Abstract: A showerhead system with a normally open, temperature controlled first water valve coupled between a hot water source supply inlet and a purge outlet. The first water valve is configured to move from its normally open position to a closed position to restrict water passing from the hot water source supply inlet to the purge outlet when the temperature controlled water valve reaches a predetermined temperature. In a first mode, the first water valve purges water from the hot water source supply inlet through the purge outlet until the thermal actuator reaches the predetermined temperature. In a second mode, the first water valve blocks water entering the first water valve from passing through the purge outlet toward the showerhead outlet. In an optional third mode, a normally closed, manual second water valve is open and passes water through the showerhead outlet.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of treating or reducing idiopathic orbital inflammation (IOI), also known as idiopathic orbital inflammatory syndrome, nonspecific orbital inflammation (NSOI), orbital inflammatory pseudotumor, and orbital inflammatory syndrome (OIS), or one or more symptoms thereof, in a subject with IOI, comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of an insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) inhibitor, and pharmaceutical composition comprising an amount of an insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) inhibitor effective for treating or reducing one or more effects of idiopathic orbital inflammation (IOI), or one or more symptoms thereof, in a subject with IOI.

Abstract: Stacks that associate different electronic content are created using tags that are associated with electronic content. Stacks may be personal, organizational and/or shared. A tag may be associated with different types of electronic content (e.g. documents, people, contacts, meetings, emails, . . . ) that may be stored in different locations. The tag acts as an identifier that travels with the content as the electronic content is used. Content may be automatically/manually tagged. As the tagged content is used, the different applications that interact with the content (e.g. a messaging application, a content application) can use the tag to perform different actions. Changes to content with a tag may be aggregated such that users looking at the “consolidated” view can see all changes made to content or activity related to that content.

Abstract: Stacks that associate different electronic content are created using tags that are associated with electronic content. Stacks may be personal, organizational and/or shared. A tag may be associated with different types of electronic content (e.g. documents, people, contacts, meetings, emails, . . . ) that may be stored in different locations. The tag acts as an identifier that travels with the content as the electronic content is used. Content may be automatically/manually tagged. As the tagged content is used, the different applications that interact with the content (e.g. a messaging application, a content application) can use the tag to perform different actions. Changes to content with a tag may be aggregated such that users looking at the “consolidated” view can see all changes made to content or activity related to that content.

Abstract: A system for scheduling electric power consumption cycles is provided. A consumption cycle is a time period of human scale, minutes or hours typically, rather than an electrical cycle. The system includes an electric-powered device driven by power supplied by an electric power network. The system also includes a consumption cycle data (CCD) requesting module communicatively linked to the electric-powered device. The link may use electric power lines via methods such as Broadband over Power Line, or may be wireless. The CCD requesting module is configured to generate a CCD request requesting allocation of electric power from the electric power network. Additionally, the system includes an electric power network node electrically connected to the electric-powered device from which electric power is conveyed to the electric-powered device. The system also includes a CCD responding module communicatively linked to the CCD requesting module.

Abstract: In a method of removing acidic compounds, color, and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, and for removing or converting hydrocarbons containing heteroatoms from used oil distillate, phase transfer catalysts are employed to facilitate the transfer of inorganic or organic bases to the substrate of the oil distillate. An inorganic or organic base, a phase transfer catalyst selected from the group including quaternary ammonium salts, polyol ethers and crown ethers, and used oil distillate are mixed and heated. Thereafter, contaminants are removed from the used oil distillate through distillation.

Abstract: An improved continuous process for converting methane, natural gas, or other hydrocarbon feedstocks into one or more higher hydrocarbons or olefins by continuously cycling through the steps of alkane halogenation, product formation (carbon-carbon coupling), product separation, and regeneration of halogen is provided. Preferably, the halogen is continually recovered by reacting hydrobromic acid with air or oxygen. The invention provides an efficient route to aromatic compounds, aliphatic compounds, mixtures of aliphatic and aromatic compounds, olefins, gasoline grade materials, and other useful products.

Abstract: A process for the removal of a pollutant from a gas is provided that includes contacting a gas comprising a pollutant with a cataloreactant wherein the cataloreactant reacts with the pollutant and wherein an oxidation state of the cataloreactant is reduced. The cataloreactant may be regenerated with an oxidizing agent.

Abstract: Liquid center filled confections, such as gummy or jelly candies or fruit snacks are continuously produced by co-deposition into a mold without candy tailing to obtain products with substantially uniform top and bottom walls and little, if any, shell breakage and liquid filling leakage or bleed-out problems. Excessive vertical decentering of the filling caused by substantial differences in specific gravity between the liquid filling component and the shell component and its accompanying production of thin or weak shell walls is substantially reduced or eliminated. A non-gellable liquid filling is deposited vertically off-center within a gellable shell, and the amount of sinking or floating is controlled so as to achieve an at least substantially centered product. The filling migration is limited by rapidly cooling the shell component below its gelling or setting temperature by use of a much colder filling component which itself does not gel or set at low temperatures.

Abstract: Improvements in previously disclosed methods of and apparatuses for converting alkanes, alkenes, and aromatics to olefins, alcohols, ethers, and aldehydes includes: safety improvements, use of alternative feedstocks, process simplification, improvements to the halogenation step, improvements to the reproportionation step, improvements to the solid oxide reaction, improvements to solid oxide regeneration, improvements in separations, maintenance, start-up, shut-down, and materials of construction.

Abstract: A method of synthesizing hydrocarbons from smaller hydrocarbons includes the steps of hydrocarbon halogenation, simultaneous oligomerization and hydrogen halide neutralization, and product recovery, with a metal-oxygen cataloreactant used to facilitate carbon-carbon coupling. Treatment with air or oxygen liberates halogen and regenerates the cataloreactant.

Abstract: An image of the object remains in the field of view of the camera, thereby generating a continuously changing image signal. The images are captured and digitized in a continual sequence S of discrete images of the scenes at a respective sequence T of points in time. During this capture sequence, a first plurality of reference signals are established corresponding to a plurality of respective captured images. In this manner, a plurality of reference images are generated on-line, during movement of the object or cameras. A second plurality of detected signals corresponding to a second plurality of captured images, are individually correlated with the respective next previous reference signal of the sequence, thereby establishing a relative position of the object or camera, for each detected signal. The absolute position of the camera or object, is determined by accumulating these relative positions.

Abstract: A robot and associated control system, as well as a method of control, for servicing a heat exchanger having a substantially planar tube sheet which defines a multiplicity of laterally spaced tube openings of known shape, each of which is centered at a coordinate on a tube sheet coordinate system. A sensory system associated with the robot end effector and the associated digital processing system, includes a vision subsystem for generating an image of a portion of the tube sheet and generating a first signal commensurate with the spatial relationship of the tool to a selected tube opening. An optical subsystem is also provided, for projecting a structured light beam toward the tube sheet and receiving a reflected structured light pattern, indicative of how closely the tool is aligned with the target opening.

Abstract: The work cell is divided into a plurality of calibration zones, and calibration is made with only one measured point in each zone. The calibration zones are set up such that the calibration error in each zone remains within an acceptable tolerance. Within each zone, calibration is preferably made according to a linear calibration algorithm. The method according to the invention includes the steps of storing a first database, of the coordinates of all the tube openings in the tube sheet coordinate system. Each coordinate of the first database is assigned to one of a plurality of calibration zones.

Abstract: A shock resistant switch mounting includes a hollow bushing which extends through a switch housing of an electric fan, for example. A switch having a pull cord is secured to the bushing within the housing. The the pull cord extends through the bushing to be accessible outside of the housing so that the fan may be operated.

Abstract: A centrifugal actuator for mounting on a rotor shaft, the actuator being capable of movement from a first or start position to a second or run position, is provided having a base portion with a pair of opposed, mirror image actuator levers biased towards the first position. The levers are urged to the second position by centrifugal force when the shaft rotates. The levers are cooperatively connected to a sleeve, the sleeve being capable of axial movement allowing the sleeve to move from the first to second position in response to the movement of the levers. The sleeve has a collar and a shoulder portion for the seating of the actuator levers. Unique ramp structures extending from the sleeve collar to the seats on the shoulder cause the actuator levers to seat properly during assembly thereby allowing automated assembly and preventing field failure due to misseating of the actuator arms.