Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting carbonaceous material to a stream of methane and carbon monoxide rich gas by heating the carbonaceous material in a fluidized bed reactor using hydrogen, as fluidizing medium, and using steam, under reducing conditions at a temperature and pressure sufficient to generate a stream of methane and carbon monoxide rich gas but at a temperature low enough and/or at a pressure high enough to enable the carbonaceous material to be fluidized by the hydrogen. In particular embodiments, the carbonaceous material is fed as a slurry feed, along with hydrogen, to a kiln type reactor before being fed to the fluidized bed reactor.

Abstract: An enhanced analysis-by-synthesis waveform interpolative speech coder able to operate at 2.8 kbps. Novel features include dual-predictive analysis-by-synthesis quantization of the slowly-evolving waveform, efficient parametrization of the rapidly-evolving waveform magnitude, and analysis-by-synthesis vector quantization of the rapidly evolving waveform parameter. Subjective quality tests indicate that it exceeds G.723.1 at 5.3 kbps, and of G.723.1 at 6.3 kbps.

Abstract: In a reciprocating pump, drive power of a drive-power supply member is transmitted to a diaphragm within a diaphragm drive chamber via operating fluid. An operating-fluid-flow regulation chamber for regulating the flow of operating fluid is located between the drive-power supply member and the diaphragm drive chamber. A first gas discharge member and a second gas discharge member are respectively located in an upper part of the inside of the operating-fluid-flow regulation chamber and an upper part of the inside of the diaphragm drive chamber. The first gas discharge member is held in fluid communication with the second gas discharge member so as to constitute a single gas discharge mechanism. This single gas discharge mechanism is provided with a reverse-flow prevention member for preventing a reverse flow of fluid from the first gas discharge member to the second gas discharge member.

Abstract: A design strategy for constructing hierarchically structured materials using nanoparticles and synthetic biopolymers has been developed. Block copolypeptides or homopolymer polyelectrolytes are used as structure-directing agents to arrange nanoparticles (composed of metals, metal non-oxides, metal oxides, or organics) into unusual microstructures, such as spheres, “apples” and “cups.” Hollow spheres can be made wherein nanoparticles of one composition are spatially oriented completely interior or exterior to nanoparticles of a second composition. These aggregates contain nanoparticles only in the shell walls, and maintain their hollowness upon calcination. These shapes can also be fabricated into films. These robust materials are anticipated to have great promise in applications that require surface catalysis, magnetic/electronic/optic properties, transport capabilities, and combinations thereof, such as drug delivery, packaging, catalysis, and sensors.

Abstract: A scanner for probe microscopy that avoids low resonance frequencies and accounts better for piezo nonlinearities. The x, y and z axes of a linear stack scanner are partially decoupled from each other while maintaining all mechanical joints stiff in the direction of actuation. The scanning probe microscope comprises a probe, a housing, at least two actuators, each coupled to the housing, and a support coupled to the housing and to at least a first of the actuators at a position spaced from the point at which the actuator is coupled to the housing. The support constrains the motion of the first actuator along a first axis while permitting translation along a second axis. The actuators are preferably orthogonally arranged linear stacks of flat piezos, preferably in push-pull configuration. The support can take different forms in different embodiments of the invention.

Abstract: A method for the production of a multi-layer identity card of plastic. The card to be produced comprises at least one card core layer printed on at least one side and on the printed side of the card core layer, a covering layer is applied.

Abstract: Organic FETs are produced having high mobilities in the accumulation mode and in the depletion mode. Significantly higher mobility is obtained from FETs in which RR-P3HT film is applied by dip-coating to a thickness of only about 20 ? to 1 ?m. It was found that the structural order of the semiconducting polymer at the interface between the semiconducting polymer and the SiO2 gate-insulator is important for achieving high carrier mobility. Heat-treatment under an inert atmosphere also was found to increase the on/off ratio of the FET.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the implantation of electrolytically releasable occlusion means in body cavities or blood vessels. The device is intended for use in veterinary or human medicinal processes for the occlusion of aneurysms.

Abstract: A flowable material for pavement repair and maintenance comprises rounded sand coated with a polymer surfactant to be non absorbent of water in the presence of a polymer mix which allows time for easy placement of the mix into damaged pavement. The polymer surfactant coating creates a strong affinity between the sand and the polymer mix. The materials are chosen preferably to cause an isoviscous reaction to occur. This type of reaction is characterized by a setting phase which stabilizes the repair before a rapid change in viscosity occurs and may be further enabled by an excess of polymer to increase flowability. An excess of polymer insures that sufficient binder remains at the upper portions of the repair to provide flexible and waterproof structure while excess fluid components settle to the bottom of the repair before setting occurs to seal the surrounding pavement. The slow buildup of viscosity allows the sand to settle so that the mix becomes self-compacting.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing a synthesis gas for use as a gaseous fuel or as feed into a Fischer-Tropsch reactor to produce a liquid fuel in a substantially self-sustaining process. In one embodiment, a slurry of carbonaceous material in water, and hydrogen from an internal source, are fed into a hydro-gasification reactor to generate methane rich producer gases which are fed into a steam pyrolytic reformer to generate synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide. A portion of the hydrogen is used as the internal hydrogen source. The remaining synthesis gas is either used as fuel to produce electricity and/or process heat or is fed into a Fischer-Tropsch reactor to produce liquid fuel. In another embodiment of the invention, carbonaceous material can be heated simultaneously in the presence of both hydrogen and steam to undergo steam pyrolysis and hydro-gasification in a single step.

Abstract: A method and resultant device, in which metal nanoparticles are self-assembled into two-dimensional lattices. A periodic hole pattern (wells) is fabricated on a photoresist substrate, the wells having an aspect ratio of less than 0.37. The nanoparticles are synthesized within inverse micelles of a polymer, preferably a block copolymer, and are self-assembled onto the photoresist nanopatterns. The nanoparticles are selectively positioned in the holes due to the capillary forces related to the pattern geometry, with a controllable number of particles per lattice point.

Abstract: A blue electroluminescent material based on a binaphtyl compound of the general formula (I). Particular embodiments having the general formula have good solubilities in common organic solvents, resist crystallization and can be sublimed in a device fabrication process. These properties enable the fabrication of organic electroluminescent devices.

Abstract: A digitized tomosynthesis method, system and apparatus is provided for obtaining 3D volumetric imaging of an object wherein a ray of energy from a source travels through the object to impinge on an energy sensor defining an image plane and the object is rotated about an axis whereby an image is acquired by the energy sensor at successive rotational positions of the object, and wherein the object is rotated about an axis of rotation at a canted angle with respect to the image plane.