Abstract: The invention provides a gemstone or a decorative object having at least one surface bearing a thin film coating. In some embodiments, there is provided a gemstone having an appearance characterized by at least two different color zones, where such two zones are of different colors. In other embodiments, two different areas of a single (e.g., integral, one-piece) gemstone carry coatings of different composition, and the resulting appearance of the gemstone is characterized by the stone exhibiting substantially a single uniform body color that is different than the body color the stone would exhibit if it were coated only with one or the other of the coatings. Also provided are new deposition techniques.

Abstract: The present invention provides a beverage surfactant composition that includes a surfactant, a phosphonium compound, and a carrier; wherein the beverage surfactant composition exhibits stability as a solution or as a dispersion at a temperature of about 0° C. to about 8° C. The present invention also provides a container or a conveyor for a container having a surface that is at least partially coated with the composition. The present invention also provides a process for lubricating a container that includes contacting at least a portion of a surface of the container and the composition together. The present invention also provides a process for lubricating a conveyor that includes contacting at least a portion of a surface of the conveyor and the composition together.

Abstract: Methods and devices for performing division approximation in implantable and wearable self-powered medical devices. The present invention provides rapid methods for performing an approximation of division on fixed point numbers, where the methods are easily implemented in small, low power consumption devices as may be found in implantable medical devices. One example of use is in rapidly determining the approximate ratio between foreground and background activity in seizure detection algorithms. Some methods approximate the ratio of Numerator (N) to Denominator (D) by raising 2 to the power of the difference in the number of zeros to the left of the Most Significant Set Bit (MSSB) of D vs. N. Some methods may also pad bits to the right of the approximate ratio MSSB using bits from the right of the N MSSB, and/or pre-process the smaller of D or N by rounding the value upward. Methods may be implemented in firmware and/or in discrete logic.

Abstract: The present invention is a solid rinse aid composition and methods of making and using the same. The solid rinse aid composition generally includes sodium sulfate and urea as solidification agents and an effective amount of an alcohol ethoxylate compound sheeting agent component and an effective amount of defoamer component. The solid rinse aid composition may also incorporate a preservative system including sodium bisulfate. The solid rinse aid composition may be phosphate-free, aminocarboxylate-free, and GRAS if desired.

Abstract: A furnace of controlled heating and treatment of material using infrared radiation. The furnace is capable of continuous infrared treating of material with consistent radiation being applied to the material, ease of access to the furnace for maintenance cleaning and repair, excellent control of radiant cooling of the material to be treated, and ease of maintenance of a volatile component condenser.

Abstract: Inclusions in a transparent panel (5) are detected by placing a light transmissive interface (3) in contact with the panel (5), and transmitting a beam of light (1) through interface (3) into panel (5). Within the panel (5), the light beam (7) propagates along a path including total internal reflections at surfaces of panel (5). When the light beam (1) intercepts inclusions (10) or other defects at least some of it is scattered, and leaves the panel (5). This scattered light is then observed. Thus, a large zone of the panel (5) can be inspected, with light only being detected in the case that it arises from scattering by inclusions or other defects.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing metal oxides from metal containing solutions. Metal containing solutions are mixed with heated aqueous oxidizing solutions and processed in a continuous process reactor or batch processing system. Combinations of temperature, pressure, molarity, Eh value, and pH value of the mixed solution are monitored and adjusted so as to maintain solution conditions within a desired stability area during processing. This results in metal oxides having high or increased pollutant loading capacities and/or oxidation states. These metal oxides may be processed according to the invention to produce co-precipitated oxides of two or more metals, metal oxides incorporating foreign cations, metal oxides precipitated on active and inactive substrates, or combinations of any or all of these forms.

Abstract: A method of producing an open, porous structure having an outer surface defining a shape having a bulk volume and having interconnecting openings extending throughout said volume and opening through said surface, and products resulting from the method. The method comprises preparing a viscous mixture comprising a sinterable powder dispersed in a sol of a polymer in a primary solvent, replacing the primary solvent with a secondary liquid in which the polymer is insoluble to produce a gel comprising an open polymeric network having the sinterable powder arranged therein, removing the secondary liquid from the gel; removing the polymer network, and sintering the sinterable powder to form the open, porous structure. Also disclosed are shaped, porous products resulting from methods of the invention.

Abstract: The invention is a method for obtaining a reactive sputtering process with a reduced or eliminated hysteresis behavior. This is achieved by focusing the ion current onto a small area, a reduced erosion area (14), which is in constant motion along the target (10) to avoid melting of target material. This means that the current density is very high at the reduced erosion area (14) while the average overall current density is significantly lower. The problem with arcing during reactive sputtering will be suppressed since the compound layer is effectively removed if the current density is sufficiently high. Moreover, the high current density results in a substantial increase of the fraction of ionized sputtered species.

Abstract: An electronic control system for regulating operational parameters in a pollution removal system. The pollution removal system may contain at least one reaction zone connected to a source of gas and a sorbent feeder containing a supply of sorbent. The system may include a pollutant concentration sensor that measures the concentration of at least one target pollutant in a gas exiting a reaction zone, a differential pressure sensor that measures the differential pressure across a reaction zone, a sorbent feed rate controller that regulates sorbent feed rate to the reaction zone, and a controller in communication with these elements. The controller may use the measured values to adjust sorbent feeder rate to ensure that the target pollutant concentration in a gas exiting the reaction zone is within an acceptable range and that differential pressure across the reaction zone is no greater than a predetermined level.

Abstract: An GaN light emitting diode (LED) having a nanorod (or, nanowire) structure is disclosed. The GaN LED employs GaN nanorods in which a n-type GaN nanorod, an InGaN quantum well and a p-type GaN nanorod are subsequently formed in a longitudinal direction by inserting the InGaN quantum well into a p-n junction interface of the p-n junction GaN nanorod. In addition, a plurality of such GaN nanorods are arranged in an array so as to provide an LED having much greater brightness and higher light emission efficiency than a conventional laminated-film GaN LED.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance apparatus in embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following features: (a) a coil having at least two sections, (b) the at least two sections having a resonant circuit, (c) the at least two sections being wirelessly coupled or decoupled, (d) the at least two sections being separable, (e) several openings allowing a subject to see and be accessed through the coil, (f) at least one cushioned head restraint, and (g) a subject input/output device providing visual data from in front and behind of the coil respectively; wherein the input/output device is selected from the group consisting of mirrors, prisms, video monitors, LCD devices, and optical motion trackers.

Abstract: This is an apparatus and method of reducing the cycle time needed to produce molded parts. The cycle time is reduced by moving the molded part while still encapsulated within the mold cavity and core away from the injection position to one or more cooling positions and an ejection position. This enables the cooling and ejection portion of the molding cycle to be performed concurrently with the injection portion of the cycle for proceeding parts.

Abstract: A security system having security devices with hierarchical levels of access provided to coded keys which may be hand held transmitter units, is disclosed. The levels of access are master which is restricted to the manufacturer, seller and installer, supervisor which can be allocated to a site, and user which is usually specific to one security device only. The security devices can be programmed to be responsive to all of the supervisor coded keys and/or user coded keys, or a user coded key only. The security system can be used in a method of securing all vehicles at a car sales, where all of the vehicles can have their security devices programmed to be responsive to supervisor coded keys specific to the car sales site. When a vehicle is sold, its security device can be reprogrammed to be responsive to specific user coded keys only.

Abstract: A plug-in safety coupling for pressurized conduits includes a blocking element, which is mounted in a coupling housing; the blocking element includes a through bore in which a coupling plug may be introduced in a sealing manner. A pivot path of the coupling housing permits the coupling plug, being introduced into the blocking element, to pivot relative to the housing between a conducting position, in which a through-bore of the blocking element communicates with a compressed air feed bore of the housing, and a blocking position, in which the blocking element blocks the compressed air feed bore. The coupling plug and the blocking element are provided with reciprocally corresponding locking parts to effect a locked retention of the coupling plug in the blocking element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the formulation and process for preparation of a fried egg product which may be frozen for future heating within a microwave or other oven for consumption by an individual. Various ingredients are added and mixed to each of the liquid egg white and liquid yolk portions. The liquid egg white portion is preheated and then deposited within a mold for slow cooking under controlled temperature and humidity conditions. The liquid yolk portion is preheated and then is added to the mold for placement on the egg white portion. Following a short period of cooking the mold containing the formulated fried eggs is transported to a freezer unit for freezing, packaging, and storage. At a future time the frozen formulated fried egg product may be retrieved for thawing and cooking for consumption by an individual.