Abstract: A method for substantially improving the photoluminescent performance of a porous semiconductor, involving the steps of providing a bulk semiconductor substrate wafer of a given conductivity, wherein the substrate wafer has a porous semiconductor layer of the same conductivity as the bulk semiconductor substrate wafer, and the porous semiconductor layer is made up of a plurality of pores interspersed within a plurality of nanocrystallites, wherein each of the pores is defined by a pore wall and each of the nanocrystallites has a given thickness. Next, in the method, at least one monolayer layer of passivating material is generated on the pore wall of each of the pores, to passivate the porous semiconductor layer. The one layer of passivating material substantially eliminates dangling bonds and surface states which are associated with the porous semiconductor layer. The resulting passivated porous semiconductor layer exhibits a quantum efficiency of approximately 5 percent.

Abstract: A plug to be placed in the nozzle of a container to seal the contents from leaking or exposure to air. The plug comprises a body having a shape generally symmetrically congruent with the shape of the nozzle but which is tapered to a size small enough on one end to fit into the aperture, but large enough on another end to prevent the plug from insertion completely through the nozzle. The generally conical shape of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is in a taper comparable to an end of a caulk tube nozzle.

Abstract: A system for organizing optical fibers includes a pedestal, a bracket and a fiber splice tray. The pedestal has a longitudinal passage through it. The pedestal has at least one hole on its side surface. The hole penetrates from the longitudinal passage to an exterior of the pedestal. The bracket is mounted to the pedestal near the hole. The bracket is capable of receiving and storing a plurality of fiber splice trays. Preferably, the pedestal includes a plurality of holes located around its perimeter and a plurality of brackets located between respective ones of the plurality of holes. Each tray is movable between a vertical position for storage and a horizontal position for accessing a fiber on the tray. The assembly has a single base mounted on the pedestal below the plurality of holes, at a distance from the bottom of the pedestal; and a single cover that joins with the base to form a sealed enclosure around the plurality of brackets and the fiber splice trays.

Abstract: A topical composition for impregnating a bandage comprises zinc oxide in a stable oil in water emulsion. The emulsion comprises one or more fats or oils, one or more emulsifying agents, at least one water soluble gum and water. No preservative is required.

Abstract: Photo acoustic infrared (IR) detector including a chamber for receiving a gas or gas mixture, a window for allowing pulsed or modulated IR radiation into the chamber, and a pressure sensor adapted to measure pressure changes in the chamber as a consequence of absorbed IR radiation. A generally plate-shaped main part has a recess or bore for substantially forming the chamber whereby the window closes the chamber at one side of the main part and whereby the pressure sensor is of the miniature type and is located at the opposite side of the main part in relation to said one side so that the pressure sensor communicates with and closes the chamber at the opposite side, except for a venting channel for the chamber. A cap is provided at said opposite side of the main part so that it encloses the pressure sensor and forms a gas space communicating with the chamber through the venting channel and being substantially larger than the gas volume in the chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for marking, tracking, and managing hospital instruments. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method for marking instruments with information indicative of the manufacturer, part number, and serial number of each instrument, inputting such information into a database, inputting information into the database regarding the desired maintenance schedule for each instrument, inputting information into the database regarding the usage of each instrument, and tracking the usage and/or maintenance of each instrument by using the information in the database. The method also includes asset management, instrumentation identification and counting, and assembly of surgical trays and kits.

Abstract: A push nut fastener has first and second gripping openings. The first gripping opening is substantially circular and the second gripping opening is substantially rectangular. The substantially circular gripping opening has a plurality of blades or finger-like engagement portions extending from the outer circumference of the substantially circular gripping opening towards the center of the substantially circular gripping opening. The substantially rectangular gripping opening has a plurality of blades or finger-like engagement portions extending from the outer perimeter of the substantially rectangular gripping opening towards the center of the substantially rectangular gripping opening. The substantially rectangular gripping opening includes at least two blades or finger-like engagement portions, a respective blade extending from each of two opposing sides of the substantially rectangular gripping opening. The push nut may have flanges formed at two opposing ends of the member.

Abstract: A structure and technique is disclosed to allow passing control lines, conduits or cables of all sorts through a downhole tool. The assembly provides for passage of the conduit or cable through and into the bore of the downhole tool, protected by an internal carrier. The end connections are assembled without any twisting force applied to the cable or conduit. The end connections resist torque. A jam nut on either end provides one seal, and internal seals are used against the mandrel of the downhole tool to further provide pressure isolation where the cable or conduit enters the tool body or exits. Tensile loads are passed through the tool body rather than the cable or conduit. There is complete pressure isolation between the conduit and both the tubing and the annulus.

Abstract: A transform is applied to a region of a current video frame to generate transform signals corresponding to the region. An activity measure is generated using the transform signals. The activity measure is then used to determine whether to encode the region as a skipped region. The region is encoded in accordance with that determination to generate an encoded bit stream for the region. In a preferred embodiment, the transform signals are DCT coefficients and the activity measure is a weighted sum of the DCT coefficients, where the weighting of the low-frequency DCT coefficients is greater than the weighting of the high-frequency DCT coefficients. The region is encoded as a skipped region if the activity measure is less than a threshold value; otherwise, the region is encoded as either an inter encoded region or an intra encoded region.

Abstract: A computer main memory is divided into multiple physically-separated arrays of memory cells. Each array has associated with it an array of spare memory cells. The array of spare memory cells is located adjacent to its associated main memory cell array. The rows in the spare memory cell array are aligned with the rows in the associated main memory cell array. The main memory blocks are divided into subblocks. Within each subblock, all columns are addressed by a single multiplexer unique to that subblock. A data input bus and a data output bus is provided corresponding to each subblock in the main memory block. Each data input bus and data output bus is electrically coupled to a main memory bus, and each spare memory block. Data can therefore be readily directed either to one of the subblocks in the main memory or to one of the spare memory blocks.