Abstract: Materials and methods are provided whereby polymers with least 0.5 mole % of the pendant group or end group containing —Si(OR?)3 are used to control aluminosilicate scaling in an industrial process having an alkaline process stream such as a pulping mill process stream or a high level nuclear waste processing plant. When materials of the present invention are added to the alkaline process stream, they reduce and even completely prevent formation of aluminosilicate scale on equipment surfaces such as evaporator walls and heating surfaces. The present materials are effective at treatment concentrations that make them economically practical.

Abstract: A selectively positionable lens cover is disclosed having a lens housing volume and an arcuate lip portion for the selective engagement to and disengagement from a lens. The lens cover has a first engagement structure whereby the first engagement structure may be releaseably engaged with and removed from a second engagement structure. The lens cover has an aperture having a first longitudinal axis whereby the first engagement structure may be selectively engaged with and removed from the second engagement structure in a first position that is substantially aligned with a user-defined second longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification system comprises a radio-frequency identification substrate and an interrogator. In one embodiment, the radio-frequency identification substrate comprises a plurality of radio-frequency identification devices. In one embodiment, a first radio-frequency identification device on the substrate monitors an indication of a response of a second radio-frequency identification device on the substrate to an interrogation signal and selectively responds to the interrogation signal based on the monitoring of the indication.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for determining a target type of a plurality of control signals respectively transmitted via a plurality of channels in a multi-channel system. The method includes: receiving a plurality of first control signals simultaneously from the channels during a first time period; determining a control signal priority corresponding to the first time period according to a target type determined by actual types of a plurality of second control signals respectively transmitted via the channels during a second time period, wherein the second time period is prior to the first time period; and determining the target type of the first control signals according to the control signal priority and actual types of the first control signals.

Abstract: Techniques for portable devices functioning as an electronic purse (e-purse) are disclosed. According to one aspect of the invention, a mechanism is provided to enable a portable device to conduct transactions over an open network with a payment server without compromising security. In one embodiment, a device is loaded with an e-purse manager. The e-purse manager is configured to manage various transactions and functions as a mechanism to access an emulator therein. The transactions may be conducted over a wired network or a wireless network. A three-tier security model is contemplated to support the security of the transactions from the e-purse. The three-tier security model includes a physical security, an e-purse security and a card manager security, concentrically encapsulating one with another. Security keys (either symmetric or asymmetric) are personalized within the three-tier security model.

Abstract: A self-cleaning device of a filtering net of air conditioner is installed on a filtering frame in an air inlet of a dust spiral case of a package air conditioner and is disposed outside the filtering net. A filtering net guide rail with slots is installed on an upper frame and a lower frame. The filtering net is fixed on the filtering net frame by the slots of guide rails. The cleaning device of the filtering net includes a sweeping assembly with a brush, a drive motor fixed on the sweeping assembly, a transmission mechanism connected to the drive motor, a rack group installed on the left and right side of the filtering net, a dust collecting box installed under the filtering net for collecting dust, and a dust exchanging device is disposed between the dust collecting box and the filtering net.

Abstract: To handle static text and logos in stabilized images without destabilizing the static text and logos, a method of handling overlay subpictures in stabilized images includes detecting an overlay subpicture in an input image, separating the overlay subpicture from the input image, stabilizing the input image to form a stabilized image, and merging the overlay subpicture with the stabilized image to obtain an output image.

Abstract: A caster includes a base carrying a rotation shaft and forming a pivotal joint seat. Wheels are rotatably mounted to the rotation shaft. Each wheel has an inside surface that is recessed to form an inner rim. A brake arm has a first end rotatably coupled to the pivotal joint seat and a second end forming a brake pawl extending into the inner rims of the wheels. A spring is arranged between the brake arm and the base so that the spring normally biases the brake pawl to depress against the inner rims of the wheels to brake the wheels. A release knob is rotatably mounted to the base and forms a cam section positionable against the brake arm. The cam section, when rotated by the release knob, drives the brake arm backward to release the brake pawl from the wheels, allowing the wheels to freely rotate.

Abstract: A control circuit for use in a power converter has a multi-function terminal, a current comparator circuit, and an under-voltage detection circuit. The current comparator circuit compares current flowing through a power switch of the power converter with a reference value through the multi-function terminal when the power switch is on, and turns the power switch off when the current reaches the reference value. The under-voltage detection circuit determines whether an input voltage of the power converter is less than a predetermined value through the multi-function terminal when the power switch is turned off.

Abstract: A method of browsing face regions in digital images in a photo displaying system includes detecting a plurality of face regions from a plurality of images, grouping the face regions into a plurality of clusters based on similarities of the face regions, determining a degree of connection between the clusters, modifying the degree of connection between the clusters according to a relationship of the face regions, and displaying the face regions according to the degree of connection between the clusters.

Abstract: A serial peripheral interface (SPI) circuit and a display using the same are provided. The SPI circuit includes a mater device and a slave device. A serial data input pin and a serial data output pin of the slave device are both electrically connected to a data input/output pin of the master device. When a read instruction is sent from the master device to the slave device, the master device is set in a read status, and the slave device outputs data to the master device via the serial data output pin in response to the read instruction. When a write instruction is sent from the master device to the slave device, the master device is set in a write status, and writes data to the slave device via the serial data input pin thereof in response to the write instruction.

Abstract: A streamer trap assembly for collecting streamers from a flow of polymer pellets includes a housing comprising an inlet, an outlet, and an opening bounded by a sealing surface; and a streamer trap positioned in the housing through the opening. The streamer trap comprises a screen sized to collect the streamers at the screen and to allow the polymer pellets to pass through the screen, a guide positioned to guide the flow of polymer pellets from the inlet to the screen and from the screen to the outlet, and a cover adapted to engage the sealing surface and cover the opening.

Abstract: A LED display system includes multiple LEDs, a power converter to produce a supply voltage for the LEDs, and multiple drivers to drive the LEDs. According to the maximum one of the forward voltages of the LEDs, the drivers provides a feedback signal for the supply voltage control, and the feedback signal is amplified or digitized to reduce the voltage drop in the global power line.

Abstract: Biologically active chemical compounds, namely benzoimidazolyl-pyrazine derivatives and structurally related compounds, are disclosed herein. Such compounds include those represented by structural formula (II): and as described in further detail within. These compounds are useful as immunosuppressive agents and for treating and preventing inflammatory conditions, allergic disorders, and immune disorders.

Abstract: A vibrating device includes first and second members, each shaped almost like a rectangle and composed of first and second parts, a connection member composed of a first circuit which inputs an electrical signal to the first part, a second circuit which outputs an electrical signal generated in the second part, and a connection part which connects the first and second circuits electrically, and a drive unit which drives the first and second members while the first and second circuits remain connected by the connection part. The first and second members are shaped symmetrically to one another in weight balance with respect to a virtual symmetry axis at the same distance from the first and second members and also to an virtual centerline connecting gravity centers of the first and second members. The second member is shaped asymmetrically in vibrational amplitude with respect to its vibrational axis.

Abstract: A storage apparatus including a circuit board, a first flash memory, a first golden finger, a control unit, and a supporting component is provided. The circuit board has a first surface and a second surface. The first flash memory is disposed on the circuit board. The first golden finger and the control unit are disposed on an end of the circuit board, in which the first golden finger is disposed on the first surface, and the control unit is disposed on the second surface, and the control unit is substantially on the backside of the first golden finger. The control unit is electrically connected with the first memory and the first golden finger. The supporting component is used for supporting the circuit board.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to 2-[1-phenyl-5-hydroxy or methoxy-4alpha-methyl-hexahydrocyclopenta[f]indazol-5-yl]ethyl phenyl derivatives of formula I (I) as glucocorticoid receptor ligands useful for treating a variety of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases or conditions. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use are also included.

Abstract: A multifunctional antenna chip is able to mate with many kinds of matched circuits and is able to adjust the character of an antenna structure of the multifunctional antenna chip, in order that the antenna structure has one or multiple standard working frequencies. The antenna structure is a folded antenna structure basically; this can save its volume occupied. And the multifunctional antenna chip has a non-signal inputting pin for connection to thereby increase shape of the antenna for adjusting the style of the antenna structure designed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for adaptively adjusting backlight are described. The backlight adjusting apparatus includes an intensity-pair distribution device, a brightness compensation module, a frame-adjusting device, a backlight control device, and a backlight module. The intensity-pair distribution device generates a plurality of intensity-pair distribution values of the image frames each composed of a plurality of pixel data. The brightness compensation module computes a dark-state ratio of the pixel data of a current image frame in response to the intensity-pair distribution values, and computes a brightness index of the current image frame in response to the dark-state ratio for generating a brightness compensating signal based on the dark-state ratio and the brightness index. The frame adjusting device adjusts the brightness of the total pixel data of the current image frame in response to brightness compensating signal.