Abstract: A nozzle is provided for use during a process for cold-dynamic gas spraying a powder material onto a bore surface. In one embodiment, and by way of example only, the nozzle includes a tube and a coating. The tube is configured to direct the powder material to the bore surface and has an inner surface, an axial section, a radial section, and a bend. At least a portion of the inner surface of the axial section defines a converging/diverging flowpath, and the axial section and the radial section are disposed at a predetermined angle relative to one another and include the bend disposed therebetween. The coating is disposed on at least a portion of the tube inner surface and comprises a material to which the powder material does not adhere.

Abstract: A method is provided for repairing a housing having a bore formed therein, wherein the bore has an original diameter and a surface defined in part by the housing. The method may include the steps of preparing the housing bore by removing wear or damage near the bore surface, brazing a plug to the bore surface with a braze material, the plug having an outer diameter that is smaller than the bore original diameter, and machining the plug and a portion of the braze material out of the bore to the bore original diameter.

Abstract: A method and system for efficiently retrieving secured data by securely pre-processing provided access information, provides data store security based on a single piece of access information, which is generally public, such as the proper name of a business or individual that is used to retrieve mailing address information. The access information is hashed for access to a secured data store and efficient access and low data storage for permutations of input access information are provided by verifying the presence of an entry for the hashed access information in a look-up table. If an entry is found, the data store is accessed using the hashed access information, but if an entry is not found, another look-up table corresponding to another information type may be tried or the input access information permuted and retried.

Abstract: Disclosed are a variety of ceramics having the formula Ln1?xMxMnO3, where 0?x?1 and where Ln is La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Th, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu or Y; M is Ca, Sr, Ba, Cd, or Pb; manganite precursors for preparing the ceramics; a method for preparing the precursors; and a method for transforming the precursors into uniform, defect-free ceramics having magnetoresistance properties. The manganite precursors contain a sol and are derived from the metal alkoxides: Ln(OR)3, M(OR)2 and Mn(OR)2, where R is C2 to C6 alkyl or C3 to C9 alkoxyalkyl, or C6 to C9 aryl. The preferred ceramics are films prepared by a spin coating method and are particularly suited for incorporation into a device such as an integrated circuit device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for electronically correcting uncoded addresses include collecting uncoded addresses in an uncoded address database, sorting uncoded addresses by postal code, automatically emailing delivery personnel to notify them they have records to resolve, limiting personnel's access to various postal codes, correcting and/or adjusting the address, determining whether the corrected address delivery point validates, and if no match can be made after correcting and/or adjusting the address, sending the address to a delivery unit with Delivery Force Knowledge™ to correct the address and return the correction for delivery point validation.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and materials for use in repairing a worn component having thin walls. One kind of thin wall may be the wall of a cylindrical portion of the component where such wall has a worn inner surface and an opposite outer surface. The method includes the steps of preparing the outer surface of the component for cold spraying; cold spraying material onto the outer surface so as to form a strengthening coating; reaming the inner surface so as to create a repair surface with a repair diameter greater than the inner diameter; and installing an insert on the repair surface. The thickness of the coating is selected so as to impart a desired degree of strength to the wall. The method allows the repair of expensive aluminum castings that would otherwise, because of the thin wall construction, not be suitable for repair.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing optical radiation (10) comprising a pump array (8) for providing pump radiation (7), a first pump combiner (1), and a waveguide (3), wherein the pump radiation (7) from the pump array (8) is coupled into the waveguide (3) via the first pump combiner (1), and wherein the waveguide (3) comprises a pump guide (4) for guiding the pump radiation (7), and a gain medium (5) which emits the optical radiation (10) when it is pumped by the pump radiation (7).

Abstract: Apparatus for providing optical radiation (15) comprising a pump source (19) and at least one first amplifying waveguide (1), characterised in that the first amplifying waveguide (1) emits optical radiation (15) in excess of 1400 nm when pumped by the pump source (19). In one embodiment, the pump source (19) comprises a plurality of laser diodes (3) and a plurality of second amplifying waveguides (2). The first amplifying waveguide (1) is pumped by the second amplifying waveguides (2). The second amplifying waveguides (2) are pumped by the laser diodes (3). The second amplifying waveguides (2) are configured to improve the beam quality of radiation emitted by the laser diodes (3). Advantageously, the apparatus can be configured such that the optical radiation (15) emitted by the first amplifying waveguide (1) has a higher brightness when the second amplifying waveguide (2) emits at a first wavelength.

Abstract: An aim is to provide a bag manufacturing and packaging apparatus which is able to conduct a bag manufacturing at high speed, further to be small in height. A bag manufacturing and packaging apparatus 1 comprises a bag manufacturing unit that includes a transverse sealing mechanism 17 and a strip mounting unit that includes a transfer mechanism 32. The bag manufacturing unit manufactures bags filled with articles. The transfer mechanism 32 transfers bags manufactured by the bag manufacturing unit diagonally downward. The strip mounting unit mounts bags B to a strip S after they are transferred by means of the transfer mechanism 32.

Abstract: A nitrogen sweep stream for use in a deaerator during deaerator operations to disperse and remove oxygen and carbon dioxide from boiler feed water prior to being fed to a boiler. The nitrogen sweep stream substantially reduces the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the water supply system. The water supply system can be sent to a deaerator stripper or can be heated using a heat exchanger. A heat water supply stream can also be sent directly to the deaerator water tank. The nitrogen sweep stream reduces the amount of oxygen contained with the boiler feed water stream to less than 7 ppb and reduces the amount of carbon dioxide to nondetectable levels. The nitrogen sweep may be provided to an existing deaerator, not having been previously provided with a nitrogen sweep, while the deaerator is running without shutting down the deaerator.

Abstract: A marking beam of electromagnetic energy is generated within a printing device and a visibly markable portion of a replaceable subsystem that is at least partially arranged within the printing device is altered by illuminating at least part of the markable portion with the marking beam.

Abstract: This invention describes a surface treatment composition, preferably for personal use, comprising at least one surfactant and at least two different organic acids and/or salts or organic acids, and wherein the total concentration of the organic acids and/or salts in the composition is at least 0.5% (w/v). The invention further extends to a method of treating a surface, preferably hair or skin, to remove dirt and to remove or inhibit microbial growth.

Abstract: A method and system for efficiently retrieving secured data by securely pre-processing provided access information, provides data store security based on only a single piece of access information, which is generally public, such as the proper name of a business or individual that is used to retrieve mailing address information. The access information is hashed for access to a secured data store and efficient access and low data storage for permutations of input access information are provided by verifying the presence of an entry for the hashed access information in a look-up table. If an entry is found, the data store is accessed using the hashed access information, but if an entry is not found, another look-up table corresponding to another information type may be tried or the input access information permuted and retried.

Abstract: A method and system for storing and retrieving data using hash-accessed multiple data stores, provides data protection while requiring low computational overhead and further provides storage and retrieval access based on only a single piece of access information, which is generally public. The algorithms provide high security against data-mining and other examination of the data stores. The access information is hashed and is split into offset fields used as indices into a plurality of data stores, generating a quasi-random relationship between the access information and the location of portions of a stored data element. Further protection may be provided by striping the data across the data stores in conformity with a striping order selected by a field of the hashed access information.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program for analyzing code execution and software performance characteristics are disclosed. Samples of code during run-time can be displayed as both a top-down tree of calls from a particular function and a bottom-up tree of calls to the particular function. Data mining techniques, including filtering and focusing, remove code that is not of interest and display code that is more relevant to performance analysis. In particular, functions contained in libraries such as system libraries can be stripped from view. The cost associated with an excluded function can be propagated to a calling function, in either the top-down or bottom-up tree. The principles of the present invention can find particular usefulness with respect to analyzing crashlogs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for remotely controlling a machine. A remote operator controls a tracking device including a signal system for selectively emitting a remote enable signal. The remote enable signal is relayed to a control system for the machine. The control system is proximate to the machine and is adapted to enable at least one action of the machine upon detecting the remote enable signal. The machine is also adapted to disable the same action of the drilling machine upon detecting an absence of the remote enable signal for a predetermined number of intervals, each interval being of a preselected duration.

Abstract: Systems and methods for forwarding an item in a delivery system may comprise scanning a first address label on an item to produce scan data and converting the scan data into first address data. Furthermore, systems and methods for forwarding the item may comprise determining if an alternative address exists in a change of address database, the alternative address corresponding to the captured first address data. Moreover, systems and methods for forwarding the item may comprise forwarding the item to a location corresponding to the alternative address if it was determined that the alternative address exists in the change of address database.

Abstract: Systems and methods maintain a database of recipient names and addresses where the delivery point addresses contain secondary address. Data that is stored in the database may be arrayed in secure data tables. The structure of the secure data tables ensures that the data is secure and prevents an unauthorized user from learning address information improperly. A delivery service provider may create secure data tables using 20-byte Secure Hash Algorithm. A software searches secure data tables for the matching recipient name and address. If the match is found, a business sender may receive valid secondary address information for that recipient. If, however, a database does not contain a matching recipient name and address, a business sender may not receive any further information about that recipient's address.

Abstract: An ink-jet printing process including the steps (a) and (b) in any order or simultaneously: (a) applying an ink to a substrate by means of an ink-jet printer in a localized manner to form an image on the substrate; and (b) applying to the substrate a composition including a liquid medium and a poly(C3-18-hydrocarbyl monoguanidine) or a salt thereof by means of an ink-jet printer. also a substrate printed by means of this process, compositions including poly(C3-18-hydrocarbyl monoguanidines), sets of liquids for use in ink-jet printing and ink-jet printer cartridges. The process avoids the need for expensive special papers previously used for ink jet printing.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for gradually and automatically distributing educational content to students is disclosed. In one embodiment, content is transmitted using subcarriers or sidebands of conventional FM broadcasts to gradually convey audio programs to wireless portable receivers which automatically store the received content until the listener is ready to learn.