Abstract: A hyperthermia treatment system for heating a selected region within a target body that includes a power source and a plurality of electromagnetic applicators that are in electrical communication with the power source and arranged in a surrounding array around a focal region to concentrate their combined radiation output onto the focal region. The treatment system also includes a support mechanism that is adapted to support a target body within the surrounding array of applicators, and a positioning mechanism adapted to move the support mechanism and align the selected region within the target body with the focal region. Furthermore, the positioning mechanism is adapted to compensate for movement of the focal region in response to an interaction between the combined radiation output and the target body.

Abstract: Methods for extending the service life of a CMP pad dresser having a substrate and a plurality of superabrasive particles disposed thereon which is used to dress a CMP pad are disclosed and described. The method may include dressing the chemical mechanical polishing pad with the dresser; determining superabrasive particle wear by measuring a mechanical property of the pad, dresser, or combination thereof; and responding to the mechanical property measurement by varying pressure and RPM between the pad and the dresser in relation to the superabrasive particle wear in order to extend dresser life.

Abstract: A method for producing a rubber composition, the method including: preparing a modified natural rubber by releasing protein from rubber particles in a natural rubber latex by adding at least one organic compound selected from formaldehyde, paraformaldehyde, formalin, and glyoxal to the above mentioned natural rubber latex and then drying so as to include the released protein therein; and mixing at least one selected from carbon black and silica in this modified natural rubber. Such method reduces viscosity and improves molding processibility of the rubber composition, as well as reducing hysteresis loss.

Abstract: The present technology provides a rubber-metal composite having high water resistant adhesion strength and a pneumatic tire using the same by providing a rubber-metal composite having metal reinforcing cords embedded in a rubber composition including from 0.05 to 10 parts by mass of a benzothiazole anticorrosive and/or a benzotriazole anticorrosive per 100 parts of a diene rubber. The present technology also provides a pneumatic tire using the rubber-metal composite.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing natural rubber according to an embodiment of the present technology includes: adding to a natural rubber latex at least one type of a predetermined sulfonic acid selected from the group consisting of a monoalkyl sulfonic acid, a polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfonic acid, and an alkylbenzene sulfonic acid; and, thereafter, removing moisture from the mixture of the natural rubber latex and the sulfonic acid.

Abstract: A method of evaluating a property of a physiological fluid suspension comprises measuring a value of the property of a liquid portion of the physiological fluid suspension via light scattering, and comparing the measured value with a reference value to evaluate the property of the liquid portion of the physiological fluid suspension.

Abstract: A light-sensing pixel for detecting at least a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum includes a first detector element having a micro-structured surface for detecting an infrared range of wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum. The light-sensing pixel further includes a second detector element for detecting a second range of wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum, wherein the second range of wavelengths is shorter than the first range of wavelengths and the first and second detector element are formed monolithically on a silicon substrate.

Abstract: An energy capture and control device is disclosed and described. The device can include a central chamber oriented along a central axis within an outer shell, said central chamber having an inlet configured to receive a high energy material from a high energy outlet. An off axis chamber can be oriented within the outer shell in fluid communication with the central chamber. The off axis chamber can have a fluid outlet and multiple internal walls to produce a serpentine fluid pathway which dissipates energy transferred from the high energy material.

Abstract: An inductive detector arranged to measure position along a axis comprising: a transmit winding; a receive winding; a passive circuit comprising a winding in electrical series with a capacitor; wherein: the mutual inductance between the transmit winding and the receive winding is a function of the relative displacement of the passive circuit along the measurement axis; a first portion of one of the windings is wound on a first pitch and a second portion of the same winding is wound on a second pitch whose extent is greater than the first pitch.

Abstract: Methods and systems for forming discrete wire ribbon cables for use in electronic networks are provided. In some embodiments, the organizer may include an upper bracket and a lower bracket. The lower bracket may be configured to mate with the upper bracket. The upper bracket and the lower bracket may combine to define a plurality of holes. The plurality of holes may be sized to at least partially enclose a set of discrete conductors. Each of the set of discrete conductors may be individually insulated.

Abstract: A system and methods for distortion reduction in a non-linear audio system are disclosed. A method includes the operation of defining a non-linear system transfer function which relates a system electronic input signal with a system acoustic output over a range in which the system acoustic output is in a transition between non-saturated and saturated conditions in a medium in which the system acoustic output of the non-linear audio system is broadcast. A preprocessing transfer function is created that is the inverse of the non-linear system transfer function. The preprocessing transfer function is applied to the system electronic input signal to reduce the level of harmonic distortion at the system acoustic output.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a body-scanning device with a wireless footswitch is disclosed. The method includes polling a status of a plurality of switches on a wireless footswitch using a microprocessor. A pulsed signal is sent from the microprocessor to a watchdog timer. The pulsed signal is pulsed at a predetermined rate when the microprocessor is operating within selected operating parameters. The microprocessor is reset when the pulsed signal is pulsed at a rate less than the predetermined rate. The status of the plurality of switches on the wireless footswitch is transmitted to a receiver connected to the scanning device to enable the scanning device to be controlled by actuating at least one of the plurality of switches on the wireless footswitch.

Abstract: Chemical sampling systems and methods that can inexpensively and efficiently provide accurate chemical sampling in dusty environments are disclosed. The system can include a chemical detector, an elastomeric membrane, and a support structure for the elastomeric membrane. The gas chromatograph can have a sample inlet through which chemicals from the gaseous environment can enter the gas chromatograph. The sample inlet can be covered with the elastomeric membrane, the elastomeric membrane being configured to extract chemicals from the gaseous environment while excluding dust and other particles from passing into the gas chromatograph. The support structure can be disposed between the elastomeric membrane and the sample inlet and can provide mechanical support to the elastomeric membrane.

Abstract: The present invention provides a piston pump for liquid in which a sump is defined in a chamber into which sump liquid in the chamber flows due to gravity. A passageway leads from an outlet of the sump out of the chamber to a dispensing outlet. The dispensing outlet is at a height below the height of the sump outlet and fluid to exit the sump flows from the sump outlet upwardly in a first portion of the passageway to a height above the sump outlet then downwardly to the dispensing outlet. The chamber and its sump is defined between a piston chamber-forming member defining the chamber to be downwardly opening and a piston forming element axially slidable in the chamber.

Abstract: A piston pump having a piston element slidable in a piston-chamber forming member with an outer end of a hollow stem of the piston element extending outwardly from the piston-chamber forming member. By relative reciprocal sliding of the piston element relative the piston-chamber forming member fluid is discharged out the outer end of the stem of the piston element. The piston element includes resiliently deformable fingers carried on the stem extending radially outwardly from the stem to distal ends which provide a radially remote portion which is resiliently deformable between an unbiased position and deflected portions. The remote end portion extends circumferentially about the stem to provide in the unbiased position an outer radial extent of a constant radius about the stem.

Abstract: Methods for modeling the secondary path of an ANC system to improve convergence and tracking during noise control operation, and their associated uses are provided. In one aspect, for example, a method for modeling a secondary path for an active noise control system is provided. Such a method may include receiving a reference signal, filtering the reference signal with an initial secondary path model to obtain a filtered reference signal, calculating an autocorrelation matrix from the filtered reference signal, and calculating a plurality of eigenvalues from the autocorrelation matrix. The method may further include calculating a maximum difference between the plurality of eigenvalues and iterating a test model to determine an optimized secondary path model having a plurality of optimized eigenvalues that have a minimized difference that is less than the maximum difference of the plurality of eigenvalues, such that the optimized secondary path model may be utilized in the active noise control system.

Abstract: A constructed permeability control infrastructure can include a permeability control impoundment, which defines a substantially encapsulated volume. The infrastructure can also include a comminuted hydrocarbonaceous material within the encapsulated volume. The comminuted hydrocarbonaceous material can form a permeable body of hydrocarbonaceous material. The infrastructure can further include at least one convection driving conduit oriented in a lower portion of the permeable body to generate bulk convective flow patterns throughout the permeable body. An associated method of recovering hydrocarbons from hydrocarbonaceous materials can include forming a constructed permeability control infrastructure, which defines a substantially encapsulated volume. A comminuted hydrocarbonaceous material can be introduced into the control infrastructure to form a permeable body of hydrocarbonaceous material.

Abstract: An NMR probe which includes a probe matrix (24) having a void sample (28) volume therein. A conductive coil (16, 26) can be at least partially embedded in the probe matrix (24). By embedding the conductive coil (16, 26) in the probe matrix (24), the fill-factor can be significantly increased. NMR probes can be formed by a method which includes wrapping a conductive wire (16) around a coil form (18) to produce a coil precursor assembly. The probe matrix (24) can be formed around the conductive wire and coil form with a matrix material using any suitable technique such as soft lithography and/or molding. The coil form can be removed from the probe matrix leaving a void sample volume (28) in the probe matrix. Advantageously, the NMR probes of the present invention allow for fill-factors approaching and achieving 100%.

Abstract: A plug for a pipe in an oil or gas well includes a packer, a slip ring and a cone disposable on a mandrel and pressed between an upper push sleeve and a lower anvil on the mandrel. The plug can be field configurable with a frac plug kit, a bridge plug kit and a soluble insert plug kit. A pair of concentric locking rings is disposed between the push sleeve and the mandrel with an outer annular cone with an outer conical shape tapered upwardly and inwardly.

Abstract: A quinoline-oxazoline compound having the formula: where one of X1 and X2 is N and the other is C and one of R1, R2 and R3 is Z wherein Z is an oxazoline radical having the formula such that when X1 is N R2 is Z and R1 is absent, and when X2 is N either R1 or R3 is Z and R2 is absent. R1 and R3 through R12 are independently H or a pendant moiety which does not interfere with coordination of either N in the quinoline compound with a coordination center. These compounds can be complexed with a suitable coordination center such as catalytically active palladium and can be highly useful in catalytically oxidizing alkenes with high regioselectivity.