Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include hybrid composite materials comprising a cemented carbide dispersed phase and a cemented carbide continuous phase. The contiguity ratio of the dispersed phase of embodiments may be less than or equal to 0.48. The hybrid composite material may have a hardness of the dispersed phase that is greater than the hardness of the continuous phase. For example, in certain embodiments of the hybrid composite material, the hardness of the dispersed phase is greater than or equal to 88 HRA and less than or equal to 95 HRA and the hardness of the continuous phase is greater than or equal to 78 and less than or equal to 91 HRA. Additional embodiments may include hybrid composite materials comprising a first cemented carbide dispersed phase wherein the volume fraction of the dispersed phase is less than 50 volume percent and a second cemented carbide continuous phase, wherein the contiguity ratio of the dispersed phase is less than or equal to 1.

Abstract: A retainer system for a cutting tool that has an elongated shank. In one embodiment, the retainer system includes a tool holder block that has a sleeve-receiving hole therethrough for receiving a sleeve therein. The sleeve may have a shank-receiving hole and at least one undercut portion therein. The retainer may define a shank-receiving opening and have retainer portions that correspond to each of the undercut portions in the sleeve for selective retaining engagement therewith. The first and second retainer portions retainingly engage a portion of the elongated shank of the cutting tool when inserted into the shank-receiving opening therebetween.

Abstract: Insulating members are provided for use in nozzles of elevated temperature process vessels employing a structural metal shell (24), an insulating refractory lining (14) and a corrosion-resistant membrane (18) lining between the structural shell and refractory lining. The insulating members comprise pre-formed insulating sleeves and inserts and are made of a thermally insulating material having sufficient thickness and sufficiently low thermal conductivity such that, when the sleeve or insert is heated by the process temperature during operation of the vessel, the thermal energy transmitted through the sleeve or insert to the membrane is insufficient to raise the temperature of the membrane above a target temperature. The most preferred thermally insulating materials are fluoropolymers such as poly(tetrafluoroethylene) flouropolymer resins.

Abstract: A sea water desalination installation that employs an evaporation-condensation system which operates continuously at a low temperature and which enables the recovery of energy released. The installation includes a cylindrical evaporator having a large evaporation surface and a concentric condenser with a large surface area. Sea water is used to cool the condenser and said water is subsequently sent to the evaporator. A static high-pressure ventilator is used to: (i) drive the vapor/air in a closed circuit between the evaporator and the condenser and (ii), using a calibrated nozzle, create a pressure gradient that is equivalent to the pressure of the saturated vapor at working temperature between said two zones. The aforementioned evaporator and condenser are thermally insulated in relation to one another and to the external environment.

Abstract: An electrode comprises an electrically conductive substrate, a layer of energy accumulating redox polymer deposited onto the substrate, the redox polymer comprising a polymer metal complex with a substituted tetra-dentate Schiff's base selected from the group: poly-[Me(R, R?-Schiff-Y)], wherein Me is a transition metal; Y is a bridge group binding the atoms of Nitrogen in the Schiff's base; R is an electron-donating substituent comprising a functional group (X)O—, —COO(X), where (X) is an alkali metal; R? is Hydrogen or Halogen; and wherein the polymer metal complex has the following structure: The electrochemical capacitor comprises a case housing the above-described positive electrode and a negative electrode disposed inside the case, and an electrolyte filling the space between the electrodes.

Abstract: The invention relates to an alternate current power generator with a primary drive shaft having a set of two magnets and an armature and a governor. The governor moves the magnets and armature with respect to one another. In another embodiment, the alternate current power generator has a secondary drive shaft, weighted flexible strips attached to the secondary drive shaft with connectors such that the flexible strips' weights cause the strips to move outward upon rotation, drawing the connectors closer together.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for reducing the rate of loss of oxygen from a solution and increasing the effective life span of oxygen-containing calibration solutions.

Abstract: An interactive user interface is disclosed. According to various embodiments, the interface includes a first field and at least one additional field. The first field lists a focal item and the at least one additional field contains a listing of items related to the focal item. Certain of the related items in the at least one additional field include a hyperlink which, when activated by the user, causes the item corresponding to the activated hyperlink to become a new focal item listed in the first field, such that the at least one additional field transitions to list items related to the new focal item. The focal item may be, for example, an identifier corresponding to a company, and the at least one additional field may contain a listing of identifiers corresponding to companies that are customers, suppliers or competitors of the focal item company.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing plastic containers. The method may comprise the steps of (1) forming a plastic container from a preform in a blow-molder, where the blow-molder comprises a plurality of molds and spindles; and (2) inspecting the plastic container after formation in the blow-molder. The containers are inspected by impinging infrared light thereon and detecting the portion of the infrared light that passes through the container and converting the same into corresponding electrical signals which are delivered to a microprocessor. The microprocessor receives signals from sensors associated with the blow-molder relating to the position of the molds, the identity of the molds and the identity of the spindles in order that the information that is determined by inspection can be associated with specific molds and spindles. The information may be visually displayed so as to provide feedback regarding the inspection process.

Abstract: This invention discloses a write-sensing circuit for semiconductor memories comprising a first and a second local bit-lines (BLs) forming a complementary BL pair, a first and a second global bit-lines (GBLs) forming a complementary GBL pair, and at least one switching circuit controlled by the first and second GBLs and controllably coupling a predetermined power supply source to the first and second BLs, separately, wherein when the first and second GBLs are asserted during a write operation, the switching circuit couples only one of the first and second BLs to the predetermined voltage supply source.

Abstract: A phase-conjugating resonator that includes a semiconductor laser diode apparatus that comprises a phase-conjugating array of retro-reflecting hexagon apertured hexahedral shaped corner-cube prisms, an electrically and/or optically pumped gain-region, a distributed bragg reflecting mirror-stack, a gaussian mode providing hemispherical shaped laser-emission-output metalized mirror. Wherein, optical phase conjugation is used to neutralize the phase perturbating contribution of spontaneous-emission, acoustic phonons, quantum-noise, gain-saturation, diffraction, and other intracavity aberrations and distortions that typically destabilize any stimulated-emission made to undergo amplifying oscillation within the inventions phase-conjugating resonator. Resulting in stablized high-power laser-emission-output into a single low-order fundamental transverse cavity mode and reversal of intracavity chirp that provides for high-speed internal modulation capable of transmitting data at around 20-Gigabits/ps.

Abstract: Apparatus for supporting conduits within a sanitary environment. Some supports are configured so as to avoid the formation of surfaces that might collect dust, debris, cleaning fluids, etc. when installed. In one embodiment, the support includes a pair of opposing support members that may be releasably and sealingly secured together. The upper support member may have a substantially uninterrupted convex surface that has a desired texture. The lower support member may be sized and shaped such that no portion thereof protrudes outwardly beyond the upper member to form any surfaces, pockets, etc. wherein dirt, debris, cleaning fluids, etc. may accumulate. A seal or grommet may be employed to establish a seal between the conduit and support to prevent the infiltration of dirt, debris, cleaning fluids, etc., between the conduit and the conduit support.

Abstract: This invention discloses a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) device comprising a first bit-line coupled to a first terminal of at least one memory cell capacitor through one or more pass transistors, a second bit-line coupled to a first terminal of at least one reference cell capacitor through one or more pass transistors, and a cell plate connected to both a second terminal of at least one memory cell capacitor and a second terminal of at least one reference cell capacitor, wherein the cell plate is biased at approximately one half of a voltage difference between a positive supply voltage (Vdd) and a complementary lower supply voltage (Vss), and wherein the reference cell capacitor does not store any charge prior to a reading operation, and wherein both the first and second bit-lines are pre-charged to either Vdd or Vss prior to the reading operation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of “green” or relatively benign solvents such as ethanol, ethanol/water, isopropyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol/water, ethyl lactate, acetone, butanol, isoamyl alcohol, or ethyl acetate to extract phytosterols from wet corn fiber. The resulting oil product contains free phytosterols and free fatty acids.

Abstract: A digital-to-analog converter comprising a digital input; a first thermometer coder for generating a set of first control signals based on a first portion of the digital input; at least one fractional-bit DAC cell controlled by one or more of the first control signals for providing a fractional-bit current based on the first portion of the digital input; at least one second thermometer coder for generating a set of second control signals based on a second portion of the digital input; and at least one multi-bit DAC cell controlled by one or more of the second control signals for providing a multi-bit current based on the second portion of the digital input, wherein the fractional-bit current and the multi-bit current are combined to form an output of the DAC corresponding to the digital input.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for diagnosing and treating Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) patients and PXE carriers. Methods and compositions are based on the discovery that PXE mutations are located in the MRP6 (ABCC6) gene.

Abstract: A method for integrally forming a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) device and an electrical fuse device on a semiconductor substrate includes the following steps. An isolation structure is formed on the semiconductor substrate. A dielectric layer is deposited over the isolation structure and the semiconductor substrate. A metal layer is deposited on the dielectric layer. A polysilicon layer is deposited on the metal layer. The dielectric layer, the metal layer and the polysilicon layer are patterned into a first stack of the dielectric layer, the metal layer and the polysilicon layer on the isolation structure for functioning as the electrical fuse device, and a second stack of the dielectric layer, the metal layer and the polysilicon layer on the semiconductor substrate for functioning as a gate of the MOS device.

Abstract: A memory device includes a first memory cell area having a first latch area where one or more electronic components are constructed for storing a value, and a first peripheral area surrounding the first latch area; and a second memory cell area being disposed adjacent to a first side of the first memory cell area, and having a second latch area where one or more electronic components are constructed for storing a value, and a second peripheral area surrounding the second latch area. One edge of the first memory cell area shifts away from its corresponding edge of the second memory cell area. Thus, the area or yield rate of the memory device can be adjusted.