Abstract: A washing machine appliance includes a wash basket that is rotatably mounted within a wash tub. A water supply is provided for selectively adding wash fluid to the wash tub, a motor assembly is mechanically coupled to the wash basket for selectively rotating the wash basket, and a turbidity sensor is positioned within the wash fluid. A controller is configured to operate the water supply to dispense a target volume of the wash fluid, perform an additive mixing cycle to agitate wash additive within the target volume of the wash fluid, obtain a first turbidity measurement, perform an agitation cycle with the target volume of the wash fluid, obtain a second turbidity measurement, and complete a wash cycle at the a wash cycle intensity determined a based at least in part on the first turbidity and the second turbidity.

Abstract: A laser welding system for joining a first workpiece to a second workpiece includes a laser welder configured to emit a laser beam at a power to form a weld to join the first workpiece and the second workpiece at a weld location. The laser welding system includes a plasma protection fixture coupled to a surface of at least the first workpiece. The plasma protection fixture defines an opening configured to receive the laser beam. The opening has a perimeter that surrounds and is spaced apart from the weld. The plasma protection fixture has a height above the surface of at least the first workpiece about the perimeter of the opening that is defined based on the power of the laser beam.

Abstract: Methods and systems for automatically predicting the probability of regulatory compliance approval based on data contained in a data structure. A data structure can be configured to include data collated and collected from one or more regulators (e.g., regulatory agencies) and one or more value chain participants. Such data is inclusive of data indicative of actual approval-request results of applications for regulatory approval by one or more regulators and variable weights assigned to different data elements. A prediction can be then made as to the probability that an application for regulatory approval by a value chain participant will be approved by a regulator based on the data collated and collected and contained in the data structure. This approach predicts the probability that an application for regulatory approval by a value chain participant will be approved and also predicts what is missing for a regulatory approval application.

Abstract: A system for simultaneously burning in, testing and curing all the die on an uncut semiconductor wafer having top and bottom surfaces, the system having upper and lower platen assemblies with a flow section configured to receive and discharge a temperature-controlled, circulated liquid heat transfer medium to maintain the temperatures of the top and bottom surfaces of the uncut semiconductor wafer within desired limits during wafer burn-in and testing and a programmable CPU and service controller configurable to selectively energize, monitor, test, display and store a plurality of performance parameters for the electronic circuitry of each of the plurality of die of the uncut semiconductor wafer simultaneously throughout a desired burn-in and test period.

Abstract: A system for simultaneously burning in, testing and curing all the die on an uncut semiconductor wafer; for establishing electrical connectivity in one-to-one correspondence between each die and a specific current amplifier, for monitoring, displaying, evaluating and recording test parameters in relation to preset parametric limits during a requisite test period; and for shutting down any individual die that exceeds the preset parametric limits. Methods of use and subsystems for raising and lowering a semiconductor wafer in relation to a pin chuck and for controlling wafer temperature by circulating a liquid heat exchange medium through platen assemblies disposed above and below the wafer are also disclosed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for preserving perishable substances includes a first compartment, a second compartment, a preservation gas source, and a control system. Each of the first and second compartments has an interior portion having a volumetric capacity of less than or equal to about 35 cubic feet. The control system is configured to deliver preservation gas from the preservation gas source separately to the interior portions of each of the first and second compartments such that the interior portions of each of the first and second compartments has a gaseous environment with an oxygen level less than about 20% when the first and second compartments are in a closed position. The oxygen level in the first compartment is different from the oxygen level in the second compartment. Other system and method embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A method and system for conducting a terminal based lottery game having an instant game component and raffle component includes point of sale terminals where paying players are issued a game ticket having an instant lottery game play. A randomly generated raffle number is assigned to each game ticket, with all assigned raffle numbers being eligible to win in a subsequent raffle drawing. The raffle drawing is conducted in conjunction with an independent third party event, such as a televised game show, wherein the raffle prize is a function of a prize awarded in the event independent of the lottery game.

Abstract: A method and a system are disclosed for the automatic substitution of font with a toner saving font. Dynamic substitution of document specified fonts with a toner saving font can reduce the amount of toner used and minimize system resource usage that can slow printing speeds. Substitution software first determines whether a document print request matches a set of predefined conditions. If the document print request does not match all of the conditions, the inquiry ends. Substitution software then determines whether font substitution is selected or mandated at any level of print control. Where a document print request matches all of the predefined conditions and where font substitution is selected or mandated at any level of print controls, the substitution software performs a font substitution to replace original font with a toner saving font.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing a secondary lottery game with a first instant lottery game in an instant lottery game ticket is disclosed. The player purchases an instant lottery game, where chances for winning instant prizes are provided to the player. The player may also be provided a chance to win entry with predetermined entry indicia into a secondary lottery game if the instant lottery ticket indicates that the player has won a ticket to the secondary lottery game.

Abstract: A method and a system are disclosed for the automatic substitution of font with a toner saving font. Dynamic substitution of document specified fonts with a toner saving font can reduce the amount of toner used and minimize system resource usage that can slow printing speeds. Substitution software first determines whether a document print request matches a set of predefined conditions. If the document print request does not match all of the conditions, the inquiry ends. Substitution software then determines whether font substitution is selected or mandated at any level of print control. Where a document print request matches all of the predefined conditions and where font substitution is selected or mandated at any level of print controls, the substitution software performs a font substitution to replace original font with a toner saving font.

Abstract: An embodiment of an adaptor element for efficient target processing is described that comprises a semi-complementary double stranded nucleic acid adaptor comprising a non-complementary region and a complementary region, where the non-complementary region comprises a first amplification primer site and a second amplification primer site and the complementary region comprises a sequencing primer site and one or more inosine species.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing a secondary lottery game with a first instant lottery game in an instant lottery game ticket is disclosed. The player purchases an instant lottery game, where chances for winning instant prizes are provided to the player. The player may also be provided a chance to win entry with predetermined entry indicia into a secondary lottery game if the instant lottery ticket indicates that the player has won a ticket to the secondary lottery game.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing a secondary lottery game with a first instant lottery game in an instant lottery game ticket is disclosed. The player purchases an instant lottery game, where chances for winning instant prizes are provided to the player. The player may also be provided a chance to win entry with predetermined entry indicia into a secondary lottery game if the instant lottery ticket indicates that the player has won a ticket to the secondary lottery game.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method of preparing a target nucleic acid fragments to produce a smaller nucleic acid which comprises the two ends of the target nucleic acid. Specifically, the invention provides cloning and DNA manipulation strategies to isolate the two ends of a large target nucleic acid into a single small DNA construct for rapid cloning, sequencing, or amplification.

Abstract: A method and system for conducting a terminal based lottery game having an instant game component and raffle component includes point of sale terminals where paying players are issued a game ticket having an instant lottery game play. A randomly generated raffle number is assigned to each game ticket, with all assigned raffle numbers being eligible to win in a subsequent raffle drawing. The raffle drawing is conducted in conjunction with an independent third party event, such as a televised game show, wherein the raffle prize is a function of a prize awarded in the event independent of the lottery game.

Abstract: A measuring system including a measuring device with a laser tracker and an opto-electronic sensor having fixed positions relative to one another and an auxiliary measuring tool with a reflector and at least three light spots, is calibrated. The auxiliary measuring tool is rigidly coupled with an arrangement of auxiliary reflectors and is moved around at least two different rotation axes. Reflector and auxiliary reflectors are registered by the laser tracker and the light spots are registered by the opto-electronic sensor. From the data of the laser tracker, positions and orientations of the reflector arrangement relative to the laser tracker and from the data of the opto-electronic sensor, positions and orientations of the light spot arrangement relative to the opto-electronic sensor are calculated and the two rotation axes relative to the reflector arrangement and the light spot arrangement are calculated. Calibration data are calculated by equating corresponding rotation axes.

Abstract: A measuring system comprising a measuring device (1) with a laser tracker (2) and an opto-electronic sensor (3) having fixed positions relative to one another, a system computer and an auxiliary measuring tool (4) with a reflector (5) and at least three light spots (6), is calibrated with the following calibration steps: The auxiliary measuring tool (4) is rigidly coupled with an arrangement of auxiliary reflectors (5′) and is moved around at least two different rotation axes. In at least two rotation positions relative to each one of the at least two rotation axes, reflector (5) and auxiliary reflectors (5′) are registered by the laser tracker (2) and the light spots (6) are registered by the opto-electronic sensor (3).

Abstract: A high-strength, single-staged, composite thermoelectric cooler (18) for stabilizing the temperature of an uncooled, infrared detector (16) comprising a pair of ceramic plates (20, 22), a plurality of thermoelectric elements (24) sandwiched between the plates (20, 22) such that the thermoelectric elements (24) and the ceramic plates (20, 22) define a plurality of chambers (26), and a thermoelectric insulator (28) which substantially fills the chambers (26) inside the thermoelectric cooler (18) forming a high-strength composite structure with the thermoelectric elements (24) and the ceramic plates (20, 22).

Abstract: A hermetically cold weld sealed package and method for sealing where a metal seal member 28 is placed along the edge of a base 36, an organic sealant 26 is placed along the outside of the base adjacent the metal seal member 28, and a lid 30 is placed over the base 36 to create a hermetically sealed cavity 46. The process takes place at room temperature environment in an inert environment, and on heating of the metal sealing member 28 is required. The shrinkage of the organic sealant 26 during curing applies pressure to the metal seal member 28, enhancing the effectiveness of the hermetic seal.