Abstract: A combination vending/return apparatus and method. The apparatus includes a combination of rows and columns for receiving, storing and dispensing unfilled and filled large-volume fluid-containing bottles from and to consumers. The apparatus includes a processor-controlled vending keyboard/screen for making bottle selections for purchase and returns, and to handle electronic payment and credit transactions. Also disclosed is a method to vend large-volume fluid-containing bottles and retrieve used and emptied large-volume water bottles.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to dynamically determining event listeners. A computer system sends a query to a data store to determine which event listeners are configured to listen for an indicated event. The event listeners are registered in the data store without the software module having to explicitly declare its event listeners. The computer system receives from the data store an indication of those event listeners that are configured to listen for the event. The computer system also sends the event to those event listeners indicated by the data store as being registered to receive notification of the event's occurrence.

Abstract: The present invention offers a website service for notification to member-specified individuals that the member may or may not be safe. This online membership site appeals to all genders and age groups. The intended purpose of the site is to offer individual members a tool to aid in safer dating, meetings, or encounters. Safety features are built into the site which can be customized for each individual based upon the amount of time desired for the date or meeting and a set time to check back into the website signifying they are safe which will then stop the automatic notification process. The notification system retains personal information about the member as well as what the member has entered into the database in regard to their date, meeting or encounter. In the event the member does not terminate the timer, notifications are made to the members predetermined contacts.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a method of producing a porous bonded fibrous sheet material comprising: (i) treating a porous fibrous substrate which is comprised of cellulosic fibers and which has a moisture content of less than 10% by weight with a gum and a cross-linkable wet strength resin both dissolved in water; (ii) removing excess water; and (iii) effecting cross-linking of the resin.

Abstract: A screen (i) for use in forming a patterned paper by a wet-laying technique. The screen is of a mesh material (2) that is pervious to water and has formed therein repeats of pattern forming elements 3a–c, 4a–d and 5 which are defined by an area of at least partial blockage of the mesh and which are bounded by mesh that is not blocked to drainage. The pattern forming elements have a maximum are of 100 mm2 that is blocked to drainage. The screen may be used for producing patterned tissue paper from which tea and coffee bags may be produced.

Abstract: There is provided an aqueous ink jet ink composition suitable for use in continuous ink jet printers comprising: (a) a surface modified carbon black pigment; (b) at least one organic pigment; and (c) an aqueous carrier medium. The black aqueous pigment ink formulated in accordance with this composition provides a dried ink film whereof the resistivity is increased to a level whereby no printer failure or print defects are caused by electrical shorts when the printer has been out of use for a sufficient time to allow the ink to dry out in parts of the apparatus. The ink may also comprise at least one dispersant for the organic pigment.

Abstract: A method for eddy current compensated diffusion imaging using magnetic resonance is used to obtain a spin echo signal in a readout time window by excitation of a nuclear resonance signal using a first radio-frequency pulse and by refocusing that signal using at least one second radio-frequency pulse and a third radio-frequency pulse. Gradients fields are applied in a gradient field direction field having a strength and being activated by gradient pulses between each of said radio-frequency pulses and prior to said readout window, said gradient pulses having a polarity which is alternated between successive gradient pulses, with a totality of said gradient pulses having a gradient time integral of zero between a time of said excitation and the center of kx or k-space. At least two of said gradient pulses have differing gradient time integrals. The gradient direction is then changed and the previous steps repeated to evenly distribute gradient direction vectors over a sphere.

Abstract: A method for eddy current compensated diffusion imaging using magnetic resonance is used to obtain a spin echo signal in a readout time window by excitation of a nuclear resonance signal using a first radio-frequency pulse and by refocusing that signal using at least one second radio-frequency pulse and a third radio-frequency pulse. Gradients fields are applied in a gradient field direction field having a strength and being activated by gradient pulses between each of said radio-frequency pulses and prior to said readout window, said gradient pulses having a polarity which is alternated between successive gradient pulses, with a totality of said gradient pulses having a gradient time integral of zero between a time of said excitation and the center of kx or k-space. At least two of said gradient pulses have differing gradient time integrals. The gradient direction is then changed and the previous steps repeated to evenly distribute gradient direction vectors over a sphere.

Abstract: A screen (i) for use in forming a patterned paper by a wet-laying technique. The screen is of a mesh material (2) that is pervious to water and has formed therein repeats of pattern forming elements 3a-c, 4a-d and 5 which are defined by an area of at least partial blockage of the mesh and which are bounded by mesh that is not blocked to drainage. The pattern forming elements have a maximum are of 100 mm2 that is blocked to drainage. The screen may be used for producing patterned tissue paper from which tea and coffee bags may be produced.

Abstract: A method predicting stroke evolution uses magnetic resonance diffusion and perfusion images obtained shortly after the onset of stroke symptoms to automatically estimate the eventual volume of dead cerebral tissue resulting from the stroke. The diffusion and perfusion images are processed to extract region(s) of interest presenting tissue at risk of infarction. A midplane algorithm is also used to calculate ratio and diffusion and perfusion measures for modelling infarct evolution. A parametric normal classifier algorithm is used to predict infarct growth using the calculated measures.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a method of producing a porous bonded fibrous sheet material comprising: (i) treating a porous fibrous substrate which is comprised of cellulosic fibres and which has a moisture content of less than 10% by weight with a gum and a cross-linkable wet strength resin both dissolved in water; (ii) removing excess water; and (iii) effecting cross-linking of the resin.

Abstract: A method for fabricating patterned layers of a desired material in a desired, design pattern upon a substrate, which method may be used in circumstances where the removal of photo-resist material may not be used to lift-off undesired portions of the material from the substrate. The method uses copper or some other conducting material instead of the photo-resist material, Which copper or other conducting material may be removed by chemical processes to lift-off the undesired portions of material deposited upon the conducting material and substrate. The copper or other conducting material is fabricated upon the substrate so as to have a lip that overhangs and shadows the boundary of photo-resist material previously fabricated upon the substrate in the desired pattern.

Abstract: A non-woven porous, fibrous tissue for use in producing beverage infusion packages comprises cellulose fibres and polylactic acid (PLA) fibres to improve repulpability of waste materials.

Abstract: A non-woven porous, fibrous tissue for use in producting beverage infusion packages (e.g. tea bags) incorporates lyocell fibres (most preferably unfibrillated) to improve transparency.

Abstract: There is provided an aqueous ink jet ink composition suitable for use in continuous ink jet printers comprising:

Abstract: A device is housed in a housing in the general form of a wrist watch. A vibrator within the device can be manually actuated to provide tactile stimulation to the wearer. The device also incorporates a store for storing an audible message available to the wearer, through a headphone socket, loudspeaker or the like, when play back is initiated by a control. During play back, a link device monitors the message being reproduced, and causes activation of the vibrator at appropriate points within the message, as required for effective behaviour modification.

Abstract: A beverage infusion package (e.g. a tea bag) is formed of porous, fibrous cellulosic material and has a closure seam produced by a mechanical compression action without heat sealing. The porous material contains thermoplastic fibres which are amorphous or are only partially crystalline and which make the package eminently suitable for infusion in a microwave oven. The porous, fibrous material may have a basis weight of 10 to 30 g m−2 and be comprises of a single wet-laid layer of an admixture of cellulosic fibres and the thermoplastic fibres.

Abstract: There is provided a pigmented aqueous ink set including: (a) A concentrated black ink having a pigment concentration up to 10% by weight; and (b) at least one dilute ink having a pigment concentration below that of the concentrated ink; wherein all the inks additionally includes an aqueous carrier medium and at least one of the set of inks includes a combination of carbon black and Pigment Blue 60.

Abstract: A uniform, centralized system for converting all existing systems into one unique, universal system which allows for tracking those titles for articles of value, such as motor vehicles, boats, land, antiques, etc., in a congruent and continual manner. The system provides a centralized computer data base(s) operating in a “client-server” computer environment for use in creating a title history file, and for assigning a singular registration number and identification number from the VIN (or other) identifying number with those numbers being coded, and creating a coded title and registration number and for storing relevant data on the item. The centralized data base is connected to various authorized agents such as insurance agents and car dealers, and to governmental agents such as department of motor vehicles and tax collecting entities. In this way, all relevant data on an item can now be is maintained on a centralized system which is accessible to all who need the information.

Abstract: A uniform, centralized system for converting all existing systems into one unique, universal system which allows for tracking those titles for articles objects of value, such as motor vehicles, boats, land, antiques insurance files, etc., in a congruent and continual manner. The system provides a centralized computer data base(s) operating in a “client-server” computer environment for use in creating a title history file, and for assigning a singular registration number and identification number from the VIN (or other) identifying number with those numbers being coded, and creating a coded title and registration number and for storing relevant data on the item. The centralized data base is connected to various authorized agents such as insurance agents and car dealers, and to governmental agents such as department of motor vehicles and tax collecting entities. In this way, all relevant data on an item can now be is maintained on a centralized system which is accessible to all who need the information.