How To Reduce Risks With ActiveX

In August, a group of 20 security experts convened at a workshop funded by the Center of Internet Security Expertise, a US Department of Defense funded body, to discuss the vulnerabilities in Microsoft's ActiveX.     

US national lab fights viruses

Sandia National Laboratories already lists the fastest computer in the world (ASCI Red) and the fastest home-assembled computer in the world (C-Plant) among its credentials. Now, the people at Sandia’s US Department of Energy National Security Laboratory are turning their attention toward another arena: developing an intelligent software agent capable of defending against network hackers and computer viruses.     

Gaussian patterned contacts for improved beam stability of1.55-μm tapered lasers

A Gaussian lateral current-injection profile is approximated by a quasi-random pattern of electrically conducting and insulating regions. This pattern is used for the p-type contact in a laser with a 2.1-mm-long tapered gain region and operating near 1.55-μm wavelength. Lasers with improved stable single lateral modes are obtained with Strehl ratios up to 0.85 for current up to 4.0 A and output power over 1.0 W. Power over 0.5 W can be coupled into a single-mode optical fiber with a cylindrical microlens attached to the output facet to remove the astigmatism of the laser     

A Multifunctional Borate Ester/Amide for Engine Oils

Global economic and pollution concerns are having a major impact on how modern engine oils are being formulated. Modern engine oil specifications mandate reduced levels of phosphorus and sulfur to protect the efficacy of pollution control devices. In addition, modern engine oil must also be more fuel efficient than earlier generations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the impact of high priced gasoline and diesel fuel to the consumer. At the same time, oxidation, wear, and corrosion performance of the oil must not be compromised. Multifunctional additives are useful formulation tools that help formulators meet these tough new challenges. One such additive is the organo-borate ester/amide. Originally conceived as an organic friction modifier, this patented technology is really a multifunctional additive that addresses the global economic and pollution concerns. With the addition of boron, this unique commercial organic friction modifier also imparts antioxidancy, antiwear and anticorrosion properties to engine oil. In addition, the organo-borate ester/amide is compatible with pollution control devices because it does not contain sulfur or phosphorus. Work is on going to uncover additional beneficial properties of this chemistry.     

A fluidized bed retort for oil sands

Fluid bed retorting of oil sands is a viable method of extracting oil from mined oil sands. The process is based on a direct heating concept in which one vessel is utilized for the pyrolysis and vaporization of the bitumen contained in the oil sand and for the burning of the residuals which remain with the sand. Experimental results show that a significantly upgraded liquid hydrocarbon product can be obtained. Oil yields can exceed eighty per cent of the bitumen present in the feed material. The sulfur content of the produced oil is reduced. Gas produced can have a significant heating value and contains sulfur mainly in the form of hydrogen sulfide. Refluxing of the overhead product increases liquid yields and reduces the sulfur content of the oil. Water injection and the use of enriched air has a beneficial effect on the process. Thermal efficiencies in excess of eighty per cent can be achieved without recovering the heat from the expended sand.     

Effect of multivitamins on plasma homocysteine and folate levels in patients on hemodialysis

Three new triterpene lactones, lancilactones A (1), B (2), and C (3), together with the known kadsulactone A (4), were isolated from the stems and roots of Kadsura lancilimba. Their structures and stereochemistries were determined primarily from mass and NMR spectral data. Compound 3 inhibited HIV replication with an EC50 value of 1.4 microg/mL and a therapeutic index of greater than 71.4.