Abstract: A class of soluble poly(aryletherimides) (PAEIs) having flexible backbones, useful in the manufacture of polymeric optical films are disclosed. The poly(aryletherimides) are dissolved in organic solvents, such as ketones and ketone solvent mixtures and coated on variety of substrates such as triacetyl cellulose (TAC), to form clear thin-layer films which display negative birefringence. The thin films can serve as compensation layers in liquid crystal displays (LCDs), and can be combined with other types of optical films, such as polarizers, brightness enhancement films, or other compensation films, to from multi-layered films that are especially useful in the manufacture of LCDs.

Abstract: Optical compensation films (positive C-plate) with anisotropic subunits (OASUs) that are aromatic rings substituted with birefringence enhancing substituents (BES) and have high positive birefringence throughout the wavelength range 400 nm<?<800 nm are provided. The optical compensation films may be processed by solution casting to yield a polymer film with high birefringence without the need for stretching, photopolymerization, or other processes. Such optical compensation films are suitable for use as a positive C-plate in LCDs, particularly IPS-LCDs.

Abstract: A multilayer optical retardation compensation film having at least one positive C-plate and at least one negative C-plate is used in an LCD device. The multilayer film may have a substantially flat wavelength dispersion curve, or the multilayer film combined with other layers in the LCD device may have a substantially flat wavelength dispersion curve. Polymer films for the positive C-plate may be identified according to their absorbance maxima at certain wavelength ranges.

Abstract: Optical compensation films (positive C-plate) with disk anisotropic subunits (OASUs) that have high positive birefringence throughout the wavelength range 400 nm<?<800 nm are provided. The optical compensation films may be processed by solution casting to yield a polymer film with high birefringence without the need for stretching, photopolymerization, or other processes. Such optical compensation films are suitable for use as a positive C-plate in LCDs, particularly IPS-LCDs.

Abstract: Optical compensation films (positive C-plate) with mesogen anisotropic subunits (OASUs) that have high positive birefringence throughout the wavelength range 400 nm<?<800 nm are provided. The optical compensation films may be processed by solution casting to yield a polymer film with high birefringence without the need for stretching, photopolymerization, or other processes. Such optical compensation films are suitable for use as a positive C-plate in LCDs, particularly IPS-LCDs.

Abstract: A method for controlling positive birefringence in an optical compensation film (positive C-plate) having high positive birefringence throughout the wavelength range 400 nm<?<800 nm is provided. The method includes selecting polymers with optically anisotropic subunits (OASUs) that exhibit the buttressing effect, wherein the OASUs may be disks, mesogens or aromatic rings substituted with birefringence enhancing substituents. The method further includes processing the polymer by solution casting to yield a polymer film with high birefringence without the need for stretching, photopolymerization, or other processes. These optical compensation films may be used in LCDs, particularly IPS-LCDs.

Abstract: The invention discloses a system for transforming and transmitting data. The system according to the invention includes a platform, a first terminal, a second terminal, and a transforming module. The platform is capable of providing multimedia data and a text input interface. The first terminal connects to the platform and selects the multimedia data. A user can input text data in the text input interface through the first terminal. The transforming module converts the text data to voice data, and transmits the multimedia data and the voice data to the second terminal.

Abstract: A video skim is assembled by identifying one or more key frames from a video shot. Certain lengths of frames to the left and right of the key frame are measured for visual content variety. Depending upon the measured visual content variety to the left and right of the key frame, the video skim is assembled that has L frames to the left of the key frame and R frames to the right of the key frame. Measuring the visual content variety to the left and right of the key frame, provides a video skim that incorporates the more salient features of a shot.

Abstract: An algorithm identifies a salient video frame from a video sequence for use as a video thumbnail. The identification of a video thumbnail is based on a frame goodness measure. The algorithm calculates a color histogram of a frame, and then calculates the entropy and standard deviation of the color histogram. The frame goodness measure is a weighted combination of the entropy and the standard deviation. A video frame having the highest value of frame goodness measure for a video sequence is determined as the video thumbnail for a video sequence.

Abstract: The invention concerns a novel neuregulin related ligand (NRG3) including fragments and variants thereof, as new members of the neuregulin family of compounds. The invention also concerns methods and means for producing NRG3. The native polypeptides of the invention are characterized by containing an extracellular domain including an EGF-like domain, a transmembrane domain and a cytoplasmic domain. Isolated nucleotide sequences encoding such polypeptides, expression vectors containing the nucleotide sequences, recombinant host cells transformed with the vectors, and methods for the recombinant production for the novel NRG3s are also within the scope of the invention.

Abstract: A class of soluble poly(aryletherimides) (PAEIs) having flexible backbones, useful in the manufacture of polymeric optical films are disclosed. The poly(aryletherimides) are dissolved in organic solvents, such as ketones and ketone solvent mixtures and coated on variety of substrates such as triacetyl cellulose (TAC), to form clear thin-layer films which display negative birefringence. The thin films can serve as compensation layers in liquid crystal displays (LCDs), and can be combined with other types of optical films, such as polarizers, brightness enhancement films, or other compensation films, to from multi-layered films that are especially useful in the manufacture of LCDs.

Abstract: A system identifies an abrupt transition in content between two frames, and determines whether the abrupt transition was caused by a shot boundary between the two frames or by a flashlight event. Identification of the abrupt transition in content includes calculating a difference in light intensity histograms between the current frame and a preceding frame, and comparing the histogram difference to a dynamically determined threshold. Further, an average light intensity based method is used to determine whether the abrupt transition was caused by a shot boundary or by a flashlight event.

Abstract: The disclosed compositions and methods for producing composite materials that are suitably adapted for use in elevated temperature environments generally include the use of oxyarylbisorthodinitrile matrix resins in conjunction with aromatic amines to produce an improved phthalonitrile-based composite. Various features and specifications may be controlled, adapted or otherwise optionally modified to improve the temperature-rated performance of the disclosed composite materials. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention generally provide composite materials that offer improved strength at temperatures in excess of 600° F.

Abstract: Waveplate, planar lightwave circuit incorporating the waveplate, and method of making an optical device. The waveplate is formed of a mesogen-containing polymer film having a backbone and sidechains containing mesogen groups. The waveplate may be formed by producing a mesogen-containing polymer film having a nonzero birefringence of suitable dimensions for insertion into a planar lightwave circuit. The waveplate may be so inserted into an optical circuit of a planar lightwave circuit so that an optical signal traversing the waveplate is changed, for instance, to have two polarization states.

Abstract: The assembly consists of a trimming mounting plate receiving a cover and the air filters. The air filters are located between the mounting plate and the cover. The grills of the cover are utilized to hold the air filters and allow the cover to be received by the mounting plate. The mounting plate partitions the returning duct opening into identical areas. The air filter is consists of a frame and a filter media. The air filters cover the identical areas of the duct opening partitioned by the mounting plate. The air filter frame is color, alphabetical and numerical coded to indicate its size. The filter media attached to the filter frame is larger than the frame to create pockets and wrinkles for the pleated effect. The filter media is secured on the face of the frame contacting the mounting plate to create pressure and friction fit. The filter media also limit and filter the otherwise unfiltered airflow around the sides of the most filters on the market.

Abstract: The invention concerns a novel neuregulin related ligand (NRG3) including fragments and variants thereof, as new members of the neuregulin family of compounds. The invention also concerns methods and means for producing NRG3. The native polypeptides of the invention are characterized by containing an extracellular domain including an EGF-like domain, a transmembrane domain and a cytoplasmic domain. Isolated nucleotide sequences encoding such polypeptides, expression vectors containing the nucleotide sequences, recombinant host cells transformed with the vectors, and methods for the recombinant production for the novel NRG3s are also within the scope of the invention.

Abstract: Waveplate, planar lightwave circuit incorporating the waveplate, and method of making an optical device. The waveplate is formed of a mesogen-containing polymer film having a backbone and sidechains containing mesogen groups. The waveplate may be formed by producing a mesogen-containing polymer film having a nonzero birefringence of suitable dimensions for insertion into a planar lightwave circuit. The waveplate may be so inserted into an optical circuit of a planar lightwave circuit so that an optical signal traversing the waveplate is changed, for instance, to have two polarization states.

Abstract: A system identifies an abrupt transition in content between two frames, and determines whether the abrupt transition was caused by a shot boundary between the two frames or by a flashlight event. Identification of the abrupt transition in content includes calculating a difference in light intensity histograms between the current frame and a preceding frame, and comparing the histogram difference to a dynamically determined threshold. Further, an average light intensity based method is used to determine whether the abrupt transition was caused by a shot boundary or by a flashlight event.

Abstract: Waveplates formed of mesogen-containing polymers and planar lightwave circuits containing such waveplates. Polymers have sidechains containing mesogens such as biphenyl-containing groups. Polymers may have a glass transition temperature between 100 C and 300 C, and polymers may be stretched in excess of 150% to increase birefringence of polymer and provide thin films. Waveplates formed of stretched polymer films may have high biaxial birefringence.

Abstract: A system identifies an abrupt transition in content between two frames, and determines whether the abrupt transition was caused by a shot boundary between the two frames or by a flashlight event. Identification of the abrupt transition in content includes calculating a difference in light intensity histograms between the current frame and a preceding frame, and comparing the histogram difference to a dynamically determined threshold. Further, an average light intensity based method is used to determine whether the abrupt transition was caused by a shot boundary or by a flashlight event.