Abstract: Disclosed herein is a non-contact package useful when an article to be stored or shipped in the package includes a sensitive surface, the performance of which will be detrimentally affected if the sensitive surface is contacted with a nominal amount of mechanical force. A fluid environment which does not produce sufficient mechanical force to detrimentally affect the sensitive surface may be used in contact with the sensitive surface to prevent an undesirable chemical reaction on the sensitive surface. A fluid environment may also be used inside the package to support surrounding walls of the package so that such walls do not contact the sensitive surface and/or to dissipate force applied to the exterior of the package so that the sensitive surface will not be damaged.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a texture to a surface of a workpiece, such as a chamber component is provided. The method comprises providing a workpiece to a texturizing chamber and scanning a beam of electromagnetic energy across the surface of the workpiece to form a plurality of features thereon. The features formed are generally depressions, protuberances, and combinations thereof. The chamber components may include, for example, a chamber shield and related assembly, a target, a shadow ring, a contact ring, a substrate support or other component disposable within a processing chamber. Also provided is a method of reducing contamination in a process chamber. The method comprises scanning a beam of electromagnetic energy across a surface of one or more process chamber components to form a plurality of features thereon, positioning the one or more chamber components into a process chamber, and initiating a process sequence within the process chamber.

Abstract: We have discovered that the formation of particulate inclusions at the surface and the interior of an aluminum alloy article interferes with the performance of the article when a surface of the article is protected by an anodized coating. We have also discovered that the formation of such particulate inclusions can be controlled to a large extent by controlling the concentration of particular impurities present in the alloy used to fabricate the aluminum alloy article.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a texture to a surface of a workpiece, such as a chamber component is provided. The method comprises providing a workpiece to a texturizing chamber and scanning a beam of electromagnetic energy across the surface of the workpiece to form a plurality of features thereon. The features formed are generally depressions, protuberances, and combinations thereof. The chamber components may include, for example, a chamber shield and related assembly, a target, a shadow ring, a contact ring, a substrate support or other component disposable within a processing chamber. Also provided is a method of reducing contamination in a process chamber. The method comprises scanning a beam of electromagnetic energy across a surface of one or more process chamber components to form a plurality of features thereon, positioning the one or more chamber components into a process chamber, and initiating a process sequence within the process chamber.

Abstract: Digital signatures are at best only as good as the digital certificates that are used to create them, and digital identity tokens that are based on digital certificates are at best only as good as the digital certificates therein. Digital certificates are at best only as good as the level of certainty to which the certificate can be associated with the holder. It follows then that digital signatures and digital ID tokens are at best only as good as the level of certainty to which the certificate involved can be associated with the holder. Presented here are: a system for issuing digital certificates wherein biometric data of the certificate requester is irrefutably bound to the issued certificate, and a system for validating the bound biometric data while any validation operation which involves the issued certificate is performed.

Abstract: We have discovered that the formation of particulate inclusions at the surface and the interior of an aluminum alloy article interferes with the performance of the article when a surface of the article is protected by an anodized coating. We have also discovered that the formation of such particulate inclusions can be controlled to a large extent by controlling the concentration of particular impurities present in the alloy used to fabricate the aluminum alloy article.

Abstract: A highback for controlling a gliding board, such as a snowboard, through leg movement of a rider. The highback is comprised of at least two distinct materials with different stiffnesses to achieve a desired blend of stiffness and flexibility. The highback may employ a material of greater stiffness in one or more regions to provide high force transmission between the rider and the board. The highback may employ a material of lesser stiffness in one or more regions where flexibility is desired for more gradual power transmission, comfort and/or to facilitate highback adjustability. The arrangement of the different materials provides a lightweight highback with a relatively sleek profile having selected regions of stiffness and/or flexibility.

Abstract: A highback includes a wing-shaped leg support adjustably extending therefrom that cooperates with a rider's leg to transmit forces from the rider's leg to the highback. The support is movable between a plurality of positions relative to the highback so that the position of the support may be selectively adjustable by the rider to accommodate the rider's particular riding preferences. The adjustable support facilitates the selection of desired force transmission to the board and may enhance board control.

Abstract: A highback for controlling a gliding board, such as a snowboard, through leg movement of a rider. The highback is comprised of at least two distinct materials with different stiffnesses to achieve desired blend of stiffness and flexibility. The highback may employ a material of greater stiffness in one or more regions to provide high force transmission between the rider and the board. The highback may employ a material of lesser stiffness in one or more regions where flexibility is desired for more gradual power transmission, comfort and/or to facilitate highback adjustability. The arrangement of the different materials provides a lightweight highback with a relatively sleek profile having selected regions of stiffness and/or flexibility.

Abstract: The present invention provides new methods, particularly computational methods, and compositions for the generation of nuclear receptor synthetic ligands based on the three dimensional structure of nuclear receptors, particularly the thyroid receptor (herein referred to as “TR”). Also provided are crystals, nuclear receptor synthetic ligands, and related methods.