Abstract: The invention relates to chemical-based methods and products for mitigating the impact of an oil spill, that act via mechanisms which include reducing adhesiveness, herding, thickening and gelling. N-fatty acid amino acid (FA-AA) conjugates display oil-herding behavior when formulated as a salt, or the free acid in water-miscible organic solvents. Various salts of FA-AA conjugates are water soluble and can herd oils and increase the thickness of the oil layer. Replacement of the acid group of fatty acid ?-amino acid conjugates with other groups that act as hydrogen bond donors and acceptors results in potent phase selective organo gellants. The oil thickeners or gellants include can be prepared from biobased feedstocks, have low toxicity, high capacity for oil and reduction of the need to use an organic solvent to apply the thickener or gellant to an oil and water mixture in order to gel the oil phase.

Abstract: Data communication, with improved error detection, of a signal having a plurality of data blocks, by: error checking a received data block in a first sequence using a first polynomial, beginning with a first predetermined initial error checking state, producing a first CSUM; error checking the received data block in a second sequence using a second polynomial, using the first CSUM as a second predetermined initial error checking state, producing a second CSUM; comparing the second CSUM to the first predetermined initial error checking state to detect errors in the data communication; and repeating the above steps for sequential data blocks of the data communication, wherein the first polynomial is an inverse of the second polynomial.

Abstract: A process of increasing plant growth and yield comprises introducing into the plant a DNA sequence encoding a product which modifies, in the plant, the level of cellulose precursors.

Abstract: A process of increasing plant growth and yield comprises introducing into the plant a DNA sequence encoding a product which modifies, in the plant, the level of cellulose precursors.

Abstract: A control system for a hybrid vehicle ensures the best possible utilization of onboard energy resources for different operating conditions of the vehicle. The control system utilizes a strategy modified in real time depending on the input from sensors measuring vehicle speed, the current and voltage levels at different locations in the system. The vehicle has an auxiliary power unit, at least one energy storage device and at least one electric drive motor for traction. The vehicle has a high load driving condition, a low load driving condition and a regenerative braking condition. A voltage control sets system voltage to a charging voltage in the low load condition and regenerative braking condition, and sets system voltage to an output voltage from the energy storage device for the high load condition.

Abstract: A computer-controlled fluid manipulation and analysis apparatus for chemical, biochemical and clinical analysis, sample preparation, and microscale chemical and biochemical synthesis, having one or more stream selection hubs with multiple ports through which microliter volumes of multiple fluid streams may be accessed, stacked, mixed and otherwise transferred by two or more cooperant pumping systems in a highly repeatable and fully software programmable manner. The inherent or resulting properties of said fluids may be automatically recorded via one or more appropriate electronic detectors and data recording systems. Systems comprised of two or more hubs exhibit higher properties of a flow network, and allow more than one fluid segment to be processed simultaneously. Bi-directional flow may occur in each inter-hub connection, and a plurality of possible transport routes can exist between hubs. This leads to enhanced flexibility in sequential processing of each fluid segment.

Abstract: A process for preparing ceric sulphate in solution. A saturated solution of cerous sulphate is electrolyzed at a high anodic current density in the range 100 to 400 mamp/cm.sup.2, high cathode current density in the range 1000 to 4,500 mamp/cm.sup.2 and with vigorous agitation in the presence of dilute sulphuric acid. The process permits the production of concentrated ceric sulphate solutions at commercially viable current densities and efficiencies.

Abstract: An improvement in a fish canning process comprising applying to a cut surface of the fish a proteolytic enzyme. There is a marked function in curd formation as a result. The oil color is also improved. The process is of particular interest in salmon canning.

Abstract: An electrolytic process for converting cerous ion to ceric iron in an electrolytic cell including a cathode, an anode and an electrolyte. Cobalt is incorporated into the electrolyte in addition to the cerous ion.

Abstract: A method of freeing a coating of ice, snow or frost frozen on to the surface of a manufactured material, such as a metal partition, a masonry or painted structure, or a paved roadway or runway, by concentrating an intense beam of visible light on to the interface between the coating and the surface adequate to raise the temperature at the interfacial zone to the melting point so as to free the coating from the surface, and apparatus for carrying out this method. The apparatus preferably includes structure for immediately breaking and removing the coating.