Abstract: A method of manufacturing an article of manufacture for use in a fluxless brazing process is disclosed. The method comprises the step of applying a braze-promoting layer including one or more metals selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt and iron, onto a bonding layer which comprises one or more metals selected from the group consisting of zinc, tin, lead, bismuth, nickel, antimony and thallium and which is disposed on a substrate including aluminum.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for separation of suspended solid particles from fluids, for separation and mixing of fluids, and for dissolving gases in aqueous fluids. The apparatus employs a grooved ring to divide the fluid stream and impart a high velocity on each of the divided or sub-streams. A grooved ring with any number of grooves that may be spiral in shape is used to create a high velocity circular motion on a divided stream for separation of suspended solid particles by centrifugal force in a cyclone filter and for saturation of liquid with gases in a fluid mixer where gases are introduced through a diffuser. A grooved ring with any number of grooves that may be radial is used in a fluid mixer to divide a stream of fluid, produce a high velocity flow through each groove, introduce a second fluid through an orifice into the first fluid flowing through each groove, and direct the fluid mixture to a center impact zone where the various streams collide to complete the mixing.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for separation of suspended solid particles from fluids, for separation and mixing of fluids, and for dissolving gases in aqueous fluids. The apparatus employs a grooved ring to divide the fluid stream and impart a high velocity on each of the divided or sub-streams. A grooved ring with any number of grooves that may be spiral in shape is used to create a high velocity circular motion on a divided stream for separation of suspended solid particles by centrifugal force in a cyclone filter and for saturation of liquid with gases in a fluid mixer where gases are introduced through a diffuser. A grooved ring with any number of grooves that may be radial is used in a fluid mixer to divide a stream of fluid, produce a high velocity flow through each groove, introduce a second fluid through an orifice into the first fluid flowing through each groove, and direct the fluid mixture to a center impact zone where the various streams collide to complete the mixing.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for separation of suspended solid particles from fluids, for separation and mixing of fluids, and for dissolving gases in aqueous fluids. The apparatus employs a grooved ring to divide the fluid stream and impart a high velocity on each of the divided or sub-streams. A grooved ring with any number of grooves that may be spiral in shape is used to create a high velocity circular motion on a divided stream for separation of suspended solid particles by centrifugal force in a cyclone filter and for saturation of liquid with gases in a fluid mixer where gases are introduced through a diffuser. A grooved ring with any number of grooves that may be radial is used in a fluid mixer to divide a stream of fluid, produce a high velocity flow through each groove, introduce a second fluid through an orifice into the first fluid flowing through each groove, and direct the fluid mixture to a center impact zone where the various streams collide to complete the mixing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for isolating anticoagulant heparin or heparan sulfate by binding the anticoagulant heparin or anticoagulant heparan sulfate onto an affinity matrix and separating the non-bound material from the bound material. The affinity matrix is made of a fibroblast growth factor immobilized on a support. The invention also relates to a method and composition for neutralizing anticoagulation catalyzed by heparin, a heparin mimic, or a heparin derivative, by contacting heparin, a heparin mimic, or a heparin derivative with a fibroblast growth factor.

Abstract: A christmas tree to control the production from a subsea oil or gas well is disclosed. The christmas tree design including a tree body having a first flow port and a tree cap; a tubing hanger landed within the tree body; an actuation mandrel landed within the tree body, the actuation mandrel having a flow port; and a flow diverter disposed within the tree cap to divert flow through the flow port. The christmas tree arrangement allows for dual barriers within the tree cap without placing or retrieving any plugs from within the tubing hanger, thereby reducing the number of downhole trips required to complete and/or service the subsea well.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for separation of suspended solid particles from fluids, for separation and mixing of fluids, and for dissolving gases in aqueous fluids. The apparatus employs a grooved ring to divide the fluid stream and impart a high velocity on each of the divided or sub-streams. A grooved ring with any number of grooves that may be spiral in shape is used to create a high velocity circular motion on a divided stream for separation of suspended solid particles by centrifugal force in a cyclone filter and for saturation of liquid with gases in a fluid mixer where gases are introduced through a diffuser. A grooved ring with any number of grooves that may be radial is used in a fluid mixer to divide a stream of fluid, produce a high velocity flow through each groove, introduce a second fluid through an orifice into the first fluid flowing through each groove, and direct the fluid mixture to a center impact zone where the various streams collide to complete the mixing.

Abstract: A MAP decoding system in which one or more backward engines operate to calculate backward state probabilities for sub-blocks within a sliding window stored in a memory. One or more forward engines calculate forward state probabilities for a sub-block in the same order as the encoded symbols for the sub-block are stored. Calculation of the forward state probabilities for a sub-block are deferred until the backward state probabilities for the sub-block have been calculated. Responsive to the calculation of the forward and backward state probabilities, the one or more forward engines calculate and release soft outputs for a sub-block in synchronization with the calculation of the forward state probabilities. The sliding window may be moved throughout the block, and the foregoing process repeated until soft outputs for the entire block have been released.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus employing inert gases injected into the lower level of sloping underground oil-bearing formations as a driving mechanism and water injected into the upper level of the formations as a gas blocking mechanism for increasing and extending the production of oil from underground formations is described. Also described is an inert gas oil production system comprising an exhaust gas processing system, a well inert gas and water injection system, an oil production well system, and a fuel gas generator. A hydraulically operated crude oil pump is also described.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel synthetically-modified B. thuringiensis nucleic acid segments encoding &dgr;-endotoxins having insecticidal activity against lepidopteran insects. Also disclosed are synthetic crystal proteins encoded by these novel nucleic acid sequences. Methods of making and using these genes and proteins are disclosed as well as methods for the recombinant expression, and transformation of suitable host cells. Transformed host cells and transgenic plants expressing the modified endotoxin are also aspects of the invention. Also disclosed are methods for modifying, altering, and mutagenizing specific loop regions between the &agr; helices in domain 1 of these crystal proteins, including Cry1C, to produce genetically-engineered recombinant cry* genes, and the proteins they encode which have improved insecticidal activity. In preferred embodiments, novel Cry1C* amino acid segments and the modified cry1C* nucleic acid sequences which encode them are disclosed.

Abstract: Iterative decoder employing multiple external code error checks to lower the error floor and/or improve decoding performance. Data block redundancy, sometimes via a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) or Reed Solomon (RS) code, enables enhanced iterative decoding performance. Improved decoding performance is achieved during interim iterations before the final iteration. A correctly decoded CRC block, indicating a decoded segment is correct with a high degree of certainty, assigns a very high confidence level to the bits in this segment and is fed back to inner and/or outer decoders (with interleaving, when appropriate) for improved iterative decoding. High confidence bits may be scattered throughout inner decoded frames to influence other bit decisions in subsequent iterations.

Abstract: Various configurations of discharge valves for humidifier water containers are disclosed herein. Among other things, the present invention provides simple and economical discharge valves that may be constructed in one piece using an elastic material such as silicone rubber. One configuration includes a valve body and stopper with an elastic rib integrally formed with the valve body and the stopper having adequate length to maintain the stopper in a closed position absent external forces. Another configuration uses a flexible barrier is integrally formed with a valve body. The barrier has a slit through its thickness, and is sufficiently resilient to prevent liquid flow through the slit under the weight of water inside the container. In accordance with other aspects of the invention, the valve has a flexible member defining a base and a generally cylindrical sidewall that has at least one opening therethrough.

Abstract: Invert emulsion compositions including an oleaginous, a non-oleaginous and an amine surfactant that are useful in the oil and gas well drilling art are disclosed. The amine surfactant is selected so that the invert emulsion can be converted form a water-in-oil type emulsion to a oil-in-water type emulsion upon the protonation of the amine surfactant. Deprotonation of the amine surfactant reverses the conversion. This solution also permits the conversion of oil-wet solids in the fluid into water-wet solids.

Abstract: A member of a specific binding pair (sbp) is identified by expressing DNA encoding a genetically diverse population of such sbp members in recombinant host cells in which the sbp members are displayed in functional form at the surface of a secreted recombinant genetic display package (rgdp) containing DNA encoding the sbp member or a polypeptide component thereof, by virtue of the sbp member or a polypeptide component thereof being expressed as a fusion with a capsid component of the rgdp. The displayed sbps may be selected by affinity with a complementary sbp member, and the DNA recovered from selected rgdps for expression of the selected sbp members. Antibody sbp members may be thus obtained, with the different chains thereof expressed, one fused to the capsid component and the other in free form for association with the fusion partner polypeptide. A phagemid may be used as an expression vector, with said capsid fusion helping to package the phagemid DNA.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus employing membrane filtration in biodegradation processes for treatment of wastewater are described. A bioreactor system is described having an equalization system, a membrane bioreactor system, and a controller. Aeration systems for a membrane bioreactor, such as a mixer, and an ultrafilter subsystem are also described, as is a rotary membrane ultrafilter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the rapid and reliable detection of drug-selected mutations in the HIV protease gene allowing the simultaneous charaterization of a range of codons involved in drug resistance using specific sets of probes optimized to function together in a reverse-hybridization assay.

Abstract: A new variety of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Swing Time Mandarin’, having amber golden single flowers with spoon tips. The new variety has a medium vigor, free branching habit and good foliage presentation.