Abstract: A method of thermally treating a substrate that has multiple layers is provided. A substrate layer that is covered on opposite sides is oxidized from side edges thereof toward a center thereof such that, via the following steps, a defined central portion is not oxidized. The substrate is heated in a process chamber to a prescribed treatment temperature. A hydrogen-rich water vapor is introduced into the process chamber for a specified period of time, wherein such introduction is effected prior to, during and/or after the step of heating the substrate to the prescribed temperature. After conclusion of the specified period of time, introduced into the process chamber is one of the group consisting of: dry oxygen, namely pure oxygen in the form of at least one of atomic O, molecular O2 and O3; a mixture of oxygen and an inert gas that does not chemically react with the layers of the substrate; an oxygen-containing compound that contains no water; and an oxygen-rich water vapor.

Abstract: A self-cleaning litter apparatus that separates and extracts clumped litter waste material from litter material contained therein during use includes a chamber adapted to contain a quantity of litter material. The chamber is rotatable about a centrally disposed axis. A rake is disposed within the chamber. The rake is rotatable about an axis which is spaced apart from the chamber axis. A drive assembly is provided for simultaneously rotating the chamber about the chamber axis and for rotating the rake about the rake axis. The rake sweeps through the litter material while clumped litter waste material is directed toward the rake by rotation of the chamber to thereby separate clumped litter waste material from the litter material in the chamber, collect the separated clumped litter material in the rake and extract the separated clumped litter material from the chamber.

Abstract: A detailed placement process which optimizes cell placement with up to one hundred percent densities in a linear run time. The output from a conjugate-gradient coarse placement process is input to the detailed placement process. A dynamic programming technique is used to optimize cell placement by swapping cells between two or more rows. The search space is pruned beforehand. A greedy cleanup phase using an incremental row placer is used. Thereby, the detailed placement process handles congestion driven placements characterized by non-uniform densities expeditiously and efficiently.

Abstract: A detailed placement process which optimizes cell placement with up to one hundred percent densities in a linear run time. The output from a conjugate-gradient coarse placement process is input to the detailed placement process. A dynamic programming technique is used to optimize cell placement by swapping cells between two or more rows. The search space is pruned beforehand. A greedy cleanup phase using an incremental row placer is used. Thereby, the detailed placement process handles congestion driven placements characterized by non-uniform densities expeditiously and efficiently.

Abstract: A self-cleaning litter apparatus (30) comprises a base (31); a turntable (32), rotatably mounted within the base; a pan (33), for holding a quantity of animal litter, the pan being rotatably driven with the turntable; a rake assembly (36), providing a rake movable through the animal litter; a waste receptacle (37) for receipt of animal waste deposited in the litter, the receptacle providing a door (155) selectively moving to open and close the receptacle relative to movement of the rake assembly; a sensing mechanism (120) comprising a plurality of weight sensors (66), and an electrically activated track assembly (121) for determining the presence of an animal in the pan; a drive mechanism (170) for rotating the turntable, driving the rake assembly and operating movement of the door and, a controller (259) having a timer, and selectively providing power to the sensing mechanism.

Abstract: A method is presented in which a layer which is to be oxidized is processed, in a single-substrate process. The process temperature during the processing is recorded directly at the substrate or at a holding device for the substrate. The method includes introducing a substrate, which bears a layer to be oxidized uncovered in an edge region in a layer stack, into a heating device, passing an oxidation gas onto the substrate, heating the substrate to a process temperature, which is recorded during the processing via a temperature of a holding device which holds the substrate, and controlling the substrate temperature to a desired temperature or temperature curve during the processing.

Abstract: A hair trimming device is disclosed as including a first body part and a second body part, the first body part having a first end pivotally secured with a first end of the second body part for relative pivotal movement, the first body part including a brush portion at a second end distal from its first end, the brush portion including a recess, the second body part having a lever and a ruler pivotally engaged with each other, in which the ruler is receivable within the recess of the brush portion for holding hair between the brush portion and the ruler for trimming.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery that an epididymis-specific defensin, EP2D, plays an important role in regulating sperm motility and therefore male fertility. Provided are methods for evaluating male fertility based on the level of EP2D bound to sperm, kits for evaluating male fertility, and methods for enhancing or suppressing fertility in a male by regulating the level of EP2D and the binding between sperm and EP2D.

Abstract: Provided herein is a composition that contains an effective amount of one or more compounds for treating, preventing, or ameliorating a disorder such as insomnia or another sleeping disorder and using the composition.

Abstract: A method for locating the incoming port of a MAC address is proposed. First, a forwarding table of each switch is retrieved. Then, a list of at least one MAC address owned by each switch is retrieved. Next, a port table of each switch is established. The MAC addresses in the forwarding table are compared with the MAC addresses owned by all switches. If one of the MAC addresses owned by switches matches the MAC address in the forwarding table, the port property of the corresponding port is changed to an interconnecting port. Finally, the target MAC address is compared with the MAC addresses in the forwarding table. If one of the MAC addresses in the forwarding table matches the target MAC address, and the port property of the corresponding port is end port, this port is the incoming port of the target MAC address.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a novel medicament for treatment of climacteric syndrome of women, which is prepared from Radix Ginseng, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Radix Astragali seu Hedysari, Radix Ophiopogonis, Fructus Ligustri Lucidi, Rhizoma Atractylodis Alba, Radix Paeoniae Alba, Poria cocos, Cortex Phellodendri, Rhizoma Ligustici Wallichi, Radix Glycyrrhizae, Radix Bupleuri, Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata, Herba Epimedii, Herba Menhae, Rhizoma Curculiginis, Rhizoma Anemarrhenge, and Herba Ecliptae by processing raw TCM, decocting, drying, grinding, and adding water and honey in a certain proportion to yield aqueous-honey-bolus.

Abstract: The aim of the invention is to stop the progression of a lateral oxidation of a layer of a multi-layer substrate at a defined point. To achieve this aim, the invention provides a method for thermally treating a substrate that comprises several layers, especially a semiconductor wafer, according to which a substrate layer that is covered from above and from below is oxidized from the lateral edges thereof to the center in such a manner that a defined center portion is not oxidized. The inventive method comprises the following steps: heating the substrate in a process chamber to a defined treatment temperature; introducing a hydrogen-rich water vapor into the process chamber for a defined period of time; and introducing dry oxygen or an oxygen-rich water vapor into the process chamber once the defined period of time has expired. The hydrogen-rich water vapor can be introduced into the process chamber either before, during and/or after the substrate is heated.

Abstract: A device for receiving plate-shaped objects, preferably semiconductor wafers, for the thermal treatment thereof, enabling the processing of wafers made of connecting semiconductors in a particularly simple manner. The inventive device offers high productivity and low risk of damage as a carrier has at least two recesses for respectively receiving an object. The recesses on the carrier can preferably be provided with covers. Preferably, support pins are provided for loading and unloading purposes. The carrier and the support pins can move in a vertical direction in relation to each other. A handling device for objects is also disclosed.

Abstract: A detailed placement process which optimizes cell placement with up to one hundred percent densities in a linear run time. The output from a conjugate-gradient coarse placement process is input to the detailed placement process. A dynamic programming technique is used to optimize cell placement by swapping cells between two or more rows. The search space is pruned beforehand. A greedy cleanup phase using an incremental row placer is used. Thereby, the detailed placement process handles congestion driven placements characterized by non-uniform densities expeditiously and efficiently.