Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a desalination system comprising a plurality of elongated pressure vessels (PV). Each PV has a longitudinal axis, oriented such that the longitudinal axis thereof is of a vertical orientation. Each of the PVs is adapted to receive therein a plurality n of desalination membranes. The membranes located above the lowermost membrane within the PV have a total weight allowing them to function as a mechanism limiting axial expansion of the lowermost membrane, whereby the PV is free of any additional limiting mechanism.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a process for producing separable iron and titanium oxides from an ore containing titanium oxide and ferric oxide, comprising: (a) forming agglomerates comprising carbon-based materials and the ore, the quantity of carbon of the agglomerates being sufficient for, at an elevated temperature, reducing ferric oxide to ferrous oxide and forming a ferrous oxide-rich molten slag, (b) introducing the agglomerates onto a carbon bed of a moving hearth furnace; (c) heating the agglomerates in the moving hearth furnace to a temperature sufficient for reducing and melting the agglomerates to produce a ferrous oxide-rich molten slag; (d) metallizing the ferrous oxide of the molten slag by reaction of the ferrous oxide and the carbon of the carbon bed at a furnace temperature sufficient for maintaining the slag in a molten state; and (e) solidifying the slag after metallization of the ferrous oxide to form a matrix of titanium oxide-rich slag having a plurality of metallic iron granules distri

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising fluorinated olefins or fluorinated ketones, and at least one alcohol, halocarbon, hydrofluorocarbon, or fluoroether and combinations thereof. In one embodiment, these compositions are azeotropic or azeotrope-like. In another embodiment, these compositions are useful in cleaning applications as a degreasing agent or defluxing agent for removing oils and/or other residues from a surface.

Abstract: A fastener for use for attaching metal parts has a socket member and a stud member slidably and fixedly received therein. A flair portion on the socket member expands when abutted by a camming portion on the stud member to move the fastener between unlocked and locked positions. The head of the stud member includes a beveled edge which complementarily fits against a bevel abutment within the socket head. The bevel abutment extracts the stud member from the locked position by turning the stud member in either axial direction to ramp the stud member out of the socket member.

Abstract: Described is an electrode paste for plasma display panel, which has a black pigment, a glass frit, an organic binder and a solvent, wherein the black pigment contains cobalt oxide (CO3O4) and copper-chromium-cobalt composite oxide (Cr—Cu—Co—O).

Abstract: In Caenorhabditis elegans, lin-4 and let-7 enclode 22- and 21 -nucleotide RNAs, respectively, that function as key regulators of developmental timing. Because the appearance of these short RNAs is regulated during development, they are also referred to as “small temporal RNAs” (stRNAs). We show that many more 21- and 22-nt expressed RNAs, termed microRNAs, (miRNAs), exist in invertebrates and vertebrates, and that some of these novel RNAs, similar to let-7 stRAN, are also highly conserved. This suggests that sequence-specific post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms mediated by small RNAs are more general than previously appreciated.

Abstract: Apparatus for segmenting microcalcifications in a mammographic image having a bandpass filter for bandpass filtering the mammographic image obtaining the filtered mammographic image, a marker and a processor for individual processing. The marker marks image points in the filtered mammographic image as potential regions of microcalcifications when a they exceed or fall below a predetermined threshold. The processor for individual processing processes one of the regions of adjacent marked image points for changing an extension of the one region for illustrating a segmentation of microcalcifications.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing peroxycarboxylic acids from carboxylic acid esters. More specifically, carboxylic acid esters are reacted with an inorganic peroxide, such as hydrogen peroxide, in the presence of an enzyme catalyst having perhydrolysis activity. The present perhydrolase catalysts are classified as members of the carbohydrate esterase family 7 (CE-7) based on the conserved structural features. Further, disinfectant formulations comprising the peracids produced by the processes described herein are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions of matter that are ionic liquids, the compositions comprising any of eleven cations combined with any of three fluorinated sulfonated anions. Compositions of the invention should be useful as solvents and, perhaps, as catalysts for many reactions, including aromatic electrophilic substitution, nitration, acylation, esterification, etherification, oligomerization, transesterification, isomerization and hydration.

Abstract: An acid-resistant peptide solubility tag (an “inclusion body tag”) is provided that is effective in producing peptides of interest in an insoluble form. Fusion peptide constructs comprising the inclusion body tag fused to a peptide of interest are provided. An acid cleavable peptide moiety separates the inclusion body tag from the peptide of interest so that acid hydrolysis can be used during subsequent processing steps to separate the tag from the desired peptide of interest. The present inclusion body tag's resistance to acid hydrolysis facilitates easier and cleaner separation of the peptide of interest after acid hydrolysis. Specifically, a ketosteroid isomerase-derived inclusion body tag is provided that has been engineered to be more resistant to acid hydrolysis.

Abstract: A device for generating a note signal upon a manual input is described which comprises an operating means which is implemented to enable a user of the same, as an input, to define an input angle or an input angle range as the input signal, and a controller which is implemented to receive the input signal and to generate a note signal associated with a pitch class based on an assignment function and on the input signal.

Abstract: A fluorinated ion exchange polymer prepared by grafting at least one grafting monomer on to at least one base polymer, wherein the grafting monomer comprises structure 1a or 1b: wherein Z comprises S, SO2, or POR wherein R comprises a linear or branched perfluoroalkyl group of 1 to 14 carbon atoms optionally containing oxygen or chlorine, an alkyl group of 1 to 8 carbon atoms, an aryl group of 6 to 12 carbon atoms or a substituted aryl group of 6 to 12 carbon atoms; RF comprises a linear or branched perfluoroalkene group of 1 to 20 carbon atoms, optionally containing oxygen or chlorine; Q is chosen from F, —OM, NH2, —N(M)SO2R2F, and C(M)(SO2R2F)2, wherein M comprises H, an alkali cation, or ammonium; R2F groups comprises alkyl of 1 to 14 carbon atoms which may optionally include ether oxygens or aryl of 6 to 12 carbon atoms where the alkyl or aryl groups may be perfluorinated or partially fluorinated; and n is 1 or 2 for 1a, and n is 1, 2, or 3 for 1b.

Abstract: The invention concerns a fabric useful in apparel and garments comprising an intimate blend of staple fibers, the blend of fibers comprising 55 to 95 parts by weight of a polypyridobisimidazole fiber having an inherent viscosity of greater than 20 dl/g and a tensile modulus of greater than 120 GPa (820 gpd); and 5 to 45 parts by weight of a flexible fiber having a tensile modulus of less than 10 GPa (70 gpd).

Abstract: Peptides have been generated that have binding affinity to carbon nanostructures and particularly carbon nanotubes. Peptides of or the invention are generally about twelve amino acids in length. Methods for generating carbon nanotube binding peptides are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the transport of articles comprises in one embodiment one or more communication devices for receiving and transmitting data, at least one primary server in communication with the primary server for allocating couriers for the collection and delivery of articles, a program for controlling the server, and at least one remote interface for placing orders for the collection and delivery of the articles, wherein the program, upon the execution of an order, compares stored historical travel times from one geographic location to another with actual travel times from one geographic location to another to thereby provide updated estimates for the collection time and delivery time of articles provided in subsequent orders.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions of matter that are ionic liquids, the compositions comprising any of eleven cations combined with any of three fluorinated sulfonated anions. Compositions of the invention should be useful as solvents and, perhaps, as catalysts for many reactions, including aromatic electrophilic substitution, nitration, acylation, esterification, etherification, oligomerization, transesterification, isomerization and hydration.

Abstract: A remote ordering system is provided using an electronic menu having a series of input devices corresponding to various menu items aligned with the input devices, and a wireless transmitter to send selected menu items to a receiving device for processing. A display to show selected menu items, an alpha-numeric keyboard, a non-cash payment device, and a printer for receipts are also contemplated for increased functionality.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions of matter that are ionic liquids, the compositions comprising any of eleven cations combined with any of three fluorinated sulfonated anions. Compositions of the invention should be useful as solvents and, perhaps, as catalysts for many reactions, including aromatic electrophilic substitution, nitration, acylation, esterification, etherification, oligomerization, transesterification, isomerization and hydration.