Abstract: A system for classifying thyroid nodule tissue as malignant or benign is provided that is based on the identification of sets of gene transcripts, which are characterized in that changes in expression of each gene transcript within a set of gene transcripts can be correlated to with either malignant or benign thyroid nodule disease. The thyroid classification system provides for sets of “thyroid classifying” target sequences and further provides for combinations of polynucleotide probes and primers derived there from. These combinations of polynucleotide probes can be provided in solution or as an array. The combination of probes and the arrays can be used for diagnosis. The invention further provides further methods of classifying thyroid nodule tissue.

Abstract: Kits for diagnosing or assessing the risk of developing cervical cancer in a subject, containing an agent, such as a primer, for detecting at least one single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) are provided. Also provided are methods for diagnosing or assessing the risk of developing cervical cancer in a subject, comprising the detection of at least one SNP.

Abstract: A novel signal directed tissue microdissection method is provided that forms the foundation for an entire multistep panomic (proteomic/genomic) process to inform and ascertain an optimal individualized cancer treatment strategy. Patient tumor tissue is sectioned onto DIRECTOR slides and tumor cells are identified by an inclusion signal while unwanted cells such as normal stroma are identified by an exclusion signal, and whereby such signals are determined by a clinically-trained histologist/pathologist, the presence or absence of immunohistochemical staining, or a combination of both. A liquefied biochemical lysate is prepared from the tumor cells whereby genomics and proteomics assays are performed to inform optimal cancer treatment strategies for the patient that includes chemotherapy agents, targeted therapeutic agents, cancer vaccines, and immunomodulatory agents individually or in combination.

Abstract: There is a need for improved methods for determining the diagnosis and prognosis of patients with conditions, including autoimmune disease and cancer. Provided herein are methods for using DNA sequencing to identify personalized biomarkers in patients with autoimmune disease and other conditions. Identified biomarkers can be used to determine the disease state for a subject with an autoimmune disease or other condition.

Abstract: A novel transgenic corn event designated 5307, is disclosed. The invention relates to DNA sequences of the recombinant constructs inserted into the corn genome and of genomic sequences flanking the insertion site that resulted in the 5307 event. The invention further relates to assays for detecting the presence of the DNA sequences of event 5307, to corn plants and corn seeds comprising the genotype of and to methods for producing a corn plant by crossing a corn plant comprising the event 5307 genotype with itself or another corn variety.

Abstract: This invention relates to polynucleotide sequences encoding a gene that can confer resistance to the plant pathogen Colletotrichum, which causes anthracnose stalk rot, leaf blight and top dieback in corn and other cereals. It further relates to plants and seeds of plants carrying chimeric genes comprising said polynucleotide sequences, which enhance or confer resistance to the plant pathogen Colletotrichum, and processes of making said plants and seeds. The invention further presents sequences that can be used as molecular markers that in turn can be used to identify the region of interest in corn lines resulting from new crosses and to quickly and efficiently introgress the gene from corn lines carrying said gene into other corn lines that do not carry said gene, in order to make them resistant to Colletotrichum and resistant to stalk rot.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for determining the presence or absence of a mechanism of antimicrobial resistance in a sample.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for inducing cell cycle reentry of postmitotic cell. The present disclosure further provides cells and compositions for treating diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, neural disorders, hearing loss, and diabetes.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a tripod universal joint fairway heat treatment device. A magnetizer includes a middle induction area and two-end induction areas, wherein the middle induction area includes magnetic conductive sheets stacked together; and the two-end induction areas include magnetic conductive sheets and magnetic conductive insulation sheets crosswise stacked together. Controllable deformation of an inner cavity fairway of a tripod universal joint during intermediate frequency quenching is realized by changing an arrangement form of the magnetic conductive sheets in the magnetizer, thereby avoiding a condition that three pivot shafts and bearing rings cannot be installed due to excessive deformation at a fairway opening after quenching, and greatly improving a qualified rate of products and safety performance of the products during use.

Abstract: A method of making a high strength head-hardened crane rail and the crane rail produced by the method. The method comprises the steps of providing a steel rail having a composition comprising, in weight percent: C 0.79-1.00%; Mn 0.40-1.00; Si 0.30-1.00; Cr 0.20-1.00; V 0.05-0.35; Ti 0.01-0.035; N 0.002 to 0.0150; and the remainder being predominantly iron. The steel rail is cooled from a temperature between about 700 and 800° C. at a cooling rate having an upper cooling rate boundary plot defined by an upper line connecting xy-coordinates (0 s, 800° C.), (40 s, 700° C.), and (140 s, 600° C.) and a lower cooling rate boundary plot defined by a lower line connecting xy-coordinates (0 s, 700° C.), (40 s, 600° C.), and (140 s, 500° C.).

Abstract: The disclosure is to provide a martensitic stainless steel excellent in strength, workability and corrosion resistance. The martensitic stainless steel comprises a chemical composition containing, in mass %: C: 0.020% or more and less than 0.10%, Si: 0.01% or more and 2.0% or less, Mn: 0.01% or more and 3.0% or less, P: 0.050% or less, S: 0.050% or less, Cr: 10.0% or more and 16.0% or less, Ni: 0.01% or more and 0.80% or less, Al: 0.001% or more and 0.50% or less, and N: more than 0.050% and 0.20% or less, satisfying N %?C %, and the balance containing Fe and incidental impurities, where C % and N % indicate respectively the contents of C and N (mass %) in the steel.

Abstract: Provided is an ultra-high strength hot-rolled steel sheet which is mainly used for components requiring high strength and excellent bending workability. The ultra-high strength hot-rolled steel sheet comprises: 0.1 to 0.25 wt % of C; 0.01 to 0.2 wt % of Si; 0.5 to 2.0 wt % of Mn; 0.005 to 0.02 wt % of P; 0.001 to 0.01 wt % of S; and a balance of Fe and other inevitable impurities. The ultra-high strength hot-rolled steel sheet further comprises 0.001 to 0.35 wt % of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Nb, Mo, Cr, and B, and the following Relational Expression 1 is satisfied, relational Expression 69.2-311.5[C]-0.1[Si]-4.0[Mn]-5.3[Cr]-2.6[Ni]-6.6[Ti]-660.6 [B]-39[P]?0, where [C], [Si], [Mn], [Cr], [Ni], [Ti], [B], and [P] refer to wt % of the content of each element.

Abstract: A process for making an article of manufacture from elongated strip of a soft-magnetic Fe—Co alloy is disclosed. The process includes a prefabrication annealing step in which the elongated strip is annealed before it is fabricated into parts. The prefabrication annealing step is carried out at a temperature that is greater than the ordering temperature of the alloy. The process further includes the step of cooling the alloy from the annealing temperature at a rate that is selected to cause substantial transformation of the disordered phase of the soft-magnetic Fe—Co alloy to an ordered phase thereof. An article of manufacture made by using the process is also disclosed.

Abstract: A stabilization process for an arsenic solution comprising thiosulfates, the process comprising: acidifying the arsenic solution to decompose the thiosulfates, to yield an acidified solution; oxidizing the acidified solution to oxidize residual As3+ to As5+ and reduced sulfur species to sulfates, to yield a slurry comprising elemental sulfur; separating elemental sulfur from the slurry to yield a liquid; oxidizing the liquid to oxidize residual reduced sulfur species, to yield an oxidized solution; and forming a stable arsenic compound from the oxidized solution.

Abstract: The present application relates to methods for leaching and extraction of precious metals. For example, the present application relates to methods of leaching gold, palladium and/or platinum from a substance comprising gold, palladium and/or platinum (such as a gold-containing ore or a platinum group metal (PGM) concentrate) using an organic solvent that is water-miscible or partially water-miscible.

Abstract: Process for digestion of fine iridium, comprising the steps of: (a) alkaline oxidative digestion of 1 part by weight fine iridium and 3 to 20 parts by weight of a combination comprising 40 to 70 parts by weight sodium hydroxide, 15 to 30 parts by weight sodium nitrate, and 10 to 40 parts by weight sodium peroxide in the melt, whereby the sum of the weight fractions adds up to 100 parts by weight; (b) cooling the digestion material formed in step (a) to 20 to 70° C.; (c) dissolving the acid-soluble fractions of the cooled digestion material in water/halogen hydracid until an acidic aqueous solution with a pH value in the range of ?1 to +1 is obtained; and (d) boiling the acidic aqueous solution obtained in step (c) until the formation of nitrous gases is completed; whereby a step (e) of separating insoluble ingredients from the acidic aqueous solution can take place before or after step (d), if needed.

Abstract: A coalescing element for aggregating droplets of an emulsion. The coalescing element includes a nonwoven web substrate. A coalescer that includes the coalescing element can also include a housing and a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet each in fluid communication with the coalescing element. The coalescing element and coalescer may be useful for emulsions that form in solvent extraction/electrowinning copper processing and for other emulsions.

Abstract: A precious alloy for horological applications contains by mass, in parts per thousand of the total, 540 to 630 parts of gold, 150 to 220 parts of palladium, 100 to 265 parts of silver, more than 150 to 265 parts of copper, from 0.0 to 0.2 parts of iridium, 0.0 to 4.0 parts of zinc, and the remainder containing iron and/or nickel and/or cobalt. The proportion by mass of the total content of gold, palladium, silver, copper, iridium and zinc is greater than 999.900 parts, the proportion by mass of the remainder is less than 0.100 parts. The density of the alloy includes between 13.5 and 14.5 g/cm3. The proportion by mass of cobalt is less than 0.005 parts, that of iron is less than 0.005 parts, and that of nickel is less than 0.0005 parts. The total of copper and zinc includes between 150 and 270 parts.

Abstract: A composition for sintering to fabricate a part comprising an alloy based on titanium aluminide, the composition including a powder of an alloy based on titanium aluminide, and an addition powder including a mixture of a metallic aluminum powder and of a metallic titanium powder. The composition includes 0.5% to 5% by weight of addition powder.

Abstract: A high rigid spheroidal graphite cast iron, comprising: more than 3.0% to less than 3.6% of C, 1.5 to 3.0% of Si, 1.0% or less of Mn, 1.0% or less of Cu, less than 0.03% of P, 0.02% to 0.07% of Mg, residual Fe and inevitable impurities, as represented by mass %, wherein a carbon equivalent (a CE value) calculated by the mathematical expression (1): CE=C %+Si %/3 in terms of C and Si contents is 3.6 to 4.3%, the Young's modulus is 170 GPa or more, the tensile strength is 550 MPa or more, and the impact value is 12 J/cm2 or more.

Abstract: A steel sheet for can lids contains, in mass %, 0.020-0.060% of C, 0.01-0.05% of Si, 0.20-0.60% of Mn, 0.001-0.100% of P, 0.008-0.020% of S, 0.0130-0.0190% of N, and from 0.005% to {?4.20×N+0.110}% of Al, with Mnf being 0.30% to 0.58% (inclusive), where Mnf=Mn?1.7×S, and with the balance made up of Fe and unavoidable impurities. The lower yield strength YP (N/mm2) and the yield point elongation YPEl (%) of this steel sheet for can lids after an aging treatment at 210° C. for 10 minutes satisfy YP?355, YPEl?2, YPEl?(60/(YP?355))+2 and YP?4.09×YPEl+476. A method for producing this steel sheet for can lids.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of producing heat-treatable as-cast plate, and products based on the same. Generally, the new methods comprise continuously delivering a molten aluminum alloy having at least one of zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), silicon (Si), and copper (Cu) to a molten belt caster, continuously solidifying the molten aluminum alloy into an aluminum alloy plate via the horizontal belt caster, then continuously discharging the aluminum alloy plate at an exit of the horizontal belt caster, and then quenching the discharged aluminum alloy plate via a quenching apparatus located proximal the exit of the horizontal belt caster.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing an aluminium alloy strip from a non-precipitation-hardenable aluminium alloy having the following alloying constituents in wt %: 3.6%?Mg?6%, Si?0.4%, Fe?0.5%, Cu?0.15%, 0.1%?Mn?0.4%, Cr<0.05%, Zn?0.20%, Ti?0.20%, with the remainder Al and unavoidable impurities, individually at most 0.05 wt %, in total at most 0.15 wt %. In the method, a rolling ingot is cast. The rolling ingot is homogenised and then hot rolled into a hot strip. Then, the strip is cold rolled before a last intermediate annealing. The intermediate annealing is carried out to produce a recrystallised microstructure. The intermediate-annealed aluminium alloy strip is cold rolled to a final thickness, and the aluminium alloy strip is reverse annealed in the coil to a final thickness.

Abstract: A method of forming and processing a high strength aluminum alloy for the production of a vehicle component includes providing a metal sheet that was rolled from an aluminum alloy. The sheet is heat treated through a first aging step of a set of aging steps that are necessary to achieve a T6 or a T7 temper state. Prior to achieving the T6 or a T7 temper state, the sheet is formed to a desired shape and welded in the desired shape to produce a desired vehicle component. Once formed, the vehicle component is heat treated through a remaining aging step to achieve a T6 or T7 temper state homogeneously throughout the vehicle component.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a precipitation hardened high Ni heat-resistant alloy having a component composition including, in terms of mass %: Cr: 14 to 25%; Mo: 15% or less; Co: 15% or less; Cu: 5% or less; Al: 4% or less; Ti: 4% or less; Nb: 6% or less; provided that Al+Ti+Nb is 1.0% or more; and inevitable impurities including at least C and N, with the balance being Ni, in which C is contained in an amount of 0.01% or less, and N fixed as carbonitride is contained in such an amount that Michelin point determined from inclusions extracted by an evaluation method according to ASTM-E45 is 100 or less.

Abstract: The manufacture of a metal turbomachine part, comprising steps consisting of melting a titanium-aluminium intermetallic compound by plasma torch in a ring mould, extracting therefrom an ingot, as cast, in a state cooled from molten, cutting the ingot into at least one blank with an external shape that is simpler than the more complex one of said part to be manufactured, and machining the blank in order to obtain the part with said more complex external shape.

Abstract: A method for removing a coating including a rare earth silicate from a substrate including a ceramic or ceramic matrix composite may include contacting a coating comprising a rare earth silicate with a liquid comprising an active species. The active species may include at least one of a mineral acid or a base. The method also may include working the coating to cause removal of at least a portion of the coating.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of applying a wear-resistant copper-nickel-tin coating to a substrate using a thermal spray process. Briefly, a copper-nickel-tin alloy feedstock is converted into a powder or droplet form, then sprayed onto a substrate to form a coating thereon.

Abstract: A feedstock for a thermal spray process is disclosed. The feedstock includes fly ash derived from coal combustion. A method for coating an article is disclosed. The method includes applying the feedstock as a coating precursor by a thermal spray process. The fly ash preferentially forms a coating disposed on a substrate of the article.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a metal strip or sheet, including the steps of providing a substrate made from stainless steel; and depositing a chromium-nitride layer on the substrate by physical vapor deposition (PVD) in a deposition installation comprising a deposition chamber and a chromium target arranged in the deposition chamber. The deposition chamber has a deposition area with a length strictly smaller than the length of the deposition chamber and at least a first prohibited area. During the deposition, the chromium nitride is deposited on the substrate only in the deposition area and no chromium nitride is deposited on the substrate in the prohibited area.

Abstract: A vacuum deposition facility for continuously depositing coatings formed from metal alloys having at least two metallic elements on a running substrate is provided. The vacuum deposition facility includes a vacuum deposition chamber, a substrate running through the vacuum deposition chamber and an evaporation crucible inside the vacuum deposition chamber. The evaporation crucible includes a heater and a bath of molten metal alloy which has at least two metallic elements in a predetermined and constant ratio. The evaporation crucible evaporates the molten metal alloy into a vapor. The vacuum deposition facility also includes a coater inside the vacuum deposition chamber and connected to the evaporation crucible. The coater sprays a face of the running substrate with the vapor at a sonic velocity in order to deposit a coating on the running substrate. The vapor includes the at least two metallic elements in the predetermined and constant ratio.

Abstract: A fuel cell separator includes a metal substrate having a surface; an ion penetration layer including carbon diffusion-inhibiting ions extending from the surface of the metal substrate into the metal substrate; and a carbon coating layer disposed on the surface of the metal substrate.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present invention, provided is a method for forming an amorphous thin film, the method comprising: forming a seed layer on a surface of a base by supplying aminosilane-based gas on the base; forming the first boron-doped amorphous thin film by supplying the first source gas including boron-based gas on the seed layer; and forming the second boron-doped amorphous thin film by supplying the second source gas including boron-based gas on the first amorphous thin film.

Abstract: A coated cutting tool comprising a substrate and a coating layer formed on a surface of the substrate, the coating layer including at least one ?-type aluminum oxide layer, wherein, in the ?-type aluminum oxide layer, a texture coefficient TC (1,2,11) of a (1,2,11) plane is 1.4 or more. TC ? ( 1 , 2 , 11 ) = I ? ( 1 , 2 , 11 ) I 0 ? ( 1 , 2 , 11 ) ? { 1 8 ? ? I ? ( h , k , l ) I 0 ? ( h , k , l ) } - 1 ( 1 ) (In formula (1), I (h,k,l) denotes a peak intensity for an (h,k,l) plane in X-ray diffraction of the ?-type aluminum oxide layer, I0 (h,k,l) denotes a standard diffraction intensity for an (h,k,l) plane which is indicated on a JCPDS Card No. 10-0173 for ?-type aluminum oxide, and (h,k,l) refers to eight crystal planes of (0,1,2), (1,0,4), (1,1,0), (1,1,3), (0,2,4), (1,1,6), (2,1,4) and (1,2,11).

Abstract: There is provided a processing apparatus including a stage disposed inside a chamber, and a cover member provided in an outer edge portion of the stage and configured to partition an interior of the chamber into a processing space above the stage and a bottom space below the stage. The cover member includes a first protrusion portion configured to make surface-to-surface contact with a surface of the stage, a second protrusion portion spaced apart from the first protrusion portion and configured to make surface-to-surface contact with the surface of the stage, and an exhaust path provided between the first protrusion portion and the second protrusion portion and configured to exhaust a gas from a buffer space formed by the cover member and the stage.

Abstract: Embodiments of improved substrate carriers are provided herein. In some embodiments, a substrate carrier, includes: a multi-layered disk having upper and lower layers formed of a continuous material and an electrostatic electrode structure disposed therebetween, wherein the multi-layered disk is dimensioned and arranged so as to have a nominal dimension which exceeds a nominal dimension of a standard substrate size used in the manufacture of light emitting diode devices, and wherein the multi-layered disk is formed symmetrically about a central axis and defines a substantially planar upper surface.

Abstract: A multi-layer coating for a surface of an article comprises a diffusion barrier layer and an erosion resistant layer. The diffusion barrier layer may be a nitride film including but not limited to TiNx, TaNx, Zr3N4, and TiZrxNy. The erosion resistant layer may be a rare oxide film comprising YZrxOy. The diffusion barrier layer and the erosion resistant layer may be deposited on the article's surface using a thin film deposition technique including but not limited to, ALD, PVD, and CVD.

Abstract: Disclosed is a film forming apparatus that forms a TiN film on a wafer by an ALD method. The film forming apparatus includes a chamber configured to accommodate the wafer, a gas supply mechanism configured to supply a titanium raw material gas including a TiCl4 gas, a nitriding gas including a NH3 gas, and a purge gas into the chamber, an exhaust mechanism configured to evacuate the inside of the chamber, and a controller configured to control the gas supply mechanism such that the TiCl4 gas and the NH3 gas are alternately supplied into the wafer. The gas supply mechanism has an NH3 gas heating unit configured to heat the NH3 gas to change a state of the NH3 gas and supplies the NH3 gas, the state of which is changed by the NH3 gas heating unit, into the chamber.

Abstract: Described herein is a method for substantially nickel-free phosphating of a metallic surface, wherein a metallic surface, optionally after cleaning and/or activation, is first treated with an acidic aqueous phosphating composition that includes zinc ions, manganese ions, and phosphate ions, and is optionally rinsed and/or dried, and is thereafter treated with an aqueous after-rinse composition that includes at least one kind of metal ion selected from the group consisting of the ions of molybdenum, copper, silver, gold, palladium, tin, antimony, titanium, zirconium, and hafnium and/or at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of the polymer classes of the polyamines, polyethyleneamines, polyanilines, polyimines, polyethyleneimines, polythiophenes, and polypryroles and also mixtures and copolymers thereof, with both the phosphating composition and the after-rinse composition being substantially nickel-free.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method for specifically adjusting the electrical conductivity of a conversion coating, wherein a metallic surface or a conversion-coated metallic surface is treated with an aqueous composition which comprises at least one kind of metal ions selected from the group consisting of the ions of molybdenum, copper, silver, gold, palladium, tin, and antimony and/or at least one electrically conductive polymer selected from the group consisting of the polymer classes of the polyamines, polyanilines, polyimines, polythiophenes, and polypryrols.

Abstract: Methods and systems for forming cracks as masks for the fabrication of micro-metal mesh are disclosed, including depositing a composite film onto a substrate wherein the composite film comprises a brittle layer, a brittle layer atop a mediate layer, or a brittle layer atop a sacrificial layer; generating a tensile stress in the substrate and/or the composite film in order to form micro-cracks in the brittle layer; tuning widths of the micro-cracks; transferring pattern of the micro-cracks onto the sacrificial layer; depositing a conductive material onto the brittle layer and the area of the substrate or mediate layer exposed by the pattern of the micro-cracks; and performing a lift-off of the brittle layer and if present the sacrificial layer from the substrate or mediate layer, resulting in the micro-metal mesh atop the substrate or mediate layer. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the surface treatment of a biocorrodable implant by means of alternating cathodic and anodic polarization, and also to a corresponding implant.

Abstract: An electrolytic ozone generator includes an anode with a longitudinal edge, a cathode with a longitudinal edge spaced apart from the cathode, and an isolator. The isolator electrically separates the cathode from the anode and is semi-impermeable. The anode and cathode are impermeable for generating ozone in a flow area fluidly coupling longitudinal edges of the anode and the cathode. Ozone water apparatus, methods of making electrolytic ozone generators, and methods of generating ozone using electrolytic ozone generators are also described.

Abstract: Disclosed are a catalyst for generating hydrogen and a method of preparing the same. The catalyst for generating hydrogen according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a conductive textile composed of a polymer fiber and a metal film, and a transition metal chalcogen compound thin film, wherein the surface of the polymer fiber is coated with the metal film and the transition metal chalcogen compound thin film is formed on the conductive textile. By combination of the transition metal chalcogen compound thin film and the conductive textile, the catalyst for generating hydrogen has excellent catalytic properties, such as low onset potential, small Tafel slope, high exchange current density and high stability.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a boric-acid free nickel plating composition which does not include organic carboxylic acid but has high bath-pH-stability. The nickel plating composition provides a nickel plating film suitable for the use of electronic components.

Abstract: The present invention relates to aqueous acidic plating baths for copper and copper alloy deposition in the manufacture of printed circuit boards, IC substrates, semiconducting and glass devices for electronic applications. The plating bath according to the present invention comprises at least one source of copper ions, at least one acid and at least one guanidine compound. The plating bath is particularly useful for plating recessed structures with copper and build-up of copper pillar bump structures.

Abstract: The acidic copper plating solution of the present invention includes: a first additive including a cationic polymer; at least one second additive selected from the group consisting of 2-mercapto-5-benzimidazole sulfonic acid, sodium 2-mercapto-5-benzimidazole sulfonate dihydrate, ethylene thiourea, and partial 2-mercapto-5-benzimidazole sulfonate of poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride); and a third additive including a sulfur atom-containing organic compound, the acidic copper plating solution having a copper concentration of 10 to 60 g/L and a sulfuric acid concentration of 10 to 200 g/L, and containing chloride ions of in an amount of 90 mg/L or less. The acidic copper plating solution is capable of producing an acidic copper plated product having low thermal expansion property.

Abstract: Provided are a plated material having excellent abrasion resistance, electrical conductivity, sliding performance, and low friction, in which a plating layer does not undergo embrittlement properly; and a method for producing the plated material. The method includes a first step of at least partially removing a reflow tin plating layer from a metallic base material having the reflow layer on at least a part thereof and a reactive layer provided at the interface between the reflow layer and the base material; a second step of at least partially subjecting a region in which the reflow tin plating layer has been removed to a nickel plating treatment; a third step of at least partially subjecting the nickel plating layer to a silver strike plating treatment; and a fourth step of at least partially subjecting a region of the silver strike plating to a silver plating treatment.

Abstract: Photoactive silicon films may be formed by electrodeposition from a molten salt electrolyte. In an embodiment, SiO2 is electrochemically reduced in a molten salt bath to deposit silicon on a carbonaceous substrate.

Abstract: A chemical bath system includes a reactor tank configured to store a chemical bath solution including at least one organic element, and an organics removing chamber assembly. The organics removing chamber assembly includes at least one sub-chamber that delivers the chemical bath solution from a high-pressure section of a bath circuit to a low-pressure section. The organics removing chamber assembly modifies an amount of the at least one organic element as the chemical bath solution flows therethrough. The chemical bath system further includes an analysis/dosing controller. The analysis/dosing controller outputs a control signal that controls the organics removing chamber assembly to modify the amount of the at least one organic element in the chemical bath solution based on a comparison between an actual amount of the at least one organic element in the chemical bath solution and a desired amount of the at least one organic element.