Abstract: A reduction in contaminating impurities in a TFT, and a TFT which is reliable, is obtained in a semiconductor device which uses the TFT. By removing contaminating impurities residing in a film interface of the TFT using a solution containing fluorine, a reliable TFT can be obtained.

Abstract: Heteroduplex band resolution is found to be improved by modifying the induced heteroduplex generator (IHG) molecule such that the identifier is spaced apart from the nucleotide position immediately adjacent to the site of the polymorphism which is to be genotyped. Unexpectedly, it is found that, when such modified IHG molecules are used, the resolution of the induced heteroduplexes is significantly improved.

Abstract: A method for mobile communication includes arranging a plurality of access points in a wireless local area network (WLAN) to communicate over the air with a mobile station using a common basic service set identification (BSSID) for all the access points. Upon receiving at one or more of the access points an uplink signal transmitted over the WLAN by the mobile station using the common BSSID, messages are sent and received over a communication medium linking the access points in order to select one of the access points to respond to the uplink signal. The selected one of the access points transmits a response to the mobile station.

Abstract: A narrow-band laser device for exposure apparatus that allows to reduce damage to, and to hence extend the life of, optical elements such as chamber windows, output coupling mirrors or the like. A ring resonator is provided in an amplification stage laser of the narrow-band laser device for exposure apparatus that comprises an oscillation stage laser and an amplification stage laser. An OC, a high reflection mirror and a high reflection mirror are arranged to be offset, for instance, relative to a longitudinal direction axis of discharge electrodes. As a result, the beam width of laser light injected through the OC of the amplification stage laser becomes wider as the beam shifts inside the ring resonator, in each round trip within the ring resonator. The energy density of laser light in the optical elements of the amplification stage laser becomes reduced thereby, thus prolonging the life of the optical elements.

Abstract: In an EL display device in which color purity of each of red, blue and green is different, the EL display device displaying an image of a desired balance of red, blue and green is provided. A video signal supplied to each EL element is gamma (?)-corrected by a correction circuit, the color purity of each of blue luminescence, green luminescence, and red luminescence is suitably controlled in accordance with the voltage and current of the corrected video signal.

Abstract: There is disclosed an imprinted polymer support for solid phase organic synthesis (SPOS). The polymer support being obtainable from a method that comprises providing a substrate and a mold, the mold having a defined surface pattern. A composition is placed between the defined surface pattern of the mold and the substrate. The composition comprises a polymerisation medium with at least one functional monomer and a free radical initiator. The composition is polymerised to form an array of polymer imprints adhered to the substrate.

Abstract: A double-cylinder circular knitting machine for hosiery or other knitted articles comprises a lower needle cylinder with a vertical axis and an upper needle cylinder arranged above and coaxially to the lower needle cylinder. Aligned axial slots are formed on the lateral surface of the lower and upper needle cylinders. Each of the axial slots of the lower and upper needle cylinders accommodates an actuation element which can engage a needle to be actuated and is provided with a fixed heel, and with a heel which can be extracted radially on command from the axial slot. The transfer of a needle from one needle cylinder to the other is performed by fixed cams and by a selection device producing transition into the extracted position of the movable heel exclusively of the actuation elements that correspond to the needles to be moved to the lower needle cylinder.

Abstract: A patient-friendly medical device is provided for removal of excess fluids from body tissue and is particularly useful to treat soft tissue inflammation, damage, edema and/or lymphedema. The comfortable medical device comprises a composite multilayered assembly that provides a gradient pressure compression device to compress body tissue of a patient in a controlled and graduated manner. The composite multilayered assembly can have an inner and/or outer layer to enhance uniform distribution of compression about the affected portion of the patient and can have flexible intermediate layers with elastomeric components such as foamed chips, foamed pieces, and/or chopped foam that can have a different density and/or size and/or shape to form channels (canals) therebetween to enhance flow of excess fluids from the body tissue of the patient. The channels or canals can create zones of gradient pressure to help move excess fluid from the tissue of the affected portion of the body of the patient.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a single crystal semiconductor, in which, in a process of pulling up the single crystal semiconductor from melt for growing it, an impurity is incorporated more uniformly into the single crystal semiconductor so that a variation in impurity concentration across the semiconductor wafer surface can be reduced, and thus, the planarity of the wafer can be improved. In the process of pulling-up the single crystal semiconductor (6), fluctuation in a pulling-up speed is controlled, whereby the variation in concentration of the impurity in the single crystal semiconductor (6) is reduced. Especially, a width of speed fluctuation (?V) in 10 seconds is adjusted to less than 0.025 mm/min. Furthermore, in carrying out the control for adjusting the pulling-up speed such that a diameter of the single crystal semiconductor (6) becomes a desired diameter, a magnetic field having strength of 1,500 gauss or more is applied to the melt (5).

Abstract: A method of subjecting a silicon wafer doped with boron to a heat treatment in an argon atmosphere, wherein the argon atmosphere is replaced with a hydrogen atmosphere or a mixed gas of an argon gas and a hydrogen gas in a proper fashion, to thereby uniformize a boron concentration in the thickness direction of the surface layer of the silicon wafer doped with boron.

Abstract: A method for accessing a desired point in time-synchronized data within a stream, the stream being associated with time information, the method including providing a desired presentation time associated with a desired point within a time-synchronized data stream, determining a stream access point, decoding the stream beginning at the stream access point, and assigning a time associated with the stream access point as a utilization time. Related apparatus and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A non-threatening combination baton and spray dispenser that can be readily employed was a baton or as a dispenser without requiring complex re-orientation or concentrated aiming, including an expandable baton having a mounted connector coupling that facilitates connection to an end of an irritant spray dispenser disposed in axial alignment with the baton. The connector coupling supports a switch mechanism readily operable by the user's thumb while grasping the connector coupling to selectively dispense spray axially from the dispenser with the baton in either its retracted or expanded positions.

Abstract: A method for adding an additional layer to an integrated circuit, the method including providing an integrated circuit having an interconnect layer, depositing, over substantially all of an exposed surface of the integrated circuit, an additional layer of material whose conductivity can be altered, and selectively altering the conductivity of a first portion of the additional layer by selective annealing, to produce a sub-circuit in the additional layer, the sub-circuit being in operative electrical communication with the integrated circuit. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

Abstract: In a Czochralski (CZ) single crystal puller equipped with a cooler and a thermal insulation member, which are to be disposed in a CZ furnace, smooth recharge and additional charge of material are made possible. Further, elimination of dislocations from a silicon seed crystal by use of the Dash's neck method can be performed smoothly. To these ends, there is provided a CZ single crystal puller, wherein a cooler and a thermal insulation member are immediately moved upward away from a melt surface during recharge or additional charge of material or during elimination of dislocations from a silicon seed crystal by use of the Dash's neck method.

Abstract: A method to stereospecifically prepare a steroidal sapogenin or a derivative thereof by reducing a 3-keto,5?-H steroidal sapogenin with a hindered organoborane or an organo-aluminium hydride. A 3?-hydroxy,5?-H steroidal sapogenin or derivative thereof may be prepared by reducing the 3-keto,5?-H steroidal sapogenin using as reducing agent a relatively highly hindered organoborane reagent or by SN 2 inversion of a 3?-hydroxy,5?-H steroidal sapogenin or derivative thereof. The organo-aluminium hydride may be used to prepare a 3?,5?-H steroidal sapogenin or derivative thereof. The invention provides a convenient route to useful steroidal sapogenins such as sarsasapogenin, episarsasapogenin, smilagenin, epismilagenin and esters thereof, from readily available or easily preparable starting materials (e.g. diosgenone, preparable from diosgenin).

Abstract: Apparatus for mobile communication includes a switch and a plurality of access points, which are arranged in a wireless local area network (WLAN) to communicate over the air on a common frequency channel with a mobile station using a common basic service set identification (BSSID) for all the access points. The access points are coupled by a LAN to the switch so that upon receiving at one or more of the access points an uplink signal transmitted over the WLAN by the mobile station on the common frequency channel, the one or more of the access points convey messages responsively to the uplink signal over the LAN to the switch. A manager node is coupled to the switch so as to receive the messages and is adapted to process the messages so as to select one of the access points to respond to the uplink signal.

Abstract: A preparation for inhibiting local invasion of malignant tumors is provided which comprises batroxobin and therefore can inhibit local invasion of malignant tumors. A preparation for encapsulating malignant tumor tissues is also provided which comprises batroxobin and therefore can cause or promote formation of capsule-like tissue around malignant tumor tissues.

Abstract: The invention relates in part to a folded dipole having a dipole axis and a pair of arms which together have a profile which is concave on one side and convex on the other when viewed along the dipole axis. The dipoles may be arranged as a dipole box around a central region, typically in a generally circular or square configuration. Further elements may be placed in the dipole box or in the gaps between dipole boxes. The antenna may be a single-band antenna, or a multi-band antenna with the further elements operating in a different frequency band to the dipole boxes. The further elements may be concentric dipole boxes. The invention is particularly suited for use in a cellular base station panel antenna. A novel coaxial to microstrip transition is also described.

Abstract: A circuit for converting frequency domain information to time domain information includes an Inverse Fast Fourier Transform circuit having a length of N coefficients. The Inverse Fast Fourier Transform circuit is adapted to receive input data of length N coefficients and generate output data of length N coefficients that are circularly shifted by m coefficients. The circuit also includes Cyclical Prefix Insertion circuit adapted to insert a cyclical prefix of length m. The Cyclical Prefix Insertion circuit includes a first switch, connected to the Inverse Fast Fourier Transform circuit, a buffer, having an input connected to the first switch and an output, the buffer having a length m, and a second switch, coupled to the first switch and to the buffer. The first and second switches selectively couple the output of the buffer and the Inverse Fast Fourier Transform circuit to an output of the second switch. The buffer is reduced to length m.

Abstract: The subject invention comprises the realization of P-on-N type II InAs/GaSb superlattice photodiodes. A high-quality InAsSb layer lattice-mismatched to GaSb is used as a buffer to prepare the surface of the substrate prior to superlattice growth. The InAsSb layer also serves as an effective n-contact layer. The contact layer has been optimized to improve device performance, most notably performance that is similar to traditional N-on-P structures.