Abstract: A magnetic component having intermixed first and second regions, and a method of preparing that magnetic component are disclosed. The first region includes a magnetic phase and the second region includes a non-magnetic phase. The method includes mechanically masking pre-selected sections of a surface portion of the component by using a nitrogen stop-off material and heat-treating the component in a nitrogen-rich atmosphere at a temperature greater than about 900° C. Both the first and second regions are substantially free of carbon, or contain only limited amounts of carbon; and the second region includes greater than about 0.1 weight % of nitrogen.

Abstract: A power plant control system determines an augmented operating parameter set point responsive to a life cycle cost (LCC) objective function responsive to a LCC model. The augmented operating parameter value may be responsive to an initial set point determined by a controls model and a performance indicator determined by a performance model. The power plant may include a thermal generator, such as a gas turbine or other fuel-burning generator, and the operating parameter may include firing temperature, fuel flow rate, steam pressure/temperature/flow rate, and/or another suitable operating parameter. An offer curve is generated responsive to the augmented operating parameter.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of inhibiting the binding of anthrax lethal factor with protective antigen comprising contacting the anthrax lethal factor with a compound having the structure:

Abstract: Various embodiments include systems and apparatuses adapted for detecting two-dimensional turbomachine exhaust temperature. In some embodiments, a system includes a two-dimensional grid sized to mount within an exhaust path of a gas turbomachine, a radiation detection device for detecting radiation emitted from the two-dimensional grid at a plurality of points on the two-dimensional grid, the radiation detection device being mountable proximate the exhaust path and the two-dimensional grid and at least one computing device connected with the radiation detection device, the at least one computing device configured to generate a planar map of the temperature of the exhaust from the gas turbomachine based upon the intensity of the radiation emitted from two-dimensional grid detected at the plurality of points on the two-dimensional grid.

Abstract: This invention provides compounds having the structure which may be used for the treatment of tumors.

Abstract: A heat pump is provided that uses multiple stages of MCMs to cause heat transfer between a heat receiving end and a heat transmitting end. Thermal blocks are placed along the direction of heat transfer at locations in the heat pump that preclude the transfer of heat in a direction from the heat transmitting end towards the heat receiving end. The heat pump can be, for example, part of a refrigeration loop or can be connected directly with the object for which heating or cooling is desired. An appliance incorporating such a heat pump is also provided.

Abstract: This invention provides a compound having the structure wherein ?, ?, A, B, and R1-R4 are defined herein. This invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the above compounds, a method of accelerating the healing of a wound, a method of inhibiting the activity and/or levels of a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), a method of inhibiting the production of a cytokine in a population of cells, a method of inhibiting the production of a growth factor in a population of cells, and a method of inhibiting NF?-B activation in a population of cells.

Abstract: A method of synthesizing magnetic nanoparticles comprising soft magnetic phases is provided, wherein the method comprises degassing a first mixture at a temperature in a range from about 80° C. to 130° C. The first mixture comprises a solvent, a compound comprising iron, cobalt, or combinations thereof dissolved in the solvent, and an organic component comprising a fatty acid or an amine. Degassing the first mixture is followed by adding a capping ligand to the first mixture under inert atmosphere to form a second mixture; adding a reducing agent to the second mixture at a temperature in a processing temperature range from about 250° C. to about 350° C. to form a third mixture; and incubating the third mixture at a temperature within the processing temperature range to form nanoparticles comprising a soft magnetic phase.

Abstract: This invention provides compounds having the structure which may be used for the treatment of tumors.

Abstract: A process for making a polyurethane, comprising reacting a multifunctional isocyanate, a polyol and, optionally, a chain extender, wherein at least two reagents selected from the isocyanate, the polyol, the chain extender, any mixture thereof and any pre-polymer formed therefrom, are intensively mixed prior to being reactively extruded, to form a polyurethane having a predetermined stoichiometry and thermal history. The polyurethanes obtained by such a process are of highly consistent composition and are, thus, especially suitable for use in the medical device industry.

Abstract: A composition for destructive interference in at least a portion of the frequency range from about 1 GHz to about 20 GHz can comprise a dielectric and a conductive filler mixed with at least a portion of the dielectric, wherein the percentage volume of the conductive filler relative to the total volume of the composition is configured such that the wavelength of sensitivity for the composition is on the order of a wavelength of an incident electromagnetic radiation in at least a portion of the frequency range from about 1 GHz to about 20 GHz.

Abstract: A method for forming a composition exhibiting energy dissipation in at least a portion of the frequency range from about 1 GHz to about 20 GHz can comprise treating a magnetic lossy material to increase the brittleness of the material, processing at least a portion of the magnetic lossy material into a powder, and mixing at least a portion of the powder with a dielectric resin, wherein the percentage volume of the powder relative to the total volume of the composition is configured such that dissipation of incident electromagnetic radiation is substantially optimized in at least a portion of the frequency range from about 1 GHz to about 20 GHz.

Abstract: A novel magneto caloric material (MCM) is provided that can be used in, for example, a regenerator of a heat pump, appliance, air conditioning system, and other heating and/or cooling devices. The MCM is a type of Heusler alloy, has an L21 crystal structural prototype, and can undergo a reversible phase transformation between a low temperature, low magnetization Martensite phase and a high temperature, high magnetization Austenite phase to exhibit an inverse magneto caloric effect upon application of a sufficient magnetic field. A process of annealing of the alloy is also provided that can be used to adjust the temperature at which this phase transformation occurs. The present invention includes the alloy as subjected to such annealing.

Abstract: A method of making a nanocomposite permanent magnet is provided. The method comprises applying an extreme shear deformation to hard magnetic phase nanoparticles and soft magnetic phase nanoparticles to align at least a portion of the hard phase magnetic particles and to produce a nanocomposite permanent magnet.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for integrating electronic mail, voice mail, and fax mail in a universal mailbox. Message receivers may access their messages with a telephone or a computer regardless of the communication medium used by the message sender. Using a telephone, message receivers may playback voice mail, redirect fax mail, and “listen” to e-mail through a text-to-speech conversion process. Using a computer and modem, message receivers may playback voice mail, view fax mail, and read e-mail by accessing the universal mailbox via connection software. Message senders and receivers may choose from a variety of filter and forward options that allow them to manage their communications via the universal mailbox. Forwarding and conversion of messages is performed automatically. The options are used to define a set of rules to be applied to inbound and outbound messages so that messages are sent and received in accordance with the preferences of the senders and receivers.

Abstract: A decoding circuit, is provided, comprising: a turbo decoder configured to receive a input systematic bit soft information values and input parity bit information values, and to generate output systematic bit soft information values and hard decoded bits according to a turbo decoding operation; and a parity bit soft information generation circuit configured to receive the input systematic bit soft information values, the input parity bit soft information values, and the output systematic bit soft information values; to determine initial forward metrics, initial backward metrics, and branch metrics as a function of the input parity bit soft information values and the output systematic bit soft information values; to determine output parity bit soft information values based on the branch metrics, the initial forward metrics, and the initial backward metrics; and to provide the output parity bit soft information values as a signal output.

Abstract: This invention provides compounds having the structure which may be used for the treatment of tumors.

Abstract: A power plant control system determines an augmented operating parameter set point responsive to a life cycle cost (LCC) objective function responsive to a LCC model. The augmented operating parameter value may be responsive to an initial set point determined by a controls model and a performance indicator determined by a performance model. The power plant may include a thermal generator, such as a gas turbine or other fuel-burning generator, and the operating parameter may include firing temperature, fuel flow rate, steam pressure/temperature/flow rate, and/or another suitable operating parameter. An offer curve is generated responsive to the augmented operating parameter.

Abstract: This invention provides compounds having the structure which may be used for the treatment of tumors.

Abstract: This invention provides the compound having the structure wherein n is 1-10; X is C—R11 or N, wherein R11 is H, OH, SH, F, Cl, SO2R7, NO2, trifluoromethyl, methoxy, or CO—R7, wherein R7 is alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, or aryl; Z is R2 is H or NR3R4, wherein R3 and R4 are each independently H, C1-C6 alkyl, or C3-C8 cycloalkyl; R5 is OH or SH; and R6, R12, R13, and R14 are each independently H, OH, SH, F, Cl, SO2R15, NO2, trifluoromethyl, methoxy, or CO—R15, wherein R15 is alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, or aryl, or a salt of the compound, which is useful in the treatment of tumors.