Abstract: Partial oxidation of crumb rubber derived from environmental hazardous waste tires yields surface treated crumb rubber and a gas condensate which are used as blending stocks for making rubberized concrete with substantially improved mechanical strength as compared to the conventional rubberized concrete. The chemically more active rubber surface becomes hydrophilic, so it interacts with the hydrophilic surface of surrounding cement matrix much stronger. The gas condensate co-produced in the partial oxidation reactor consists of mainly active sulfur oxides (R—SOx—R) and serves as an excellent bonding agent to further enhance the bonding strength between the partially oxidized rubber particles and the cement mixes. The mechanically improved rubberized concrete is more versatile than conventional rubberized concrete.

Abstract: A simple noninvasive technique that is capable of very accurate and fast blood analyte, e.g., glucose, level monitoring is provided. Fluctuation in the levels of glucose and other analytes affect the refractive index of blood and extra cellular fluid in biological tissue. Given that the propagation speed of light through a medium depends on its refractive index, continuous monitoring of analyte levels in tissue is achieved by measuring characteristics of the tissue that can be correlated to the refractive index of the tissue. For instance, the frequency or number of optical pulse circulations that are transmitted through an individual's tissue of known thickness within a certain time period can be correlated to an individual's blood glucose level.

Abstract: The unique characteristic sounds produced by urine as it impacts the surface of the water in a toilet are used to monitor men's urinary flow pattern and its dynamics. By detecting the intensity at selected acoustic frequencies, it is possible to accurately and precisely measure the urine flow rate. Techniques for analyzing urine flow and its dynamics employ sound levels that are detected at two or more distinct frequency regions or channels of the sound spectrum. One frequency region that is designated the measurement channel is where the sound measurement intensity strongly depends on urine flow levels. Another frequency region that is designated the reference channel is where the sound measurement intensity is not dependent on urine flow levels. By using a combination of measurements from the measurement channel and the reference channel, the urine-flow monitoring apparatus compensates for variations in operating conditions and other factors during use.

Abstract: High purity 1,3 butadiene is recovered from a C4 fraction containing butadienes, butenes, butanes, and acetylenes that is generated from a steam cracker by extractive distillation operating with no reflux or greatly reduced reflux conditions. This no reflux (or minimum reflux) technique is generally applicable to any butadiene recovery process in which at least one extractive distillation column (EDC) is used to separate 1,3 butadiene from other C4 components in the mixture. For an ED process with two EDCs, significant reductions in total energy requirements in the both EDCs can be achieved by appropriate reductions in the reflux in each column. The performances of both EDCs are unaffected even when operating at no reflux.

Abstract: Multilayer articles such as thin-film solar cells can be effectively tested under thermal load in a mini-module that includes a chamber or enclosure in which one or more laminated multilayer articles are housed. The inner dimensions of the chamber, at least along the axis that is perpendicular to the plane defined by the laminated solar cells, are configured to remain substantially constant during testing. Cooling the laminated solar cells in the mini-module device causes the encapsulant material to shrink and thereby induces accelerated failures in the laminated solar cells and associated structures. A technique of detecting the presence of defects or failures is near infrared radiation thermography wherein NIR images of the laminated solar cells are taken during the cooling process. The color patterns manifested from the cooled laminated solar cells can reveal the location, nature and extent of the defect or failure.

Abstract: An improved solvent regeneration system for extractive distillation and liquid-liquid extraction processes capable of effectively removing heavy hydrocarbons and polymeric materials that otherwise develop in a closed solvent loop. The improved process employs a light hydrocarbon displacement agent, which is at least partially soluble in the solvent to squeeze the heavy hydrocarbons and polymeric materials out of the solvent, with virtually no additional energy requirement. It has been demonstrated that the light non-aromatic hydrocarbons in the raffinate stream generated from the extractive distillation or the liquid-liquid extractive process for aromatic hydrocarbons recovery can displace not only the heavy non-aromatic hydrocarbons but also the heavy aromatic hydrocarbons from the extractive solvent, especially when the aromatic hydrocarbons in the solvent are in the C10+ molecular weight range.

Abstract: A method of repairing the surface of a formwork panel made of plastic. The invention provides for a surface coating of the formwork panel to be removed by machining, for example by a milling cutter, and for the formwork panel to be recoated with the same thickness as the removed surface coating. For the repair, the formwork panel can remain in its frame.