Abstract: A multi-step process of converting hydrocarbon fuel to a substantially pure hydrogen gas feed includes a plurality of modules stacked end-to-end along a common axis. Each module includes a shell having an interior space defining a passageway for the flow of gas from a first end of the shell to a second end of the shell opposite the first end, and a processing core being contained within the interior space for effecting a chemical, thermal, or physical change to a gas stream passing axially through the module. The multi-step process includes: providing a fuel processor having a plurality of modules stacked end-to-end along a common axis; and feeding the hydrocarbon fuel successively through each of the modules in an axial direction through the tubular reactor to produce the hydrogen rich gas.

Abstract: An apparatus for carrying out a multi-step process of converting hydrocarbon fuel to a substantially pure hydrogen gas feed includes a plurality of modules each module being in fluid communication with adjacent modules. The modules may be arranged axially along a common axis of flow or alternatively the modules are arranged along a common axis so that they are nested one within the other. The multi-step process includes: providing a fuel processor having a plurality of modules; and feeding the hydrocarbon fuel successively through each of the modules in the reactor to produce the hydrogen rich gas.

Abstract: An apparatus for carrying out a multi-step process of converting hydrocarbon fuel to a substantially pure hydrogen gas feed includes a plurality of modules stacked end-to-end along a common axis. Each module includes a shell having an interior space defining a passageway for the flow of gas from a first end of the shell to a second end of the shell opposite the first end, and a processing core being contained within the interior space for effecting a chemical, thermal, or physical change to a gas stream passing axially through the module. the multi-step process includes: providing a fuel processor having a plurality of modules stacked end-to-end along a common axis; and feeding the hydrocarbon fuel successively through each of the modules in an axial direction through the tubular reactor to produce the hydrogen rich gas.

Abstract: A method for purification of an oxygen contaminated nitrous oxide gas by feeding the nitrous oxide gas and a reducing agent such as hydrogen, carbon monoxide or ammonia into a de-oxidation reactor, performing de-oxidation by reacting the reducing agent with oxygen using a catalyst such as palladium or platinum in order to deplete the oxygen in the nitrous oxide gas, while limiting the amount of nitrous oxide removed from the nitrous oxide gas.

Abstract: An apparatus for carrying out a multi-step process of converting hydrocarbon fuel to a substantially pure hydrogen gas feed includes a plurality of reaction zones arranged in a common reaction chamber. The multi-step process includes: providing a fuel to the fuel processor so that as the fuel reacts and forms the hydrogen rich gas, the intermediate gas products pass through each reaction zone as arranged in the reactor to produce the hydrogen rich gas.

Abstract: A method of forming a hybrid mesh representation of an object surface is provided, along with the hybrid mesh representation and data structures corresponding to various polygons in the hybrid mesh representation. The hybrid mesh representation comprises a base mesh and one or more higher level meshes. At least one of the higher level meshes representing a patch is an irregular mesh. The method of forming the hybrid mesh representation comprises the steps of forming a base mesh, and then forming one or more higher level meshes from the base mesh through one or more regular refinement operations in combination with at least one irregular operation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to certain novel dinucleotides and formulations thereof which are highly selective agonists of the P2Y2 and/or P2Y4 purinergic receptor. They are useful in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases such as chronic bronchitis, PCD, cystic fibrosis, as well as prevention of pneumonia due to immobility. Furthermore, because of their general ability to clear retained mucus secretions and stimulate ciliary beat frequency, the compounds of the present invention are also useful in the treatment of sinusitis, otitis media and nasolacrimal duct obstruction. They are also useful for treatment of dry eye disease and retinal detachment as well as facilitating sputum induction and expectoration.

Abstract: A method for recycling an invert emulsion based drilling fluid, in which the invert emulsion based drilling fluid includes an oil component and an aqueous component. The method includes: mixing the invert emulsion drilling fluid with a emulsion clearing agent, wherein the emulsion clearing agent is a mixture of an anionic tensid and a non-ionic tensid; and separating the oil component of the invert emulsion drilling fluid from the aqueous component of the invert emulsion drilling fluid. The method preferably utilizes an emulsion breaking agent that is a combination of an anionic tensid, a non-ionic tensid and an alkyl polyglycoside tensid.

Abstract: This invention relates to the field of electrophoretic displays. In particular, it relates to imagewise opening, filling, and sealing multicolor display components and the manufacture of multicolor displays.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for isolating from the immunological gene repertoire a gene coding for a receptor having the ability to bind a preselected ligand. Receptors produced by the gene isolated by the method, particularly catalytic receptors, are also contemplated.

Abstract: A first optical fiber is coupled to a second optical fiber by ablating a portion of the cladding from the first and second optical fibers, thus exposing or nearly exposing the fibers' cores, bringing the ablated regions close together in the presence of an optical couplant, adjusting the alignment of the fibers so as to achieve a desired optical coupling ratio, and securing the fibers relative to each other. The ablation can be accomplished using a laser. The fibers can be secured mechanically or using adhesives. The finished coupler can be sleeved or otherwise encapsulated for physical protection. The technique can be applied to pairs of fiber ribbons, each having multiple optical fibers.

Abstract: A persistent archive of a collection of data objects comprises a self-describing, infrastructure-independent representation of a logical structure for the collection and a self-describing, infrastructure-independent representation of the data objects. The archive is persistent in that it may be instantiated at an indefinite point in time in the future regardless of the state of technology at that time. A knowledge-based persistent archive of a collection of data objects comprises the foregoing two elements but also a self-describing, infrastructure-independent representation of knowledge relevant to the collection.

Abstract: This invention relates to an electrophoretic display having display cells filled with an electrophoretic composition which comprises a bi-modal particle system dispersed in a dielectric solvent or solvent mixture. The display has shown a higher % reflectance or whiteness, a higher contrast ratio, improved threshold characteristics and better bistability.

Abstract: A method for producing genetically transformed plants exhibiting toxicity to Coleopteran insects is disclosed. In another aspect, the present invention embraces chimeric plant genes, genetically transformed cells and differentiated plants which exhibit toxicity to Coleopteran insects. In yet another aspect, the present invention embraces bacterial cells and plant transformation vectors comprising a chimeric plant gene encoding a Coleopteran toxin protein of Bacillus thuringiensis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to chimeric virus-like particles (cVLPs) or chimeric capsomers (cCs) from BPV, fusion proteins and DNAs coding for said proteins and to the use of cVLPs or cCs for the immunization of ungulates, especially horses.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel plant expression constructs. More specifically the present invention provides DNA constructs comprising 5? regulatory sequences for modulating the expression of operably linked genes in plants.

Abstract: Nucleic acid sequences, vectors, recombinant host cells, transgenic plants, and methods for their preparation are disclosed. The nucleic acid sequences encode threonine deaminase proteins that catalyze the conversion of threonine to ?-ketobutyrate. One or both of the amino acids at positions 447 and 481 of the encoded proteins can be selected from groups of particular amino acids. For example, the amino acid at position 447 can be alanine, isoleucine, valine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, or methionine. The amino acid at position 481 can be alanine, isoleucine, proline, phenylalanine, tryptophan, or methionine.

Abstract: Genes encoding a glyphosate oxidoreductase enzyme are disclosed. The genes are useful in producing transformed bacteria and plants which degrade glyphosate herbicide as well as crop plants which are tolerant to glyphosate herbicide.

Abstract: A new variety of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Nighthawk Yellow’, having a domed, round habit and yellow decorative flowers. The new variety has good foliage presentation and weather resistance.

Abstract: A new variety of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Starlet White,’ having a good uniform canopy of small white single flowers. The new variety has medium vigor, a free branching and uniform spreading habit, and good foliage presentation.