Abstract: The present invention is based on the identification of novel biomarkers predictive of responsiveness to anti-immune checkpoint therapies.

Abstract: A method for detecting at least one systemic condition and at least one locoproximal condition within a surgical site of a subject following a surgery is disclosed. The method includes obtaining a surgical drainage fluid sample from the surgical site and a blood sample from the subject, isolating analyte-containing portions from the surgical drainage fluid sample and the blood sample, and detecting and quantifying at least a portion of the analytes within the analyte-containing portions to produce at least one assay result, wherein the at least one assay result is indicative of the at least one systemic condition and the at least one locoproximal condition within a surgical site of a subject. At least one assay result may be provided to a practitioner and used to select at least one additional treatment.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides, among other things, methods for colorectal cancer screening and compositions related thereto. In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides methods for colorectal cancer screening that include analysis of methylation status of one or more methylation biomarkers, and compositions related thereto. In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides methods for colorectal cancer screening that include screening methylation status of one or more methylation biomarkers in cfDNA, e.g., in ctDNA. In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides methods for colorectal cancer screening that include screening methylation status of one or more methylation biomarkers in cfDNA, e.g., in ctDNA, using MSRE-qPCR.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein generally relates to methods of assessing and monitoring tumor load through analysis of tumor DNA in cancer patients. Quantitative measures derived from cell-free DNA and germline DNA are used to assess and monitor tumor load. By assessing and monitoring tumor load, cancer may be detected in a subject. The tumor load of a subject may be assessed at a number of different time points to monitor a progression, regression, or recurrence of cancer in a subject.

Abstract: In general, the presently disclosed technology relates to identification of cancer subtypes. More specifically, the technology relates to methods for determining molecular drivers of cancer and/or progression using a multivariate image data and statistical analysis of in-situ molecular markers and morphological characteristics in the same cells of a biological sample suspected of b cancer. This analysis takes place after a single acquisition that obtains the molecular and anatomic morphology data in parallel. The analysis compares specific morphological and molecular markers to known samples exhibiting particular genetic drivers of the cancer. This method provides statistical information that allows for an increased confidence in the identification of specific molecular drivers of the cancer.

Abstract: The invention refers to a method of detecting nucleic acid sequences in biological samples from medical, agricultural and biotechnological sources, and a corresponding device, that can be used in health care, in particular in laboratorial diagnosis, to detect genetic sequences, with the objective of identifying viruses and diseases arising from genetic malformations, bringing novelties of using saliva samples, making extraction of RNA from the genetic material from the sample, through a small device with low complexity and innovative design, with the advantages of portable, rapid results, with on-line connectivity to a test results center, dispensing frequent visits to the doctor, hastening the start of treatment, allowing access for groups of people and eliminating the need for a highly qualified operator.

Abstract: This disclosure provides oligomers, compositions, and kits for detecting and quantifying Hepatitis C virus (HCV), including different genotypes and variants thereof, and related methods and uses. In some embodiments, oligomers target the 5? untranslated region of HCV and are configured to provide substantially equivalent quantification of different genotypes and variants of HCV.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for reducing a content of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural in a high fructose syrup, including an ion exchange positive column and an ion exchange negative column for performing cation and anion removals in sequence for an F42 high fructose syrup obtained by performing isomerization and first decolorization, a heat exchanger for performing heat exchange and temperature reduction for an F55 high fructose syrup obtained by performing concentration, chromatographic separation, blending and second decolorization in sequence for the F42 high fructose syrup subjected to ion exchange, a mixed bed column for performing purification for the heat-exchanged F55 high fructose syrup, and an evaporation tank for performing concentration for the F55 high fructose syrup subjected to mixed bed treatment. The present invention further provides a method of reducing a content of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural in a high fructose syrup.

Abstract: In a method for producing a molten steel according to one aspect of the present invention, the solid-state direct reduced iron contains 3.0% by mass or more of SiO2 and Al2O3 in total and 1.0% by mass or more of carbon. A ratio of a metallic iron to the total iron content contained in the solid-state direct reduced iron is 90% by mass or more, and an excess carbon content Cx is 0.2% by mass or more to the carbons contained in the solid-state direct reduced iron. The method includes a step in a first furnace of melting 40 to 100% by mass of the solid-state direct reduced iron, and separating a molten pig iron having a carbon content of 2.0 to 5.0% by mass and a temperature of 1350 to 1550° C. and a slag having a basicity of 1.0 to 1.4 and a step in a second furnace of melting a remainder of the solid reduced iron together with the molten pig iron separated in the first furnace and blowing oxygen onto the molten material to decarburize into a molten steel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for direct reduction of iron ore to afford direct reduced iron, wherein the iron ore sequentially passes through a reduction zone for reducing the iron ore to direct reduced iron and a cooling zone for cooling the direct reduced iron, wherein in the reduction zone the iron ore is subjected to a flow of a reduction gas and wherein in the cooling zone the direct reduced iron is subjected to a flow of a cooling gas. The cooling gas in the cooling zone comprises H2 and CO2, wherein the ratio of the mole fractions of H2 to CO2 is greater than 1.8 and the mole fraction of CO2 is greater than 20 mol %.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for extracting metal from metal-containing raw material in a batch process by using a direct current electric arc furnace (100) having one or more than one top electrode (125) and at least one bottom electrode (115), wherein the method comprises the following steps: adding the metal-containing raw material to the furnace (100), thereby obtaining a loaded bath, moving the top electrode(s) (125) onto the raw material, heating the loaded bath in a heating step by applying direct current through the top electrode(s) to provide an arc to melt the raw material, thereby obtaining molten metal (202), wherein an average voltage during the heating step is from 20 V to 110 V, and forming solid metal from the molten metal (202). The invention further relates to a direct current electric arc furnace, a system comprising a direct current electric arc furnace, and a solid metal obtainable by the method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a wire rod used as a material for a core wire for a power line and, more specifically, to a wire rod having both high strength and a non-magnetic property, and a method for manufacturing same.

Abstract: A steel sheet has a predetermined chemical composition, in which a microstructure in a ¼ width portion, a microstructure in a ½ width portion, and a microstructure in a ¾ width portion, include, by area %, ferrite: 80% or more, martensite: 2% or less, and residual austenite: 2% or less, in which a proportion of unrecrystallized ferrite in the ferrite is 5% to 60%, an average grain size of carbonitrides is 6.0 nm to 30.0 nm, and Expressions (2) to (5) are satisfied. ?SF/?SF?0.10??(2) ?dF/?dF?0.20??(3) ?SUF?20??(4) ?dC/?dC?0.

Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet includes: a step of hot-rolling a slab to manufacture a hot-rolled steel sheet; a step of performing hot-rolled sheet annealing on the hot-rolled steel sheet; a step of performing primary cold-rolling on the hot-rolled sheet annealed hot-rolled steel sheet; a step of performing primary decarburization annealing on the primarily cold-rolled steel sheet; a step of performing secondary cold-rolling on the decarburization-annealed steel sheet; a step of performing secondary decarburization annealing on the secondarily cold-rolled steel sheet; and a step of performing continuous annealing on the secondarily decarburization-annealed steel sheet.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention relates to a cold-rolled steel plate for hot forming, which is excellent in corrosion-resistance and spot-weldability, contains, by weight %, C: 0.1-0.4%, Si: 0.5-2.0%, Mn: 0.01-4.0%, Al: 0.001-0.4%, P: 0.001-0.05%, S: 0.0001-0.02%, Cr: 0.5% to less than 3.0%, N: 0.001-0.02%, and a balance of Fe and inevitable impurities, satisfying formula (1) below, and includes an Si amorphous oxidation layer continuously or discontinuously formed at a thickness of 1 nm-100 nm on the surface thereof. Formula (1): 1.4?0.4*Cr+Si?3.

Abstract: Disclosed are a Nb microalloyed high strength high hole expansion steel and a production method therefor. The chemical ingredients of the steel in percentages by weight are as follows: 0.01-0.05% of C, 0.2-0.6% of Si, 0.8-1.5% of Mn, ?0.02% of P, ?0.005% of S, ?0.008% of N, <0.001% of Als, ?0.0050% of Ca, 0.01-0.08% of Nb, and optionally one or both of 0.1-0.6% of Cu and 0.005-0.04% of Sn, wherein Mn/S>250, total oxygen [O]T is 0.007-0.020%, and the balance is Fe and inevitable impurities.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a Ni- or Ti-based alloy product, the method capable of locally increasing the cooling rate and effectively cooling. The method includes the steps: preliminarily processing a hot working material of a Ni- or Ti-based alloy after hot working into a predetermined shape; heating and holding the material at a solution treatment temperature to obtain a material held in a heated state; and cooling the material held in a heated state to obtain a solution-treated material. The cooling step includes placing a flow path-forming member having a space for forming a flow path for a fluid on a surface of the material held in a heated state to form a fluid flow path defined by the surface of the material held in a heated state and an inner surface of the space of the flow path-forming member; and allowing a fluid to flow in the fluid flow path so that the fluid in the flow path locally cools a part of the surface of the material held in a heated state.

Abstract: Disclosed is a single-chamber furnace for fuming an evaporable metal or metal compound from a metallurgical charge including a bath furnace for containing a molten charge up to a determined level, the furnace being equipped with a non-transferred plasma torch for the generation of plasma and a first submerged injector for injecting the plasma below the determined level, the furnace further including an afterburning zone to form an oxidized form of the at least one evaporable metal or metal compound, and a recovery zone for recovering the oxidized form from the gas formed in the afterburning zone, whereby the furnace is further equipped with a second submerged injector for injecting extra gas into the furnace below the determined level. Further disclosed is the use of the furnace and a process for fuming an evaporable metal or metal compound from a metallurgical charge.

Abstract: A method for recovering precious metal from an acidic aqueous solution containing dissolved precious metal and free chlorine, comprising the following successive steps: (1) combining a salt of a non-precious metal present in a low oxidation state as a solid or as an aqueous solution with the acidic aqueous solution to consume the free chlorine and form an acidic aqueous mixture, and (2) adding non-precious metal to the acidic aqueous mixture formed in step (1) to precipitate elementary precious metal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for recovering copper from secondary raw materials including in a feed batch smelting in a furnace a feedstock including copper oxide and elemental iron for forming a concentrated copper intermediate, whereby heat is generated by the redox reactions converting iron to oxide and copper oxide to copper, whereby copper collects in a molten liquid metal phase and iron oxides collect in a supernatant liquid slag phase, whereby at the end of the batch the liquid phases separate and may be removed from the furnace as smelter slag and as the concentrated copper intermediate, wherein during the smelting step an excess of elemental iron is maintained in the furnace relative to the amount required for completing the redox reactions, and further heat input is provided by the injection of an oxygen containing gas for oxidizing the excess iron.

Abstract: A preparation method of a high-strength and high-toughness A356.2 metal matrix composites for a hub is provided, including the following preparation process steps: preparation of a (graphene+HfB2)-aluminum master alloy wire; A356.2 alloy melting, master alloy addition, refining, and pressure casting; solution and aging treatment; shot blasting, finishing, alkaline/acid cleaning, anodic oxidation, and finished product packaging. In this way, two systems of two-dimensional nano-structure graphene nucleation and in-situ self-nucleation are introduced to complement each other, a second phase of silicon in A356.2 is refined by multi-dimensional scaling, and multi-dimensional nano-phases strengthen the aluminum-based composite material simultaneously. The preparation method solves the problems of limiting the strength, hardness, plasticity and toughness during the application of common A356.

Abstract: A conductor material includes a metal matrix, and a first carbon allotrope distributed within the metal matrix, the first carbon allotrope being aligned with a direction of electric current flow through a length of the metal matrix. The metal matrix and the first carbon allotrope have an electrical interfacial coherency.

Abstract: There is provided a copper alloy consisting of: Ni: 10 to 15% by weight, Sn: 5.0% by weight or more, Mn: 0 to 0.5% by weight, Zr: 0 to 0.5% by weight, at least one selected from the group consisting of Nb, Fe, Al, Ti, B, Zn, Si, Co, P, Mg, and Bi: 0 to 0.2% by weight in total, and the balance being Cu and inevitable impurities. The copper alloy has, in an X-ray diffraction profile, (i) a peak in the vicinity of 2?=46 to 50° having a peak intensity of 30% or more with respect to a peak intensity in the vicinity of 2?=84 to 88° and (ii) a peak in the vicinity of 2?=40 to 42° having a peak intensity of 2.0% or more with respect to a peak intensity in the vicinity of 2?=84 to 88°.

Abstract: A golf club head alloy includes 7-8 wt % of aluminium, 2-3 wt % of molybdenum, 1.4-2.0 wt % of chromium, 0.5-1.1 wt % of vanadium, 0.35-1 wt % of silicon, with the balance being titanium and inevitable impurities. A method of using the golf club head alloy to produce a golf club head is also disclosed.

Abstract: Process for manufacturing a part (20) including a formation of successive metal layers (201 . . . 20n), which are superimposed on each other, each layer being formed by depositing a filler metal (15, 25), the filler metal being subjected to a supply of energy so as to become molten and to constitute, upon solidifying, said layer, the process being characterized in that the filler metal (15, 25) is an aluminum alloy including the following alloy elements (% by weight); Mg: 2.0%-5.0%; Zr: 0.5%-1.0%; Fe: 0.6%-3.0%; optionally Zn: ?0.5%; optionally Cu: ?0.5%; other alloy elements, in total ?4.0%, and individually ?1.0%; impurities: <0.05% individually, and in total <0.15%; remainder aluminum.

Abstract: A base material according to an aspect of the present disclosure is made of a cemented carbide. The cemented carbide includes a first hard phase and a binder phase. The first hard phase consists of WC particles. The binder phase includes at least one element selected from Co and Ni. The base material includes a body portion, and a surface portion provided on a surface of the body portion. The surface portion has a thickness less than or equal to an average particle size in the first hard phase. A ratio (B/A) of an area proportion (B) of the binder phase in a surface of the surface portion to an area proportion (A) of the binder phase in a cross section of the body portion is not less than 1.2 and not more than 2.0.

Abstract: A hot-rolled steel sheet includes, as chemical composition, C, Si, Mn, and sol.Al. In the hot-rolled steel sheet, an average of pole densities in crystal orientation group consisting of {110}<110> to {110}<001> in surface region is 0.5 to 3.0, a standard deviation of the pole densities in the crystal orientation group is 0.2 to 2.0, and the tensile strength is 780 to 1370 MPa.

Abstract: A Super Invar alloy includes Ni of 30 to 35 percent by mass, Co of 3 to 6 percent by mass, Ti of 0.02 to 1.0 percent by mass, Mn of 0 to 0.2 percent by mass, an inevitable impurity including S, and the balance Fe. The Super Invar alloy does not include an additive other than Ti and Mn, as an additive. The Super Invar alloy includes the Ni of 32.3 to 32.5 percent by mass, the Co of 4.4 to 5.1 percent by mass, the Ti of 0.02 to 1.0 percent by mass, and the S of 0.007 to 0.1 percent by mass. The Super Invar alloy is an alloy having good high temperature ductility, low hot crack sensitivity, and low thermal expansibility of equal to or lower than 1 ppm/° C. It is applicable to use Zr or Hf instead of Ti.

Abstract: Provided is a coated body including a base member coated with an iron-based amorphous alloy powder capable of maintaining an amorphous structure even after a coating process, such that the durability, surface hardness, and friction of the base member may be improved. The coated body includes the base member and a coating layer which is formed of an iron-based amorphous alloy and provided on a surface of the base member.

Abstract: Thick high-strength steel having a high yield ratio and excellent durability, and a method for manufacturing same are provided. The thick high-strength steel having a high yield ratio and excellent durability of the present invention comprises, in percentage by weight, C: 0.05 to 0.15%, Si: 0.01 to 1.0%, Mn: 1.0 to 2.3%, Al: 0.01 to 0.1%, Cr: 0.005 to 1.0%, P: 0.001 to 0.05%, S: 0.001 to 0.01%, N: 0.001 to 0.01%, Nb: 0.005 to 0.07%, Ti 0.005 to 0.11%, Fe and unavoidable impurities.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to alloys having high corrosion resistance and high wear resistance. In particular, example embodiments relate to an iron-based alloy including 20 wt % to 50 wt % Cr; 0 wt % to 15 wt % Mo; 0 wt % to 15 wt % W; 3 wt % to 6 wt % B; and a balance of iron and impurities. In example embodiments, the pitting resistance equivalent number (PREN) is greater than 30 at 1300 K under substantially equilibrium solidification conditions. In example embodiments, the mole fraction of a hard phase of the alloy is between 45% and 80% at 1300K under substantially equilibrium solidification conditions. The liquidus of the alloy may be less than 2000K under substantially equilibrium solidification conditions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a manganese steel alloy having a heat-treated microstructure comprising: (a) an alloy composition of: manganese: 12 to 30 wt %; carbon: 1.0 to 2.0 wt %; chromium: 4.5 to 7.0 wt %; molybdenum: 0.0 to 3.0 wt %; and iron and impurities: balance, and (b) an austenitic ferrous matrix; and (c) formed refractory particles dispersed throughout the austenitic ferrous matrix such that ?10% of the formed refractory particles are located within crystallites of the austenitic ferrous matrix, as opposed to being located at grain boundaries between the crystallites, wherein the formed refractory particles are compounds of carbides and/or borides and/or nitrides of any one or more of chromium, zirconium, hafnium, tantalum, molybdenum, and tungsten. The invention further relates to equipment adapted for high-stress gouging abrasion that includes the manganese steel alloy of the invention, and a method of producing the manganese steel alloy of the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a slow-transforming steel alloy for a component of a hydrogen store, which component is designed to contain or to be flowed through by hydrogen, wherein the slow-transforming steel alloy has a Vickers hardness of at least 300 HV and the slow-transforming steel alloy contains C, Si, Mn, P, S, Cr, Mo, Ni and/or V as alloy elements, the mass fractions of the alloy elements equaling: —C: at least 0.125% to at most 0.525%, —Si: 0.0% to at most 0.375%, —Mn: 0.0% to at most 0.375%, —P: 0.0% to at most 0.0145%, —S: 0.0% to at most 0.225%, —Cr: 0.0% to at most 0.25%, —Mo: at least 0.81% to at most 4.05%, —Ni: at least 0.50% to at most 3.75% and —V: at least 0.15% to at most 0.45%. The invention furthermore relates to a method for producing the slow-transforming steel alloy and to a hydrogen store having the component consisting of the slow-transforming steel alloy.

Abstract: Special usage steels, particularly those intended to be in contact with combustion fumes, are described. Tubular components produced based on such steels are also described. The steel both is resistant to the coking phenomenon and has improved mechanical performances. The steel contains in percentage by weight from 0.08 to 0.15% carbon, from 0.4 to 0.8% manganese, from 1.5 to 2.5% silicon, from 0.5 to 2% copper, from 8 to 10% chrome, from 0.5 to 3% nickel, from 0.01 to 0.07% nitrogen, from 0.8 to 1.1% molybdenum, with the remainder being iron and impurities.

Abstract: A coated steel member includes: a steel sheet substrate containing, as a chemical composition, by mass %, C: 0.25% to 0.65%, Si: 0.10% to 1.00%, Mn: 0.30% 1.00%, P: 0.050% or less, S: 0.0100% or less, N: 0.010% or less, Ti: 0.010% to 0.100%, B: 0.0005% to 0.0100%, Nb: 0.02% to 0.10%, Mo: 0.10% to 1.00%, Cu: 0.15% to 1.00%, and Ni: 0.05% to 0.25%; and a coating formed on a surface of the steel sheet substrate and containing Al and Fe. The maximum Cu content in a range from the surface to a depth of 5.0 ?m is 150% or more of the Cu content of the steel sheet substrate.

Abstract: This hot-rolled steel sheet has a predetermined chemical composition, in which a microstructure contains, by area %, less than 3.0% of residual austenite, 15.0% or more and less than 60.0% of ferrite, and less than 5.0% of pearlite, has a ratio L60/L7 of a length L60 of a grain boundary having a crystal misorientation of 60° to a length L7 of a grain boundary having a crystal misorientation of 7° about a<110> direction of less than 0.60, has a standard deviation of a Mn concentration of 0.60 mass % or less, and has a tensile strength of 980 MPa or more.

Abstract: A ferritic stainless steel sheet includes a base metal and a nitrided layer that is formed on a surface of the base metal, a chemical composition of the base metal contains, in mass %, C: 0.001 to 0.020%, Si: 0.01 to 1.50%, Mn: 0.01 to 1.50%, P: 0.010 to 0.050%, S: 0.0001 to 0.010%, Cr: 16.0 to 25.0%, N: 0.001 to 0.030%, Ti: 0.01 to 0.30%, and optional elements, with the balance: Fe and unavoidable impurities, a steel microstructure of the base metal includes, in volume ratio, 95% or more of a ferritic phase, the nitrided layer is a layer that is present in a region from a surface of a rolled surface to a 0.05 ?m depth position in a sheet thickness direction, and an average nitrogen concentration in the nitrided layer is, in mass %, 0.80% or more.

Abstract: An amorphous alloy particle is an amorphous alloy particle formed of an iron-based alloy, and the particle contains a grain boundary layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to plates with a thickness of between 8 and 50 mm and made from aluminum alloy with a composition, as % by weight, Si: 0.7-1.3; Mg: 0.6-1.2; Mn: 0.65-1.0; Fe: 0.05-0.35; at least one element selected from Cr: 0.1-0.3 and Zr: 0.06-0.15; Ti<0.15; Cu<0.4; Zn<0.1; other elements <0.05 each and <0.15 in total, the remainder aluminum, and the method for manufacturing same. The plates according to the invention are particularly useful as precision plates, in particular for producing elements of machines, for example assembly or inspection equipment. The plates according to the invention have improved dimensional stability in particular during the machining steps, while having sufficient static mechanical properties, and excellent suitability for anodizing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an aluminum alloy for the manufacture of thick blocks comprising (as a percentage by weight), Zn: 5.3-5.9%, Mg: 0.8-1.8%, Cu: <0.2%, Zr: 0.05 to 0.12%, Ti<0.15%, Mn<0.1%, Cr<0.1%, Si<0.15%, Fe<0.20%, impurities having an individual content of <0.05% each and <0.15% in total, the rest aluminum. The alloy may be used in a process comprising the steps of: (a) casting a thick block of an alloy according to the invention (b) solution heat treating said cast block at a temperature of 500 to 560° C. for 10 minutes to 20 hours, (c) cooling said solution heat treated block to a temperature below 100° C., (d) tempering said solution heat treated and cooled block by heating to 120 to 170° C. for 4 to 48 hours, In this process, said block is not subjected to any significant deformation by working between the casting and the tempering.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of heat treating a steel component including the sequential steps of: (a) carbonitriding the steel component; (b) quenching the steel component; (c) optionally tempering the steel component; and (d) ferritically nitrocarburizing the steel component.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of forming a coating for deposition to non-metallic surfaces, comprising the steps of applying (120) a semiconductor material to a substrate to form a semiconductor material layer and simultaneously or subsequently applying (140) metallic material or additional semiconductor material, wherein the metallic material or additional semiconductor material is introduced into the semiconductor material layer in a targeted manner to tailor the optical properties of the coating.

Abstract: A process enables growing thick stoichiometric crystalline and preferably IR-transparent optical PCMO material on Si and other substrates. Sputter deposition is carried out in oxygen-free inert gas (e.g., Ar) environment, which helps to prevent decomposition of the PCMO material over the substrate. In the disclosed process, there is no need to add a seed layer prior to PCMO deposition. Moreover, no post-deposition annealing is needed in a high-temperature and high-pressure oxygen furnace, but an anneal provides certain additional benefits in terms of improved transparency at IR wavelengths. Over a long deposition time for a thick PCMO film on the high temperature (?450° C.) substrates, the PCMO deposition is made repeated cycles of deposition of the PCMO material at the high temperature, each deposition cycle being followed by cooling the PCMO-deposited substrate to a substantially lower temperature (<50° C.).

Abstract: A method of forming a low reflectivity coating on an optical surface for wide angle of incidence is provided. The method includes depositing a low refractive index layer of material on a stack of dielectric layers, depositing a hydrophobic compatible material on the stack of dielectric layers, forming a blend interface layer on the stack of dielectric layers, the blend interface layer including a portion of the low refractive index layer of material and a portion of the hydrophobic compatible material, and depositing a hydrophobic layer of material adjacent to the blend interface layer. A physical vapor deposition chamber to perform the above method is also provided.

Abstract: An attachment system and method for optical parts for applying treatments and deposits on at least one surface of said parts without sparse zones on said surface. The system includes an optical part holder in the form of a flange provided with two branches connected at respective first branch ends thereof by a spring link and provided at respective second branch ends thereof with facing tabs and means for bringing said tabs together suited for tightening the branches on an edge of said parts. The method includes a step of positioning an optical part holder in the form of a flange on the edge of said optical part, where a front surface of said flange is positioned recessed from the surface to be treated or flush with the surface to be treated and a step of tightening the flange on the edge of said optical part.

Abstract: A sputter deposition apparatus including: a remote plasma generation arrangement arranged to provide a plasma for sputter deposition of target material within a sputter deposition zone; a confining arrangement arranged to provide a confining magnetic field to substantially confine the plasma in the sputter deposition zone a substrate provided within the sputter deposition zone; and one or more target support assemblies arranged to support one or more targets in the sputter deposition zone so as to provide for sputter deposition of the target material on the substrate. The confining arrangement confines the remote plasma to the target support assemblies such that in use there is deposited: target material as a first region on the substrate; target material as a second region on the substrate; and an intermediate region between the first and second region including a blend of target materials.

Abstract: A flow rate adjustment valve includes: a flow path portion which has one end at which an opening is formed, and in which a fluid flows; a lifting valve which is configured to close the opening by covering an entire region of the opening, open the opening by being separated from the opening in an opening direction of the opening, and change a distance from the opening in the opening direction to change a flow area with respect to the opening; and a servo actuator as a driver which moves the lifting valve in the opening direction based on a predetermined detection value.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing a substrate are provided herein. For example, a cooling apparatus for use with a substrate support of a processing chamber comprises a heat exchanger, a manifold assembly comprising a first input configured to connect to an output of the heat exchanger, a second input configured to connect to a first coolant supply configured to supply a first coolant, a first output configured to connect to the substrate support of the processing chamber, and a second output configured to connect to an input of the heat exchanger, a gas input configured to connect to a second coolant supply that is configured to supply a second coolant that is different from the first coolant to the substrate support, a first three-way valve connected between the first output of the manifold assembly and the substrate support and connected between the gas input and the substrate support, and a controller configured to control supplying one of the first coolant or the second coolant during operation.

Abstract: A film deposition method includes preparing a substrate having an insulating film formed thereon, forming a seed layer on the insulating film, and supplying a molybdenum-containing gas and a reducing gas to the substrate having the seed layer famed thereon, to foam a molybdenum film on the seed layer.

Abstract: Methods for filling a substrate feature with a seamless metal gate fill are described. Methods comprise sequentially depositing a film on a substrate surface having at least one feature thereon. The at least one feature extends a feature depth from the substrate surface to a bottom surface and has a width defined by a first sidewall and a second sidewall. The film is treated with an oxidizing plasma. Then the film is etched to remove the oxidized film. A second film is deposited to fill the feature, where the second film substantially free of seams and voids.