includes a first adaptive power supply configured to receive an input voltage and generate the third voltage, and a second adaptive power supply configured to receive the input voltage and generate the fourth voltage.

Abstract: Computerized techniques are provided for linking digitized images of serial sections of a biological tissue sample. Linked, digitized images of the serial section are displayed on a display and manipulation of one digitized image causes other digitized images to be similarly manipulated. To link digitized images, a copy of a digitized image of one serial section is positioned over a digitized image of another serial section. The digitized image of the other serial section is visible through the copy. The copy is registered to the digitized image of the other serial section.

Abstract: This invention relates to processes for production of alkylamino glucosaminide phosphate compounds, and of disaccharide compounds, including various novel intermediates and intermediate processes. In one aspect, glycosyl halides are produced by reaction of an O-silyl glycoside with a dihalomethyl alkyl ether.

Abstract: A group based design methodology and system. In one embodiment the groups have predefined layout characteristics and are sometimes amalgamated into functions. Integrated circuits are designed by placing groups and functions into a layout space.

Abstract: A cooling system for an area around a lamp that accounts for a good part of an amount of heat generated by the projection type display device is isolated from a cooling system for other parts including a liquid crystal panel. Means is further provided of allowing the directions of intake and exhaust to be inverted in an entire device by changing the direction of rotation of an exhaust fan provided for the cooling system for the area around the lamp between forward and backward.

Abstract: A method and apparatus includes a plurality of processor groups each having a plurality of processor switch chips each having a plurality of processors and a processor crossbar, each processor connected to the processor crossbar; a plurality of switch groups each having a plurality of switch crossbar chips each having a plurality of switch groups each having a plurality of switch crossbar chips each having a plurality of switch crossbars each connected to a processor crossbar in each processor group, wherein no two switch crossbars in a switch group are connected to the same processor crossbar; a plurality of memory groups having a plurality of memory switch chips each having a plurality of memory controllers and a memory crossbar, each memory controller connected to the memory crossbar, each memory crossbar in each memory group connected to all of the switch crossbar in a corresponding one of the switch groups, wherein no two memory groups are connected to the same switch group.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for applying a volume discount scheme and rating transactions accordingly on a continuous basis, in a continuous processing system. At the time of a transaction or potential transaction, a cost including applicable volume discount is provided to a customer with reference to his current accumulated usage. When a customer is shopping on-line or placing a phone order, he can learn what discount he will obtain if he spends an incremental amount. A person using a service can inquire what the discounted cost or applicable rate is for a contemplated transaction.