Abstract: A method and apparatus for efficient power amplification of a wideband signal with a correspondingly wide modulation bandwidth includes an envelope detector (220), a soft switch modulator (270), and a power amplifier (260). The soft switch modulator (270) drives a high side switch (330), and a low side switch (340) to amplify a pulsewidth modulated signal. Electrical signal path lengths within a soft switch driver (320) are dynamically modified so as to always turn off one switch before turning on the other.

Abstract: A skin care composition comprising an oil-in-water emulsion and a therapeutically effective amount of a retinoid selected from the group consisting of Vitamin A alcohol, Vitamin A aldehyde, retinyl acetate, retinyl palmitate and mixtures thereof, the composition having a pH of between about 4 and about 10 and further comprising an oil phase comprising one or more oils having a total unsaturation density, or C value, of about 1200 or less.

Abstract: A system and method of using a computer processor (34) to generate a solution to a linear system of equations is provided. The computer processor (34) executes a Jacobi iterative technique to produce outputs representing the solution. Multiplication operations required by the iterative technique are performed using logarithmic arithmetic. With logarithmic arithmetic, a multiplication operation is accomplished using addition. For a given n.times.n matrix A, the computer processor (34) can compute an inverse matrix A.sup.-1 by repeatedly executing the iterative technique to solve n linear systems.

Abstract: A digital log converter is provided which includes a comparator (10) and a log signal generator (20). Upon receiving a digital input signal (12), the comparator (10) determines whether an upper bit-slice of the input signal (12) equals zero. If the upper bit-slice is zero, the log signal generator (20) subtracts an offset from at least one parameter to generate a log signal (16); otherwise, the log signal generator (20) interpolates the at least one parameter and a lower bit-slice of the input signal (12) to generate the log signal (16).

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for the treatment of fungal diseases in nails, which comprises the topical administration to the nail and, if desired, also to the surrounding skin, of (1) a sulfhydryl containing amino acid or a derivative thereof, the pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereof, or stereoisomers thereof, (2) urea, (1) and (2) being administered in an amount sufficient to enhance the permeation of antifungal drugs through nail tissue, either prior to or, preferably, concurrently with the topical administration to the nail of (3) an effective amount of an antifungal drug.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus that includes a digital processor (12), a first digital pulse width modulator (304), a second digital pulse width modulator (306), a combining circuit (308), and a load (310). The digital processor (12) produces a first digital signal (314) and a second digital signal (316). The first digital pulse width modulator (304) is responsive to the first digital signal (314), and the second digital pulse width modulator (306) is responsive to the second digital signal (316). The combining circuit (308) is responsive to the first digital pulse width modulator (304) and the second digital pulse width modulator (306). The load (310) is responsive to the combining circuit (308).

Abstract: A method and system for an L.sub.1 norm operation are provided. A sequence of input signals is distributed through a data pipeline to a programmable accumulator. The accumulator sums the input signals to generate an output signal. The L.sub.1 norm operation can be performed using the distance between two vectors.

Abstract: Entirely anhydrous topical preparations comprising (I) propylene carbonate, (II) one or more short carbon-chain alcohols and/or glycols including ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, hexylene glycol, methoxypolyethylene glycol, and (III) either or both of glycerol and one or more therapeutically or cosmetically active ingredients.

Abstract: Multiple reaction schemes, process steps and intermediates are provided for the synthesis of epoxymexrenone, useful as a diuretic, and other 9,11-epoxy-steroids.

Abstract: Skin care compositions comprising an oil-in-water emulsion base containing retinoids and possessing good physical and chemical stability. More particularly, said skin care compositions contain (a) an emulsifier system selected from the group consisting of: (i) a mixture of glyceryl stearate and polyethylene glycol 100 stearate; (ii) cetearyl alcohol and cetearyl glucoside; (iii) a mixture of a polyethylene glycol ethers of stearyl alcohol; and (iv) a mixture of sorbitan stearate and polysorbate 60; (b) a co-emulsifier selected from the group consisting of cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol and mixtures thereof; (c) an oil phase present in the amount of from about 5 to about 20 percent by weight of the total emulsion composition which contains (i) a light, dry absorbable oil and (ii) substantive, emollient oils or waxes, wherein the light, dry absorbable oil and the substantive oil or wax are present in a ratio of from about 1:3 for about 10:1.

Abstract: A method for preventing CMP-induced (chemical-mechanical polish) damage to a substrate disposed below a pad nitride layer of a mesa. The pad nitride layer is disposed below a conformally deposited dielectric layer. The dielectric layer is disposed below a conformally deposited polysilicon layer. The method includes planarizing the polysilicon layer down to at least a surface of the dielectric layer using the CMP to expose a first region of the dielectric layer. The method further includes etching partially through the first region of the dielectric layer using first etch parameters. The first etch parameters include an etchant source gas that is substantially selective to the pad nitride layer to prevent the pad nitride layer from being etched through even in the presence of a CMP defect. Additionally, there is also included removing the polysilicon layer after the etching partially through the first region of the dielectric layer.

Abstract: This invention relates to compositions and methods for treating the skin containing retinoids and alpha hydroxy acids such as latic acid, malic acid, fruit acids and sugar-cane-derived acids, for mitigating the irratating effects of retinoids on the skin.

Abstract: An apparatus that includes a logarithm based processor (216) having at least one digital logarithm converter (202) and a power amplifier (208) responsive to the logarithm based processor (216).

Abstract: A solid phase synthesis method and intermediates useful in the process are disclosed for the preparation of diamino diol and diamino alcohol inhibitors of HIV protease.

Abstract: High elasticity foams can be prepared from a reprocessable blend of a thermoplastic vulcanizate and an elastic thermoplastic polymer. These foams can be mechanically foamed with water and can have elongations to break in excess of 250 percent. They also have recovery of that elongation also known as low permanent set.

Abstract: A method and system for an L.sub.2 norm operation are provided. A sequence of input signals is converted to a sequence of log signals. The sequence of log signals is distributed through a data pipeline to a plurality of processing elements which effectively multiply each log signal by a factor of two to produce a plurality of term signals. The term signals are then converted to inverse-log signals which are summed to produce a feedback signal. The square-root of the feedback signal is computed to generate an output signal. The log/inverse-log conversions of signals are based on estimating a log/inverse-log function using a second-order polynomial. The L.sub.2 norm operation can be performed using the distance between two vectors.

Abstract: An apparatus for amplifying a signal that includes a digital processor (12) producing a first digital signal (20) and a second digital signal (22), a pulse width modulator (32) receiving the first digital signal (20) and producing a pulse width modulated signal, an amplitude restoration module (37) responsive to the pulse width modulator (32), the amplitude restoration module (37) producing an amplitude envelope signal, a frequency upconverter (16) receiving the second digital signal (22) and producing a frequency modulated signal, and a power amplifier (18) responsive to the frequency upconverter and the amplitude restoration module (37). The power amplifier receives the frequency modulated signal and the amplitude envelope signal and produces an amplified output signal.

Abstract: A digital beam forming system includes an array of computing units (60-76) for weighting incoming signals and a plurality of summing processors (80-84) for generating output signals that represent weighted sums corresponding to rows within the array. The digital beam forming system can be incorporated in either a transmitter or receiver used in a radio frequency communications system.

Abstract: A solid phase synthesis method and intermediates useful in the process are disclosed for the preparation of diamino diol and diamino alcohol inhibitors of HIV protease.

Abstract: In a video processing system (14), a method of detecting and compensating for motion of an image which includes the steps of: detecting a first pixel value, a second pixel value, and a third pixel value, the first pixel value of a first scan line in a first field, the second pixel value of a second scan line in the first field, and the third pixel value in a second field; providing a motion indicator based on the first, second, and third pixel values; selecting a plurality of interpolation coefficients from a memory based on the motion indicator signal; and providing an interpolated color space pixel based on a first color space pixel associated with the first pixel value, a second color space pixel associated with the second pixel value, and based on the plurality of interpolation coefficients.