Abstract: The present invention provides a method for protecting against or treating hearing loss in a subject. This method involves administering an effective amount of a protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor to the subject to protect against or to treat hearing loss.

Abstract: A ball-limiting metallurgy includes a substrate, a barrier layer formed over the substrate, an adhesion layer formed over the barrier layer, a first solderable layer formed over the adhesion layer, a diffusion barrier layer formed over the adhesion layer, and a second solderable layer formed over the diffusion barrier layer.

Abstract: Freight costs are escalating as a result of oil prices with no end in sight. The ability to transport twice as many boxes per trip and not suffer disassembly damages will be a great innovation, also the reduced consumption of fossil fuels; air pollution and land fill due to broken boxes. Inventory space is at a premium as land costs and taxes escalate, being able to inventory twice as many boxes in the same space will provide distributors with more available product increasing sales and profit. Because of the space saved, distributors will be able to purchase in truckload quantities taking advantage vendor paid freight and increased truckload discounts. Lugs over the mouse holes provide a new ease of removal from stacked units. Lugs provide a very small area of contact between stacked boxes eliminating friction caused by overlapping exterior boxes that are in total contact with the interior box.

Abstract: A method for determining printing ink usage efficiency (weight of ink required to print a given area) in a printing process is disclosed where the method is based on the analysis of pigment in said printed

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for protecting against or treating hearing loss in a subject. This method involves administering an effective amount of a protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor to the subject to protect against or to treat hearing loss.

Abstract: Solder balls, such as, low melt C4 solder balls undergo volume expansion during reflow. Where the solder balls are encapsulated, expansion pressure can cause damage to device integrity. A volume expansion region in the semiconductor chip substrate beneath each of the solder balls accommodates volume expansion. Air-cushioned diaphgrams, deformable materials and non-wettable surfaces may be used to permit return of the solder during cooling to its original site. A porous medium with voids sufficient to accommodate expansion may also be used.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for protecting against or treating hearing loss in a subject. This method involves administering an effective amount of a protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor to the subject to protect against or to treat hearing loss.

Abstract: A cooling system for an electronic component on a component carrier is provided. The system includes a frame, a spray manifold, and a sealing member. The frame has an opening and is connectable to the component carrier so that an annular area is defined between the opening and the electronic component. The spray manifold is sealed over the opening to define a spray area over a back surface of the electronic component. The spray manifold sprays a cooling fluid on the back surface. The sealing member seals the annular region so that input/output connectors on the component carrier are isolated from the cooling fluid.

Abstract: A ball-limiting metallurgy includes a substrate, a barrier layer formed over the substrate, an adhesion layer formed over the barrier layer, a first solderable layer formed over the adhesion layer, a diffusion barrier layer formed over the adhesion layer, and a second solderable layer formed over the diffusion barrier layer.

Abstract: (1). Polyethylene lids will provide an alterative to the heavy iron and cement lids used today. Water utility managers are asking for a lighter lid because they have had a great deal of problems and endured excessive medical expenses and loss of trained workers, caused by injured backs and hands trying to lift and set heavy lids from awkward positions. There is a growing number of employees in maintenance and construction work who are not as strong as their male counterparts or as young. These lightweight durable lids eliminate back and hand injuries while providing all of the listed advantages. (2). Polyethylene lids are easier to drill holes in, too accommodate new touch read and radio read antenna modules. (3). Polyethylene lids will not rust or corrode causing loss of strength. Will maintain a shinny black surface without rusting. (4). Will support foot traffic and lawn maintenance equipment without distortion or cracking.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved integrated circuit structure that has internal circuitry and interconnects (e.g. C4, etc.) on an external portion of the structure. With the invention, these interconnects have a metal layer on the external portion of the structure, a first copper layer on the metal layer, a barrier layer on the copper layer, a stabilizing copper layer on the barrier layer, and a tin-based solder bump on the barrier layer. The stabilizing copper layer has a sufficient amount of copper to balance the chemical potential gradient of copper across the barrier layer and prevent copper within the first copper layer from diffusing across the barrier layer. Alternatively, a sufficient amount of copper can be included within the tin-based solder bump to prevent copper from diffusing across the barrier layer. Thus, the tin-based solder bump comprises a copper rich solder alloy.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for protecting against or treating hearing loss in a subject. This method involves administering an effective amount of a protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor to the subject to protect against or to treat hearing loss.

Abstract: The invention presents methods for preventing and treating sensorineural hearing loss and is directed to the restoration or protection of hair cells in individuals experiencing a non-presbycusis type sensorineural hearing loss or who are at risk for an acute hearing loss due to exposure to noise, toxins, or other stressors. More specifically, the present invention relates to the use of agents which augment inner ear antioxidant defenses (e.g. acetyl-L-carnitine, steroids, compounds that are transported into inner ear hair cells and then synthesized by said cells into glutahione) to prevent and/or reverse hearing loss induced by noise, toxins, or other stressors.

Abstract: The invention is accomplished by preventing and/or reversing inner ear damage due to noise or toxins. In part, this is accomplished by upregulating antioxidant enzyme activity by applying agents such as R-N6-Phenylisopropyl adenosine (R-PIA) to the round window membrane of the inner ear or systemically, and/or by also applying agents such as 1-2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (Procysteine) to the round window membrane. Also, the invention is accomplished by giving the compounds systemically. Selective auditory hair cell protection in the face of gentamicin exposure by concomitant delivery of an NMDA antagonist or glial dervied neurtrophic factor (GDNF) with the gentamicin. These and additional agents are also accomplished by curtailing activated programmed cell death pathways and/or inducing/enhancing cell repair mechanisms in the inner ear. The agent(s) may be applied before, during or after the noise trauma or toxin exposure.

Abstract: The invention is accomplished by preventing and/or reversing inner ear damage due to noise or toxins. In part, this is accomplished by upregulating antioxidant enzyme activity by applying agents such as R-N6-Phenylisopropyl adenosine (R-PIA) to the round window membrane of the inner ear or systemically, and/or by also applying agents such as 1-2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (Procysteine) to the round window membrane. Also, the invention is accomplished by giving the compounds systemically. Selective auditory hair cell protection in the face of gentamicin exposure by concomitant delivery of an NMDA antagonist or glial derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) with the gentamicin. These and additional agents are also accomplished by curtailing activated programmed cell death pathways and/or inducing/enhancing cell repair mechanisms in the inner ear. The agent (s) may be applied before, during or after the noise trauma or toxin exposure.