Abstract: A method for removing a gas compound from a site comprising placing cells having gas vesicles under conditions that induce the cells to float to a surface of an aqueous medium, harvesting the cells from the surface of the medium, lysing the cells, separating the gas vesicles from the lysed cells, crosslinking the gas vesicles with a crosslinking agent, loading a gas with a lowered partial pressure for the gas compound to be removed into the gas vesicles, and placing the gas vesicles contacted with a medium such that the gas compound is removed from the site to the medium. Harvesting gas-vesicle-containing cells is achieved by placing the cells under conditions that induce the cells to rise to the surface of an aqueous medium. Then collecting the cells from the surface of the medium. Gas vesicles are isolated by lysing the cells and separating the gas vesicles from the lysate. Once the gas vesicles are isolated, they can be modified, such as by crosslinking with glutaraldehyde.

Abstract: A system for transferring molten metal (12) from a ladle (11) to a tundish (14) includes a nozzle (18) carried by the ladle (11) and having a bottom edge (30). A tube (19) has an upper edge (33) adapted to be positioned adjacent to the bottom edge (30) of the nozzle (18). The bottom edge (35) of the tube (19) is received in the tundish (14) and the passageway (32) in the tube (19) may receive a plug (39) to prevent slag (16) in the tundish (14) from entering the passageway (32). Either the bottom edge (30) of the nozzle (18) or the upper edge (33) of the tube (19) is generally spherical and engages a generally conical surface of the edge (30, 33) which is not spherical to form a seal between the nozzle (12) and the tube (19) irrespective of their precise alignment. The molten metal (12) may then pass from the ladle (11), through the nozzle (18), and through the tube (19) to displace the plug (39) and be received in the tundish (14).

Abstract: A broad class of lyotropic liquid crystals of a non-surfactant nature, the so-called lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals (LCLCs), are alignable in bulk. LCLCs can be aligned in bulk as a uniform liquid crystalline monodomain within a closed cell. The method for bulk alignment of LCLCs is based on a unidirectional treatment of the aligning substrate such as a polymer layer. The feature of controlling the alignment of LCLCs enables one to create practical devices from them. For example, bulk alignment of LCLCs allows one to use them in detection and amplification of ligands.

Abstract: A check weigher for a bagging system includes a compartmentalized rotatable drum positioned immediately beneath a chute receiving bags from a conveyor system of a bagger. The rotatable drum is maintained upon a scale adapted to determine the tare weight of the bag and its contents. A receptacle is positioned on each side of the rotatable compartmentalized drum. A reversible stepping motor is connected to and is operative to drive the drum. A controller is interposed between the stepping motor and the scale. When the controller determines that the weight indicated by the scale is within an acceptable range of weights, the compartmentalized drum is rotated in a first direction, causing the bag to be deposited in a first acceptable drum, while simultaneously positioning a new compartment beneath the chute.

Abstract: A fastener for connecting a first panel to a second panel comprises a head and a shaft, the shaft including a plurality of spring legs, each connected at one end to the head and flexing inward and outward relative to the one end. The shaft is dimensioned for insertion into an aperture of the second panel with interference against aperture-defining edges. A plurality of grooves are formed within each spring leg, each groove separated from an adjacent groove by a rib. The rib is configured having a ramped leading surface, a stepped trailing surface and a peak surface disposed between the leading and trailing surfaces. The grooves of one spring leg are axially misaligned with the corresponding grooves of an adjacent spring leg such that each spring leg alternately locks its grooves to the aperture-defining edges of the second panel as the shaft is inserted into the aperture. The head of the fastener can be modified to connect with the first panel in multitude of alternative configurations.

Abstract: A game apparatus which comprises an upper surface and a lower surface which together define an intermediate chamber. The upper surface has a plurality of apertures each of which is provided with a closure device such as a pair of shutters, a sliding door, or a hinged lid. Movement of the apparatus randomly positions a ball within the chamber at one of a number of locations on the lower surface of the apparatus. A retrieval device is inserted through a selected aperture and if the ball is beneath that aperture the retrieval device magnetically connects thereto and permits the removal of the ball from the intermediate chamber.

Abstract: An elastomeric blend prepared by the steps comprising: dynamically vulcanizing a dynamically-vulcanizable elastomer within a mixture that comprises the dynamically-vulcanizable elastomer, a hydrogenated acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer, and a vulcanizing agent that is specific for the dynamically-vulcanizable elastomer during dynamic vulcanization. Also, a vulcanizate prepared by the steps comprising: dynamically vulcanizing a dynamically-vulcanizable elastomer within a mixture that comprises the dynamically-vulcanizable elastomer, a hydrogenated acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer, and a vulcanizing agent that is specific to the dynamically-vulcanizable elastomer during dynamic vulcanization, and effecting vulcanization of the hydrogenated acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer.

Abstract: A filter media structure, which is capable of operating in the micro- and nanofiltration regime, offers: low cost, durability, high temperature and chemical resistance, high permeability, high flow rate, low pressure drop across the filter media, high mechanical strength, separation efficiency, and biocompatibility. The filter media structure is comprised of mixture of carbon or ceramic fibers and inorganic fiber whiskers generally having a diameter of from about 0.03 to about 5 microns. The present invention further provides a method of preparing a filter media structure comprising mixing together a) inorganic fibers; b) inorganic fiber whiskers; c) a water soluble binder, and optionally depositing a thin layer of pyrolytic carbon on the surface of the inorganic fibers and inorganic fiber whiskers comprising the filter media structure. The filter media structure is selected from the group consisting of a paper, felt and fabric.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing the filtration of process fluid. The system provides establishing a peak flow rate of permeate through a filter and then engaging a filtering cycle in which process fluid is passed through the filter until such time as the flow rate of permeate through the filter reaches a predetermined level which is set as a function of the initial permeate flow rate. At that point in time, a cleaning cycle is entered, during which cleaning fluid is passed through the filter for such a period of time as is necessary to allow the permeate flow rate with the cleaning solution to stabilize. At that point in time, the processing of process fluid is recommenced and the process continues on a repetitive basis between the processing of process fluid and the cleaning of the filter.

Abstract: A composition for rendering surfaces water repellent is formed by combining water or a solvent; a methylhydrogensiloxane polymer or copolymer; an alkoxysilane having the formula RaSi(OR′)4−a in which R represents an alkyl group containing 1-10 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group containing 2-8 carbon atoms, an aryl group, or an haloalkyl group, a has a value of 1 or 2, and R′ represents an alkyl group containing 1-6 carbon atoms; and a silicone resin. The composition can also contain other components such as a volatile methyl siloxane, a cationic oil-in-water emulsion of an aminofunctional polydimethylsiloxane, a surfactant, a catalyst, a beading agent, an organic wax, a preservative, an antifoam, a mildewcide, an UV absorber/UV light stabilizer, or a freeze-thaw additive.

Abstract: An operating system for controllably moving in upward and downward directions a sectional door (D) in relation to a door frame (12) having a pair of jambs (13, 14) and an interconnecting header (15), including a counterbalancing system (30) having a drive tube (31) interconnected with the sectional door proximate the ends thereof, a resonible motorized operator (10) mounted adjacent to the drive tube and between the ends of the sectional door, and a drive train (70) interconnecting the drive tube and the motorized operator for selectively driving the sectional door in upward and downward directions.

Abstract: A process for the fabrication of a component or component feature for an electrochemical apparatus including providing a printing medium comprising a rapid curable polymer containing carrier and a powder of a component material precursor, printing one of a uniform layer or a pattern of such printing medium on a substrate, and rapidly curing the curable polymer to form a cured part; and the parts made by this process. A process for the fabrication or a multi-layer cell of an SOFC including providing a printing medium comprising a radiation curable polymer containing carrier and a powder of a component material precursor, printing one of a uniform layer or a pattern of such printing medium on a substrate, and radiation curing the curable polymer to form a cured part; and the parts made by this process. The process can use an ultraviolet light curable polymer binder and electrode material powder in an industrial printer to form a solid fuel cell electrode component.

Abstract: A substrate for a microelectronic package comprising a substrate that has grooves on a surface for bonding. A method for preparing a substrate for bonding comprising forming a grooved surface in the substrate for accepting a die for bonding, wherein the grooves are of sufficient size to provide a substantially uniform die bond, but no so large as to nullify the thermal path to the underlying substrate.

Abstract: A method for making a polymer comprising the step of synthesizing a polymer by employing a chain transfer agent having the formula (II) where X and Y are independently selected from oxygen, sulfur, and fully-substituted nitrogen where R1 and R2 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, or an organic group, with the proviso that at least one of R1 or R2 be hydrogen or halogen, R3 is an organic group R4 and R5 are independently selected organic groups, with the proviso that R3 is not hydrogen.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a bond-compatible composite membrane that includes a bituminous material layer and a polyester layer and its use as an intermediate layer between a building structure and exterior finishing materials. Unlike conventional composite membranes, the bond-compatible composite membrane has a rough surface that allows bonding materials to adhere to it. Therefore, mechanical devices are not needed to attach the exterior finishing materials to the building structure.

Abstract: A site-specific antibiotic delivery system and related method comprising a fibrin sealant and an antibiotic releasably bound to the fibrin sealant, wherein the antibiotic is delivered in situ and wherein the dose of antibiotic delivered to the organism is sufficient to kill substantially all antibiotic-resistant bacteria present in an infectious focus.

Abstract: A filter media system, which is capable of operating in the microfiltration regime, offers: low cost, durability, high temperature and chemical resistance, no particulation, mechanical strength, separation efficiency, and biocompatibility. The present invention provides a filter media system comprising a fibrous substrate of at least one of carbon and ceramic fibers, wherein an array of carbon or ceramic fiber whiskers have been grown onto the fibrous substrate, without prior densification of the fibrous substrate. A process for manufacturing a filter media system wherein a carbon fiber is treated with a solution of metal catalyst salt, heated in hydrogen at elevated temperatures to reduce the metal salt to metal, and whisker growth is initiated on the surfaces of the metal deposited carbon fibers by decomposition of low molecular weight hydrocarbon gas at elevated temperature is also provided.

Abstract: A keyboard, which may be made very thin and be suitable for notebook computers or personal digital assistants, has a substantially rigid base plate supported for movement between an extended position and a retracted position but biased to the extended position. The keyboard has a plurality of keys and a switch means associated with each key to register when the key has been pressed. When a key is pressed the base plate moves from the extended position to the retracted position, that movement providing for at least some travel of the pressed key. A sufficient degree of travel can be provided that the keyboard, even in a very thin form, can be used for touch-typing.