Abstract: A water agency management platform provides an exchange for administering groundwater extraction rights in one or more trading-zones. The platform matches offers to trade utilization of groundwater extraction rights (GWRs), and intermediates transfers of the matched GWRs based one or more transfer rules.

Abstract: A garment of general loose fit is provided surrounding the back and torso with sides extended to overlapping front panels and multiple points and/or regions of coupling to provide segmental and/or incremental access to regions of the body of the wearer for visual diagnostic access and for ease of access for application of treatment materials; data and treatment conduits and lines; and functions such as nursing by a mother.

Abstract: A control valve includes a piston-housing having a hollow portion. The hollow portion has a first end, an open end, first and second internal chambers, and a fluid port configured to allow fluid to exit the second chamber. The first chamber is nearer the first end, and the second chamber is nearer the open end. A piston is located within the housing and is adapted for reciprocal motion. The piston includes a first and second seal-engaging portions. The first seal-engaging portion has a diameter that is less than the diameter of the second seal-engaging portion.

Abstract: A device comprising: a first zone comprising an attachment site; a first pathway; a second pathway and a means for creating a second medium comprised of aqueous microdroplets in a carrier; a microdroplet manipulation zone comprising: a first composite wall comprised of a first transparent substrate; a first transparent conductor layer on the substrate; a photoactive layer activated by electromagnetic radiation; and a first dielectric layer on the conductor layer; a second composite wall comprised of a second substrate; a second conductor layer on the substrate; and optionally a second dielectric layer on the conductor layer; an A/C source; a source of first electromagnetic radiation; means for manipulating the points of impingement of the electromagnetic radiation on the photoactive layer; an detection zone disposed downstream of the microdroplet manipulation zone or integral therewith; and a fluorescence or Raman-scattering detection system.

Abstract: A microfluidic sequencing device in which a stream of microdroplets at least some of which contain a single nucleotide base are made to undergo reaction with a capture system to capture and detect an ordered sequence of single nucleotide bases generated by progressive pyrophosphorolysis.

Abstract: A method for preparing calcium sulphate comprising a production of DCP by the attack of a source of phosphate by an acid, a digestion of the isolated DCP by the sulphuric acid under conditions giving rise to the formation of a first slurry of gypsum suspended in an acidic aqueous phase having a content of free SO3 equal to or less than 1.5% and a content of free P2O5, a conversion of at least part of said first slurry by heating to a temperature greater than 80° C. and potentially by adding sulphuric acid, with solubilisation of the gypsum crystals and recrystallisation of the solubilised calcium sulphate in a second slurry of ?-calcium sulphate hemihydrate crystals suspended in an aqueous phase based-on phosphoric acid, wherein the content of free SO3 is less than 10% by weight, and a separation between said aqueous phase and a filter cake based on particularly pure ?-calcium sulphate hemihydrate.

Abstract: A device for manipulating microdroplets using optically-mediated electrowetting comprising: a first composite wall comprising: a first transparent substrate; a first transparent conductor layer on the substrate having a thickness of 70 to 250 nm; a photoactive layer activated by electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range 400-1000 nm on the conductor layer having a thickness of 300-1000 nm; and a first dielectric layer on the conductor layer having a thickness of 120-160 nm; a second composite wall comprised of: a second substrate; a second conductor layer on the substrate having a thickness of 70 to 250 nm; and an A/C source to provide a voltage across the first and second composite walls connecting the first and second conductor layers; at least one source of electromagnetic radiation having an energy higher than the bandgap of the photoexcitable layer; and means for manipulating the points of impingement of the electromagnetic radiation on the photoactive layer.

Abstract: An omni antenna assembly includes two antennas, a dipole antenna and a monocone antenna, to provide full spherical coverage. The dipole cavity for the dipole antenna forms one solid part with the monocone antenna. The monocone antenna also includes a monocone and a cylindrical shell connecting the dipole cavity to the monocone. A coaxial transition extends from the cylindrical shell to a matching network. The antenna assembly may be fabricated using additive manufacturing technology.

Abstract: A water agency management platform provides an exchange for administering groundwater extraction rights in one or more trading-zones. The platform matches offers to trade utilization of groundwater extraction rights (GWRs), and intermediates transfers of the matched GWRs based one or more transfer rules.

Abstract: Technologies are described for resuming activities using activity data collected by an operating system. An operating system provides an application programming interface (“API”) through which applications can submit activity data. The activity data identifies an application and an activity previously performed using the application. The activity data can be presented to users in a UI that includes UI controls corresponding to the reported activities. The UI controls can identify the activity and the application used to perform the activity. The UI controls can be presented in an order determined based upon the time at which the corresponding activity was performed. The UI controls can be selected to resume the corresponding activity. Functionality can also be provided for scrolling through the UI controls, searching the activity data, filtering the represented activities, deleting the activity data corresponding to an activity, and performing other functions.

Abstract: A method for determining the sequence of nucleotide bases in a polynucleotide analyte is provided. It is characterised by the steps of (1) generating a stream of single nucleotide bases from the analyte by pyrophosphorolysis; (2) producing captured molecules by reacting each single nucleotide base with a capture system labelled with detectable elements in an undetectable state; (3) releasing the detectable elements from each captured molecule in a detectable state and (4) detecting the detectable elements so released and determining the sequence of nucleotide bases therefrom. The method can be used advantageously in sequencers involving the use of microdroplets.

Abstract: A flowmeter includes an orifice plate assembly having a carrier that includes an aperture, an annular rim disposed about the aperture, and an annular ledge extending radially inward from the rim to the aperture. An orifice plate and annular seal are disposed within the annular rim. The plate engages the ledge and is retained on the carrier by a retaining ring and the energized annular seal. The seal is disposed in a seal gland formed between the orifice plate, the carrier, and the ring member, and sealingly engages at least one surface of each.

Abstract: Beverage coolers for storing and cooling bottled beverages. A beverage cooler may include a cooling chamber cooled by a refrigeration system, and openings in the cooling chamber for receiving bottled beverages to be chilled. The openings may have doors and/or seals to minimize heat exchange between the cooling chamber and the environment with or without bottles disposed in the openings. Each of the openings may have a visual indicator, such as a plurality of LEDs, configured to indicate the temperature of the bottle disposed in the opening.

Abstract: An apparatus for sequencing a nucleic acid by printing droplets at least some of which contain single nucleotides derived from the nucleic acid is provided.

Abstract: A manufacturing process for a one piece tank that involves three steps results in a consistently watertight and structurally stronger unit than previous tanks. The three steps comprise a process for producing the body of the tank, a process for producing a preliminary lid, and a process for producing the final tank. An important step in the process for producing the body of the tank is extending reinforcing steel (rebar) a distance above the concrete walls of the tank. After the preliminary lid is placed into a groove of the tank, the rebar is bent over the lid and a water stop is applied between the walls of the tank and the preliminary lid. The water stop can be any of several forms. In one form, the water stop is in the form of butyl or rubber strip which projects from the walls of the tank above the walls with the rebar. In an alternate form, the water stop is in the form of a gasket of plastic or other suitable material inserted in a groove at the top of the tank.

Abstract: A method for determining the sequence of nucleotide bases in a polynucleotide analyte is provided. It is characterised by the steps of (1) generating a stream of single nucleotide bases from the analyte; (2) producing captured molecules by reacting each single nucleotide base with a capture system; (3) amplifying at least part of the captured molecule to produce a plurality of amplicons characteristic of the single nucleotide base; (4) labelling the amplicons with a corresponding probe having a characteristic detectable element and (5) detecting a property characteristic of the detectable element.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method for the preparation of calcium monohydrogen phosphate comprising an etching in an aqueous medium, during a predetermined time period, a source of phosphate with an acid with formation of a pulp comprising an aqueous phase containing calcium phosphate in solution and a solid phase containing impurities, a first separation between said aqueous phase and said solid phase, during a predetermined time period, a neutralization of said aqueous phase at a sufficient pH to obtain a precipitation of said calcium monohydrogen phosphate, a second separation between said aqueous medium and said calcium monohydrogen phosphate, characterized in that said predetermined time period of said step a) of digestion is greater than that of said step b).

Abstract: This present invention disclosure relates to a method for the preparation of calcium monohydrogen phosphate comprising an etching in an aqueous medium, during a predetermined time period, of a phosphate source with an acid with formation of a pulp comprising an aqueous phase containing calcium phosphate in solution and a solid phase containing impurities, a first separation between said aqueous phase and said solid phase, during a predetermined time period, a neutralization of said aqueous phase at a sufficient pH to obtain a precipitation of said calcium monohydrogen phosphate, a second separation between said aqueous medium and said calcium monohydrogen phosphate, characterized in that said first separation of said step b) is carried out at a filtration rate of at least 0.1 ton of P2O5/??P/m2/day.

Abstract: A method for preparing calcium sulphate comprising a production of DCP by the attack of a source of phosphate by an acid, a digestion of the isolated DCP by the sulphuric acid under conditions giving rise to the formation of a first slurry of gypsum suspended in an acidic aqueous phase having a content of free SO3 equal to or less than 1.5% and a content of free P2O5, a conversion of at least part of said first slurry by heating to a temperature greater than 80° C. and potentially by adding sulphuric acid, with solubilisation of the gypsum crystals and recrystallisation of the solubilised calcium sulphate in a second slurry of ?-calcium sulphate hemihydrate crystals suspended in an aqueous phase based-on phosphoric acid, wherein the content of free SO3 is less than 10% by weight, and a separation between said aqueous phase and a filter cake based on particularly pure ?-calcium sulphate hemihydrate.

Abstract: A gap control device that works with a plug on a valve assembly for use in high-temperature applications. The plug may include two parts and a compressible seal that, when compressed, engages with an adjacent wall of a cylinder or “cage” typical of a trim assembly. In one embodiment, the gap control device forms a hard stop that expands in response to high temperatures. This feature prevents excess over-travel between the two parts of the plug in the high-temperature applications so as to limit stress and wear on the compressible seal.