Abstract: Technologies for a transistor with a thin-film ferroelectric gate dielectric are disclosed. In the illustrative embodiment, a transistor has a thin layer of scandium aluminum nitride (ScxAl1-xN) ferroelectric gate dielectric. The channel of the transistor may be, e.g., gallium nitride or molybdenum disulfide. In one embodiment, the ferroelectric polarization changes when voltage is applied and removed from a gate electrode, facilitating switching of the transistor at a lower applied voltage. In another embodiment, the ferroelectric polarization of a gate dielectric of a transistor changes when the voltage is past a positive threshold value or a negative threshold value. Such a transistor can be used as a one-transistor memory cell.

Abstract: A clamp with a bottom clamp bar that has a planar upper surface is provided. The clamp may also include a top clamp bar connected to the bottom clamp bar, and a pressure distribution bar between the top clamp bar and the bottom clamp bar. The pressure distribution bar may have a planar lower surface in facing relation to the upper surface of the bottom clamp bar. An object is capable of being disposed in a clamping region between the upper surface and the lower surface. The width of the planar lower surface may be less than the width of the upper surface within the clamping region. Also, the pressure distribution bar may be capable of being urged away from the top clamp bar and towards the bottom clamp bar.

Abstract: A clamp with a bottom clamp bar that has a planar upper surface is provided. The clamp may also include a top clamp bar connected to the bottom clamp bar, and a pressure distribution bar between the top clamp bar and the bottom clamp bar. The pressure distribution bar may have a planar lower surface in facing relation to the upper surface of the bottom clamp bar. An object is capable of being disposed in a clamping region between the upper surface and the lower surface. The width of the planar lower surface may be less than the width of the upper surface within the clamping region. Also, the pressure distribution bar may be capable of being urged away from the top clamp bar and towards the bottom clamp bar.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for evaluating different digital data channel configurations. A digital data channel stores input data to a recordable medium and retrieves readback data from the medium. The input data are arranged into an input sequence of symbols of selected symbol length, and the readback data are arranged into an output sequence of symbols of the selected symbol length. Comparing the output sequence to the input sequence allows identification of the number of erroneous symbols for the selected symbol length. Different input and output sequences are generated using different symbol lengths from the same input and output data. In this way, error rate performance can be predicted for different error correction code (ECC) and run length limited (RLL) encoding scheme combinations. The steps are carried out by an emulation system preferably comprising a field programmable gate array (FPGA) which inhibits and emulates selected portions of the digital data channel.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire has an aggressive tread pattern for use on both on-road and off-road vehicles having at least a pair of intermediate ribs and a pair of shoulder ribs providing the ground engaging tread lugs. A plurality of circumferentially extending lug groups are formed on and extend outwardly from and along the sidewalls of the tire. Each lug group preferably includes three separate lugs, each lug having a substantially flat outer surface lying in a different plane than the outer surfaces of the other two lugs. Two of the lugs are radially aligned with each other along the sidewall of the tire with the third lug lying intermediate spaced pairs of these aligned lugs. The lugs are formed with sharp corners offset from each other which extend outwardly from the sidewall to different levels.

Abstract: A gas-free system for separating a solution of substantially impurity-free daughter products from an associated parent load solution includes a pump, a plurality of multi-port valves, separation medium and a processor. An uncoiled conduit extends between a third port of a second multi-port valve and a first multi-port valve. A processor is operably coupled to a pump, and the plurality of multi-port valves. A method for separating a solution of substantially impurity-free daughter product from an associated parent load solution is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for automatically separating radionuclides using a chromatographic separation process. The method includes the steps of displaying a first flow diagram on a display depicting flow of the radionuclides through a first set of separation elements of the plurality of separation processing elements, but only during a first step of the chromatographic separation process and displaying a second flow diagram on the display depicting flow of the radionuclides through a second set of separation elements of the plurality of separation processing elements, but only during a second step of the chromatographic separation process.

Abstract: A gas-free system for separating a solution of substantially impurity-free daughter products from an associated parent load solution includes a pump, a plurality of multi-port valves, separation medium and a processor. An uncoiled conduit extends between a third port of a second multi-port valve and a first multi-port valve. A processor is operably coupled to a pump, and the plurality of multi-port valves. A method for separating a solution of substantially impurity-free daughter product from an associated parent load solution is also disclosed.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire has an aggressive tread pattern for use on both on-road and off-road vehicles having at least a pair of intermediate ribs and a pair of shoulder ribs providing the ground engaging tread lugs. A plurality of circumferentially extending lug groups are formed on and extend outwardly from and along the sidewalls of the tire. Each lug group preferably includes three separate lugs, each lug having a substantially flat outer surface lying in a different plane than the outer surfaces of the other two lugs. Two of the lugs are radially aligned with each other along the sidewall of the tire with the third lug lying intermediate spaced pairs of these aligned lugs. The lugs are formed with sharp corners offset from each other which extend outwardly from the sidewall to different levels.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for evaluating different digital data channel configurations. A digital data channel stores input data to a recordable medium and retrieves readback data from the medium. The input data are arranged into an input sequence of symbols of selected symbol length, and the readback data are arranged into an output sequence of symbols of the selected symbol length. Comparing the output sequence to the input sequence allows identification of the number of erroneous symbols for the selected symbol length. Different input and output sequences are generated using different symbol lengths from the same input and output data. In this way, error rate performance can be predicted for different error correction code (ECC) and run length limited (RLL) encoding scheme combinations. The steps are carried out by an emulation system preferably comprising a field programmable gate array (FPGA) which inhibits and emulates selected portions of the digital data channel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for automatically separating radionuclides using a chromatographic separation process. The method includes the steps of displaying a first flow diagram on a display depicting flow of the radionuclides through a first set of separation elements of the plurality of separation processing elements, but only during a first step of the chromatographic separation process and displaying a second flow diagram on the display depicting flow of the radionuclides through a second set of separation elements of the plurality of separation processing elements, but only during a second step of the chromatographic separation process.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for improving disc drive performance by reducing areal data storage density while maintaining data storage capacity. A total user data storage capacity is selected for a disc recording surface. A total number of user data fields is selected to meet the data storage capacity. The data fields are distributed among a plurality of concentric zones, each zone having a plurality of data tracks, each data track in each zone having a common number of data fields written at a first write frequency. The zones are defined in relation to a data density profile defining a desired data density relationship across the disc recording surface. A final write frequency is selected for each zone equal to or less than the first write frequency that will achieve the selected data storage capacity of each track in said zone, thereby reducing data density of at least selected tracks.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell for electrochemically combining fuel and oxidant for generating galvanic output, wherein the cell core has an array of electrolyte and interconnect walls that are substantially devoid of any composite inert materials for support. Instead, the core is monolithic, where each electrolyte wall consists of thin layers of cathode and anode materials sandwiching a thin layer of electrolyte material therebetween, and each interconnect wall consists of thin layers of the cathode and anode materials sandwiching a thin layer of interconnect material therebetween. The electrolyte walls are arranged and backfolded between adjacent interconnect walls operable to define a plurality of core passageways alternately arranged where the inside faces thereof have only the anode material or only the cathode material exposed.

Abstract: A copper oxide-zinc oxide mixture is used as a sorbent for removing hydrogen sulfide and other sulfur containing gases at high temperatures from a gaseous fuel mixture. This high-temperature sorbent is especially useful for preparing fuel gases for high temperature fuel cells. The copper oxide is initially reduced in a preconditioning step to elemental copper and is present in a highly dispersed state throughout the zinc oxide which serves as a support as well as adding to the sulfur sorption capacity. The spent sorbent is regenerated by high-temperature treatment with an air fuel, air steam mixture followed by hydrogen reduction to remove and recover the sulfur.

Abstract: A fuel cell capable of utilizing a hydrocarbon such as methane as fuel and having an internal dual catalyst system within the anode zone, the dual catalyst system including an anode catalyst supporting and in heat conducting relationship with a reforming catalyst with heat for the reforming reaction being supplied by the reaction at the anode catalyst.

Abstract: This invention relates to the removal of COS from gaseous streams and more particularly for reducing the COS content of gaseous streams free of arsenic by the use of an oxide of lead.