Abstract: A toner coverage determination system and method are described. The toner coverage determination system may include a memory storing a module comprising machine readable instructions to receive an input image, and generate a grid including a plurality of points corresponding to pixels to be sampled on the input image. The machine readable instructions may further sample the pixels corresponding to the plurality of points, evaluate pixel intensity values for the sampled pixels, and determine a toner coverage value based on the evaluated pixel intensity values.

Abstract: A toner coverage determination system and method are described. The toner coverage determination system may include a memory storing a module comprising machine readable instructions to receive an input image, and generate a grid including a plurality of points corresponding to pixels to be sampled on the input image. The machine readable instructions may further sample the pixels corresponding to the plurality of points, evaluate pixel intensity values for the sampled pixels, and determine a toner coverage value based on the evaluated pixel intensity values.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards various topical protective formulations which may be used as an adjunct in preventing the spread of viral type sexually transmitted diseases. The product is intended to be used as a topical lotion, cream, emulsion, or the like. The film forming excipients and active ingredients in the following formulations have demonstrated unique skin protective barrier properties with enhanced persistence that inhibits transmission of viral type sexually transmitted diseases.

Abstract: Disclosed is the invention to conduct immuno-adsorption of free 25(OH) vitamin D from blood or blood components, notably serum or plasma, after which the absorbed material is measured. A fluoro-alkyl surfactant is used to enhance the solubility of Vitamin D and allow the measurement of free Vitamin D. The invention thus employs a binding protein to absorb the free 25(OH) vitamin D. Thereafter the binding protein comprising the 25-OH vitamin D is subjected to a competitive binding assay with a labeled vitamin D compound, preferably radiolabeled, fluorescent labeled, luminescent labeled, biotin labeled, gold labeled or enzyme labeled. Alternatively the immunocaptured 25-OH vitamin D can be quantitated by mass spectrometry.

Abstract: A fastening system has a first fastening member and a second fastening member. The first member has a retaining element and a substrate element. The retaining element includes a proximal edge and a distal edge and is attached to the substrate element along a line of attachment. The second fastening member has an inboard portion, an outboard portion, and an elongated opening disposed between the inboard and outboard portions. The elongated opening is configured such that at least part of the retaining element is capable of passing through the elongated opening when the retaining element is in a first orientation and when the retaining element is in a second orientation.

Abstract: A method for creating an image to be printed is provided. A first halftone pattern and a second halftone pattern for respective first and second periodic clustered dot halftone regions of the image are selected. The regions have respective frequencies and one of the frequencies is higher than the other frequency. A transition region is determined. The transition region includes a boundary between the two regions and includes additional portions of the two regions beyond the boundary. The two halftone patterns are blended with each other in the transition region based on a blending ratio of the two halftones where the blending ratio changes as a function of distance between the edges of the transition region.

Abstract: A method of operating an irrigation system includes providing a flow of irrigation water, forming a flow of filtered water by removing particulate matter from the flow of irrigation water by using a filter, and directing a first portion of the flow of filtered water to a control valve. The method also includes directing a second portion of the flow of filtered water to a pressure regulator, delivering a flow of water from the pressure regulator to one or more irrigation devices, and automatically cleaning the surface of a filter upon activation or deactivation of the irrigation system.

Abstract: A related feature determination system determines a feature related to an indication of a concept. A set of positive cases and a set of negative case are selected using the indication of a concept. A classifier is induced for the concept using the set of positive cases in a manner blinded to the indication of a concept. The set of negative cases is applied to the classifier. A feature related to the indication of a concept is determined using results of applying the classifier to the set of negative cases.

Abstract: A method of reporting the presentation of data, a data storage medium, and a system for employing a web page is disclosed and that includes accessing a source of data having a specific segment, and reporting a presentation of the specific segment to a remote location.

Abstract: Provided are, inter alia, systems, methods and techniques for facilitating identification of a skilled resource's skill set. Initially, a master set of previously identified skills is filtered in order to identify a subset of skills that appear to be potentially applicable to a skilled resource. Then, based on the identified subset, a query regarding skills actually possessed by the skilled resource is created and presented. A response that designates skills possessed by the skilled resource is received and incorporated into a user skills database. The above-referenced filtering is performed by utilizing an automated tool to analyze content from a set of computer files.

Abstract: A fastening system has a first fastening member and a second fastening member. The first member has a retaining element and a substrate element. The retaining element includes a proximal edge and a distal edge and is attached to the substrate element along a line of attachment. The second fastening member has an inboard portion, an outboard portion, and an elongated opening disposed between the inboard and outboard portions. The elongated opening is configured such that at least part of the retaining element is capable of passing through the elongated opening when the retaining element is in a first orientation and when the retaining element is in a second orientation.

Abstract: A fastening system has a first fastening member and a second fastening member. The first member has a retaining element and a substrate element. The retaining element includes a proximal edge and a distal edge and is attached to the substrate element along a line of attachment. The second fastening member has an inboard portion, an outboard portion, and an elongated opening disposed between the inboard and outboard portions. The elongated opening is configured such that at least part of the retaining element is capable of passing through the elongated opening when the retaining element is in a first orientation and when the retaining element is in a second orientation.

Abstract: Disclosed are composite compositions and articles prepared from such composites. The composition comprises or is produced from cellulose material, thermoplastic polymer, and a compatibilizing agent which is the reaction product of polyvinyl butyral, having hydroxyl functionality, and a second polymer which comprises or is produced from polyvinyl butyral and a second polymer wherein the polyvinyl butyral comprises a hydroxyl functionality and the second polymer reacts with at least a portion of the hydroxyl functionality.

Abstract: Provided are systems, methods and techniques for hierarchically segmenting a sequence of records, by specifying windows, each window encompassing a portion of the sequence. For each specified window, a function of the data records within that specified window is calculated in order to generate a function value for the window. The function values are then used to define a hierarchical arrangement in which the sequence is divided into a plurality of segments and the segments are divided into smaller segments.

Abstract: A method in a data processing system for monitoring for errors on a network. Responsive to detecting a change in a state of the network, determine whether the change in state is a loss of a communications link to a remote data processing system. If the change in state is a loss of the communications link, determine whether the communications link was established for at least a first period of time to be considered an acceptable connection to the remote data processing system; and create a new serviceable event, if a second period of time passes without reestablishing the communications link to the selected data processing system. Repeat occurrences of identical outages are tracked and multiple detected instances of an outage for different partitions are counted as a single failure in the examples.

Abstract: A personal hygiene device includes a personal hygiene implement and a first position member. The personal hygiene device is capable of providing the user with feedback which can assist the user in his/her personal hygiene routines.

Abstract: A feature selection method for selecting a predetermined number of features, the method may comprise for each category, ranking features according to feature ranking for two-category problems; and while the predetermined number of features has not yet been selected: picking a category c; selecting a feature based on the ranking for category c; and adding the selecting feature to an output list if not already present in the output list and removing the selected feature from further consideration for the category c. An apparatus and computer program code are also provided.

Abstract: A method of operating an irrigation system includes providing a flow of irrigation water, forming a flow of filtered water by removing particulate matter from the flow of irrigation water by using a filter, and directing a first portion of the flow of filtered water to a control valve. The method also includes directing a second portion of the flow of filtered water to a pressure regulator, delivering a flow of water from the pressure regulator to one or more irrigation devices, and automatically cleaning the surface of a filter upon activation or deactivation of the irrigation system.

Abstract: Solder balls, such as, low melt C4 solder balls undergo volume expansion during reflow. Where the solder balls are encapsulated, expansion pressure can cause damage to device integrity. A volume expansion region in the semiconductor chip substrate beneath each of the solder balls accommodates volume expansion. Air-cushioned diaphgrams, deformable materials and non-wettable surfaces may be used to permit return of the solder during cooling to its original site. A porous medium with voids sufficient to accommodate expansion may also be used.

Abstract: A fibre optic cable includes a core of primary coated optical fibres embedded in an inner layer of acrylate material, having sufficient tensile strength when cured to lock at least the outermost fibres in place and still allow the fibres to be easily broken out of the assembly for termination and splicing purposes. The hardness of the acrylate layer is such that at least the outermost fibres of the bundle are restricted from moving axially relative to the inner layer. The inner layer is then surrounded by a loose thin jacket formed from a mixture of high density polyethylene having a Shore hardness greater than or equal to 60 and a generally uniformly distributed slip agent, including a polyether modified poly (dimethylsiloxane) material such as polyether modified hydroxy functional poly (dimethylsiloxane) material. The mixture from which the outer layer is formed is compacted by means of heat and pressure.