Abstract: The present invention is a process for the conversion of iron-containing material into iron carbide. The process includes a first step in which the iron-containing material is contacted with a reducing gas that contains no more than a small amount of reactive carbon to produce metallic iron and a second step in which the metallic iron is contacted with a reducing and carburizing gas to produce iron carbide. The reducing and carburizing gas includes reactive carbon, hydrogen, and methane. The iron carbide product is of high purity.

Abstract: A composition formulated from a primary anionic surfactant; optionally a secondary surfactant and/or a resin; and a nitrogen-containing compound of the structural formula: wherein R is a saturated, linear, branched or cyclic alkyl or aryl group containing 12 to 22 carbon atoms, with the proviso that R contains at least 80% of a single chain length and R is not lanolin, wheat germ or other natural broad-based chain distribution oil, R1 is a saturated or unsaturated, linear, branched or cyclic alkyl or aryl group containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms and may contain one or more hydroxyl groups, R2 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, ethyl and benzyl; and A− is a monovalent anion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and device for the cyclic positioning of images over package troughs, said images being printed on a covering film.

Abstract: A system is provided for linking together a system of trading financial instruments to a system of clearing transactions in financial instruments. In a first aspect of the present invention, the linking system includes a network linking a plurality of trading systems and a clearing system. An external interface couples the trading systems to the network while a clearing interface couples the clearing system to the network. A transmitter module transmits trading information in a plurality of kinds of securities along the network from the trading system to the clearing system. That transmitting selectively occurs approximately simultaneously with the arrival of the trading information at the external interface. The transmitting also occurs independently of the selection of trading algorithm or clearing algorithm. A second aspect of the present invention involves a computerized method for coupling a plurality of trading systems and a clearing system with a network.

Abstract: A computerized system and method of optimizing enrollments for educators while providing a cost effective post-secondary school education is described. Pools of prospective students and educational institutions are created and made accessible to registered users via an electronic medium such as a computer connected to the Internet. Registered prospective students are matched to educational institutions offering discounted tuition rates. The students are provided with cost effective education and the educational institutions optimize enrollment through offering discounted tuition rates. Financial return from enrollments for the educational institutions is maximized by the increase of enrollment due to the discounted tuition rate and access to a pool of prospective students.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for semi-automatically forming a sheet of material into an article, such as a flower pot cover, is provided. The apparatus includes a male die, a female die, a presence sensing assembly, and a control assembly. The presence sensing assembly is positioned for sensing the presence of an operator in a sheet feeding zone which is located between an operator's station and a zone of operation of the male die and the female die. The control assembly initiates an article forming sequence, wherein the male die and the female die are moved from a discharge position to a forming position to form the article from the sheet of material and subsequently returned to the discharge position, in response to the operator clearing the presence sensing assembly subsequent to the operator breaking the presence sensing assembly while positioning a sheet of material between the male die and the female die via the sheet feeding area.

Abstract: A method of treating contact lenses made from polymerizable materials by providing supercritical fluids to the lenses.

Abstract: A motion sensor device comprises a conductive cap fixed to one layer of a printed circuit board to define a volume half of which is filled with a dielectric liquid. A conductive layer on the opposite side of the printed circuit board forms with the cap a capacitor, the capacitance of which is dependent upon the location of the liquid within the cap. A motion signal is generated in response to a change of capacitance from that presented in any static orientation of the device, so long as the capacitance change exceeds a threshold and occurs within a predetermined interval.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for wellbore operations in an earth wellbore with tubing within casing in an earth wellbore, the wellbore extending down into earth from an earth surface, the tubing including a tubing string with a lower end and extending down within the casing with the lower end at a point above a lower end of the casing, a tubing-casing annulus between the tubing and the casing sealed by a first sealing apparatus, the method including sealing the lower end of the tubing string with a sealing device to prevent fluid flow therethrough, and sealing the tubing casing annulus with a second sealing apparatus above and spaced apart from the first sealing apparatus. In certain aspects the sealing apparatuses provide upper and lower spaced-apart primary barriers. The methods in additional aspects include making an exit opening through the tubing and an exit opening through the casing, each exit opening located between the first sealing apparatus and the second sealing apparatus.

Abstract: A data handling system having a voice coil motor having a first magnetically permeable plate and a second magnetically permeable plate is disclosed. The first magnetically permeable plate is coupled to a permanent magnet pair and the second magnetically permeable plate includes a raised plate portion directly opposite the permanent magnet pair. Planar surfaces of the permanent magnet pair and the raised plate portion are substantially parallel to each other and are spaced by an air gap. A voice coil is positioned in the air gap and moves in response to a magnetic interaction between a magnetic field produced by a controlled current through the coil and a magnetic field between the permanent magnet pair and the raised plate portion. The planar surfaces of the permanent magnet pair and the raised plate portion may be substantially identical in shape and surface area.

Abstract: A system for managing return channel bandwidth in a two-way satellite communication network is disclosed. A plurality of transceivers transmit backlog information over a return channel via a satellite, wherein the backlog information specify an amount of queued traffic for the respective transceivers. A hub receives the backlog information and allocates a minimal amount of return channel bandwidth to each of the transceivers. The hub selectively sets a bandwidth level associated with the return channel bandwidth that is available based upon one of a plurality of predetermined bandwidth levels according to a predetermined criteria. The hub selectively allocates additional return channel bandwidth based upon the bandwidth level to the transceivers that require additional return channel bandwidth in excess of the allocated minimal amounts.

Abstract: Embodiments are shown and described of an automatic feeder for handling and inserting media, such as paper, into a hole punch machine or other media processing apparatus. The preferred feeder may accomplish a sequence of steps and preferably includes the apparatus, programming, and methods to accomplish the steps, which preferably handle the paper or other media substantially vertically. A generally vertical pile of paper is advanced forward perpendicularly to the plane of the paper sheets, and then a front portion of the pile is picked by a stabber pushing up in-between the sheets. The picked stack of papers is moved vertically downward into a punching die assembly, and then is ejected laterally to a tray. The picking assembly is designed for a high degree of accuracy. The invented feeder system preferably includes features that allow loading and unloading of the feeder without shutting down the feeder or shutting down the hole punch.

Abstract: The invention provides urethane polymers bonded to therapeutically active compounds, such as antibiotics. The invention also features methods of applying therapeutically active compounds to polyurethane polymers using textile dyeing. These polymers may be used in a variety of clinical applications.

Abstract: A method of optimizing a workflow management system (WFMS), the method being executable by the WFMS on at least one computer system. The WFMS accesses a database comprising of at least one process model and instantiations of the process model (process instances). The method contemplates transferring objects of the database to an archive database (archive function). This transfer is preferably carried out in case that a predetermined event occurs or if these objects are not currently used by the WFMS. Preferably the objects to be transferred to the archive database are process instances. These process instances are preferably selected among all instances of a certain process model depending on the value of certain properties of this process model. The objects of the database which are transferred to the archive database can also be process models.

Abstract: Oral compositions for treating and/or preventing gingivitis are provided. The compositions include at least one NSAID, thymol, methyl salicylate, menthol and eucalyptol. The NSAID, thymol, methyl salicylate, menthol and eucalyptol are present in the composition in synergistically effective amounts. The compositions can be provided in the form of, e.g., mouthwashes or toothpastes, and are not only effective against gingivitis, but can also prevent or treat halitosis and other detrimental conditions of the oral cavity.

Abstract: In a method of operating a gas turbine, in which a gaseous fuel is burned in a combustion chamber and the hot combustion gases which are produced in the process are directed through the gas turbine, and in which method the gaseous fuel is fed to the combustion chamber via a plurality of controllable burners, working in parallel and arranged on one or more concentric, essentially circular rings, and is sprayed into the combustion chamber via fuel holes, high safety and availability within various operating ranges is achieved in a simple manner owing to the fact that the burners are divided into at least two groups (40-42) of burners, these groups in each case comprise the burners of one of the rings, and these groups are individually activated as a function of the operating state of the gas turbine.

Abstract: A system and method for odorizing natural gas in a pipeline uses an odorant injection pump operated by a programmable controller. In response to measured gas flow in the gas pipeline, and a preset setpoint, the injection pump injects liquid odorant directly into the pipeline. A flowmeter in the odorant line measures the amount of odorant actually injected to confirm that the required amount enters the pipeline. If the amount of odorant actually injected differs from that which is required by the setpoint, the controller compensates for the difference. The controller preferably logs pertinent data about operation of the system. The controller can be reprogrammed remotely to simplify the task of changing system operation.

Abstract: The invention provides a device child resistant container assembly. In one aspect, the container assemblies include a body member for releasable attachment to the container over a seal on the container, and a puncture member for puncture of the seal wherein the body member has a slot arrangement of horizontal and vertical slots. In another embodiment, the cap is non-releasable from the container. The invention provides child resistant, tamper-proof containers which can easily be opened by handicapped adults and the elderly.

Abstract: A method of performing a transaction on a database. A number of transactions are available to be performed on said database. At least one of said transactions may only be performed if corresponding requirements are fulfilled, wherein the fulfillment of said requirements depends on the prior successful termination of at least one other transaction. Then, said at least one of said transactions is invoked. Depending on stored information relating to prior successful terminations of transactions it is then checked whether said corresponding requirements are fulfilled. If said requirements are fulfilled, said transaction is performed. Then, after a successful termination of said transaction, an information relating to said successful termination is stored.

Abstract: Multiple transmitters generate repetitive waveforms having similar values of center frequency F and bandwidth B that are modulated with different information signals having bandwidth SB. Each transmitter generates a waveform having a unique repetition rate. The modulated waveforms are coupled into a communication channel. A receiver receives and separates the transmitted signals using a coherent correlation process, such as interferometry. The combining process extracts signals having a repetition period corresponding to a relative delay applied to consecutive waveforms. Waveforms having non-corresponding repetition periods combine non-coherently, thus enabling signal demultiplexing to be performed with respect to waveform repetition periods.