Abstract: The adhesion of low k poly(arylene ether) dielectric coating compositions is effectively enhanced by a polycarbosilane promoter additive or primer. A coating composition is prepared by (a) providing a poly(arylene ether) composition; and (b) adding to said composition a small effective adhesion promoting amount of certain polycarbosilanes. The adhesion enhanced coating compositions are cured by heat treatment at temperatures in excess of 50° C. to form a polycarbosilane-modified poly(arylene ether) polymer composition having a low k dielectric constant for use in semiconductor devices.

Abstract: A number of modified nucleosides are disclosed composed of modified sugar moieties which contain substituents at C1 and C4 positions, or branched substituents at C3 and C5 positions of deoxyribose or ribose. Each nucleoside is converted to or properly protected and then converted to the corresponding phosphoramidites. These phosphoramidites are used to assemble oligonucleotides in which there is at least one of the forenoted nucleosides. These sugar modified oligonucleotides have the potential to be used as antisense therapies since they are expected to enhance nuclease resistance and cellular uptake while they maintain sequence-specificity and affinity to nucleic acid targets in vitro or in vivo.

Abstract: Electrodes for secondary (rechargeable) batteries are fabricated using active material particles such as flakes, fingers, projections, needles, threads, fibers, pods, hairs, ribbons and the like, which have an aspect ratio of at least 1:3:1. The high aspect ratio, in combination with relatively shallow discharge cycles, provides high power of at least 800 W/kg sustainable over at least ten seconds, high energy of at least 7 W-hr/kg, and a high cycle life of at least 250 cycles. Selection of parameters also provides power to energy ratios for high power, high energy batteries of at least 10. Preferred chemistries for the novel batteries include lithium ion, and preferred active materials include carbon, metal oxides and metal. Batteries including the novel technology can advantageously be used in electric vehicles, consumer electronics, electrical appliances, and industrial applications such as battery backup systems and switches.

Abstract: A flying toy has a leader portion defining an opening, and a supple tail portion defining an inlet and outlet, wherein when the toy is flying in air, the air enters through the inlet and exits through the outlet. Also, a center of gravity of the toy is within the leader portion. Furthermore, the thickness of the tail portion is not more than 1 mm, or even 0.5 mm.

Abstract: A bag slitting apparatus for opening a sealed bag along an edge of the bag. The apparatus has a first arm having first outer and inner surfaces, and a second arm having second outer and inner surfaces. The arms are in tensioned movable opposed relationship to each other such that the first and second inner surfaces are movably positionable against each other. One of these inner surfaces is a bladed inner surface having extending inwardly therefrom a non-pointed, generally flat, bag cutting blade, while the other inner surface has extending inwardly therefrom a cutting surface. Exteriorly, the first and second outer surfaces are concavely contoured for simultaneous opposingly-squeezing receipt of a finger and thumb of a user for slitting the edge of the bag between the blade and cutting surface.

Abstract: Powder composition and method for polishing stone. The present invention relates to a powder composition and to a method for polishing stone, in particular granite, said method making use of said powder composition.

Abstract: Novel monocyclic L-Nucleoside compounds have the general formula Embodiments of these compounds are contemplated to be useful in treating a wide variety of diseases including infections, infestations, neoplasms, and autoimmune diseases. Viewed in terms of mechanism, embodiments of the novel compounds show immunomodulatory activity, and are expected to be useful in modulating the cytokine pattern, including modulation of Th1 and Th2 response.

Abstract: A collapsible chair has a pair of front legs, a pair of rear legs, a pair of back support rods, a seat, and a cross brace that slidably couples one of the back support rods to one end of the cross brace and one of the front legs. The legs, support rods and cross brace are coupled such that the chair collapses in a single movement in which the front legs approximate each other when the seat pivots towards the back support rods.

Abstract: A muffler for a steam cleaning apparatus comprising a housing having a first and a second inlet, and an outlet, a plurality of baffles disposed within, and coupled to the housing, wherein the plurality of baffles are covered with a foam; wherein the first inlet is pneumatically coupled to an air pump of the steam cleaning apparatus, and wherein the first inlet provides to the housing a stream of humid air from an application subsystem of the steam cleaning apparatus; and wherein the second inlet receives combustion exhaust from a combustion motor that drives an air pump that is operationally coupled to the application subsystem, and wherein the outlet releases air comprising combustion exhaust of the motor.

Abstract: A mediator molecule is immobilized on the surface of a metallic or ceramic implant material. An anchor molecule such as a dialdehyde having a functional group that covalently binds the mediator molecule is covalently bound to the surface, and the mediator molecule is coupled to the functional group of the anchor molecule. The implant material may be composed of titanium, titanium alloy, aluminum, stainless steel or hydroxylapatite. Oxide units on the surface of the implant material can be increased preferably by treating with hot chromic-sulphuric acid for 0.5 to 3 hours at a temperature between 100 to 250° C. prior to binding the anchor molecule. Also, prior to binding the anchor molecule, the surface of the implant material can be activated by reacting with a silane derivative. Mediator molecules include BMP protein, ubiquitin and antibiotics, and the implant material may be an artificial joint or coronary vessel support such as a stent.

Abstract: Roller skates (10) having an improved appearance and function as walking shoes by providing at least one skate wheel (210) that can be pivoted by at least 60 degrees up inside the sole (100) of the skate to facilitate walking, and/or providing a skate with user replaceable, friction operated side brakes (410). Preferred skates have multiple such pivoting wheels coupled by a common, pivoting support arm (230), and provide a mechanism that positions the wheels substantially coplanar with the sole of the skate while in the walking position, and substantially perpendicular to the sole of the skate while in the skating position. It is also preferred that the skate wheels pivot about an axis passing through a portion of the wheels.

Abstract: C-nucleosides are synthesized by a method in which a sugar is derivatized in a single step to provide a heterocycle at the C1 position, and then the heterocycle is aromatized in another single step. In one class of preferred embodiments a cyano sugar is converted into thiocarboxamide, and subsequently condensed to form an azole ring. In a second class of preferred embodiments a cyano sugar is condensed with an amino acid to provide the azole ring. In a third class of preferred embodiments a halo sugar is condensed with a preformed heterocycle to provide the azole ring.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved probe tip (ball) made of silicon nitride that has a drilled cavity sized and dimensioned to receive a probe stem.

Abstract: A collapsible chair front and rear leg, seat and back support rods, first and second pairs of cross braces, and solid arm rest, all of which are coupled such that the chair collapses in a single movement in which the front legs approximate each other when the seat support rods pivots towards the back support rods. The seat in preferred chairs is a tensioned seat and continuous with the backrest.

Abstract: Vascular blemishes are reduced by directing pulsed laser radiation to converge toward the blemishes in a plurality of directions, each beam of radiation being derived from a primary radiation source or from a separate radiation source, thereby to cause selective thermolysis of blood vessels in the blemishes.

Abstract: A power controller which includes a boost pre-regulator receiving power from a power source providing an input voltage and an input current, and having compensation networks which are dynamically adjusted for power level, the pre-regulator providing power factor correction to maintain a total harmonic distortion of the input current of 2-3% at full power, and less than 5% at all power levels, while the input voltage is anywhere within the range of 95 to 265 VAC; and a forward converter receiving control from a current-mode controller which is in turn under the control of the boost pre-regulator, in order to achieve substantially constant duty cycle of the forward converter over the entire range of power levels.

Abstract: Methods and devices for testing connectivity between connectors on a circuit board include utilizing a bias board having a photoconductive layer coated with a light-transmissive electrically conductive layer in conjunction with a light source and a voltage source to alternately charge and discharge conductors. A conductor discharged by connecting it to a ground via the bias board is determined to be electrically connected to a previously charged conductor if current flows between the conductor and the ground.

Abstract: A printed wiring board (PWB) comprises an inner high density circuit routing component laminated within the wiring board, and plated through holes electrically coupling the inner high density circuit to a conductive pattern located on a surface of the PWB. A preferred method for forming such a PWB comprises: providing a built up high density routing component; providing two wiring boards; laminating the built up routing component between the two wiring boards; and using plated through holes to electrically connect a conductive portion of each of the wiring boards to the built up routing component.

Abstract: A unique bond-ply structure and associated processes for processing of the bond-ply structure and for joining together circuit layer pairs which makes it possible to create a bond-ply having raised structures of conductive material which compensate for shrinkage during sintering thus creating a stress-free and void-free electrically conductive junction between layer-pairs in an interconnect.