Abstract: In one technique, the time spent by each analyst of the department servicing the client over a specified period of time may be estimated. This value may then be adjusted based on the compensation of the analysis provider (or providers) servicing the client. Then, the compensation-weighted time of each analyst provider that serviced the client may be summed to thereby arrive at an estimate of the time and cost to service the client. In another technique, the standard cost per unit of different types of client touch that the equity research department produces is estimated. Then, the number and type of client touches a particular client receives over a given period of time (e.g., three months, one year, etc.) can be determined and multiplied by the standard cost per touch for the different touch types of to arrive at the total cost of servicing the client over the time period.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and mediums for enabling clients to traverse firewall and Network Address Translation (NAT) installations by using probe packets between servers and clients to communication the addresses modified by the NAT.

Abstract: Systems and methods for allocating limited resources of a securities research department to accounts of the department are disclosed. According to various embodiments, the system includes an account scoring module and a resource matching module. The account scoring module is for generating a score for each account, and the resource matching module is for matching the resources of the department to the accounts based on the scores for each account.

Abstract: Disclosed are, inter alia, methods, apparatus, computer-storage media, mechanisms, and means associated with content-addressable memory lookup operations with error detection. Lookup operations are performed on two identical sets of content-addressable memory entries to identify two lookup results. An error detection operation is performed on the highest-priority matching entry of each set of content-addressable memory entries. An overall lookup result is determined based on the lookup and error detection results.

Abstract: Apparatus for multi-zone wellbores that can by-pass upper hydrocarbon bearing zones and deliver fluid to lower hydrocarbon bearing zones. The apparatus can include at least one housing, and at least one port can be formed through the housing. An inner sleeve can be positioned within the housing. At least one cavity can be radially disposed on an outer diameter of the inner sleeve, and each cavity can be located within an annulus formed between the inner sleeve and the housing. A ball can be disposed within each cavity, and the ball can be adapted to selectively engage the port.

Abstract: The present invention facilitates semiconductor fabrication by providing methods of fabrication that employ high-k dielectric layers. An n-type well region (304) is formed within a semiconductor body (302). A threshold voltage adjustment implant is performed by implanting a p-type dopant into the n-type well region to form a counter doped region (307). A high-k dielectric layer (308) is formed over the device (300). A polysilicon layer (310) is formed on the high-k dielectric layer and doped n-type. The high-k dielectric layer (308) and the polysilicon layer (310) are patterned to form polysilicon gate structures. P-type source/drain regions (306) are formed within the n-type well region (304).

Abstract: The present invention facilitates semiconductor fabrication by providing methods of fabrication that employ high-k dielectric layers. An n-type well region (304) is formed within a semiconductor body (302). A threshold voltage adjustment implant is performed by implanting a p-type dopant into the n-type well region to form a counter doped region (307). A high-k dielectric layer (308) is formed over the device (300). A polysilicon layer (310) is formed on the high-k dielectric layer and doped n-type. The high-k dielectric layer (308) and the polysilicon layer (310) are patterned to form polysilicon gate structures. P-type source/drain regions (306) are formed within the n-type well region (304).

Abstract: An interactive user interface is disclosed. According to various embodiments, the interface includes a first field and at least one additional field. The first field lists a focal item and the at least one additional field contains a listing of items related to the focal-item. Certain of the related items in the at least one additional field include a hyperlink which, when activated by the user, causes the item corresponding to the activated hyperlink to become a new focal item listed in the first field, such that the at least one additional field transitions to list items related to the new focal item. The focal item may be, for example, an identifier corresponding to a company, and the at least one additional field may contain a listing of identifiers corresponding to companies that are customers, suppliers or competitors of the focal item company.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the biosynthesis of indole diterpene compounds. In particular, the invention relates to genes encoding enzymes considered responsible for the synthesis of lolitrems.

Abstract: An SRAM array with a dummy cell row structure in which the SRAM array is divided into segments isolated by a row pattern of dummy cells. The dummy cell structure provides a continuous cell array at the lower cell patterning levels. The SRAM array includes a first and second array block each including an SRAM cell having a first layout configuration, one or more of the dummy cells having a second layout configuration arranged along the row pattern associated with a wordline of the SRAM array, a first power supply voltage line connected to the first array block, and a second different power supply voltage line connected to the second array block. The first and second power supply voltage lines of the array blocks are further connected to the one or more dummy cells.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a spark plug comprises: an electrically nonconductive body disposed in an electrically conductive shell; a side electrode extending from said shell; a sheath disposed within and protruding from a body first end of the electrically nonconductive body; a core disposed in the cavity; and a center electrode tip extending from the cavity through the opening. The sheath comprises a cavity extending from a sheath second end toward a sheath first end. The cavity connects to an opening disposed through the first end. The core is in electrical communication with the center electrode tip. The center electrode tip is in alignment with the side electrode.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method (100) of designing a circuit. The method comprises specifying (105) a design parameter for memory transistors and logic transistors and selecting (110) a test retention-mode bias voltage for the memory transistors. The method further comprises determining (115) a first relationship of a retention-mode leakage current and the design parameter at the test retention-mode bias voltage and obtaining (120) a second relationship of an active-mode drive current and the design parameter. The first and second relationships are used (125) to assess whether there is a range of values of the design parameter where the retention-mode leakage current and the active-mode drive current are within a predefined circuit specification. The method also includes adjusting (130) the test retention-mode bias voltage and repeating the determining and the using if the retention-mode total leakage current or the active-mode drive current is outside of the predefined circuit specification.

Abstract: An auto darkening eye protection device comprising a shutter assembly adjustable between a clear state and a dark state and a control circuit. The control circuit is provided with a microcontroller, a delivery circuit, a sensing circuit and a weld detect circuit. The microcontroller is switchable between a sleep mode and a wake-up mode. The delivery circuit outputs a dark state drive signal to the shutter assembly to switch the shutter assembly from the clear state to the dark state upon enablement of the delivery circuit. The sensing circuit senses the occurrence of a welding arc and provides an output indicative of the occurrence of the welding arc. The weld detect circuit receives the output of the sensing circuit.

Abstract: A national or international plurality of interacting, media-connected buildings, providing automated office support processes to individual and aggregate office user customers. Process services are coordinated between building elements via the inter-networking feature that uses the facilities of the public Internet. These distributed services are adaptable and personalized to meet the changing needs of individual office users. Service personalization is continuously maintained in a consistent state throughout the entire global network of buildings, providing individual office users with identical service personalization in all office buildings.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and mediums for enabling clients to traverse firewall and Network Address Translation (NAT) installations by using probe packets between servers and clients to communication the addresses modified by the NAT.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for preparing a liquid concentrate for use in the manufacture of plastic parts (including without limitation, as part of the sampling, evaluation and approval process before a plastic part goes into production) comprising: (a) preparing one or more liquid intermediates, wherein the liquid intermediates comprise a liquid vehicle and at least one additive (which may include a pigment, dye or other additive); (b) standardizing the liquid intermediates; (c) transferring the standardized liquid intermediates to a remote location; and (d) dispensing the liquid intermediates to produce a liquid concentrate, wherein the quantity of each liquid intermediate dispensed is controlled according to a predetermined formula for the liquid concentrate.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for preparing a liquid concentrate for use in the manufacture of plastic parts (including without limitation, as part of the sampling, evaluation and approval process before a plastic part goes into production) comprising: (a) preparing one or more liquid intermediates, wherein the liquid intermediates comprise a liquid vehicle and at least one additive (which may include a pigment, dye or other additive); (b) standardizing the liquid intermediates; (c) transferring the standardized liquid intermediates to a remote location; and (d) dispensing the liquid intermediates to produce a liquid concentrate, wherein the quantity of each liquid intermediate dispensed is controlled according to a predetermined formula for the liquid concentrate.

Abstract: This invention relates to polishing pads and a method for making the polishing pad surface readily machineable thereby facilitating permanent alteration of the polishing pad surface to create an advantageous micro-texture. The advantageous micro-texture is statistically uniform and provides a polishing pad with improved break-in preconditioning time. Polishing pads of this invention find application to the polishing/planarization of substrates such as glass, dielectric/metal composites and substrates containing copper, silicon, silicon dioxide, platinum, and tungsten typically encountered in integrated circuit fabrication.

Abstract: A statistically uniform micro-texture on a polishing pad surface improves break-in preconditioning time, and is measured by: Land Surface Roughness, Ra, from about 0.01 &mgr;m to about 25 &mgr;m; Average Peak to Valley Roughness, Rtm, from about 2 &mgr;m to about 40 &mgr;m; Core roughness depth, Rk, from about 1 to about 10; Reduced Peak Height, Rpk, from about 0.1 to about 5; Reduced Valley Height, Rvk, from about 0.1 to about 10; and Peak density expressed as a surface area ratio, RSA, ([Surf.Area/(Area−1)]), 0.001 to 2.0.

Abstract: In an apparatus for making and inspecting a multi-component cigarettes, each cigarette including two or more different components arranged relative to one another, the apparatus includes a device for advancing a web in a first direction. The apparatus further includes a device for positioning at least two different components of a cigarette relative to one another on the web as the web advances in the first direction. The apparatus further includes a garniture device for wrapping the web around the at least two different components by moving opposite edges of the web transversely to the first direction such that, at a closure point in the garniture device, the opposite edges overlap each other. The apparatus further includes an imaging device disposed upstream of the closure point for generating an image of the at least two different components.