Abstract: A method and system are presented for use in measuring on patterned samples, aimed at determining asymmetry in the pattern. A set of at least first and second measurements on a patterned region of a sample is performed, where each of the measurements comprises: directing illuminating light onto the patterned region along an illumination channel and collecting light reflected from the illuminated region propagating along a collection channel to be detected, such that detected light from the same patterned region has different polarization states which are different from polarization of the illuminating light, and generating a measured data piece indicative of the light detected in the measurement. Thus, at least first and second measured data pieces are generated for the at least first and second measurements on the same patterned region. The at least first and second measured data pieces are analyzed and output data is generated being indicative of a condition of asymmetry in the patterned region.

Abstract: A video decoder chipset comprises a video decoder function, an upscaler function and a combiner function. The video decoder function is configured to (i) decode encoded video data to generate decoded video data at a first level of quality, the encoded video data having been derived by an encoder using first video data at a second, higher level of quality and (ii) output the decoded video data for storage in a memory. The upscaler function is configured to (i) obtain the decoded video data from the memory and (ii) upscale the obtained decoded video data to generate second video data at the second level of quality. The combiner function is configured to (i) obtain residual data, the residual data having been derived by the encoder based on the first video data and the second video data, (ii) combine the second video data with the residual data to generate enhanced video data, and (iii) output the enhanced video data.

Abstract: A polymer processing aid (PPA) reduces melt defects in extruded polyolefins in the absence of fluoropolymers. The polymer processing aid comprises a polyalkylene glycol such as a polyethylene glycol together with a high pressure low density polyethylene (LDPE) and reduces melt defects well in a thermoplastic polyolefin such as a linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE).

Abstract: A system for controlling power distribution between a renewable energy source (RES) that generates electrical power, a power grid, an energy storage system (ESS) coupled to and configured to store electrical power from the RES and the power grid, and a behind-the-meter (BTM) load coupled to and configured to receive electrical power from the RES, the ESS, and the power grid includes a controller. The controller includes a processor and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by the processor, cause the controller to determine a prioritization mode and control the flow of electrical power in the system based on the prioritization mode.

Abstract: Circuits and methods for use in amplifying amplitude and phase modulated signals. A circuit uses a digital controlled multi stage combiner, a signal phase discrete mapper and a combiner digital control circuit with N parallel signal feeding it. The signals resulting from N power amplifiers have phases with belonging to an alphabet with M discrete phases prior to being fed to the multi stage combiner. The phases of the N input signals are converted in an control signal generator into Ns sets of digital control signals to control N·M sets of switches where the signals are selected according the phase and sent to the corresponding combiner in the M possible combiners. Each one combiner from the set of M combiner then combines these signals. A second stage with digital controlled combiner, combines into two sub-sets of signals the signals resulting from first stage and the resulting outputs of the combiner are then combined by a third combining digital controlled stage into the output signal.

Abstract: A system and methods for Advance Process Control (APC) in semiconductor manufacturing include: for each of a plurality of waiter sites, receiving a pre-process set of scatterometric training data, measured before implementation of a processing step, receiving a corresponding post-process set of scatterometric training data measured after implementation of the process step, and receiving a set of process control knob training data indicative of process control knob settings applied during implementation of the process step; and generating a machine learning model correlating variations in the pre-process sets of scatterometric training data and the corresponding process control knob training data with the corresponding post-process sets of scatterometric training data, to train the machine learning model to recommend changes to process control knob settings to compensate for variations in the pre-process scatterometric data.

Abstract: A method of setting up a joining device for joining a cover lens to a housing of a vehicle lighting device. The joining device features a mounting fixture and a robot with a suction head, The method features at least the following steps: inserting a housing into the mounting fixture and a cover lens into the suction head; transferring the suction head to an initial joining pose; joining the cover lens to the housing with the suction head in the initial joining pose; measuring the pose of the cover lens relative to a reference-point system, which comprises reference points on the surface of the housing and/or the cover lens; determining a set of translations and/or rotations, which transfer the cover lens to an optimal pose with minimal deviations from a target pose; and correcting the initial joining pose of the suction head with the determined set of translations and/or rotations.

Abstract: A method for pre-treating a catheter prior to using the catheter in a medical procedure, and a related apparatus, are provided. The method comprises exposing, in a plasma chamber positioned in a medical care center, and under sterile conditions, intraluminal surfaces and extraluminal surfaces of the catheter to plasma. The plasma is electromagnetically-generated adjacently to the intraluminal surfaces and extraluminal surfaces, thereby rendering, at least temporarily, the intraluminal surfaces and extraluminal surfaces of the catheter hydrophilic.

Abstract: Shrimp processing apparatus to head and optionally sever the mud veins of shrimp, along with methods for heading and mud vein severing are described herein. The shrimp processing apparatus may be provided in systems may include one or more processing stations configured to perform one or more of the following functions on each shrimp: measurement of individual shrimp, severing the mud vein of individual shrimp, and heading of individual shrimp.

Abstract: A dual reactor solution polymerization process gives high density polyethylene compositions containing a first ethylene copolymer and a second ethylene copolymer. The polyethylene compositions can be used in the manufacture of injection molded closures or cast film having good barrier properties.

Abstract: A polyethylene composition has a density of from 0.941 to 0.962 g/cm3; a melt index, I2 of from 0.5 to 5.0 g/10 min; a melt flow ratio, I21/I2 of ?40; a Z-average molecular weight distribution, Mz/Mw of ?2.5; a comonomer distribution breadth index, CDBI50 of >50 wt %; and a long chain branching factor, LCBF of >0.0010. In a temperature rising elution fractionation (CTREF) analysis, the polyethylene composition has greater than 70 weight percent of material eluting at a temperature of greater than 90° C.

Abstract: A method and system are presented for use in measuring one or more characteristics of patterned structures. The method comprises: performing measurements on a patterned structure by illuminating the structure with exciting light to cause Raman scattering of one or more excited regions of the pattern structure, while applying a controlled change of at least temperature condition of the patterned structure, and detecting the Raman scattering, and generating corresponding measured data indicative of a temperature dependence of the detected Raman scattering; and analyzing the measured data and generating data indicative of spatial profile of one or more properties of the patterned structure.

Abstract: A bimodal polyethylene composition has a density of from 0.940 to 0.949 g/cm3, a melt index, I2 of greater than 5 g/10 min and an environmental stress crack resistance, ESCR of greater than 1000 hours as determined by ASTM D1693 in 100% IGEPAL CO-630 under condition B. The bimodal polyethylene composition which comprises a first ethylene copolymer and a second ethylene copolymer is relatively easy to process and may be used to make molded articles.

Abstract: Methods for controlling an integrated renewable energy source (RES) and energy storage system (ESS) of a RES-ESS facility having a point of grid interconnect (POGI) limit are provided. A forecast for energy production of the RES as well as a state of charge (SOC) schedule are used to calculate a SOC target-based POGI cap that is less than the POGI limit, with the SOC target-based POGI cap representing as low a peak power output value as possible while still ensuring satisfaction of the SOC schedule. The forecasted RES production, SOC schedule, and SOC target-based POGI cap are used to generate a time-varying charge/discharge control signal for the ESS that ensures the SOC schedule is satisfied.

Abstract: A computer-based system, and a computer-implemented method, mentors students, particularly women and ethnic and racial minorities, intending to enter healthcare professions. The system uses a gamified mobile-enabled web application (App) that serves as a visual and interactive dashboard populated with checklists, career support resources, strategies, tips, and a mentoring platform to educate, encourage, empower, and facilitate the entry of students into the healthcare professions.

Abstract: A polarized Raman Spectrometric system for defining parameters of a polycrystalline material, the system comprises a polarized Raman Spectrometric apparatus, a computer-controlled sample stage for positioning a sample at different locations, and a computer comprising a processor and an associated memory. The polarized Raman Spectrometric apparatus generates signal(s) from either small sized spots at multiple locations on a sample or from an elongated line-shaped points on the sample, and the processor analyzes the signal(s) to define the parameters of said polycrystalline material.

Abstract: Organometallic complexes are described which are useful as pre-polymerization catalysts which may form part of olefin polymerization catalyst systems. The catalyst systems find use in the polymerization of ethylene, optionally with one or more C3-12 alpha-olefin comonomers. The organometallic complexes are broadly represented by formula I: wherein L is a bridging group containing a contiguous chain of atoms connecting P with Cy, wherein the contiguous chain contains 2 or 3 atoms and wherein Cy is a cyclopentadienyl-type ligand. The olefin polymerization catalyst system is effective at polymerizing ethylene with alpha-olefins in a solution phase polymerization process at high temperatures and produces ethylene copolymers with high molecular weight and high degrees of alpha-olefin incorporation. Pre-metallation compounds, metallation processes and synthetic methods to make the organometallic complexes as well as polymerization processes are also described.

Abstract: A system and method for oxidative dehydrogenation including a first reactor having a first ODH catalyst to dehydrogenate an alkane to a corresponding alkene at a first temperature and facilitate generation of steam, a second reactor having a second ODH catalyst to dehydrogenate alkane in a first-reactor effluent to the corresponding alkene at a second temperature that may be greater than the first temperature and facilitate generation of steam, and a third reactor having a third ODH catalyst to dehydrogenate alkane in a second-reactor effluent to the corresponding alkene at a third temperature that may be greater than the first temperature or the second temperature and facilitate generation of steam.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for managing electrical energy generated by a renewable microgrid. One or more processors of a system may store priorities for one or more consumer loads; forecast an amount of available electrical energy for a time period; allocate a first electrical energy amount to a first consumer load to a first energy limit for the time period; determine more electrical energy is forecast to be available from the RES or the ESS for the time period; identify a second consumer load of the one or more consumer loads; allocate a second electrical energy amount to the second consumer load for the time period; and direct electrical energy from the RES or the ESS to the first and second consumer loads according to the allocations.

Abstract: Methods and systems determine an energy delivery schedule for a first renewable energy power plant (REPP) and a second REPP connected to an energy grid at different points of delivery. The method includes forecasting energy production by a first REPP and a second REPP during a time period; identifying one or more possible delivery schedules for the first REPP and the second REPP; forecasting energy demand corresponding to points of delivery at the energy grid to which energy produced by the first REPP and the second REPP are provided; selecting a delivery schedule from the one or more possible delivery schedules for the first REPP and the second REPP; and sending a first control signal to the first REPP and a second control signal to the second REPP to implement the selected delivery schedule at the first REPP and the second REPP.