Abstract: Method of reducing background fluorescence and corresponding utensils are provided. Utensils such as those used for fluorescence measurements in many fields are coated by a coating comprising porous fractal ceramic layer(s). The ceramic layer is produced by reactive vapor deposition and comprises oxides of aluminum, titanium, tantalum, niobium, zirconium, silicon, thorium, cadmium or tungsten. The coating is configured to exhibit hemispherical reflectance of less than 2% over a range of wavelengths ranging from 0.1-10 ?m. The coating achieves high resolution by applying fine deposition and ablation patterns and due to its porousness, and is non-toxic and non-outgassing.

Abstract: A printing plate comprises a substantially planar substrate, a porous non-anodic ungrained coating, having a thickness within the range of about 0.1 to about 30 microns and comprising at least one of metals, metal oxides and admixtures thereof, and an image recording layer, provided that where the porous coating consists essentially of oxide(s) only, it comprises at least one oxide of copper, magnesium, cadmium, aluminum, zirconium, hafnium, thorium, chromium, tungsten, molybdenum and (or) cobalt, and further provided that where the porous coating consists essentially of alumina only, it comprises specified pores. The invention also relates to an article of manufacture having a nanometric porous surface layer comprising at least one of metals, metal oxides and mixtures thereof, which comprises pores in the surface layer having a width in a range 0-100 nm, and wherein a major number of pores in this range have a width in a band of about 1 to about 30 nm.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solar collector comprising a collector device and a heat-transfer device which includes a heat conductive conduit for heat-transfer fluid, the conduit being in physical contact with the collector device, characterized in that: the collector device comprises flexible metallic foil of which at least one side is adapted for exposure to solar radiation by the presence thereon of a heat absorptive coating; and the physical contact is maintained by tension effective to stretch the foil over the conduit. In an embodiment of the invention the tubes 5 of the conduit are arranged in one plane, the tension is maintained by bars 10 arranged in another plane, substantially parallel to the plain of the tubes. Foil 8 is placed so as to contact alternately with the tubes and with tension-maintaining bars 5.

Abstract: Apparatus for collection of solar energy includes at least one heat-transfer collector device comprising (i) a hollow core, adapted for passage of heat transfer fluid, and (ii) a preferably detachable laminar metallic cover configured to wrap around the and be in close physical contact with at least part of an outer surface of the core, while the outer surface of the cover is adapted for exposure to solar radiation by the presence of a solar energy absorptive coating.

Abstract: The invention relates an implant, which comprises a biologically compatible substrate, to which at least one moiety is bound by a ligand, the moiety being one which specifically binds to and selectively immobilizes, at least one known target present in body fluid. The moiety traps the target and thus enables undesired materials present in a body fluid to be destroyed locally in situ, or alternatively to be removed and destroyed ex vivo. A method for selectively removing from a mammalian body fluid in situ, at least one known target, also forms part of the invention.

Abstract: A composite membrane for separating components of fluid mixtures including either a porous, essentially continuous, vacuum-deposited ceramic layer, supported by a porous substrate, the ceramic layer comprising at least one oxide selected from aluminum, titanium, tantalum, niobium, zirconium, silicon, thorium, cadmium and tungsten oxides, wherein the average width of the substrate pores is greater than that of the ceramic layer pores, subject to stated conditions; or a multi-layer system of at least two such ceramic layers, disposed on at least one side of, and supported by, a porous substrate, the ceramic layers comprising at least one of the above-specified oxides, wherein between successive ceramic layers, there is disposed a vacuum-deposited metallic layer wherein the porosity and (or) average pore width of the metallic layer is less than those of the ceramic layer. The invention further relates to the application of similar membranes to TLC and column chromatography.

Abstract: A printing plate comprises a substantially planar substrate, a porous non-anodic ungrained coating, having a thickness within the range of about 0.1 to about 30 microns and comprising at least one of metals, metal oxides and admixtures thereof, and an image recording layer, provided that where the porous coating consists essentially of oxide(s) only, it comprises at least one oxide of copper, magnesium, cadmium, aluminum, zirconium, hafnium, thorium, chromium, tungsten, molybdenum and (or) cobalt, and further provided that where the porous coating consists essentially of alumina only, it comprises specified pores. The invention also relates to an article of manufacture having a nanometric porous surface layer comprising at least one of metals, metal oxides and mixtures thereof, which comprises pores in the surface layer having a width in a range 0-100 nm, and wherein a major number of pores in this range have a width in a band of about 1 to about 30 nm.

Abstract: A method for making an integrated electrolytic capacitor wherein a substrate (40) is coated with at least one sequence of each of the following layers: a vacuum deposited film (42) having a high specific surface area, which is selected from the group consisting of valve metals and mixtures of valve metals with valve metal oxides; superimposed on the film having a high specific surface area, at least one dielectric film (46) comprising a substance selected from the group consisting of valve metal oxides, their complex oxides with at least one rare earth metal and their complex oxides with at least one alkaline earth metal; and a solid electrolyte film (48) superimposed on the at least one film.

Abstract: A method for making an integrated electrolytic capacitor wherein a substrate (40) is coated with at least one sequence of each of the following layers: a vacuum deposited film (42) having a high specific surface area, which is selected from the group consisting of valve metals and mixtures of valve metals with valve metal oxides; superimposed on the film having a high specific surface area, at least one dielectric film (46) comprising a substance selected from the group consisting of valve metal oxides, their complex oxides with at least one rare earth metal and their complex oxides with at least one alkaline earth metal; and a solid electrolyte film (48) superimposed on the at least one film.

Abstract: A solar absorber-reflector is provided for solar heat transmission into a heat absorbing chamber and/or repelling back of solar heat resulting from incident solar radiation. The solar absorber-reflector is also suitable as a passive thermal control material for space applications, and consists of several layers. The minimal configuration includes three basic layers: a layer with a selective solar radiation absorbing surface, having high absorptance of solar radiation and low thermal emittance; a layer with a light-reflecting surface facing a direction opposite to the selective solar radiation absorbing surface; and a polymer film being transparent to visible light and possessing high thermal emittance, with a heat-emitting surface facing the same direction as the light-reflecting surface.

Abstract: A system for executing a farming activity on a working area including one or more growing areas of crop items and harvesting tools and manipulators for harvesting crop items hanging by stems from their growth sources. The system includes a track extending substantially parallel to and in a spaced relationship from one or more of the growing areas of crops and a trolley driven along the track, the trolley including farm equipment for executing a farming activity on the growing areas of crops. One embodiment of a harvesting tool includes a base and a cutterhead mounted on the base, the cutterhead having (i) an array of fingers for accommodating the stem between a pair of adjacent fingers, the array having a substantially arcuate configuration and dimensioned so as to envelop at least the top portion of the crop item and (ii) a stem cutter for cutting the stem when accommodated by a pair of adjacent fingers.