Abstract: A method is provided that involves entering input data into a computer program including at least one of item number, manufacturing cost, material demand, supplier site, shipping frequency, transit time, and container cost, determining material management costs for a plurality of shipment options, and outputting from the computer program at least one of a first set of material management data based on the input shipping frequency and at least one of a second set of material management data based on an optimized shipping frequency of full inbound containers. A corresponding system is also disclosed. The method and system are useful for managing material movement and inventory.

Abstract: A media handling transport includes first and second device halves. Each of the device halves includes first, second and third body members, with the first end portion of the second body member disposed adjacent the first end portion of the first body member, the first end portion of the third body member disposed adjacent the second end portion of the first body member, and the second end portion of the third body member disposed adjacent the second end portion of the second body member. An inner body member defines a first media transport passageway with the second body member define, a second media transport passageway with the third body member, and a third media transport passageway with the first body member. The second end portions of the second and third body members define an abutting end of the device half, with the abutting end of the first device half disposed adjacent the abutting end of the second device half in an installed transport.

Abstract: Analogs that inhibit the transport of anandamide across cell membranes. The inhibitors are amide and ester analogs of anandamide having a tail portion X that is a fatty acid chain remnant, a central portion Y that is an amide or ester radical and a head portion Z that is selected from a variety of groups including hydrogen, alkyl, hydroxy alkyl, aryl, hydroxy aryl, heterocyclic and hydroxy heterocyclic radicals. The disclosed analogs have potential pharmaceutical uses as drugs for treating a variety of diseases and afflictions, including cardiovascular diseases and blood pressure disorders.

Abstract: A chip pretreatment process which comprises conveying the feed material through a compression screw device having an atmosphere of saturated steam at a pressure above about 5 psig, decompressing and discharging the compressed material from the screw device into a decompression region, feeding the decompressed material from the decompression region into a fiberizing device, such as a low intensity disc refiner, where at least about 30 percent of the fiber bundles and fibers are axially separated, without substantial fibrillation of the fibers. In a more specific form the invention is directed to a process for producing mechanical pulp, including the steps of fiberizing wood chip feed material in a low intensity disc refiner until at least about 30 percent of the fibers are axially separated with less than about 5 percent fibrillation, and subsequently refining the fiberized material in a high intensity disc refiner until at least about 90 percent of the fibers are fibrillated.

Abstract: To protect against the health and safety risks that accompany accidental post-use needle sticks, a medical needle assembly equipped with a safety cap is described. The disclosed medical needle assembly generally includes a needle hub, a needle having a magnetized distal end, and a removable safety cap attached to and extending radially from the needle hub. In another embodiment, the removable safety cap is attached to a sheath that covers the needle. The safety cap includes a magnet and a retainer disposed between the first and second ends of the cap. The retainer is configured to prevent withdrawal of the needle once the needle perforates the retainer and the safety cap encloses the distal end of the needle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to metal-containing compositions comprising a metal-containing precursor unit (MU), a prepolymer unit (PU), and a catalyst or an initiator capable of inducing a combining reaction of ethylenically unsaturated groups of the metal-containing precursor unit and the prepolymer unit. In another embodiment, the composition comprises MU and a catalyst or initiator capable of inducing a combining reaction of the metal-containing precursor units. Both MU and PU contain additional functional groups, which may be selected to impart compatibility with each other and to produce optically clear films. The metal-containing compositions can be used to produce films or articles having a transmittance of at least 90% and index of refraction in the range of 1.4 to 1.8 in the 400-700 nm range of light and 1.4 to 2.4 in the 150-400 nm range of light.

Abstract: A pencil sharpener case has a rotatable cover which covers a mechanical pencil sharpener. In one position, the cover may be rotatably retracted to provide access to the pencil sharpener. The case also mounts an eraser which may be used when the pencil sharpener is covered.

Abstract: A utility knife has a receiving cavity which opens through the body. A cartridge comprising a magazine of blades is removably insertable into the receiving cavity. A carrier within the body is manually operable for receiving a blade from the cartridge and positioning the blade for extension through the opening to present a cutting edge. The cartridge may be released from the utility knife body by depressing a button and withdrawing the cartridge. The cartridge is releasably held in place within the knife body and releasable when the blade carrier is in its retracted position and the release button is depressed. When the thumb button moves the blade carrier into its extended position to expose the knife blade, the cartridge is rendered unreleaseable even if the release button is depressed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of operating a printing system including determining a time of a print problem, accessing a database containing a timeline of print-related attribute changes, modifying one or more print-related attributes, and resubmitting print jobs. In another embodiment, a method of operating a printing system involves storing sets of print-related attributes in a settings repository, the stored sets being available for use in processing future print jobs. Corresponding printing systems also are disclosed. The methods and systems can be used to improve the efficiency and/or quality of high volume printing operations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method, an apparatus and a computer program product for correcting the weather data of radial speed, spectral width and/or differential reflectivity which have been acquired from radar echo data recorded by a ground-based, radar-based remote-sensing appliance (1) for measuring atmospheric conditions and including evaluable weather echoes and interfering ground echoes, corrected weather data being obtained by calculating out the interfering ground echoes from the acquired weather data by using a previously stored clutter map with an intensity distribution of radar echo data which include the ground echoes substantially without weather echoes.

Abstract: A window frame comprising top, bottom, and opposed side frame elements connected together to define a rectangular frame, each element having front and back faces and inner and outer edges whereby the outer edges define the frame perimeter. An inner channel extends along the outer edges of at least the side elements, closer to the back face than to the front face. The frame optionally has another channel extending along the outer edges of at least the side elements, closer to the front face than to the back face. Mounting strips are located in the inner channels, having outer edges outside the perimeter of the frame, forming a flange for mounting the frame to a wall surrounding the window to be framed.

Abstract: Excellent development of planographic printing plates can be achieved by exposing an imaged, negative working, photopolymerizable coating to a high pressure stream of essentially heated but otherwise untreated tap water, whereby the water completely removes only the less cohesive and adhesive (e.g., partially polymerized) regions to the substrate, thereby directly producing a printing plate having an image pattern of highly cohesive and adhesive, oleophilic regions of the coating and hydrophilic regions of the substrate. The coating removal mechanism appears to be due entirely to ablation. The process variables of spray pressure, spray volumetric flow rate, and water temperature can be traded off to achieve one or more targets for plate quality, energy conservation, production rate, and equipment availability.

Abstract: Disclosed is a placement system for a free-flying kite-type wind-attacked element in a watercraft in which the kite-type wind-attacked element comprising a profiled wing is connected to the vessel body via a traction rope. Said wind-attacked element can be guided from a neutral position on board the watercraft into a raised position that is free from obstacles located at the same or a higher level. An azimuthally pivotable fixture is provided by means of which the wind-attacked element can be brought into a position in which the same is exposed to a sufficient wind effect. Furthermore, a docking receiving device is provided which is to be removably connected to the docking adapter of the wind-attacked element on the side facing away from the wind while also allowing the wind-attacked element to be furled with the aid of automatically engaging holding means.

Abstract: In an apparatus for cutting to length sections of a spine insert (1) that is unwound from a supply reel and for bringing together the spine inserts with infed cover boards (8) in a roller applicator (5, 6) for the mechanized production of book cases, the invention proposes that the pair of cut length transport rollers (3.1) for drawing forward a defined drawing-off length (L) of the spine insert (1) and for positioning the spine insert in the cutting device (9) and the pairs of feed rollers (4.1, 4.2, 4.3) for transporting the cut-to-length spine inserts (1) into the roller applicator (5, 6) through a transport channel (2) can be driven independently of one another, wherein the pairs of feed rollers (4.1, 4.2, 4.3) can be intermittently driven in a cyclic fashion with a constant stroke (HZ) while the pair of cut length transport rollers (3.

Abstract: A retractable eraser has an elongated contoured housing which has a longitudinal slot and spaced detents and an opening at one end. A carrier has a button which is depressible so that a catch clears the detents to permit selective longitudinal displacement of the carrier. An oval shaped eraser element is mounted to the carrier and displaced into and out of the housing so as, in one position, to project beyond the housing. Bristles project longitudinally from the housing around the opening.

Abstract: A tool holder for a resharpenable cutting tool insert has a body portion which includes a recess. A wedge member is positioned in the recess. A locking screw locks the wedge member such that the top surface of the wedge member is in engagement with the bottom surface of the insert and the locking screw is threadably connected to the body portion and to the wedge member so that the cutting tool insert may be removed for sharpening and re-inserted at the same location relative to the tool holder.

Abstract: An ethane recovery process utilizing multiple reflux streams is provided. Feed gas is cooled, partially condensed, and separated into a first liquid stream and a first vapor stream. First liquid stream is expanded and sent to a demethanizer. First vapor stream is split into a first and a second separator vapor streams. First separator vapor stream is expanded and sent to demethanizer. Second separator vapor stream is partially condensed and is separated into a reflux separator liquid stream, which is sent to demethanizer, and a reflux separator vapor stream, which is condensed and sent to demethanizer. Demethanizer produces a tower bottom stream containing a substantial amount of ethane and heavier components, and a tower overhead stream containing a substantial amount of remaining lighter components and forms a residue gas stream. A portion of residue gas stream is cooled, condensed, and sent to the demethanizer tower as top reflux stream.

Abstract: The disclosed bridge seal includes a substantially rigid bridge component and flexible gutter seal arranged to span the openings between adjacent housing modules of a modular warning light assembly such as a lightbar. The bridge seal physically connects the adjacent ends of base and dome components to each other and defines a fluid flow channel to guide water away from the area between housing modules. The disclosed bridge seal integrates discrete housing modules into a connected weather resistant enclosure having a longitudinal path for control and power distribution conductors extending the length of the lightbar.

Abstract: A primary air system for a combustion plant provides a flow of primary air to at least one coal pulverizer, which emits pulverized coal in a downstream direction to a furnace. The primary air system includes a first primary air line for feeding hot primary air to the coal pulverizer and a second primary air line for admixing of cold primary air into the hot primary air line at a mixing location positioned upstream of the coal pulverizer. A control system shuts off the flow of primary air to the coal pulverizer, when the coal pulverizer is being repaired or serviced while the furnace is in operation. The control system includes a first flow control butterfly valve disposed in the first primary air line at a position upstream of the mixing location and a second flow control butterfly valve disposed in the second primary air line at a position upstream of the mixing location.