Abstract: A system is provided that may receive assignment of quantitative risk ratings to respective characteristic elements and respective technical-profile elements based on applicability of the respective characteristic elements to a particular product and a particular manufacturing supplier. And the system may generate a technical risk assessment of the particular manufacturing supplier for the particular product, with the technical risk assessment including a plurality of risk factors each of which may be related to one or more characteristic elements and technical-profile elements. The system may receive assignment of quantitative parameters and calculate risk scores for respective risk factors.

Abstract: Electrochemical incineration of p-benzoquinone was evaluated as a model for the mineralization of carbon in toxic aromatic compounds. A Ti or Pt anode was coated with a film of the oxides of Ti, Ru, Sn and Sb. This quaternary metal oxide film was stable; elemental analysis of the electrolyzed solution indicated the concentration of these metal ions to be 3 &mgr;g/L or less. The anode showed good reactivity for the electrochemical incineration of benzoquinone. The use of a dissolved salt matrix as the so-called “supporting electrolyte” was eliminated in favor of a solid-state electrolyte sandwiched between the anode and cathode.

Abstract: Bench press (10) includes adjustable safety/range limiting bars (50) mounted for incremental adjustment over a wide range beneath the weight bar support pins (40, 42) in the uprights (14). The bench (24) is preferably positioned at a predetermined reduced height so that the knees of the athlete are substantially above the plane defined by his/her head, shoulders and back or hips to achieve more stability and to avoid arching and thus straining the lower back.

Abstract: A variation of Pulsed Coulometric Detection (PCD) is described in which the detection potential is scanned in a cyclic fashion during current integration to achieve automatic and virtual elimination of baseline drift caused by surface roughening and changes in pH. The technique is examined at a Au electrode for flow-injection determination if thiourea which is typical of numerous sulfur compounds whose anodic reactions are catalyzed by formation of surface oxide. The baseline decays quickly to a near-zero equilibrium value following start-up and is unchanged for a pH step of ca. 2 units. The technique is concluded to be compatible with pH-gradient chromatography.

Abstract: A temperature measuring probe utilizing an RTD element and an improved mode of assembling the element in a reliable manner which is proof against shock and vibration. Specifically, the invention has its most important applications in connection with miniaturized RTD's.