Abstract: The web of the invention can comprise a super absorbent layer that can act as an moisture sensitive fuel shut-off valve, absorbent, adsorbent or reactant. The web of the invention can comprise a super absorbent fabric or layer made of a superabsorbent particle or fiber. The web can comprise a nanofiber layer having dispersed within the nanofiber layer a super absorbent particulate and optionally a second particulate material that can act as an absorbent, adsorbent or reactant. Fluid, gas or liquid, that flows through or by the assemblies of the invention can have any gas, liquid or solid material dispersed or dissolved in the fluid interact with the super absorbent particulate. If needed these materials can also react with, be absorbed by, or adsorbed onto, the active particulate within the nanofiber layer.

Abstract: The web of the invention can comprise a super absorbent layer that can act as an moisture sensitive fuel shut-off valve, absorbent, adsorbant or reactant. The web of the invention can comprise a super absorbent fabric or layer made of a superabsorbent particle or fiber. The web can comprise a nanofiber layer having dispersed within the nanofiber layer a super absorbent particulate and optionally a second particulate material that can act as an absorbent, adsorbant or reactant. Fluid, gas or liquid, that flows through or by the assemblies of the invention can have any gas, liquid or solid material dispersed or dissolved in the fluid interact with the super absorbent particulate. If needed these materials can also react with, be absorbed by, or adsorbed onto, the active particulate within the nanofiber layer.

Abstract: An air filter having a low pressure drop and adsorbent capabilities when placed in a fluid stream is disclosed. The air filter contains activated carbon incorporated into a filter media that can be shaped into a fluted configuration. The fluted shape is maintained during operation of the air filter through the use of flow restrictors along the length of the flute. The fluted material can be rolled or stacked.

Abstract: A surface energy gradient on a fluid-impervious surface and method of its creation comprising the steps of a) Exposing a base surface having a proximal and a distal portion to a first solution comprising at least one molecule of the formula X-J-M1 wherein X and M1 represent separate functional groups and J represents a spacer moiety that, together, are able to promote formation from solution of a self-assembled monolayer for sufficient time to form a monolayer surface having a uniform surface energy on the base surface. b) Removing a portion of the monolayer of (a) such that a portion of the base surface is again fully or partially exposed. (c) Exposing the portion of the base surface from (b) to at least one other molecule including a functional group having a different surface energy from that of the functional group removed in(b) such that a surface energy gradient from a proximal location to a distal location is formed.

Abstract: The web of the invention can comprise a super absorbent layer that can act as an moisture sensitive fuel shut-off valve, absorbent, adsorbant or reactant. The web of the invention can comprise a super absorbent fabric or layer made of a superabsorbent particle or fiber. The web can comprise a nanofiber layer having dispersed within the nanofiber layer a super absorbent particulate and optionally a second particulate material that can act as an absorbent, adsorbant or reactant. Fluid, gas or liquid, that flows through or by the assemblies of the invention can have any gas, liquid or solid material dispersed or dissolved in the fluid interact with the super absorbent particulate. If needed these materials can also react with, be absorbed by, or adsorbed onto, the active particulate within the nanofiber layer.

Abstract: Selectivity estimates are produced that meet a desired confidence threshold. To determine the confidence level of a given selectivity estimate for a query expression, the query expression is evaluated on a sample tuples. A probability density function is derived based on the number of tuples in the sample that satisfy the query expression. The cumulative distribution for the probability density function is solved for the given threshold to determine a selectivity estimate at the given confidence value.

Abstract: A surface energy gradient on a fluid-impervious surface and method of its creation comprising the steps of a) Exposing a base surface having a proximal and a distal portion to a first solution comprising at least one molecule of the formula X-J-M1 wherein X and M1 represent separate functional groups and J represents a spacer moiety that, together, are able to promote formation from solution of a self-assembled monolayer for sufficient time to form a monolayer surface [with] having a uniform surface energy on the base surface. b) Removing a portion of the monolayer of (a) such that a portion of the base surface is again fully or partially exposed. (c) Exposing the portion of the base surface from (b) to at least one other molecule including a functional group having a different surface energy from that of the functional group removed in (b) such that a surface energy gradient from a proximal location to a distal location is formed.

Abstract: In decision support applications, the ability to provide fast approximate answers to aggregation queries is desirable. A disclosed technique for approximate query answering is sampling. For many aggregation queries, appropriately constructed biased (non-uniform) samples can provide more accurate approximations than a uniform sample. The optimal type of bias, however, varies from query to query. An approximate query processing technique is used that dynamically constructs an appropriately biased sample for each query by combining samples selected from a family of non-uniform samples that are constructed during a pre-processing phase. Dynamic selection of appropriate portions of previously constructed samples can more accurate approximate answers than static, non-adaptive usage of uniform or non-uniform samples.