Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for accurately analyzing and evaluating a degree of contamination on a chamfered part without mixing impurities from parts other than the chamfered part into chemicals. At a position in which, on a front plane flat part of a semiconductor wafer, a boundary region bordering the chamfered part can come into contact with the chemicals, a radius direction position of the chemicals (a distance between a chemicals center and a wafer center) is determined, scanning is performed in a circumference direction, and the chemicals including impurities are collected. Then, at a position that can be brought into contact with the both chamfered part of the semiconductor wafer and the boundary region, a radius direction position of the chemicals is determined, scanning is performed in the circumference direction and the chemicals including impurities are collected.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for sensing infrared radiation. The apparatus includes a sensor element that is positioned in a magnetic field during operation to ensure a ? shaped relationship between specific heat and temperature adjacent the Curie temperature of the ferroelectric material comprising the sensor element. The apparatus is operated by inducing a magnetic field on the ferroelectric material to reduce surface charge on the element during its operation.

Abstract: Catalysts for oxychlorination of ethylene to 1,2-dichlorethane, comprising compounds of copper and magnesium supported on gamma alumina, wherein the copper, expressed as metal, is present in a quantity from 7 to 12% by weight and the Mg/Cu ratio is from 0.05 to 1, wherein the distribution of copper in the catalyst particle is such that the ratio X/Y between the concentration of the copper atoms on the surface given by the Al/Cu ratio (X) on the surface (20-30 nm layer) and the concentration given by the Al/Cu ratio (Y) referred to the entire particle is greater than 1.3 and can reach 3.

Abstract: An improved nanophosphor scintillator liquid comprises nanophosphor particles in a liquid matrix. The nanophosphor particles are optionally surface modified with an organic ligand. The surface modified nanophosphor particle is essentially surface charge neutral, thereby preventing agglomeration of the nanophosphor particles during dispersion in a liquid scintillator matrix. The improved nanophosphor scintillator liquid may be used in any conventional liquid scintillator application, including in a radiation detector.

Abstract: An improved coil handling assembly and method of manufacture comprising a cylindrical support member having end covers and one or more stabilizing members. The assembly is capable of accepting a fork lift fork whereby a material coil or roll may be lifted or moved. The assembly further comprises adjustable front and rear coil stabilizers which are moveable and removable whereby a plurality of coil or roll sizes may be contained, stored, transported, or utilized on a processing line. Unlike prior art coil handling equipment, the present art provides a quick, convenient, and safe apparatus and method for working with or utilizing coiled materials.

Abstract: The present invention involves the provision of a backpack frame assembly and associated load carrying devices. The backpack frame includes a plurality of stays having flexible joints therebetween. A membrane is secured to certain of the stays and helps resist flexing of joints between adjacent stay end portions. Load carrying devices may be provided and are releasably mounted to the frame assembly.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to compositions and methods for improving a chemiluminescent signal. In particular, a reaction buffer with an alkaline pH range of about 9 to 10 provides a maximal chemiluminescent intensity and longevity of luminol that is catalyzed by superoxide anions. The addition of carbonate to the reaction buffer provides an optimal signal to background ratio and stability of a chemiluminescent signal from luminol catalyzed by superoxide anions. The method includes preparing a buffer with an alkaline pH, combining the buffer with a working reagent to produce and detect a chemiluminescent signal. The working reagent includes luminol, a coumaric acid and a peroxide. The composition includes a buffer having a pH from about 9 to about 10, a stock reagent comprising luminol, a coumaric acid, a peroxide, and a second buffer having a pH of about 8.5.

Abstract: A beneficial method for the manufacture of amino polyalkylene phosphonic acids, under substantial absence of hydrohalogenic acid, is disclosed. The method, in essence, is based on reacting narrowly defined ratios of phosphorous acid, an amine and a formaldehyde in presence of a heterogeneous Broensted acid catalyst. The inventive method is capable of yielding economically and quality operational/capacity advantages, in particular significantly reduced one-step cycle duration under exclusion of corrosion disadvantages and also is environmentally friendly without requiring, in that respect, anything more than nominal capital expenditures.

Abstract: A modular manifold component for hydronic circulation systems includes a control conduit section adapted and constructed to receive any of a plurality of selectively actuatable fluid control mechanisms. The control conduit section has an inlet and an outlet. A return conduit section is secured to the control conduit section in fluid communication with the inlet of the control conduit section. A supply conduit section is secured to the control conduit section in fluid communication with the inlet of the control conduit section.

Abstract: The development and use of a model to estimate disability insurance exposure for a group of individuals to be underwritten for a coverage period is disclosed. The development of the model includes the use of medical claim data having a plurality % of medical claims made by a first model population having at least a respective plurality of first model population members and a disability insurance claim data having a plurality of disability insurance claims made by a second model population having at least a respective plurality of second model population members, which optionally may partially or wholly overlap with the first model population. A clinical medical condition classification system assigns corresponding medical condition causes to the disability insurance claims and the medical claims based on medical condition information.

Abstract: A mapping processor is configured to receive a current PAT from the input data stream, and to compare input program numbers in the current PAT to known program numbers in the stored format table. If the input program numbers in the current PAT are the same as the input program numbers in the stored format table, then another data stream is output having output program numbers from the stored format table. If the input program numbers in the current PAT are not the same as the input program numbers in the stored format table, then another data stream is output having reassigned output program numbers. The reassigned output program numbers may be from another stored format table in the memory, if the other stored format table has input program numbers that match the input program numbers in the current PAT. If not the reassigned output program numbers may be newly generated.

Abstract: A multiband base station antenna for communicating with a plurality of terrestrial mobile devices is described. The antenna including one or modules, each module including a low frequency ring element; and a high frequency dipole element superposed with the low frequency ring element. The element includes a ground plane; and a feed probe directed away from the ground plane and having a coupling part positioned proximate to the ring to enable the feed probe to electromagnetically couple with the ring. A dielectric clip provides a spacer between the feed probe and the ring, and also connects the ring to the ground plane. An antenna element is also described including a ring, and one or more feed probes extending from the ring, wherein the ring and feed probe(s) are formed from a unitary piece.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus comprises a polishing plate (24), an abrasive cloth (25) attached to the surface of the polishing plate (24), a chuck (19) for holding and pressing one surface of a wafer (39) against the abrasive cloth (25), and a circular retaining ring (23) concentrically arranged on the periphery of the chuck (19). The retaining ring (23) is rotatable and vertically movable with respect to the chuck (19), and is pressed against the abrasive cloth (25) during the lapping step. The retaining ring (23) is lifted upward during the final polishing step, thereby preventing lapping grains from being brought into the final polishing stage. Accordingly, lapping and final polishing can be successively conducted using the same polishing head. With this structure, cost cutting of the apparatus can be realized, since lapping and final polishing are successively conducted using the same polishing head without bringing the lapping grains used for lapping into the final polishing stage.

Abstract: A light-weight plant sheet including plant pieces between a base sheet and a top sheet is able to make growth by tearing the base sheet and top sheet, each having a mesh structure. The top sheet contains a paste to adhere the top sheet to the base sheet and to hold the plant pieces, and such a paste comes out of the fibers of the sheet when wet during the manufacturing process. When the plant sheet is placed on the desired surface, the plant pieces can grow using water and nutrition provided from the surface of the construction site and absorbed by the top sheet and the base sheet.

Abstract: A device and method for treatment of intracranial vasospasm is provided. The device is a microcatheter having a steeply tapered end and is thicker walled, and in a preferred embodiment is braided to provide greater pushability. In order to achieve a thicker walled catheter, in one embodiment, the inner lumen diameter can be reduced, leaving the outer diameter the same while in another embodiment the catheter is larger in outer diameter. In one embodiment, the microcatheter is coated with performance enhancing lubricant, such as a hydrophilic coating. Further, the microcatheter can also be coated with drugs and serve as a drug delivery device, drugs being embedded into vessel intima. In the use of the method of treatment, the device is fed into the smaller arterial vessels in the brain simultaneously dilating arteries of various caliber along the path of the catheter to relieve vasospasm; pharmacological agents can then be delivered by the microcatheter to further effect treatment.

Abstract: A modular fluid-driven power generation system includes a frame; a rotor structure having an axis of rotation; the rotor structure including a plurality of blades, with each blade having a radial edge parallel to the axis of rotation and first and second axial ends perpendicular to said axis of rotation and wherein the radial edges of the blades define a path of rotation when the blades rotate; at least one magnet integral with at least one of the aerodynamic blades; and a first armature coil adjacent to the path of rotation.

Abstract: An automated apparatus and method for processing and removing bones from primal and sub-primal cuts of meat where one embodiment of the invention is specifically adapted to remove the bones from the chuck blade portion of meat or other similar meat cuts. The invention is to provide a cutting means and fixture which will eliminate the need for manually lifting the primal cuts while securely clamping the primal into a device which will function as the transporter and said invention has alignment device for bone removal to assist in guiding a saw blade for bone removal.

Abstract: A fluid flow energy capture device for power generation has a rotor with a substantially vertical axis and a plurality of vanes. A mount for the rotor allows the rotor to rotate in response to fluid flow such as wind contacting the plurality of vanes, and the mount puts the rotor in rotationally driving communication with a generator. The rotor has an open center which allows fluid communication from spaces between the vanes to above the rotor. A plurality of guide surfaces define channels that bias fluid flow to be tangential to the rotor.