Abstract: The invention is in the field of genomics and it provides an in vitro method for predicting whether a compound is genotoxic in vivo. In particular, the invention provides a method for predicting the in vivo genotoxicity of a compound comprising the steps of performing an Ames test on the compound and determining if the result is positive or negative, followed by a step wherein the gene expression of at least 3 genes is determined in a HepG2 cell, compared to a reference value and predicting that the compound is in vivo genotoxic if the expression level of more than 2 of the genes is above a reference value.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for predicting the onset of extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) induced by an antipsychotic-based treatment as well as methods for providing personalized medicine to patients based on the sequence of several SNPs associated with the onset of EPS. The invention relates as well to kits for carrying out the diagnostic and predictive medicine methods.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel methods for diagnosing a state of health based on the determination of specific miRNAs that have altered expression levels in different conditions, e.g. disease states compared to healthy controls.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and biomarkers (e.g., gene expression biomarkers) for detection of colorectal cancer in biological samples (e.g., tissue samples, biopsy samples, stool samples, blood samples, plasma samples, serum samples). In some embodiments, methods and biomarkers of the present invention find use in detection of colon cancer, providing a prognosis to colorectal cancer patients, and in companion diagnostics.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of diagnosing a subject as having and/or being a carrier for infantile myofibromatosis. This method involves providing an isolated biological sample from a subject; contacting the sample with one or more reagents suitable for detecting the presence or absence of one or more mutations in PDGFRB and/or NOTCH3; detecting, in the sample, the presence or absence of the one or more mutations in PDGFRB and/or NOTCH3 based on said contacting; and diagnosing the subject as having and/or being a carrier for infantile myofibromatosis based on said detecting, where the presence of the one or more mutations in PDGFRB and/or NOTCH3 indicates the subject has a mutation that causes infantile myofibromatosis. Also disclosed is a method of treating a subject having infantile myofibromatosis and a method of preventing or treating symptoms associated with infantile myofibromatosis.

Abstract: The invention provides, inter alia, methods of prognosing a subject with, or suspected of having, multiple myeloma. In certain embodiments, the methods entail testing the gene expression levels of enolase 1 (ENO1), fatty acid binding protein 5 (FABP5), thyroid hormone receptor interactor 13 (TRIP 13), transgelin 2 (TAGLN2), and replication factor C (activator 1) 4 (RFC4) in a biological sample isolated from the subject. The invention also provides methods of treatment for multiple myeloma, as well as kits, oligonucleotides, and systems for performing the methods provided by the invention.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of separating carbohydrate, including: mixing formic acid with heteropoly acid, chloride or bromide of lithium, magnesium, calcium, zinc, or iron, or combinations thereof to form a mixing liquid. The method also includes dissolving a cellulose biomass by the mixing liquid to form a solution, mixing water and the solution to hydrolyze the cellulose biomass for forming a carbohydrate solution, and mixing an extractant and the carbohydrate solution to extract the formic acid out of the carbohydrate solution. The heteropoly acid, the chloride or bromide of lithium, magnesium, calcium, zinc, or iron, or combinations thereof in the carbohydrate solution is separated out of the carbohydrate solution by ion exclusion chromatography separation to obtain a carbohydrate.

Abstract: A method for making a vehicle body component includes forming a generally flat plate of unhardened, hot-formable sheet steel with a marginal shape which corresponds essentially to the developed configuration of the finished vehicle body component. The formed plate is hot-formed and hardened in a single press tool to define a sheet profile which corresponds to the configuration of the finished vehicle body component, and a surface coating is applied to the sheet profile.

Abstract: A process for reducing flatness deviations in an alloy article is disclosed. An alloy article may be heated to a first temperature at least as great as a martensitic transformation start temperature of the alloy. A mechanical force may be applied to the alloy article at the first temperature. The mechanical force may tend to inhibit flatness deviations of a surface of the alloy article. The alloy article may be cooled to a second temperature no greater than a martensitic transformation finish temperature of the alloy. The mechanical force may be maintained on the alloy article during at least a portion of the cooling of the alloy article from the first temperature to the second temperature.

Abstract: A method for producing a silicon steel normalizing substrate comprises: steelmaking, hot rolling and normalizing steps. The normalizing step uses a normalizing furnace having a nonoxidizing heating furnace section. The nonoxidizing heating furnace section comprises more than 3 furnace zones. An energy investment ratio of the furnace zones used in the nonoxidizing heating furnace section is adjusted, so as to control an excess coefficient ? of the nonoxidizing heating furnace section to be within a range of 0.8??<1.0.

Abstract: An annealing system and method of operating is described. The annealing system includes a furnace having a vacuum chamber wall that defines a processing space into which a plurality of workpieces may be translated and subjected to thermal and magnetic processing, wherein the furnace further includes a heating element assembly having at least one heating element located radially inward from the vacuum chamber wall and immersed within an outer region of the processing space, and wherein the heating element is composed of a non-metallic, anti-magnetic material. The annealing system further includes a magnet system arranged outside the vacuum chamber wall of the furnace, and configured to generate a magnetic field within the processing space.

Abstract: Provided herein are processes for recovering metal present at low concentration from an acidic aqueous solution, including contacting the acidic aqueous solution with an organic phase solution including one or more 5-(C8 to C14 alkyl)-2-hydroxyaryloxime, thereby extracting at least part of the metal from the acidic aqueous phase; increasing or maintaining the concentration of metal in the organic phase solution by recycling a portion of the organic phase solution containing the metal and contacting the organic phase with an acidic aqueous solution containing the metal; contacting the organic phase solution containing metal with an aqueous phase strip solution comprising an inorganic compound that back-extracts the metal, thereby stripping at least part of the metal from the organic phase solution to the aqueous phase strip solution; and separating the metal from the aqueous phase strip solution, thereby recovering the metal.

Abstract: A process for bio-oxidation of sulfides in mineral ore having a metal such as gold occluded or dispersed within the ore as a sulfide is disclosed. The first step comminutes the ore into particles with a size distribution having a P80 of less than 0.25 inch with minus 106 micron particles in the range of 15% to 40% by weight. Agglomerates are formed by adding to the comminuted ore particles an acidic inoculate solution including water, with the solution further including microorganisms capable of bio-oxidizing the sulfides. The agglomerates are then placed in at least one bio-reactor containment vessel to form an ore bed. The process continues by bio-oxidizing the sulfides in the ore bed; then re-circulating the solution through the ore bed, and continuing the bio-oxidation until a desired bio-oxidation level is achieved. Thereafter, the metal is recovered from the ore.

Abstract: A process for the production of a metal which comprises: carbothermal reduction of the corresponding metal oxide to produce a mixed gas stream comprising the metal and carbon monoxide; maintaining the mixed gas stream at a suitably elevated temperature to prevent reformation of the metal oxide; ejecting the mixed gas stream through a convergent-divergent nozzle in order to cool the mixed gas stream instantaneously to a temperature at which reformation of the metal oxide cannot take place; and separating and collecting the metal, wherein the nozzle is heated by means other than gas flow through the nozzle so that temperature of surfaces of the nozzle in contact with the mixed gas stream are maintained at a temperature sufficient to prevent deposition on the said surfaces of products from the gas stream.

Abstract: The inventive extraction/separation method involves the step of contacting an organic phase containing a dialkyldiglycol amic acid extractant: R1R2NCOCH2OCH2COOH with an aqueous solution containing scandium and zirconium and/or hafnium for thereby extracting zirconium and/or hafnium into the organic phase. The purity of scandium can be efficiently increased by the simple step of solvent extraction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the production of a uranium trioxide yellowcake from a uranium peroxide precipitate, the peroxide precipitate being in the form of a low solids content, uranium rich feed slurry, the process including the stages of: a. thickening the feed slurry to produce a thickener underflow with a solids content in the range of 15 to 50% w/w and a thickener overflow; b. dewatering the thickener underflow to produce a solids cake with a solids content of at least 50% w/w and a dewater overflow; and c. calcining the solids cake at a temperature in the range of 450° C. to 480° C. to produce a calcined uranium trioxide yellowcake.

Abstract: High-density thermodynamically stable nanostructured copper-based metallic systems, and methods of making, are presented herein. A ternary high-density thermodynamically stable nanostructured copper-based metallic system includes: a solvent of copper (Cu) metal; that comprises 50 to 95 atomic percent (at. %) of the metallic system; a first solute metal dispersed in the solvent that comprises 0.01 to 50 at. % of the metallic system; and a second solute metal dispersed in the solvent that comprises 0.01 to 50 at. % of the metallic system. The internal grain size of the solvent is suppressed to no more than 250 nm at 98% of the melting point temperature of the solvent and the solute metals remain uniformly dispersed in the solvent at that temperature. Processes for forming these metallic systems include: subjecting powder metals to a high-energy milling process, and consolidating the resultant powder metal subjected to the milling to form a bulk material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a ?-type titanium alloy that includes, by mass %, when Al: 2 to 5%, 1) Fe: 2 to 4%, Cr: 6.2 to 11%, and V: 4 to 10%, 2) Fe: 2 to 4%, Cr: 5 to 11%, and Mo: 4 to 10%, or 3) Fe: 2 to 4%, Cr: 5.5 to 11%, and Mo+V (total of Mo and V): 4 to 10% in range, and a balance of substantially Ti. These include Zr added in amounts of 1 to 4 mass %. Furthermore, by making the oxygen equivalent Q 0.15 to 0.30 or leaving the alloy in the work hardened state or by applying both, the tensile strength before aging heat treatment can be further increased.

Abstract: A magnesium alloy that forms a stable protective film on the surface of molten metal, having excellent ignition resistance restricting natural ignition of a chip thereof as well as having excellent strength and ductility, so that the Mg alloy can be melted and cast in the air or a common inert atmosphere. The magnesium alloy includes, by weight, 7.0% or greater but less than 11% of Al, 0.05% to 2.0% of Ca, 0.05% to 2.0% of Y, greater than 0% but not greater than 6.0% of Zn, and the balance of Mg, and the other unavoidable impurities. The total content of the Ca and the Y is equal to or greater than 0.1% but less than 2.5% of the total weight of the magnesium alloy.

Abstract: A spheroidal graphite cast iron comprising: C: 3.3 to 4.0 mass %, Si: 2.1 to 2.7 mass %, Mn: 0.20 to 0.50 mass %, S: 0.005 to 0.030 mass %, Cu: 0.20 to 0.50 mass %, Mg: 0.03 to 0.06 mass % and the balance: Fe and inevitable impurities, wherein a tensile strength is 550 MPa or more, and an elongation is 12% or more.

Abstract: The invention relates to a duplex stainless steel having austenitic-ferritic microstructure of 35-65% by volume, preferably 40-60% by volume of ferrite and having good weldability, good corrosion resistance and good hot workability. The steel contains 0.005-0.04% by weight carbon, 0.2-0.7% by weight silicon, 2.5-5% by weight manganese, 23-27% by weight chromium, 2.5-5% by weight nickel, 0.5-2.5% by weight molybdenum, 0.2-0.35% by weight nitrogen, 0.1-1.0% by weight copper, optionally less than 1% by weight tungsten, less than 0.0030% by weight one or more elements of the group containing boron and calcium, less than 0.1% by weight cerium, less than 0.04% by weight aluminium, less than 0.010% by weight sulphur and the rest iron with incidental impurities.

Abstract: An austenitic stainless steel composition including relatively low Ni and Mo levels, and exhibiting corrosion resistance, resistance to elevated temperature deformation, and formability properties comparable to certain alloys including higher Ni and Mo levels. Embodiments of the austenitic stainless steel include, in weight percentages, up to 0.20 C, 2.0-9.0 Mn, up to 2.0 Si, 15.0-23.0 Cr, 1.0-9.5 Ni, up to 3.0 Mo, up to 3.0 Cu, 0.05-0.35 N, (7.5(C))?(Nb+Ti+V+Ta+Zr)?1.5, Fe, and incidental impurities.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production and removal of a temporary protective layer for a cathodic coating, particularly for the production of a hardened steel component with an easily paintable surface, wherein a steel sheet made of a hardenable steel alloy is subjected to a preoxidation, wherein said preoxidation forms a FeO layer with a thickness of 100 nm to 1,000 nm and subsequently a melt dip coating is conducted, wherein, during the melt dip coating, a zinc layer is applied having a thickness of 5 to 20 ?m, preferably 7 to 14 ?m, on each side, wherein the melt dip process and the aluminum content of the zinc bath is adjusted such that, during the melt dip coating, an aluminum content for the barrier layer results of 0.15 g/m2 to 0.

Abstract: A process for producing a thermal barrier coating having an excellent thermal barrier effect and superior durability to thermal cycling. Also, a turbine member having a thermal barrier coating that has been formed using the production process, and a gas turbine. The process for producing a thermal barrier coating includes: forming a metal bonding layer (12) on a heat-resistant alloy substrate (11), and forming a ceramic layer (13) on the metal bonding layer (12) by thermal spraying of thermal spray particles having a particle size distribution in which the 10% cumulative particle size is not less than 30 ?m and not more than 100 ?m.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a coated cutting tool in which a coating with at least one oxide layer is applied to a base layer by means of a PVD method. The method includes voltage-pulsed sputtering of at least one cathode metal selected from the group of aluminum, scandium, yttrium, silicon, zinc, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, chromium, niobium, and tantalum, as well as mixtures and alloys thereof in the presence of a reactive gas; and the depositing of at least one oxide layer formed by converting the reactive gas with the sputtered cathode metal onto the base body. The cathode metal includes at least aluminum. Dinitrogen oxide is used as the reactive gas. The at least one oxide layer is in the form of an oxide, mixed oxide, or oxide mixture of the at least one cathode metal.

Abstract: A system is disclosed, including a processing chamber for a deposition process; a cathode within the chamber, configured to introduce a sputter gas and a reactive gas adjacent to a target; a substrate holder, disposed opposite the cathode within the processing chamber, configured to secure a substrate to receive a deposition from the target; and a control system configured to monitor a target voltage and to control a flow rate of the reactive gas to maintain the target voltage within a desired range during the deposition process. Methods and devices for deposition processes are also disclosed.

Abstract: Employed is a roller-type continuous vapor-deposited film forming device in which a film-forming section and a preprocessing section provided with a plasma preprocessing device are arranged in series at a distance from each other. With a substrate transported at a high speed, plasma (P) is supplied to the substrate surface side while set to an electrically positive potential by a plasma preprocessing means for supplying the plasma toward the substrate (S) in a space enclosed in a preprocessing roller, and enclosed in a plasma supply means for supplying a plasma-forming gas and in a magnet (21), which is a magnetism formation means. An active preprocessed surface is formed on the surface of the substrate (S). An inorganic oxide vapor-deposited film having as a principal component thereof an aluminum oxide containing AL-C covalent bonds is immediately formed at high speed in succession on the preprocessed surface of the substrate to produce a highly adhesive transparent vapor-deposited film.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) media stack is provided in which Iridium (Ir)-based materials may be utilized as a secondary underlayer instead of a Magnesium Oxide (MgO) underlayer utilized in conventional media stacks. Such Ir-based materials may include, e.g., pure Ir, Ir-based alloys, Ir-based compounds, as well as a granular Ir layer with segregants. The use of Ir or Ir-based materials as an underlayer provide advantages over the use of MgO as an underlayer. For example, DC sputtering can be utilized to deposit the layers of the media stack, where the deposition rate of Ir is considerably higher than that of MgO resulting in higher manufacturing production yields. Further still, less particles are generated during Ir-based layer deposition processes, and Ir-based underlayer can act as a better heat sink. Further still, the morphology and structure of a recording layer deposited on an Ir-based layer can be better controlled.

Abstract: A method of containing molten aluminum using non-wetting materials comprising depositing MgAl2O4, or one selected from an oxide, Al2O3, nitride, AlN, BN, carbide, and SiC, onto a crucible. An apparatus for containment of molten aluminum using non-wetting materials comprising a layer of MgAl2O4, or one selected from an oxide, Al2O3, nitride, AlN, BN, carbide, and SiC, deposited onto a crucible.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for targeted, maskless modification of material on or in a substrate using charged particle beams. Electrostatically-deflected charged particle beam columns can be targeted in direct dependence on the design layout database to perform direct and knock-on ion implantation, producing patterned material modifications with selected chemical and 3D-structural profiles. The number of required process steps is reduced, reducing manufacturing cycle time and increasing yield by lowering the probability of defect introduction. Local gas and photon injectors and detectors are local to corresponding individual columns, and support superior, highly-configurable process execution and control. Targeted implantation can be used to prepare the substrate for patterned blanket etch; patterned ALD can be used to prepare the substrate for patterned blanket deposition; neither process requiring photomasks or resist.

Abstract: Devices having an air bearing surface (ABS), the device including a near field transducer, the near field transducer having a peg and a disc, the peg having a region adjacent the ABS, the peg including a plasmonic material selected from gold (Au), silver (Ag), copper (Cu), ruthenium (Ru), rhodium (Rh), aluminum (Al), or combinations thereof; and at least one other secondary atom selected from germanium (Ge), tellurium (Te), aluminum (Al), antimony (Sb), tin (Sn), mercury (Hg), indium (In), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), silver (Ag), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), and combinations thereof, wherein a concentration of the secondary atom is higher at the region of the peg adjacent the ABS than a concentration of the secondary atom throughout the bulk of the peg, and a method of forming NFT thereof.

Abstract: By using chemical vapor deposition or chemical vapor infiltration, silicon carbide is deposited on a preform 100 accommodated in a reaction furnace 11 for film formation, and the amount of additive gas added to raw material gas and carrier gas to be supplied to the reactive furnace 11 is used to control the growth rate and filling uniformity at film formation of silicon carbide. When the film formation of silicon carbide follows a first-order reaction, the amount of added additive gas is used to control the sticking probability of the film-forming species. When the film formation of silicon carbide follows a Langmuir-Hinshelwood rate formula, the amount of added additive gas is used to make a control so that a zero-order reaction region of the Langmuir-Hinshelwood rate formula is used.

Abstract: A method of forming a thin film on a substrate which includes a step of contacting a surface with a precursor compound having a transition metal and one or more alkyl-1,3-diazabutadiene ligands is provided. The resulting modified surface is then contacted with an activating compound.

Abstract: A method, comprising: —providing a process space atmosphere at a process space atmosphere pressure; —providing an exterior atmosphere at an exterior atmosphere pressure that is different from the process space atmosphere pressure; —providing a passage via which the exterior atmosphere is in open communication with the process space atmosphere, and via which substrates are exchangeable between the exterior atmosphere and the process space atmosphere; —injecting an exchange fluid into the passage at at least one exchange fluid injection point, so as to effect a flow of exchange fluid that extends through at least a part of the passage, wherein said flow is directed towards —the exterior in case the exterior atmosphere pressure is greater than the process space atmosphere pressure; or —the process space in case the exterior atmosphere pressure is smaller than the process space atmosphere pressure.

Abstract: Disclosed is a nanoparticle generating unit, a nanoparticle coating unit, and a core-shell nanoparticle collecting unit are connected to link and continuously process generation of nanoparticles and a coating and collecting process. The nanoparticle coating unit is formed of a porous material or in a grid structure and a moving speed of the nanoparticles can be decreased using a speed adjustment member installed at a process passage of a coating chamber.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally provide apparatus and methods for supporting a gas distribution showerhead in a processing chamber. In one embodiment, a gas distribution showerhead for a vacuum chamber includes a rectangular body having four sides, a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first major surface, and a plurality of gas passages formed through the body in a longitudinal direction between the first and second major surfaces, a center support member coupled to the body in a center region thereof, and a mid-support member coupled to the body between the center region and the side.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vacuum processing apparatus capable of reducing attachment of particles generated in a processing space to an inner wall of a chamber, and of easily adjusting pressure in the processing space while introducing a gas into the processing space at a desired flow rate. A vacuum processing apparatus according to one embodiment includes: a container; a gas exhaust portion; a substrate holder configured to retain a substrate; a shield provided to surround the substrate holder and dividing an inside of the container into a processing space and an outside space; a gas introducing portion; a plasma generating portion; and an exhaust portion provided to the shield having a communication path through which the processing space and the outside space communicate, wherein at least part of the communication path is hidden from a region where the plasma generating portion generates the plasma.

Abstract: A device for manufacturing nanostructures consisting of carbon, such as monolayers, multilayer sheet structures, tubes, or fibers includes a gas inlet element having a housing cavity enclosed by housing walls, into which a gas feed line opens, through which a gaseous, in particular carbonaceous starting material can be fed into the housing cavity, having a plasma generator, which has components arranged at least partially in the housing cavity, which has at least one plasma electrode to which electrical voltage can be applied, to apply energy to the gaseous starting material by igniting a plasma and thus converting the gaseous starting material into a gaseous intermediate product, and having a gas outlet surface having a plurality of gas outlet openings, through which the gaseous intermediate product can exit out of the housing cavity. A gas heating unit is provided for assisting the conversion, which is arranged downstream of the components.

Abstract: A conduction structure includes a device substrate (third substrate) including a conductive portion, an IC (second substrate) including an upper surface, an end surface inclined toward the upper surface, and a conductive portion (second conductive portion), a sealing plate (first substrate) including an upper surface, an end surface (first side wall portion) inclined toward the upper surface, and a conductive portion (first conductive portion), and plating layers that respectively form electrical connections between a conductive portion and a conductive portion and between a conductive portion and the conductive portion.

Abstract: A substrate entire region treatment process of discharging a processing fluid of a temperature different from a surface temperature of a substrate 3 from a first nozzle 24 toward the substrate is performed while moving the first nozzle toward an outer side from an entire region treatment start position P2 located at a central portion to an entire region treatment end position P5 located at a peripheral portion. Then, after moving the first nozzle toward an inner side to a peripheral region treatment start position P6 located at an outer position than the entire region treatment start position P2, a substrate peripheral region treatment process of discharging the processing fluid from the first nozzle toward the substrate is performed while moving the first nozzle toward the outer side from the peripheral region treatment start position P6 to a peripheral region treatment stop position P7 located at a peripheral portion.

Abstract: A conductive film is formed on a flexible polymer support by applying a seed layer comprising gallium oxide, indium oxide, magnesium oxide, zinc oxide or mixture (including mixed oxides) thereof to the flexible polymer support, and applying an extensible, visible light-transmissive metal layer over the seed layer. The seed layer oxide desirably promotes deposition of the subsequently-applied metal layer in a more uniform or more dense fashion, or promotes earlier formation (viz., at a thinner applied thickness) of a continuous metal layer. The resulting films have high visible light transmittance and low electrical resistance.

Abstract: A regular metallic, cylindrical tubular needle cannula (1) is subjected to a metal etching liquid (21) in the inside lumen (4) thereby increasing the inside diameter and enhancing the flow properties while maintaining the outside appearance. The inside diameter is only increased over a controlled length (7) of the full length of the needle cannula (1) leaving sufficient length and wall thickness to also taper the outside diameter.

Abstract: A method for removing oxide from a metallic substrate is described. The method includes providing a stream of boron trifluoride; heating the metallic substrate at a first temperature; and heating the metallic substrate at a second temperature different from the first temperature. An associated apparatus is also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to method and apparatus for lining the cathode of the electrolytic cell. The method comprises filling the cell's shell with powder material, leveling it with a rack, covering the fill material with a dust-proof film, and compaction. Compaction is performed in two stages: preliminary static and final dynamic treatment by consequent movement of static and dynamic work tools of compaction along the longitudinal axis of the cathode of the electrolytic cell through a cushion, which is made of at least 2 layers: a lower layer, which prevents pushing powder material forward in the direction of travel, and an upper layer, which provides for a coupling between the cushion and the static work tool. Static treatment unit of the apparatus, designed in the form of a roller with a drive, is connected to a dynamic treatment unit with a vibratory exciter by means of elastic elements.

Abstract: Techniques for electrodepositing selenium (Se)-containing films are provided. In one aspect, a method of preparing a Se electroplating solution is provided. The method includes the following steps. The solution is formed from a mixture of selenium oxide; an acid selected from the group consisting of alkane sulfonic acid, alkene sulfonic acid, aryl sulfonic acid, heterocyclic sulfonic acid, aromatic sulfonic acid and perchloric acid; and a solvent. A pH of the solution is then adjusted to from about 2.0 to about 3.0. The pH of the solution can be adjusted to from about 2.0 to about 3.0 by adding a base (e.g., sodium hydroxide) to the solution. A Se electroplating solution, an electroplating method and a method for fabricating a photovoltaic device are also provided.

Abstract: A clamper includes: a first clamping member having a first base portion and a first contact portion that is to be in contact with one surface of the workpiece; a second clamping member having a second contact portion that is to be in contact with the other surface of the workpiece; and a clamping member biasing member configured to bias at least one of the first clamping member and the second clamping member in a direction of bringing the first contact portion and the second contact portion closer to each other. The first contact portion has a plurality of plate spring portions extending from the first base portion, the plurality of plate spring portions configured to elastically deform independently from each other to come into contact with the workpiece.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and apparatuses for electroplating which employ seed layer detection. Such methods and related apparatuses may operate by selecting a wafer for processing, measuring from its surface one or more in-process color signals having one or more color components, calculating one or more metrics, each metric indicative of the difference between one of the in-process color signals and a corresponding set of reference color signals, determining whether an acceptable seed layer is present on the wafer surface based on whether a predetermined number of the one or more metrics are within an associated predetermined range which individually corresponds to that metric, and either electroplating the wafer when an acceptable seed layer is present or otherwise designating the wafer unacceptable for electroplating. The foregoing may then be repeated for one or more additional wafers to electroplate multiple wafers from a set of wafers.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for plating a metal onto a work piece are described. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a plating chamber, a substrate holder, an anode chamber housing an anode, an ionically resistive ionically permeable element positioned between a substrate and the anode chamber during electroplating, an auxiliary cathode located between the anode and the ionically resistive ionically permeable element, and an insulating shield with an opening in its central region. The insulating shield may be movable with respect to the ionically resistive ionically permeable element to vary a distance between the shield and the ionically resistive ionically permeable element during electroplating.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for the electrochemical processing of components, having at least one electrode and at least one electrode holder, with which the electrode is movably mounted. The device comprises at least one optical measurement system for determining the position of the electrode. Also disclosed is a method for the electrochemical processing of a component, in particular with such a device, in which the electrode is moved during the electrochemical processing, the position of the electrode being detected by means of an optical measurement system.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrode arrangement for the defined rounding or deburring of edges of electrically conductive components, in particular turbine components, by means of electrochemical machining with at least one working electrode (5), which has a tubular electrode carrier, through which an electrolyte inflow line (10) is provided, the electrode carrier having on the front end a closure (13, 18), which is arranged such that the electrolyte inflow line in the axial direction of the electrode carrier is closed, and at least one outlet opening (19) being arranged in the radial direction. Also disclosed is a self-centering electrode arrangement and an installation for the defined rounding or deburring of edges of electrically conductive components by means of electrochemical machining with at least one corresponding electrode arrangement and also a method using the electrode arrangements and the described installation.