Abstract: A method for making a layered elastic substrate includes advancing a first substrate layer and a second substrate layer in a machine direction. An elastic material is advanced in the machine direction in a stretched state. The elastic material may be bonded to the first substrate layer and the second substrate layer in a stretched state to form a layered elastic substrate. The layered elastic substrate may advance through a first metering device at speed, V1, and through a second metering device at speed, V2, subsequent to advancing through the first metering device, wherein V1 is greater than V2. As a result, the elastic material, and thus the layered elastic substrate, may be stretched to a first elongation at the first metering device and relaxed to a second elongation at the second device. The layered elastic substrate is cut and bonded to a continuous length of web material.

Abstract: A burst-mode phase shift keying (PSK) communications system according to an embodiment of the present invention enables practical, power-efficient, multi-rate communications between an optical transmitter and receiver. Embodiments may operate on differential PSK (DPSK) signals. An embodiment of the system utilizes a single interferometer in the receiver with a relative path delay that is matched to the DPSK symbol rate of the link. DPSK symbols are transmitted in bursts, and the data rate may be varied by changing the ratio of the burst-on time to the burst-off time. This approach offers a number of advantages over conventional DPSK implementations, including near-optimum photon efficiency over a wide range of data rates, simplified multi-rate transceiver implementation, and relaxed transmit laser line-width requirements at low data rates.

Abstract: A first elastic material is advanced in a machine direction in a stretched state to a first metering device at a speed, V1. A second elastic material is advanced in the machine direction in a stretched state to a second metering device at a speed, V2. First and second substrate layers are advanced in a machine direction to a third metering at a speed, V3, along with the first and second elastic materials. The first and second elastic materials are bonded to the first and second substrate layers at the third metering device to form a layered elastic substrate. The layered elastic substrate is advanced to a fourth metering device at a speed, V4. V1 is less than V2, V3 is greater than V1 and V2, V4 is less than V3, and V4 is greater than V1 and V2.

Abstract: Bonding agents for use in formulating solid propellants are described. The bonding agents have a Schiff base, or Schiff base and hydroxyl or amine functionality. These materials are synthesized by reacting a primary amine with an aldehyde to form a Schiff base. By definition, a Schiff base comprises the reaction product of a primary amine and an aldehyde. In one embodiment of the invention, such a product is produced by the reaction of a polyoxyalkyleneamine (JEFFAMINE®) with p-nitrobenzaldehyde and glycidol. The result is a polyether having both hydroxyl and Schiff base functionality. The bonding agents provide superior performance, while avoiding problems, such as ammonia production during processing, encountered when using existing bonding agents. Propellants formulated using these bonding agents have mechanical properties within acceptable ranges.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are described that provide control of unwanted algae growth in enclosed bodies of water, such as swimming pools and spas, without the need for added chlorinating and/or oxidizing agents. The composition includes a bromine-containing salt and can be applied on an as needed basis, without the need for testing of the water chemistry.

Abstract: A first substrate advances in the first direction and a second substrate advances in the second direction. The first substrate advances onto an outer circumferential surface of a drum in a stretched state. The first substrate may be cut into discrete lengths of elastic substrate. The drum may be configured with vacuum to hold the discrete length of elastic substrate in a stretched state. The second substrate may advance in the second direction by a conveyor. The conveyor includes a roller having a curved outer surface that deforms the second substrate so as to define a curve in the first direction. A tamper apparatus intermittently displaces a deformed portion of the second substrate into contact with a discrete length of elastic substrate on the outer circumferential surface of the drum. The discrete length of elastic substrate bonds with the second substrate and is removed from the drum.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for processing voice commands. In one aspect, a method includes obtaining an occurrence count for terms that occur in resources that a search engine has identified as being responsive to an original search query, identifying a term that occurs in the resources, based on the occurrence count, providing the term and a control for display on a client device, the control being associated with the term and with promotion or demotion criteria, receiving a signal indicating that the user has selected the control, and automatically reformulating the original search query based on the term and the promotion or demotion criteria.

Abstract: A discharge system for removing a solid/gas mixture from a fluidized bed pressure vessel is provided. The system includes a fluidized bed pressure vessel, settling vessels, discharge lines, primary discharge valves, vent lines, primary vent valves, crosstie lines, crosstie valves, and primary exit valves wherein the system is absent a transfer tank, and absent a filter element. The method provides for transferring a solid/gas mixture via a discharge line from the pressure vessel to a settling vessel, wherein gas is separated from the mixture, and the gas is transferred to at least one other settling vessel via a crosstie line. After the solids are transferred out of the settling vessel, the empty vessel then receives gas from other settling vessels in the system.

Abstract: An array of packages comprising three or more different sizes of absorbent articles, the array comprising a first, a second and a third packages comprising first, second and third absorbent article having first, second and third sizes. The Array Acquisition/Distribution System to Product Pitch Ratio of the first, second, and third packages is from about 10% to about 28%.

Abstract: The present invention provides an article to be worn about a wearer including a surface fastening system having a primary direction of load bearing. The surface fastening system has a first surface fastening element and a second surface fastening element. The first fastening element is joined to the article, and the second fastening element is disposed so as to be generally in a face to face relationship with the first fastening element when the surface fastening system is in a fastened configuration. The surface fastening system has a peel resistance in a direction other than the primary direction of load bearing greater than or equal to about 1000 grams.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for processing voice commands. In one aspect, a method includes obtaining an occurrence count for terms that occur in resources that a search engine has identified as being responsive to an original search query, identifying a term that occurs in the resources, based on the occurrence count, providing the term and a control for display on a client device, the control being associated with the term and with promotion or demotion criteria, receiving a signal indicating that the user has selected the control, and automatically reformulating the original search query based on the term and the promotion or demotion criteria.

Abstract: A display module having electromagnetic interference shielding is disclosed. The display module has a mask circuit board disposed immediately above a first circuit board. One or more light emitting elements are disposed on a top surface of the first circuit board. The mask circuit board has one or more apertures which enable the light from the light emitting elements to radiate outward. The mask circuit board has one or more metalized layers electrically connected to ground which receive and reduces the electromagnetic radiation emitted from the first circuit board. The display module employs one or more shield strips disposed near the perimeter of the mask circuit board and first circuit board to receive and reduce the electromagnetic radiation which would otherwise radiate laterally from the circuit boards.

Abstract: A formula and method for reducing water hardness includes the combination of a sulfate donor, salt of phosphoric acid, and salt of sulfamic acid. Preferred formulas include effective amounts of sodium bisulfate, sodium hexametaphosphate, and sulfamic acid. In a swimming pool, preferred formulas are effective in reducing calcium to under 200 ppm within a two day period. In addition, preferred formulas provide ongoing effectiveness in suppressing scaling, staining and cloudy water.

Abstract: A system maintains job performance data for a plurality of persons employed in a plurality of occupations and maintains assessment data for the plurality of persons. Top performers in each of the plurality of occupations are identified as a function of the job performance data. The system receives assessment data for an individual person. The system compares the assessment data for the individual person with the assessment data for the top performers in each of the plurality of occupations. The system recommends one or more of the plurality of occupations to the individual person as a function of the comparison, such that the individual person is more likely to succeed in the one or more of the recommended occupations.

Abstract: A system maintains a database of scores of job candidates or persons employed in a particular job or occupation. The scores are calculated from responses by the job candidates or the employed persons to inquiries about a display of a three dimensional graphical figure on a true three dimensional display device. The three dimensional graphical figure is displayed on the true three dimensional display device. The display of the three dimensional graphical figure is part of an assessment of a potential job candidate. The system presents an inquiry to the potential job candidate relating to the true three dimensional graphical figure, and receives a response to the inquiry from the potential job candidate. The system calculates a score for the potential job candidate based on the response of the potential job candidate.

Abstract: A method for generating a financial report indicative of estimated turbine maintenance costs is provided. The method includes receiving, at a database, turbine operational history data and turbine inspection data from a user for a pre-identified turbine, receiving, at the database, turbine replacement part costs, turbine part repair costs, and vendor service costs associated with the pre-identified turbine, inputting a pre-determined turbine operational forecast into the database, analyzing turbine maintenance information including at least one of turbine operational history data, turbine inspection data, replacement part costs, part repair costs, vendor service costs, and turbine operational forecast, and automatically generating a financial report including at least one schedule of turbine maintenance events and costs associated with each event based on the turbine maintenance information analysis.

Abstract: Described are an FSK modulator and a method for large-alphabet FSK modulation. The FSK modulator and the method are based on filtering of a multi-tone optical source such as a mode-locked laser which provides a comb distribution of tones. A frequency-selective component selects for transmission a subset of the tones. In various embodiments the frequency-selective component is a Mach-Zehnder interferometer filter or a microring resonator filter. A second frequency-selective component selects a subset of the tones from the comb distribution provided by the first frequency-selective component. Still more frequency-selective components can be used according to the number of tones supplied by the multi-tone optical source to the FSK modulator. The optical signal exiting the last frequency-selective component includes only a single tone which corresponds to the symbol to be transmitted.

Abstract: A first elastic material is advanced in a machine direction in a stretched state to a first metering device at a speed, V1. A second elastic material is advanced in the machine direction in a stretched state to a second metering device at a speed, V2. First and second substrate layers are advanced in a machine direction to a third metering at a speed, V3, along with the first and second elastic materials. The first and second elastic materials are bonded to the first and second substrate layers at the third metering device to form a layered elastic substrate. The layered elastic substrate is advanced to a fourth metering device at a speed, V4. V1 is less than V2, V3 is greater than V1 and V2, V4 is less than V3, and V4 is greater than V1 and V2.

Abstract: A first substrate advances in the first direction and a second substrate advances in the second direction. The first substrate advances onto an outer circumferential surface of a drum in a stretched state. The first substrate may be cut into discrete lengths of elastic substrate. The drum may be configured with vacuum to hold the discrete length of elastic substrate in a stretched state. The second substrate may advance in the second direction by a conveyor. The conveyor includes a roller having a curved outer surface that deforms the second substrate so as to define a curve in the first direction. A tamper apparatus intermittently displaces a deformed portion of the second substrate into contact with a discrete length of elastic substrate on the outer circumferential surface of the drum. The discrete length of elastic substrate bonds with the second substrate and is removed from the drum.