Abstract: Methods and systems for delivering fuel in a gas turbine engine are provided. The system includes a plurality of can annular combustors that includes at least a first set of combustors of the plurality of can annular combustors and at least a second set of combustors of the plurality of can annular combustors wherein each set of combustors is supplied by a separately controllable respective fuel delivery system. The method includes supplying fuel at a first fuel schedule to the first set of combustors and supplying fuel at a second fuel schedule to the second set of combustors during a first mode of operation wherein the second fuel schedule is different than the first fuel schedule, and supplying fuel at the second fuel schedule to the first and second sets of combustors during a second mode of operation.

Abstract: A method for preparing a nucleic acid component of a sample for amplification includes contacting the sample with a porous support that deactivates a nucleic acid amplification inhibitor component of the sample and directing a fluid through the porous support, whereby the nucleic acid component of the sample is directed through at least a portion of the porous support and is separated from the support, thereby preparing the nucleic acid component for amplification. The sample is separated from raw sample components through means that include a magnetic substrate. An apparatus suitable for conducting the method of the invention also is described.

Abstract: The invention relates to optoelectronic systems for detecting one or more target particles. The system includes a reaction chamber, a specimen collector, an optical detector, and a reservoir containing cells, each of the cells having receptors which are present on the surface of each cell and are specific for the target particle to be detected, where binding of the target particle to the receptors directly or indirectly activates a reporter molecule, thereby producing a measurable optical signal.

Abstract: Packages having a base web (2) consisting of a polymeric film or sheet having at least one recess (3) with a packaged item therein, and a sealing web (4) sealed to the base web (2) and covering the recess (3), the sealing web (4) having a strength which substantially prevents the packaged item from being pushed through it on applying force to the recess (3) in the base web (2). A portion of the package where the base web (2) is sealed to the sealing web (4) has two substantially parallel lines of weakness (11, 12) positioned so that said portion can be folded towards a portion of the sealing web (4) and a corner of the package can be used to puncture the sealing web (4) so that the packaged item can then be pushed through the sealing web (4).

Abstract: A method for preparing a nucleic acid component of a sample for amplification includes contacting the sample with a porous support that deactivates a nucleic acid amplification inhibitor component of the sample and directing a fluid through the porous support, whereby the nucleic acid component of the sample is directed through at least a portion of the porous support and is separated from the support, thereby preparing the nucleic acid component for amplification.

Abstract: A pigment library and a method for preparing it are provided, which includes identifying a plurality of thermoplastic polymers and then selecting pigments useful in the plurality of thermoplastic polymers. The pigments are heat stable at the melt temperature of each of the plurality of thermoplastic polymers and are not chemically interactive or reactive with each of the polymers of the plurality of thermoplastic polymer. Further, each of the pigments in combination with each of the polymers of the plurality of thermoplastic polymers possesses the property of being lightfast, injection moldable, and fiber spinnable and also not crocking. A colorant database is then prepared using the pigment library. The colorant database is used with color matching software that predict formulations using the colorant database. The result is the development of formulations that minimize or eliminate metameric color effect under various lighting conditions across multiple polymers and end product types.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recombinant DNA construct comprising a coding sequence encoding human ASP2 and a brain-specific calcium calmodulin kinase promoter sequence which is operably linked to the coding sequence. The present invention further provides a transgenic non-human animal whose genome incorporates a polynucleotide comprising a coding sequence which encodes the human ASP2 protein wherein the coding sequence is operably linked to a brain-specific calcium calmodulin kinase II promoter.

Abstract: A method for providing a low resistance non-agglomerated Ni monosilicide contact that is useful in semiconductor devices. Where the inventive method of fabricating a substantially non-agglomerated Ni alloy monosilicide comprises the steps of: forming a metal alloy layer over a portion of a Si-containing substrate, wherein said metal alloy layer comprises of Ni and one or multiple alloying additive(s), where said alloying additive is Ti, V, Ge, Cr, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Rh, Pd or Pt or mixtures thereof; annealing the metal alloy layer at a temperature to convert a portion of said metal alloy layer into a Ni alloy monosilicide layer; and removing remaining metal alloy layer not converted into Ni alloy monosilicide. The alloying additives are selected for phase stability and to retard agglomeration. The alloying additives most efficient in retarding agglomeration are most efficient in producing silicides with low sheet resistance.

Abstract: A method that solves the increased nucleation temperature that is exhibited during the formation of cobalt disilicides in the presence of Ge atoms is provided. The reduction in silicide formation temperature is achieved by first providing a structure including a Co layer including at least Ni, as an additive element, on top of a SiGe containing substrate. Next, the structure is subjected to a self-aligned silicide process which includes a first anneal, a selective etching step and a second anneal to form a solid solution of (Co, Ni) disilicide on the SiGe containing substrate. The Co layer including at least Ni can comprise an alloy layer of Co and Ni, a stack of Ni/Co or a stack of Co/Ni. A semiconductor structure including the solid solution of (Co, Ni) disilicide on the SiGe containing substrate is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recombinant DNA construct comprising a coding sequence encoding human ASP2 and a brain-specific calcium calmodulin kinase promoter sequence which is operably linked to the coding sequence. The present invention further provides a transgenic non-human animal whose genome incorporates a polynucleotide comprising a coding sequence which encodes the human ASP2 protein wherein said coding sequence is operably linked to a brain-specific calcium calmodulin kinase II promoter.

Abstract: A method for preparing a nucleic acid component of a sample for amplification includes contacting the sample with a porous support that deactivates a nucleic acid amplification inhibitor component of the sample and directing a fluid through the porous support, whereby the nucleic acid component of the sample is directed through at least a portion of the porous support and is separated from the support, thereby preparing the nucleic acid component for amplification. The sample is separated from raw sample components through means that include a magnetic substrate. An apparatus suitable for conducting the method of the invention also is described.

Abstract: A method for preparing a nucleic acid component of a sample for amplification includes contacting the sample with a porous support that deactivates a nucleic acid amplification inhibitor component of the sample and directing a fluid through the porous support, whereby the nucleic acid component of the sample is directed through at least a portion of the porous support and is separated from the support, thereby preparing the nucleic acid component for amplification.

Abstract: A marine air conditioner (which may also be used as a heat pump) has a low volume to cooling capacity ratio, and high efficiency. A blower is connected to a shroud, and within the shroud are a water cooled tube-in-tube condenser coil and a raised lance fin evaporator coil. The condenser coil is mounted between the evaporator coil and the blower so that air is drawn past the evaporator coil, then past the condenser coil, and then discharged by the blower. The shroud and blower are mounted, along with a rotary compressor connected to the coils by refrigerant lines, in a condensate drain pan having side walls of 1.5 inches or more in height and a plurality of widely spaced drain plugs or fittings. The cooling water inlet and outlet for the condenser coil pass through a wall of the shroud, and the inlet is connected to a water pump below the water line of the boat in which the condensate pan is mounted.

Abstract: A thermoelectric module is formed with a solder joint, the solder containing about 50 to 99 weight percent bismuth and about 50 to 1 weight percent antimony, between the thermoelectric elements and the connecting conductors. Also provided is a thermoelectric module having bismuth telluride elements coated with a conductive material that does not require a nickel or other diffusion barrier. Further provided are modules having conductors with a phosphorus-nickel surface. Methods of manufacturing and using such thermoelectric modules are further provided.

Abstract: Methods and computer program products are disclosed for improving the performance of hardware and software in which checking for duplicates on a linked list is required. In one form, a linked list is checked in its entirety for the presence of duplicates. In another, an element to be added to the linked list is checked to determine whether a duplicate of that element exists on the linked list.

Abstract: An adjustable pillow with adjustable neck support having a main portion and a neck support portion. A plurality of separately inflatable members positioned in chambers that are surrounded and separated by cushioning material. One of the chambers formed in the neck support portion and the other chambers formed in the main portion. One of the main portion chambers is in substantial vertical alignment with the neck support portion chamber. Each inflatable member is configured to be inflated and deflated to an infinite number of pressures for controlling the firmness of support provided by the pillow and neck support.

Abstract: Compounds of the general formula I: ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 -R.sup.4 which may be the same or different represent hydrogen atoms, or C.sub.1-6 straight or branched chain alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group or an alkyl group substituted by a cycloalkyl group, or represents a cycloalkyl, alkoxycarbonyl, aryl, aralkyl, acyl (which includes arylsulphonyl) groups in which the alkyl group or the alkyl portion of the aralkyl group may be substituted with one or more hydroxy or esterified hydroxy groups and in which the aryl groups or the aryl portion of the acyl or aralkyl group may be substituted by one or more halogen atoms, alkyl groups, hydroxy groups, alkoxy groups, trifluoromethyl, nitro, amino or dialkylamino groups, and in which R.sup.5 -R.sup.8 which may be the same or different represent hydrogen atoms or alkyl groups except that not all groups may be hydrogen, or R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 or R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 together represent a carbonyl (.dbd.O) oxygen and in any of the pairs of groups R.sup.1 /R.sup.2, R.

Abstract: Compounds of the general formula I: ##EQU1## in which R.sup.1 - R.sup.4 which may be the same or different represent hydrogen atoms, or C.sub.1.sub.-6 straight or branched chain alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group or an alkyl group substituted by a cycloalkyl group, or represents a cycloalkyl, alkoxycarbonyl, aryl, arakyl, acyl (which includes anylsulphonyl) groups in which the alkyl group or the alkyl portion of the aralkyl group may be substituted with one or more hydroxy or esterified hydroxy groups and in which the aryl groups or the aryl portion of the acyl or aralkyl group may be substituted by one or more halogen atoms, alkyl groups, hydroxy groups, alkoxy groups, trifluoromethyl, nitro, amino or dialkylamino groups, and in which R.sup.5 - R.sup.8 which may be the same or different represent hydrogen atoms or alkyl groups except that not all groups may be hydrogen, or R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 or R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 together represent a carbonyl (=O) oxygen and in any of the pairs of groups R.sup.1 /R.sup.2, R.