Abstract: A system and method for evenly heating a substrate placed in a wafer carrier used in wafer treatment systems such as chemical vapor deposition reactors, wherein a first pattern of wafer compartments is provided on the top of the wafer carrier, such as one or more rings of wafer carriers, and a second pattern of inlaid material dissimilar to the wafer carrier material is inlaid on the bottom of the wafer carrier, and the second pattern of inlaid material is substantially the opposite of the first pattern of wafer compartments, such that there are at least as many material interfaces in intermediate regions without wafer compartments as there are in wafer carrying regions with wafers and wafer compartments.

Abstract: A method in a server computer connected over a network to a group of participants, where each participant operates a client computer. The method receives a payment for each participant in the group, associates the payments received for the group with a time period, calculates a designated portion of each payment, and creates a fund for the time period by combining the designated portions of the payments. The method receives a notification for each participant in a subgroup of the group of participants, where the notification indicates that during the time period an event occurred. The method calculates a portion of the fund to disburse to each participant in the subgroup, and disburses the fund to the participants in the subgroup, where the portion of the fund to disburse to each participant in the subgroup is a share of the fund.

Abstract: A method and computing system that receives a payment for each participant in a group of participants, and associates the payments with a time period to create a fund for the time period. The method identifies deceased participants in the group of participants who died during the time period, calculates a portion of the fund to disburse to each deceased participant; and disburses the portion of the fund to each deceased participant. When the participant is one of the deceased participants, the portion of the fund to disburse to the participant is a death benefit for the participant.

Abstract: An electrolytic cell for the generation of a plasma field in an electrolyte that heats the electrolyte forms part of a closed-loop heat transfer device, the electrolytic cell fluidly connected to a heat exchanger. A plasma electrode and a second electrode are mounted on a tubular insulating member that forms part of the flow path of electrolyte from the tank to the heat exchanger. The electrolyte must flow through the electrodes when flowing from the tank to the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A business method and computing system for providing a death benefit to a participant having an uninsurable trait. The method collects registration information from the participant, and associates the participant with at least one other participant having the uninsurable trait to form a group of participants. The method receives a funding payment from each participant in the group to create a funding pool for a time period. The method disburses the funding pool to deceased participants in the group who died during the time period, each deceased participant receiving a portion of the funding pool. An amount of the portion of the funding pool for each deceased participant is the death benefit for the deceased participant.

Abstract: A business method and computing system for providing a death benefit to a participant having an uninsurable trait. The method collects registration information from the participant, and associates the participant with at least one other participant having the uninsurable trait to form a group of participants. The method receives a funding payment from each participant in the group to create a funding pool for a time period. The method disburses the funding pool to deceased participants in the group who died during the time period, each deceased participant receiving a portion of the funding pool. An amount of the portion of the funding pool for each deceased participant is the death benefit for the deceased participant.

Abstract: A brazing product for fluxless brazing comprises a substrate and a filler metal-forming composition applied to the substrate. The substrate preferably comprises aluminum, an aluminum alloy or another metal and may include at least one layer of a ceramic, carbide or nitride. The filler metal-forming composition comprises a liquid-forming layer comprising silicon and a braze-promoting layer comprising one or more metals selected from the group comprising nickel, cobalt, palladium and iron. The liquid-forming layer comprises one or more material layers. Where the liquid-forming layer comprises a plurality of layers, it may include at least one layer consisting essentially of silicon.

Abstract: A brazing product for fluxless brazing comprises a substrate and a filler metal-forming composition applied to the substrate. The substrate preferably comprises aluminum, an aluminum alloy or another metal and may include at least one layer of a ceramic, carbide or nitride. The filler metal-forming composition comprises a liquid-forming layer comprising silicon and a braze-promoting layer comprising one or more metals selected from the group comprising nickel, cobalt, palladium and iron. The liquid-forming layer comprises one or more material layers. Where the liquid-forming layer comprises a plurality of layers, it may include at least one layer consisting essentially of silicon.

Abstract: A business method and computing system for providing a death benefit to a participant having an uninsurable trait. The method collects registration information from the participant, and associates the participant with at least one other participant having the uninsurable trait to form a group of participants. The method receives a funding payment from each participant in the group to create a funding pool for a time period. The method disburses the funding pool to deceased participants in the group who died during the time period, each deceased participant receiving a portion of the funding pool. An amount of the portion of the funding pool for each deceased participant is the death benefit for the deceased participant.

Abstract: A bundling system with improved locking tie head comprising a smooth planar strap and a locking head with two flexible independent L-shaped pawls. One end of the pawl is anchored in the locking head. The locking head has two transverse pawl cavities allowing flexural movement of the pawl during insertion of the planar strap and locking engagement to prevent withdrawal of the strap.

Abstract: A system and method for evenly heating a substrate placed in a wafer carrier used in wafer treatment systems such as chemical vapor deposition reactors, wherein a first pattern of wafer compartments is provided on the top of the wafer carrier, such as one or more rings of wafer carriers, and a second pattern of inlaid material dissimilar to the wafer carrier material is inlaid on the bottom of the wafer carrier, and the second pattern of inlaid material is substantially the opposite of the first pattern of wafer compartments, such that there are at least as many material interfaces in intermediate regions without wafer compartments as there are in wafer carrying regions with wafers and wafer compartments.

Abstract: A system generates and retrieves relevant electronic information required by a user initiating an electronic search on the system. The system comprises a user-interactive search engine and a knowledge database, which stores knowledge information that is formatted. Additionally, the system includes a plurality of functional software modules that enables a user to complete an interactive search and find a solution to a task based on entered context information and keywords. A list of keywords is displayed to the user and the user selects those keywords that are relevant to the solution desired. The search engine looks for the articles containing the identified keywords. If no article is found with the search terms, the search is expanded to the Internet. The user may then modify the information returned from the Internet, format the information and save the information as a new recipe.

Abstract: A bundling system with improved locking tie head comprising a smooth planar strap and a locking head with two flexible independent L-shaped pawls. One end of the pawl is anchored in the locking head. The locking head has two transverse pawl cavities allowing flexural movement of the pawl during insertion of the planar strap and locking engagement to prevent withdrawal of the strap.

Abstract: In a rotating disk reactor (1) for growing epitaxial layers on substrate (3), gas directed toward the substrates at different radial distances from the axis of rotation of the disk has substantially the same velocity. The gas directed toward portions of the disk remote from the axis (10a) may include a higher concentration of a reactant gas (4) than the gas directed toward portions of the disk close to the axis (10d), so that portions of the substrate surfaces at different distances from the axis (14) receive substantially the same amount of reactant gas (4) per unit area. A desirable flow pattern is achieved within the reactor while permitting uniform deposition and growth of epitaxial layers on the substrate.

Abstract: A method and system of predictive threat detection is provided which utilizes data collected via a ubiquitous sensor network spread over a plurality of sites in an urban environment. The method includes the steps of: triggering an inquiry regarding a suspect entity at a current site in response to commission of a triggering action by the suspect entity; in response to the inquiry, compiling the data corresponding to the sites at which the suspect entity was detected by the sensor network; and analyzing the data to determine a threat status regarding the suspect entity.

Abstract: A brazing product for fluxless brazing comprises a substrate and a filler metal-forming composition applied to the substrate. The substrate preferably comprises aluminum, an aluminum alloy or another metal and may include at least one layer of a ceramic, carbide or nitride. The filler metal-forming composition comprises a liquid-forming layer comprising silicon and a braze-promoting layer comprising one or more metals selected from the group comprising nickel, cobalt, palladium and iron. The liquid-forming layer comprises one or more material layers. Where the liquid-forming layer comprises a plurality of layers, it may include at least one layer consisting essentially of silicon.

Abstract: A method for use in sensing a moving object by doppler global sensing includes illuminating the object with energy, filtering energy reflected by the object with a frequency selective surface filter, and sensing the filtered energy. An associated system includes a laser operable to illuminate an object with energy and a frequency selective surface operable to filter energy reflected off the object. The system also includes a camera operable to receive energy reflected off the object that is passed by the frequency selective surface.

Abstract: A medical gas alarm system for use in a healthcare facility having a medical gas system and having a network of computer devices is provided. The alarm system includes at least one area alarm controller adapted to receive a first signal indicative of a condition of a first portion of the medical gas system. The area alarm controller is adapted to communicate with the network. The alarm system also includes at least one master alarm controller adapted to receive a second signal indicative of a condition of a second portion of the medical gas system. The master alarm controller is adapted to communicate with the network. The area alarm controller is adapted to communicate with the master alarm controller through the network.

Abstract: A brazing product for fluxless brazing comprises an aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate; a layer of an aluminum eutectic-forming layer applied to the substrate, and a braze-promoting layer comprising one or more metals from the group comprising nickel, cobalt and iron is applied on the eutectic-forming layer. The eutectic-forming layer is preferably Si deposited by physical vapor deposition. The brazing product may be brazed to another aluminum shape or to a shape comprised of a dissimilar metal.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a transmitter portion which transmits a defined beam of eyesafe laser energy, a receiver portion which receives reflected energy from the beam, and a further portion which analyzes information in the received energy so as to detect the presence of a moving projectile.