Abstract: An effluent gas stream treatment system for treatment of gaseous effluents such as waste gases from semiconductor manufacturing operations. The effluent gas stream treatment system comprises a pre-oxidation treatment unit, which may for example comprise a scrubber, an oxidation unit such an electrothermal oxidizer, and a post-oxidation treatment unit, such as a wet or dry scrubber. The effluent gas stream treatment system of the invention may utilize an integrated oxidizer, quench and wet scrubber assembly, for abatement of hazardous or otherwise undesired components from the effluent gas stream. Gas or liquid shrouding of gas streams in the treatment system may be provided by high efficiency inlet structures.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a DNA construct, whereby two or several DNAs are recombined in melted agarose. The invention also relates to vectors which can be used therefor, in addition to a method for providing large DNAs, especially BACs or PACs.

Abstract: A silicon carbide epitaxial film, grown on an offcut surface of a SiC crystalline substrate of hexagonal crystal form, having an offcut angle of from about 6 to about 10 degrees, toward the <1{overscore (1)}00> crystalline direction of the substrate. The resultant silicon carbide epitaxial film has superior morphological and material properties.

Abstract: A computer mouse having a resilient soft pad with massaging function, comprises a front part and a rear part removably fitted onto said front part. The front part can be separated from the rear part if wish. When the rear and front parts are connected with each other, the power circuit will be in an open status, thus the massaging head projecting from the upper face of the rear part will not vibrate, and then can be used as a resilient soft pad for lessening the fatigue of the user's palm. When the front part is separated from the rear part, the rear part can be used as a massager to massage the body of the user who is fatigued with operating the mouse.

Abstract: An effluent gas stream treatment system for treatment of gaseous effluents such as waste gases from semiconductor manufacturing operations. The effluent gas stream treatment system comprises an oxidation unit to which an oxygen-containing gas such as ozone may be added, with input of energy (e.g., thermal, radio frequency, electrical, microwave, etc.), to effect oxidation of oxidizable species in the effluent, such as halocompounds (e.g., chlorofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons), CO, NF3, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur oxides). The effluent gas stream treatment system may include a wet scrubber associated with the oxygen-containing gas source, so that the gas stream is contacted with the oxygen-containing gas during the wet scrubbing operation, to enhance removal of oxidizable species in the gas stream during treatment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to &bgr;-hCG, particularly &bgr;-hCG proteins having a sequence of amino acids 41-54, 45-54, 47-53, 45-57 and 45-58 and analogs and derivatives thereof. The invention further relates to methods of treatment and prevention of HIV infection by administration of a therapeutic compound of the invention. Such therapeutic compounds include hCG, &bgr;-hCG and &bgr;-hCG peptides, analogs and derivatives of hCG, &bgr;-hCG and &bgr;-hCG peptides, and nucleic acids encoding hCG, &bgr;-hCG and &bgr;-hCG peptides. In a preferred embodiment, &bgr;-hCG peptides, particularly &bgr;-hCG peptides of amino acids 47-53, 45-57 or 45-58 are administered to a subject for treatment or prevention of HIV infection in that subject. The invention also provides methods for screening hCG preparations for activity in treating or preventing HIV infection. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods of administration of Therapeutics are also provided.

Abstract: A metal hydride derivative wherein at least one hydrogen atom is replaced by deuterium (21H) or tritium (31H) isotope. The metal constituent of such metal hydride may, be a Group III, IV or V metal or a transition metal, e.g., antimony, aluminum, gallium, tin, or germanium. The isotopically stabilized metal hydride derivatives of the invention are useful as metal source compositions for chemical vapor deposition, assisted chemical vapor deposition (e.g., laser-assisted chemical vapor deposition, light-assisted chemical vapor deposition, plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition and ion-assisted chemical vapor deposition), ion implantation, molecular beam epitaxy, and rapid thermal processing.

Abstract: A dynamic random access memory device (100) includes storage capacitors using a high dielectric constant material, such as, BaSrTiO3, SrBi2Ta2O9 and PbZrTiO3, for the capacitors' insulator. The device includes a conductive plug (106) formed over and connecting with a semiconductor substrate (102). A buffer layer (107) of titanium silicide lays over the plug, and this layer serves to trap “dangling” bonds and to passivate the underlying surface. A first diffusion barrier layer (108), e.g., titanium aluminum nitride, covers the titanium silicide. A capacitor first electrode (110) lays over the diffusion barrier layer. The high dielectric constant material (112) is laid over the capacitor first electrode. A capacitor second electrode (116) is laid over the high dielectric constant material. A second diffusion barrier layer (120) is deposited on the capacitor second electrode. A conductor, such as aluminum (130), is laid over the second diffusion barrier layer.

Abstract: A modified PbZrTiO3 perovskite crystal material thin film, wherein the PbZrTiO3 perovskite crystal material includes crystal lattice A-sites and B-sites at least one of which is modified by the presence of a substituent selected from the group consisting of (i) A-site substituents consisting of Sr, Ca, Ba and Mg, and (ii) B-site substituents selected from the group consisting of Nb and Ta. The perovskite crystal thin film material may be formed by liquid delivery MOCVD from metalorganic precursors of the metal components of the thin film, to form PZT and PSZT, and other piezoelectric and ferroelectric thin film materials. The thin films of the invention have utility in non-volatile ferroelectric memory devices (NV-FeRAMs), and in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) as sensor and/or actuator elements, e.g., high speed digital system actuators requiring low input power levels.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for detecting input radiation such as X-rays, &ggr;-rays, ionizing radiation or fluorescent and low-level light. The device has at least one detection element comprising a sensor component (scintillator) for converting the input radiation into photons (scintillation light) in the UV, visible or IR part of the electromagnetic spectrum and an optical amplifier component which receives the light converted by the sensor component, forwards it for further processing and amplifies it at the same time. According to the invention, the amplifier component comprises at least one optical waveguide (1, 2, 2a, 2b, 20) whose material is optically pumped to amplify the scintillation light (3, 24, 25).

Abstract: An emergency egress system for a locus that is exposed to light in non-emergency use and susceptible to interruption or termination of light in emergency circumstances. The emergency egress system comprises a fibrous web deployed in the locus, wherein the fibrous web has photoluminescent fiber incorporated therein in sufficient amount and distribution to illuminate the web or predetermined portions thereof during the interruption or termination of light in emergency circumstances, and subsequent to light exposure thereof.

Abstract: A low temperature CVD process using a tris (&bgr;-diketonate) bismuth precursor for deposition of bismuth ceramic thin films suitable for integration to fabricate ferroelectric memory devices. Films of amorphous SBT can be formed by CVD and then ferroannealed to produce films with Aurivillius phase composition having superior ferroelectric properties suitable for manufacturing high density FRAMs.

Abstract: In order to cluster sequences to biological groups, the conventional databank search programs are iteratively called in with a view to clustering various related sequences to one determined protein sequence. The inventive method enables full automatic distribution of a high number of protein sequences in groups. The major part of such groups are segregated, so that they represent a meaningful and valid grouping of data.

Abstract: An auto-switching sub-atmospheric pressure gas delivery system, for dispensing gas to a gas-consuming process unit, e.g., a semiconductor manufacturing tool. The gas delivery system uses a multiplicity of gas panels, wherein one panel is in active gas dispensing mode and supplying gas from a sub-atmospheric pressure gas source coupled to the flow circuitry of the panel. During the active gas dispensing operation in such panel, a second gas panel of the system undergoes purge, evacuation and fill transition to active gas dispensing condition, to permit switching to the second panel upon exhaustion of the sub-atmospheric pressure gas source coupled to the first gas panel without the occurrence of pressure spikes or flow perturbations.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing rapid, high-resolution polycrystalline crystallographic texture analysis, by calculating an Orientation Distribution Function (ODF) from partial pole figures obtained from x-ray diffraction measurements on large samples, e.g., 200 millimeter diameter wafers. The measurement apparatus includes a 2-D area x-ray detector and a collimated x-ray source arranged in a specific, fixed spatial relationship dependant on the properties of the sample to be measured, and also includes a particular wafer motion assembly. The wafer motion assembly includes three mutually orthogonal rectilinear translation stages, and a &phgr; rotation stage mounted thereon, as an uppermost motion stage, with its range restricted to 180° of rotation.

Abstract: A method of reducing, treating or preventing drug-mediated respiratory depression, muscle rigidity, or nausea/vomiting in an animal, incident to the administration to said animal of a mixed delta/mu opioid agonist or a respiratory depression-mediating drug, comprising administering to the animal receiving said drug an effective amount of a delta receptor agonist compound.

Abstract: A medical graft, such as a vascular graft, made of a fabric containing an inorganic antimicrobial agent. The fabric has a coating material with the inorganic antimicrobial agent bonded to it, the agent preferably being a zeolite. The fabric can be porous so as to permit tissue to grow on it with the fabric pores providing attachment sites for the tissue. Alternatively, the fabric can be coated with a tissue biocompatible material, such as collagen. A porous fabric applicable for the graft, and for other medical uses, and a method of manufacturing the porous fabric having a coating thereon to which is bonded an antimicrobial agent, such as a zeolite, also is provided. The fabric is antimicrobial, remains pliable, and is also porous.

Abstract: A surfacially ultraviolet radiation-crosslinked article formed of a homogeneous composition including an elastoplastic material, a cross-linker component that is cross-linkable by free-radical polymerization, and a free-radical source material generating free radicals in exposure to ultraviolet radiation, wherein the elastoplastic material is surfacially cross-linked by exposure to ultraviolet radiation, wherein the sub-surface bulk volume of the article is non-cross-linked, and the article is resiliently deformable from and resiliently recoverable to a shape of the article when it was exposed to ultraviolet radiation for surfacial cross-linking thereof. The article is particularly amenable to embodiment as a catheter, or other similar medical device for cardiovascular or other medical procedures.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an electrode structure for a ferroelectric device structure including a ferroelectric material, involving chemical vapor deposition of a hybrid electrode constituting a multilayer electrode structure or an alloyed electrode structure, using either bubbler delivery or liquid delivery chemical vapor deposition.