Abstract: A stringed musical instrument including a body connected to a neck and including a stress modification system for reducing bending stress in the neck. The stress modification system includes a first anchor and second anchor, each mounted at a proximal end of the neck on a top and bottom surface, respectively. The system further includes a diverter for guiding the string from the first anchor to the second anchor and for equalizing the tension along the string from the first anchor to the second anchor. The diverter may include one of a pulley, a roller, a wheel, and a low-friction pad. The first anchor or second anchor may include a tensioner for modifying the tension in the string. The bottom surface of the neck may include a recessed channel in which the string is disposed. In certain other embodiments, at least a portion of the neck is hollow.

Abstract: An Internet Broadcast Search Paradigm (IBSP) is disclosed, which causes a search for information on the world wide web to be distributed to all website computers on a network. The IBSP three basic embodiments: a direct broadcast server, a broadcast server, and a firewall server embodiment. However, other combinations are also possible. The IBSP direct broadcast process involves a client (and user) computer, a website computer, and an IBSP server computer. Each individual user conducts any desired search. In addition, website computers are present and are those computers which typically host and serve a website to the public. In general, there will be a single IBSP server computer although this is not meant as a limitation. In order to speed up the system and to accomplish load balancing, multiple IBSP server computers may be present in the system, although they are not necessarily required.

Abstract: A method for analyzing a number of candidate answer texts to determine their respective relevance to a query text, includes the following steps: producing, for respective candidate answer texts being analyzed, respective pluralities of component scores that result from respective comparisons with the query text, the comparisons including a measure of word occurrences, word group occurrences, and word sequences occurrences; determining, for respective candidate answer texts being analyzed, a composite relevance score as a function of the component scores; and outputting at least some of the candidate answer texts having the highest composite relevance scores.