Abstract: Disclosed are methods for using ionic liquids to extract metal ions from aqueous solution, and for subsequent recovery of the metal ions from the ionic liquids by electrochemical methods. The ionic liquids may be recycled and reused for further extraction.

Abstract: A process for preparing an aqueous dispersion of pigment particles is described. The pigment particle contains a pigment and an aminoplast resin which surrounds or embeds the pigment. The process includes (i) a step of subjecting an aqueous suspension of a pigment in the form of coarse particles to milling so that the coarse particles are comminuted in the presence of a polymeric dispersant to a particle diameter d(v 0.9) of below 1500 nm, as determined by laser diffraction; and (ii) a step of polycondensation of an aminoplast pre-condensate in the aqueous suspension of the comminuted particles of the pigment obtained in step (i) or during the milling of step (i). The polycondensation is performed in the presence of an acid catalyst at pH of below 5.5. The aqueous dispersion obtained by the process and the use of the aqueous dispersion for tinting waterborne liquid coating composition are also described.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for the preparation of particles including one or more agents, e.g., therapeutic or diagnostic agents. The particles can be formed by creating droplets of a first liquid, e.g., including an agent, and removing the first liquid, e.g., through its dispersal in a second liquid and/or evaporation, to solidify the droplets. Advantageously, the process of forming the particles does not significantly alter the structure or activity of the agents and may enhance the stability of the agents. For example, the particles may be stored for long periods of time without significant loss of activity, and in some embodiments, without the need for refrigeration. These particles may be used to generate stabilized pharmaceutical compositions for storage or other logistical purposes, pharmaceutical suspensions, pharmaceutical powder formulations (e.g., inhalable powders, injectable powders), creams or other topical pastes, nutraceuticals, or cosmetics.

Abstract: The invention provides particles, compositions including the particles, and methods of making the particles using electrospray. In certain embodiments, the particles allow for high concentrations of a therapeutic or diagnostic agent to be delivered at low viscosity. Particles may also exhibit beneficial properties with respect to stability.

Abstract: A degasser system may comprise a mass flow controller device and a sample pump coupled to a sample degasser for controlling the dilution of gases extracted from drilling fluid in the sample degasser by a dilution fluid, such as nitrogen gas. The mass flow controller may inject the dilution fluid into the tank of the sample degasser to dilute the gases extracted from the drilling fluid. The dilution fluid may be aspirated or sparged into the sample degasser. The sample pump may extract a sample of the gases separated from the drilling fluid by the sample degasser. The rate of injection of the dilution fluid into the sample degasser and the rate of extraction of the gas sample from the drilling fluid may be adjustable to control the dilution of the gas sample for analysis.

Abstract: A feed beam, a rock drilling unit and to a method of manufacturing a feed beam is provided. The feed beam includes a basic profile element, which has two or more superimposed material layers. At least one of the material layers may be made of a composite material.

Abstract: Provided is a flexible and conformal wearable, self-contained medical device. The medical device comprises an integral housing formed by a flexible upper portion and a flexible lower portion joined along their perimeters. The medical device is also provided in a plurality of shapes and configurations for increasing the flexibility and conformability of the housing. The components contained within the housing, such as a drug reservoir, printed circuit board, and power supply are preferably constructed from flexible materials and are formed, connected and positioned according to the configuration of the housing in a manner for enhancing flexibility of the housing. A thermal bubble micropump is provided for controlling flow of a drug from the flexible reservoir, that utilizes a thermal resistor provided locally to a thermal expansion fluid that causes a surrounding membrane to expand and displace a volume of drug to be provided to the user.

Abstract: A counter mountable fluid dispenser includes a below deck reservoir for storing a fluid comprising at least one of a soap, an anti-bacterial cleanser, a disinfectant, and a lotion, an above deck spout including an outlet port in fluid communication with the reservoir for dispensing fluid stored in the reservoir and an external supply port connected with the reservoir by a supply passage to supply fluid to the reservoir, a supply access valve connected with the supply passage and operable to block flow from the external supply port to the reservoir in a closed position and to permit flow from the external supply port to the reservoir in the open position, and a controller in communication with the supply access valve for controller operation of the supply access valve from a closed position to an open position in response to receipt of an authorized supply signal at the controller.

Abstract: Disclosed are polymer-coated surfaces encapsulating task specific ionic liquids (ILs), IL complexes, or oils. Also disclosed are polymer-coated surfaces, wherein the polymer comprises ILs or neutral ethylene diamine compounds. Also disclosed are methods of antimicrobial treatment, metal remediation, and gas absorption using polymer coatings encapsulating ILs, IL complexes, and oils or polymer coatings comprising ILs and neutral ethylene diamine compounds.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of antimicrobial treatment using ionic liquids (ILs), IL complexes, polymers comprising ILs, and polymers comprising neutral ethylene diamine compounds. Also disclosed are novel IL complexes, polymers comprising ILs, and polymers comprising neutral ethylene diamine compounds.

Abstract: Material preparation devices and related methods include a material or substrate assembly and an application assembly for applying a fiber material.

Abstract: A fluid dispenser includes a reservoir for storing a fluid, an outlet port connected with the reservoir by a dispense passage for dispensing fluid stored in the reservoir, an external supply port connected with the reservoir by a supply passage to supply fluid to the reservoir, a supply access valve defining a portion of the supply passage between the external supply port and the reservoir, and a controller in circuit communication with the supply access valve for controller operation of the supply access valve from a closed position to an open position in response to receipt of an authorized supply signal at the controller.

Abstract: A system for interconnecting electronic boards, which is intended to be incorporated into a computer cabinet, and a computer cabinet including such a system, to be used for interconnecting electronic boards in computer cabinets placed particularly in data centres or computer rooms, where the system has a front wall and a rear wall each having an external face and an internal face, the external face of the front wall including at least one front connection intended to allow the connection of an electronic board, the front connection being linked to one or more front connection cables on the side of the internal face of the front wall, where the front and rear walls are temporarily rigidly connected via the respective internal faces thereof by a fixing means to form a casing inside which the connection cables are placed.

Abstract: The invention concerns an adjustable bed (10) having zero wall clearance and zero gravity functionality. The bed comprises a frame (20) and an adjustable mattress support platform (11) having a plurality of articulated support sections (12, 16, 18) pivotally mounted with respect to one another for relative angular adjustment, and actuator means (52) for effecting coordinated movement of the support sections to reconfigure the bed, between a flat lowered configuration and a raised configuration for supporting an occupant in a zero gravity recumbent position. The actuator means comprises a single actuator, preferably a single linear actuator.

Abstract: A system and method for data organization, optimization and analytics includes a web server, thrift server, distributed processing framework, key value store, distributed file system, and relational database. The web server provides a method whereby users issue control actions and query for records via interaction with the thrift server. The thrift server is the center of coordination and communication for the system and interacts with other system elements. The key value store organizes all of the operational data for the system. The key value store runs on a highly scalable distributed system, including a distributed file system for storage of data on disk. The distributed processing framework enables data to be processed in bulk and is used to execute analytical processing on the data. The relational database hold all of the administrative data in the system. Search queries are submitted by end user and results of the search query are sent from the web server to the end user.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides embodiments of anchors and screw anchor kits. The anchors are used to pull anchor rods used for anchoring loads to the ground. The anchors may include a wrench hub, a power point and a helical plate. The screw anchor kits may include an anchor and an anchor rod. The screw anchor kits may also include a drive wrench used to drive the anchor and anchor rod into the ground, and an eyelet that can be attached to an end of the anchor rod extending above the ground.

Abstract: Systems, methods and devices are provided for registering DNS hostnames of Internet host devices for very large domain zones (VLZ) stored on a DNS server on a network, including setting a pseudo-zone as the VLZ, intercepting DNS updates to the pseudo-zone, mapping the entries in the pseudo-zone into a hierarchy of real parent zones and sub-zones using a mapping formula, and translating DNS updates to the pseudo-zone from an original fully qualified domain name (FQDN) into a at least one new FQDNs and adding the at least one new FQDNs to an authoritative DNS Server.

Abstract: A basketball gaming system may comprise at least one basketball hoop and at least one goal placement analyzer configured to adjust at least one position parameter of one or more of the at least one basketball hoops according to at least one user parameter associated with at least one user. The basketball gaming system may further comprise at least one hoop placement system configured to position the at least one basketball hoop according to the at least one position parameter. The at least one position parameter may comprise at least one x-axis coordinate, at least one y-axis coordinate, and at least one z-axis coordinate. The basketball gaming system may further comprise at least one hoop switching mechanism configured to select one or more of the at least one basketball hoops. At least one position parameter of the selected one or more basketball hoops is associated with an active status.