Abstract: A treated refractory material includes a refractory material having a plurality of pores, wherein the refractory material comprises aluminum oxide, silicon oxide, magnesium oxide, chromium oxide, zirconium oxide, titanium oxide, calcium oxide, fireclay, silicon carbide, tungsten, mullite, dolomite, magnesite, magnesium aluminum oxide, chromite, magnetite, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing; and a protective material disposed within the plurality of pores of the refractory material, wherein the protective material is selected from the group consisting of aluminum oxide, chromium oxide, silica, rare earth oxides, rare earth zirconates, titanium oxide, mullite, zirconium oxide, zirconium silicate, yttrium oxide, magnesium oxide, iron oxide, and blends thereof.

Abstract: An article resistant to recession in high temperature environments, and methods for making the article, are presented herein. The article comprises a substrate, an intermediate coating system disposed over the substrate, and a topcoat disposed over the intermediate coating system. The intermediate coating system comprises a separator layer comprising an oxygen getter material, and a barrier layer disposed over the separator layer, the barrier layer comprising a ceramic composition. The topcoat also comprises this ceramic composition. Moreover, at least about 50% by volume of the ceramic composition present in the barrier layer is a metastable precursor material that tends to transform over time into a product material. At least about 75% by volume of the ceramic composition present in the topcoat is the product material, and up to about 25% by volume of the ceramic composition present in the topcoat is the metastable precursor material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for association of multiple PCI Express links with a single PCI Express port. The method includes: connecting a first bus interface component to a second bus interface component with a set of K lanes and set of N lanes, each lane of the set of K lanes and each lane of the set of N lanes consisting of a unidirectional and differentially driven transmitter signal pair and a unidirectional and differentially driven receiver signal pair, wherein K and N are independently whole positive integers equal to or greater than 1.

Abstract: A PCI Express compliant method and apparatus for preventing corrupt data being transmitted from a retry buffer of a transmitting component to a receiving component over a PCI Express compliant link. The method including storing parity or electronic error correction bits for each data entry in the retry buffer along with the data itself and then comparing parity or electronic error correction bits generated from a copy of the data from the retry buffer to the parity or electronic error correction bits stored in the retry buffer. If the two sets of bits do not match, a PCI Express link between the transmitting component to a receiving component is forced down.

Abstract: An article for use in aggressive environments is presented. In one embodiment, the article comprises a substrate and a self-sealing and substantially hermetic sealing layer disposed over the bondcoat. The substrate may be any high-temperature material, including, for instance, silicon-bearing ceramics and ceramic matrix composites. A method for making such articles is also presented. The method comprises providing a substrate; disposing a self-sealing layer over the substrate; and heating the sealing layer to a sealing temperature at which at least a portion of the sealing layer will flow.

Abstract: A push-to-email system comprises a mobile communication device configured to generate a voice message and transmit the voice message to a message authority via, e.g., a single transmit action, such as a push-to-talk transmit action. The system can also comprise a message authority configured to receive the voice message, a time stamp associated with the voice message and location information related to the location of the mobile device when the message was sent. The message authority can then generate a data message intended for a recipient associated with the voice message, such as an email message and embed the voice message, time stamp and location information, or a link to the voice message, time stamp and location information. Alternatively, the mobile communication device can be configured to generate the data message.

Abstract: A treated refractory material includes a sintered porous refractory material having one or more protective materials disposed within pores of the refractory material, wherein the protective material is selected from the group consisting of aluminum oxide, chromium oxide, silica, rare earth oxides, rare earth zirconates, titanium oxide, mullite, zirconium oxide, zirconium silicate, yttrium oxide, magnesium oxide, iron oxide, and blends thereof. Methods of preparing the treated refractory material are also provided. The treated refractory material provides protection from the penetration of slag and extends the service life of the refractory.

Abstract: A work station chair is enabled to shift in response to a person leaning forward in the chair when in a working mode and leaning back in a rest position. The chair includes a seat, a backrest and supportive structure. The seat is resiliently supported on the supportive structure and moveably along an arc track which is mounted on the supportive structure and has a radius generated from the ankle of the person sitting on the chair. The backrest is resiliently supported on the seat and moveable along an arc track which is mounted to the seat and has a radius generated from H-point that is a natural pivot point of the torso and thigh lines of the person. The chair provides a combined tilting movement of the person's body about the ankle point and the H-point when the person shifts his or her gravity to reduce adverse static postural loads and forces which are responsible for the fatigue and biomechanical dysfunction.

Abstract: A system for originating, storing, processing and delivering data includes a transmission device, a server system, and a recipient connected by various networks. According to one method, the transmission device employing a simple transmit action transmits a message along with metadata to a receiver connected with the server system. Particular metadata are mapped to an address identifier associated with the receiver to determine a location for storing the message, as well as other parameters such as information relating to one or more intended recipients. An intended recipient is notified of an accessible message via e-mail, and can access a copy of the message via a web browser served a web page by the server system.

Abstract: A coating for silicon based materials such as those used in high temperature, aqueous environments. An aspect of the invention is directed to an article including a silicon based substrate, a bond coat comprising silicon, and a barrier coat. The barrier coat includes an aluminate such as an alkaline earth metal aluminate or a rare earth aluminate. The barrier coat may be an intermediate coat between the bond coat and a top coat, or it may be the top coat.

Abstract: A coating for a silicon based material such as those used in high temperature environments. An aspect of the invention is directed to an environmental barrier coating including a silicon bond coat, and intermediate coat, and a top coat. The intermediate coat may comprise tantalum aluminate, niobium aluminate, or a mixture of the two. The intermediate coat is resistant to solid-state suburface reactions with the bond coat and the top coat and is substantially inert to reactions with silica at high temperatures.

Abstract: A system for generating composite reports respecting personnel traffic at a personnel checkpoint is provided. The system comprises a personnel identifier reading device disposed at the personnel checkpoint and operable by a personnel passing the checkpoint. The reading device responds to operation by the personnel by generating an identifier signal representative of an identifier of the personnel. A scanning device responds to the identifier signal by generating a features signal representative of at least one physiological feature of the personnel. A clocking device responds to the identifier signal by generating a time signal representative of a current time. A composite report generator is also included and is operative to generate a composite report for the identifier. The composite report comprises both the represented current time and the represented at least one physiological feature.

Abstract: A system for verification of personnel identity is provided. The system comprises an identity card retainable by a verifiee and having first data comprising an incomplete image of the verifiee stored thereon, a reading device operative to read the first data from the identity card, a database having second data comprising a remainder image combinable to produce a complete image of the verifiee stored therein, a processor operative to combine the first and second data to thereby combine the incomplete and remainder images in order to generate the complete image, and a monitor operative to display the complete image to allow the verifior to verify that a person presenting the identity card is the verifiee.

Abstract: A system and method of forming a project log for a project. A project includes a set of defined steps or states. An observation is made for each step or state of the project in a project management system. The observation is captured by a transmission device, which transmits data representing the observation. The data is received by a receive device. A computer receives the received data and converts the data into a digital file. One or more reference indicia, related to the received data by source identification, project identification, or other indication, is appended to the received data. The digital file is stored in a file storage, and the reference indicia are stored as tables in a database record in order to later access the digital file. By reference to at least one of the reference indicia, each digital file may be retrieved and accessed, for re-transmission or reproduction.

Abstract: A method and system for cleaning a metal article. The system is used to employ a method that comprises placing the article in a means defining a chamber; subjecting the article to a gaseous atmosphere in the means defining a chamber, where the gaseous atmosphere consisting essentially of carbon, hydrogen, and fluorine; and subjecting the article to the gaseous atmosphere at a temperature in a range from about 815° C. to about 1100° C. to clean the article.

Abstract: A system for originating, storing, processing and delivering data includes a transmission device, a server system, and a recipient connected by various networks. According to one method, the transmission device employing a simple transmit action transmits a message along with metadata to a receiver connected with the server system. Particular metadata are mapped to an address identifier associated with the receiver to determine a location for storing the message, as well as other parameters such as information relating to one or more intended recipients. An intended recipient is notified of an accessible message via e-mail, and can access a copy of the message via a web browser served a web page by the server system.

Abstract: A method and system for cleaning a metal article. The system is used to employ a method that comprises placing the article in a means defining a chamber; subjecting the article to a gaseous atmosphere in the means defining a chamber, where the gaseous atmosphere consisting essentially of carbon, hydrogen, and fluorine; and subjecting the article to the gaseous atmosphere at a temperature in a range from about 815° C. to about 1100° C. to clean the article.

Abstract: A method and system for cleaning a metal article. The system is used to employ a method that comprises placing the article in a means defining a chamber; subjecting the article to a gaseous atmosphere in the means defining a chamber, where the gaseous atmosphere consisting essentially of carbon, hydrogen, and fluorine; and subjecting the article to the gaseous atmosphere at a temperature in a range from about 815° C. to about 1100° C. to clean the article.

Abstract: A barrier layer for a silicon containing substrate which inhibits the formation of gaseous species of silicon when exposed to a high temperature aqueous environment comprises a barium-strontium alumino silicate.

Abstract: A barrier layer for a silicon containing substrate which inhibits the formation of gaseous species of silicon when exposed to a high temperature aqueous environment comprises a barium-strontium alumino silicate.