Abstract: A vehicle control method (and concomitant control structure) comprising deploying an electrolaminate affixed to a substrate and using the combination to control motion of the vehicle.

Abstract: In assembly of probe arrays for electrical test, a problem can arise where a bonding agent undesirably wicks between probes. According to embodiments of the invention, this wicking problem is alleviated by disposing an anti-wicking agent on a surface of the probe assembly such that wicking of the bonding agent along the probes toward the probe tips is hindered. The anti-wicking agent can be a solid powder, a liquid, or a gel. Once probe assembly fabrication is complete, the anti-wicking agent is removed. In preferred embodiments, a template plate is employed to hold the probe tips in proper position during fabrication. In this manner, undesirable bending of probes caused by introduction or removal of the anti-wicking agent can be reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fibroblast growth factor heparin-binding analog of the formula: where R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, X, Y and Z are as defined, pharmaceutical compositions, coating compositions and medical devices including the fibroblast growth factor heparin-binding analog of the foregoing formula, and methods and uses thereof.

Abstract: A method for cleaning process apparatus used for production of liquids, especially for cleaning filters, for example membrane filters. The apparatus is contacted with a solution of peroxydisulphate. It is especially preferred that the cleaning process is carried out at a temperature between 15 and 95° C.

Abstract: The present invention is a new additive material that is physically blended with polymeric material to create at least a partially biodegradable product.

Abstract: An apparatus for signal processing, wherein a disc is placed on a turntable and is provided with a groove which can be followed by the pick-up element, and employing a time-code signal wherein during use of the disc the said time-code signal controls the digital audio source.

Abstract: A thermal management apparatus and method for a thin disk laser system enabling the laser system to have near isothermal temperatures across and throughout a thin disk comprising a mechanically controlled oscillating heat pipe having effective thermal conductivity of 10-20,000 W/m*K that promotes near isothermal conditions in lasing of the thin disk, a thin disk lasing crystal or ceramic bonded to the mechanically controlled oscillating heat pipe, and a supporting structure including a surface bonded to the thin disk that matches the CTE (coefficient of thermal expansion) of both materials.

Abstract: The invention relates to a material that can be used for magnetic refrigeration, wherein the material substantially has the general formula (AYB1-Y)2+?CWDXEZ Wherein: A is selected from Mn and Co; B is selected from Fe and Cr; of C, D and E at least two are different, have a non-vanishing concentration and are selected from P, B, Se, Ge, Ga, Si, Sn and Sb; wherein at least one of C, D and E is Ge or Si; W, X, Y and Zeach is a number in the range 0-1, and W+X+Z=1; and?is a number from (?0.1)-(+0.1).

Abstract: A video format conversion method and concomitant computer software stored on a computer-readable medium comprising receiving a video stream comprising a plurality of frames in a first format, converting the video stream to a second format in approximately real time, and outputting the video stream in the second format, and wherein the converting step employs a hierarchical block true motion estimator.

Abstract: A probe having a conductive body and a contacting tip that is terminated by one or more blunt skates for engaging a conductive pad of a device under test (DUT) for performing electrical testing. The contacting tip has a certain width and the blunt skate is narrower than the tip width. The skate is aligned along a scrub direction and also has a certain curvature along the scrub direction such that it may undergo both a scrub motion and a self-cleaning rotation upon application of a contact force between the skate and the conductive pad. While the scrub motion clears oxide from the pad to establish electrical contact, the rotation removes debris from the skate and thus preserves a low contact resistance between the skate and the pad. The use of probes with one or more blunt skates and methods of using such self-cleaning probes are especially advantageous when testing DUTs with low-K conductive pads or other mechanically fragile pads that tend to be damaged by large contact force concentration.

Abstract: An apparatus for signal processing, wherein a disc is placed on a turntable and is provided with a groove which can be followed by the pick-up element, and employing a time-code signal wherein during use of the disc the said time-code signal controls the digital audio source.

Abstract: The present invention provides for pulsed power breaking and drilling apparatuses and methods. The present invention comprises two pulsed power systems coordinated to fire one right after the other. The first pulsed power system, comprising a spiker, may create a high voltage pulse that breaks down the insulative properties of the substrate and may create an arc channel in the substrate. It is designed for high voltage but low energy, at high impedance. The second pulsed power system, comprising a sustainer, is designed to provide high current into the arc, but at low voltage, thus better matching the impedance of the arc and achieving much more efficient energy transfer.

Abstract: The present invention provides for pulsed powered drilling apparatuses and methods. A drilling apparatus is provided comprising a bit having one or more sets of electrodes through which a pulsed voltage is passed through a mineral substrate to create a crushing or drilling action. The electrocrushing drilling process may have, but does not require, rotation of the bit. The electrocrushing drilling process is capable of excavating the hole out beyond the edges of the bit with or without the need of mechanical teeth.

Abstract: The invention provides synthetic heparin-binding growth factor analogs having two peptide chains each branched from a branch moiety, such as trifunctional amino acid residues, the branch moieties separated by a first linker of from 3 to about 20 backbone atoms, which peptide chains bind a heparin-binding growth factor receptor and are covalently bound to a non-signaling peptide that includes a heparin-binding domain, preferably by a second linker, which may be a hydrophobic second linker. The synthetic heparin-binding growth factor analogs are useful as pharmaceutical agents, soluble biologics or as surface coatings for medical devices.

Abstract: A probe for engaging a conductive pad is provided. The probe includes a probe contact end for receiving a test current, a probe retention portion below the contact end, a block for holding the probe retention portion, a probe arm below the retention portion, a probe contact tip below the arm, and a generally planar self-cleaning skate disposed perpendicular below the contact tip. The self-cleaning skate has a square front, a round back and a flat middle section. The conductive pad is of generally convex shape having a granular non-conductive surface of debris and moves to engage the skate, whereby an overdrive motion is applied to the pad causing the skate to move across and scrub non-conductive debris from the pad displacing the debris along the skate and around the skate round back end to a position on the skate that is away from the pad.