Abstract: The disclosure relates generally to the field of printing. More specifically, the disclosure relates to an inspecting process for a printing cylinder.

Abstract: A blasting system which includes a control unit, a communications bus which is connected to the control unit, a plurality of detonators which are connected in sequence to the communications bus along its length, and a daisy chain connection between the control unit and the detonators, and wherein, within the sequence of detonators, a first detonator makes use of the daisy chain connection to enable a second following detonator so that data can be exchanged between the control unit and the second detonator using the communications bus.

Abstract: A perforating system has a perforating module comprising a unitary body of explosive. The explosive is contained within a non-explosive casing, or liner, having formed indentations and a cover thereover. The indentations, which will transform into explosively formed penetrators (EFP's) upon detonation, have a perimeter shape that allows for improved packing density, e.g., a hexagonal perimeter, which results in relatively little “dead space” wherein no perforating penetrators are generated. In operation, the module provides a relatively dense shot pattern and substantially reduced amount of post-detonation debris that could clog the perforations and/or require remedial clean-up or repeat perforation.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a thermally-activated, deflagration initiation device, a deflagration-to-detonation transition manifold, a first transfer line connecting the deflagration initiation device and the deflagration-to-detonation transition manifold, and a linear shaped charge coupled with the first transfer line. An apparatus includes a heat-to-detonation transition manifold, a heat pipe connected to the transition manifold, a linear shaped charge, and a transfer line connecting the heat-to-detonation transition manifold and the linear shaped charge. An apparatus includes a thermally-activated pyrotechnic train and a linear shaped charge coupled with the pyrotechnic train. A method includes initiating a deflagrating material at a predetermined temperature or within a predetermined range of temperatures, initiating a detonating material with the deflagrating material, and initiating a linear shaped charge with the detonated material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a biodegradable BB pellet and preparation thereof.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer readable medium for a customer premises equipment based advertisement insertion mechanism for Internet Protocol based networks, comprises, storing advertisements in a customer premises equipment, detecting an advertisement insertion signal in a data stream, and multiplexing the stored advertisements into the data stream upon the detecting of the advertisement insertion signal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a coated member on which a porous metal coating layer is formed and a method of producing the same. The method comprises providing the mother material, feeding powder having a metal composition, which includes at least two different metals selected from the group consisting of Al, Mg, Zn, and Sn and which is expressed by xA-(1?x)B (0<x<1, where x is a weight ratio of A and B), onto the mother material, supplying high pressure gas to the powder, applying the metal powder using on the mother material by spraying the metal powder using the high pressure gas through an supersonic nozzle, and heat-treating the coated mother material to form the porous coating layer. In the method, it is possible to freely control the pore size and porosity of the coated member. Accordingly, it is available to various members for thermal and mechanical applications.

Abstract: A composition for surface conditioning is provided which is capable of improving conversion capability due to improved surface conditioning function, for example, forming a dense metal phosphate coating film on a metal material surface, and forming a conversion coating film in a sufficient amount also in the case of applications to a contact part of different kinds of metals upon simultaneously carrying out a conversion treatment, or on a conversion resistant metal material such as a high-tensile steel plate, and also capable of improving productivity, shortening the time required for the conversion treatment step or the like owing to improvement of the conversion capability. A composition for surface conditioning including bivalent or trivalent metal phosphate particles and having a pH of 3 to 12, wherein the D50 of the particles is 3 ?m or less, and that the composition includes an amine compound having a MW of 1000 or less.

Abstract: Polymeric compositions and methods of making and using such compositions are provided. The compositions incorporate at least one component that is a polymer including propylene-derived units and at least one component that is a styrenic block copolymer. The polymeric compositions are found to have desirable elastomeric properties while at the same time exhibiting beneficial processabilty characteristics. The unique combination of processability and performance attributes result in the polymeric compositions useful in a variety of applications such as films, fibers, woven and non-woven fabrics, sheets, molded objects, extruded forms, thermoformed objects, and all products made from such application materials.

Abstract: Water soluble radiation curable products (A) obtainable by mixing with or without reaction of at least one hyperbranched polyurethane (a) with at least one compound having at least one ethylenic double bond per molecule (b) or by synthesis of at least one hyperbranched polyurethane (a) in the presence of at least one compound having at least one ethylenic double bond per molecule (b) are used to produce aqueous inks for the ink jet process.

Abstract: The disclosure is generally related to a decoder system and, more particularly, to a decoder system comprising a coding composition, a decoding composition and optionally, an erasing composition. The disclosure also provides decoder writing instrument systems comprising a coding writing point in fluid communication with a coding composition, a decoding writing point in fluid communication with a decoding composition and optionally, an erasing writing point in fluid communication with an erasing composition.

Abstract: A black ink composition is provided and contains at least two coloring materials, water and additives, wherein the coloring material on the short wave side of the two coloring materials is a water-soluble dye having 3 or more azo groups in one molecule and a naphthalene skeleton, and the additives are selected from the group consisting of a bronzing inhibitor and an ozone resisting improver.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel photoinitators of formulae (V), (II), (III), (IV), (V) and (VI) wherein R1 and R2 are each independently of the other C1-C8alkyl; C1-C4alkyl substituted by OH, C1-C4alkoxy, —COO(C1-C8alkyl), (C1-C4alkyl)-COO—, —CN, benzyl, phenyl or by —N(R15)(R16); C3-C6alkerlyl, benzyl, —CH2—C6H4—(C1-C4alkyl) or phenyl; or R1 and R2 together are unbranched or branched C2-C9alkylene or C3-C6-oxa- or -azaalkylene; R3, R4, R5 and R6 are each independently of the others hydrogen, C1-C8alkyl, C3-C6alkenyl, benzyl, —CH2—C6H4—(C1-C4alkyl) or phenyl; R3 and R4 together and/or R5 and R6 together are unbranched or branched C2-C9alkylene; A is Cl, Br, —O—R9, —N(R11)(R12) or —S—R18, A? is —O—, —NH— or —NR11—; A? is Cl, Br, —O—R9, —N(R11)(R12) or —S—R18 or hydrogen, X is —O—R10 or —N(R13)(R14), n is an integer from 1 to 10, preferably an integer from 1 to 4, especially 1, 2 or 3; R7 is a linker; R8 is a bivalent C2-C3alkylele radical.

Abstract: An earth-friendly tire using raw materials derived from non-petroleum resources instead of all or part of raw materials derived from petroleum resources currently used for tires. The tire is prepared by using a natural rubber instead of a synthetic rubber; an inorganic filler and/or a biofiller instead of carbon black; vegetable oil instead of petroleum oil; and natural fiber instead of synthetic fiber so that the tire has a non-petroleum raw material in an amount of at least 75 % by weight based on the total weight of the tire.

Abstract: Provided are ASCON utilizing atomized slag as fine aggregates and a method for producing the same. More particularly, provided are ASCON composition that is improved in strength by substituting all or part of fine aggregates for atomized slag and a method for producing the same. ASCON composition includes coarse aggregates, fine aggregates, fillers, and asphalt. When the fine aggregates is 100 parts by weight, the fine aggregates include 0-70 parts by weight of atomized slag balls having a diameter of less than 5mm. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain the ASCON composition that has large strength and can greatly reduce a heating temperature in the mixing operation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of treatment of a retroreflective sheet with a treatment composition that comprises a fluorinated compound having one or more silyl groups and an auxiliary compound selected from the group consisting of (i) one or more non-fluorinated compounds of an element M selected from Si, Ti, Zr, B, Al, Ge, V, Pb and Sn and (ii) an organic compound having a Si—H group. The invention also relates to compositions comprising (i) a fluorinated compound comprising one or more silyl groups and (ii) an auxiliary compound selected from the group consisting of organic compounds having a Si—H group.

Abstract: A powder coating composition of the present invention includes, as essential components, an epoxy group-containing vinyl copolymer (A) with a glass transition temperature of 40° C. or higher, an epoxy group-containing vinyl copolymer (B) that contains organosiloxane side chains and has a glass transition temperature of 0° C. or lower, and a polyvalent carboxylic acid (C), and is able to form a coating film with excellent external appearance and scratch resistance.

Abstract: A coating composition useful for forming a film is provided, comprising, in admixture, a resin and finely divided clay that has been surface treated with a silicon-hydride containing polysiloxane.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide: a light stabilizer emulsion composition which has good long-term storage stability and does not deteriorate various physical properties of a coating film to be formed even when the composition is added to an aqueous coating agent composition; and an aqueous coating agent composition containing the light stabilizer emulsion composition. The light stabilizer emulsion composition of the present invention is characterized by containing: an emulsifier having as a hydrophilic group a polyether chain obtained by a reaction between two or more kinds of alkyleneoxides and having as a hydrophobic group a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms; at least one of a light stabilizer and a UV absorber; and water. Further, the aqueous coating agent composition of the present invention is characterized by containing the light stabilizer emulsion composition.

Abstract: An aluminum flake pigment suitable for use in metallic paints, metallic inks and the like is finely flaked in a grinder to include small aluminum flakes with a maximum dimension of not more than 10 ?m, wherein these small aluminum flakes have a mean aspect ratio from 8 to 20. Overall, the aluminum flakes of the aluminum flake pigment preferably have a mean particle size from 3 to 20 ?m. The grinder produces the aluminum flake pigment by flaking an aluminum powder in an organic solvent using steel ball grinding media having diameters of 0.3 to 1.0 mm.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pigment and a coating composition comprising such a pigment, wherein it is contemplated that a coating composition containing such pigment is capable of inhibiting corrosion of a substrate to which it is applied. In one embodiment, the pigment comprises a filler having calcium borate, calcium molybdate, and calcium phosphate deposited on the surface of the filler. In an exemplary embodiment, the filler is calcium carbonate.

Abstract: Naphthol AS pigments of the formula (IV) where X1, X2 Y and Z are as defined in the specification and have a maximum content of the secondary components (1) to (5) defined by the upper limits set forth in the table within the specification.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing surface-modified inorganic fillers or pigments of a desired particle size. Said method is characterized in that filler or pigment slurries of inorganic fillers or pigments are milled to the desired particle size under the action of compressive and shear forces using polymer dispersions, whereby the fillers and/or pigments are additionally brought into contact with conventional milling auxiliary agents and/or dispersants (active agent) in a quantity of between 0.1 and 2.0 wt. %, in relation to the fillers or pigments. The invention also relates to the fillers and pigments that are obtained by said method and to their use for producing dispersion inks, adhesives, coatings or coating compounds for the paper industry, in particular coating compounds used in various industry segments, such as sheet fed offset printing, roll offset printing, gravure printing and for the production of cardboard and special papers.

Abstract: Compositions are provided for increasing the electrical conductivity of concrete or controlled low-strength materials (flowable fill). One composition sets to produce a concrete and includes portland cement, water, aggregate, and particulate matter including a sorbent and a contaminant absorbed, adsorbed or entrapped by the sorbent. The sorbent may be activated carbon, and the contaminant may be mercury or a compound containing mercury. Another composition is a self-compacting, cementitious flowable fill composition that includes portland cement, water, and particulate matter including a sorbent and a contaminant absorbed, adsorbed or entrapped by the sorbent. The sorbent may activated carbon, and the contaminant may be mercury or a compound containing mercury. The compositions may also include carbon fibers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to blast resistant panels. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to blast resistant panels that are designed for use in a tactical shelter. In another embodiment, to reduce the weight of a tactical shelter, a lightweight panel system is disclosed herein.

Abstract: A vertically elevated gate mast with open front that is divided into multiple sections and is assembled section by section from bottom to the top. The first section is an integrated structure, and 2nd to nth sections are divided into a left part and a right part. Each left and right partis assembled by connecting front upright posts, back upright posts, upper beams, lower beams and brace rods. Corresponding left and right parts are then connected with back beams and brace rods to form each section with beams and brace rods at the left, right and back sides. Lifting and lowering of the mast is realized by drawworks. Installation is performed from the ground, by assembling the left parts and the right parts with the back beams and the brace rods into a shape of gate, and then lifting each section as a whole with a crane.

Abstract: For floating platform horizontal stability, mooring lines can be floated by external water neutral-density means to remove anchor line curvature. Thus mooring lines could be pulled straight under water to provide optimal horizontal resistance, thereby reducing need of excessive mooring line pretension that increases platform loads. More savings are realized by not having to design floating platforms with extra capacity to handle added pretension and weigh of mooring line. Free Floating Mooring Links capitalize on the concept of overall neutral density with water, but instead of using cables or chains with external floatation means to keep anchor lines from sinking in water, FFML utilizes the shape of anchor line itself to create inherent built-in floatation so as to achieve overall system neutral density to water.

Abstract: A mooring system for a floating aquatic structure includes a harness, a primary weight, and a first anchor. The harness has first and second ends. The first end is pivotally attached to the structure. The primary weight is removably attached to a connecting line and suspended from the second end of the harness. The anchor is removably attached to the primary weight to resist movement of the structure in a first direction.

Abstract: A watercraft stabilizing paddle holder and a water craft stabilizing paddle holder kit, the kit comprising a shaft brace having a lower shaft support surface to limit downward shaft displacement and a pair of lateral shaft support surfaces to limit lateral shaft displacement, a shaft holder having a lower shaft support surface and an upper shaft support surface to limit vertical shaft displacement and a pair of lateral shaft support surfaces limit lateral shaft displacement, and a mounting stand.

Abstract: A safety device including a support that may be stowed within an enclosure and easily extended for use. One embodiment comprises an adjustable length strap coupled to a support strap fixed in the form of a loop that may act as a handle or a step, and a keeper comprising a pouch closable by a flap to form an enclosure. Multiple support loops may be attached to one another as desired. The upper end of the adjustable length strap is coupled to the interior of the keeper, and the keeper may be attached to a vessel or other object via a securing loop on its rear side. The straps are gathered inside the keeper, with a portion of the lowermost support loop hanging outside the keeper and fixed in position by the closed flap, such that the exposed support loop when pulled will cause the flap to open and the strap to extend.

Abstract: A fluid level indicator or hydrometer is provided that includes an optical tube and a protective sleeve or jacket. The optical tube is highly polished and includes a site glass integrally connected to a distal cone by an intermediate extension shaft. The protective sleeve or jacket surrounds at least the intermediate extension shaft.

Abstract: Provided is a silicon wafer suitable for manufacturing a semiconductor device having a shallow junction. A silicon wafer wherein, in a region at a depth of less than 50 ?m from a surface, a density of oxygen deposition materials each having a diameter of not less than 10 nm is not more than 1×108/cm3. A silicon wafer for a semiconductor device, which is manufactured by applying heat treatment at a heat treatment temperature of not less than 1000° C. for heat treatment time of not more than 3 msec, wherein, in a region at a depth of less than 50 ?m from a surface, a density of oxygen deposition materials each having a diameter of not less than 10 nm is not more than 1×108/cm3.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a silicon single crystal by pulling up the silicon single crystal from a molten silicon by the CZ method, comprising: a cooling step of cooling the silicon single crystal by a cooler surrounding the silicon single crystal, and a heat shield body disposed surrounding an outer side and a lower side of the cooler while the silicon single crystal is being pulled up; and an Ms adjusting step of determining, in advance, an allowable range of a pulling speed at which a silicon single crystal having few crystal defects can be obtained by adjusting a distance (referred to “Ms”) from the lower surface of the heat shield body disposed on the lower side of the cooler to the surface of the molten silicon, wherein the silicon single crystal 11 is pulled up at a pulling speed within the allowable range thus determined.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing a high quality bulk single crystal of silicon carbide in a seeded growth system by reducing the separation between a silicon carbide seed crystal and a seed holder until the conductive heat transfer between the seed crystal and the seed holder dominates the radiative heat transfer between the seed crystal and the seed holder over substantially the entire seed crystal surface that is adjacent the seed holder.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for fabricating a compound nitride semiconductor structure. Group-III and nitrogen precursors are flowed into a first processing chamber to deposit a first layer over a substrate with a thermal chemical-vapor-deposition process. The substrate is transferred from the first processing chamber to a second processing chamber. Group-III and nitrogen precursors are flowed into the second processing chamber to deposit a second layer over the first layer with a thermal chemical-vapor-deposition process. The first and second group-III precursors have different group-III elements.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to methods for depositing silicon-containing materials on a substrate. In one example, a method for selectively and epitaxially depositing a silicon-containing material is provided which includes positioning and heating a substrate containing a crystalline surface and a non-crystalline surface within a process chamber, exposing the substrate to a process gas containing neopentasilane, and depositing an epitaxial layer on the crystalline surface. In another example, a method for blanket depositing a silicon-containing material is provide which includes positioning and heating a substrate containing a crystalline surface and feature surfaces within a process chamber and exposing the substrate to a process gas containing neopentasilane and a carbon source to deposit a silicon carbide blanket layer across the crystalline surface and the feature surfaces.

Abstract: A method of producing a high quality bulk single crystal of silicon carbide in a seeded growth system is disclosed. The method includes positioning the seed crystal in a crucible while exerting minimal torsional forces on the seed crystal to thereby prevent torsional forces from warping or bowing the seed crystal in a manner that that would otherwise encourage sublimation from the rear of the seed crystal or undesired thermal differences across the seed crystal.

Abstract: An apparatus for growing crystals includes a sealed chamber having a crucible and a seed holder disposed therein. The seed holder is selectively positionable within the chamber from a first position relative to the crucible to at least one subsequent position within the crucible. A heater is configured and dimensioned to heat a melt disposed within the crucible and an insulator is included for insulating the heater and the crucible. An actuator rotates at least one of the crucible and the seed holder relative to the other and a support ring suspends the crucible within the sealed chamber. A ceramic thermal shield is disposed atop the support ring and regulates the heat loss from the crucible to an upper portion of the chamber. The crucible has a non-smooth outer surface morphology or a chemically altered outer surface for increasing the absorption or transfer of thermal energy generated by the heater.

Abstract: The invention relates to a crucible for the crystallization of silicon and to the preparation and application of release coatings for crucibles used in the handling of molten materials that are solidified in the crucible and then removed as ingots, and more particularly to release coatings for crucibles used in the solidification of polycrystalline silicon. The objective of the inventor was to provide a crucible which does not require the preparation of a very thick coating at the end user facilities, which is faster and cheaper to produce and which presents a stronger coating with an improved adherence to the walls. It has now been found that these problems can be solved with a crucible for the crystallization of silicon comprising a) a base body comprising a bottom surface and side walls defining an inner volume; b) an intermediate layer comprising 50 to 100 wt. % of silica at the surface of the side walls facing the inner volume; and c) a surface layer comprising 50 to 100 wt.

Abstract: A thermal vacuum deposition device and method in which a band-shaped substrate is continuously conveyed in a vaporization channel that is charged with a vaporous coating material is characterized in that the vaporization channel is sealed by inserting at least one positionally adjustable hollow element into an outer space of the vaporization channel and an inner space of the vaporization channel when a minimum conveying speed is not attained or when the substrate is at a standstill such that the substrate is located in the inner space.

Abstract: A thin-film forming apparatus is provided capable of forming a thin-film by bringing ions of some degree in plasma into contact with the thin-film. This thin-film forming apparatus comprises a plasma generator disposed at a position corresponding to an opening of a vacuum chamber for producing plasma in the vacuum chamber, a base plate holder for holding a substrate in the vacuum chamber, and an ion quencher disposed between the plasma generator and the base plate holder. When the plasma generator is projected directly onto the base plate holder, the projection image of plasma generator shielded by the ion quencher has an area smaller than the residual image of plasma generator projected onto the base plate holder.

Abstract: A liquid processing apparatus includes: a substrate holding member configured to rotate along with a substrate held thereon in a horizontal state; a rotary cup configured to surround the substrate held on the substrate holding member and to rotate along with the substrate; a rotation mechanism configured to integratedly rotate the rotary cup and the substrate holding member; a liquid supply mechanism configured to supply a process liquid onto the substrate; and an exhaust/drain section configured to perform gas-exhausting and liquid-draining of the rotary cup. The exhaust/drain section includes an annular drain cup configured to mainly collect and discharge a process liquid thrown off from the substrate, and an exhaust cup surrounding the drain cup and configured to mainly collect and discharge a gas component from inside and around the rotary cup. Liquid-draining from the drain cup and gas-exhausting from the exhaust cup are performed independently of each other.

Abstract: An injector with a coating head, for uniformly coating a heat sink paste onto a surface to be coated is provided, which includes a body, a piston, and a coating head, wherein the piston is pressed to force the heat sink paste out of the body through the coating head, and the heat sink paste is molded by the coating head into a shape suitable for uniformly coating the surface to be coated, and is also quantified. Moreover, a scraping surface is provided at the opening of the coating head, for scraping off the redundant heat sink paste from the steel plate and for smoothing the surface of the heat sink paste, in the case that a steel plate is used to assist the quantifying operation of the heat sink paste.

Abstract: An image forming system, comprises an image forming section to form an image on a sheet; a fixing section to fix the image formed on the sheet; a sheet conveying passage to convey the fixed sheet; a humidifying roller arranged on the sheet passage and to humidify the sheet; a water supplying tank to feed water to the humidifying roller; an electric component; and a waterproofing member to protect the electric component from water.

Abstract: Arrangement for coating a surface with particles, comprising a spindle shaft (4) driven by an electric motor and provided with a means (8) which delivers the particles during rotation of the spindle shaft (4). The arrangement is characterized by that the motor control (34) integrated into the painting spindle (2) contains a unit which can detect the frequency superposed in the power supply, which constitutes a multiple of the desired feed frequency to the electric motor, in order to obtain the desired speed.

Abstract: A multi-stage substrate processing apparatus in which each processing stage is carried out on a substrate while conveying said substrate includes a processing liquid supply device and a drying device arranged successively along a conveying direction of the substrate. The drying device comprises an air knife for drying a processing liquid on the substrate. A plurality of nozzles for supplying the processing liquid onto the substrate are provided in the processing liquid supply device. At least the nozzle in the final stage among the plurality of nozzles is pointed in an opposite direction to the conveying direction of the substrate. This apparatus shortens tact time of the processed substrate.

Abstract: There is provided a layer forming apparatus for forming a photosensitive layer of an electrophotographic photoreceptor, containing no bubbles in a coating liquid. In the layer forming apparatus for forming the photosensitive layer of the electrophotographic photoreceptor through the dip coating method, a lower end port of a dipping cylinder is distanced away in a horizontal direction from a coating liquid discharge port, and the coating liquid discharge port is disposed above the lower end port of the dipping cylinder, in order to prevent a bubble from moving into a coating liquid portion used for actual coating even when a bubble exits in the course of circulation of the coating liquid.

Abstract: A vertical plasma processing apparatus for a semiconductor process includes an airtight auxiliary chamber defined by a casing having an insulative inner surface and integrated with a process container. The auxiliary chamber includes a plasma generation area extending over a length corresponding to a plurality of target substrates in a vertical direction. A partition plate having an insulative surface is located between a process field and the plasma generation. The partition plate includes a gas passage disposed over a length corresponding to the plurality of target substrates in a vertical direction. A process gas is exited while passing through the plasma generation area, and is then supplied through the gas passage to the process field.

Abstract: A coating machine enables the inside of a paint chamber to be washed clean with less amount of use of thinner by increasing washing efficiency and is capable of forming a coating with uniform coating thickness by always uniformly jetting a paint over 360° about a rotary atomizing head and the rotary atomizing head of the coating machine. The coating machine includes the rotary atomizing head in which the paint chamber is formed in the clearance between an outer bell fitted to the tip of a tubular rotating shaft and an inner bell fitted to the front side of the outer bell. Fins agitating, in the paint chamber, a washing fluid supplied from a thin tubular nozzle inserted into the tubular rotating shaft are radially formed on the rear surface side of the inner bell. An annular paint groove temporarily accumulating the paint is formed in the inner surface of the rim part of the outer bell on which the paint jetted from the paint jetting holes formed at the peripheral surface part of the paint chamber is extended.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a substrate treatment apparatus, and more particularly, to a substrate treatment apparatus, wherein lift pins can be installed while the levels of the lift pins are easily adjusted using a tool such as a wrench. A substrate treatment apparatus of the present invention comprises a chamber; a pin plate provided inside or outside the chamber; a driving means for lifting or lowering the pin plate; and at least one lift pin that penetrates through the pin plate so that the lift pin is coupled to the pin plate, and has a tool insertion recess formed at a lower end of the lift pin.