Abstract: An electroplating process reduces the whisker formation rate that results from an interruption of the electroplating process for an alloy. The process forms a tin strike or a thin layer of a pure(>99.9%) metal on the alloy during an activation operation, so that an interruption in the electroplating process during which the lead frame or other work piece remains in an activation solution etches the pure metal layer rather than the alloy and thus does not unacceptably roughen the surface of the work piece. An exemplary embodiment forms a tin strike on a predominantly copper lead frame during an activation operation and forms an Sn—Pb solder layer on the tin strike during a plating operation. The solder layer is generally more than five times as thick as the tin strike layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for coating of a fibrous web. According to the method a coating color with pigments is applied to the surface of the web and dried in order to form a coated web. The invention comprises using a coating color which contains pigments having a steep particle size distribution, a maximum of 35% of the pigment particles being smaller than 0.5 &mgr;m. The coating color is spread on the surface of the web with a coating speed of at least 1450 m/min, preferably over 1600 m/min. The coating pigment having a steep particle size distribution gives rise to a coating color which solidifies at much lower dry substance than conventional coating colors. In this way coating can be controlled at high speed without runnability and quality problems.

Abstract: Method processor and processor-readable medium for reducing the level of feedback-induced noise in the output signal from an audio automatic gain control circuit are provided. The method allows for receiving a stream of pulses comprising an input signal to the automatic gain control circuit. The method further allows for receiving estimates of respective high and low frequency energy components of the input signal. The respective high and low frequency components are averaged, e.g., over a respective sliding window. An energy scalar is calculated based on the ratio of a predefined target energy level over a combined value of the high and low frequency components. A relating action allows to compare the target energy level to the combined value of the high and low frequency components. Based on the comparison results, the calculated energy scalar is limited to within the two limit values.

Abstract: A process for solubilization of protein including application of an alkali, such as lime, and heating. The process may also involve lime recovery and may be accomplished in a single stage or two stages to separate protein solubilized from labile and recalcitrant sources. Systems and devices for use in such process, including a continuous stirred tank reactor and a plug flow reactor are also involved.

Abstract: A sound attenuating apparatus for mounting on a heat exchanging apparatus such as a cooling tower, this apparatus having an attenuator housing with vertically extending sides, a top cover and a bottom adapted for mounting on the tower. There is an annular air inlet in the bottom and an air outlet is formed in at least one of the sidewalls. Perforated interior walls are mounted in the housing and define an /airflow passageway that extends from the air inlet to the air outlet. These walls include a first annular wall section extending about and defining an outer circumferential portion of the airflow passageway and a second wall section with that is annular and extends about a substantially vertical central axis. The latter wall section defines an inner circumferential portion of the passageway. The second wall section extends generally upwardly and outwardly from the air inlet. Sound absorbing material is arranged behind the perforated walls.

Abstract: A wellbore fluid having a non-aqueous continuous liquid phase that exhibits an electrical conductivity increased by a factor in order of 104 to 107 compared to conventional invert emulsion comprises from about 0.2% to about 10% by volume of carbon black particles and one or more emulsifying surfactant(s) selected from the class including nonionic emulsifiers of Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance (HLB) less than about 12, and anionic surfactants wherein the counter-ion (cation) is any of alkali metal, ammonium, or hydrogen ions. This wellbore fluid can be used for drilling or completing a well and can be used for providing enhanced information from electrical logging tools, measurement while drilling, logging while drilling, geosteering and the like.

Abstract: Characterizing a powder bed includes generating measurements by repeating the following. A location of the powder bed is illuminated with light having a time varying intensity with a resolution of less than one hundred nanoseconds. The particles scatter the light to alter the time varying intensity. The light propagates through a portion of the particles that defines a sampled volume. The light received from the powder bed is detected. The altered time-varying intensity of the light is measured to generate a time-dependent signal having a time-dependence that is less than or equal to a time-of-flight of a photon of the propagating light. An optical property is determined from the time-dependent signal, and a characteristic is determined from the optical property. The sampled volume is determined, and variance of the measurements is calculated. Uniformity of the powder bed is determined in accordance with the variance and the sampled volume.

Abstract: An electrochemical fuel cell contains first and second monolithic electrically conducting flow field-bipolar plate assemblies arranged essentially parallel to each other such that an inside surface of the first bipolar separator plate is facing an inside surface of the second bipolar separator plate, wherein the bipolar separator plates are electrically and mechanically connected by intervening layers that are directly bonded to each other. The fuel cells can be stacked between endplates and supplied with hydrogen and oxygen to generate electric power. An air cooled condenser for use with a fuel cell stack is composed of a porous foam condensing element and a porous foam cooling element. The condenser can be placed by a fuel cell stack for cooling purposes.

Abstract: A fluid having utility in subterranean wells is formulated to include: an oleaginous fluid; and a solids tolerance agent having the formula: in which R is a C6 to C20 aliphatic group and R′ is a C2 to C6 aliphatic group and x has a value from about 1 to about 10. Preferably R′ is selected from ethyl and isopropyl and R is an unsaturated aliphatic group. The fluid is formulated such that the oleaginous fluid is from about 30% to about 99% by volume of said fluid. In one illustrative embodiment, the oleaginous fluid is composed from about 5% to about 100% by volume of the oleaginous fluid of a material selected from a group consisting of diesel oil, mineral oil, synthetic oil, esters, ethers, acetals, di-alkylcarbonates, olefins, and combinations of these and similar fluids. A non-oleaginous fluid may also be included in the formulation that is from about 1% to about 70% by volume of said fluid.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging is provided. The apparatus includes a detection surface defined by a plurality of sensors. Each of the sensors is operable to receive image information concerning a particular portion of a target surface by substantially confining to the each of the sensors magnetic flux associated with the particular portion of the target surface. The detection surface is operable to acquire all image information for generating a magnetic resonance image resembling the target surface by receiving, at the each of the sensors, a single echo signal from the particular portion of the target surface that correspondingly underlies the each of the sensors. The magnetic resonance image has a resolution of at least sixty-four pixels by a number of pixels equal to M. M is an integer.

Abstract: A full-caliber projectile having a cylindrical guide region (5) and an ogival projectile tip (7). To improve the stabilization of the projectile (1) inside a gun barrel (2) in a simple manner, and therefore improve the intermediate ballistics and hit accuracy over those of comparable projectiles, a guide ring (8), which is segmented in the circumferential direction, and whose outer diameter is smaller than the inner diameter of a gun barrel (2) of the same caliber, is secured to the projectile tip (7) such that the radially spaced guide-ring segments (9) detach from the projectile (1) in the gun barrel (2) when a predetermined firing acceleration occurs in the gun barrel, and the segments (9) are pushed toward the projectile (1), axially relative to the cylindrical guide region (5), by dynamic pressure until they rest against the inside wall (18) of the gun barrel (2) and against the projectile (1).

Abstract: A wireless remote and infrared receivers for controlling AC appliances connected to the receivers, capable of leaning codes from other infrared remotes. The system can control light intensity, has a 24-hour programmable daily timer, a selectable sleep timer, and switching for appliances connected to the receivers. The system has an energy saving interval timer for heating and fan ventilation, and a transmitter capable of learning and unifying remotes for other home equipment into one master remote. As a safety measure the receiver has a mechanical bypass switch. The receiver may decode an activation/deactivation sequence on the power line from the main switch connected to the receiver to self bypass. When bypassed, the main switch regains direct control of the appliances. Simultaneously, besides bypassing the receiver, within five seconds the user may have the receiver memorize any key from any other remote to take over control of the appliances.

Abstract: A nucleic acid sequence that exhibits prostate-specific expression and over-expression in tumor cells is disclosed. The sequence and fragments thereof are useful for detecting, diagnosing, preventing, and treating prostate cancer and other prostate related diseases. The sequence is also useful for measuring hormone responsiveness of prostate cancer cells.

Abstract: Method and processor for determining loading of a communications system shared by a plurality of user-terminals are provided. The method allows a respective terminal for monitoring a control channel including logical messages therein. The monitoring of the messages in the control channel is performed regardless of whether or not the logical messages therein are specifically addressed to that terminal. The method further allows for estimating a parameter indicative of system loading based on information in the monitored logical messages.

Abstract: A mixing feeder is disclosed for a slurry that contains liquids at a desired mixing ratio. The liquids include at least a dispersion of fine abrasive particles and a solution of an additive. The slurry mixing feeder has suction ports for sucking the liquids from a reservoir; a discharge port for feeding the slurry to the chemical mechanical polishing machine; feed pumps arranged in feed lines for the respective liquids, the feed lines extending from the individual suction ports to the discharge port, for sucking the individual liquids in specific amounts to give the mixing ratio and delivering the thus-sucked liquids toward the discharge port; and dampers and pressure-regulated restrictors arranged in combination in the feed lines on delivery sides of the feed pumps, respectively.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for inducing cell-mediated immunity against cellular antigens. More specifically, the invention provides for a method for inducing cytotoxic T-lymphocyte immunity against weak antigens, notably self-proteins. The method entails that antigen presenting cells are induced to present at least one CTL epitope of the weak antigen and at the same time presenting at least one foreign T-helper lymphocyte epitope. In a preferred embodiment, the antigen is a cancer specific antigen, e.g. PSM, Her2, or FGF8b. The method can be exercised by using traditional polypeptide vaccination, but also by using live attenuated vaccines or nucleic acid vaccination. The invention furthermore provides immunogenic analogues of PSM, Her2 and FGF8b, as well as nucleic acid molecules encoding these analogues. Also vectors and transformed cells are disclosed. The invention also provides for a method for identification of immunogenic analogues of weak or non-immunogenic antigens.

Abstract: An apparatus for electromagnetic processing comprises a controller and a processor for receiving an input signal. The processor comprises one or more stages in communication with the controller. The controller is capable of regulating the input signal and the one or more stages to generate an output signal.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a multi-band switch having a transmitter switching section with a plurality of transmission ports, and a receiver switching section with a plurality of receiver ports, each having associated switching topologies to switch one of the ports to an antenna port. The switching topologies may use a plurality of series-connected FETs, such as insulated gate n-channel FETs, where the transmitter port switching elements may have larger switching transistors than the receiver port switching elements. The main signal path transistors of the transmitter and receiver switching elements be interdigitated FETs, in which source region fingers and drain region fingers alternate within the transistor area. These interdigitated source and drain regions may be spaced apart from each other by a sinuous channel region, over which is a gate metallization.