Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system includes at least one transducer element. The ultrasound imaging system further includes a console with a transducer controller that controls the at least one element, a transducer processor that processes information detected by the at least one element, and a display controller that controls display of the processed information. The ultrasound imaging system further includes a display monitor with a first image display region. The ultrasound imaging system further includes a touch screen keyboard with a second image display region, wherein the display monitor and the touch screen keyboard are separate devices.

Abstract: An example method of determining dot gain in a liquid electrophotographic printer is described. The method involves effecting a print operation based on a predetermined digital dot area and measuring an operating current of a binary ink development unit during the print operation. A dot gain between the digital dot area and a physical dot area of a developed image is determined based on a function of the measured operating current.

Abstract: A navigation data source, said navigation data source comprising: —a cost data set associated with a navigation data set, said navigation data set representing a map of a geographic region and defining a plurality of gateways, each of said gateways of said plurality of gateways being associated with a position at said geographic region and being associable with a gateway of a further navigation data set representing a map of a further geographic region, —wherein said cost data set comprises cost data, said cost data defining for at least a part of possible gateway pairs of said plurality of gateways at least a cost value each, said cost value indicating a cost for a route between gateways of a respective gateway pair.

Abstract: A radiation source for a lithographic apparatus, in particular a laser-produced plasma source includes a fan unit surrounding but not obstructing the collected radiation beam that is operated to generate a flow in a buffer gas away from the optical axis. The fan unit can include a plurality of flat or curved blades generally parallel to the optical axis and driven to rotate about the optical axis.

Abstract: Barrier members for use in an electrographic printer are described. The barrier member has a first layer including thermally insulating particles embedded in a polymer composition, and a second layer including a thermally conductive metallic layer.

Abstract: In one example, a method is described that includes a processor detecting a voltage of a photoconductor layer of a printing device, comparing the voltage of the photoconductor layer to a threshold voltage, and applying a corrective voltage to a charging unit or to a transfer member when the voltage of the photoconductor layer exceeds the threshold voltage.

Abstract: A lighting arrangement and a method of forming an illumination beam are described. A plurality of LED lighting elements is operable to emit light. A plurality of collimator elements is arranged to collimate light emitted from the LED lighting elements. A first projection element is arranged to project light emitted from the collimator elements onto a spatially controllable reflector element. The spatially controllable element comprises a plurality of reflector elements adjustable between a first and a second position. In the first position, the light is reflected into the direction of a second projection element to form a projected illumination beam. In the second position, light is reflected into a different direction to not contribute to the projected illumination beam.

Abstract: Methods of identifying a hot spot from a design layout or of predicting whether a pattern in a design layout is defective, using a machine learning model. An example method disclosed herein includes obtaining sets of one or more characteristics of performance of hot spots, respectively, under a plurality of process conditions, respectively, in a device manufacturing process; determining, for each of the process conditions, for each of the hot spots, based on the one or more characteristics under that process condition, whether that hot spot is defective; obtaining a characteristic of each of the process conditions; obtaining a characteristic of each of the hot spots; and training a machine learning model using a training set including the characteristic of one of the process conditions, the characteristic of one of the hot spots, and whether that hot spot is defective under that process condition.

Abstract: Herein is described a method of producing a printed label. The method may comprise: a. providing a label substrate having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first and second surfaces form opposing surfaces of the label substrate; b. applying a primer comprising a cross-linkable primer resin onto the first surface of a label substrate to form a primer layer; c. electrophotographically printing onto the primer layer an electrostatic ink composition comprising a cross-linkable thermoplastic resin to form a printed layer; d. applying a cross-linking composition comprising a cross-linking agent to the printed layer, wherein the cross-linking agent penetrates into the electrostatic ink composition and the primer layer; and e. activating the cross-linking agent wherein an adhesive is present on the second surface of the label substrate in step a or applied to the second surface of the label substrate at any point in the method after step a. Printed labels are also described herein.

Abstract: A pick-and-place tool including a plurality of movable holder structures, and a plurality of pick-and-place structures, each holder structure accommodating two or more of the pick-and-place structures, wherein at least one of the two or more pick-and-place structures of a respective holder structure is able to move along a respective holder structure independently from another at least one of the two or more pick-and-place structures of the respective holder structure, and wherein each pick-and-place structure includes a pick-up element configured to pick up a donor component at a donor structure and place the donor component an acceptor structure.

Abstract: An inspection substrate for inspecting a component, such as a liquid confinement system, of an apparatus for processing production substrates is discussed. The inspection substrate includes a body having dimensions similar to a production substrate so that the inspection substrate is compatible with the apparatus, an illumination device, such as light emitting diodes, embedded in the body, a sensor, such as an imaging device or a pressure sensor, that is embedded in the body and configured to generate inspection information, such as image data, relating to a parameter of the component of the apparatus proximate to the inspection substrate, and a storage device embedded in the body and configured to store the inspection information.

Abstract: A degassing device can include one or more passive components, such as a gas-permeable membrane. The passive components may not directly be monitored. The state (e.g. the permeability) of the passive components may be reliably determined via evaluation of pressure information with regard to the pressure (e.g. negative pressure) in the degassing device.

Abstract: A thin plastic light guide is formed to have cavities on one surface and TIR (total internal reflection) structures directly above the cavities. LEDs mounted on a printed circuit board are positioned in the cavities. The cavity walls are shaped to refract the LED light and direct the LED light toward the TIR structures to most efficiently make use of the TIR structures. The TIR structures may have a cusp or cone shape. The top ceiling of the cavities may be shaped to direct light at the TIR structure so as to leak through the TIR structure and blend the light with light leaking through surrounding portions of the light guide. The LEDs may be distributed only near the edges of the light guide or over the entire back surface of the light guide. A diffuser sheet may be laminated over the light guide to further mix the light.

Abstract: A printing suction system for a printer can include at least one print bar with at least one print head, and at least one suction device arranged in proximity to an underside of the print bar thereby forming a gap through which a recording medium that can be printed to by the print bar can be directed. The suction device can extend along at least a portion (or the entire) width of the print bar. The section device can generate a suction pressure based on a suction pressure profile to suction and smooth the recording medium.

Abstract: Disclosed herein methods for combating biofouling in a liquid, e.g. an aqueous medium by providing a surface coated with at least one laser-induced graphene (LIG) layer in said liquid medium. Particularly disclosed herein method and devices for treating water comprising passing a water stream through a membrane module equipped with at least one spacer coated with at least one layer of LIG, and optionally by applying an electric potential to the at least one LIG layer to achieve a bactericidal effect in the water stream. Specifically, disclosed herein a polymeric mesh suitable for use as a spacer in a membrane module in water treatment application, said mesh being at least partially coated with LIG.

Abstract: Provided are assays, kits and compositions for testing subjects, particularly asymptomatic subjects, to ascertain whether or not they are carriers of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi. Methods for detecting the presence of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi indicating molecules by a variety of methods such as immunoassays and mass spectrometry also are provided.

Abstract: A method of forming vertical spacers for spacer-defined multiple patterning, includes: depositing a first conformal pattern-transfer film having a first film stress, and continuously depositing a second conformal pattern-transfer film having a second film stress on a template; dry-etching the template except for a core material and a vertical portion of the first and second pattern-transfer films to form vertical spacers; and dry-etching the core material, forming a vacant space between the vertical spacers, wherein by adjusting the difference in film stress between the first and second pattern-transfer films, the leaning angle of the spacers is adjusted.

Abstract: A method and system for accessing database tables that contain binary large objects (BLOBs) is disclosed. The method includes encapsulating BLOB-based tables with virtual tables, which allows a user to access the content of the BLOBs via SQL. In one example, the virtual table has a generic table structure that consists of columns (e.g., class name, field name, and field value) and information regarding what level of an object hierarchy contains an element. In another example, a user can define the structure of the virtual table by identifying which object attributes to report.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a preparation method of a titanium nail capable of loading a drug. The titanium nail capable of loading a drug includes a titanium nail body capable of loading a drug, and a microporous ceramic layer capable of loading a drug arranged on the surface of the titanium nail body. The steps of the method include: pretreating the surface of the titanium nail body, preparing a microporous mould for hyaluronic acid-alginic acid microspheres, preparing a titanium sol solution, coating film, pore-forming and calcining. It fails to generate the exfoliations and the wear debris to prevent the human body from “wear debris disease” and reaction to a foreign body. Moreover, various drugs such as the antibacterial drugs, and the drugs for promoting the healing etc. can be loaded, targeted and slow-released, which is good for medical usage.

Abstract: A new and distinctive variety of a Malus domestica apple tree, named ‘ZOUK 31’ that is distinguished by its medium-sized tree with short feathers and a dark green leaf-color that produces yellow fruit having a pink-gold blush, is disclosed.