Abstract: A composite running board for use with an automotive vehicle. The running board includes a step portion formed by a top deck and an aerodynamic bottom cover. A mounting portion is formed integrally with the step portion and includes a vertical mounting plate and a horizontal mounting plate for attaching the running board to the vehicle. A plurality of support ribs are sandwiched between the top deck and the bottom cover and connected to the mounting portion to provide structural rigidity to the running board.

Abstract: A bumper assembly is provided having a flange that overlies the body of the vehicle. The flange may be a body flange extending from an elongate bumper beam or a cladding flange extending from an external cladding that covers at least a portion of the bumper beam. The flange may protect the body from wear or corrosion, and/or bridge a gap between the frame and the body of the vehicle. The assembly may also include a contact structure for contacting at least a portion of the vehicle frame, such as the hitch beam. The contact structure may resist rotation of the bumper assembly, prevent vibration of the bumper assembly against the frame, and/or support a vertical load on the bumper. In some embodiments, the assembly may be primarily mounted to the body of the vehicle, such that the bumper beam “hangs” from the body of the vehicle.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for predicting the clinical response to a cancer vaccine in a patient having cancer, a method for determining the immune response to a cancer vaccine in a patient having cancer who has been administered a cancer vaccine, a method for determining the long-term survival in a patient having cancer, corresponding kits therefor, as well as methods of for improving the efficacy of a virus-based vaccine.

Abstract: An apparatus to treat a substrate. The apparatus may include a reactive gas source having a reactive gas outlet disposed in a process chamber, the reactive gas outlet to direct a first reactive gas to the substrate; a plasma chamber coupled to the process chamber and including an extraction plate having an extraction aperture extending along a first direction, disposed within the process chamber and movable along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction between a first position facing the reactive gas source and a second position facing the extraction aperture; and a gas flow restrictor disposed between the reactive gas outlet and the extraction aperture, the gas flow restrictor defining a differential pumping channel between at least the plasma chamber and substrate stage.

Abstract: A processing apparatus may include a plasma chamber to house a plasma and having a main body portion comprising an electrical insulator; an extraction plate disposed along an extraction side of the plasma chamber, the extraction plate being electrically conductive and having an extraction aperture; a substrate stage disposed outside of the plasma chamber and adjacent the extraction aperture, the substrate stage being at ground potential; and an RF generator electrically coupled to the extraction plate, the RF generator establishing a positive dc self-bias voltage at the extraction plate with respect to ground potential when the plasma is present in the plasma chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel system for trialing implants used in orthopedic surgery. In one embodiment, the invention is directed to a composite trial implant that employs a wireframe with holes for guide wires (K-wires) and fixation screws. The novel trial implant allows a surgeon to determine the correct size, hole configuration, and cross-sectional profile with a simulated device, that permits more rapid and accurate selection of a permanent implant.

Abstract: An apparatus to treat a substrate. The apparatus may include a reactive gas source having a reactive gas outlet disposed in a process chamber, the reactive gas outlet to direct a first reactive gas to the substrate; a plasma chamber coupled to the process chamber and including an extraction plate having an extraction aperture extending along a first direction, disposed within the process chamber and movable along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction between a first position facing the reactive gas source and a second position facing the extraction aperture; and a gas flow restrictor disposed between the reactive gas outlet and the extraction aperture, the gas flow restrictor defining a differential pumping channel between at least the plasma chamber and substrate stage.

Abstract: A surgical fixation system including a base plate, a plurality of anchors, and a plurality of locking elements. The base plate has a pair of fixation apertures configured to receive at least a portion of the anchors therethrough. The fixation apertures are provided by example as elongated slots. The fixation apertures are located within the base plate such that upon proper placement of the base plate within a surgical target site, one of the fixation apertures is positioned over a first bone segment (e.g. a first vertebral body), and the other fixation aperture is positioned over a second bone segment (e.g. a second vertebral body).

Abstract: The invention provides a method for predicting the clinical response to a cancer vaccine in a patient having cancer, a method for determining the immune response to a cancer vaccine in a patient having cancer who has been administered a cancer vaccine, a method for determining the long-term survival in a patient having cancer, corresponding kits therefor, as well as methods of for improving the efficacy of a virus-based vaccine.

Abstract: An apparatus to treat a substrate. The apparatus may include a reactive gas source having a reactive gas outlet disposed in a process chamber, the reactive gas outlet to direct a first reactive gas to the substrate; a plasma chamber coupled to the process chamber and including an extraction plate having an extraction aperture extending along a first direction, disposed within the process chamber and movable along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction between a first position facing the reactive gas source and a second position facing the extraction aperture; and a gas flow restrictor disposed between the reactive gas outlet and the extraction aperture, the gas flow restrictor defining a differential pumping channel between at least the plasma chamber and substrate stage.

Abstract: A composite running board for use with an automotive vehicle. The running board includes a step portion formed by a top deck and an aerodynamic bottom cover. A mounting portion is formed integrally with the step portion and includes a vertical mounting plate and a horizontal mounting plate for attaching the running board to the vehicle. A plurality of support ribs are sandwiched between the top deck and the bottom cover and connected to the mounting portion to provide structural rigidity to the running board.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus to treat a substrate may include an extraction plate to extract a plasma beam from a plasma chamber and direct the plasma beam to the substrate. The plasma beam may comprise ions forming a non-zero angle of incidence with respect to a perpendicular to a plane of the substrate; and a gas outlet system disposed outside the plasma chamber, the gas outlet system coupled to a gas source and arranged to deliver to the substrate a reactive gas received from the gas source, wherein the reactive gas does not pass through the plasma chamber.

Abstract: A processing apparatus may include: an extraction plate disposed along a side of a plasma chamber, the extraction plate having a first and second aperture, and middle portion between the first and second aperture, the first and second aperture being configured to define a first and second ion beam when the plasma is present in the plasma chamber and an extraction voltage is applied between the extraction plate and a substrate; a hidden deflection electrode disposed adjacent the middle portion outside of the plasma chamber, and electrically isolated from the extraction plate; and a hidden deflection electrode power supply to apply a bias voltage to the hidden deflection electrode, wherein the bias voltage is configured to modify a mean angle of incidence of ions and/or a range of angles of incidence centered around the mean angle of incidence in the first and second ion beam.

Abstract: The invention is directed to apparatus for treating water by exposing the water to a pulsed plasma discharge. The pulsed plasma discharge is generated using a suitable electrode configuration to generate the plasma discharge in the fluid. Apparatus useful in the method may include a vessel, at least two electrodes for generating a plasma discharge in water, and a flow inlet and a flow outlet to allow water to be passed through the vessel. Also described is an in-line water treatment, where a pulsed plasma discharge is used in a pipe carrying moving water. Plasma based fluid treatment system may have many advantages in comparison to other treatment methods, such as very minimal maintenance, low operating power, and minimal pressure loss through the device.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates in part to pharmaceutical compositions comprising polymeric nanoparticles having certain glass transition temperatures. Other aspects of the invention include methods of making such nanoparticles.

Abstract: A processing apparatus may include: an extraction plate disposed along a side of a plasma chamber, the extraction plate having a first and second aperture, and middle portion between the first and second aperture, the first and second aperture being configured to define a first and second ion beam when the plasma is present in the plasma chamber and an extraction voltage is applied between the extraction plate and a substrate; a hidden deflection electrode disposed adjacent the middle portion outside of the plasma chamber, and electrically isolated from the extraction plate; and a hidden deflection electrode power supply to apply a bias voltage to the hidden deflection electrode, wherein the bias voltage is configured to modify a mean angle of incidence of ions and/or a range of angles of incidence centered around the mean angle of incidence in the first and second ion beam.

Abstract: The invention is directed to apparatus for treating water by exposing the water to a pulsed plasma discharge. The pulsed plasma discharge is generated using a suitable electrode configuration to generate the plasma discharge in the fluid. Apparatus useful in the method may include a vessel, at least two electrodes for generating a plasma discharge in water, and a flow inlet and a flow outlet to allow water to be passed through the vessel. Also described is an in-line water treatment, where a pulsed plasma discharge is used in a pipe carrying moving water. Plasma based fluid treatment system may have many advantages in comparison to other treatment methods, such as very minimal maintenance, low operating power, and minimal pressure loss through the device.

Abstract: A method for washing fish flesh to remove water soluble sarcoplasmic proteins includes producing a mixture by combining wash water with fish flesh having sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar proteins, wherein the wash water removes some of the sarcoplasmic protein from the fish flesh; depositing the mixture on a screen separator. The wash water having sarcoplasmic proteins is separated from the mixture while a speed of the screen separator and a speed of the mixture at the interface with the screen separator remains about equal and reducing or eliminating shear forces at the interface between the screen separator and the fish flesh. Thus, washed fish flesh fish flesh with an increase in a percent of myofibrillar protein retained in the fish flesh is produced.

Abstract: A game board associated with a game and that includes one or more tiles and one or more hazards may be presented to a user. The user may select or match one or more tiles, which may cause a hazard in close proximity to the one or more tiles and the selected one or more tiles to be removed from the game board. During gameplay, the user may cause the game board to be filled, thereby causing additional tiles and/or hazards to be introduced onto the game board. Upon detecting a user selection to fill the game board, it may determined whether the user has one or more remaining fills. If so, the user may be authorized to fill the game board with one or more hazards and/or tiles.

Abstract: A game board associated with a game and that includes one or more tiles and one or more hazards may be presented to a user. The user may select or match one or more tiles, which may cause a hazard in close proximity to the one or more tiles and the selected one or more tiles to be removed from the game board. During gameplay, the user may cause the game board to be filled, thereby causing additional tiles and/or hazards to be introduced onto the game board. By matching tiles and causing hazards to be removed from the game board, the user may achieve an objective included on the game board and/or complete the game board.