Abstract: A host computer is programmed to receive input specifying definitions of two or more stages, each of the stages representing an attribute of one or more end-user profiles that have undertaken one or more interactions, using computing devices associated with the end-user profiles, with one or more networked computers. For each stage, the user computer can interoperate with a graphical user interface comprising a virtual canvas, a palette comprising a plurality of different graphical icons each representing at least an entry condition and an activation order for digital presentation of information. Visual selection and dragging operations can move copies of an entry condition icon and an activation icon from the palette to the virtual canvas. An entry condition icon is defined using rules to match one or more subsets of the end-user profiles and one or more subsets of the interactions. An activation icon has order attributes order for the digital presentation of information.

Abstract: The methods for sample preparation disclosed herein utilize an air phase to reduce aqueous phase associated with magnetic particles bound to nucleic acids to decrease carryover of one or more contaminants, such as, cell debris, chaotropic agents, non-specifically attached molecules, and the like. This air-transfer step is improved by using a combination of a first population of magnetic particles and a second population of magnetic particles, where the first population of magnetic particles is capable of associating with nucleic acids, and the magnetic particles in the second population are at least two-times larger in size than the size of the magnetic particles in the first population. As discussed herein, the use of this second population of magnetic particles improves the transfer of the first population of magnetic particles by reducing loss of the first magnetic particles during the transfer. The sample preparation methods may be semi-automated or completely automated.

Abstract: A wafer processing method includes emitting a laser beam along an annular line that is a predetermined distance inward of the outer circumferential edge of the first wafer to form, in the first wafer, an annular first modified layer and a first crack extending from the first modified layer to make an appearance on the front surface, thereby causing the first wafer to become warped at an outer circumferential region thereof that lies closer to the outer circumferential edge than does the first modified layer and the first crack; bonding the front surface of the first wafer to a second wafer to form a bonded wafer stack; and grinding a rear surface of the first wafer of the bonded wafer stack to thin the first wafer to a finish thickness.

Abstract: A sound signal processing device includes: a vocal remover which generates a first output signal based on first-channel and second-channel sound signals and a first coefficient indicating a vocal bandwidth to be removed; a surround sound processor which generates a second output signal by adding a surround sound effect to the first output signal; an amplifier which amplifies a signal at an amplification factor that is based on a second coefficient; a synthesizer which synthesizes the second output signal with one of the first-channel and second-channel sound signals, and synthesizes a signal that is the second output signal inverted with another one of the first-channel and second-channel sound signals; and a coefficient determination unit which sets the second coefficient such that the amplification factor, used when the vocal bandwidth to be removed is greater than a first bandwidth, is greater than the amplification factor for the first bandwidth.

Abstract: A sound signal processing device includes: a vocal remover which generates a first output signal based on first-channel and second-channel sound signals and a first coefficient indicating a vocal bandwidth to be removed; a surround sound processor which generates a second output signal by adding a surround sound effect to the first output signal; an amplifier which amplifies a signal at an amplification factor that is based on a second coefficient; a synthesizer which synthesizes the second output signal with one of the first-channel and second-channel sound signals, and synthesizes a signal that is the second output signal inverted with another one of the first-channel and second-channel sound signals; and a coefficient determination unit which sets the second coefficient such that the amplification factor, used when the vocal bandwidth to be removed is greater than a first bandwidth, is greater than the amplification factor for the first bandwidth.