Abstract: An apparatus and method for continuous, passive detecting and measuring of compressional strains in real time, without physical intervention, which comprises:

Abstract: Solid and liquid compositions containing particles of highly fluorinated ion-exchange polymer having sulfonate functional groups with an ion exchange ratio of less than about 33. The compositions contain at least about 25% by weight of polymer particles having a particle size of about 2 nm to about 30 nm.

Abstract: A storage and dispensing package for wipes comprising a non-rigid container having sides which define a cavity. A collapsible-expandable baffle structure having a width is positioned within the sides of the container and divides the cavity into a storage portion for wipes and a dispensing portion. The baffle structure includes a dispensing orifice through which wipes can pass and communicate with the dispensing portion. A resealable mechanism can also be included at an end of the package.

Abstract: Liquid compositions containing particles of highly fluorinated ion-exchange polymer having sulfonate functional groups with an ion exchange ratio of less than about 33. The compositions contain at least about 25% by weight of polymer particles having a particle size of about 2 nm to about 30 nm.

Abstract: A device is provided for dewatering a fabric in which the fabric is used in a papermaking process that exposes it to water before it is directed to the fabric dewatering device. The fabric dewatering device includes leading and trailing guide rolls about which the fabric is partially wrapped to form a loop portion. The loop portion is suspended between the leading and trailing guide rolls and includes a trough portion with a relatively small diameter that is positioned below the axes of the guide rolls. Running the fabric through the trough portion at high speeds exposes the water trapped therein to high centrifugal forces. The centrifugal forces expel the water from the fabric. The geometry and positioning of the trough portion is maintained either through a difference in fabric speed maintained by the leading and trailing nips or by the use of a rider roll positioned within the loop.

Abstract: A storage and dispensing package for wipes comprising a non-rigid container having sides which define a cavity. A collapsible-expandable baffle structure having a width is positioned within the sides of the container and divides the cavity into a storage portion for wipes and a dispensing portion. The baffle structure includes a dispensing orifice through which wipes can pass and communicate with the dispensing portion. A resealable mechanism can also be included at an end of the package.

Abstract: A storage and dispensing package for wipes comprising a non-rigid container having sides which define a cavity. A collapsible-expandable baffle structure having a width is positioned within the sides of the container and divides the cavity into a storage portion for wipes and a dispensing portion. The baffle structure includes a dispensing orifice through which wipes can pass and communicate with the dispensing portion. A resealable mechanism can also be included at an end of the package.

Abstract: A diet which induces a state of ketosis in a canine or feline which comprises an edible composition relatively high in fats and relatively low in carbohydrates.

Abstract: A device is provided for dewatering a fabric in which the fabric is used in a papermaking process that exposes it to water before it is directed to the fabric dewatering device. The fabric dewatering device includes leading and trailing guide rolls about which the fabric is partially wrapped to form a loop portion. The loop portion is suspended between the leading and trailing guide rolls and includes a trough portion with a relatively small diameter that is positioned below the axes of the guide rolls. Running the fabric through the trough portion at high speeds exposes the water trapped therein to high centrifugal forces. The centrifugal forces expel the water from the fabric. The geometry and positioning of the trough portion is maintained either through a difference in fabric speed maintained by the leading and trailing nips or by the use of a rider roll positioned within the loop.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for making polymeric particles by reacting an ethylenically unsaturated monomer as a dispersed phase suspended in an aqueous phase. The aqueous phase contains a water-insoluble particulate stabilizer having a size less than 100 nanometers in an effective amount of water-soluble inorganic salt to allow formation of stable monomer droplets in the aqueous phase, the monomer droplets include at least 20% of a carboxylic acid-containing monomer. The present invention also provides an imaging element comprising a support and at least one layer containing polymer particles of the formula: (A)x(B)y, where A is ethylenically unsaturated monomer containing carboxylic acid groups, B is a water insoluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer, x is greater than 20% and y is equal to 100% minus x. The polymer particles are covered with a layer of water-insoluble solid particulate stabilizer having a size less than 100 nanometers.

Abstract: A device and method are provided for merging one or more secondary audio channels, received from either a streaming application or from memory, with a primary stream of audio data output from a main audio decoder. In addition to the audio decoder, the device/method employs a controller for processing received secondary audio data in a streaming application, and retrieving from system memory audio PCM data once stored. An audio playback device is provided for formatting the PCM data for mixing with the primary stream of audio data output from the audio decoder. Multiple digital-to-analog converters convert the multiple streams of audio data into analog signals which are then mixed into a single merged audio signal for presentation.

Abstract: A silver halide photographic element comprises a support having thereon at least one light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer and a light-insensitive protective layer, the light-insensitive protective layer comprising an ultraviolet absorbing layer closer to the support and an outermost protective layer, the ultraviolet absorbing layer comprising an ultraviolet aborbing dye, a high boiling organic solvent, and a hydrophilic binder, the outermost protective layer comprising insoluble matte particles having a mean particle size of larger than 0.5 &mgr;m, dispersed polymer particles having a mean size of less than 0.2 &mgr;m, and a glass transition temperature of at least 70° C., and a hydrophilic binder.

Abstract: The fire suppressant foam generation and application apparatus comprises a backpack mounted unit that produces a low moisture content fire suppressant foam for use in fire fighting applications. This apparatus draws fire suppressant foam concentrate from a reservoir mounted on the backpack and injects pressurized gas into the flow of the fire fighting foam concentrate to create the fire suppressant foam. The pressurized gas drives the fire suppressant foam through a delivery apparatus where the fire suppressant foam is agitated as it passes through the delivery apparatus to expand the foam and reduce the moisture content. A pressurized gas operated pump can be used to actively draw the water/foam mixture from a supply tank and supply it under pressure to the delivery apparatus, which can be a hose that is equipped with a nozzle.

Abstract: The foam based product solution delivery apparatus is simple in structure and operation and makes use of pressurized gas to power a pressure operated pump to draw the water/foam-concentrate/product(s) from supply tank(s) and propel the resultant solution (foam fluid), with pressurized gas injected therein, through an agitation apparatus that mechanically agitates the water/foam/product(s) solution to create the foam based product solution for transmission to the foam delivery apparatus. Interposed in the delivery apparatus between the pump and the outlet end of the hose, the agitation apparatus functions to significantly increase the foam expansion prior to delivery of the foam through the delivery apparatus. The agitation apparatus comprises an exterior housing inside of which is mounted a set of motionless mixing blades that function to mix and expand the foam.

Abstract: Solid and liquid compositions containing particles of highly fluorinated ion-exchange polymer having sulfonate functional groups with an ion exchange ratio of less than about 33. The compositions contain at least about 25% by weight of polymer particles having a particle size of about 2 nm to about 30 nm.

Abstract: A through-air drying apparatus for drying a traveling wet paper web supported on a continuous fabric comprises a dryer roll about which the fabric and web are partially wrapped and which has a foraminous roll face, a supply hood which surrounds the portion of the roll about which the fabric and web are wrapped and which supplies heated air through the fabric and web and through the roll face into the interior of the roll, and an exhaust system for exhausting air from the roll. An axial exhaust passage is formed through at least one head of the roll. An exhaust manifold is connected to the exhaust passage and defines two outlets on opposite sides of the manifold. A pair of movable ducts are sealingly and releasably engaged with the outlets in the opposite sides of the manifold, the ducts being spaced apart on opposite sides of the roll so that an access space is defined between the two ducts for access to the roll and supply hood.

Abstract: A method of changing the channels in a digital video and audio receiving system. The method includes receiving and decoding the encoded digital video and audio in a decoder, where the input is a multi-channel, time division multiplexed digital video and digital audio datastream. The datastream contains many Programs, each of the Programs includes a video packetized elementary stream, and an audio packetized elementary stream, each of which, in turn, contains a packet header, and packet data. The channel change method is a process of changing input channels from an old channel datastream to a new channel datastream with a minimum of latency. The method includes setting appropriate flags to request the channel change, acknowledging the requests, flushing buffers, muting audio output and/or freezing video output, and activating a data request line for new channel bitstream data.

Abstract: The present invention provides UV absorbing particles which are a polymerization reaction product of ethylenically unsaturated monomers selected from esters and amides of acrylic on methacrylic acid, vinyl esters, vinyl ethers, and vinyl nitrites; an initiator, a surfactant and an ultraviolet absorber having the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R is each independently a hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, acyloxy, alkylthio, arylthio, amine, alkylamino, arylamino, hydroxyl, cyano, nitro, acylamino, sulfonyl, sulfamido, acyloxy and oxycarbonyl.

Abstract: A photographic material comprising a cassette containing a processed photographic element, the photographic element comprising a support, at least one light sensitive silver halide layer and a protective overcoat layer on the light sensitive layer, the protective overcoat layer comprising a hydrophilic binder and permanent matte particles, the permanent matte particles comprising greater than 80 mole percent methyl methacrylate and having a mean particle size of from 1 to 1.8 .mu.m and a coating weight of from 70 to 250 mg/m.sup.2.

Abstract: A photographic element comprising a support, at least one hydrophilic light-sensitive layer, and a light-insensitive layer containing a binder and solid, nonporous polymer matte particle having the formula:(A).sub.x (B).sub.ywhere A is a monofunctional ethylenically unsaturated monomer, B is a polyfunctional ethylenically unsaturated monomer, x is from 0 to 55 mole %, and y is about 45 to 100 mole %.