Abstract: A method and device for forming large arrays of polymers on a substrate (401). According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the substrate is contacted by a channel block (407) having channels (409) therein. Selected reagents are delivered through the channels, the substrate is rotated by a rotating stage (403), and the process is repeated to form arrays of polymers on the substrate. The method may be combined with light-directed methodolgies.

Abstract: There is provided a fluid-advancing fiber capable of being sewn, woven or knitted, using conventional methods, into a conductive mesh for use with various wearable fabrics for making direct contact with the skin. The fluid-advancing fiber has an inner portion and an outer portion, one or more conductive elements adjacent the outer portion, wherein the one or more conductive elements are adapted to constrict when heated by electric current and relax when cooled. The fluid-advancing fiber facilitates comfortable fluid communication between different wearable fabrics and the skin.

Abstract: The current invention relates to a coating composition comprising a polyisocyanate compound, a hydroxyl-functional film-forming polymer, and a non-volatile branched monoalcohol. An aliphatic branched monoalcohol is preferred. More preferred are long chain non-volatile branched monoalcohols. This results in coating compositions that have improved flow behavior and that produce coatings having improved appearance without an adverse effect on other properties. The invention also relates to a multi-component coating composition. Preferably, the multi-component coating composition is a two-component coating composition comprising a polyisocyanate component and a hydroxyl-functional component, wherein the hydroxyl-functional component, in addition to the hydroxyl-functional film forming polymer also comprises the non-volatile branched monoalcohol.

Abstract: In predicting a quantity of a printing product necessary for printing a document, the document is stored in its entirety as digital data. Each page of the document is divided into bands of the digital data. From the digital data, a table of limited capacity is created, which describes at least part of a monochromatic component of one of the bands, with the monochromatic component corresponding to the printing product and each cell of the table representing at least a pixel. A number of switched-on pixels in the table is counted, with a switched-on pixel corresponding to a pixel for which a portion of the printing product must be ejected. Before enabling or demanding printing, a necessary quantity of the printing product is derived from a number of switched-on pixels corresponding to each band.

Abstract: A data processor that can perform instructions in parallel on respective fields in an operand includes a respective multiplexer for each of the respective fields. Each respective multiplexer is controlled by condition data for a particular field, preferably from an addressable storage unit. The condition may take three or more values for each field, which allows multiplexing between three or more values, reflecting a less than, equal to, or greater than relation between respective compare inputs. The inputs of the multiplexers can share read ports to a register file with more than one functional unit connected to only two read ports.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus (i.e. an automatic teller machine) comprising an optical sensor. The optical sensor is configured to detect thickness of paper. Advantages of some embodiments of the present invention are that by determining a thickness of paper, it can be confirmed that two pieces of paper are not stuck together. For example, if two substantially identical pieces of paper are stuck together, then their thickness will be approximately twice the thickness of a single sheet. Accordingly, upon detection of two or more sheets of paper stuck together, a device, that automatically handles paper, may cause the sheets of paper to be separated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multilayer record carrier, to a recording apparatus and to a method of recording on such a multilayer record carrier, and to a manufacturing method, wherein start and stop positions of recording areas at header portions (H) are shifted in a lower recording layer (8) by a predetermined distance (?) such that recording and reading in/from the lower layer (8) is not affected by a variation in the transmittivity of the upper layer (6) at the transitions between the recording areas (R) and the header portions. The shifting may be obtained by extending gap portions or adding mirror areas to the header portions (H).

Abstract: A pedestal for use in a high temperature vertical furnace for the processing of semiconductor wafers provides a closure and heat insulation for the lower end of the furnace and is a wafer boat support. The pedestal, comprising quartz-enveloped insulation material, supports a wafer boat at a boat support level and is provided with an upper section disposed above the boat support level. The upper section comprises enveloped insulating material. The envelope of the upper section is also formed of quartz and the insulating material in the upper section has a lower thermal conductance than the insulating material in a lower quartz enveloped section.

Abstract: A video or audio play-back apparatus has a variable random play option to control a degree of randomnees of the selections made from a play list.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing substrates comprises a substrate handling chamber, including a substrate handling robot for transferring substrates from cassettes into a substrate carrier. A processing chamber is provided adjacent to the handling chamber, including one or more furnaces adapted to process a plurality of the substrates supported in the carrier. A weighing device is accessible to the substrate handler. The weighing device is adapted to weigh the substrates before and after processing the substrates in the processing chamber. The illustrated process is a curing anneal for a low k polymer previously deposited on the substrates.

Abstract: Disclosed is a domestic appliance, at least comprising an aluminum sole plate which is provided with a coating which is provided by means of a sol-gel process and wherein an intermediate layer is present between the aluminum sole plate and the sol-gel coating. The intermediate layer comprises a multi-layer structure. Also described is a method of manufacturing such a domestic appliance. The method comprises the steps of providing an aluminum substrate, applying a porous intermediate layer of aluminum oxide by electrochemical treatment of the aluminum sole plate in an electrolyte comprising a solution of phosphoric acid, applying a dense intermediate layer of aluminum oxide by electrochemical treatment in an electrolyte, and providing a sol-gel coating on the treated substrate.

Abstract: A serine protease inhibitor having the formula (I), in which J is H, R1, R1—O—C(O)—, R1—C(O—, R1—SO2—, R3OOC—(CHR2)p—, (R2a,R2b)N—CO—(CHR2)p— or Het-CO—(CHR2)p—; W is an amino-acid of the formula —NH—CHR1—C(O)—, —NR4—CH((CH2)qC(O)OR1)—C(O)—, —NR4—CH((CH2)qC(O)N(R2a,R2b))—C(O)—, —NR4—CH((CH2)qC(O)Het)-C(O)—, D-1-Tiq, D-3-Tiq, D-Atc, Aic, D-1-Piq, D-3 Piq, glutanyl or a (C1-C6) alkylester thereof; E is —NR2—CH2— or the fragment ?which is unsubstituted or substituted with (1-6C)alkyl, (1-6C)alkoxy or benzyloxy; R1 is selected form (1-12C)alkyl, (2-12C)alkenyl, (2-12C)alkynyl, (3-12C)cycloalkyl and (3-12C)cycloalkyl(1-6C)alkylene, which groups are unsubstituted or substituted with (3-12C)cycloalkyl, (1-6C)alkoxy, oxo, OH, CF3 or halogen, and from (6-14C)aryl, (7-15C)aralkyl, (8-16C)aralkenyl and (14-20C)(bisary)alkyl, wherein the aryl groups are unsubstituted or substituted with (1-6C)alkyl, (3-12C)cycloalkyl, (1-6C)alkoxy, OH, CF3 or halogen; R2, R2a and R2b are each independently selected from H, (1-

Abstract: A method of soldering comprises disposing first and second balls of solder adjacent one another on a wire; disposing flux on the wire between and in contact with both of the first and second balls and so as to substantially fill a space between the first and second balls; disposing the wire on a substrate so that the first and second balls of solder contact a single conductor on the substrate; and melting the first and second balls of solder and flux and soldering the wire to the conductor.

Abstract: The use of a chemokine receptor antagonist together with a cyclosporin to produce a pharmaceutical composition for treating or preventing rejection of transplanted organs, tissues or cells is herein disclosed. Said pharmaceutical compositions for the simultaneous, sepatate or sequential use of its active ingredients for the above specified therapy are also disclosed and claimed. In particular, the use of Met-RANTES together with cyclosporin A to produce a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of renal allograft transplant rejection is experimentally shown.

Abstract: The present method provides tools for growing conformal metal nitride, metal carbide and metal thin films, and nanolaminate structures incorporating these films, from aggressive chemicals. The amount of corrosive chemical compounds, such as hydrogen halides, is reduced during the deposition of transition metal, transition metal carbide and transition metal nitride thin films on various surfaces, such as metals and oxides. Getter compounds protect surface sensitive to hydrogen halides and ammonium halides, such as aluminum, copper, silicon oxide and the layers being deposited, against corrosion. Nanolaminate structures (20) incorporating metal nitrides, such as titanium nitride (30) and tungsten nitride (40), and metal carbides, and methods for forming the same, are also disclosed.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for performing segmentation-based enhancements of a video image. The apparatus comprises: 1) an input buffer for storing video frames of an incoming video signal; 2) a segmentation controller capable of segmenting a first stored frame into a plurality of segments, each of the plurality of segments comprising a plurality of pixels having at least one common property; 3) an image processor capable of calculating a probability function associated with at least one pixel in the first stored frame, the probability function indicating a probability that the at least one pixel belongs within a first selected one of the plurality of segments; and 4) an enhancement controller capable of enhancing a parameter of the at least one pixel as a function of the probability function of the at least one pixel.

Abstract: The transmission system according to the invention can be used for reliably multicasting a group of data packets from a primary station (2) via a network (4), such as the Internet, to a plurality of secondary stations (6). The primary station (2) collects feedback information, which is related to a state of reception (Li) of the group of data packets, from the secondary stations (6). In order to prevent an implosion of feedback information messages from congesting the network (4) the primary station (2) repeatedly transmits feedback requests, which comprise a reply probability value (p) and the worst state of reception (Lthresh) reported to the primary station (2) thus far, to the secondary stations (6). The secondary stations (6) transmit the feedback information to the primary station (2) in dependence on the reply probability value (p) and only when the state of reception (Li) is worse than the worst state of reception reported thus far (Lthresh).