Abstract: Described are systems and methods for providing and administering a NFT for Access.

Abstract: A crosslink for a spinal stabilization system is disclosed that provides significant increased torsional stability for the spinal stabilization system. The crosslink includes a first crosslink arm and a second crosslink arm having an eye. An eyebolt is included that has a horizontal passageway for receiving at least a portion of the first crosslink arm and an upper portion for receiving the eye of the second crosslink arm. The eyebolt includes a means for inhibiting rotational and translational movement of the portion of the first crosslink arm.

Abstract: A fluid heater (100) comprising a storage reservoir (1) for storing heating fluid, a burner (5) for heating the heating fluid and a first heat exchanger (11) located outside said storage reservoir (1). The heater (100) also comprises a first fluid circuit (200) connecting the storage reservoir (1) with the first heat exchanger (11) for carrying heating fluid from the storage reservoir (1), through the first heat exchanger (11) and back to the storage reservoir (1), and a second fluid circuit (300) connecting a first inlet (19) for mains fluid to a first outlet (27) for heated mains fluid via the first heat exchanger (11). The first heat exchanger (11) is adapted to exchange heat between said heating fluid and said mains fluid.

Abstract: A structure is provided which includes at least one semiconductor device and a diffusion heater in a continuous active semiconductor area of a substrate. One or more semiconductor devices are provided in a first region of the active semiconductor area and a diffusion heater is disposed adjacent thereto which consists essentially of a semiconductor material included in the active semiconductor area. Conductive isolation between the first region and the diffusion heater is achieved through use of a separating gate. The separating gate overlies an intermediate region of the active semiconductor area between the first region and the diffusion heater and the separating gate is biasable to conductively isolate the first region from the diffusion heater.

Abstract: A distributed artificial intelligence data acquisition and equipment control system forms a local area network (LAN) over the AC power lines of a vessel for communicating shipboard engineering casualty and damage control information. Each node in the LAN includes a power line carrier current (PLCC) transceiver, a slave processing unit for interfacing with local sensors or equipment and a master processing unit for controlling the formation, transmission and reception of offset-quadrature-phase-shift-keyed (OQPSK) LAN messages. Nodes in the LAN are strategically positioned at various locations throughout the ship and are configured to function either as a Terminal Unit or as a Data & Control Unit. Terminal Units are equipped with a touch screen display and an intelligent controller that provides a user-friendly interactive operator interface through a series of display screen prompts and includes a data base of ship casualty and damage control information stored in a local non-volatile random access memory.

Abstract: In a process for the production of a shaped article involving the remelting of a polyamide which has been subjected to a drying stage, such as that which occurs during solid phase polymerisation, the stage of conditioning the polyamide prior to remelting can be reduced or even avoided by adding a controlled amount of water to the polymer when molten or immediately prior to its remelting.

Abstract: Solar energy converting apparatus is disclosed which comprises:(a) focussing means having a focal plane;(b) solar energy absorbing means located along the focal line of the focussing means;(c) a support structure including mounting means for rotating the focussing means about an axis which is co-incident with the focal line of the focussing means; and(d) solar tracking means having an optical plane which is parallel to said focal plane, said tracking means including two heat extensible members which are arranged to receive equal amounts of heat from solar energy when the optical plane is directed at the sun and to receive unequal amounts of heat from solar energy when the optical plane is not directed at the sun, said extensible members being coupled to act between the support structure and the focussing means to cause rotation of the focussing means in accordance with the heat received by respective extensible members.

Abstract: Solar heating apparatus for heating a heat transfer medium comprising a support structure, a light absorbing surface arranged to transmit heat to a heat transfer medium, focussing means mounted on said support structure for focussing solar energy upon the light absorbing surface, and tracking means for tracking movement of the sun and moving the focussing means relative to the support structure to maintain the solar energy focussed upon the light absorbing surface.

Abstract: A process for uniformly and thoroughly bleaching textile material having contaminate in the fibers comprising:1. IMPREGNATING THE CONTAMINATED TEXTILE MATERIAL WITH A SOLUTION OF A SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT IN A HYDROCARBON OR HALOGENATED HYDROCARBON SOLVENT AND STEAMING THE IMPREGNATED TEXTILE MATERIAL TO REMOVE SOLVENT, WHEREBY SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE CONTAMINATION IN THE FIBERS AND THE SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT REMAIN IN THE TEXTILE MATERIAL;2. IMPREGNATING THE TEXTILE MATERIAL WITH THE CONTAMINATION AND SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT WITH AN AQUEOUS BLEACHING SOLUTION CONTAINING, AS A BLEACHING AGENT, HYDROGEN PEROXIDE;3. STEAMING THE TEXTILE MATERIAL; AND4. WASHING THE TEXTILE MATERIAL WITH AN AQUEOUS MEDIUM.