Abstract: A system for an aircraft includes a tiltable proprotor that is tiltable between a lift position for providing lift for the aircraft and a forward flight position for providing forward propulsion for the aircraft is provided. The system includes at least one actuator for adjusting a tilt angle of the tiltable proprotor; and at least one passive damper connected to the tiltable proprotor and configured to limit a rate of change of the tilt angle of the tiltable proprotor.

Abstract: A system includes a first frame for mounting to the aircraft; a second frame for mounting the proprotor, the second frame being rotatably mounted to the first frame; a first gear located along the rotation axis of the second frame and fixed in position relative to the first frame; a pinion that moves with the second frame and engages the first gear such that the pinion revolves around the first gear, causing the pinion to rotate; a cam that is fixedly connected to the pinion such that the cam rotates with the pinion; and a control rod operatively coupled at a first end with the cam such that rotation of the cam can cause translation of the control rod, wherein the control rod can be coupled at a second end to the blades of the proprotor such that translation of the control rod alters the pitch of the blades.

Abstract: An improved ice pack and method of manufacture for reducing leaking and condensation while providing increased comfort to a user. The ice pack includes at least an outer container and an inner container, the inner container provided inside the outer container and enclosing a freezable agent. A planar bonded portion of the outer and/or the inner container defines at least one rounded corner.

Abstract: FOOD SECURING DEVICE consisting of a plastic pick which is secured to a plastic base with an adhesive bottom; allowing a food item to be impaled on to the pick; while the base of the plastic pick remains secured to a surface keeping the pick and food item in place.

Abstract: Novel low-carbon fertilizers and processes useful for the production of the novel low-carbon fertilizers are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and system for evaluating crop performance obtains weather data and soil data for a defined geographic area. Further, management data is obtained, where the management data is associated with a particular agricultural crop affiliated with the defined geographic area. At least one of the obtained weather data, the obtained soil data, and the obtained management data is evaluated in comparison to reference weather data, reference soil data, and reference management data. The estimated performance level of a performance characteristic is determined for the particular crop associated with at least a portion of the defined geographic area based upon the evaluation.

Abstract: A method and system of evaluating crop performance facilitates characterization of the environmental impact of a geographic region or areas within the region for growing plant-life. Environmental measurements are obtained. The environmental measurements are associated with a geographic region. Each environmental measurement includes at least one of soil data and weather data. Respective location data is obtained. The location data is associated with corresponding environmental measurements. An estimated performance characteristic is determined for a particular crop planted in the geographic region based on the obtained environmental measurements and respective location data. Contours are established for one or more uniform performance areas with generally uniform performance characteristic within the geographic region by applying a decision-tree analysis to the obtained environmental measurements.

Abstract: A method and system of evaluating crop performance facilitates characterization of the environmental impact of a geographic region or areas within the region for growing plant-life. Environmental measurements are obtained. The environmental measurements are associated with a geographic region. Each environmental measurement includes at least one of soil data and weather data. Respective location data is obtained. The location data is associated with corresponding environmental measurements. An estimated performance characteristic is determined for a particular crop planted in the geographic region based on the obtained environmental measurements and respective location data. Contours are established for one or more uniform performance areas with generally uniform performance characteristic within the geographic region by applying a decision-tree analysis to the obtained environmental measurements.

Abstract: A method and system for evaluating crop performance obtains weather data for defined geographic locations within a geographic area. Historic soil data is obtained for the defined geographic locations within a geographic area. Historic yield data is obtained for the defined geographic area for a representative crop. Predictive data nodes are determined based on at least one of the obtained weather data, the historic soil data, and the historic yield data. Each node is associated with a certain range of average yields for a particular crop.

Abstract: CVD reactors can be cleaned at surprisingly high rates using Non-Green House gases by employing the Non-Green House gases at high temperatures and with relatively high fluorine free radical concentrations so long as high concentrations of oxygen are also used to compensate for the detrimental effects of the high temperatures and free fluorine radical concentrations. Net oxide residue etch rates approximately 2,800 times greater than etch rates achieved with controlled Green House gases can be achieved. This is done by employing a pre-ionization module upstream of the reactor to be cleaned to generate the requisite high density plasma.

Abstract: Premature equipment failure of susceptors used during plasma processing of semiconductor wafers is avoided by making the holes, characteristic of susceptors, such that the hole diameter is less that the susceptor thickness. In one embodiment, the susceptor includes a pattern of support struts which permits the planar top plate of the susceptor to be made quite thin and yet permits the diameter-to-thickness requirement to be met by aligning the pattern of holes with the pattern of support struts and having the holes penetrate the struts.

Abstract: An ion milling technique for forming non-planar features on a semiconductor wafer into relatively planar features for further layer deposition replaces the conventional polishing technique currently in use. The technique employs a first ion gun directing a beam normal to the wafer surface and operative to impact the features uniformly to exaggerate the hills of the feature into steep peaks and to form the valleys therebetween into shallow valleys. The technique also employs a second ion gun directed normal to the steep slopes of the peaks and aimed at a portion of the radius of the wafer while the wafer is rotated. The second beam takes advantage of the fact that the peaks mill at a rate twice as fast as the shallow valleys and the first ion beam operates to magnify the aspect ratio between the peaks and the valleys to ensure that the different rates of milling actually occurs when the second ion beam is brought into play.