Abstract: A process used during manufacture of printed circuit boards comprises protecting metal pads and/or through-holes to provide a tarnish-resistant and solderable coating. In the method, the pads and/or through-holes are bright-etched, metal plated, preferably by an immersion process, and treated with a tarnish inhibitor. The tarnish inhibitor may be incorporated into the immersion plating bath. The metal plating is usually with silver or bismuth and the pads and/or through-holes comprise copper.

Abstract: Embodiments of a surgical instrument disclosed herein can include mechanisms for reduction and distraction as well as compression. Some embodiments of the surgical instrument may comprise a reducer knob having a first passage through which a first shaft of a driver is acceptable, a connecting element coupled to the reducer knob and having a second passage through which the first shaft of the driver is acceptable, a compressor handle coupled to the connecting element at a first end and having a through hole, and a common handle coupled to the compressor handle via the through hole and pivots between the reducer knob and the compressor handle. With embodiments of a surgical instrument disclosed herein, surgical personnel can distract and hold vertebrae in a distracted state and perform a reduction without having to switch or add instruments. Some embodiments disclosed herein can be particularly useful for reducing spondylolisthesis during posterior fixation.

Abstract: A method for browsing a collection of digital images on a soft-copy display comprising: receiving a collection of digital images; interactively user selecting a digital image using a user interface; determining a plurality of subsets of the digital images, wherein each subset shares a common category with the selected digital image; and displaying the subsets of digital images on the soft-copy display, together with the selected digital image.

Abstract: The invention relates to quinazoline derivatives of formula (I), wherein m is an integer from 1 to 3; R1 represents halogeno or C1-3alkyl; X1 represents —O—; R2 is selected from one of the following three groups: 1) C1-5alkylR3, wherein R3 is piperidinyl-4-yl which may bear one or two substituents selected from hydroxy, halogeno, C1-4alkyl, C1-4hydroxyalkyl and C1-4alkoxy; 2) C2-5alkenylR3, wherein R3 is as defined herein; 3) C2-5alkynylR3, wherein R3 is as defined herein; and wherein any alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group may bear one or more substituents selected from hydroxy, halogeno and amino; and salts thereof; processes for their preparation; pharmaceutical compositions containing a compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as an active ingredient.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for inflating a chamber within an inflatable avalanche safety system. The method includes providing an inflatable avalanche safety system including an inflatable chamber; receiving a user-triggered action intended to activate the avalanche safety system; transmitting ambient air from an external region to within the inflatable chamber; and inflating the inflatable chamber entirely with the transmitted external ambient air to a particular internal pressure and shape configured to protect the user from burial during an avalanche. The transmission of ambient air within the inflatable chamber may be accomplished with a fan or an electrical component.

Abstract: A method for browsing a collection of digital images on a soft-copy display comprising: receiving a collection of digital images; interactively user selecting a digital image using a user interface; determining a plurality of subsets of the digital images, wherein each subset shares a common category with the selected digital image; and displaying the subsets of digital images on the soft-copy display, together with the selected digital image.

Abstract: A drill bit includes a bit body, a plurality of blades extending radially from the bit body, a plurality of cutter pockets disposed on the plurality of blades, at least one rolling cutter disposed in one of the cutter pockets, wherein each rolling cutter has a substrate, a cutting face, a cutting edge, and a side surface, and at least one blocker positioned adjacent to each of the at least one rolling cutters on a leading face of the blade, wherein each blocker has a retention end and an attachment end. The retention end of each blocker is positioned adjacent to a portion of the cutting face of each rolling cutter to retain the rolling cutter in the cutter pocket and the attachment end is attached to a portion of the blade.

Abstract: The invention is directed to apparatus and methods for contacting gas and solids in the manufacture of edibles, and particularly in connection with coating edible particulate solids. A drum is positioned around an inner tube so that an annular space is defined between the drum and the tube. A rotatable spiral element defines a gas pathway in the annular space, such that rotation of the spiral pushes particulate solids through the drum while the solids are contacted with gas in the annular space.

Abstract: Content items, such as e-books, audio files, video files, etc., may be recommended to a user based on the user's presence at a geolocation or venue. Geolocation is the geospatial location of the user, while a venue is a designated area for an activity, such as a concert hall, aircraft, waiting room, etc. The recommendations may be of content items relating to the geolocation or venue, or they may be content items being accessed by others who are, or have been, in approximately the same geolocation or venue.

Abstract: A showerhead (20) has a spray head (32) having a plurality of spray outlets (36, 38,42,44) on different faces is mounted for manual rotation about a single pivot axis both to select a spray outlet and to adjust the direction of the spray for the selected spray outlet. The showerhead can be configured so that flow of water is uninterrupted during changeover between spray modes. Alternative versions of the showerhead are disclosed in which the spray head is mounted for powered rotation, for example by a motor, allowing remote operation of the showerhead.

Abstract: A technique includes providing an interface to a client of a storage appliance to access a backup data object that is stored on the storage appliance and using the client to communicate with the storage appliance to control at least one aspect of an operation to replicate at least part of the backup data object.

Abstract: A technique includes determining at least one metric associated with a replication operation to replicate at least a portion of a first object stored on one of a client, a first storage appliance and a second storage appliance onto another one of the client, the first storage appliance and the second storage appliance. The technique further includes regulating the replication operation including selectively regulating at least one parameter of the replication operation based on the metric(s).

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a composition useful for forming stator or a portion thereof. The composition may include: a curable elastomer; a fiber fibrous compound; a fiber dispersion compound; and optionally carbon black.

Abstract: A solar collector (2) associated with or incorporated in a heat sink (4), such as a concrete slab, powers an organic Rankine cycle heat engine. Preferably, the working fluid can be heated by a second heat source, derived from biomass or waste incineration for example, after the heat sink (4) has cooled down.

Abstract: A delivery drum includes at least one supporting shell for supporting a printed sheet and for producing a vacuum region between the supporting shell and the printed sheet. The supporting shell extends over the entire width of the printed sheet. A circumferential length, which is at least one quarter of the sheet length of the printed sheet, is disposed between the sheet start of the printed sheet and the start of the vacuum region.

Abstract: A system for producing thermally stable cutting elements may include a heat source, a pressure vessel, at least one polycrystalline diamond body attached to a carbide substrate, and a leaching agent is disclosed, wherein the heat source includes a container comprising at least one receiving mechanism and at least one retention mechanism, and wherein the carbide substrate is disposed in the at least one receiving mechanism of the pressure vessel, and wherein the leaching agent is disposed in the pressure vessel, and wherein the leaching agent removes the catalyzing material from the interstitial spaces interposed between the diamond particles of the at least one polycrystalline diamond body, and wherein the at least one retention mechanism of the pressure vessel seals at least a portion of the carbide substrate into the at least one receiving mechanism and prevents the leaching agent from contacting at least a portion of the carbide substrate.

Abstract: A process for the removal of co2 from a gas comprising the steps of: (a) contacting the gas (1) in an absorber (2) with an aqueous solution of one or more carbonate compounds in the presence of an accelerator, thereby reacting at least part of the co2 to form a bicarbonate compound, under conditions such that at least a part of the bicarbonate compound formed precipitates, forming a bicarbonate slurry; (b) subjecting at least part of the bicarbonate slurry to a concentration step (5) to obtain an aqueous solution (6) and a concentrated bicarbonate slurry (7), wherein the concentrated bicarbonate slurry comprises from 20 to 80 wt % of bicarbonate compounds; (c) returning at least part of the aqueous solution to the absorber; (d) pressurising (8) the concentrated bicarbonate slurry, (e) transferring the pressurized concentrated bicarbonate slurry to a regenerator (12) and applying heat to obtain a co2-rich gas stream (13) and a regenerated carbonate stream (14).

Abstract: A laminated vehicle glazing comprising: at least two glazing panes laminated together by at least one interlayer therebetween; at least one sensor which is manually operable by the presence of a user's hand contacting or proximal to at least one of the panes; at least one shield associated with the at least one sensor whereby the at least one sensor is manually operable by the presence of a user's hand from only one side of the vehicle glazing; and at least one connector electrically connected to the at least one sensor connectable to an external device for control of the external device by manual operation of the at least one sensor.

Abstract: Process for the removal of CO2 from a gas comprising CO2, comprising the steps of: (a) contacting the gas in an absorber (102) with an aqueous solution of one or more carbonate compounds in the presence of an accelerator, thereby reacting at least part of the CO2 to form a bicarbonate compound, under conditions such that at least a part of the bicarbonate compound formed precipitates, forming a bicarbonate slurry; (b) subjecting at least part of the bicarbonate slurry to a concentration step (105) to obtain the aqueous solution and a concentrated bicarbonate slurry, wherein the concentrated bicarbonate slurry comprises in the range of from 10 to 60 wt % of bicarbonate compounds; (c) returning at least part of the aqueous solution to the absorber; (d) transferring a first part of the concentrated bicarbonate slurry to a first heat exchanger (110a), wherein the first part of the slurry is being heated against a hot lean solvent of a regenerator (112); (e) transferring a second part of the concentrated bicarbona

Abstract: In PCB manufacture, the pads and/or through-holes of a bare board are protected prior to mounting of other components by a silver plating process. The silver plate is applied from a plating composition by a replacement process in which silver ions oxidized copper and deposit a layer of silver at the surface. In the aqueous plating composition the silver ions are maintained in solution by the incorporation of a multidentate complexing agent. The compositions may contain a silver tarnish inhibitor and are free of reducing agent capable of reducing silver ions to silver metal, halide ions and substantially free of non-aqueous solvent. Surface mounted components can be soldered direct to the silver coated contact using any commercially available solder. Silver does not deposit onto solder mask, but only onto metal which is less electropositive than silver. REEXAMINATION RESULTS The questions raised in reexamination proceedings Nos. 90/012,336 and 90/009,934, filed Jun. 4, 2012 and Aug.