Abstract: Refining assemblies and methods for refining rich natural gas containing a first methane gas and other hydrocarbons that are heavier than methane gas are disclosed. In some embodiments, the assemblies may include a methane-producing assembly configured to receive at least one liquid-containing feed stream that includes water and rich natural gas and to produce an output stream therefrom by (a) converting at least a substantial portion of the other hydrocarbons of the rich natural gas with the water to a second methane gas, a lesser portion of the water, and other gases, and (b) allowing at least a substantial portion of the first methane gas from the rich natural gas to pass through the methane-producing assembly unconverted. The assemblies may additionally include a purification assembly configured to receive the output stream and to produce a methane-rich stream therefrom having a greater methane concentration than the output stream.

Abstract: For a user having a user input actuator, a virtual interface device, such as for a gaming machine, for determining actuation of a virtual input by the input actuator is disclosed. The device comprises a position sensing device for determining a location of the user input actuator and a controller coupled to the position sensing device, the controller determining whether a portion of the user input actuator is within a virtual input location in space defining the virtual input.

Abstract: Systems (500, 1100) and methods (1800) for optimizing thread execution in a Target Hardware Platform (“THP”). The methods comprising: constructing a matrix (600) populated with first cost values representing costs of running threads (7080-7085) on computing cores (512-518); determining first performance scores (526) each determined based on the first cost values and a respective thread execution layout of a plurality of different thread execution layouts (900, 1000); selecting an optimal thread execution layout from the plurality of different thread execution layouts based on the plurality of first performance scores; and configuring operations of THP (502) in accordance with the optimal thread execution layout. Each different thread execution layout specifies which threads of a plurality of threads are to respectively nm on the computing cores disposed within THP.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition in the form of a powder or a viscous paste, and which includes at least one low viscosity alginate having a viscosity of less than about 100 mPaS in a 1 wt % aqueous solution, and at least one high viscosity alginate having a viscosity of more than about 100 mPaS in a 1 wt % aqueous solution. The composition can also include at least one suspending agent. The composition is readily soluble in water such that an aqueous preparation can be prepared without substantive mixing. Also, the aqueous preparation is suitable for use in the treatment and/or prevention of overweight for both therapeutic and non-therapeutic purposes.

Abstract: A receiver in a CDMA system comprises a front end processor that generates a combined signal per source. A symbol estimator processes the combined signal to produce symbol estimates. An S-Matrix Generation module refines these symbol estimates based on the sub channel symbol estimates. An interference canceller is configured for cancelling interference from at least one of the plurality of received signals for producing at least one interference-cancelled signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of fabricating a trench field-effect device. The method includes: providing a substrate including an epitaxial layer formed on a semiconductor substrate of the substrate and a trench formed in the epitaxial layer; forming a sacrificial dielectric layer on a bottom and a sidewall of the trench; forming a heavily-doped polysilicon region at the bottom, and removing part of the sacrificial dielectric layer not covered by the heavily-doped polysilicon region to expose an epitaxial layer of the sidewall; and oxidizing the heavily-doped polysilicon region and the epitaxial layer simultaneously and forming a thick oxide layer and a trench sidewall gate dielectric layer synchronously on the bottom and the sidewall, respectively; wherein thickness of the thick oxide layer is greater than that of the trench sidewall gate dielectric layer. The method is simple, and figure of merit of the fabricated trench field-effect device is reduced.

Abstract: A chemical pre-concentrator includes a conduit defining a flow path between two ends and having a heating element disposed within the conduit, such that the heating element has at least one sorbent material deposited directly on at least a portion of a conductive surface of the heating element. Some such heating elements are in the form of electrically conductive strips defining both a plurality of apertures through the strip and a series of undulations spaced along the flow path.

Abstract: An MEMS-based method for manufacturing a sensor comprises the steps of: forming a shallow channel (120) and a support beam (140) on a front surface of a substrate (100); forming a first epitaxial layer (200) on the front surface of the substrate (100) to seal the shallow channel (120); forming a suspended mesh structure (160) below the first epitaxial layer (200); and forming a deep channel (180) at a position on a back surface of the substrate (100) corresponding to the shallow channel (120), so that the shallow channel (120) is in communication with the deep channel (180). In the Method of manufacturing a MEMS-based sensor, when a shallow channel is formed on a front surface, a support beam of a mass block is formed, so the etching of a channel is easier to control, the process is snore precise. and the uniformity and the homogeneity of the formed support beam are better.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of an artificial tree that is lit by LEDs. Individual trunk modules are provided on trunk sections that provide individual control of LED strings disposed on branches on each of the trunk sections. Remote control devices and smart devices connected to the Internet can control the trunk modules. Spring-loaded flat connectors between the trunk sections, and also between the branches in the trunks, provide a solid electrical connection, which has a low susceptibility to failure. Plastic injection molded branches having injected molded sockets are provided for connecting LEDs that can be plugged directly into sockets on the trunk sections. The LEDs can be driven with an AC or DC electrical power supply.

Abstract: An insulated gate bipolar translator (IGBT) with a built-in diode and a manufacturing method thereof are provided.

Abstract: A method and system for a configurable security and surveillance system are provided. A configurable security and surveillance system may comprise at least one programmable sensor agent and/or at least one programmable content analysis agent. A plurality of processing features may be offered by the configurable security and surveillance system by programming configurable hardware devices in the programmable sensor agents and/or the programmable content analysis agents via a system manager. Device programming files may be utilized to program the configurable hardware devices. The device programming files may be encrypted and decryption keys may be requested to enable the programming of different processing features into the programmable sensor agents and/or the programmable content analysis agents. The device programming files and/or the decryption keys may be received via a network transfer and/or via a machine-readable media from an e-commerce vendor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for selecting a competent oocyte or a competent embryo by determining the expression level of specific microRNA species in a body fluid or in cumulus cells.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an insulated gate bipolar transistor (100) comprises: providing a substrate (10), forming a field oxide layer (20) on a front surface of the substrate (10), and forming a terminal protection ring (23); performing photoetching and etching on the active region field oxide layer (20) by using an active region photomask, introducing N-type ions into the substrate (10) by using a photoresist as a mask film; depositing and forming a polysilicon gate (31) on the etched substrate (10) of the field oxide layer (20), and forming a protection layer on the polysilicon gate (31); performing junction pushing on an introduction region of the N-type ions, and then forming a carrier enhancement region (41); performing photoetching by using a P well photomask, introducing P-type ions into the carrier enhancement region (41), and performing junction pushing and then forming a P-body region; performing, by means of the polysilicon gate, self-alignment introduction of N-type ions into the P-body region,

Abstract: A computerized method and system for healthcare relationship management is disclosed. The method includes receiving a health information from a healthcare communication source at a healthcare relationship system, categorizing the health information into at least one security category based on one or more privacy rules, receiving a request from a user for the health information at a healthcare relationship management system, the user being associated with at least one security role, and granting or denying access to the health information for the user at the healthcare relationship management system based on an evaluation of the at least one category against the at least one security role.

Abstract: An assembly, system and method is disclosed for measuring fatigue and durability of a bicycle frame by applying and measuring a precise input of force to a frame. The system of the present invention is configured to measure failure points of different constructions and size of bicycle frames including carbon fiber, aluminum and steel frame constructions.

Abstract: A MEMS chip (100) includes a silicon substrate layer (110), a first oxidation layer (120) and a first thin film layer (130). The silicon substrate layer includes a front surface (112) for a MEMS process and a rear surface (114), both the front surface and the rear surface being polished surfaces. The first oxidation layer is mainly made of silicon dioxide and is formed on the rear surface of the silicon substrate layer. The first thin film layer is mainly made of silicon nitride and is formed on the surface of the first oxidation layer. In the above MEMS chip, by sequentially laminating a first oxidation layer and a first thin film layer on the rear surface of a silicon substrate layer, the rear surface is effectively protected to prevent the scratch damage in the course of a MEMS process. A manufacturing method for the MEMS chip is also provided.

Abstract: A user interface for display and navigation of multiple video programs displays a graphical user interface including a plurality of available video programs. A user is allowed to generate a custom list of video programs by selecting at least one video program from the plurality of video programs. The videos programs from the custom list are simultaneously displayed while displaying the graphical user interface to the user.

Abstract: It is possible to improve the CQI reception performance even when a delay is caused in a propagation path, a transmission timing error is caused, or a residual interference is generated between cyclic shift amounts of different ZC sequences. For the second symbol and the sixth symbol of the ACK/NACK signal which are multiplexed by RS of CQI, (+, +) or (?, ?) is applied to a partial sequence of the Walsh sequence. For RS of CQI transmitted from a mobile station, + is added as an RS phase of the second symbol and ? is added as an RS phase of the sixth symbol. A base station (100) receives multiplexed signals of ACK/NACK signals and CQI signals transmitted from a plurality of mobile stations. An RS synthesis unit (119) performs synthesis by aligning the RS phase of CQI.

Abstract: The invention relates to a powder of an alloy based on uranium and molybdenum in a metastable ? phase, which is formed of particles which have an elongation index at least equal to 1.1, a non-zero closed porosity value and which are composed of grains having a molybdenum content, for which the variations within the same grain are of at most 1% by mass. It also relates to a method allowing preparation of this alloy powder as well as to the use of said powder for manufacturing nuclear fuels and targets for producing radioisotopes. Applications: Manufacturing of nuclear fuels, notably for experiment nuclear reactors; manufacturing of targets for producing radioisotopes, notably for the medical industry.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device comprising a casing and a biomimetic artificial membrane arranged within the casing to form two distinct chambers, wherein each chamber is provided for enclosing a liquid of a given composition, and wherein the biomimetic artificial membrane comprises a semi-permeable membrane for supporting a lipid membrane, the lipid membrane comprising a plurality of lipid molecules arranged in a layer and including at least a transport protein, the transport protein being adapted for transport of ions and/or molecules of the liquids between the two chambers.