Abstract: A flexible connection unit for use in a spinal fixation device that includes: a longitudinal member having first and second ends and a flexible member interposed between the first and second ends, at least one of the first end and second end configured to be engaged by a first bone securing member; and at least one spacer located between the first and second ends, the spacer comprising a resilient element and a ring element encircling at least a portion of the resilient element, wherein the ring element is configured to be engaged by a second bone securing member.

Abstract: Provided are an optical fiber coupler, a method of manufacturing the same, and an active optical module. The optical fiber coupler comprises a first core, a first optical fiber, and a plurality of second optical fibers. The first optical fiber comprises a first cladding surrounding a first core. The plurality of second optical fibers have a tapering region of a cylindrical shape and surround the first cladding of the first optical fiber. Here, the first core has the same diameter within the tapering region.

Abstract: A flexible connection unit for use in a spinal stabilization device, comprising a longitudinal member having first and second end portions and a flexible portion located between the end portions, wherein the flexible portion comprises at least one spacer and a flexible member located in a longitudinal axial channel of the at least one spacer, wherein the flexible member comprises a biocompatible metal material and the end portions maintain the at least one spacer in a substantially fixed longitudinal axial position with respect to the flexible member.

Abstract: A flexible connection unit for use in a spinal fixation device, including: a first end portion and a second end portion, at least one of the first end and second end configured to be engagable by a section of a first bone securing member; a flexible member located between the first and second ends, the flexible member permitting motion of the first end relative to the second end; and a transition area located between the first end and the flexible member, the transition area tapering in diameter from a first section of the transition area proximate to the first end toward a second section of the transition area proximate to the flexible member.

Abstract: Provided is a thermoplastic polycarbonate resin composition. The resin composition contains (A) 83 to 93% by weight of a polycarbonate resin, (B) 6 to 17% by weight of aromatic phosphate, and (C) 0.08 to 0.3% by weight of fluoroolefin. The resin composition exhibits excellent infrared transmissivity and flame retardancy.

Abstract: Provided are an optical coupler, which can improve miniaturization and integration, and an active optical module comprising the same. The optical coupler comprises a hollow optical block having a through hole formed to pass an optical fiber therethrough. The hollow optical block comprises at least one incidence plane, at least one internal reflection plane, and at least one tapering region. The incidence plane is disposed at the bottom of the hollow optical block, which is parallel to the through hole, to incident-transmit light. The internal reflection plane is disposed at the top of the hollow optical block, which is opposite to the incidence plane, to reflect the light, which is received from the incidence plane, into the hollow optical block. The tapering region is configured to concentrate the light on the optical fiber in the through hole. The tapering region is formed such that the outer diameter of the hollow optical block decreases away from the internal reflection plane and the incidence plane.

Abstract: Provided is a double clad fiber device. The double clad fiber device includes a double clad fiber, a pump combiner, at least one first laser diode, and at least one second laser diode. The double clad fiber includes a core and a clad. The pump combiner provides pump light to the core and the clad through one end of the double clad fiber, respectively. The at least one first laser diode provides first pump light to the clad through the pump combiner. The at least one second laser diode provides second pump light to the core through the pump combiner.

Abstract: A light coupler emitting a high power laser with a high beam quality and a fiber laser system including the light coupler is disclosed. The light coupler includes a first optical fiber bundle comprising a plurality of first optical fibers having either a single-mode core or a few-mode core and a second optical fiber, which guides multi-mode beams and is connected to the first optical fiber bundle. The optical fiber laser system includes a light coupler having a first optical fiber bundle comprising a plurality of first optical fiber having either a single-mode core or a few-mode core and a second optical fiber, which is connected to the first optical fiber bundle, is either a single cladding optical fiber or a double cladding optical fiber, and guides multi-mode beams, and one or more gain medium optical fiber, which is connected to the light coupler and emits light.

Abstract: A polycarbonate resin composition is provided. The composition comprises (A) 50 to 90% by weight of a polycarbonate resin, (B) 5 to 30% by weight of a polymethyl methacrylate resin, (C) 5 to 20% by weight of a phosphate compound, (D) 0.01 to 2% by weight of a metal sulfonate as an organic salt, and (E) 0.05 to 2% by weight of a fluorinated olefin. The composition is highly flame retardant and scratch resistant.

Abstract: An adjustable spinal stabilization system having a flexible connection unit for non-rigid stabilization of the spinal column. In one embodiment, the spinal stabilization system includes a flexible connection unit having a tether running through a hollow portion of the flexible connection unit, wherein the tether limits bending of the flexible connection unit. In a further embodiment the tether is pre-tensioned. In a further embodiment, the tension upon or compression of the tether is adjustable.

Abstract: A double metal cyanide catalyst of the present invention having a controlled reactivity for preparing a polyol, which contains an ether ligand having a molecular weight of less than 200 and a glycol ligand having a molecular weight of less than 200 can be used in the preparation of a polyol having a unsaturation degree suitable for direct use for producing a polyurethane having suitable properties.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a plurality of first active pillars by etching a substrate using a hard mask layer as an etching barrier, forming a gate conductive layer surrounding sidewalls of the first active pillars and the hard mask layer, forming a word line conductive layer filling gaps defined by the gate conductive layer, forming word lines and vertical gates by simultaneously removing portions of the word line conductive layer and the gate conductive layer on the sidewalls of the hard mask layer, forming an inter-layer dielectric layer filling gaps formed by removing the word line conductive layer and the gate conductive layer, exposing surfaces of the first active pillars by removing the hard mask layer, and growing second active pillars over the first active pillars.

Abstract: A method of operating an image display apparatus includes generating a thumbnail image based on an input signal, detecting an error in the thumbnail image, and displaying the thumbnail image if no error is detected in the thumbnail image.

Abstract: An adjustable spinal stabilization system having a flexible connection unit for non-rigid stabilization of the spinal column. In one embodiment, the spinal stabilization system includes a flexible connection unit having a tether running through a hollow portion of the flexible connection unit, wherein the tether limits bending of the flexible connection unit. In a further embodiment the tether is pre-tensioned. In a further embodiment, the tension upon or compression of the tether is adjustable.

Abstract: A method for forming a high quality insulation layer on a semiconductor device is presented. The method includes a first step of supplying any one of a silicon source gas and an oxygen source gas into a process chamber in which a semiconductor substrate is placed; a second step of simultaneously supplying the silicon source gas and the oxygen source gas into the process chamber having undergone the first step and depositing a silicon oxide layer on the semiconductor substrate; and a third step of supplying any one of the silicon source gas and the oxygen source gas into the process chamber having undergone the second step.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a receiving system and a method of processing data to receiving and processing mobile service data. The receiving system may include a signal receiving unit, a demodulating unit, a data processor, and a middleware engine. The signal receiving unit receives a broadcasting signal, which includes IP packets, payload of the IP packets including a DSM-CC module data part and a DSM-CC header, the DSM-CC module data part including a plurality of DSM-CC objects, and the DSM-CC header including identification information for identifying the DSM-CC module. The demodulating unit demodulates the received broadcasting signal including IP packets. The data processor extracts a plurality of DSM-CC objects of a corresponding payload with reference to DSM-CC header information of the IP packets demodulated by the demodulating unit and configuring a DSM-CC module, which includes identification information and the extracted DSM-CC objects.

Abstract: A method for forming a device isolation structure of a semiconductor device using at least three annealing steps to anneal a flowable insulation layer is presented. The method includes the steps of forming a hard mask pattern on a semiconductor substrate having active regions exposing a device isolation region of the semiconductor substrate; etching the device isolation region of the semiconductor substrate exposed through the hard mask pattern, and therein forming a trench; forming a flowable insulation layer to fill a trench; first annealing the flowable insulation layer at least three times; second annealing the first annealed flowable insulation layer; removing the second annealed flowable insulation layer until the hard mask pattern is exposed; and removing the exposed hard mask pattern.