Abstract: Examples of maintaining or querying a traffic database to generate a traffic flow model to provide traffic flow information and determine a per-lane route for a vehicle to travel are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for quenching metallurgical coke made in a coking oven. The method includes pushing a unitary slab of incandescent coke onto a substantially planar receiving surface of an enclosed quenching car so that substantially all of the coke from the coking oven is pushed as a unitary slab onto the receiving surface of the quenching car. The slab of incandescent coke is quenched in an enclosed environment within the quenching car with a plurality of water quench nozzles while submerging at least a portion of the slab of incandescent coke by raising a water level in the quenching car. Subsequent to quenching the coke, the planar receiving surface is tilted to an angle sufficient to slide the quenched coke off of the planar receiving surface and onto a product collection conveyer and sufficient to drain water from the quenched coke.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for quenching metallurgical coke made in a coking oven. The method includes pushing a unitary slab of incandescent coke onto a substantially planar receiving surface of an enclosed quenching car so that substantially all of the coke from the coking oven is pushed as a unitary slab onto the receiving surface of the quenching car. The slab of incandescent coke is quenched in an enclosed environment within the quenching car with a plurality of water quench nozzles while submerging at least a portion of the slab of incandescent coke by raising a water level in the quenching car. Subsequent to quenching the coke, the planar receiving surface is tilted to an angle sufficient to slide the quenched coke off of the planar receiving surface and onto a product collection conveyer and sufficient to drain water from the quenched coke.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for the reduction and recycling of papermaking sludge. Papermaking sludge is incinerated in a rotary heater, typically a rotary cement kiln, asphalt dryer, or specially designed rotary kiln or incinerator. Aggregate may be combined with the sludge to provide better dispersion of the sludge within the heater, and to facilitate heat transfer. Once in operation, the heat of sludge combustion is added to the process heat, resulting in markedly reduced energy requirements. Papermaking sludge is typically fed continuously into said rotary heater while temperatures in the combustion zone are maintained in the range of approximately 800.degree. to 3500.degree. F. During incineration, mixing catalysts (typically casein or soy protein) and wood fibers are burned, while moisture is evaporated. The resulting product consists essentially of carbonate particles which are collected for subsequent use.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a stable catalytic and aqua-activated polyurethane bandage used for orthopedic casting. The bandage has a substrate and an aqua-activated polyurethane prepolymer. The catalyst used to make the prepolymer is .alpha.-(morpholinopolyethoxy)-.beta.-morpholinoethane or the mixture of .alpha.-(morpholinopolyethoxy)-.beta.-morpholinoethane and cocatalyst bis-(2-dimethylaminoethyl) ether. The catalyst in this bandage can be optionally combined with a stabilizing agent, such as ethane-sulfonic acid to form a structurally stable complex. The catalyst of this invention provides an excellent solidification time and significantly prolongs the storage period of the bandage.

Abstract: This invention teaches a computerized method for use in data acquisition and manipulation of two-dimensional patterns in the fields of medicine, astronomy, chemistry, biology and biotechnology. The invention teaches an interactive computerized method for matching visual patterns of polypeptide spots in two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoretogram solubilized into polypeptide constituents that are separated by electrophoresis. The computerized method manipulates spot pixel coordinates using staged coordinate transformation techniques on spot markers and unknown study spots to reduce gel preparation distortions and allows a user to produce matching results in a manner that compares the transformed spot data using either a single reference gel or multiple reference gels approach for producing the matching results. The method also includes a spot matching verification step and a step to extract potentially mis-matched spots from reported matching results.

Abstract: A multi-lumen catheter is formed by first introducing one end of an expandable tube into the blood vessel. A divider is then inserted into the distal end of the tube and extends the length of the tube, thereby dividing the tube into a plurality of the separate lumens. Insertion of the divider causes radial expansion of the tube which substantially seals the opening in the wall of the vessel. In one embodiment, the divider has a hollow triangular cross-section which creates four separate lumens. A series of raised protrusions extending outwardly from the sides of the divider prevent collapse of the tube against the divider.

Abstract: A cooling system for a glassware forming machine in which air is delivered to each of two plenums for upward flow of air through vertical passages in mold members on the plenums from an air outlet on the base of the machine via an air duct having a horizontal section, an inlet section extending down from one end of the horizontal section into a hole in an oscillable disk closing the outlet and an outlet section extending up from the other end of the horizontal section into a hole in the plenum.

Abstract: Novel diterpene compounds are separated from dry biomass of Grindelia camporum. The separated compounds are then hydrogenated and esterified. Both the hydrogenated and ester products are useful as tackifiers.

Abstract: The production of ultra-hard particles composed substantially of carbon as the dominant element is taught. The ultra-hard particle comprises a covalently bonded lattice structure produced by reacting a carbide selected from the group consisting of acetylide carbides, interstitial carbides and metal carbides with a polyhalide selected from the group consisting of CH.sub.n X.sub.A Y.sub.(4-n)-A, C.sub.2 H.sub.n' X.sub.A' Y.sub.(6-n')-A', C.sub.2 H.sub.n" X.sub.A" Y.sub.(4-n")-A", BX.sub.3, C.sub.6 X.sub.6, C.sub.5 X.sub.5 N, SX.sub.2 and X.sub.2 wherein X and Y are different halogens selected from the group consisting of chlorine, bromine, iodine and fluorine, and wherein A is an integer from 0 to 4, A' is an integer from 0 to 6, and A" is an integer from 0 to 4, and wherein n is an integer from 0 to 4, n' is an integer from 0 to 6, and n" is an integer from 0 to 4, wherein A, A', A", n, n' or n" is the same integer in any particular member selected and wherein n+A=4, n'+A'=6 and n"+A"=4.