Abstract: Compositions are provided that have at least two of three active ingredients. The active ingredients maybe a salt having a cation N? C8-C6 alkanoyl-L di-basic amino acid —C1-C4 alkyl ester, a glycerol monoester of a fatty acid and a sugar ester of a fatty acid. The compositions are useful in methods of killing or inhibiting planktonic bacteria or fungi and bacteria or fungi embedded in a biofilm and prevention of biofilm formation on surfaces. The composition may further comprise a hydrogel and a benefit agent such as an antibiotic that can be solubilized by the hydrogel and supplied to the biofilm matrix by the active ingredients of the composition. Devices such as chronic wound coverings coated with the composition are also provided. Methods of preserving products with the composition are also provided.

Abstract: Geothermal energy is increasingly recognized as a useful energy source for both industrial and residential purposes. Disclosed herein are units for subterranean heat exchange comprising a polymer block with ‘mini-channels’ adapted and/or sized for highly efficient heat exchange. In some embodiments such units can, as needed, be manufactured off site, spooled for transport, and conveniently installed in boreholes. Other arrangements are also described for conduits located within a borehole for heat exchange, without a polymer block. Also disclosed are geothermal heat exchange systems including those that employ such units, for example with direct expansion of a two-phase heat-exchange fluid such as carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A submersible reverse osmosis desalination apparatus and method employs airlift to remove desalinated water from the apparatus via as annular flow regime over a substantial portion of the product water discharge conduit. Use of a high air fraction for airlift operation and an annular flow regime significantly lowers the weight of the product water column, as well as the backpressure on the downstream side of the osmotic membranes and at the bottom of the discharge water conduit. This permits deployment of the apparatus at reduced depths and in many eases closer to shore. In preferred embodiments the apparatus relies wholly upon hydrostatic pressure to drive seawater through the osmotic membranes, and continuously desalinates seawater and delivers pure water to the discharge water conduit without using any submerged moving parts subject to wear or breakage.

Abstract: The subject matter of the invention is a carrier loaded with bioactive substances, wherein the carrier is carbonate substituted hydroxyapatite and the bioactive substances are an ion and a plant extract, wherein said ion is selected from the group consisting of Cu, Zn and a combination thereof, and wherein the plant extract consists of mint extract, rosemary extract, Ocimum basilicum extract, lemon extract, garlic extract, clove; extract, thyme extract and cinnamon extract.

Abstract: Provided are methods of making an extract of fruit of the Solanaceae family wherein fruit is processed to optimise the platelet aggregation inhibiting activity of the extract. The methods involve preparing a start mix of homogenised fruit; separating a water soluble fraction from fruit solids; filtration of the water soluble fraction; and concentration of active agents in the filtration permeate. The invention also provides fruit extracts manufactured by such methods, and also fruit extracts containing glycosylated phenolic acid or a phenolic ester, or derivatives thereof; a glycosylated flavonoid; and a nucleoside. The extracts of the invention are useful as medicaments for the treatment or prevention of a medical condition characterised by inappropriate platelet aggregation. In particular, the medicaments may be of use in maintaining heart health by reducing platelet aggregation; benefiting the circulation; and/or normalizing or otherwise benefiting blood flow.

Abstract: The invention describes products, uses thereof, compositions thereof, and methods to prepare products formed from Maillard reaction products from a sugar donor and/or sweet tea extracts, stevia extracts, swingle (mogroside) extracts, one or more sweet tea extract components, one or more steviol glycosides, one or more mogrosides, one or more glycosylated sweet tea glycosides, one or more glycosylated steviol glycosides or one or more glycosylated mogrosides and an amine donor/reactant.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing 1,3-propanediol includes culturing, in the presence of a saccharide and formaldehyde to produce 1,3-propanediol, a microorganism having the following genes: (a) a first gene encoding an enzyme that catalyzes an aldol reaction between pyruvic acid and aldehydes; (b) a second gene encoding an enzyme that catalyzes a decarboxylation reaction of ?-keto acids; and (c) a third gene encoding an enzyme that catalyzes a reduction reaction of aldehydes, is provided.

Abstract: Sweetener and flavor compositions with improved taste profiles are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of making and methods of using such sweetener and flavor compositions.

Abstract: An anthraquinone compound and the use thereof in preparing anti-allergic drugs. The anthraquinone compound has a structure according to formula (I) and can be used to prepare anti-allergic drugs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising a water soluble tomato extract (WSTE) which may be used in maintaining cardiovascular health, lessening the risk of developing cardiovascular health problems, or reducing the likelihood of worsening an existing cardiovascular health problem in a subject exposed, or is at risk of exposure, to particulate air pollution.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of, and methods of use employing, certain glycolipid compounds as defined in detail below and having preservative or antimicrobial properties, novel compounds of the glycolipid class, and related invention embodiments. The compounds have the formula I wherein m is 3 to 5, n is 2 to 5, o is 0 or 1 and p is 3 to 17, with the proviso that the sum m+n+o+p is not less than 14; and R is a carbohydrate moiety bound via one of its carbon atoms to the binding oxygen, and/or a physiologically, especially pharmaceutically or nutraceutically or cosmetically, acceptable salt thereof, or an ester thereof, as such or in the form of a composition, where the compound may be present in open chain form and/or in the form of a lactone (FIG. 1).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an anti-influenza virus composition for mucous membranes, comprising a fermented ginseng extract or fermented red ginseng extract as an active component.

Abstract: A joined body (10) includes an optical material (11) and a cooling material (12) that are capable of transmitting light and are joined together. At a joining interface between the optical material (11) and the cooling material (12), the joined body (10) is capable of transmitting light, and also an atom contained in the optical material (11) diffusively enters the cooling material (12) in such a degree that an interference fringe is not generated in the joined body (10). A diffusive entry length of an atom contained in the optical material (11) into the cooling material (12) may be in a range from approximately 1.0 nm to approximately 10 ?m.

Abstract: A system for improving drill bit performance, comprising processors and memory storing instructions to obtain a wear report for a drill bit, wherein the wear report includes wear characteristics of the drill bit and drill operating parameters under which the drill bit was used; compare the wear characteristics of the drill bit to a threshold for acceptable drill bit wear; and adjust drill operating parameters based on the wear characteristics of the drill bit. The instructions to obtain the wear report for the drill bit include instructions to analyze images of the drill bit to identify wear characteristics; identify wear patterns based on the wear characteristics of the drill bit; identify probable drilling conditions based on the wear patterns; and generate the wear report for the drill bit based on the images of the drill bit, the wear characteristics of the drill bit, and the probable drilling conditions.

Abstract: A methodology and system are presented for inducing user intent in a corpus and storing this intent in an intent library. To accurately detect intent, the corpus is first cleaned of nonsensical words and symbols and then syntactically analyzed to extract words and dependencies between them, which are then semantically analyzed to select keywords that are indicative of intent, and map the keywords to ordered broad semantic categories of the types of action, modifier and object. Keywords are then converted into embedding vectors whose dimensions are reduced and clustered according to category and order. Relations are calculated for the clusters across the semantic categories and intent is then calculated with the help of intent templates and word dictionaries.

Abstract: A composition for and method of practicing nasal hygiene to wash and moisturize the nasal passage. Where the nasal wash comprises a liquid homogenized compound of water, chlorine dioxide (or source thereof), olfactory stimulants, unsaturated fatty acids, cannabidiol oil, inorganic salt, fixing agents. Where the unsaturated fatty acid component comprises from 0.01% to 1% by weight of the compound.

Abstract: A gas meter is outfit with near field communication (NFC) devices for in-situ exchange of data. The NFC devices reside in separate compartments. A first compartment houses electronics necessary to generate values for volumetric flow of material in a pipe. The gas meter includes a second compartment with an access point that allows data, including telemetry data, to transmit from the gas meter to a remote device. In operation, the NFC devices exchange data between the first compartment and the second compartment, often through a wall or barrier that prevents flow of fluid between the compartments.

Abstract: Sweetener and flavor compositions with improved taste profiles are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of making and methods of using such sweetener and flavor compositions.

Abstract: Therapeutic tea remedy mixtures in the form of beverages and ointments. Methods for making the tea remedy mixtures are described along with the benefits it provides to combat various medical ailments that frequently impair the human body.