Abstract: A social networking system includes a mechanism for integrating user actions on objects outside of the social networking system in the social graph. External system operators include widgets that, when executed by user devices, record user interactions that correspond to a defined structure of actions and objects. Information about the actions and the objects is gathered from external systems as users of the social networking system interact with the external systems. Content items are ranked according to the information about the actions and the objects as well as preferences of the viewing users.

Abstract: A method of fabrication of laser gain material and utilization of such media includes the steps of introducing a transitional metal, preferably Cr2+ thin film of controllable thickness on the ZnS crystal facets after crystal growth by means of pulse laser deposition or plasma sputtering, thermal annealing of the crystals for effective thermal diffusion of the dopant into the crystal volume with a temperature and exposition time providing the highest concentration of the dopant in the volume without degrading laser performance due to scattering and concentration quenching, and formation of a microchip laser either by means of direct deposition of mirrors on flat and parallel polished facets of a thin Cr:ZnS wafer or by relying on the internal reflectance of such facets.