Abstract: Process and apparatus for reducing organic content of brine comprising subjecting a brine solution to at least two purification treatments selected from electrochemical treatment, chlorinolysis, or other chemical oxidation treatment, carbon adsorption, extraction, biological treatment and chrystallizing treatment; wherein the organic content of purified brine is sufficiently low to enable sense of the purified brine in an industrial process.

Abstract: A filtering face-piece respirator 10 that includes a mask body 12 and a harness 14. The mask body 12 contains a filtering structure 18 that is retained in position on the mask body 12 by a support structure 16 that includes a longitudinally-movable, centrally-spaced, transversely-extending member 26 that extends from a first side 22 of the structure 16 to a second side 24 without being joined together by any longitudinally-extending members that hinder movement of the transversely extending member 26 in the longitudinal direction. The transversely-extending members converge towards each other at east side 22, 24 of the mask body 12. A filtering face-piece respirator 10 of this construction can allow the mask body 12 to readily accommodate the motion of a person's jaw. Workers who use this filtering face-piece respirator may find it much easier to talk to other persons when working. A single mask size also may be able to properly fit to faces of various sizes.

Abstract: Conventional spray-drying methods are improved by incorporation of a pressure nozzle and a diffuser plate to improve the flow of drying gas and a drying chamber extension to increase drying time, such improvements leading to the formation of homogeneous solid dispersions of drugs in concentration-enhancing polymers.

Abstract: An electric machine includes a rotor, a first tooth portion, and a second tooth portion spaced apart from the first tooth portion and cooperating with the first tooth portion to at least partially define a rotor opening. At least a portion of the rotor is disposed within the rotor opening. A bridge has a first end connected to the first tooth portion and a second end connected to the second tooth portion such that the bridge defines a portion of the rotor opening. An aperture is defined by the bridge and is disposed between the first end and the second end.

Abstract: Techniques are described for providing information about a context that is modeled with multiple context attributes. In some situations, at least some of the context attributes have values used by modules for generating values of other context attributes, and the providing includes determining that a first module is generating a first value of a first of the context attributes of the modeled context and determining that a circular reference exists when it is determined that a module is to generate another value of the first context attribute such that the generating of the another value is caused by the generating of the first value of the first context attribute.

Abstract: A method of staining or pre-staining at least one cell is provided. The method comprising contacting the at least one cell with a staining agent selected from the group consisting of an extract of a Ficus elastica plant, a C23H44O4 and a proanthocyanidin, thereby staining or pre-staining the at least one cell. Also provided are methods of detecting cells of different differentiation stages and methods of diagnosing cancer and metabolic diseases.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes an amplifier having a transistor stage coupled between a supply voltage and a bias current. The transistor stage has an input to receive a radio frequency (RF) input signal obtained from an antenna. The amplifier has an input impedance that is unmatched to a source impedance of the antenna. In some embodiments, this unmatched input impedance may be substantially greater than the source impedance, and may further be controlled based on a strength of the RF input signal.

Abstract: An on-demand manager provides an improved distributed data processing system for facilitating dynamic allocation of computing resources among multiple domains based on a current workload and service level agreements. Based on a service level agreement, the on-demand manager monitors and predicts the load on the system. If the current or predicted load cannot be handled with the current system configuration, the on-demand manager determines additional resources needed to handle the workload. If the service level agreement violations cannot be handled by reconfiguring resources at a domain, the on-demand manager sends a resource request to other domains. These other domains analyze their own commitments and may accept the resource request, reject the request, or counter-propose with an offer of resources and a corresponding service level agreement.

Abstract: The Novel Modular Vending Machine for Packaged Goods allows consumers to purchase packaged goods without an attendant present. The invention uses two or more conveyor assemblies to store and transfer packaged goods and primarily uses gravity to transfer the packaged goods from the storage location to the customer. When a vend is initiated, a dispensing drum rotates and places a packaged item on a delivery system for transportation to the customer. The remaining packaged goods move into position for the next vend. When the lower conveyor assembly is empty, an upper conveyor assembly is lowered into position to transfer the remaining packaged goods to the dispensing drum. The apparatus may be configured in a system comprised of multiple modular units controlled by a single user interface.

Abstract: Provided are methods and computer software applications for generating a stock portfolio, and/or enhanced stock index, through using a plurality of growth factors and a plurality of value factors to rank stocks, and for constructing investment vehicles based on the stock portfolio. The method, software application, or computer apparatus of the present technology employs a novel stock selection strategy to select stocks from a pre-selected universe of securities such as a commercially available stock market index in order to create a stock portfolio, and/or enhanced stock index, and a fund based thereon that can generate positive alpha as compared to a fund based on the pre-selected universe of securities.

Abstract: A surgical method utilizes a cutting blade having a thickness along a cutting edge of between about 0.0005 inch and about 0.020 inch and preferably between about 0.001 inch and 0.010 inch. The blade is moved in contact with relatively hardly tissues which are disposed adjacent to softer tissues at a surgical site in a patient. The blade is ultrasonically vibrated during the moving of the blade, whereby the hard tissue is cut with a modicum of damage being inflicted on the soft tissue.

Abstract: A method of commerce including ecommerce that combines sports betting and a securities market exchange. Options are created that represent a wager that a chosen team will win a specific competition or at least beat the spread. Equally priced options are exchanged for a ticket value between registered account holders through a website Controller before the start of a sporting competition. The Controller ceases formation of options before the start of the sporting competition. Registered account holder may buy and sell tickets to each other before and during the competition. Valuation of ticket prices fluctuates after the start of the competition and is established by a sports-specific formula, a market value proscribed by each ticket holder, a counteroffer proffered by an interested buyer, or a combination thereof. The Controller extracts a transaction fee for any or all sales and/or transactions.

Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, methods and systems for facilitating automated device programming at changeout. A method comprises receiving, from a first device, physiological data at a temporary storage device; and processing the received physiological data, wherein the processing includes determining if a first signal processing function was used by the first device and substantially offsetting the first signal processing function if the first signal processing function was used by the first device; and processing the resultant physiological data to be compatible with a second device. The method further comprising providing the processed resultant physiological data to the second device.

Abstract: A method of producing a thermally stable grating allows the grating to be placed in environments where temperatures reach 1000° C. These gratings may be concatenated so as to form a sensor array. The method requires a step of lowering the characteristic intensity threshold of a waveguide by at least 25%, followed by irradiating the waveguide with femtosecond pulses of light having a sufficient intensity and for a sufficient duration to write the grating so that at least 60% of the grating remains after exposures of at least 10 hours at a temperature of at least 1000° C. Pre-writing a Type I grating before writing a minimal damage Type II grating lowers the characteristic threshold of the waveguide so that a stable low damage type II grating can be written; alternatively providing a hydrogen or deuterium loaded waveguide before writing the grating lowers the characteristic threshold of the waveguide.

Abstract: A system and method for providing information for performing a registration correction for artillery employs two spaced apart optical imaging systems associated with a processing system. Outputs from the two imaging systems are monitored to detect potential shell trajectory events and then correlated to eliminate potential shell trajectory events not viewed by both optical imaging systems. Locations are determined for potential shell trajectory events viewed by both optical imaging systems. Shell firing data relating to firing of at least one shell is provided to determine at least one predicted trajectory time point for the shell, and this is used to identify a corresponding detected shell trajectory event.

Abstract: A pipe clamp device having first and second portions connected together at a hinge. At least one portion is adapted to move pivotally around the hinge relative to the other portion, the first and second portions being adapted to co-operate with one another to close around and at least partially encircle a pipe to be clamped. The pipe clamp device has securing members to secure the first and second portions in a clamped arrangement around the pipe. The pipe clamp device has a sealing mechanism configured to seal between one of the first and second portions and the pipe, wherein the sealing mechanism comprises first and second seal devices housed in respective recesses and defining a sealed chamber between the recessed first and second seal devices. A settable fluid is injected into the sealed chamber between the first and second seal devices. A method of suing the clamp device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A spindle is provided, comprising a spindle body having a first end, a second end, and a channel extending from the first end to the second end; a first end cover and a second end cover, the first and second end covers being releasably securable to the first and second ends, respectively, for defining a sealed space within the channel; the channel being configured for receiving at least one ball bearing assembly, a shaft, and a fluid; such that the at least one ball bearing assembly, a portion of the shaft, and the fluid are contained within the sealed space when the first and second end covers are secured to the first and second ends.

Abstract: A method for making a composite of cobalt oxide is disclosed. An aluminum nitrate solution is provided. Lithium cobalt oxide particles are introduced into the aluminum nitrate solution. The lithium cobalt oxide particles are mixed with the aluminum nitrate solution to form a mixture. A phosphate solution is added into the mixture to react with the aluminum nitrate solution and form an aluminum phosphate layer on surfaces of the lithium cobalt oxide particles. The lithium cobalt oxide particles with the aluminum phosphate layer formed on the surfaces thereof are heat treated to form a lithium cobalt oxide composite. The lithium cobalt oxide composite is electrochemical lithium-deintercalated at a voltage of Vx, wherein 4.5V<Vx?5V to form a cobalt oxide. The present disclosure also relates to a cobalt oxide and a composite of cobalt oxide.

Abstract: A flossing device including a first elongated member and a second elongated member each including a channel disposed at a top end, wherein each channel includes a first cross-sectional spacing and a second cross-sectional spacing, wherein the second cross-sectional spacing is less than the first cross-sectional spacing, and the second cross-sectional spacing is closer to a top edge of the first elongated member than the first cross-sectional spacing. The flossing device includes a floss string having a first end including an enlarged portion disposed within the channel of the elongated members, and sized to be substantially larger than the second cross-sectional spacing. The floss string may include a second end coupled to a top end of the second elongated member. The flossing device includes a seal and an aperture disposed on a surface of the elongated members and are disposed adjacent the channel.