Abstract: The proposed invention relates to plasma-activated liquid media for use thereof in the treatment of diseases, whether viral and/or bacterial (including antibiotic-resistant bacteria), of the upper and lower respiratory tracts in humans and animals. These media exhibit an antiviral and antibacterial activity based on the oxidative stress that they cause in the microorganisms and cells affected by the same. Said oxidative stress is caused by reactive oxygen and nitrogen molecule species dissolved in the plasma-activated medium and is tolerated by the healthy cells, but it inactivates said harmful microorganisms. The proposed use is useful for fighting viral and/or bacterial respiratory infections.

Abstract: A device configured to bore out a section of underground pipe or an interior liner therein without the need to dig out the section of pipe can include a plurality of arms extending radially outwardly from a central shaft. The central shaft can be configured to attach to a tool or a robot. The device can also at least one cutting device extending radially outwardly from the central shaft. The at least one cutting device can be configured to move in unison with the central shaft. rotation of the central shaft can cause the at least one cutting device to contact and cut an interior surface of the underground pipe or the interior liner thereof.

Abstract: A portable, battery-operated vacuum infusion machine includes a top container assembly with a compartment that houses an air pump, a battery, and a controller. The top container assembly couples to the top opening of a separate bottom container. When coupled together, the top and bottom containers are connected by flow holes superimposed by a filter in the top container. An air pump switched on or off by a controller exerts negative pressure in the bottom container by means of a suction port and induces liquid in the top container to enter the bottom container under pressure while the filter in the top container ensures that the infusion residue is separated from the liquid and only the prepared infusion has passage to the bottom container. The bottom container can be opened by means of removing the top container in order to allow for serving the prepared infusion.

Abstract: A system configured to efficiently generate electricity from the Sun without occupying a large area of land can include at least one distribution center and at least two solar panels. Each solar panel can include a first side having a plurality of photovoltaic cells configured to sense sunlight. The first side of each of the at least two solar panels facing the at least one distribution center such that the at least one distribution center is located between the at least two solar panels.

Abstract: A device for reducing or eliminating an ability of a smart device to hear or react to audible communications can include a base and a cover movable with respect to the base between an open position and a closed position. In the closed position the cover and the base combine to form an enclosed cavity that is sized and shaped to receive a smart device therein and reduce or eliminate an ability of the smart device to hear or react to audible communications. The device can be manual, mechanical and/or automatic and can be responsive to physical input(s) and/or one or more verbal or audible commands.

Abstract: A portable, battery-operated vacuum infusion machine includes a top container assembly with a compartment that houses an air pump, a battery, and a controller. The top container assembly couples to the top opening of a separate bottom container. When coupled together, the top and bottom containers are connected by flow holes superimposed by a filter in the top container. An air pump switched on or off by a controller exerts negative pressure in the bottom container by means of a suction port and induces liquid in the top container to enter the bottom container under pressure while the filter in the top container ensures that the infusion residue is separated from the liquid and only the prepared infusion has passage to the bottom container. The bottom container can be opened by means of removing the top container in order to allow for serving the prepared infusion.

Abstract: A device for reducing or eliminating an ability of a smart device to hear or react to audible communications can include a base and a cover movable with respect to the base between an open position and a closed position. In the closed position the cover and the base combine to form an enclosed cavity that is sized and shaped to receive a smart device therein and reduce or eliminate an ability of the smart device to hear or react to audible communications. The device can be manual, mechanical and/or automatic and can be responsive to physical input(s) and/or one or more verbal or audible commands.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of producing isobutanol, including: mixing water, lactate, an enzyme mixture including at least one enzyme, at least one cofactor, and at least one coenzyme, to prepare a reaction mixture; allowing catalytic conversions of lactate in the reaction mixture for a sufficient amount of time to produce isobutanol; and separating the isobutanol from a reactant obtained by the catalytic conversions, in which the conversion of lactate into isobutanol is in association with a NADH+/NADH and/or NADP+/NADPH regenerating system.

Abstract: The inventors have invented a method to recover oil from sediments and residues from the oil field operations, comprising a series of water, solids and solvent contacting units to separate the silt and solids from the hydrocarbon phase into the water phase and a ceramic membrane filtration system for the recovery of the solvent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of producing isobutanol, including: mixing water, lactate, an enzyme mixture including at least one enzyme, at least one cofactor, and at least one coenzyme, to prepare a reaction mixture; allowing catalytic conversions of lactate in the reaction mixture for a sufficient amount of time to produce isobutanol; and separating the isobutanol from a reactant obtained by the catalytic conversions, in which the conversion of lactate into isobutanol is in association with a NADH+/NADH and/or NADP+/NADPH regenerating system.

Abstract: Provided herein are phenyl-guanidine derivatives for the inhibition of Rac1 which blocks its interaction with guanosine exchange factors (GEFs) belonging to the DBL family as agents for the treatment of aggressive and/or resistant tumors, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising them, their use in therapy and processes for their preparation.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a multi-stage water treatment system for a plurality of aqueous solutions generated in municipal and industrial processes, e.g., oil and gas field operations, poultry processing, meat processing, dairy processing, and mineral extraction among others. A sequence of different processing steps is carried out, based on the characterization of the composition of contaminants present in the water to be treated. The steps to be carried out include chemical reaction in a series of reactor tanks, sedimentation in slanted plates chamber, air flotation and disinfection, hydrocarbon recovery by a scraper located in a flotation cell. A series of conventional methods are selected to be applied in series for the removal of the contaminants. The process design of an integrated chemical reaction, sedimentation and oxidation system to be used in water treatment of aqueous effluents is presented which is suitable for municipal and industrial processes.

Abstract: A wedge floatation device includes a bottom section and a sidewall positioned around a perimeter of the bottom section to contain a liquid within the wedge floatation device. The bottom section includes an outer portion and a plateau portion centrally positioned in the bottom section. The plateau portion is raised to a height above the outer portion and below a top edge of the sidewall. The plateau portion includes a groove that is substantially concentric with an outer perimeter of the plateau portion. The groove is designed to dampen the velocity of a liquid directed from the outer perimeter of the plateau portion to a center of the plateau portion. The bottom section further includes a transition portion extending between the outer portion and the plateau portion. The transition portion surrounds the outer perimeter of the plateau portion. The outer portion surrounds a perimeter of the transition portion.

Abstract: A wedge floatation device includes a bottom section and a sidewall positioned around a perimeter of the bottom section to contain a liquid within the wedge floatation device. The bottom section includes an outer portion and a plateau portion centrally positioned in the bottom section. The plateau portion is raised to a height above the outer portion and below a top edge of the sidewall. The plateau portion includes a groove that is substantially concentric with an outer perimeter of the plateau portion. The groove is designed to dampen the velocity of a liquid directed from the outer perimeter of the plateau portion to a center of the plateau portion. The bottom section further includes a transition portion extending between the outer portion and the plateau portion. The transition portion surrounds the outer perimeter of the plateau portion. The outer portion surrounds a perimeter of the transition portion.

Abstract: A method of determining solid particle surface energy includes placing solid particles in a container made of a very high surface energy material and pouring a liquid into the container. The method further includes tilting the container to drain out from the container a first subset of the solid particles floating at a top surface of the liquid and tilting the container to move the liquid away from a second subset of the solid particles that are below the top surface. The method also includes tilting the container to move the liquid back toward the second subset of the solid particles such that at least a portion of the second subset of particles floats at the top surface of the liquid and tilting the container to drain out from the container the portion of the second subset of the solid particles now floating at the top surface of the liquid.

Abstract: This invention is related to a pharmaceutical combination that contains a Casein kinase 2 (CK2) peptide inhibitor (termed P15) along with the standard chemotherapeutic drugs used in cancer treatment and which are administered together, separated or sequentially. The chemotherapeutic drugs include cisplatin, taxol, alkaloids from Vinca, 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, etoposide, mitomycin C, imatinib, iressa, velcade (bortezomib), cytarabine (Ara C), fludarabine and mitroxantrone. The synergism between the P15 peptide and the anticancer drugs achieves an efficient concentration of each cytostatic drug in the combination which is from 10- to 100-fold lower than that for each cytostatic drug alone. The pharmaceutical combination described in this invention exhibits lower toxicity compared to that reported by the anticancer therapeutics and therefore, it represents a crucial advantage for its use in cancer therapy.

Abstract: This invention is related to a pharmaceutical combination that contains a Casein kinase 2 (CK2) peptide inhibitor (termed P15) along with the standard chemotherapeutic drugs used in cancer treatment and which are administered together, separated or sequentially. The chemothearapeutic drugs include cisplatin, taxol, alkaloids from Vinca, 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, etoposide, mitomycin C, imatinib, iressa and velcade (bortezomib). The synergism between the P15 peptide and the anticancer drugs achieves an efficient concentration of each cytostatic drug in the combination which is from 10- to 100-fold lower than that for each cytostatic drug alone. The pharmaceutical combination described in this invention exhibits lower toxicity compared to that reported by the anticancer therapeutics and therefore, it represents a crucial advantage for its use in cancer therapy.

Abstract: Device for connection between adjacent solar receiver tubes of the type which are at the end of the solar receiver tube (1) to be joined with another adjacent solar collector tube, comprising: An expansion compensating element with at least two concentric bellows (7, 8) that are connected to each other and to a rigid ring (9) by means of a welded joint, which keeps them concentric in the expansion and compression process and joined to the glass tube (4) by the cover (12) and glass-metal transition element (21), A connection flange (5) to connect the solar receiver tube (1) to the one adjacent thereto, the flange (5) being a round metal plate with a hole that houses the absorber tube (3), Some through bolts (20) passing through the connection flange (5) to attach it with flange of the adjacent receiving tube (1).

Abstract: Use of flagellins from the genus Marinobacter as vaccine adjuvants. This invention is based on the use of two recombinant flagellins, F and FR, from the species Marinobacter algicola (DG893T strain), as vaccine adjuvants capable of developing a specific immune response, against peptides or proteins fused to said flagellins, or administered unfused jointly with the flagellins. This invention also describes new combined vaccination strategies, based on the two Marinobacter algicola flagellins and the Salmonella typhimurium flagellin.

Abstract: This invention is related to a pharmaceutical combination that contains a Casein kinase 2 (CK2) peptide inhibitor (termed P15) along with the standard chemotherapeutic drugs used in cancer treatment and which are administered together, separated or sequentially. The chemotherapeutic drugs include cisplatin, taxol, alkaloids from Vinca, 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, etoposide, mitomycin C, imatinib, iressa, velcade (bortezomib), cytarabine (Ara C), fludarabine and mitroxantrone. The synergism between the P15 peptide and the anticancer drugs achieves an efficient concentration of each cytostatic drug in the combination which is from 10- to 100-fold lower than that for each cytostatic drug alone. The pharmaceutical combination described in this invention exhibits lower toxicity compared to that reported by the anticancer therapeutics and therefore, it represents a crucial advantage for its use in cancer therapy.