Abstract: A pot-stable photopolymerizable composition for forming a cosmetic coating for nails comprises a mixture of a poly(alkyl(meth)acrylate powder, (meth)acrylate oligomer, (meth)acrylate monomer, a crosslinker, and a photoinitiator. This composition exhibits high viscosity that resembles the viscosity of a workable two part system after the monomer liquid and the polymer have been mixed. This composition can be shaped to form nail coatings without any additional use of monomers liquid, followed by an exposure to UV light to photopolymerize the composition to create a hard, durable nail coating. Additional ingredients such as colorants and antioxidants may be included in the composition of the present invention.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and techniques for improved back-end integration of third-party content and an administrative framework allowing for user experience management for a computer-based environment. Described herein, for example, are approaches to improving secure access to multiple web-based systems, integrating web-based content, and controlling timing of web interaction. The problems addressed herein relate to coordinating access and delivery of web content from and to multiple sources and multiple users in an integrated and time-controlled manner.

Abstract: The present invention is related to an UV LED curing apparatus, and more particularly, to an UV LED curing apparatus with improved housing and switch controller. The light reflective inner casing is preferably provided as an effective UV light reflector and as a supporting substrate of the UV LED light source while being capable of transmitting heat from the UV LED light source away for further heat dissipation to the ambient by the outer casing. The outer casing is detachably attached to the inner casing and allows a greater user interaction for decorative and entertainment purposes while also being a protective and heat dissipation means.

Abstract: Novel nail gel curing devices and methods of their use are disclosed. Novel shields for nail gel curing devices and methods of their use are also disclosed. The devices and shields are useful for curing nail gels and more particularly where light emitting diode “LED” equipped devices are used to cure UV-VIS curable nail gel resins.

Abstract: Novel nail gel curing devices and methods of their use are disclosed. Novel shields for nail gel curing devices and methods of their use are also disclosed. The devices and shields are useful for curing nail gels and more particularly where light emitting diode “LED” equipped devices are used to cure UV-VIS curable nail gel resins.

Abstract: In a process for the treatment of wastewater containing carbonaceous and nitrogenous contaminants, wastewater is mixed with aerobic microorganisms capable of converting carbonaceous biological oxygen demand (CBOD) into carbon dioxide, water, and biological cell mass. Oxygen is supplied to the reaction mixture for supporting reduction of the CBOD by the aerobic microorganisms in the reaction mixture. To substantially prevent nitrification of the nitrogenous contaminants in the reaction mixture and avoid the cost of downstream denitrification, the hydraulic residence time of the nitrogenous contaminants in the reaction mixture is controlled by removing partially treated water with dissolved ammonia from the reaction mixture, while retaining the biological cell mass in the reaction mixture. This separates the nitrogen load from the carbon load and enables independent treatment of these contaminants.

Abstract: A system and method for protecting components of an IP telephony network whereby a protection scheme is enabled upon detection of resource exhaustion within the network that prevents delivery of incoming messages. Resource exhaustion may result from denial of service attacks and/or malfunctions in automated dialing systems. Once a protection scheme is enabled, the system activates mechanisms for identifying calling parties that are suspected of contributing to the resource exhaustion condition. These suspected calling parties may be placed in a blocked sender list, either manually or automatically. Calling parties may be presented with a challenge function in order to determine whether the call is being made by an automated dialing system. The system blocks incoming calls from calling parties identified in the blocked sender list either permanently or for a specified time duration. The protection scheme remains enabled for a specified duration or until the resource exhaustion condition has subsided.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method of reducing adapter dimer formation comprising contacting a sample comprising target nucleic acid sequences with 5? and 3? adapters in the presence of one or more hairpin oligonucleotides. Also provided is a method of preparing a library of nucleic acid sequences comprising contacting first adapter oligonucleotides with a sample comprising target nucleic acid sequences under conditions to form first ligation products, contacting the sample with one or more hairpin oligonucleotides that binds to the first adapter oligonucleotides, and contacting the sample with second adapter oligonucleotides under conditions to bind to the first ligation products and form second ligation products, wherein the second ligation products form the library of nucleic acid sequences.

Abstract: Novel radiation curable gel-based mammalian nail coating compositions, kits containing these compositions, and methods of their use are disclosed. The novel compositions and/or kits are useful, inter alia, for providing durable, “soak-off” type nail coatings.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method of reducing adapter dimer formation comprising contacting a sample comprising target nucleic acid sequences with 5? and 3? adapters in the presence of one or more hairpin oligonucleotides. Also provided is a method of preparing a library of nucleic acid sequences comprising contacting first adapter oligonucleotides with a sample comprising target nucleic acid sequences under conditions to form first ligation products, contacting the sample with one or more hairpin oligonucleotides that binds to the first adapter oligonucleotides, and contacting the sample with second adapter oligonucleotides under conditions to bind to the first ligation products and form second ligation products, wherein the second ligation products form the library of nucleic acid sequences.

Abstract: A microprojection array is provided, comprising an approximately planar base and a plurality of microprojections, wherein the array comprises a vaccine and a polymeric material. The array may have multiple layers. The vaccine may be placed in only one layer. In another embodiment of the invention, a method of preventing a disease is provided, comprising insertion into the skin of a patient an array of microprojections comprising a layer which comprises a vaccine for that disease and a polymer.

Abstract: In an aspect of the invention, an array of microprotrusions is formed by providing a mold with cavities corresponding to the negative of the microprotrusions, casting atop the mold a first solution comprising a biocompatible material and a solvent, removing the solvent, casting a second solution atop the first cast solution, removing the solvent from the second solution, and demolding the resulting array from the mold. The first solution preferably contains an active ingredient.

Abstract: The present invention is related to an UV LED curing apparatus, and more particularly, to an UV LED curing apparatus with improved housing and switch controller. The light reflective inner casing is preferably provided as an effective UV light reflector and as a supporting substrate of the UV LED light source while being capable of transmitting heat from the UV LED light source away for further heat dissipation to the ambient by the outer casing. The outer casing is detachably attached to the inner casing and allows a greater user interaction for decorative and entertainment purposes while also being a protective and heat dissipation means.

Abstract: This invention relates to high purity yttria or ytterbia stabilized zirconia powders comprising from about 0 to about 0.15 weight percent impurity oxides, from about 0 to about 2 weight percent hafnium oxide (hafnia), from about 6 to about 25 weight percent yttrium oxide (yttria) or from about 10 to about 36 weight percent ytterbium oxide (ytterbia), and the balance zirconium oxide (zirconia). Thermal barrier coatings for protecting a component such as blades, vanes and seal surfaces of gas turbine engines, made from the high purity yttria or ytterbia stabilized zirconia powders, have a density greater than 88% of the theoretical density with a plurality of verticalzA macrocracks homogeneously dispersed throughout the coating to improve its thermal fatigue resistance.

Abstract: An ice depresser device for both clearing ice shavings from an ice hole and pumping dirty water from below such an ice hole. The ice depresser device generally includes a filter disc and a handle extending from the filter disc. The filter disc includes an upper cavity defined by a first flange and a lower cavity defined by a second flange. A plurality of filter openings are included across the body of the filter disc. As the filter disc is pushed downwardly through an ice hole, ice shavings will be pushed downwardly by the lower cavity to be swept away by the undercurrent. Other ice shavings will be pushed upwardly to be retained within the upper cavity by the pump action of the filter disc as it is drawn out of the ice hole. Thus, ice shavings or other debris may be both pushed under the current and removed from the ice hole utilizing the present invention.

Abstract: A ball drop wellhead control apparatus provides a control ball between a frac ball drop or frac ball injector used to drop frac balls into a frac fluid stream being pumped into a subterranean well to ensure that only frac balls intended to be dropped reach the frac fluid stream.

Abstract: A door comprising first and second door skins secured to each other to form a cavity therebetween filled with expended foam. Each of the door skins has an opening therethrough for receiving a glass insert and a flange portion. Distal ends of the flange portions of the first and second door skins engage each other in an overlapping relationship by the expansion pressure of the expanded foam. The door further comprises a glazing rim member having a leg portion snap-locked between the flange portions of the first and second door skins. The method for assembling the door comprises the steps of filling the cavity between the door skins with foam material, then inserting the glass insert through the openings in the door skins and mounting the glazing rim member to the first door skin by snap-locking between the flange portions of the first and second door skins.

Abstract: A modular ball drop made up of two or more identical ball drop modules that are vertically stacked in a desired number. Each ball drop module can drop one or more frac balls into a fluid stream being pumped into a well.

Abstract: The present teachings are directed to compositions, methods, and kits for amplifying target nucleic acids while reducing non-specific fluorescence and undesired amplification products, sometimes referred to as secondary amplification products or spurious side-products. The enzyme inhibitors disclosed herein comprise a nucleotide sequence and at least one quencher. Complexes comprising an enzyme inhibitor associated with an enzyme, wherein at least one enzymatic activity of the enzyme is inhibited, are also provided. Methods for amplifying a target nucleic acid while reducing undesired amplification products are disclosed, as are methods for reducing non-specific fluorescence. Kits for expediting the performance of certain disclosed methods are also provided.