Abstract: Photocatalysis is a promising technique for remediation of indoor air pollution. The present invention focuses on the enhancement of the effectiveness of the photocatalytic process by the introduction of artificial roughness on the interior reactor surface. Artificial roughness elements on the catalytic surface enhance the turbulence intensity close to the catalytic surface. The enhanced turbulence intensity translates to an increase in the mass transfer of airborne contaminants to the catalyst surface, improving the efficiency of photocatalysis.

Abstract: Provided is a method for treating a used absorbent article, this method being hygienic and capable of recovering recyclable material with a high degree of safety. This method for treating a used absorbent article is characterized by including (a) an acidic electrolyzed water treatment step that treats the used absorbent article in a treatment tank that has acidic electrolyzed water serve as a treatment fluid. This method preferably further includes (b) an alkaline electrolyzed water treatment step that treats the used absorbent article in a treatment tank that has alkaline electrolyzed water as a treatment fluid.

Abstract: An acoustophoresis device which includes a substantially vertical flow path of the fluid mixture in order to improve separation of particles/secondary fluid from a primary fluid is disclosed. The vertical flow path reduces velocity non-uniformities in the acoustic chamber resulting from gravity forces. The device includes an acoustic chamber in which multidimensional acoustic standing waves are generated. The fluid can be introduced into the acoustic chamber using a dump diffuser in which a plurality of inlets enter near the bottom of the acoustic chamber such that flow symmetry reduces both, gravity driven flow non-uniformities, and any flow interference effects between inlet mixture flow into the acoustic chamber and the continuous gravity driven particle cluster drop out.

Abstract: A volatile substances evaporation device comprises a body (1) which can house an element (2) impregnated with volatile substances; an electric resistance (4); and a plug (5) for connection to a power grid; and said electrical resistance (4) is positioned in said plug (5) and said plug (5) is movable with respect to said body (1) so that the distance between the element (2) and said electrical resistance (4) is variable, defining at least one position of maximum evaporation and one position of minimum evaporation.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing a sterilized medical formed article that includes applying high-energy rays to a medical formed article at an exposure E. The medical formed article is formed of a resin composition that includes a hydrogenated block copolymer and a phenol-based antioxidant. The hydrogenated block copolymer is obtained by hydrogenating 99% or more of unsaturated bonds of a block copolymer that includes at least two polymer blocks [A] and at least one polymer block [B], the polymer block [A] including a repeating unit derived from an aromatic vinyl compound as a main component, the polymer block [B] including a repeating unit derived from a linear conjugated diene compound as a main component, and a ratio (wA:wB) of a weight fraction wA of the polymer block [A] to a weight fraction wB of the polymer block [B] being 30:70 to 70:30.

Abstract: A fragrance dispensing apparatus includes a housing. The housing includes a platform configured to receive an ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) bead packet. The EVA bead packet remains substantially unheated by the fragrance dispensing apparatus during operation of the fragrance dispensing apparatus. The fragrance dispensing apparatus further includes a lower module. The lower module includes a fan configured to selectively actuate airflow through the EVA bead packet.

Abstract: A disposable and inexpensive biological diagnostic cartridge for the amplification and detection of nucleic acids includes a configuration having a reaction pouch for amplification which is compressed by a flexible pump pouch for detection of the amplified reaction.

Abstract: An electron beam sterilization device (1) for thin-walled containers (C) is fitted with an input (40) or output unit (60) provided with a swivelling body to bring a set of containers (C) from the outside environment into the sterilization chamber or vice versa, avoiding radioactive emissions from the sterilization chamber.

Abstract: A sterilization device has a rod-like body which is capable of being introduced through an aperture into an interior space of containers and which acts upon an inner wall of the containers with radiation. A lifting cam produces a movement in a longitudinal direction, of the containers between the containers and the sterilization device in such a way that the containers are capable of being guided over the rod-like body. A movement device is provided which is capable of producing a relative movement in the longitudinal direction of the containers between the rod-like body and the lifting cam and of altering a relative distance between the lifting cam and the rod-like body.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a cell culture apparatus having multiple stacked cell culture units each having multiple cell culture chambers. The multiple cell culture units are connected by a manifold which connects the cell culture units and provides a mechanism for efficiently filling the multiple cell culture chambers.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling airborne pollution comprises a leeward wall located near a polluted region, and a windward wall located between the leeward wall and the polluted region. The leeward wall and the windward wall are spaced apart so as to define an airflow passageway therebetween. The windward wall extends upwardly to a first wall height. The leeward wall includes an upper portion extending above the first wall height. The upper portion is adapted to direct airflow downward through the airflow passageway towards at least one opening located below the first wall height for exhausting the airflow from the airflow passageway.

Abstract: Nitrogen oxide is used to safely sterilize inside of a space area or an object arranged within the space area. A sterilization method is provided to comprise: introducing nitrogen oxide liquid stored in a vessel (4) into a space area (2, 2?, 2?) to gasify nitrogen oxide liquid, and sterilizing inside of space area (2, 2?, 2?) or object (1) arranged in space area (2, 2?, 2?) with nitrogen oxide gas evaporated from nitrogen oxide liquid to completely annihilate and destroy microorganisms inclusive of bacteria and virus with nitrogen oxide gas for preventing the infection by microorganisms to human body and damage to precision components.

Abstract: Pitting corrosion of stainless steel occurs in solutions of organic acid, such as tartaric acid, in an electrolyte solution with methanol. However, methanolic solutions containing at least one organic halide and at least one organic hydroxyacid and some water provide reduced pitting corrosion of stainless steel. The organic hydroxyacid may be a hydroxy acid containing 2 to 10 carbon atoms with at least one hydroxyl group and at least one carboxylic acid group, in a non-limiting example, glycolic acid. The pH of the methanolic solution may range from about 3.5 to about 8.

Abstract: To provide an illuminating device-cum-air cleaning device that solves a heat problem and allows efficient operation of an air cleaning means. Air inlets/outlets 3A and 3B are provided in a wall surface of a housing 10 to which an illumination light source 2 is attached. A fan 4 is provided in the housing 10 to generate a forced air flow inside and outside the housing 10 through the air inlets/outlets 3A and 3B and discharge heat from the illumination light source 2 by the forced air flow to the outside of the housing 10. In the middle of a flow path for the forced air flow a within the housing 10, a photocatalyst 50 facing the flow path and a UV light source 51 irradiating the photocatalyst 50 with light including ultraviolet rays are provided as air cleaning means 5.

Abstract: A valve arrangement comprises first and second valves mechanically interconnected for synchronous operation with one another so as to be switchable by a single action between first and second fluid flow configurations. The first configuration provides a first path for first fluid to flow from a first inlet to a first outlet and a second path for second fluid to flow from a second inlet to a second outlet. The second configuration provides paths for first fluid to flow from the first inlet to both the first and second outlets while closing the path from the second inlet. In one application, the arrangement allows a convenient method of disinfecting a water-consuming appliance such as a shower.

Abstract: Sterilant challenge device for use in steam sterilizers are described, including devices suitable for determining the efficacy of the non-condensable gas removal stage of a sterilization cycle and/or the quality of steam sterilant in relation to its content of non-condensable gas(es) are disclosed. Sterilant challenge devices having a metal tube having a defining a free space which is open at one end for the entry of sterilant and closed at the other end and at least one thermal load located around the tube are also described.

Abstract: Devices for separating materials from a host fluid are disclosed. The devices include a flow chamber, an ultrasonic transducer, and a reflector. The ultrasonic transducer and reflector create an angled acoustic standing wave oriented at an angle relative to the direction of mean flow through the flow chamber. The angled acoustic standing wave results in an acoustic radiation force having an axial force component that deflects the materials, so that the materials and the host fluid can thus be separated. The angled acoustic standing wave can be oriented at an angle of about 20° to about 70° relative to the direction of mean flow through the flow chamber to deflect, collect, differentiate, or fractionate the materials from the fluid flowing through the device at flow rates of about 400 mL/min up to about 700 mL/min.

Abstract: The invention relates to a medical seal for a medical sterilizing container having a container bottom part and a container top part for closing the container bottom part. Said seal is formed so as to be closed within itself and is adapted to be arranged on and extend around the container top part and comprises a sealing element holder body for fixation to the container top part and two sealing lips arranged on and extending around the sealing element holder body. At least one of the sealing lips is held or mounted in an articulated manner on the sealing element holder body.

Abstract: The presently claimed invention provides a photocatalytic air purification unit, comprising a fin structure and an UV lamp. The fin structure comprises a plurality of fins coated with a layer of photocatalyst, and said fin structure is able to increase the surface area for photocatalyst coating, ultimately increasing air pollutant removal efficiency with minimum air resistance. The air purification unit of the present invention is preferably installed in a HVAC system.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for conducting a reaction at a selected temperature or range of temperatures over time. An array device is provided. The array device contains separate reaction chambers and is formed as an elastomeric block from multiple layers. At least one layer has at least one recess that recess has at least one deflectable membrane integral to the layer with the recess. The array device has a thermal transfer device proximal to at least one of the reaction chambers. The thermal transfer device is formed to contact a thermal control source. Reagents for carrying out a desired reaction are introduced into the array device. The array device is contacted with a thermal control device such that the thermal control device is in thermal communication with the thermal control source so that a temperature of the reaction in at least one of the reaction chamber is changed as a result of a change in temperature of the thermal control source.