Abstract: Camptothecin analogues of Formula (I) and conjugates comprising the camptothecin analogues are described. The camptothecin analogues and conjugates may be used as therapeutic agents, particularly in the treatment of cancer, an autoimmune disease or a viral infection.

Abstract: A torch for use by a robot. The torch has a body that can be connected to an arm of the robot. A first actuator on the body can be activated by a user to initiate a recording cycle at a starting point of a desired welding or cutting path and to terminate the recording cycle at an ending point of the path. A second actuator on the body can be activated by the user to indicate way points from the starting point to the ending point as the user moves the torch along the path. The first actuator sends first information to a robot controller, operatively connected to and located remotely from the robot, to initiate and to terminate the recording cycle at the controller. The second actuator device sends the way points as second information to the controller to be recorded at the controller during the recording cycle.

Abstract: Techniques and systems are disclosed for performing mechanical ablation of blood clots using low-intensity ultrasound. A system includes a computed tomography (CT) scanner to acquire axial scans of a target subject containing at least one intravascular blood clot, and generate volumetric CT data of the target subject based on the acquired axial scans. A data processing device is in communication with the CT scanner to process the generated volumetric CT data, and identify at least one parameter of an ultrasound beam to ablate the at least one intravascular blood clot based on the processed volumetric CT data. Also, an ultrasound ablation device is in communication with the data processing device to generate the ultrasound beam based on the identified at least one parameter, and apply the generated ultrasound beam with the identified at least one parameter to ablate the at least one intravascular blood clot.

Abstract: A pumping apparatus and method incorporates at least one and preferably as many as four components that are configured to improve debris removal capabilities as compared to prior art apparatuses. The apparatus and method impart cyclonic motion to pumped fluid, in a manner that tends to separate entrained solids and other impurities, and further that helps draw solid impurities away from the pump barrel. In a preferred embodiment, a cyclonic effect first occurs in a seat plug having a funnel-shaped accumulator region leading to an interior passage therethrough, and at least one off-center opening extending from the interior passage to the exterior of the plug. In one embodiment, that effect is continued at a plunger adapter that has a plurality of inward-angled rings, and that also features off-center openings through which debris may pass to the interior of the plunger adapter.

Abstract: A balanced closed cycle silicon refinery has been developed for producing electronic silicon from industrial grade silicon. Impurities comprising approximately 1% of the industrial grade silicon are removed during the refinery process to produce the purified silicon, while only a relatively small percentage of make-up chemicals are added to the system. In the refinery, hydrogen chloride is reacted with the impure silicon in a halide reactor to provide trichlorosilane and silicon tetrachloride and hydrogen. The trichlorosilane and/or silicon tetrachloride are purified to remove the impurities, and then reacted with the hydrogen from the halide reactor in a fluidized bed reactor to produce the purified silicon and an effluent comprised of unreacted trichlorosilane, silicon tetrachloride, hydrogen, and the by-product hydrogen chloride.