Abstract: A construction set for creating entertainment event venues such as concerts, sporting events, TV show sets and futuristic entertainment venues. Assembled components are utilized when they are practical for a specific purpose but assembly kits for the components are also available for those wishing to build them from the construction set's basic parts. Components include but are not limited to stage platforms, truss, audio inputs, audio outputs, video monitors, holographic images, as well as other components, accessories and moving lights which are archetypal for creating entertainment venues. Unique eight pointed star connectors are used for connecting many of the components together. Additionally a master control system computer provides real-time interactive control of lighting, effects and robotics through USB, MIDI, DMX and other connections and protocols, which can be wired or wireless. It can also be controlled through audio from files, live microphones or live feeds from computers and smartphones.

Abstract: A vertical sensor array is placed along a weighing conveyer in a self-checkout system. Successive products are scanned and then placed on the weighing conveyer. As a product traverses the sensor array, a firmware control sends a measured height of the product to processor software, and also indicates the time taken by the product to pass the array. From the time, conveyer speed, and distance from the array to the end of the weighing conveyer, the software determines the time when the product will be transferred from the weighing conveyer to a location adjacent to the weighing conveyer. Since this transfer time is variable, depending on the product and the particular orientation of the product when it is placed on the weighing conveyer, the software can dynamically enable the scanner input device for the associated system to accept the next following product or item. The software can accurately determine the correct weight of a product, even when multiple products are present on the conveyer simultaneously.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for obtaining spatial information about an object, and for measuring the dielectric constant of an object. They include placing the object in a cavity and interacting electromagnetic radiation at a plurality of frequencies with the object to obtain a corresponding plurality of measured resonant transverse magnetic modes. They also include using the plurality of measured resonant transverse magnetic modes to obtain the spatial information for the object, and/or using the plurality of measured resonant transverse magnetic modes to obtain the dielectric constant for the object.

Abstract: A method of measuring performance of a security analyst includes selecting an analyst that covers a set of securities, and a performance measurement time period. A value add is created by subtracting a return of a benchmark portfolio from a return of a simulated portfolio. The return of the benchmark portfolio is derived exclusively from a selected set of securities that are included in the set of securities covered by the analyst. The simulated portfolio has constituents and weights that are a function of the analyst's recommendations on the securities in the selected set.

Abstract: A vertical sensor array is placed along a weighing conveyer in a self-checkout system. Successive products are scanned and then placed on the weighing conveyer. As a product traverses the sensor array, a firmware control sends a measured height of the product to processor software, and also indicates the time taken by the product to pass the array. From the time, conveyer speed, and distance from the array to the end of the weighing conveyer, the software determines the time when the product will be transferred from the weighing conveyer to a location adjacent to the weighing conveyer. Since this transfer time is variable, depending on the product and the particular orientation of the product when it is placed on the weighing conveyer, the software can dynamically enable the scanner input device for the associated system to accept the next following product or item. The software can accurately determine the correct weight of a product, even when multiple products are present on the conveyer simultaneously.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for obtaining spatial information about an object, and for measuring the dielectric constant of an object. They include placing the object in a cavity and interacting electromagnetic radiation at a plurality of frequencies with the object to obtain a corresponding plurality of measured resonant transverse magnetic modes. They also include using the plurality of measured resonant transverse magnetic modes to obtain the spatial information for the object, and/or using the plurality of measured resonant transverse magnetic modes to obtain the dielectric constant for the object.

Abstract: An anemone killing mixture comprises effective amounts of calcium hydroxide and non-iodized salt dissolved into and mixed in boiling purified water. A method of killing Aiptasia and Majana anemones in aquariums comprises filling a dispenser with an anemone killing mixture, comprising water and effective amounts of calcium hydroxide, placing a tip of the filled dispenser near a mouth of an anemone and dispensing a small amount of the mixture such that it is consumed by the anemone.

Abstract: A treated substrate with improved availability of a beneficial component for transfer to a target surface and methods for making the same are described. The substrate has a contacting surface with a beneficial component that is transferred from the contacting surface to a target surface during use of the article. The beneficial component is applied to the article in such a way as to “Top-Bias” the component on or near the contacting surface of the article.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring and creating a score for the performance of one or more contributor recommendations on a single stock. According to one embodiment, the score may be derived via a payoff function that depends on a variety of factors. For example, the factors may include one or more of: i) the performance of the stock; ii) the performance of a selected benchmark; iii) the recommendation of the contributor for the stock; and/or iv) other factors. According to one embodiment the payoff function may be designed such that certain desired characteristics are satisfied.

Abstract: A catamenial device comprising a liquid pervious topsheet, the topsheet having an inner surface oriented toward the interior of the absorbent article and an outer surface oriented toward the body of the wearer when the absorbent article is being worn. At least a portion of the topsheet outer surface comprises an effective amount of a lotion coating which is semi-solid or solid at about 25° C. and which is partially transferable to the wearer's body. The lotion coating comprises from about 60 to about 99.9% of a carrier comprising a petroleum based hydrocarbon and lower molecular weight glycols or polyols and from about 0.2 to about 65% of a fatty alcohol with a melting point from about 450 C to about 110° C. A backsheet is joined to the topsheet and an absorbent core is disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet.

Abstract: A method and a coating on a tampon applicator. The coating includes a crosslinked hydrogel that includes a copolymer including water soluble base polymers having graft polymerized thereto organic moieties that react with water to form a silanol group. The copolymer is crosslinked through the silanol groups of the organic moieties to form a coating that is absorbent, lubricious and substantially non-water soluble.

Abstract: Lotions and methods for preparing a lotion with chitosan material in a reliable high speed process is disclosed. In one embodiment the method can comprise the steps of providing a carrier system; providing a premix solution of chitosan material in a solvent at a temperature of at least about 35 degrees C. In another embodiment the method can comprise providing particulate chitosan material with less than about 1% of the particles having a diameter of greater than about 250 microns; and milling the small particulate chitosan into the carrier system at a temperature of at least about 35 degrees C. Also disclosed are disposable absorbent articles comprising a lotion of the present invention.

Abstract: A tampon for feminine hygiene, having an insertion end, a withdrawal end, a length, a longitudinal axis, and an outer surface. The tampon has compressed fibrous material. The outer surface of the tampon has a first region and second region. The first region has a first coefficient of friction and the second region has a second coefficient of friction different than the first coefficient of friction.

Abstract: A method of killing Aiptasia and Majana anemones in aquariums comprises filling a dispenser with an anemone killing mixture, comprising purified water, and effective amounts of calcium hydroxide and non-iodized salt, placing a tip of the filled dispenser near a mouth of an anemone and dispensing a small amount of the mixture such that it is consumed by the anemone. An anemone killing mixture comprises effective amounts of calcium hydroxide and non-iodized salt dissolved into and mixed in boiling purified water.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating the selection of security analyst research reports is provided. Investors (or other users) seeking to efficiently target and access only those security analyst research reports most likely to assist in an investment-related decision may access an application. The application may enables users to simultaneously view (e.g., via a graphical user interface) current predictions of security analysts (or other contributors), research report objects associated with the predictions, and data, metrics, or other information corresponding to the historical performance of predictions made by the analysts. By simultaneously displaying historical performance data for contributors, along with their current predictions and research report objects associated with their current predictions, users are provided with objective criteria by which to guide their selection of research reports.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for obtaining spatial information about an object, and for measuring the dielectric constant of an object. They include placing the object in a cavity and interacting electromagnetic radiation at a plurality of frequencies with the object to obtain a corresponding plurality of measured resonant transverse magnetic modes. They also include using the plurality of measured resonant transverse magnetic modes to obtain the spatial information for the object, and/or using the plurality of measured resonant transverse magnetic modes to obtain the dielectric constant for the object.

Abstract: A computer implemented system for displaying security analyst recommendation information includes a database includes information on an overall analyst score. The overall analyst score has a value add that is obtained by subtracting a return of a benchmark portfolio from a return of a simulated portfolio return. The return of the benchmark portfolio is derived exclusively from a selected set of securities included in a set of securities covered by the analyst. The simulated portfolio includes constituents and weights that are a function of the analyst's recommendations on the securities in the selected set. A user interface is provided with a plurality of selectable user inputs. The user inputs enable a user to display analyst security recommendation information. An input device is included that is operable by a user. A display is provided for displaying at least one output of a security analyst information according to the selected user inputs.

Abstract: A method of measuring performance of a security analyst includes selecting an analyst that covers a set of securities, and a performance measurement time period. A value add is created by subtracting a return of a benchmark portfolio from a return of a simulated portfolio. The return of the benchmark portfolio is derived exclusively from a selected set of securities that are included in the set of securities covered by the analyst. The simulated portfolio has constituents and weights that are a function of the analyst's recommendations on the securities in the selected set.