Abstract: A method and a quaternary ammonium or phosphonium composition used therein for inhibiting retarding, mitigating, reducing, controlling and/or delaying formation of hydrocarbon hydrates or agglomerates of hydrates. The method may be applied to prevent or reduce or mitigate plugging of conduits, pipes, transfer lines, valves, and other places or equipment where hydrocarbon hydrate solids may form under the conditions. At least one quaternary ammonium or phosphonium compound is added into the process stream, where the compound may be mixed with another compound selected from other amino alcohols, esters, quaternary ammonium, phosphonium or sulphonium salts, betaines, amine oxides, amides, simple amine salts, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A method for controlling the output of an internal combustion engine includes opening an intake valve on a cylinder; receiving air from an intake manifold into the cylinder during an intake stroke of a piston in the cylinder; returning excess air from the cylinder back into the intake manifold during the initial portion of the compression stroke of the piston, wherein a quantity of combustion air or air/fuel mixture necessary for a desired engine power output remains in the cylinder; and then closing the intake valve. A control device includes a control camshaft rotatively coupled to the crankshaft having a control cam with lobes that engage the intake valves for holding one or more intake valves open; a cam phaser to vary the phase of the controlled cam relative to the main camshaft; and a cam phase controller linked to the cam phaser, wherein advancing the phase of the control cam increases the power output of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: Improved shoring systems and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a shoring system includes first and second opposing side walls. A manifold is pivotally connected to the first side wall and is pivotally moveable between a shielded position and an exposed position. In the shielded position, the manifold is at least partially covered by a shield. In the exposed position, the manifold is pivoted upward to expose components of the manifold, such as hydraulic inlets and outlets, valves, and hydraulic fluid lines. The shoring system is safer, easier, and more efficient to operate than conventional shoring systems.

Abstract: A composite conduit suitable for transporting corrosive and/or erosive fluids including gases, liquids or slurries, is formed by positioning a tube formed of a material having desirable corrosion and/or erosion resistant properties within a pipe formed of a commonly weldable material such that one end of the tube is aligned with one end of the pipe. The tube has an outer diameter slightly less than the inner diameter of the pipe. The tube is affixed to the pipe by connecting the aligned ends thereof, and the pipe is compressed in a reducing operation so that the inner diameter of the pipe is reduced to a diameter that is less than or equal to the outer diameter of the tube. Adjacent, end-to-end sections of the composite conduit are connected using a coupling that employs a cylindrical body formed of the same material as the tubes of the conduits.

Abstract: The invention provides a compiler for compiling source code files to generate corresponding object code files, the source code files including a first source code file and a second source code file, the first source code file having an initial occurrence of a unit of source code, and the second source code file having a subsequent occurrence of the unit of source code, the compiler including means for compiling the first source code file to generate the first object code file having a first unit of object code representing the initial occurrence of the unit of source code, and means for compiling the second source code file to generate the second object code file having a pointer to the first unit of object code, whereby the pointer supplants a second unit of object code representing the subsequent occurrence of the unit of source code.

Abstract: A bismuth-213 generator comprising an insoluble composition having the general formula Zr(Phosponate)x(HPO4)2?x.nH2O, wherein x is between 0 and 2; and n is the number of waters of hydration; and wherein cations of radioactive isotopes selected from radium, actinium and combinations thereof are immobilized on the composition. The value of x may be between about 0.2 and about 1. The phosphonate may be n-phosphonomethyl-miniodiacetic acid (PMIDA), wherein x may be between about 0.1 and about 1.9. The phosphonate may be one or more phosphonate having the formula: H2O3P—(CH2)a—N—((CH2)bCO2H)—((CH2)cCO2H), wherein a, b, and c are numbers from 1 to 3 that may or may not be equal. The value of x may also be between about 0.1 and 1.9.

Abstract: A system for screwing together threaded connections includes a pair of moveable arms which first grip the tubular to provide a contact force against three hydraulically powered drive rollers, that are contained within the arms. The three drive rollers will screw or “spin” the connection to an initial torque value. The moveable arms also contain a set of jaws (three) which extend radially inwardly to grip the tubular, so the connection can be made up to final torque by contracting a hydraulic cylinder. The hydraulic cylinder that is used to apply the final torque value is attached on one end, where the moveable arms are pinned together, and on the other end to something fixed, such a snub post or derrick leg. Rotation of the opposing connection is prevented by the use of standard equipment such as a manual chain tong.

Abstract: Selective extraction of one or more metal anions from an aqueous solution, by contacting the aqueous solution with an organic solution including a diquaternary amine, wherein the diquaternary amine has two diquaternary nitrogens spaced at a distance of less than about 10 ?, selectively binding the metal anions to the diquaternary amine, and then separating the organic solution from the aqueous solution, wherein the diquaternary amines having the selectively bound metal anions are concentrated in the organic solution. Alternatively, the diquaternary amines may be adsorbed or chemically bonded to a solid, and the metal anion-containing aqueous solution passed over the solid having the diquaternary amines. Palladium may be selectively extracted by contacting the acidic solution with an iodide and an organic solvent, allowing the palladium to bind to the iodide, and then separating the organic solution from the aqueous solution, concentrating the bound palladium ions in the organic solution.

Abstract: Selective extraction of a metal anion complex, such as a platinum-group metal halide, from an aqueous solution containing other metal anions or anion complexes, by contacting the solution with a diquaternary ammonium salt having two quaternary nitrogens spaced at a distance less than about 10 ?, selectively binding the metal anion complex to the diquaternary ammonium salt to form an organo-metallic complex, and separating the organo-metallic complex from the solution. Alternatively, the diquaternary ammonium salts may be adsorbed or chemically bonded to a substrate, and the metal anion complex-containing solution passed over the substrate. Preferably, the two quaternary nitrogens are spaced a distance apart that is complementary to the ionic diameter of the target metal anion complex.

Abstract: A method and computer program product that allow a firewall program to control whether an application program is granted access to a wide area network (WAN), such as the Internet. The method allows the firewall to receive an access request definition from the application program through a well-known port. A preferred request definition comprises the application unique identifier, a destination address, the port, and a corresponding justification statement. The firewall intercepts access requests sent by the application program and identifies a matching access request definition. The firewall then prompts a user to approve or deny the request, wherein the prompt is accompanied by the justification statement from the identified access request definition. Accordingly, the user is better able to make an informed decision whether or not to grant the access request.

Abstract: A bipolar assembly for use in electrochemical cell stacks, especially stacks operated at low pressure. The bipolar assembly is lightweight and provides a “post-type” flow field that operates with a low pressure drop. The bipolar assembly comprises a gas barrier having an array of electronically conducting posts disposed approximately perpendicular to the gas barrier. Each end of the posts is in electrical communication with the surface of an electrode. Because the bipolar assembly separates a cathode from an anode, the posts contact an anode electrode on one end and a cathode electrode on the other end. The posts provide current conduction through the stack as well as provide the flow fields for the electrochemical reactants. Optionally, the bipolar assembly may contain cooling fluid channels formed by adding additional gas barriers to the bipolar assembly. The space between the gas barriers form a channel through which cooling fluids may be circulated.

Abstract: Methods and systems useful for obtaining a representative sample of solid particles from a pneumatically conveyed stream of solid particles. One preferred method and system includes establishing a pneumatic flow of solid particles in a gas stream through a sampling conduit and diverting the steam through a second conduit; isolating an inlet of the sampling conduit from the second conduit substantially simultaneously with the step of diverting the entire stream through the second conduit and emptying material from the isolated sampling conduit, wherein the representative sample comprises the material emptied from the sampling conduit. The outlet end of the sampling conduit may be vented into the second conduit or the atmosphere. The system for accomplishing the method may include a controller for controlling, inter alia, a position of the means for diverting the stream through a second conduit, the means for isolating an inlet sampling conduit, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A composite interface widget for toggleable entry fields that minimizes real estate and allows the entry field to toggle between a special kind of input that is either a predefined value or a value specified by the user. The widget presents a local or noninherited state which enables the widget to have an entry field with editing capability; alternatively, the widget offers an inherit state having a read-only entry field that displays a present input string. The user is given a small concise button or other icon to toggle between the two states. The programmer specifies the initial state, the string to display in the inherit mode, and the initial value for the local or noninherit mode. The programmer can subsequently query if the user chose the inherit mode or chose the local mode and, if so, what local value was entered.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for providing roaming services to a wireless telephone roaming outside of its home service area by receiving a request for roaming service from a wireless telephone that is within a roaming network and offering a special roaming contract to the user of the wireless telephone. The request for services comprises an identify of the wireless telephone wherein the identity comprises the mobile identification number and the electronic serial number. Using the identity of the wireless telephone received in the request, the roaming network determines that the wireless telephone identity is not recorded as a record within the roaming network and is therefore roaming. The method provides offering a special roaming contract to the user and then executing the special roaming contract if the user decides to accept the offer for a special roaming contract.

Abstract: An inventive apparatus and method provides for restricting movement from a collapsed or folded position of a pair of rails employed by a shoring assembly. The shoring assembly has a plurality of first pads each pivotally connected to one of the rails, a plurality of second pads each pivotally connected to the other of the rails, and a plurality of hydraulic jacks each being operatively connected between an opposing pair of the first and second pads. The pivoting movement of the plurality of first pads is restricted relative to the one rail when the rails are disposed in the collapsed position. In a particular embodiment, a pair of first pads and a pair of second pads—respectively known as cylinder pads and socket pads—are employed by the shoring assembly. Accordingly, a pair of hydraulic jacks are further employed in this embodiment of the shoring assembly.

Abstract: A wizard user interface generates an interim system product during forward traversal of the wizard's pages and causes the generated interim system product to revert (i.e. be restored to a condition associated with a previous wizard page) during backward traversal of the wizard's pages. Advancing to a next page of the wizard causes a system product to be generated. The generated interim product is application dependent and may comprise one or more components, such as a generated electronic file or an amendment to an existing file for example, which are not merely by-products of the wizard mechanism. Backtracking to a previous wizard page causes the generated interim system product to revert. The wizard user interface allows observation of, and interaction with, the generated interim system product by the user prior to wizard completion.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating an exhaust gas stream from cold startup through continuous operating conditions of an internal combustion engine includes an oxidizing catalyst bed disposed in an exhaust pipe and a reducing catalyst bed disposed in the exhaust pipe downstream from the oxidizing catalyst bed. The oxidizing catalyst bed as one or more oxidizing catalysts and the reducing catalyst bed has one or more reducing catalysts. A method is provided for treating an exhaust gas stream both during cold start and during continuous operating conditions of an internal combustion engine by passing the stream through an oxidizing catalyst bed having one or more oxidizing catalysts at a light off temperature; a reducing catalyst bed having one or more reducing catalysts and providing hydrogen into the reducing catalyst bed to condition the reducing catalyst; and introducing hydrogen into the internal combustion engine during cold startup.