Abstract: A connecting rod of an internal combustion engine, that includes a large bore, and an interior bore surface. The current art uses soft metal bearing surfaces to reduce wear, and friction between the connecting rod inner diameter and the crankshaft journal surface. The soft metal bearing surface is a separate component of the engine. In this invention the large bore end interior diameter is coated with a hard material to reduce, or eliminate wear. The hard material is a metal or metal alloy applied to the inner diameter by a thermal spray method. A relatively soft polymer material can also be applied to the interior diameter surface of the con-rod bore. The relatively softer polymer acts as a first and sometimes a consumable layer, and applied over the thermal sprayed hard layer. The polymer layer is often used in conjunction with the sprayed metal layer.

Abstract: A multi-wheeled base for a mobile cart includes one or more swiveling, optionally locking, caster wheels and one or more non-swiveling traction wheels to improve the maneuverability of the cart by making it easier to steer and stop. The traction wheels may be manually-engaged traction wheels, which may be operated by a cam and lever. The traction wheels may also be automatically-engaged traction wheels operated by a motor and a threaded shaft, and activated by a motion-sensitive sensor or by an on/off electrical switch or button. The traction wheels are preferably in contact with the floor when the mobile cart is moving, and raised above the surface of the floor when the cart is stationary.

Abstract: A method of processing spent TRIZO-coated nuclear fuel may include adding fluoride to complex zirconium present in a dissolved TRIZO-coated fuel. Complexing the zirconium with fluoride may reduce or eliminate the potential for zirconium to interfere with the extraction of uranium and/or transuranics from fission materials in the spent nuclear fuel.

Abstract: Hardware for performing sequences of arithmetic operations. The hardware comprises a scheduler operable to generate a schedule of instructions from a bitmap denoting whether an entry in a matrix is zero or not. An arithmetic circuit is provided which is configured to perform arithmetic operations on the matrix in accordance with the schedule.

Abstract: The present application provides a method of randomly accessing a compressed structure in memory without the need for retrieving and decompressing the entire compressed structure.

Abstract: Process for treating spent nuclear fuel (SNF) to make mixed metal oxides of UO3 and PuO2 to prevent nuclear proliferation. The process comprises the steps of (1) dissolving spent nuclear fuel in an acidic solution in the presence of an agent that reduces Pu+6 to Pu+4 and an agent that oxidizes Pu+3 to Pu+4; (2) extracting U+6 and Pu+4 from acidic solution with an organic solvent comprising a ligand that binds U+6 and Pu+4 and which is soluble in the organic solvent; (3) jointly extracting U+6 and Pu+4 from the organic solvent with an acidic aqueous solution; and (4) precipitating a mixture of U+6 and Pu+4 by adding a carboxylic acid to the acidic aqueous solution. The U+6 and Pu+4 precipitate is then be calcined to form a mixed metal oxide of UO3 and PuO2. Additional steps can result in the formation of a mixed metal oxide of UO3, PuO2 and NpO2 as well as the removal and isolation of technecium from the SNF.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to compositions for copper passivation and methods of use of such compositions.

Abstract: Process for treating compositions containing uranium and plutonium, including spent nuclear fuel, are provided.

Abstract: A method of stabilizing nuclear material is disclosed. Oxides or halides of actinides and/or transuranics (TRUs) and/or hydrocarbons and/or acids contaminated with actinides and/or TRUs are treated by adjusting the pH of the nuclear material to not less than about 5 and adding sufficient MgO to convert fluorides present to MgF2; alumina is added in an amount sufficient to absorb substantially all hydrocarbon liquid present, after which a binder including MgO and KH2PO4 is added to the treated nuclear material to form a slurry. Additional MgO may be added. A crystalline radioactive material is also disclosed having a binder of the reaction product of calcined MgO and KH2PO4 and a radioactive material of the oxides and/or halides of actinides and/or transuranics (TRUs). Acids contaminated with actinides and/or TRUs, and/or actinides and/or TRUs with or without oils and/or greases may be encapsulated and stabilized by the binder.

Abstract: A composition for chemical mechanical polishing includes a slurry. A sufficient amount of a selectively oxidizing and reducing compound is provided in the composition to produce a differential removal of a metal and a dielectric material. A pH adjusting compound adjusts the pH of the composition to provide a pH that makes the selectively oxidizing and reducing compound provide the differential removal of the metal and the dielectric material. A composition for chemical mechanical polishing is improved by including an effective amount for chemical mechanical polishing of a hydroxylamine compound, ammonium persulfate, a compound which is an indirect source of hydrogen peroxide, a peracetic acid or periodic acid. A method for chemical mechanical polishing comprises applying a slurry to a metal and dielectric material surface to produce mechanical removal of the metal and the dielectric material.

Abstract: A residue remover for removing polymeric material and etch residue includes 2-(2-aminoethylamino)-ethanol and optionally another two-carbon atom linkage alkanolamine compound, gallic acid or catechol, water, a polar organic solvent, and hydroxylamine. A process for removing photoresist or other residue from a substrate, such as an integrated circuit semiconductor wafer including titanium metallurgy, includes the steps of contacting the substrate with the above composition for a time and at a temperature sufficient to remove the photoresist or other residue from the substrate. Use of 2-(2-aminoethylamino)-ethanol in the composition and process provides superior residue removal without attacking titanium or other metallurgy on the substrate. The composition preferably has a flash point greater than about 130° C.