A wound dressing is made of multiple layers and includes a collection chamber that is in fluid communication with a drainage channel. When applied over a wound, the wound dressing provides protection for the wound while allowing air and fluids to evacuate from the wound through the collection chamber and out through the drainage channel. The wound dressing can include a valve that restricts air and fluids from entering the wound, which is beneficial for treating pneumothorax.

The present invention relates generally to a home therapy system for aiding spinal cord decompression and for treating related health issues. More specifically, the present invention teaches a garment system combining an upper portion and lower portion. According to a preferred embodiment, the upper portion includes a head band and yoke for cervical vertebra disc decompression and for aiding in treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea by repositioning and opening up breathing airways. Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment, the lower portion includes vertical decompression straps attached to leg bands and extending over the shoulders for thoracic and lumbar disc decompression by arching the spinal column back and opening the vertebra.

An improved skin substitute is presented comprised of a silicone layer backed up with a woven nylon fabric layer, the silicone layer possessing a regular pattern of slits that permit the porosity of the skin substitute to be adjusted by clinicians by means of applying tension to the skin substitute that differentially opens the slits. A variety of therapeutic substances can be applied to the skin substitute to promote healing, including aloe and other medicinal preparations.

A film structure having a polymer film and an application system enabling the film structure to be handled in a simple manner. The application system is arranged on a first side of the polymer film and has at least one supporting film to which at least one gripping strip is applied. The polymer film also has at least one first region without a supporting film.

A therapeutic compression apparatus having a primary wrap, a foot wrap and a stirrup is provided. The primary wrap encircles a first portion of a leg and applies compression thereto. The foot wrap encircles at least a portion of the foot and applies compression thereto. The foot wrap may be integrated with the stirrup, detachably connected or provided separately. The compression apparatus may be configured such that one or more bladders are provided therein. The compression apparatus may include a pressure gauge and pump for controlling an amount of pressure applied to the treatment site. A bladder assembly with a number of fluid bladder configurations is also provided for use within a compression apparatus. The bladder may be configured to provide a gradient pressure profile to the treatment site when filled.

A wound dressing including a hydrophilic layer and a hydrophobic layer is described. The hydrophilic layer absorbs exudate from a wound and the hydrophobic layer absorbs the exudate from the hydrophilic layer and traps the exudate. Because the hydrophilic layer is used adjacent to the wound, the exudate is readily absorbed thereby reducing the risk of maceration and infection of the wound tissue by the exudate. The hydrophobic layer receives the absorbed exudate from the hydrophilic layer and traps the exudate through an interaction that in turn prevents lateral diffusion of the exudate through the bandage to healthy portions of the skin. The hydrophilic and hydrophobic layers are fabricated from polymer fibers that can be spun to include components that facilitate wound healing, such as poly(hexamethylene biguanide) and/or hyaluronic acid.

Orthopedic device for treating neuropathic ulcers and other injuries while allowing easy access to the wound site on the plantar surface of a patient's foot includes a base portion and a sole that is either movably connected or removably connected to either the base or to a strut member. The base or strut is maintained in position on the lower leg while the sole may be rotated, slid, or completely removed for allowing inspection and access to the plantar surface of the patient's foot.

A regenerated spent hydroprocessing catalyst treated with a chelating agent and having incorporated therein a polar additive.

This disclosure relates to a catalyst system adapted for transalkylation a C9+ aromatic feedstock with a C6-C7 aromatic feedstock, comprising: (a) a first catalyst comprising a first molecular sieve having a Constraint Index in the range of 3-12 and 0.01 to 5 wt. % of at least one source of a first metal element of Groups 6-10; and (b) a second catalyst comprising a second molecular sieve having a Constraint Index less than 3 and 0 to 5 wt. % of at least one source of a second metal element of Groups 6-10, wherein the weight ratio of the first catalyst over the second catalyst is in the range of 5:95 to 75:25 and wherein the first catalyst is located in front of the second catalyst when they are brought into contacting with the C9+ aromatic feedstock and the C6-C7 aromatic feedstock in the present of hydrogen.

The present invention relates to a catalyst composition for conversion of vegetable oils to hydrocarbon products in the diesel boiling range, comprising a porous support; Group III A or VA element in the range of 1-10 wt %; Group VI B elements in the range of 1 to 20 wt %; Group VIII B elements in range of 0.01 to 10 wt %. The present invention further provides the process for preparing the catalyst composition for conversion of vegetable oils to hydrocarbon products in the diesel boiling range. The present invention also provides the process for conversion of vegetable oils to hydrocarbon products in the diesel boiling range using the catalyst composition or discarded refinery spent hydro-treating catalyst.

Solution suitable for accelerating the cure of a curable resin using a peroxide, said accelerator solution comprising (i) at least one organic solvent, (ii) a manganese salt, a copper salt, or a combination thereof, and (iii) an iron complex of a tetradentate, pentadentate or hexadentate nitrogen donor ligand.

A method for preparing an improved slurry catalyst for the upgrade of heavy oil feedstock is provided. In one embodiment, the process comprises: sulfiding at least a metal precursor solution with at least a sulfiding agent forming a sulfided Group VIB catalyst precursor, the metal precursor solution having a pH of at least 4 and a concentration of less than 10 wt. % of Primary metal in solution; and mixing the catalyst precursor with a hydrocarbon diluent to form the slurry catalyst composition. The slurry catalyst prepared therefrom has a BET total surface area of at least 100 m2/g, a total pore volume of at least 0.5 cc/g and a polymodal pore distribution with at least 80% of pore sizes in the range of 5 to 2,000 Angstroms in diameter.

A process for making an improved slurry catalyst for the upgrade of heavy oil feedstock is provided. In the process, a metal precursor solution comprising at least a water-soluble molybdenum compound and a water-soluble metal zinc compound is mixed under high shear mixing conditions to generate an emulsion. The emulsion is subsequently sulfided with a sulfiding agent ex-situ, or in-situ in a heavy oil feedstock to form the slurry catalyst. The in-situ sulfidation in heavy oil is under sufficient condition for the heavy oil feedstock to generate the sulfiding source needed for the sulfidation.

A process for producing a composite oxide catalyst which includes a step of preparing an aqueous slurry containing at least iron and antimony and composed of a liquid phase and a solid phase, a step of drying the aqueous slurry to obtain a dried material, and a step of calcining the obtained dried material, wherein of the precipitated particles having a particle size of not less than 1 μm but less than 150 μm contained within the aqueous slurry, the proportion of precipitated particles having a particle size of not less than 1 μm but less than 10 μm is within a range from 40 to 90% by volume, and the proportion of precipitated particles having a particle size of not less than 10 μm but less than 150 μm is within a range from 10 to 60% by volume.

The present invention relates to a process for producing a supported tin-comprising catalyst, wherein a solution (S) comprising tin nitrate and at least one complexing agent is applied to the support, where the solution (S) does not comprise any solid or has a solids content of not more than 0.5% by weight based on the total amount of dissolved components.

A fuel cell electrode that contains a support layer and a catalyst layer, wherein the catalyst layer does not contain a noble metal catalyst and is formed of carbon nanotubes, wherein the carbon nanotubes have pores in sidewalls thereof, and have a pore size distribution of 0.1 nm to 30 nm and a BET specific surface area of 100 to 4,000 m2/g, wherein the pores penetrate or do not penetrate the sidewalls.

A modular process for organosolv fractionation of lignocellulosic feedstocks into component parts and further processing of said component parts into one or more of a de-lignified cellulose stream, a sugar stream, small-chain alcohol streams and four structurally distinct classes of lignin derivatives. The modular process comprises a first processing module configured for digesting lignocellulosic feedstocks with an organic solvent thereby producing a cellulosic solids fraction and a liquid fraction, a second processing module configured for recovering small-chain alcohols and optionally a first class of lignin derivatives from the cellulosic solids fraction, a third processing module configured for recovering from the liquid fraction at least one of a second class and a third class of lignin derivatives or mixtures thereof, and waste stream comprising a fourth class of lignin derivatives. The fourth processing module may optionally recover the fourth class of lignin derivatives.

An improved polycondensation method for bio-based polyesters synthesized from pre-formed macromers and the corresponding compositions, which are useful for producing binder polymers for imaging applications such as emulsion-aggregation (EA) toner.

A polyester resin is a polycondensate obtained by reacting a divalent alcohol, a divalent carboxylic acid, and a mono- or divalent rosin by the use of a zinc compound as a reaction catalyst.

An intraocular lens is disclosed with an optic that changes shape in response to forces exerted by the zonules of the eye. A haptic with an inner and outer ring couples the optic to the capsular bag of the eye. The haptic stresses the optic when the intraocular lens is in a natural state such that the internal stress is present throughout the accommodation range in order to prevent ripples and/or waves in the optic.

Thermoplastic composition and articles containing UV absorbers that protect the articles contents from harmful UV radiation are disclosed as well as methods for making the thermoplastic articles and methods for using the articles to contain and protect materials sensitive to UV radiation. The UV absorbers contain oxazolone and/or azine functional groups that absorb UV radiation and prevent its transmission into the article. Many of the compounds are novel compositions of matter. The generally clear thermoplastic articles of this disclosure are particularly useful for containing a variety of UV sensitive consumer products that would otherwise have to be packaged in opaque containers.

The present invention provides a method for producing a sulfonate ester efficiently and in high yield. The present invention is an invention of a method for producing a sulfonate ester compound, which comprising reacting: (a) a compound having a sulfo group (—SO3H); and(b) a compound having a group represented by the general formula [1]: —OR1 [1] [wherein, R1 represents a sulfonyl group represented by the general formula [2]: —SO2—R2 [2] (wherein, R2 represents a halogen atom, a haloalkyl group, an alkoxy group, or an optionally substituted alkyl group or an optionally substituted aryl group) or an acyl group represented by the general formula [3]: (wherein, R3 represents an optionally substituted alkyl group or an optionally substituted aryl group)]; in the presence of an organic base which is capable of forming a salt with said sulfo group.

Apparatus and method are provided for electric induction heating and/or stirring of a molten electrically conductive composition in a containment vessel with the apparatus being removably insertable in the molten composition. An induction coil embedded in refractory or a coating is submerged in the composition and used to heat and/or stir the molten composition either externally or internally to the refractory or coating.

The invention relates to a dental firing or press furnace (10) that enables the production of at least one dental restoration part (62). The dental firing or press furnace is provided with a firing space (12) that is heatable with the aid of a heating device (22), preferably, a resistance heating device. A heat-conducting element (50) having a specific thermal conductivity of at least 100 W/mK is arranged on the floor of the firing space (12).

An integrated process control installation is provided for electric induction metal melting furnaces with variable furnace states. The integrated process control installation can include supporting charge delivery and slag removal installations, and furnace process operations for process control of melting metal in the furnaces. The variable furnace states, supporting installations, and furnace process operations are controlled by a supporting processing installation, while a robotic apparatus performs the furnace process operations.

Apparatus and process for heating and melting a material in a susceptor vessel are provided wherein phase synchronized ac voltage is supplied from a separate power source to each one of at least two induction coils in separate zones around the vessel. Power magnitude from each source to an induction coil is controlled by pulse width control of the source's output voltage. Output frequency from each source is either fixed or variable based upon the electrically conductive state of the material. Optional electromagnetic stirring is achieved by establishing a phase shift between the voltage outputs of the power supplies after the material in the susceptor vessel has melted.

The present invention describes an inoculation process for inoculating a nucleating additive to a cast iron alloy in a pouring distributor by means of using a transferred arc plasma torch, with an anode partially immersed in the cast iron alloy and a cathode located on the surface of said alloy, the anode or the cathode or both comprising graphite, preferably synthetic crystalline graphite, which supplies said nucleating additive to the iron alloy. The invention thus describes an inoculation device useful for carrying out the inoculation process.

An aluminum alloy propeller shaft including a tube made of an aluminum alloy, and a pair of yoke members made of an aluminum alloy, the yoke members including cylindrical base portions friction-welded to opposite end portions of the tube, each of the yoke members including a tip end portion having a pair of bearing retaining holes aligned with each other in a radial direction of the base portion. Variation in length between a central axis of the bearing retaining holes in one of the yoke members and a central axis of the bearing retaining holes in the other yoke member with respect to a reference length is set within a range of from +2.0 mm to −2.0 mm. A friction welding process of producing an aluminum alloy propeller shaft, including a friction step, a position displacement detection step, a rotation stop step and an upset step.

In a scroll compressor of the present invention, a fixed scroll 11 and an orbiting scroll 12 are meshed with each other such that spiral laps of the fixed scroll 11 and the orbiting scroll 12 inwardly face each other, an Oldham ring 26 is provided between the main bearing member 19 and the orbiting scroll 12, and a key portion of the Oldham ring 26 is inserted into a key groove 19a of the main bearing member 19. Grooves 19b are formed in Oldham ring 26 sliding surfaces on both sides of the key groove 19a. According to this configuration, the Oldham ring 26 and the main bearing member 19 can be restrained from coming into contact with each other in the vicinity of the bearing key groove 19a, and restrained from vibrating, and it is possible to provide an inexpensive scroll compressor of low noise.

A coupling for connecting a rotating tube cleaning shaft to a tube cleaning machine where high pressure fluid is pumped through the coupling, where the coupling is sealed to contain the high pressure fluid, and where a machine driven rotary flexible shaft passes through the coupling.

Beamformer coefficients may include a plurality of sets of theoretical statistical data for theoretical signals. Each theoretical signal may have its own particular attributes. The statistical data may be used in computing beamformer coefficients for application by a beamformer to signals received at a device. Signals are received at an input of the device. A respective plurality of weights is determined, for the theoretical statistical data sets, based on an analysis of the extent to which the signals have the particular attributes of the theoretical signals. The theoretical are retrieved, and a statistical data set is calculated for the signals by performing a weighted sum of the theoretical statistical data sets using the determined respective plurality of weights. Beamformer coefficients are computed based on the calculated statistical data set for the signals, which are used by a beamformer to the signals for generating a beamformer output.

Audio signals are processed for use in a communication event. A data store may be queried to obtain an indication of an echo direction, which relates to a direction from which audio signals output from the audio output are likely to be received at a microphone array (plurality of microphones) of a device. Beamformer coefficients of an adaptive beamformer of the device are determined in dependence upon the received indication of the echo direction. Audio signals are received at the microphone array. The adaptive beamformer applies the determined beamformer coefficients to the received audio signals, thereby generating a beamformer output for use in the communication event. The beamformer coefficients are determined such that echo suppression is applied to audio signals received at the microphone array from the indicated echo direction.

A secondary or “sidebar” display within a process control environment may provide several small applications to allow business managers, engineers, maintenance personnel, or other non-operator personnel to organize and manage process control system information and to display selected diagnostics and summary information or “key operating parameters” for the process control system. Further, sidebar applications may communicate with other applications that are executing on a non-operator user's workstation to, thereby, retrieve information related to tasks that the user is currently completing. The sidebar application may then determine whether certain process control information may be useful for the main task the user is completing and display that process control information within the sidebar.

A method models a defect management routine. Both the modeling and a handling are executed within a manufacturing execution system. During an engineering phase: modeling the production process and creating a library of possible defect types which may occur; assigning the defect types to at least one defect group; creating a library of defect specifications; creating a library of defect type specification details; creating at least one runtime defect criteria that is used to link the defect type to a certain production volume; and creating a runtime defect measurement routine that monitors a corrective measure. During a runtime production phase evaluating the product produced; identifying the respective defect type out of the library of defect types; and using the identified defect type to determine a corrective measure, a runtime defect criteria identifying the resource causing the defect type, a production volume, and to run the respective runtime defect management routine.

An information processing apparatus for performing recognition processing by a recognizer for a position and orientation of a work subject to undergo work by a working unit of a robot arm. The information processing apparatus including an obtaining unit adapted to obtain, for each of a plurality of positions and orientations of the work subject, a position and an orientation of the working unit in which the working unit can perform the work, and a restriction unit adapted to restrict a position and an orientation of the work subject used in the recognition processing by the recognizer to a position and an orientation of the work subject corresponding to the position and the orientation of the working unit that have been obtained by the obtaining unit.

The present invention relates to a novel polymeric composition comprising a novel polymer having two or more repeat units and a terminus having the structure (1): wherein R1 represents a C1-C20 substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, w is a number from 1-8, X is oxygen (O) or nitrogen (N), and Rd is a reactive group. The invention also relates to a process for forming a pattern using the novel polymeric composition. The invention further relates to a process of making the novel polymer.

The present invention relates to lithium salt-containing rare earth halide solutions in aprotic solvents, processes for production thereof and also use thereof.

The invention relates to a bonding product suitable as a carrier for medicinal substances and to the compound derived therefrom that carries medicinal substances. The invention further relates to a process and device for preparing such bonding products and compounds. Further, the invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition containing such bonding products and compounds, and to the use thereof for preparing an infusible medicament for treating a disease.

A light absorption anisotropic film, wherein content of a liquid crystalline non-colorable low molecular weight compound is 30% by mass or less; and which is obtained by fixing the alignment of a dichroic dye composition comprising at least one type of azo-based dichroic dye having nematic liquid crystallinity; and shows a diffraction peak derived from a periodic structure in a direction parallel to the alignment axis on measurement of X-ray diffraction. The light absorption anisotropic film is high in dichroism.

Disclosed is a process for preparing a polyester or copolymer containing ester functionalities. The process can comprise: providing an optionally substituted lactone having a ring size of from 6 to 40 carbon atoms; andsubjecting said lactone to metal mediated ring-opening polymerization using as catalyst a compound according to general formula (I): wherein M can be Al, Cr, Mn and Co;X and X' are independently a heteroatom;Y and Y' can be, independently, selected from O, N, S, P, C, Si, and B;Z can be selected from hydrogen, borohydrides, aluminum hydrides, carbyls, silyls, hydroxide, alkoxides, aryloxides, carboxylates, carbonates, carbamates, amidos, thiolates, phosphides, and halides;L1 and L2 can be independently an organic ligand linking X and Y together and linking X' and Y' together, respectively; andL3 is an optional organic ligand linking Y and Y' together.

Described herein are pharmaceutical compositions and medicaments, and methods of using such pharmaceutical compositions and medicaments in the treatment of cancer.

A spent fuel reprocessing method including the steps of partitioning U and Pu(III) in a solvent by solvent extraction and subsequently polishing the solvent in a neptunium rejection operation for removing Np therefrom. The solvent obtained from the neptunium rejection operation (the polished solvent or NpA solvent product) is then recycled to a U/Pu partitioning operation. The method enables a reduction in solvent feed and solvent effluent volumes.

The present invention concerns a process for dissolving ruthenium deposits that are present on a surface and a process for decontaminating the internal circuits of nuclear fuel reprocessing plants using the said dissolution process. The process according to the invention comprises bringing the said surface into contact with an aqueous solution of perruthenate, with the said aqueous solution having a pH equal to or greater than 12, so that the ruthenium is oxidised.

This invention is provided for improvement of corrosion-resistant property of a crucible and for promotion of safety in a pyrochemical reprocessing method for the spent nuclear fuel. The spent nuclear fuel is dissolved in a molten salt placed in the crucible. In a pyrochemical reprocessing method, the nuclear fuel is deposited, and the crucible (2) is heated by induction heating. Cooling media (5, 6) are supplied to cool down, and a molten salt layer (7) is maintained by keeping balance between the heating and the cooling, and a solidified salt layer (8) is formed on inner wall surface of the crucible.

A method for design of a fuel assembly for nuclear reactors, including structural components made from zirconium alloy: the mean uniaxial tensile or compressive stress to which the components are subjected during the assembly life is calculated, the zirconium alloy of which the components are made is selected according to the following criteria: those components subjected to an axial or transverse compressive stress of between −10 et −20 MPa are made from an alloy with a content of Sn between Sn=(=0.025σ−0.25)% and Sn=−0.05σ%: those components subjected to such a stress of between 0 et −10 MPa are made from an alloy the Sn content of which is between Sn=traces and Sn=(0.05σ+1)%: those components subjected to such a stress of between 0 and +10 MPa are made from an alloy the Sn content of which is between Sn=0.05% and Sn=(0.07σ+1)%: and those components subjected to such a stress of between +10 and +20 MPa are made from an alloy the content of SN of which is between 0.05% and 1.70%. A fuel assembly made according to the method.

Described herein is a composition useful for inducing expression of genes whose expression is under control of an inducible promoter sequence and methods for the compositions preparation and use.

A method of forming a cross-linked protein structures includes preparing a solution of protein dissolved in a benign solvent and forming an intermediate protein structure from the solution. The intermediate protein structure can be cross-linked by providing for a specific ratio of chemical cross-linking agents to form the cross-linked protein structure. The solution can be prepared by adding a cross-linker of N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) and 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) at a ratio of two-to-one of NHS to EDC to alcohol. PBS buffer (20×) can be added to the solution until the volume ratio of PBS buffer (20×) to alcohol is about one-to-one. About 16 percent by weight of protein can be dissolved in the solution. The solution can be electrospun to form an intermediate protein structure. After a period of time, the protein structure can be cross-linked to form the cross-linked protein structure.

The present technology concerns cell phones and other portable devices, and more particularly concerns use of such devices in connection with media content (electronic and physical) and with other systems (e.g., televisions, digital video recorders, and electronic program directories). Some aspects of the technology allow users to easily transfer displayed content from cell phone screens onto a television screens for easier viewing, or vice versa for content portability. Others enable users to participate interactively in entertainment content, such as by submitting plot directions, audio input, character names, etc., yielding more engaging, immersive, user experiences. Still other aspects of the technology involve a program directory database, compiled automatically from information reported by network nodes that watch and identify content traffic passing into (and/or out of) networked computers. By identifying content resident at a number of different repositories (e.g., web sites, TV networks, P2P systems, etc.), such a directory allows cell phone users to identify the diversity of sources from which desired content can be obtained—some available on a scheduled basis, others available on demand. Depending on the application, the directory information may be transparent to the user—serving to identify sources for desired content, from which application software can pick for content downloading, based, e.g., on context and stored profile data. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

An electronic device with one or more processors, memory and a display receives a first request to display a first video stream on the display. In response to receiving the first request, the electronic device displays the first video stream on the display. While displaying the first video stream on the display, the electronic device receives a second request to display a second video stream on the display. In response to receiving the second request, the electronic device displays at least a portion of the first video stream on the display concurrently with at least a portion of the second video stream, where the second video stream was received, at least in part, from a content source in response to a request from the electronic device to the content source for delivery of the second video stream from the content source.

Methods, devices, and computer program products for providing instant messaging in conjunction with an audiovisual, video, or audio program are provided. The methods include providing an audiovisual, video, or audio program to a user. Viewer/listener input is received requesting activation of a program-based instant messaging function. A viewer/listener identifier corresponding to the viewer/listener is associated with a program identifier that uniquely identifies the audiovisual, video, or audio program being provided to the user to thereby generate a program viewer/listener record. The program viewer/listener record is transmitted to an electronic database. A list of other users who are viewing or listening to the program in addition to the viewer/listener is acquired from the electronic database. The list of other users is transmitted to the viewer/listener.