Abstract: The present disclosure provides adeno-associated virus (AAV) virions with altered capsid protein, where the AAV virions exhibit greater infectivity of retinal cells, when administered via intravitreal injection, compared to wild-type AAV. The present disclosure further provides methods of delivering a gene product to a retinal cell in an individual, and methods of treating ocular disease.

Abstract: The invention concerns a continuous method for treating a lignocellulosic biomass before enzymatic hydrolysis, said method comprising a transfer of crushed then pressed biomass to a step of impregnation by an acid liquor, the impregnated biomass dripping over the area containing the impregnation liquor, then the resulting wet biomass is pressed and sent to a steam explosion step. The impregnation liquor is prepared in a dedicated area from the used liquor from the dripping operation and/or that from the pressing operation, prior to the explosion step. The invention also concerns the facility for implementing the method.

Abstract: Sensors measure magnetic field components, and the measured fields are used to calculate and estimated transverse position of a longitudinal electric current flowing as an electric discharge across a discharge gap. Based on the estimated position, and according to a selected transverse trajectory or distribution of the estimated discharge position, magnetic fields are applied transversely across the discharge gap so as to control or alter the estimated discharge position. Inventive apparatus and methods can be employed, inter alia, during operation of a vacuum arc furnace.

Abstract: A steel plate for high-strength and high-toughness steel pipes has a chemical composition containing, by mass %, C: 0.03% or more and 0.08% or less, Si: more than 0.05% and 0.50% or less, Mn: 1.5% or more and 2.5% or less, P: 0.001% or more and 0.010% or less, S: 0.0030% or less, Al: 0.01% or more and 0.08% or less, Nb: 0.010% or more and 0.080% or less, Ti: 0.005% or more and 0.025% or less, and N: 0.001% or more and 0.006% or less, and further containing, by mass %, at least one selected from Cu: 0.01% or more and 1.00% or less, Ni: 0.01% or more and 1.00% or less, Cr: 0.01% or more and 1.00% or less, Mo: 0.01% or more and 1.00% or less, V: 0.01% or more and 0.10% or less, and B: 0.0005% or more and 0.0030% or less, with the balance being Fe and inevitable impurities. The steel plate has a microstructure in which an area fraction of ferrite at a ½ position of a thickness of the steel plate is 20% or more and 80% or less and deformed ferrite constitutes 50% or more and 100% or less of the ferrite.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hot-pressed member that can exhibit very high tensile strength after hot pressing as high as TS: 1780 MPa or more, and excellent indentation peeling strength at projection welds by properly adjusting its chemical composition and its microstructure such that a prior austenite average grain size is 7 ?m or less within a range of 50 ?m or less in a thickness direction from a surface of the member, a volume fraction of martensite is 90% or more, and an average intergrain distance of Nb and Ti carbonitrides having a grain size of less than 0.10 ?m within a depth range of 20 ?m to 100 ?m in the thickness direction from the surface of the member is 5 ?m or less.

Abstract: A method of recovering a metal, such as copper or nickel or zinc or cobalt, from a metal-containing material, such as a metal-containing material that has been categorized by a mine operator as being “non-economic” from the perspective of recovering the metal from the material. Mixing (i) the metal-containing material and (ii) pyrite and forming agglomerates. Leaching agglomerates with a leach liquor, with pyrite generating acid and heat that facilitate recovering the metal from the metal-containing material, and forming a pregnant leach liquor containing metal. Recovering the metal from the pregnant leach liquor.

Abstract: A method of forming a functionally designed cemented tungsten carbide can include forming a particulate matrix mixture including a primary particulate tungsten carbide and a primary particulate metal binder. A particulate enhancement mixture can be formed having a secondary particulate tungsten carbide, a secondary particulate metal binder, and a particulate grain growth inhibitor, where the enhancement mixture has a finer particle size than the matrix mixture. The particulate matrix mixture can be assembled with the particulate enhancement mixture to form a structured composite where the matrix mixture forms a continuous phase and the enhancement mixture forms at least one of a dispersed granular phase and a surface layer adjacent the continuous phase to form the structured composite. This structured composite can be sintered to form the functionally designed cemented tungsten carbide having a differential grain size with the enhancement phase having a smaller grain size than the matrix phase.

Abstract: A coated steel sheet including a steel sheet and a coating layer provided on at least part of the surface of the steel sheet, in which the coating layer has a predetermined chemical composition in terms of % by mass, and the coating layer has a granular Mg2Sn phase-containing structure in an area fraction of from 5 to 65%, and a structure containing a solid solution of Zn and Al, and the granular Mg2Sn phase-containing structure is a structure constituted with a Zn phase and a granular Mg2Sn phase having a crystal grain size of less than 1 ?m dispersed in the Zn phase.

Abstract: This aluminum alloy material has an alloy composition which comprises at least one among 0.05-1.50 mass % of Fe, 0.01-0.15 mass % of Si, 0.01-0.3 mass % of Cu, and 0.01-1.5 mass % of Mg, with the balance being Al and inevitable impurities, and has a fibrous metal structure in which crystal grains extend in one direction. In a cross section parallel to said one direction, the average value of the dimensions of the crystal grains in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction thereof is 800 nm or less, and the primary surface of the aluminum alloy material has a crystal orientation distribution in which the ratio H (K100/K111) of K100 to K111 is at least 0.15 as determined by the X-ray pole figure method, where K100 is the sum of the diffraction intensities resulting from crystals in which <100> is oriented in the longitudinal direction, and K111 is the sum of the diffraction intensities resulting from crystals in which <111> is oriented in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is an alloyed steel powder for powder metallurgy from which sintered parts that do not contain expensive Ni, or Cr or Mn susceptible to oxidation, that have excellent compressibility, and that have high strength in an as-sintered state can be obtained. The alloyed steel powder for powder metallurgy has: a chemical composition containing Mo: 0.5 mass % to 2.0 mass % and Cu: 1.0 mass % to 8.0 mass %, with the balance being Fe and inevitable impurities; and a microstructure in which an FCC phase is present at a volume fraction of 0.5% to 10.0%.

Abstract: A steel sheet has a specific chemical composition and has a structure represented by, by area ratio, ferrite: 30 to 95%, and bainite: 5 to 70%. When a region that is surrounded by a grain boundary having a misorientation of 15° or more and has a circle-equivalent diameter of 0.3 ?m or more is defined as a crystal grain, the proportion of crystal grains each having an intragranular misorientation of 5 to 14° to all crystal grains is 20 to 100% by area ratio. An average aspect ratio of ellipses equivalent to the crystal grains is 5 or less. An average distribution density of the total of Ti-based carbides and Nb-based carbides each having a grain size of 20 nm or more on ferrite grain boundaries is 10 carbides/?m or less.

Abstract: A coated metal sheet is provided. The coated metal sheet includes a steel substrate, a metal coating on at least one face of the steel substrate, the metal coating comprising at least 40% by weight of zinc; and a layer coating an outer surface of the metal coating, the layer including an amino acid in a neutral or salt form, the amino acid being selected from among alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamine, lysine, methionine, proline, serine, threonine, or of a mixture thereof, the amount of said amino acid or of said mixture being from 0.1 to 200 mg/m2, and optionally a base or a mixture of bases, or an acid or a mixture of acids.

Abstract: High strength galvannealed steel sheet having, a) a composition consisting of (in wt. %): C 0.10-0.2, Mn 2.0-3.0, Si 0.2-0.5, Cr 0.1-0.7, Ti 0.01-0.07, Al?0.2, Nb<0.05, Mo<0.1, optionally B 0.001-0.005, balance Fe apart from impurities, b) a multiphase microstructure comprising (in vol. %) retained austenite 4-20, martensite 5-25, bainitic ferrite ?10, polygonal ferrite ?10, balance bainite+tempered martensite 50-90, c) a tensile strength (Rm) 1180-1300 MPa, a yield strength (Rp0.2) 800-970 MPa, an elongation (A50) ?8%, or an elongation (A80) ?6%, and d) a bendability value Ri/t of ?4 for a sample having the size of 35 mm×100 mm, wherein Ri is the bending radius in mm and t is the thickness in mm of the steel sheet.

Abstract: A deposition system and a method of operation thereof are disclosed. A PVD chamber is disclosed comprising a plurality of cathode assemblies, a rotating shield below the plurality of cathode assemblies to expose one of the plurality cathode assemblies through the shroud and through a shield hole of the shield, the shield comprising a top surface including a raised peripheral frame. A shield mount sized and shaped to engage with the raised peripheral frame to secure the shield mount to the shield.

Abstract: A sputtering target according to this invention comprises an alloy of Al and Sc and contains from 25 at. % to 50 at. % of Sc. The sputtering target has an oxygen content of 2000 ppm by mass or less, and a variation in Vickers hardness (Hv) of 20% or less.

Abstract: A method for producing a waveguide including a germanium-based core and a cladding is provided, the method including a step of “low temperature” depositing of a shell after forming the core by engraving, such that the deposition temperature is less than 780° C., followed by a step of “high temperature” depositing of a thick encapsulation layer. The shell and the encapsulation layer at least partially form the cladding of the waveguide. Optionally, a step of annealing under hydrogen at a “low temperature”, less than 750° C., precedes the deposition of the shell. These “low temperature” annealing and depositing steps advantageously make it possible to avoid a post-engraving alteration of the free surfaces of the core during the forming of the cladding which is less germanium-rich.

Abstract: Methods for gapfill of high aspect ratio features are described. A first film is deposited on the bottom and upper sidewalls of a feature. The first film is etched from the sidewalls of the feature and the first film in the bottom of the feature is treated to form a second film. The deposition, etch and treat processes are repeated to fill the feature.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is the use, as catalyst support sublayer in a process for growing carbon nanotubes by chemical vapour deposition (CVD), of a multilayer stack formed of alternating layers of silica and of alumina, each of the layers having a thickness of less than or equal to 10 nm and consisting of one or more superposed atomic monolayer(s). It also relates to a multilayer structure comprising a substrate which has, on at least one of its faces, such a multilayer stack, and also to the use thereof for the growth of a mat of carbon nanotubes, which are in particular spinnable, by chemical vapour deposition, preferably hot-filament chemical vapour deposition.

Abstract: The step of removing the reaction product includes a step of loading a dummy wafer on the loading table, a step of increasing the temperature of the loading table, and a step of removing the reaction product after increasing the temperature of the loading table. In the step of increasing the temperature of the loading table, the temperature of the loading table is increased by opening an expansion valve between an output terminal of a condenser and an input terminal of the heat exchange unit, inputting heat to the loading table, opening a flow dividing valve between an output terminal of a compressor and the input terminal of the heat exchange unit, and adjusting an opening degree of the flow dividing valve.

Abstract: An atomic layer deposition device for massively coating micro-nano particles, includes a reaction chamber and a particle container, in which an inlet port is provided at a lower end of the reaction chamber, and an inlet pipe for introducing a precursor or a carrier gas is provided in the inlet port; a chamber door is provided at an upper end of the reaction chamber, so that the particle container can be freely placed in or removed out of the reaction chamber; an air inlet hole is provided at a lower end of the particle container, and the inlet pipe enters the particle container through the air inlet hole.

Abstract: A substrate processing system configured to perform a deposition process on a substrate includes a substrate support including a plurality of zones and a plurality of resistive heaters arranged throughout the plurality of zones. The plurality of resistive heaters includes separately-controllable resistive heaters arranged in respective ones of the plurality of zones. A controller is configured to, during the deposition process, control the plurality of resistive heaters to selectively adjust temperatures within the plurality of zones.

Abstract: A film-forming apparatus includes a processing container having a vacuum atmosphere therein, a stage having a heater and disposed in the processing container to load a substrate thereon, a gas discharge mechanism provided at a position to face the stage, and an exhaust part configured to exhaust an inside of the processing container. The gas discharge mechanism includes a gas intake port configured to introduce a processing gas into the processing container, a first plate-shaped member having a first opening formed in a more radially outward position than the gas intake port and a shower plate disposed between the first plate-shaped member and the stage to supply the processing gas from the first opening to a process space through a plurality of gas holes.

Abstract: Embodiments of process kits for us in a substrate processing chamber are provided herein. In some embodiments, a process kit for use in a substrate processing chamber includes an annular body configured to surround a substrate support and having an upper portion, a lower portion, and a central opening through the upper portion and the lower portion, wherein the upper portion includes sidewalls coupled to an upper flange that defines an outer diameter of the annular body, wherein the upper portion includes a plurality of first holes disposed through the sidewalls, and wherein the upper portion includes one or more heating elements; and a shield disposed about the annular body, wherein the shield includes an exhaust port fluidly connected to the plurality of first holes.

Abstract: A method of processing each of a plurality of substrates comprises: obtaining a first correction factor based on a first flow rate set value of a mass flow controller and a first measurement value of a mass flow meter; adjusting the first flow rate set value of the mass flow controller with the first correction factor so that the flow rate of the vaporized raw material becomes equal to a target value to process the substrate; obtaining a second correction factor based on a second flow rate set value of the mass flow controller and a second measurement value of the mass flow meter; and adjusting the second flow rate set value of the mass flow controller with the second correction factor so that the flow rate of the vaporized raw material becomes equal to the target value to process the substrate.

Abstract: Methods of forming plasmonic diamond films are provided. In an embodiment, such a method comprises forming a first layer of diamond on a substrate; depositing a layer of a metal on a surface of the first layer of diamond to form an as-deposited layer of metal; exposing the as-deposited layer of metal to a plasma treatment to convert the as-deposited layer of metal to a plurality of discrete regions of the metal on the surface of the first layer of diamond; and forming a second layer of diamond on the plurality of discrete regions of metal to form the plasmonic diamond film comprising a plurality of plasmonic nanoparticles.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for in-line thermal flattening and enameling of steel sheets. The systems and methods include an in-line thermal flattening of a feed stock steel sheet and a subsequent enamel coating of the steel sheet. The resulting enamel coated steel sheet has improved flatness compared with other coated steel sheets that are enamel coated but do not undergo the in-line thermal flattening. The systems and methods allow the use of less expensive source materials without sacrificing quality in the finished enameled product.

Abstract: To provide an electrolysis cell for producing an organic chemical hydride capable of advancing a reduction reaction in a cathode of an organic compound having an unsaturated bond with high current efficiency and a small electric power consumption unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods for electrochemically producing chemical products are provided. In certain cases, the systems and methods described herein are capable of producing chemical products such as hydrogen peroxide in solutions with relatively low concentrations of electrolyte or other dissolved species at high efficiencies and/or low energetic cost. In some cases, redox mediators are used to temporally decouple direct electrochemical processes from the production of the chemical product.

Abstract: A wire comprising a wire core with a surface, the wire core having a coating layer superimposed on its surface, wherein the wire core itself consists of: (a) pure silver consisting of (a1) silver in an amount in the range of from 99.99 to 100 wt.-% and (a2) further components in a total amount of from 0 to 100 wt.-ppm or (b) doped silver consisting of (b1) silver in an amount in the range of from >99.49 to 99.997 wt.-%, (b2) at least one doping element selected from the group consisting of calcium, nickel, platinum, palladium, gold, copper, rhodium and ruthenium in a total amount of from 30 to <5000 wt.-ppm and (b3) further components in a total amount of from 0 to 100 wt.-ppm, or (c) a silver alloy consisting of (c1) silver in an amount in the range of from 89.99 to 99.5 wt.-%, (c2) at least one alloying element selected from the group consisting of nickel, platinum, palladium, gold, copper, rhodium and ruthenium in a total amount in the range of from 0.5 to 10 wt.

Abstract: A method includes: agitating base members that has been immersed in an electrolytic solution inside of an electroplating tank so as to flow in a circumference direction along an inner wall of the electroplating tank; and electroplating the base members flowing along the circumference direction in the electrolytic solution inside of the electroplating tank. The flow of the base members along the circumference direction is caused by a flow of magnetic media along the circumference direction in the electrolytic solution inside of the electroplating tank or is caused by rotation of an agitation unit provided at a bottom side of the electroplating tank. At least one of the base members touches a bottom cathode, and a base member positioned upward relative to the base member touching the bottom cathode is electrically connected to the bottom cathode via at least the base member touching the bottom cathode.

Abstract: A laminate including a metal substrate having a chemically etched surface and a fluoroelastomer layer laminated in contact with the chemically etched surface or laminated in contact with a surface of a fluororesin layer laminated in contact with the chemically etched surface, and a gate seal including the laminate, are provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for electrochemically processing a semiconductor substrate includes a processing chamber of the type that is sealable to a peripheral portion of a semiconductor substrate so as to define a covered processing volume. The semiconductor substrate is supported by a substrate support. A magnetic arrangement is disposed outside of the processing chamber and produces a magnetic field. The magnetic field is changed using a controller for controlling the magnetic arrangement. An agitator is disposed within the processing chamber. The agitator comprises a magnetically responsive element which is responsive to changes in the magnetic field of the magnetic arrangement so as to provide a reciprocating motion to the agitator.

Abstract: A substrate attachment and detachment device appropriate for a double-sided holder is provided. The substrate attachment and detachment device is a device that holds a substrate in a substrate holder and/or releases the holding of the substrate using the substrate holder. The substrate holder includes a first frame and a second frame. The first frame and the second frame have openings, respectively. The device includes a substrate supporting unit that sandwiches the substrate between the first frame and the second frame. The substrate supporting unit includes a lower substrate supporter, and an upper substrate supporter. The lower substrate supporter is configured to come into contact with the substrate through the opening of the frame positioned on a lower side. The upper substrate supporter is configured to come into contact with the substrate through the opening of the frame positioned on an upper side.

Abstract: A method for holding a substrate on the substrate holder is provided, and in this method, the substrate holder includes a front frame, a rear frame, a clamper for clamping the front frame and the rear frame; and seals configured to come into contact with the substrate and one of the front frame and the rear frame when the front frame and the rear frame are clamped. The method includes pressing at least one of the front frame and the rear frame toward another one to press the seals against the substrate, and compressing the seals; and clamping the front frame and the rear frame by the clamper in a state that the seals are compressed. During the seals being compressed, a place where a force is applied to at least one of the front frame and the rear frame is a position closer to the clamper than the seals.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) package incorporating controlled induced warping is disclosed. The IC package includes an electronic substrate having an active side upon which semiconducting dies and functional circuits have been lithographed or otherwise fabricated, leading to an inherent warping in the direction of the active side. One or more corrective layers may be deposited to the opposing, or inactive, side of the semiconducting die via electroplating in order to induce corrective warping of the electronic substrate back toward the horizontal (e.g., in the direction of the inactive side) to a desired degree.

Abstract: A system and a method for fabricating crystals, the method comprising heating an irradiation target to a temperature comprised in a range between a boiling point temperature of a material of the irradiation target and a critical point temperature of the material of the irradiation target, thereby generating a plasma plume of particles ablated from a surface of the irradiation target.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a silicon carbide (SiC) substrate with improved mechanical and electrical characteristics. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing a bulk SiC crystal in a physical vapor transport growth system. The silicon carbide substrate comprises an inner region (102) which constitutes at least 30% of a total surface area of said substrate (100), a ring shaped peripheral region (104) radially surrounding the inner region (102), wherein a mean concentration of a dopant in the inner region (102) differs by at maximum 5·1018 cm?3, preferably 1·1018 cm?3, from the mean concentration of this dopant in the peripheral region (104).

Abstract: A method for producing a GaN crystal is provided. In the method, front surfaces of a plurality of tiling GaN seeds closely arranged side by side on a flat surface of a plate are planarized. An aggregated seed is formed by arranging the tiling GaN seeds closely side by side on a susceptor of an HVPE apparatus in the same arrangement as when fixed on the plate, with the front planarized surfaces facing upward. A bulk GaN crystal is grown epitaxially on the aggregated seed by an HVPE method.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a copper-zinc-aluminum-iron single crystal alloy material having an ultra-large grain structure of 5-50 cm grade, obtained by annealing an as-cast alloy having a polycrystalline structure through a single phase region of 800-960° C. for 2-105 h, where the as-cast alloy includes, by weight percentage, 62-82% of copper, 6-29% of zinc, 5-12% of aluminum, and 2-5% of iron. In the present invention, the alloy compositions have an essential difference and are a copper-zinc-aluminum-iron quaternary alloy, and the iron element is an indispensable alloying element. The preparation process of the present invention is extremely simple and very easy to implement and has a very good application prospect.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides shuttle vectors for editing exogenous polynucleotides in heterologous live cells, as well as automated methods, modules, and multi-module cell editing instruments and systems for performing the editing methods.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrospinning apparatus and method of use thereof.

Abstract: A fiber formed from a thermoplastic composition that contains a thermoplastic starch and an aliphatic-aromatic copolyester is provided. The copolyester enhances the strength of the starch-containing fibers and facilitates the ability of the starch to be melt processed. Due to its relatively low melting point, the copolyester may also be extruded with the thermoplastic starch at a temperature low enough to avoid substantial removal of the moisture in the starch. Furthermore, the copolyester is also modified with an alcohol to contain one or more hydroxyalkyl or alkyl terminal groups. By selectively controlling the conditions of the alcoholysis reaction (e.g., alcohol and copolymer concentrations, temperature, etc.), the resulting modified aliphatic-aromatic copolyester may have a relatively low molecular weight.

Abstract: An oxidation furnace for the oxidative treatment of fibers having a housing which is gas-tight, apart from passage openings for the fibers, inter alia. A process chamber is located in the interior of the housing. Deflecting rollers guide the fibers through the process chamber in a serpentine manner so that the fibers lie next to one another as a fiber carpet which spans a plane between opposite deflecting rollers. An atmosphere-generating device can generate a hot working atmosphere and includes a blowing device with at least one outlet window through which a hot working atmosphere can be blown into the process chamber between two adjacent planes of the fiber carpet (22a). The working atmosphere is guided into the process chamber by a flow guiding system. The flow guiding system includes exchangeable flow guiding elements with flow passages which can be detachably and/or movably mounted on the blowing device, before the outlet window.

Abstract: A textile machine and related method of operation include a plurality of adjacently arranged workstations divided into a plurality of sections, each workstation having a plurality of communication-capable units, and each section comprising at least two section busses and a section control system. The communication-capable units of the workstations in the section are in communication with the section control system via one of the section busses. A first portion of the communication-capable units of the workstations in each section are configured in communication with a first one of the section busses and a second portion of the communication-capable units of the workstations in the same section are configured in communication with a second one of the section busses.

Abstract: Provided is a commingled yarn having a dispersing property and having a smaller amount of voids, a method for manufacturing the commingled yarn, and a weave fabric using the commingled yarn. The commingled yarn comprises a continuous thermoplastic resin fiber, a continuous reinforcing fiber, and a surface treatment agent and/or sizing agent, comprises the surface treatment agent and/or sizing agent in a content of 2.0% by weight or more, relative to a total amount of the continuous thermoplastic resin fiber and the continuous reinforcing fiber, and has a dispersibility of the continuous thermoplastic resin fiber and the continuous reinforcing fiber of 70% or larger.

Abstract: Load-bearing composite panels, materials, and products made by surrounding with a long fiber and/or fiber cloth reinforced polyurethane resin, an assembly containing one or more load-bearing members, graphene, a structural polyurethane/resin sandwich composite and/or spider silk protein fiber-cloth-continuous fibers. The composite structures can provide stronger, lighter-weight structural items such as vehicle floor and body panels, bullet-proof anti-ballistic panel products, vehicle bullet-proof anti-ballistic body panel structures and floors, bullet-proof vests, vehicle chassis, monocoque chassis, motor homes chassis-bodies, fuselage floors and frames for aircraft and/or UAV's, bicycle and motorcycle frames, wind turbine blades frames and structures, ship or boat haul body structures, shipment containers, pre-fabricated walls of buildings, train structure body or floor panels, solar panel supports, battery housings, mobile home walls, roof modules, truck beds, and truck trailer floors.

Abstract: A method of creating a soft and lofty continuous fiber nonwoven web is provided. The method includes providing a first molten polymer and a second, different molten polymer to a spinneret defining a plurality of orifices and flowing a fluid intermediate the spinneret and a moving porous member. The method includes using the fluid to draw the first and second molten polymer components, in a direction toward the moving porous member, through at least some of the plurality of orifices to form a plurality of individual continuous fiber strands. The method includes depositing the continuous fiber strands onto the moving porous member at a first location to produce an intermediate continuous fiber nonwoven web, and intermittently varying a vacuum force applied to the moving porous member and to the intermediate web downstream of the first location and without the addition of more continuous fibers and without any heat applied.

Abstract: A stitching system includes a jig capable of joining two shoe parts and capable of being used in an automated stitching machine. The jig includes a lower member capable of being operably coupled to the automated stitching machine and an upper member also capable of being operably coupled to the automated stitching machine. The two shoe parts are held in place between the lower member and the upper member. The lower member, the upper member and the two shoe parts therebetween are moved by the automated stitching machine in accordance with a pattern stored in the automated stitching machine.

Abstract: An embroidery hoop that doubles as a frame. The frame has a groove for holding a spline to hold embroidery material inside the frame.

Abstract: Reel for fabric treating machines, said reel comprising: a substantially cylindrical main body (110) having a side surface (111), a first axial end (112) and a second axial end (113); first and second flanges (114, 115), respectively mounted to the first and second axial ends (112, 113) of said main body (110); at least one drag element (120) mounted, in the operating position, externally to said side surface (111), at least one constraining device (130), associated with said drag element (120) to hold said drag element (120) in said operating position. The constraining device (130) can be switched between a first condition, in which it holds said drag element (120) in said operating position, and a second operating condition, in which it allows said respective drag element (120) to be removed.