Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating, attenuating or preventing a liver disorder by inhibiting NLGn4 expression and thereby modulating the activity of NK cells. The present invention further relates to diagnosing a liver disorder by evaluating NLGn4 expression in NK cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the treatment of an individual with an antipsychotic based on individual's genotype at one or more single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) associated with the dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) and/or ankyrin repeat and kinase domain containing 1 (ANKK1) genes.

Abstract: Described herein are compositions and methods for prognosis and treatment of prostate cancer patients. Specifically the invention relates to microRNA molecules associated with the prognosis of prostate cancer, as well as various nucleic acid molecules relating thereto or derived therefrom.

Abstract: Described herein is a set of oligonucleotide probes. Also included are methods of using the oligonucleotide probes in profiling the microbiota of the GI tract of a subject and methods of diagnosing or monitoring a disease or condition in a subject or predicting or assessing the risk of a subject developing a disease or condition. Kits comprising the oligonucleotide probe set described herein are also provided.

Abstract: The current invention relates to a diagnostic kit for a bacterial species and/or fungal and/or yeast species comprising at least one oligonucleotide probe capable of binding to at least a portion of the LepA and/or Guf1 genes or its corresponding mRNA.

Abstract: The invention relates to a newly identified avian rotavirus D VP6 nucleotide sequence and uses thereof.

Abstract: A method of reducing the acid concentration within gastric fluid, suppressing a tendency towards a strongly acidic pH within the gastric fluid, and inhibiting the production of gastrin involves the step of administering live or killed lactic acid bacterium (such as Lactobacillus johnsonii No. 1088) to a living subject. The invention also relates to a method of alleviating the side effects caused by continuous administration of a proton pump inhibitor by administering live or killed lactic acid bacterium to a living subject.

Abstract: A single chain, polypeptide fusion protein, comprising: a non-cytotoxic protease, or a fragment thereof, which protease or protease fragment can cleave a protein of the exocytic fusion apparatus of a nociceptive sensory afferent; a Targeting Moiety that can bind to a Binding Site on the nociceptive sensory afferent, which Binding Site can undergo endocytosis to be incorporated into an endosome within the nociceptive sensory afferent; a protease cleavage site at which site the fusion protein is cleavable by a protease, which is located between the non-cytotoxic protease and the Targeting Moiety; and a translocation domain that can translocate the protease or protease fragment from within an endosome, across the endosomal membrane and into the cytosol of the nociceptive sensory afferent; wherein the Targeting Moiety is BAM, ?-endorphin, bradykinin, substance P, dynorphin and/or nociceptin. Nucleic acid sequences encoding the fusion proteins, methods of preparing same and uses thereof are also described.

Abstract: The claimed subject matter provide a system for mitigation and/or elimination of scale precipitation base and side wall build up in a maple syrup primary evaporator pan, by reversing the maple sap flow to prevent liquid stagnation.

Abstract: A method for the dissolving and rapid hydrolyzing of the lignocellulose biomass and the device thereof are disclosed. The lignocellulose biomass is put in the pure water and rapidly heated to 330˜403° C., and then 89˜99% of the lignocellulose biomass is dissolved and rapidly hydrolyzed to saccharide in 3.38˜21.79 s. The following hydrolysis reaction can be carried out under the homogeneous phase condition for the dissolving of the lignocellulose biomass. At the same time, the solvated biomass could be easily used in the high pressure flow reactor to continuously pretreat the biomass and hydrolyze for producing saccharide, other biofuel and product. The present invention doesn't need any catalyst and doesn't pollute the environment, furthermore the process is simple and the cost is low, and it belongs to green, continuable industry encouraged by the state, and a good prospect of market application could be taken on.

Abstract: A soft magnetic alloy is provided that consists essentially of 47 weight percent?Co?50 weight percent, 1 weight percent?V?3 weight percent, 0 weight percent?Ni?0.25 weight percent, 0 weight percent?C?0.007 weight percent, 0 weight percent?Mn?0.1 weight percent, 0 weight percent?Si?0.1 weight percent, at least one of niobium and tantalum in amounts of x weight percent of niobium, y weight percent of tantalum, remainder Fe. The alloy includes 0 weight percent?x<0.15 weight percent, 0 weight percent?y?0.3 weight percent and 0.14 weight percent?(y+2x)?0.3 weight percent. The soft magnetic alloy has been annealed at a temperature in the range of 730° C. to 880° C. for a time of 1 to 6 hours and comprises a yield strength in the range of 200 MPa to 450 MPa and a coercive field strength of 0.3 A/cm to 1.5 A/cm.

Abstract: A method for producing a bearing ring of a rolling bearing includes the steps of: preparing a formed body constituted of hypereutectoid steel; forming an annular heated region heated to a temperature of at least an A1 point on the formed body by relatively rotating an induction heating member arranged to face part of an annular region for becoming a rolling contact surface of the bearing ring in the formed body to induction-heat the formed body along the circumferential direction of the annular region; and simultaneously cooling the whole of the heated region to a temperature of not more than an Ms point.

Abstract: Ferritic stainless steel sheet which has a high oxidation resistance and scale spallation resistance even at a high temperature near 1000° C., characterized by containing C: 0.020% or less, N: 0.020% or less, Si: over 0.10 to 0.35%, Mn: 0.10 to 0.60%, Cr: 16.5 to 20.0%, Nb: 0.30 to 0.80%, Mo: over 2.50 to 3.50%, and Cu: 1.00 to 2.50%, having an amount of increase of oxidation after a continuous oxidation test in the air at 1000° C. for 200 hours of 4.0 mg/cm2 or less, and having an amount of scale spallation of 1.0 mg/cm2 or less.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for removing and recovering copper by treating an acidic waste liquid containing copper ions such as an etching waste liquid resulting from etching a copper printed board in an etching solution of cupric chloride and a waste liquid after renewing a plating bath liquid in producing electrolytic copper foil. In particular, a copper recovering method of recovering copper from a copper-containing acidic waste liquid includes adding a liquid mixture of a copper-containing acidic waste liquid and an oxidizing agent to an alkaline agent solution while a pH of the alkaline agent solution to which the liquid mixture has been added is being controlled so as never to decrease to seven or lower, and by obtaining a solid material whose main component is copper oxide.

Abstract: The apparatus for recovering Lithium comprises: a supply unit (1) in which lithium-containing water is passed through a filter membrane to yield lithium solution; an adsorption unit (2) in which said solution adsorb the lithium in a column; an elution unit (3) by which hydrochloric acid elute the lithium in the column, yielding a lithium elute containing hydrochloric acid and lithium chloride; a cleaning unit (4) by which the column is washing; a condensing unit (5) in which the lithium elute is circularly vaporized, and the vapor is condensed to yield concentrated lithium chloride solution; a collecting unit (6) in which sodium carbonate is added to lithium chloride solution to collect the lithium as concentrated lithium solution; and a hydrochloric acid recycling unit (7) in which the residue from lithium chloride solution is cooled to yield the hydrochloric acid as used in the elution unit (3).

Abstract: Disclosed are a Ti alloy having an excellent hydrogen absorption inhibition effect, a Ti alloy member using the Ti alloy, and a manufacturing thereof. A Ti alloy is characterized in that it contains 0.1 to 5.0% by mass in total of at least one of Zr and Hf, and a residue comprising Ti and impurities.

Abstract: Disclosed is a coating material for aluminum die casting and a method for coating the same, the coating material including: a CrN adhesion layer formed on a surface of a base material; a TrAlN/CrN support layer formed on a surface of the CrN adhesion layer; and a TiAl(CrSi)VCN functional layer formed on a surface of the TiAlN/CrN support layer. The present coating material solves the hot stamping and sticking problem of a conventional aluminum die casting mold and the like, enhances thermal resistance, and further has enhanced thermal resistance, high-temperature wear resistance, sticking resistance and thermal impact resistance compared to that of a conventional coating material.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a process for purifying silicon by removing one or both of phosphorus and boron.

Abstract: There is provided an aluminum alloy casting consisting essentially of 7.0 to 11.5 mass % of Si, 0.9 to 4.0 mass % of Mg, 0.1 to 0.65 mass % of Fe, 0.1 to 0.8 mass % of Mn and the balance being Al and unavoidable impurities, or consisting essentially of 7.0 to 11.5 mass % of Si, 0.9 to 4.0 mass % of Mg, 0.1 to 0.65 mass % of Fe, 0.1 to 0.8 mass % of Mn, 0.3 to 1.0 mass % of Cu and the balance being Al and unavoidable impurities, and containing eutectic Si grains having an aspect ratio of 2.0 or smaller and an average grain size of 1.0 micrometer or smaller. There is also provided an automotive part formed with the aluminum alloy casting and a production method of the aluminum alloy casting.

Abstract: The metallurgical composition includes a main particulate metallic material, for example iron or nickel, and at least one alloy element for hardening the main metallic material, which form a structural matrix; a particulate solid lubricant, such as graphite, hexagonal boron nitride or mixture thereof; and a particulate alloy element which is capable of forming, during the sintering of the composition conformed by compaction or by injection molding, a liquid phase, agglomerating the solid lubricant in discrete particles. The composition may include an alloy component to stabilize the alpha-iron matrix phase, during the sintering, in order to prevent the graphite solid lubricant from being solubilized in the iron. The invention further refers to a self-lubricating sintered product, obtained from the composition, and to the process for obtaining said product.

Abstract: A high-Si content austenitic stainless steel, which exhibits stable acid resistance and excellent corrosion resistance in high-temperature and concentrated nitric acid, has a chemical composition comprising: C: at most 0.04%; Si: 2.5-7.0%; Mn: at most 10%; P at most 0.03%; S: at most 0.03%; N: at most 0.035%; sol. Al: at most 0.03%; Cr: 7-20%; Ni: 10-22%; optionally, one or more types selected from Nb, Ti, Ta and Zr: 0.05-0.7% in total; and the remainder being Fe and impurities, wherein a total amount of B1 type inclusions measured by a method according to JIS G0555 (2003) Annex 1 “Microscopic Testing for the Non-Metallic Inclusions on the Point Counting Principle” is not more than 0.03% by area %.

Abstract: Disclosed is a high-strength Zn—Al coated steel wire for bridges with excellent corrosion resistance and fatigue properties, the Zn—Al coated steel wire includes: a steel wire; and a Zn—Al coating having a coating body layer and an Fe—Al alloy layer formed in an interface between a surface layer of the steel wire and the coating body layer, wherein a chemical composition of a core material of the steel wire includes, by mass %: C: 0.70% to 1.2%; Si: 0.01% to 2.5%; Mn: 0.01% to 0.9%; P: limited to 0.02% or less; S: limited to 0.02% or less; N: limited to 0.01% or less; and the balance including Fe and unavoidable impurities, wherein wire-drawn pearlite is most abundant microstructure among microstructures of the core material of the steel wire; wherein an average composition of the Zn—Al coating includes, by mass %, Al: 3.0 to 15.0%; and Fe: limited to 3.0% or less, and wherein the Fe—Al alloy layer has a thickness of 5 ?m or less.

Abstract: In accordance with a representative embodiment, a method of fabricating a piezoelectric material comprising a first component and a second component comprises: providing a substrate; flowing hydrogen over the substrate; flowing the first component to form the piezoelectric material over a target; and sputtering the piezoelectric material from the target on the substrate. In accordance with another representative embodiment, a method of fabricating a bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonator comprises: forming a first electrode over a substrate; forming a seed layer over the substrate; and depositing a piezoelectric material having a compression-negative (CN) polarity. The depositing of the piezoelectric material comprises: flowing a first component of the piezoelectric material to form the piezoelectric material over a target comprising a second component of the piezoelectric material; and sputtering the piezoelectric material from the target to the substrate.

Abstract: A electronic device housing includes a substrate, and the electronic device housing further includes a first color layer, a metallic coating, a second color layer, and a second metallic coating formed directly on the substrate in that order. The first color layer is disposed on the substrate and covering portions of the internal surface. The first metallic coating is formed on the first color layer and completely covers the first color layer. The second color layer is formed on the first metallic coating and directly covers the portions of the internal surface which is uncovered by the first color layer. The second color layer and the first color layer have different colors. The second color layer and the first color layer are transparent or translucent. A method for manufacturing the electronic device housing is also provided.

Abstract: A sintered body which includes at least indium oxide and gallium oxide and comprises voids each having a volume of 14000 ?m3 or more in an amount of 0.03 vol % or less.

Abstract: A chamber monitoring system may include a parallel architecture in which a single sensor control system is coupled to a number of different processing chamber control board sensor lines. In an illustrative embodiment, a single rotation sensor such as a tachometer may reside in a central control unit remote from the processing chambers such that rotation data may be processed by a single system and thereafter routed according to a variety of different network communication protocols to the main system controller, a factory interface, or both. In this and other embodiments, pull-up networks in the central control unit and the chamber control boards are matched so as to reduce electrical signal anomalies such as crowbar effects. The central control unit may be programmed via a main system controller to operate according to user defined parameters, which in turn may enable the system to differentiate between certain operating states.

Abstract: The film formation method comprises the steps of: unrolling and feeding an elongated substrate wound in a roll form from a first roll chamber in a first direction from the first roll chamber toward a second roll chamber; degassing the fed substrate; forming a first material film on a first surface in a first film formation chamber; guiding the substrate having the first material film formed thereon to a second film formation chamber in a second direction from the second roll chamber toward the first roll chamber; forming, in the second film formation chamber, a second material film on a second surface opposite the first surface of the substrate when it is being guided in the second direction; taking up, in a third roll chamber provided between the first roll chamber and the second roll chamber, the substrate in a roll state.

Abstract: Ternary metal nitride layers suitable for thin-film resistors are fabricated by forming constituent layers of complementary components (e.g., binary nitrides of the different metals, or a binary nitride of one metal and a metallic form of the other metal), then annealing the constituent layers to interdiffuse the materials, thus forming the ternary metal nitride. The constituent layers (e.g., 2-5 nm thick) may be sputtered from binary metal nitride targets, from metal targets in a nitrogen-containing ambient, or from metal targets in an inert ambient. Optionally, a nitrogen-containing ambient may also be used for the annealing. The annealing may be 10 seconds to 10 minutes at 500-1000° C. and may also process another component on the same substrate (e.g., activate a diode).

Abstract: Methods for applying a coating to a substrate in rolled form, the substrate including a first edge face and a second edge face opposite the first edge face, the substrate further having a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first major surface, the first and second major surfaces extending between the first edge face and the second edge face, the methods including applying a coating to at least one edge face and optionally at least a portion of one or both major surfaces of the substrate in rolled form. Articles in rolled form prepared according to the foregoing methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A surface-coated cutting tool of the present invention includes a base material and a coating film formed on the base material. The coating film includes at least one TiB2 layer. The TiB2 layer includes Cl together with TiB2. This surface-coated cutting tool is characterized in that assuming that in the TiB2 layer, a first region represents a region having a thickness of 0.5 ?m from an interface on the base material side, and a second region represents a region having a thickness of 0.5 ?m from an interface on the coating film surface side, an atomic ratio Cl/(Ti+Cl) between Ti and Cl is higher in the first region than in the second region.

Abstract: Methods for forming non-oxygen containing silicon-based films, that contain >50 atomic % of silicon, are provided herein. In one aspect, the silicon-based films have a composition SixCyNz wherein x is about 51 to 100, y is 0 to 49, and z is 0 to 50 atomic weight (wt.) percent (%) as measured by XPS. In one embodiment, the non-oxygen silicon-based films were deposited using at least one organosilicon precursor having at least two SiH3 groups with at least one C2-3 linkage between silicon atoms such as 1,4-disilabutane.

Abstract: A method comprises transporting a first stream of a carrier gas to a delivery device that contains a liquid precursor compound. The method further comprises transporting a second stream of the carrier gas to a point downstream of the delivery device. The first stream after emanating from the delivery device and the second stream are combined to form a third stream, such that the dew point of the vapor of the liquid precursor compound in the third stream is lower than the temperature of the plumbing that transports the vapor to a CVD reactor or a plurality of CVD reactors. The flow direction of the first stream, the flow direction of the second stream and the flow direction of the third stream are unidirectional and are not opposed to each other.

Abstract: A surface treatment apparatus in which a disk-like sample-holding plate is provided inside an enclosure constituting a cylindrical circumferential wall. A cylindrical portion in an upper portion of the enclosure constitutes a material fluid supplying channel, and a channel provided on the lateral side of the sample-holding plate in the enclosure and shaped spreading as it goes farther from the cylindrical portion constitutes a fluid discharge channel. The fluid discharge channel employs a parabola curve or the like in which the position of the upper end of the outmost circumference of the sample-holding plate is defined as a focus position and the position of the upper end of the outlet that is symmetrically opposite to the focus position is defined as a reference position.

Abstract: A plasma CVD device comprises a vacuum vessel that houses a discharge electrode plate and a ground electrode plate to which is attached a substrate for thin film formation. The plasma CVD device has an earth cover at an interval from and facing the aforementioned discharge electrode plate; the aforementioned discharge electrode plate has gas inlets and exhaust outlets (which expel gas introduced through said gas inlets) that are connected at one end to equipment supplying raw gas for thin film formation and that open at the other end at the bottom face of the aforementioned discharge electrode plate; the aforementioned earth cover has second gas inlets corresponding to the aforementioned gas inlets, and second exhaust outlets corresponding to the aforementioned exhaust outlets. The plasma CVD device has an electric potential control plate disposed at an interval from and facing the aforementioned ground cover.

Abstract: The present invention generally provides apparatus for supporting a large area substrate in a plasma reactor. One embodiment, a substrate support for using in a plasma reactor includes an electrically conductive body has a top surface with a plurality of roll-formed indents.

Abstract: A composition, reactor apparatus, method, and control system for growing epitaxial layers of group III-nitride alloys. Super-atmospheric pressure is used as a process parameter to control the epitaxial layer growth where the identity of alloy layers differ within a heterostructure stack of two or more layers.

Abstract: Atomic layer deposition apparatus for depositing a film in a continuous fashion. The apparatus includes a process tunnel, extending in a transport direction and bounded by at least a first and a second wall. The walls are mutually parallel and allow a flat substrate to be accommodated there between. The apparatus further includes a transport system for moving a train of substrates or a continuous substrate in tape form, through the tunnel. At least the first wall of the process tunnel is provided with a plurality of gas injection channels that, viewed in the transport direction, are connected successively to a first precursor gas source, a purge gas source, a second precursor gas source and a purge gas source respectively, so as to create a tunnel segment that—in use—comprises successive zones containing a first precursor gas, a purge gas, a second precursor gas and a purge gas, respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that can stably produce a laminated body including a vapor-deposited polymer film having a predetermined composition and thickness on a film substrate. The apparatus includes: a film substrate supply means 46 that supplies a film substrate 15 on an outer peripheral surface of a rotary drum 35 in a vacuum chamber 24; a plurality of blowoff members 64 positioned around the rotary drum 35, each of the plurality of blowoff members including a vapor outlet 66 opening inside the vacuum chamber 24 to the outer peripheral surface of the rotary drum 35 and an inner space constituting a deposition chamber; and at least one monomer vapor supply means 84 arranged to supply plural kinds of monomer vapor into the deposition chamber and blowoff the plural kinds of monomer vapor from the vapor outlet of each of the plurality of blowoff members.

Abstract: The method for eliminating metallic lithium on a support comprises a plasma application step. The plasma is formed from a carbon source and an oxygen source with a power comprised between 50 and 400 W. It transforms the metallic lithium into lithium carbonate. The method then comprises a dissolution step of the lithium carbonate in an aqueous solution.

Abstract: This invention relates to galvanic aluminum alloy powder-pigments coated with semi-conducting corrosion inhibiting compositions and to the process for preparing said coated powder-pigments for coating metal substrates to inhibit corrosion. The coated aluminum alloy powder-pigments are electrically active and prevent corrosion of metals which are more cathodic (electropositive) than the coated aluminum alloy pigments.

Abstract: This invention provides methods and apparatuses which can manufacture Si-containing cold rolled steel sheets exhibiting excellent chemical conversion properties even if a chemical conversion treatment solution is used at a lower temperature while minimally suppressing the generation of sludge as well as reducing running costs. The method includes steps of cold rolling a steel containing 0.5 to 3.0 mass % Si, continuously annealing the cold rolled steel sheet, pickling the surface of the continuously annealed cold rolled steel sheet, and repickling the surface of the pickled steel sheet with a non-oxidative acid. The repickling is performed such that a repickling solution is sampled continuously or periodically, an acid concentration in the sampled solution is measured, and the acid concentration in the repickling solution is regularly controlled within a prescribed concentration range.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a fuel cell, oxygen generator or high temperature electrolyzer comprising a metallic substrate comprising: (i) at least one porous region comprising a plurality of pores in said metallic substrate, where the porosity varies in at least one direction substantially coincident with the path or paths of a reactant stream to be passed over the substrate when in use and/or in areas of in-use poor gas flow; and (ii) at least one non-porous region bounding the at least one porous region, and having mounted on said metallic substrate an electrode of said fuel cell, oxygen generator or high temperature electrolyzer. Also disclosed are fuel cell stack layers and fuel cell stacks comprising same.

Abstract: In the case of a process for the manufacture of contact strips, in particular for electrolyzers (membrane cells), the objective is to provide a solution that allows to create a cheap but also extremely efficient method for the manufacture of such contact strips at a high electrical efficiency. This objective is achieved by applying the roll bonding method to attach a copper strip to a titanium strip.

Abstract: A multilayer oxygen consuming electrode having a side facing the oxygen-containing gas and a side facing the alkaline electrolyte, wherein the electrode includes at least one support, and at least two layers containing a catalyst and a hydrophobic material, wherein the outermost layer facing the gas side has a lower proportion of catalyst than the outermost layer facing the electrode side and wherein the proportion of hydrophobic material is not more than 8% by weight based on the total amount of the catalyst the hydrophobic material.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for synthesizing platinum nanoparticles incorporated on silica. The method includes immobilizing dithiocarbamate functional group on a surface of the silica to form dithiocarbamate-silica. The method includes treating the dithiocarbamate-silica with platinic acid to form Platinum (II) [Pt (II)] dithiocarbamate complex on the silica and thereafter, reducing the Pt (II) dithiocarbamate complex.

Abstract: A copper electroplating bath for producing copper electrodeposits is described. The copper electroplating bath comprises (a) a soluble copper salt, (b) an electrolyte comprising one or more acids, and (c) a grain refining additive comprising an alkyl, aryl or alkylaryl diamine. The copper electroplating bath can be used for producing electroformed copper deposits having low oxygen content.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method of producing a p-type light-absorbing semiconductor copper zinc tin selenide/sulfide (Cu2(ZnxSn2-x)(SySe1-y)4) (abbreviated CZTS) with electrochemical deposition. It can be used in the production of solar cell when combined with an n-type inorganic or an organic semiconductor layer. The present method comprises a one-step or a sequence of depositions using electroplating to fabricate a low-cost and large-area CZTS solar cell, without using expensive and complicated deposition techniques or highly toxic and flammable chemicals in the production process. The present method significantly reduces the cost and energy requirement for production of solar cell.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method for producing targeted flow and current density patterns in a chemical and/or electrolytic surface treatment. The device comprises a flow distributor body which is disposed, with the front face thereof, plane-parallel to a substrate to be processed, and which has outlet openings on the front face, through which process solution flows onto the substrate surface. The process solution flowing back from the substrate is led off through connecting passages onto the rear face of the flow distributor body. At the same time a targeted distribution of an electrical field on a conductive substrate surface is effected by a specific arrangement of said connecting passages.

Abstract: A method for creating an improved coiled tubing is provided, comprising cleaning a sheet metal workpiece using an electroplasma process to remove oxide scale and other contaminants on surfaces of the workpiece; applying a first metal coating to the workpiece using the electroplasma process; forming the sheet metal workpiece into a tube having abutting edges to form a seam; welding the seam to complete the formation of the tube; grinding the seam to establish a smooth exterior surface on the seam; applying a second metal coating to the seam of the tube using the electroplasma process; and coiling the tube around a spool.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vitreous silica crucible which can restrain deterioration of crystallinity of a silicon ingot in multi-pulling. Provided is a vitreous silica crucible for pulling a silicon single crystal, the crucible has a wall having, from an inner surface toward an outer surface of the crucible, a synthetic vitreous silica layer, a natural vitreous silica layer, an impurity-containing vitreous silica layer and a natural vitreous silica layer.