Abstract: Production and use of a sulfur-containing compound, tropodithietic acid (TDA), from the roseobacter Silicibacter sp. TM1040 is described. Specifically, a biosynthetic and regulatory pathway for TDA biosynthesis in roseobacters is described. The TDA produced from roseobacters, specifically Silicibacter sp. TM1040, is shown to have antibacterial activity, in particular against Vibrio anguillarium, Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio coralliilyticus, Vibrio shiloi, Halomonas spp., Mycobacterium marinum, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Pseudomonas elongate, Spongiobacter nikelotolerans, and Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Abstract: One or more PTFE films are heated to greater than 150 degrees centigrade (C) and for a time greater than 20 hours, then the PTFE films are cooled. The PTFE films may be heated to temperatures greater than 200° C. and less than 250° C. and most preferably heated to a temperature of about 228° C. The PTFE films may be kept at a temperature for greater than 50 hours or most preferably kept at a temperature for around 100 hours. The PTFE films may be heat processable PTFE fluoropolymer films and may have a number of heat affected zones. The heat affected zones may be created before or after heat treating. The heat affected zones are generally caused by welding two or more PTFE films together, usually under pressure. An “optimal” temperature and “optimal” time period are determined at which heat processed polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) fluoropolymers should be heat treated.

Abstract: A novel antibiotic thiobutacin, obtainable from Lechevalieria aerocolonigenes strain VK-A9, and antifungal and antioomycete compositions comprising thiobutacin as an active ingredient for control of plant diseases, e.g., those attributable to pathogens such as Phytophthora capsici and Botrytis cinerea.

Abstract: The present invention provides a series of novel dystrophin minigenes that retain the essential biological functions. The expression of the dystrophin minigenes may be controlled by a regulatory element along with a small polyadenylation signal. The entire gene expression cassettes may be readily packaged into a viral vector, preferably an AAV vector. The present invention further defines the minimal functional domains of dystrophin and provides ways to optimize and create new versions of dystrophin minigenes. Finally, the present invention provides a method of treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD).

Abstract: A fluid storage and dispensing apparatus including a fluid storage and dispensing vessel having a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and an integrated gas cabinet assembly including such fluid storage and dispensing apparatus and/or a point-of-use ventilation gas scrubber in the vented gas cabinet. By the use of physical adsorbent and chemical sorbent media, the gas cabinet can be enhanced in safety of operation, e.g., where the process gas supplied from the gas cabinet is of a toxic or otherwise hazardous character.

Abstract: A photoresist cleaning composition for removing photoresist and ion implanted photoresist from semiconductor substrates. The cleaning composition contains supercritical CO2 (SCCO2) and alcohol for use in removing photoresist that is not ion-implanted. When the photoresist has been subjected to ion implantation, the cleaning composition additionally contains a fluorine ion source. Such cleaning composition overcomes the intrinsic deficiency of SCCO2 as a cleaning reagent, viz., the non-polar character of SCCO2 and its associated inability to solubilize species such as inorganic salts and polar organic compounds that are present in the photoresist and that must be removed from the semiconductor substrate for efficient cleaning. The cleaning composition enables damage-free, residue-free cleaning of substrates having photoresist or ion implanted photoresist thereon.

Abstract: A novel lead zirconium titanate (PZT) material having unique properties and application for PZT thin film capacitors and ferroelectric capacitor structures, e.g., FeRAMs, employing such thin film material. The PZT material is scalable, being dimensionally scalable, pulse length scalable and/or E-field scalable in character, and is useful for ferroelectric capacitors over a wide range of thicknesses, e.g., from about 20 nanometers to about 150 nanometers, and a range of lateral dimensions extending to as low as 0.15 ?m. Corresponding capacitor areas (i.e., lateral scaling) in a preferred embodiment are in the range of from about 104 to about 10?2 ?m2. The scalable PZT material of the invention may be formed by liquid delivery MOCVD, without PZT film modification techniques such as acceptor doping or use of film modifiers (e.g., Nb, Ta, La, Sr, Ca and the like).

Abstract: A system and method of bypassing the regulated portion of the Public Switching Telephone Network (PSTN) to establish carrier-grade voice transmissions and/or IP data communications between an Internet Calling Person having a first telephone and a first PC coupled to a first Local Service Access Provider (LSAP) and an Internet Called Party having a second telephone and a second PC coupled to a second different Local Service Access Provider (LSAP).

Abstract: A method of forming a free-standing (Al, Ga, In)N article, by the steps including: providing an expitaxially compatible sacrificial template; depositing single crystal (Al, Ga, In)N material on the template to form a composite sacrificial template/(Al, Ga, In)N article including an interface between the sacrificial template and the (Al, Ga, In)N material; and interfacially modifying the composite sacrificial template/(Al, Ga, In)N article to part the sacrificial template from the (Al, Ga, In)N material and yield the free-standing (Al, Ga, In)N article. The free-standing (Al, Ga, In)N article produced by such method is of superior morphological character, and suitable for use as a substrate, e.g., for fabrication of microelectronic and/or optoelectronic devices and device precursor structures.

Abstract: A gas storage and dispensing system, including multi-vessel arrays of gas dispensing vessels that require successive change-over to provide ongoing supply of gas to a gas-consuming process, with a pump coupled in gas flow communication with the array. The system is provided with capability for time delay auto-switchover sequencing of the switchover operation in which an endpoint limit sensing of an on-stream gas dispensing vessel is responsively followed by termination of gas flow to the pump, inactivation of the pump, autoswitching of vessels, reinitiation of gas flow to the pump and reactivation of the pump. The system minimizes the occurrence of pressure spikes at the pump outlet in response to pressure variation at the pump inlet incident to switchover of gas supply from one vessel to another in the multi-vessel array.

Abstract: A device for fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, especially for multicolor fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, in which light rays are focused in a transparent medium located in a sample vessel. Such device includes a vessel holder in which at least two sample vessels with a focussing reflecting bottom are provided, and a common cover for both sample vessels which is at least partly light-transmitting. In a preferred embodiment, a plunger with a light window facing the bottom is inserted into the sample vessel, and the quantity of transparent medium is selected so that the light window of the plunger is immersed in or wetted by the medium.

Abstract: AlxGayInzN, wherein 0?x?1, 0?y?1, 0?z?1, and x+y+z=1, characterized by a root mean square surface roughness of less than 1 nm in a 10×10 ?m2 area. The AlxGayInzN may be in the form of a wafer, which is chemically mechanically polished (CMP) using a CMP slurry comprising abrasive particles, such as silica or alumina, and an acid or a base. High quality AlxGayInzN wafers can be fabricated by steps including lapping, mechanical polishing, and reducing internal stress of said wafer by thermal annealing or chemical etching for further enhancement of its surface quality. CMP processing may be usefully employed to highlight crystal defects of an AlxGayInzN wafer.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for purifying one or more target substances from a source liquid, employing one or more cross-flow filter elements, and one or more types of chromatography resins, in combination, to provide purification with advantageous yield, product purity, and cost- and time-efficiency.

Abstract: A cleaning composition for cleaning particulate contamination from small dimensions on semiconductor substrates. The cleaning composition contains supercritical CO2 (SCCO2), alcohol, fluoride source and, optionally, hydroxyl additive. Such cleaning composition overcomes the intrinsic deficiency of SCCO2 as a cleaning reagent, viz., the non-polar character of SCCO2 and its associated inability to solubilize species such as inorganic salts and polar organic compounds that are present in particulate contamination on wafer substrates and that must be removed from the semiconductor substrate for efficient cleaning. The cleaning composition enables damage-free, residue-free cleaning of substrates having particulate contamination on Si/SiO2 substrates.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing slurry and method for using the slurry for polishing copper, barrier material and dielectric material that comprises a first and second slurry. The first slurry has a high removal rate on copper and a low removal rate on barrier material. The second slurry has a high removal rate on barrier material and a low removal rate on copper and dielectric material. The first and second slurries at least comprise silica particles, an oxidizing agent, a corrosion inhibitor, and a cleaning agent.

Abstract: A rock bolt comprising an elongated bar and an elongated deformable member, with a threaded nut to reduce the distance between the respective ends of the deformable member so as to deform at least part of the member away from the bar. The threaded nut may be located at the distal end of the rock bolt or the proximal end thereof. Though the term “rack bolt” is used, the bolt may be used as a ground anchor, or in other suitable applications, in which it is located in a hole drilled into earth as well as or instead of rock.

Abstract: A process system adapted for processing of or with a material therein. The process system includes: a sampling region for the material; an infrared photometric monitor constructed and arranged to transmit infrared radiation through the sampling region and to responsively generate an output signal correlative of the material in the sampling region, based on its interaction with the infrared radiation; and process control means arranged to receive the output of the infrared photometric monitor and to responsively control one or more process conditions in and/or affecting the process system.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mapping film thickness of textured polycrystalline thin films. Multiple sample films of known thicknesses are provided, and each is irradiated by x-ray at a measurement point to generate a diffraction image that captures a plurality of diffraction arcs. Texture information (i.e., pole densities) of each sample film is calculated based on multiple incomplete pole figures collected from the diffraction image and used to correct the x-ray diffraction intensities obtained from such sample film. Corrected and integrated diffraction intensities of the sample films are then correlated to respective known film thicknesses of such films, and the correlation so determined can be used to map the film thickness of a textured polycrystalline thin film of unknown thickness, based on the corrected and integrated diffraction intensity calculated for such thin film.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for charging a gas storage and dispensing vessel with gas to a predetermined pressure level, e.g., a gas to be employed in a semiconductor manufacturing operation such as a hydride, halide or organometallic reagent gas. In the gas charging, a source gas is liquefied, e.g., in a cryotrap, and then gasified in closed flow communication with the vessel to introduce the gas thereinto, and such liquefaction/gasification steps are carried out alternatively and repetitively, to charge the vessel in a step-wise, progressive fashion with gas, until a full fill state is achieved, with the contained gas at the predetermined pressure level.

Abstract: A hydrogen gas detector for detection of hydrogen gas in a gaseous environment. The detector comprises a light/heat source, an optical detector, and an optical barrier between the source and detector. The optical barrier responds to the presence of hydrogen by responsively changing from a first optical state to a different second optical state, whereby transmission of light from the light/heat source through the optical barrier is altered by the presence of hydrogen and the altered transmission is sensed by the optical detector to provide an indication of the presence of hydrogen gas in the gaseous environment.