Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit includes providing a buffer layer comprising a dielectric material above a layer of conductive material and providing a layer of mask material above the buffer layer. The mask material comprises amorphous carbon. The method also includes removing a portion of the buffer layer and the layer of mask material to form a mask. A feature is formed in the layer of conductive material according to the mask.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for the detection of conditions indicative of a wind pressure pulsation within the passenger cabin of a vehicle, and for the reduction of the intensity of the pressure pulsation via automatic window repositioning. The apparatus comprises vehicle sensors for detection of a pressure pulsation condition, controllers to process sensor data and issue commands, and power-operated vehicle windows.

Abstract: A method and composition are presented for enhancing the dissolution and bioavailable properties of CoQ10 nutritional supplements and/or therapeutic agents for a human being and other mammals. The method includes preparing an anhydrous self-microemulsifying base composition by combining: CoQ10, a water-immiscible, and a non-ionic surfactant, containing polyethylene glycol. For an orally administered CoQ10 nutritional supplement in a capsule formulation, a unit dosage from the composition is added to a dissolvable capsule, preferably a soft gelatin capsule, in order to form the nutritional supplement. When a capsule containing the self-microemulsifying composition enters the digestive tract, the temperature of the body's digestive juices warms the composition, causing any of the CoQ10 that may have re-crystallized out of the composition to become re-dissolved into the composition before the capsule dissolves. The re-dissolution of CoQ10 is bioavailable when the capsule dissolves.

Abstract: A method for designing a secondary cutting structure for use in a bottom hole assembly, the method including defining initial design parameters for the secondary cutting structure and analyzing forces acting on the secondary cutting structure. Additionally, the method includes modifying at least one design element of the secondary cutting structure and simulating an effect of the modifying on both the secondary cutting structure and a primary cutting structure to determine if an improved condition is met. Also, a method for designing a drilling tool assembly, the method including defining initial drilling tool assembly design parameters including a primary cutting structure and a secondary cutting structure, and simulating a dynamic response of the drilling tool assembly.

Abstract: A fixed cutter drill bit and a method for designing a fixed cutter drill bit includes simulating the fixed cutter drill bit drilling in an earth formation. A performance characteristic of the simulated fixed cutter drill bit is determined. A side rake angle distribution of the cutters is adjusted at least along a cone region of a blade of the fixed cutter drill bit to change the performance characteristic of the fixed cutter drill bit.

Abstract: A method and system to reorganize a storage structure by generating correlation data that represents relationships between storage blocks of a storage structure, generating a block allocation scheme for the storage structure, determining a block reorganization operation, performing the block reorganization operation, and updating a virtual map. In certain embodiments, the system may include multiple host computers, a data storage subsystem, and multiple storage structures. The storage structures may include a hard disk, an array of hard disks, an IBM TotalStorage™ system, and a hierarchical storage system with RAID.

Abstract: A fixed cutter drill bit and a method for designing a fixed cutter drill bit includes simulating the fixed cutter drill bit drilling in an earth formation. A performance characteristic of the simulated fixed cutter drill bit is determined. A side rake angle distribution of the cutters is adjusted at least along a cone region of a blade of the fixed cutter drill bit to change the performance characteristic of the fixed cutter drill bit.

Abstract: Methods of designing a single cone roller cone bit, and bits made using those methods are disclosed. In particular, methods of graphically displaying a single cone roller cone bit interacting with a formation is shown. In one method, a value of at least one design parameter for the single cone roller cone drill bit according to the graphical display is adjusted. The simulating, displaying and adjusting to change a simulated performance of the single cone roller cone drill bit may be repeated as necessary.

Abstract: Screening assays that allow for the identification of agents that increase acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) acylase expression and/or AHL acylase activity in ?-proteobacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Such agents are useful, for example, for inhibiting quorum sensing activity of such bacteria by increasing degradation of long chain, but not short chain, AHLs and, therefore, can be useful for treating infections by such bacteria.

Abstract: A trim clip for securing a panel to a structural part is disclosed herein. The trim clip includes: a captivating part having an anchor; a body part having a cavity for receiving the anchor; and means for locking the captivating part to the body part. Wherein the body part is engageable with the structural part and has a first flange for seating against the structural part. Wherein the captivating part has a second flange for seating against the panel. Wherein the captivating part and the body part in an unlocked state have a lateral float, an axial float, and an angular tilt float therebetween. Wherein the captivating part and the body part in a locked state have substantially no lateral float, no axial float, and no angular tilt float therebetween.

Abstract: A method for designing a roller cone bit that includes steps of selecting design parameters for the roller cone bit, drilling parameters, and parameters of an earth formation, simulating drilling of the earth formation by the roller cone bit using the selected drilling parameters, calculating drilling performance parameters from the simulated drilling, and analyzing at least one of a tensile stress or a compressive stress parameters for a cutting element of the roller cone bit from the calculated drilling performance parameters is disclosed.

Abstract: A window washer control system and method administers fluid intermittently to a window based on an intermittent setting. A washer switch includes a plurality of frequency settings for varying a time interval between fluid administering events. The fluid level in a washer fluid reservoir is monitored to ensure a predetermined level. If the fluid level is below a predetermined level, control prevents intermittent washer administration and allows only manual activation.

Abstract: Screening assays that allow for the identification of agents that increase acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) acylase expression and/or AHL acylase activity in ?-proteobacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Such agents are useful, for example, for inhibiting quorum sensing activity of such bacteria by increasing degradation of long chain, but not short chain, AHLs and, therefore, can be useful for treating infections by such bacteria.

Abstract: A fixed-head drill bit includes a bit body having a plurality of cutting elements and at least one wear knuckle disposed on the bit body. Each cutting element includes a cutting surface defining a swept cutting profile when the bit is rotated about an axis. The at least one wear knuckle is positioned at least partially within and extending at least partially outside a selected one or more of the swept cutting profiles, allowing the fixed-head drill bit to wear into a more stable configuration.

Abstract: A foaming cleansing preparation and system that produce a high quality, self-sustaining foam immediately upon exposure to water without physical agitation or rubbing is provided. The inventive cleansing preparation is made up of at least one dry acid, at least one dry base, and at least one liquid film-forming cleansing agent. When the cleansing preparation is exposed to water, the acid(s) and the base(s) will react to form a gas and the cleansing agent(s) will form a liquid film, and the gas and the liquid film will then interact to form or generate a foam. The inventive cleansing system is made up of a plurality of delivery particles, with each such delivery particle containing one or more components of the inventive cleansing preparation.

Abstract: A cylindrical or other suitably shaped filter container for insertion into a user's nares to filter inhaled air to remove airborne items. The filter container has two open ends forming a container surrounding filter material. Polypropylene may be used to form the container or tube. Other suitable material such as rubber or other softer material may also be used. The present disclosure further includes a respiration mask having a peripheral seal composed of treated and fluffed polypropylene fibers. An edge seal according to the present disclosure lowers the respiratory resistance of a mask and improves the filtration efficiency. Treated, fluffed, polypropylene may also be used to form a respiration mask, such a mask may also include an edge seal to improve filtration and comfort. Treated, meltblown, polypropylene may also be used to form a filter napkin or handkerchief that may be carried and used in short term or unexpected situations.

Abstract: A method for designing a roller cone drill bit comprising selecting bit design parameters, selecting parameters of an earth formation, selecting drilling parameters, simulating drilling a selected earth formation, determining force on at one of a cutting element, a cone, and a drill bit, determining a location of the force, calculating bending moment, and varying at least one of the bit design parameters and repeating the simulating and the calculating until the bending moment meets a selected criterion. The method further comprising converting said bending moment into a visual representation.

Abstract: A method of optimizing drilling including identifying design parameters for a drilling tool assembly, preserving the design parameters as experience data, and training at least one artificial neural network using the experience data. The method also includes collecting real-time data from the drilling operation, analyzing the real-time data with a real-time drilling optimization system, and determining optimal drilling parameters based on the analyzing the real-time date with the real-time drilling optimization system. Also, a method for optimizing drilling in real-time including collecting real-time data from a drilling operation and comparing the real-time data against predicted data in a real-time optimization system, wherein the real-time optimization includes at least one artificial neural network. The method further includes determining optimal drilling parameters based on the comparing the real-time data with the predicted data in the real-time drilling optimization system.

Abstract: A method for reducing vibration of a drilling tool assembly is disclosed. The method includes modeling the drilling tool assembly based on input parameters, simulating a vibration of a drill string coupled with a vibration of a drill bit, determining an initial total vibration from output parameters generated by the simulation, determining a location for at least one vibrational control device based on the initial total vibration to reduce the initial total vibration, and disposing the at least one vibrational control device on the drill string at the determined location.

Abstract: A retroreflective article 10 has a body portion 14 and a multitude of cube-corner elements 12 that project from a rear side 20 of the body portion 14. The body portion 14 includes a body layer 18 that contains a light-transmissible polymeric material having an elastic modulus less than 7×108 pascals. The cube-corner elements 12 contain a light transmissible polymeric material having an elastic modulus greater than 16×108 pascals. A retroreflective article of this construction can be highly flexed while maintaining good retroreflective performance.