Abstract: A monitoring device for monitoring a fabrication process in a fabrication system. The monitored fabrication system includes a process chamber and a plurality of flow components. A quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensor monitors one flow component of the plurality of flow components of the fabrication system and is configured for exposure to a process chemistry in the one flow component during the fabrication process. A controller measures resonance frequency shifts of the QCM sensor due to interactions between the QCM sensor and the process chemistry in the one flow component during the fabrication process. The controller determines a parameter of the fabrication process in the process chamber as a function of the measured resonance frequency shifts of the QCM sensor within the one flow component.

Abstract: A method of producing shredded, dried food products is provided. The method begins when a food type such as beef, pork, or chicken, or may be a fibrous vegetable, such as mushrooms. The selected food type is first heated to tenderize the food. In the case of meats, this tenderizing breaks down fibrous tissue in the food, making for easier to chew and digest. After cooking to tenderize, the food is then shredded. This shredding leaves strands of the food and does not cut across fibers, instead, the shredding follows the muscle or growing pattern of the food type. The shredded food product is then boiled for further tenderization. Flavorings may also be added during the boiling process. After boiling, the food product is dried to reduce the moisture content to a desired level.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for characterizing electronic designs with electronic design simplification techniques. These techniques identify an input for simplifying an electronic design and generates a simplified electronic design at least by performing layout simplification on the electronic design. A characterization input may be determined for subsequent characterization of the simplified electronic design. An electromagnetic behavior of the simplified electronic design may then be characterized using at least the characterization input.

Abstract: A method of producing shredded, dried food products is provided. The method begins when a food type such as beef, pork, or chicken, or may be a fibrous vegetable, such as mushrooms. The selected food type is first heated to tenderize the food. In the case of meats, this tenderizing breaks down fibrous tissue in the food, making for easier to chew and digest. After cooking to tenderize, the food is then shredded. This shredding leaves strands of the food and does not cut across fibers, instead, the shredding follows the muscle or growing pattern of the food type. The shredded food product is then boiled for further tenderization. Some vegetables may not need further tenderization. Flavorings may also be added during the boiling process. After boiling, the food product is dried to reduce the moisture content to a desired level. This level of dryness may vary depending on the intended use of the food product and the desired storage time.

Abstract: A graphical specification entry interface allows a circuit designer to define relative placement of repeating circuit component cells. The repetitive placement specifications are used to generate a repetitively structured circuit cell which may be subsequently installed into a physical circuit medium. The system simplifies user interaction in generating repetitive circuit structures such as semiconductor memory and, while affording heretofore unavailable topological diversity of such circuits.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for automatically adjusting the modulation index of a wireless smart device reader are disclosed. According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method (performed at a wireless smart device reader) that includes receiving a signal from a wireless smart device. A parameter of the signal is determined. The method also includes determining at least one transmission parameter using the parameter of the signal. The transmission parameter(s) is applied to a transmitter of the wireless smart device reader in order to adjust the modulation index of the transmitter.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for managing the availability of items using a computer system. The system permits various computers to access databases located at offsite computers to retrieve/transmit preselected information pertaining to the availability of items from/to each accessed database. Categories of items are selected by a user prior to communicating with offsite computers so that only the categories of interest are selected and only data pertaining to those categories is downloaded to the requesting computer or uploaded from a called computer. Once data has been retrieved by the requesting computer, the user can use various parameters to select and display the received information in the selected categories. In addition, the requesting computer can automatically retrieve information from offsite computers at a predetermined time each day of the week.