Abstract: A functional electrical stimulation (FES) device includes electrodes arranged to apply functional electrical stimulation to a body part of the user. FES stimulation is performed by: receiving values of a set of user metrics for the user; receiving a target position of the body part represented as values for a set of body part position measurements; determining a user-specific energization pattern for producing the target position based on the received target position and the received values of the set of user metrics for the user; and energizing the electrodes of the FES device in accordance with the determined user-specific energization pattern. The determination may utilize an FES calibration database with records having fields containing: values of the set of user metrics for reference users; energization patterns; and values of the set of body part position metrics for positions assumed by the body part in response to applying the energization patterns.

Abstract: Described herein are improved thermoplastic composites, which demonstrate excellent physical properties, such as yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, toughness, elongation, and, optionally, superior tunable biodegradability when compared to known thermoplastics. The composite comprises minimally a thermoplastic polymer, at least one phenolic compound, and, optionally, a filler.

Abstract: A manufacturing system includes a cutting machine, an adhesion machine, and a pick-and-place system. The cutting machine sequentially cuts a continuous length of a unidirectional prepreg into prepreg segments. Each prepreg segment has an opposing pair of segment cut edges that are non-parallel to a lengthwise direction of the unidirectional prepreg. The adhesion machine has a conveyor belt and an adhesion station. The pick-and-place system sequentially picks up the prepreg segments from the cutting machine, and places the prepreg segments in end-to-end relation on the conveyor belt, and in an orientation such that the segment cut edges are generally parallel to a lengthwise direction of the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt feeds the prepreg segments to the adhesion station. The adhesion station adheres the prepreg segments to a continuous length of a backing material, thereby resulting in a continuous length of a backed cross-ply prepreg.

Abstract: In an embodiment, at least one computer readable storage medium has instructions stored thereon for causing a system to send, from a processor to a task execution device, a first call to execute a first subroutine of a set of chained subroutines. The first subroutine may have a first subroutine output argument that includes a first token to indicate that first output data from execution of the first subroutine is intermediate data of the set of chained subroutines. The instructions are also for causing the system, responsive to inclusion of the first token in the first subroutine output argument, to enable the processor to execute one or more operations while the task execution device executes the first subroutine. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: In an embodiment, at least one computer readable storage medium has instructions stored thereon for causing a system to send, from a processor to a task execution device, a first call to execute a first subroutine of a set of chained subroutines. The first subroutine may have a first subroutine output argument that includes a first token to indicate that first output data from execution of the first subroutine is intermediate data of the set of chained subroutines. The instructions are also for causing the system, responsive to inclusion of the first token in the first subroutine output argument, to enable the processor to execute one or more operations while the task execution device executes the first subroutine. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, apparatus, and methods for an improved polishing head including an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion adapted to hold a substrate and to tilt relative to the upper portion, the tilt enabled by a spherical bearing, wherein the lower portion is adapted to tilt while rotating the substrate against a rotating polishing pad so that the lower portion remains flush against the rotating polishing pad while resisting lateral friction force generated by the rotating polishing pad contacting the substrate and pushing the substrate laterally against the lower portion. Numerous additional aspects are disclosed.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) system includes a substrate held in a substrate holder having a substrate retaining ring, the substrate having a peripheral edge supported by the substrate retaining ring, the retaining ring including a polymer ring having a polymer contact portion in contact with at least a portion of the peripheral edge, wherein the polymer contact portion has a hardness that is greater than a remaining portion of the polymer ring. CMP methods and retaining ring apparatus for CMP are provided, as are numerous other aspects.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for polishing a substrate edge without mechanical contact are disclosed. The apparatus includes a rotatable chuck configured to secure a substrate, an ion milling machine configured to project an ion beam on an edge of the substrate and to sputter off matter from the substrate, and an endpoint detection sensor configured to determine if a material removal endpoint of the substrate has been reached. Numerous additional features are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is devoted to an analytical method for directly determining carbon number and molecular weight distributions of isoparaffin mixtures. The analytical means uses low in-scan emitter-current field-ionization mass spectroscopy to substantially reduced or eliminated molecular ion fragmentation for isoparaffins, which allows direct measurement of isoparaffin molecular ions for their distributions. The analytical means is capable of directly characterizing isobutane to C50+ isoparaffins, covering naphtha to gas oil ranges.

Abstract: A carabiner with improved gate structure comprises: a metal hook and a locking mechanism; wherein the locking mechanism is composed of a safety latch, a tip, an inwardly and outwardly compressed spring, and a cylindrical latching arrangement; one end of the safety latch is pivotally cooperated with the fixed end of a metal hook, with a tip against the fixed end, and another end of the safety latch includes a clip-in opening for clip-in of the metal hook end; a cylindrical latching arrangement is sleeved to the external part of the safety latch, the invention is characterized in: providing an easier way to control the cylindrical latching arrangement and safety latch with a means that allows a orient ball bearing to slide to fit within a slotted guide.

Abstract: A safety belt device is used for coupling users to support members and to suspend and space the users from the ground when the users fell out of the support members, it comprises a buffer device capable of peeling off one piece after another to extended, and a warning device capable of delivering warning signals when said buffer device is peeling off one piece after another.

Abstract: A safety belt device is used for coupling users to support members and to suspend and space the users from the ground when the users fell out of the support members, and includes a warning device attached and arranged to generate warning signals when the safety belt device is extended or stretched by such as the users, in order to ask help from other people. The safety belt device includes two belt members, and the warning device is attached between the two belt members. A buffer device may be attached between the belt members to buffer the safety belt, and to provide a cushioning force against the safety belt device.

Abstract: A light emitting diode with strained layer superlatices (SLS) crystal structure is formed on a substrate. A nucleation layer and a buffer layer are sequentially formed on the substrate, so as to ease the crystal growth for the subsequent crystal growing process. An active layer is covered between an upper and a lower cladding layers. The active later include III-N group compound semiconductive material. A SLS contact layer is located on the upper cladding layer. A transparent electrode is located on the contact later to serve as an anode. Another electrode layer has contact with the buffer layer, and is separated from the lower and upper cladding layers.

Abstract: A light emitting diode with strained layer superlatices (SLS) crystal structure is formed on a substrate. A nucleation layer and a buffer layer are sequentially formed on the substrate, so as to ease the crystal growth for the subsequent crystal growing process. An active layer is covered between an upper and a lower cladding layers. The active later include III-N group compound semiconductive material. A SLS contact layer is located on the upper cladding layer. A transparent electrode is located on the contact later to serve as an anode. Another electrode layer has contact with the buffer layer, and is separated from the lower and upper cladding layers.

Abstract: A light emitting diode with strained layer superlatices (SLS) crystal structure is formed on a substrate. A nucleation layer and a buffer layer are sequentially formed on the substrate, so as to ease the crystal growth for the subsequent crystal growing process. An active layer is covered between an upper and a lower cladding layers. The active later include III-N group compound semiconductive material. A SLS contact layer is located on the upper cladding layer. A transparent electrode is located on the contact later to serve as an anode. Another electrode layer has contact with the buffer layer, and is separated from the lower and upper cladding layers.

Abstract: A light emitting diode with strained layer superlatices (SLS) crystal structure is formed on a substrate. A nucleation layer and a buffer layer are sequentially formed on the substrate, so as to ease the crystal growth for the subsequent crystal growing process. An active layer is covered between an upper and a lower cladding layers. The active later include III-N group compound semiconductive material. A SLS contact layer is located on the upper cladding layer. A transparent electrode is located on the contact later to serve as an anode. Another electrode layer has contact with the buffer layer, and is separated from the lower and upper cladding layers.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for determining the halogen toxicity level in a sample containing halogenated compounds, specifically halogen containing rubbers by utilizing thermal electrons formed inside a mass spectrometer operated at negative ion electron capture conditions. The method allows for detection of the toxic species from the parts per million level, down to the parts per billion levels.

Abstract: The instant invention is directed to a process for removing hard sulfurs from hydrocarbon streams by selectively oxidizing hard sulfurs in a hydrotreated stream, under oxidizing conditions in the presence of an effective amount of an oxidizing agent, wherein the oxidizing agent is a peroxometal complex and wherein the hard sulfurs are oxidized into the corresponding sulfoxides and sulfones.