Abstract: A dietary supplement for mammalian consumption, and particularly human consumption, for the purpose of stimulating the immune system, inhibiting infection and increasing tissue repair and healing. Comprising colostrum, lactoferrin, and with modified citrus pectin as an optional component, the dietary supplement is administered in ‘mucosal delivery format’: a dosage form that promotes effective absorption through the lining of the oral cavity.

Abstract: Described herein are methods that can be used for diagnosis and prognosis of breast cancer. Also described herein are methods that can be used to screen candidate bioactive agents for the ability to modulate breast cancer. Additionally, methods and molecular targets (genes and their products) for therapeutic intervention in breast cancer are described.

Abstract: A network switch includes a first content addressable memory (CAM), a second CAM, a binding lookup table (BLT), and a packet manager. The BLT extracts two sets of header information from ingressing packets. The first set is applied the first CAM to retrieve a service policy index. The second set of header information is applied to the second CAM to determine whether a connection already exists. If a connection exists, a flow transmission control block (fTCB) pointer is retrieved from the second CAM. Otherwise, if there is no current connection for the packet, a check is made of the service policy index to determine the level of service associated with the packet. Based on the assigned service level, a new fTCB pointer is retrieved, or alternatively, client and server TCB pointers are retrieved. The packet manager then processes the packet according to which TCB pointer is retrieved.

Abstract: A device for separating milk obtained from a dairy animal. Said device is provided with a processing device, with a measuring device for measuring at least one milk variable during a milking run of a dairy animal and for issuing a signal indicative of the measured value to the processing device. The processing device is provided with a memory suitable for containing a reference value for the milk variable, and with a comparing device for comparing the measured value of the milk variable with the reference value and for issuing a comparison signal. The device separates milk in dependence on the comparison signal. The measuring device is suitable for measuring during the entire course of the milking run the value of the milk variable for obtaining a momentary measurement pattern of the milk variable.

Abstract: A waste line connector assembly for connecting a food waste disposer to a waste line is disclosed. The connector assembly isolates vibrational forces of the waste disposer from the waste line caused during the operation of the waste disposer. The connector assembly includes a flexible isolation coupler. The flexible isolation coupler has a flexible portion for absorbing the vibrational forces of the waste disposer. The flexible isolation coupler may be directly coupled to the discharge outlet of the waste disposer or to the waste line. The flexible isolation coupler may also be attached between two tubular tailpipes, which are coupled to the discharge outlet of the waste disposer or to the waste line.

Abstract: File system cells are linked together to form a meta file system that appears to a user or application program to be a single file system. Each file system cell may have a conventional file system format, and can be indistinguishable from a conventional file system except for information, such as directory entry attributes, indicating one or more links to other file system cells. These external links may include direct links that are hidden from the user or application program and define a hierarchy of the meta file system cells, and indirect links that appear in the user-visible file system. The meta file system substantially reduces crash recovery time because each file system cell functions as a consistency unit that can be repaired only if needed. The meta file system also permits the file system cells to be accessed concurrently by multiple processors in a file server.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process whereby a high viscosity hydrocarbonaceous material is fed to a gasifier for conversion to synthesis gas. The feedstock, steam, oxygen, and recycled gasification system water are all fed into the gasifier through a four stream feed injector. The feedstock in this design is sandwiched between two oxygen streams so as to provide better conversion for the exceptionally heavy feed. The fourth stream down the central bayonet of the feed injector provides the flow path for the recycled water.

Abstract: A flotation device for separating materials or mixtures of materials from suspensions includes a reaction and mixing space (18) with eccentric inlet (16) for the mixture of suspension particles with gas bubbles and for further transport into at least one centrally arranged vertical suspension distribution tube (26), wherein the suspension distribution tube (26) and the clarified fluid collecting tube (48) are arranged adjacently, the plates (30) surround the suspension distribution tube (26) and the clarified fluid collecting tube (48) in an annular manner; and every second annular plate space (31) between adjacent plates (30) is connected to the suspension distribution tube (26) and every other space (31) between plates is connected to the clarified fluid collecting tube (48), so that the flow takes place out of one space (31) between plates from the inside towards the outside to the separating space (32), and subsequently into an adjacent space (31) between plates from the outside towards the inside.

Abstract: A fuel management system for an internal combustion engine including an intake manifold is presented. The fuel management system includes a thermal reactor having an inlet port and an outlet port. The thermal reactor receives liquid fuel through the inlet port and is adapted to heat the liquid fuel and discharge fuel vapor through the outlet port. A pressure sensing device is configured to measure pressure within the intake manifold to determine engine load. A plenum is adapted to receive the fuel vapor from the outlet port and mix the fuel vapor with air, and the plenum is adapted to be connected to the intake manifold to provide the fuel vapor and air mixture to the intake manifold. A fuel metering device is operable to regulate the amount of fuel vapor provided to the plenum in response to the pressure sensing device.

Abstract: Methods and materials for chemically enhanced drilling of oil/gas wells are disclosed. The use of drilling fluids containing chemicals that dissolve formation constituents results in the creation of boreholes. Fluids containing acids such as hydrochloric acid, formic acid, acetic acid, or combinations thereof have been found to be especially useful in chemical drilling of formations containing basic minerals such as calcium carbonate. The use of acid has the further advantage of simultaneously stimulating the borehole.

Abstract: A fluid having utility in subterranean wells is formulated to include: an oleaginous fluid; and a solids tolerance agent having the formula: in which R is a C6 to C20 aliphatic group and R′ is a C2 to C6 aliphatic group and x has a value from about 1 to about 10. Preferably R′ is selected from ethyl and isopropyl and R is an unsaturated aliphatic group. The fluid is formulated such that the oleaginous fluid is from about 30% to about 99% by volume of said fluid. In one illustrative embodiment, the oleaginous fluid is composed from about 5% to about 100% by volume of the oleaginous fluid of a material selected from a group consisting of diesel oil, mineral oil, synthetic oil, esters, ethers, acetals, di-alkylcarbonates, olefins, and combinations of these and similar fluids. A non-oleaginous fluid may also be included in the formulation that is from about 1% to about 70% by volume of said fluid.

Abstract: To reduce bandwidth of non-scalable MPEG-2 coded video, certain non-zero AC DCT coefficients for the 8×8 blocks are removed from the MPEG-2 coded video. In one implementation, high-frequency AC DCT coefficients are removed at the end of the coefficient scan order. This method requires the least computation and is most desirable if the reduced-bandwidth video is to be spatially sub-sampled. In another implementation, the smallest-magnitude AC DCT coefficients are removed. This method may produce an undesirable increase in the frequency of occurrence of escape sequences in the (run, level) coding. This frequency can be reduced by retaining certain non-zero AC DCT coefficients that are not the largest magnitude coefficients, and by increasing a quantization scale to reduce the coefficient levels.

Abstract: A humidifier includes a reservoir for containing water, a wick wettable by water contained in the reservoir and a humidifier bottle for supplying water to the reservoir. The bottle is pivotally situated in the humidifier and a translating member is responsive to the angular movement of the humidifier bottle. The translating member includes a visual indicator thereon to indicate the amount of water contained in the bottle. A biasing member cooperates with the translating member to situate the humidifier bottle in a first angular position in response to the bottle being empty, such that the bottle is displaced from the first angular position within the receptacle when the bottle contains water. The amount of angular displacement of the bottle is a function of the amount of water in the bottle. A light source may be provided to illuminate the display window in response to movement of the translating member.

Abstract: A Coriolis mass flow sensor includes a flow sensor tube, a drive device situated relative to the flow sensor tube so as to cause the flow sensor tube to vibrate, and capacitance displacement gauges situated relative to the flow sensor tube so as to measure the twist in the flow sensor tube due to Coriolis force. In specific embodiments, electromagnetic, electrostatic, acoustic, and/or piezoelectric drives are used to vibrate the flow sensor tube. In still further embodiments, piezoelectric devices are used both to vibrate the flow sensor tube and measure the twist in the flow sensor tube. In accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, the Coriolis mass flow controller further includes an integrated flow control device adapted to receive fluid from the flow sensor tube and provide flow control.

Abstract: A wellbore fluid having a non-aqueous continuous liquid phase that exhibits an electrical conductivity increased by a factor in order of 104 to 107 compared to conventional invert emulsion comprises from about 0.2% to about 10% by volume of carbon black particles and one or more emulsifying surfactant(s) selected from the class including nonionic emulsifiers of Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance (HLB) less than about 12, and anionic surfactants wherein the counter-ion (cation) is any of alkali metal, ammonium, or hydrogen ions. This wellbore fluid can be used for drilling or completing a well and can be used for providing enhanced information from electrical logging tools, measurement while drilling, logging while drilling, geosteering and the like.

Abstract: An electrochemical fuel cell contains first and second monolithic electrically conducting flow field-bipolar plate assemblies arranged essentially parallel to each other such that an inside surface of the first bipolar separator plate is facing an inside surface of the second bipolar separator plate, wherein the bipolar separator plates are electrically and mechanically connected by intervening layers that are directly bonded to each other. The fuel cells can be stacked between endplates and supplied with hydrogen and oxygen to generate electric power. An air cooled condenser for use with a fuel cell stack is composed of a porous foam condensing element and a porous foam cooling element. The condenser can be placed by a fuel cell stack for cooling purposes.

Abstract: Stapling device (1) for stapling a workpiece (23), typically in the form of a sheaf of paper. The stapler (1) includes a support base (3) and a stapling unit (2) connected by a connecting piece (4) in a moveable manner. The stapling unit has a stapling magazine (6) in which staple blanks (24) are stored. A driver (7) is provided that drives the stapler so as to perform a stapling operation, and during which operation the workpiece is stapled. The support base is provided with an anvil (10) on which the workpiece is placed and against which stapling is carried out; the staple being secured in the workpiece with an orientation such that its longitudinal direction (T) is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L) of the stapler, whereby the connecting piece (4) extends along only one long side (21) of the stapler.

Abstract: A well fracturing fluid comprising one or more anionic viscoelastic surfactants and one or more polymers is described. The fluids can contain an aqueous or non-aqueous fluid and/or buffer for adjusting the pH of the fracturing fluid. The well service fluid can used as a fracturing fluid in order to control water production from a well, while simultaneously increasing the oil production from the well.