Abstract: An alkali-metal dispenser to dispense highly pure rubidium in a high-vacuum environment while not negatively impacting the high-vacuum pressure level. The alkali-metal dispenser is operable in various vapor-deposition applications or to provide a highly pure elemental-alkali metal in cold-atom magneto-optical traps.

Abstract: System on a chip, comprising several master pieces of equipment, several slave resources, an interconnection circuit coupled between the master pieces of equipment and the slave resources and capable of routing transactions between master pieces of equipment and slave resources. A first particular slave resource cooperates with an element of the system on a chip, for example a clock signal generator, and the element has the same access rights as those of the corresponding first particular slave resource.

Abstract: Methods for optimizing the routing of customer communications include receiving a customer communication; identifying a customer associated with the customer communication; accessing a profile of the identified customer to determine customer data; receiving customer metric scores for a plurality of customer metrics; identifying available agents; accessing a profile of each available agent to determine agent data; predicting interaction outcome metric values for a plurality of customer metrics based on the customer data and the agent data; calculating, in real-time, an aggregate agent-customer pairing score for each available agent; selecting a responding agent from the available agents with the highest aggregate agent-customer pairing score; and providing a routing recommendation to a communication distributor to route the customer communication to the responding agent with the highest aggregate agent-customer pairing score.

Abstract: Methods for optimizing the routing of customer communications include receiving a customer communication; identifying a customer associated with the customer communication; accessing a profile of the identified customer to determine customer data; receiving customer metric scores for a plurality of customer metrics; identifying available agents; accessing a profile of each available agent to determine agent data; predicting interaction outcome metric values for a plurality of customer metrics based on the customer data and the agent data; calculating, in real-time, an aggregate agent-customer pairing score for each available agent; selecting a responding agent from the available agents with the highest aggregate agent-customer pairing score; and providing a routing recommendation to a communication distributor to route the customer communication to the responding agent with the highest aggregate agent-customer pairing score.

Abstract: Methods for optimizing the routing of customer communications include receiving a customer communication; identifying a customer associated with the customer communication; accessing a profile of the identified customer to determine customer data; receiving normalized customer metric scores for a plurality of customer metrics; identifying available agents; accessing a profile of each available agent to determine agent data; predicting interaction outcome metric values for a plurality of customer metrics based on the customer data and the agent data; normalizing the predicted interaction outcome metric values; calculating, in real-time, an aggregate agent-customer pairing score for each available agent; selecting a responding agent from the available agents with the highest aggregate agent-customer pairing score; and providing a routing recommendation to a communication distributor to route the customer communication to the responding agent with the highest aggregate agent-customer pairing score.

Abstract: System on a chip, comprising several master pieces of equipment, several slave resources, an interconnection circuit coupled between the master pieces of equipment and the slave resources and capable of routing transactions between master pieces of equipment and slave resources. A first particular slave resource cooperates with an element of the system on a chip, for example a clock signal generator, and the element has the same access rights as those of the corresponding first particular slave resource.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method for managing access to a bus shared by interfaces includes: when to the bus is granted to one of the interfaces, triggering a counting having a minimum counting period; and when at least one access request to the bus emanating from at least one other of the interfaces is received during the minimum counting period, releasing the access granted to the one of the interfaces, and creating an arbitration point at an end of the minimum counting period.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method for managing access to a bus shared by interfaces includes: when to the bus is granted to one of the interfaces, triggering a counting having a minimum counting period; and when at least one access request to the bus emanating from at least one other of the interfaces is received during the minimum counting period, releasing the access granted to the one of the interfaces, and creating an arbitration point at an end of the minimum counting period.

Abstract: The boiler cleaning apparatus and method provides for cleaning the exterior surfaces of a heat exchanger. The apparatus and method include tools and steps, respectively, for temporarily spreading tubes and holding open the tubes to gain access to tube lanes. Once access to a lane is attained, a nozzle assembly having an outlet for blowing high velocity cleaning fluid is selected from a group of nozzle assemblies. The selected nozzle assembly will have an outlet for blowing fluid in a direction that effectively cleans the tubes adjacent the opened lane. After the tubes are cleaned the tool for holding the lane opened is removed and the process is repeated for another lane.

Abstract: A method for effecting neuromuscular mechanisms for treatment of specific non-restless leg syndrome, non-restless arms, and non-foot and leg cramps diseases, conditions, and/or illnesses utilizes a device for applying positive pressure to specific areas of the foot. Slight variations to the positioning and/or patient application of the device may be adopted to increase benefits for specific diseases, conditions, or illnesses. Such variations can include frequency or time intervals of use and variations in pressure and positioning of pressure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus comprising a structure and a connector. The structure may have a number of walls forming a channel with a first opening and a second opening. The connector may be associated with the first opening. The connector may be configured to change a size of the first opening.

Abstract: The boiler cleaning apparatus and method provides for cleaning the exterior surfaces of a heat exchanger. The apparatus and method include tools and steps, respectively, for temporarily spreading tubes and holding open the tubes to gain access to tube lanes. Once access to a lane is attained, a nozzle assembly having an outlet for blowing high velocity cleaning fluid is selected from a group of nozzle assemblies. The selected nozzle assembly will have an outlet for blowing fluid in a direction that effectively cleans the tubes adjacent the opened lane. After the tubes are cleaned the tool for holding the lane opened is removed and the process is repeated for another lane.

Abstract: A method for effecting neuromuscular mechanisms for treatment of specific non-restless leg syndrome, non-restless arms, and non-foot and leg cramps diseases, conditions, and/or illnesses utilizes a device for applying positive pressure to specific areas of the foot. Slight variations to the positioning and/or patient application of the device may be adopted to increase benefits for specific diseases, conditions, or illnesses. Such variations can include frequency or time intervals of use and variations in pressure and positioning of pressure.

Abstract: A control system and method for obtaining power on demand from a diesel engine in order to operate vehicle functions and accessories. The method comprised of: (1) determining a flow rate necessary to operate each of a plurality of function hydraulic pumps and an vehicle drive pump associated with the engine; (2) comparing the flow rates of the various hydraulic pumps to determine the greatest flow rate; (3) establishing an engine speed necessary to deliver the greatest flow rate; (4) comparing the engine speed necessary to deliver the greatest flow rate with a current engine speed; and (5) adjusting the current engine speed to provide the greatest flow rate required.

Abstract: A photobleachable ink composition having: at least one light-sensitive optical-state change material; at least one bleaching accelerant; at least one solvent; and at least one binder material; wherein the ink composition has a viscosity between about 0.1 centipoise and about 10,000 centipoise, and a maximum optical absorbance in a range from about 200 nanometers to about 800 nanometers; and wherein the ink composition is capable of change from a first optical state to a second optical state upon exposure to light. The composition may also include a plasticizer.

Abstract: A voltage-isolating passageway for providing high voltage isolation between a component maintained at high DC voltage and a component maintained at a substantially lower voltage is described. The voltage-isolating passageway incorporates a transverse magnetic field across its passageway, which reduces the potential energy of charged particles (e.g., electrons) passing through the passageway. The reduction in electron potential energy reduces the energy of collisions between electrons and molecules and therefore reducing the likelihood of avalanche ionization. The voltage-isolating passageway includes a passageway and at least two magnets. The passageway has two openings and the two magnets are positioned along opposite and exterior surfaces of the passageway wherein the first and second magnets impose a magnetic field in a transverse direction with respect to a lengthwise axis of the passageway.

Abstract: An SEM wherein the entire imaging apparatus of the SEM is supported on air bearings. A multi-stage differentially pumped vacuum seal area provides a localized vacuum zone for wafer examination. A wafer leveling mechanism insures that the top surface of the wafer being examined is placed and maintained in a position level with the surface upon which the air bearing supported SEM rests. The SEM can move on its air bearings such that any portion of the wafer can be examined. A voltage-isolating passageway for providing high voltage isolation between a component maintained at high DC voltage and a component maintained at a substantially lower voltage is described. The voltage-isolating passageway incorporates a transverse magnetic field across its passageway. The voltage-isolating passageway includes at least two magnets that are positioned along opposite and exterior surfaces of the passageway. A semi-conductive coating can be applied to the interior passageway surface.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for the production of chlorine dioxide, said process comprising the steps of continuously: feeding to a reactor an acid, alkali metal chlorate and a reducing agent; reacting the alkali metal chlorate with the acid and the reducing agent to form a product stream comprising chlorine dioxide, water and alkali metal salt of the acid; and, bringing the product stream from the reactor to an eductor and mixing it with a gaseous motive stream fed to the eductor and thereby forming a diluted product stream. The invention further concerns a production unit for the production of chlorine dioxide.

Abstract: Elastomeric film-like products such as natural latex gloves are coated with novel lubricity compositions and compositions which protect the skin of the wearer from certain undesirable medical conditions. In powder-free gloves, the coating composition comprises colloidal oatmeal enhanced water, beta glucan solution, and/or colloidal oatmeal gel, optionally in combination with one or more other starch components. Colloidal oatmeal enhanced water, and methods of making the colloidal oatmeal enhanced water, are also disclosed. In addition, beta glucan solution, and methods of making the beta glucan solution, are also disclosed. Furthermore, colloidal oatmeal gel, and methods of making the colloidal oatmeal gel, are also disclosed. A liquid referred to herein as Polycoat may also be made by mixing one or more of colloidal oatmeal enhanced water, beta glucan solution, and colloidal oatmeal gel, and the resulting liquid may be applied to elastomeric articles such as gloves.

Abstract: An optical storage medium is provided. The optical storage medium may include a data layer and a curable hard coat layer secured to the surface of the data layer. The data layer may be read, written to, or both read and written to using a laser having a wavelength of less than about 650 nanometers. A method for securing a curable hard coat layer directly to a data layer and curing the hard coat layer is provided.