Abstract: A shopping assistant method and system provides a consumer with a mobile terminal in a shopping mall as a shopping assistant. The consumer can input a shopping list to the mobile terminal in advance and login at an entrance of the shopping mall in a wireless way for sending the shopping list to a remote server in the shopping mall. The remote server finds goods in the shopping list from its database that have identical names and other goods having information that meets with a pre-stored preference condition, and then sends the information found to the mobile terminal for display. Accordingly, the consumer can conveniently compare prices among numerous goods and quickly get the desired goods, or the closest ones. When the consumer finishes shopping, the remote server further deducts the amount from a personal financial account so as to complete an e-commerce.

Abstract: A transceiver including a transmitter, a receiver, a first printed circuit board assembly, and a second printed circuit board assembly. The transmitter is configured to convert electrical signals to fiber optic signals. The receiver is configured to convert fiber optic signals to electrical signals. The first printed circuit board assembly is electrically coupled with the transmitter and configured to be electrically coupled with a host system via a first plurality of host interface pins. The second printed circuit board assembly is electrically coupled with the receiver and configured to be electrically coupled with the host system via a second plurality of host interface pins.

Abstract: A transmitting and receiving device, in which the received signal which is produced by the receiving device has only a small amount of crosstalk. This object is achieved by providing a transmitting and receiving device having a transmitting device for producing a transmission signal, a receiving device for producing a received signal, and a compensation device which is connected to the transmitting device and to the receiving device and which at least reduces any crosstalk which is produced by the transmitting device in the receiving device.

Abstract: A symmetric dual-voltage charge pump and its control circuit generate bipolar output voltages. The charge pump converts a unipolar power source to a set of dual-voltage outputs of opposite polarity that are completely independent of each other. The charge pump includes two voltage-boosting transfer capacitors and two output capacitors. Two-phase operation generates an increased-magnitude output voltage of a negative polarity and another two phases of operation generate an increased output voltage of a positive polarity. The charge pump selectively charges one or both of the bipolar outputs with individual 2-phase charge cycles or with a sequence of charge cycles. When controlled by comparators with unequal reference voltages, the charge pump can force the bipolar outputs to unequal positive and negative voltages. Charge pumping is faster since only 2 phases are needed for charging either the positive or negative output.

Abstract: An antifungal polypeptide, AlyAFP, that controls fungal damage to plants is provided. DNA encoding this polypeptide can be cloned into vectors for transformation of plant-colonizing microorganisms or plants, thereby providing a method of inhibiting fungal growth on plants. The polypeptide can be formulated into compositions that can be used to control undesired fingi on plants and elsewhere.

Abstract: We have discovered that the formation of particulate inclusions at the surface and the interior of an aluminum alloy article interferes with the performance of the article when a surface of the article is protected by an anodized coating. We have also discovered that the formation of such particulate inclusions can be controlled to a large extent by controlling the concentration of particular impurities present in the alloy used to fabricate the aluminum alloy article.

Abstract: We have discovered that the formation of particulate inclusions at the surface and the interior of an aluminum alloy article interferes with the performance of the article when a surface of the article is protected by an anodized coating. We have also discovered that the formation of such particulate inclusions can be controlled to a large extent by controlling the concentration of particular impurities present in the alloy used to fabricate the aluminum alloy article.

Abstract: An antifungal polypeptide, AlyAFP, that controls fungal damage to plants is provided. DNA encoding this polypeptide can be cloned into vectors for transformation of plant-colonizing microorganisms or plants, thereby providing a method of inhibiting fungal growth on plants. The polypeptide can be formulated into compositions that can be used to control undesired fungi on plants and elsewhere.

Abstract: We have discovered that the formation of particulate inclusions at the surface and the interior of an aluminum alloy article interferes with the performance of the article when a surface of the article is protected by an anodized coating. We have also discovered that the formation of such particulate inclusions can be controlled to a large extent by controlling the concentration of particular impurities present in the alloy used to fabricate the aluminum alloy article.

Abstract: Keywords: computer assisted test, test assessment, test collection, distant learning. The main problem with the network test base system is that there are neither sufficiently many nor good enough test items. To satisfy these two points, there must be more test item resources and a mechanism for assessing test items to determine whether a test item should stay in the test base. The present invention provides a method for automation of dynamic test item collection and assessment, which allows teacher and students to contribute test items to the test base and each independently managed test base can share test items. This can make the test base rapidly grow and expand the size of a test base. The more independent the student are, the higher the applicability of this method is.

Abstract: An antifungal polypeptide, AlyAFP, that controls fungal damage to plants is provided. DNA encoding this polypeptide can be cloned into vectors for transformation of plant-colonizing microorganisms or plants, thereby providing a method of inhibiting fungal growth on plants. The polypeptide can be formulated into compositions that can be used to control undesired fungi on plants and elsewhere.

Abstract: A sensor device includes a mounting frame having open front and rear ends, and right and left inner side walls opposite to each other in a longitudinal direction and extending between the front and rear ends so as to define a passage. The mounting frame is adapted to be mounted such that the body of a user of the sanitary apparatus will be sighted by the passage. A sensor body is inserted into the passage, and has a front side proximate to the front end to emit and receive a light signal, and right and left lateral walls that face respectively and spacedly the right and left inner side walls. A pair. of pivotally mounting members are respectively disposed between the right lateral and inner side walls, and between the left lateral and inner side walls such that the pivotally mounting members effect pivotal mountings which are pivotable between angular positions about an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: Isolated DNA molecules encoding an AlyAFP antifungal polypeptide from Alyssum are disclosed. The isolated DNA molecules comprise the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:12 or encode the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2. Also disclosed are vectors and transgenic plants comprising said DNA molecules and a method for reducing fungal damage in a plant with said DNA molecule. The isolated DNA molecules may be used to prepare transgenic plants that exhibit reduced damage from fungi as compared to non-transgenic plants. The isolated DNA molecules may be used in combination with additional nucleic acid sequences encoding anti-fungal or anti-insect proteins or polypeptides.

Abstract: The amount of particulate contamination produced due to rubbing between a semiconductor substrate and the robotic substrate handling blade has been greatly reduced by the use of specialized materials either as the principal material of construction for the semiconductor substrate handling blade, or as a coating upon the surface of the substrate handling blade. In particular, the specialized material must exhibit the desired stiffness at temperatures in excess of about 450° C.; the specialized material must also have an abrasion resistant surface which does not produce particulates when rubbed against the semiconductor substrate. The abrasion resistant surface needs to be very smooth, having a surface finish of less than 1.0 micro inch, and preferably less than 0.2 micro inch. In addition, the surface must be essentially void-free. In the most preferred embodiments, the upper, top surface of the substrate handling blade is constructed from a dielectric material being smooth, non-porous, and wear-resistant.

Abstract: The amount of particulate contamination produced due to rubbing between a semiconductor substrate and the robotic substrate handling blade has been greatly reduced by the use of specialized materials either as the principal material of construction for the semiconductor substrate handling blade, or as a coating upon the surface of the wafer handling blade. In particular, the specialized material must exhibit the desired stiffness at temperatures in excess of about 450.degree. C.; the specialized material must also have an abrasion resistant surface which does not produce particulates when rubbed against the semiconductor substrate. The abrasion resistant surface needs to be very smooth, having a surface finish of less than 1.0 micro inch, and preferably less than 0.2 micro inch. In addition, the surface must be essentially void-free. In the most preferred embodiments, the upper, top surface of the substrate handling blade is constructed from a dielectric material being smooth, non-porous, and wear-resistant.

Abstract: A MOS transistor cell is disclosed for a multiple cell MOS transistor, such as in an ESD protection circuit, output buffer, etc. The transistor cell has a regular n-sided polygonal geometry, wherein n.gtoreq.8. A drain region is provided in a substrate which occupies an area with n-sided polygonal shaped boundaries. Surrounding the drain, is a channel region which occupies an n-sided polygonal shaped area. Surrounding the channel region is a source region provided in the substrate which occupies an annular shaped area having n-sided polygonal boundaries.

Abstract: An output buffer is provided which receives an input signal for output onto an output terminal. The output buffer has a first driver and a second driver for driving the output terminal to a voltage corresponding to a logic value of the input signal. The second driver has a higher driving capacity than the first driver. The output buffer also has control circuitry receiving a transition in logic value of the input signal and at least one mode signal. The control circuitry responds to the transition in logic value by delaying the second driver from driving the output terminal to a complementary voltage until after the first driver begins to drive the output terminal to the complementary voltage. In so doing, the control circuitry delays the second driver by a first delay, when the mode signal(s) indicates a full speed mode. On the other hand, the control circuitry delays the second driver by a second delay, that is longer than the first delay, when the mode signal(s) indicates a low speed mode.

Abstract: An antifungal polypeptide, AlyAFP, that controls fungal damage to plants is provided. DNA encoding this polypeptide can be cloned into vectors for transformation of plant-colonizing microorganisms or plants, thereby providing a method of inhibiting fungal growth on plants. The polypeptide can be formulated into compositions that can be used to control undesired fungi on plants and elsewhere.

Abstract: A low power consumption oscillator circuit is provided with an oscillator. The oscillator responds to a voltage by producing an oscillating signal at its output having an amplitude that depends on the level of the voltage. Furthermore, the low power consumption oscillator circuit has a level shifter. Illustratively, according to one embodiment, the level shifter includes a pull-up driver and a pull-down driver connected in parallel between the oscillator output and an output of the level shifter. The pull-up driver is configured so as to refrain from conducting current between a biasing input of the pull-up driver and the level shifter output simultaneously with the pull-down driver when the oscillating signal exceeds a certain voltage level. The level shifter illustratively includes an intrinsic PMOS device.

Abstract: An ESD protection circuit for use in a CMOS output buffer circuit has been disclosed. The ESD protection circuit provides a high ESD failure threshold in a small layout area to protect the output buffer against ESD failure. The output buffer includes a pull-up PMOS device and pull-down NMOS device whose common drain is connected to an output pad. The source of the PMOS device is connected to VDD and the source of NMOS device is connected to VSS. The ESD protection circuit is formed by a PTLSCR device and an NTLSCR device. The PTLSCR (NTLSCR) is formed by inserting a short-channel thin-oxide PMOS (NMOS) device into a lateral SCR structure. These MOS devices reduce the turn-on voltage of the lateral SCR to the snapback breakdown voltage of the MOS rather than the original switching voltage of the SCR. The ESD protection circuit also includes two parasitic diodes D.sub.p between output pad and VDD and D.sub.n between output pad and VSS.