Abstract: A novel automated system develops a uniform rating of the employment screening practices of organizations/industry entities (IEs) of a given industry. The uniform rating is based upon objective employee screening practices during pre-employment screening. Industry entities are allowed to view employee screening parameters of their own records, add information and update the values of these employee screening parameters. These records are also made available to all users. The system creates weighting factors based upon the relative importance of the selected employee screening parameters and creates the rating based upon a combination of the weighted selected records. This rating reflects an estimate of the completeness, or thoroughness of the employment screening practices which has a direct effect upon the quality of the employees hired and ultimately upon the quality of the products produced by these employees or the services rendered.

Abstract: A high frequency input signal comparator for optimizing group delay, reducing input frequency dependent offset and an offset auto-zeroing latch core are described. The comparator may include an isolation switch stage, and a latch core. The isolation switch stage may isolate latch core depending upon a control signal, thereby reducing input frequency dependent offset. The latch core may include a pair of inverters cross coupled via an impedance to one another. The latch core may include latch switches selected to attain a certain gain across the individual inverters comprising the latch core while resetting the latch core. The gain across the individual inverters during the acquire/reset phase may bootstrap the coupling impedances, thereby reducing loading and group delay at the input of the latch core. The coupling impedances may be designed to minimize or auto-zero statistical offset, thereby minimize input referred offset.

Abstract: A high frequency input signal comparator for optimizing group delay, reducing input frequency dependent offset and an offset auto-zeroing latch core are described. The comparator may include an isolation switch stage, and a latch core. The isolation switch stage may isolate latch core depending upon a control signal, thereby reducing input frequency dependent offset. The latch core may include a pair of inverters cross coupled via an impedance to one another. The latch core may include latch switches selected to attain a certain gain across the individual inverters comprising the latch core while resetting the latch core. The gain across the individual inverters during the acquire/reset phase may bootstrap the coupling impedances, thereby reducing loading and group delay at the input of the latch core. The coupling impedances may be designed to minimize or auto-zero statistical offset, thereby minimize input referred offset.

Abstract: The present invention relates to copolymer process aids having a carboxylic anhydride or acid functionality and a hydrophobic functionality. The copolymer process aid can be used in the exfoliation of a nanoclay, where it can be made in situ; and can also serve as a compatibilizer for exfoliated nanoclays with a polymer matrix, including with impact modified polymer matrices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to copolymer process aids having a carboxylic anhydride or acid functionality and a hydrophobic functionality. The copolymer process aid can be used in the exfoliation of a nanoclay, where it can be made in situ; and can also serve as a compatibilizer for exfoliated nanoclays with a polymer matrix, including with impact modified polymer matrices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermoplastic/natural cellulosic fiber composite, and more specifically to a high molecular weight compatibilizer within that composite resulting in both a high flex strength and high modulus and significant reduction in water absorption. The compatibilizer is preferably a terpolymer comprising: a) 0.5-20 percent by weight of monomer units selected from the group consisting of maleic anhydride, substituted maleic anhydride, mono-ester of maleic anhydride, itaconic anhydride, maleic acid, fumaric acid, crotonic acid, acrylic acid and methacrylic acid; b) 0 to 40 percent by weight of monomer units selected from styrene and functionalized styrene; and c) 40 to 98.5 percent by weight of monomer units selected from the group consisting of C1-8 alkyl acrylates and methacrylates, and vinyl acetate.