Abstract: A tool, in particular a shaft tool, is inserted into and fixed in a clamping chuck. The actual position of the tool, particularly in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the tool or in the direction of insertion, is determined before and/or during the insertion of the tool into the clamping chuck. Based on the determined actual position, the tool is inserted into the clamping chuck until a setpoint position has been reached.

Abstract: The methods of the invention for scanning a band of frequencies using a nuclear quadrupole resonance detection system with an array of high temperature superconductor sensors to detect nuclear quadrupole resonance signals improve the nuclear quadrupole resonance detection system performance.

Abstract: A flame retardant, halogen-free polymer composition that is a blend of: (1) a polyolefin selected from (a) EVA containing 25-90% by weight ethylene and 10-75% by weight vinyl acetate, (b) LLDPE, (c) LDPE, (d) VLDPE, (e) HDPE, or mixtures thereof; (2) a coupling agent made from (f) about 10 to about 50% by weight of a copolymer of ethylene and about 1% by weight to about 15% by weight functional comonomer and (g) about 50% by weight to about 90% by weight of an ethylene-based polymer; and (3) an inorganic flame retardant filler.

Abstract: An electro-optic display comprises a bistable electro-optic material having a viewing surface and an opposed writing surface; a deformable member disposed adjacent but spaced from the writing surface of the electro-optic material, and bearing elongate electrodes facing the writing surface of the electro-optic material; and a movable member disposed on the opposed side of the deformable member from the electro-optic material and movable parallel to the elongate electrodes, the movable member contacting and deforming the deformable member such that a portion of each elongate electrode contacts or lies closely adjacent the writing surface of the electro-optic material.

Abstract: The present invention is a decorative laminated article including an image bearing thermoplastic interlayer wherein the image has been printed on the interlayer using an ink jet printing process, wherein the image includes a white pigment on the surface of the thermoplastic interlayer. The present invention is also a process for ink-jet printing white pigment ink on a thermoplastic polymer to obtain an image bearing laminate with good adhesive qualities.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus which irradiates a substrate under processing with an electron beam and processes the substrate with the electron beam is disclosed. The substrate processing apparatus includes an electron beam generation mechanism which generates the electron beam, first area having a plurality of first static electricity deflecting devices whose thicknesses gradually increase in a traveling direction of the electron beam, and a second area disposed on a downstream side of the electron beam of the first area and having a plurality of second static electricity deflecting devices whose thicknesses are nearly same in the traveling direction of the electron beam. The substrate processing apparatus may further include a plurality of lenses whose thicknesses gradually decrease in the traveling direction of the electron beam, at least one of the plurality of lenses being disposed in each of the first area and the second area.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus which irradiates a substrate under processing with an electron beam and processes the substrate with the electron beam is disclosed. The substrate processing apparatus includes an electron beam generation mechanism which generates the electron beam, first area having a plurality of first static electricity deflecting devices whose thicknesses gradually increase in a traveling direction of the electron beam, and a second area disposed on a downstream side of the electron beam of the first area and having a plurality of second static electricity deflecting devices whose thicknesses are nearly same in the traveling direction of the electron beam. The substrate processing apparatus may further include a plurality of lenses whose thicknesses gradually decrease in the traveling direction of the electron beam, at least one of the plurality of lenses being disposed in each of the first area and the second area.

Abstract: This invention relates to a combined nuclear quadrupole resonance and X-ray contraband detection system with a metal shield alarm that is activated when the area of the metal in the object being scanned as determined by the resonance frequency shifts of the NQR sensors exceeds the area of the metal in the object being scanned as determined by X-rays by an amount sufficient to shield contraband.

Abstract: This invention describes a process for the production of biodiesel from the alcohol esterification of free fatty acids, resulting from the refining of vegetable oils, rejects of industrial and frying oils, and animal fats and organic sewage, using niobic acid as a solid acid catalyst.

Abstract: A microcrystalline germanium image sensor array. The array includes a number of pixel circuits fabricated in or on a substrate. Each pixel circuit comprises a charge collecting electrode for collecting electrical charges and a readout means for reading out the charges collected by the charge collecting electrode. A photodiode layer of charge generating material located above the pixel circuits convert electromagnetic radiation into electrical charges. This photodiode layer includes microcrystalline germanium and defines at least an n-layer, and i-layer and a p-layer. The sensor array also includes and a surface electrode in the form of a grid or thin transparent layer located above the layer of charge generating material. The sensor is especially useful for imaging in visible and near infrared spectral regions of the electromagnetic spectrum and provides imaging with starlight illumination.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a method for reducing the chemical activity and photo activity of titanium dioxide nanoparticles comprising adding an amorphous alumina-stabilizing agent, specifically an anion, such as citric acid, to an aqueous slurry of the titanium dioxide nanoparticles; treating the aqueous slurry with a source of alumina, such as a solution of sodium aluminate, to form alumina-treated titanium dioxide nanoparticles; recovering the alumina-treated inorganic nanoparticles, wherein the nanoparticles have a particle size of about 50 to about 300 nm; and milling the nanoparticles to form nanoparticles having a particle size about 15% smaller than silica-treated inorganic nanoparticles milled under similar conditions. The titanium dioxide nanoparticles described herein are useful in cosmetic, coating and thermoplastic compositions.

Abstract: In a method for detecting the modes of a dynamic system with a large number of modes that each have a set ? (t) of characteristic system parameters, a time series of at least one system variable x(t) is subjected to modeling, for example switch segmentation, so that in each time segment of a predetermined minimum length a predetermined prediction model, for example a neural network, for a system mode is detected for each system variable x(t), whereby modeling of the time series is followed by drift segmentation in which, in each time segment in which there is transition of the system from a first system mode to a second system mode, a series of mixed prediction models is detected produced by linear, paired superimposition of the prediction models of the two system modes.

Abstract: Many individuals generate excessively loud snoring during their sleep, often to the point where others cannot tolerate sleeping in the same room with them. Most cases of snoring are caused by excessive bulk and flaccidity of soft tissues of the palate and uvula that vibrate as air flows past them. These palate and uvula contain muscles whose contractions can stiffen and displace the soft tissues so that they do not vibrate. The invention provides electrical stimulation that causes the oropharyngeal muscles to contract during sleep using one or more microstimulators injected into or near these muscles or the nerves which innervate them. The invention also provides methods of determining the anatomical structures implicated in snoring and testing such locations for effective placement and stimulation of muscle contraction to decrease the frequency or magnitude of snoring.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition comprising a compound of formula (I): Rf—B—Ro—Z and a compound of formula (II): and/or their reaction product.

Abstract: Refrigerant composition is disclosed which comprises: (a) pentafluoroethane, trifluoromethoxydifluoromethane or hexafluorocyclopropane, or a mixture of two or more thereof, in an amount of at least 75% based on the weight of the composition, (b) 1,1,1,2- or 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane, trifluoromethoxypentafluoroethane, 1,1,1,2,3,3-heptafluoropropane or a mixture of two or more thereof, in an amount of from 10 to 20% by weight based on the weight of the composition and (c) and ethylenically unsaturated or saturated hydrocarbon, optionally containing one or more oxygen atoms, with a boiling point from ?50° C. to +35° C., or a mixture thereof in an amount from 1% to 4% by weight based on the weight of the composition, the weight ratio of component (a): component (b) being at least 4:1.

Abstract: Photoresists and associated processes for microlithography in the extreme, far, and near UV are disclosed. The photoresists in some embodiments comprise (a) a fluorine-containing copolymer comprising a repeat unit derived from at least one ethylenically unsaturated compound characterized in that at least one ethylenically unsaturated compound is polycyclic and at least one ethylenically unsaturated compound contains at least one fluorine atom covalently attached to an ethylenically unsaturated carbon atom; and (b) at least one photoactive component.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for improving the field emission of an electron field emitter comprised of an acicular emitting substance such as acicular carbon, an acicular semiconductor, an acicular metal or a mixture thereof, comprising applying a force to the surface of the electron field emitter wherein the force results in the removal of a portion of the electron field emitter thereby forming a new surface of the electron field emitter.

Abstract: A coating composition comprising a binder of a. polyisocyanate crosslinking agent; b. an isocyanate-reactive component having at least one compound having the following formula: wherein X is an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic group, R1 and R2 are the same or different organic groups that are inert to isocyanate groups, and n is 2 to 4, and c. optionally, a polymeric component having a number average molecular weight of 5,000 to 50,000 having reactive groups that crosslink with an isocyanate, where the reactive groups are hydroxyl, carboxyl, glycidyl, amine and any mixtures thereof; and d.