Abstract: A method of making 1,5-pentanediol from tetrahydrofurfural alcohol. The method includes the steps of dehydrating tetrahydrofurfural alcohol (THFA) to dihydropyran (DHP); hydrating at least a portion of the DHP to 2-hydroxy-tetrahydropyran (2-HY-THP) in the absence of homogeneous acid; and hydrogenating at least a portion of the 2-HY-THP to 1,5-pentanediol. The method can be conducted entirely in the absence of noble metal catalysts.

Abstract: A method of making 1,5-pentanediol from tetrahydrofurfural alcohol. The method includes the steps of dehydrating tetrahydrofurfural alcohol (THFA) to dihydropyran (DHP); hydrating at least a portion of the DHP to 2-hydroxy-tetrahydropyran (2-HY-THP) in the presence of a solid acid catalyst; and hydrogenating at least a portion of the 2-HY-THP to 1,5-pentanediol. The method can be conducted entirely in the absence of noble metal catalysts.

Abstract: A method of making 1,5-pentanediol from tetrahydrofurfural alcohol. The method includes the steps of dehydrating tetrahydrofurfural alcohol (THFA) to dihydropyran (DHP); hydrating at least a portion of the DHP to 2-hydroxy-tetrahydropyran (2-HY-THP) in the absence of homogeneous acid; and hydrogenating at least a portion of the 2-HY-THP to 1,5-pentanediol. The method can be conducted entirely in the absence of noble metal catalysts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method to reclaim water. The water that may be reclaimed begins as untreated treatable water, which is water having solids, particulates, or minerals not originally in the water. Untreated treatable water is also natural water having solids, particulates, or minerals that are undesired. The invention provides for removal of the totally dissolved solids from the water by micronizing the water in a chamber having a first temperature, and condensing the water in a second chamber having an interior surface that is cooled to the ambient wet-bulb temperature of the surrounding environment. Reclaimed treatable water from this invention becomes usable water.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method to reclaim water. The water that may be reclaimed begins as untreated treatable water, which is water having solids, particulates, or minerals not originally in the water. Untreated treatable water is also natural water having solids, particulates, or minerals that are undesired. The invention provides for removal of the totally dissolved solids from the water by micronizing the water in a chamber having a first temperature, and condensing the water in a second chamber having an interior surface that is cooled to the ambient wet-bulb temperature of the surrounding environment. Reclaimed treatable water from this invention becomes usable water.

Abstract: A tailgate and hinge assembly for a pickup truck includes a pair of L-shaped hinge brackets secured to opposite sides of the truck body of the pickup truck. Each hinge bracket has an inverted U-shaped cam track therein for receiving the hinge cam pins on the tailgate. This hinge assembly allows the tailgate to be readily moved between a vertical closed position, a horizontal position and a depending vertical position. The novel hinge assembly enables the tailgate to be maintained in the open horizontal position without the need of chains or linkages.

Abstract: A tailgate and hinge assembly for a pickup truck includes a pair of L-shaped hinge brackets secured to opposite sides of the truck body of the pickup truck. Each hinge bracket has an inverted U-shaped cam track therein for receiving the hinge cam pins on the tailgate. This hinge assembly allows the tailgate to be readily moved between a vertical closed position, a horizontal position and a depending vertical position. The novel hinge assembly enables the tailgate to be maintained in the open horizontal position without the need of chains or linkages.

Abstract: A system, method, and software are provided that facilitate management of work projects in a computer network operating environment that includes a management platform accessible by way of a client portal and a contractor portal. Client initiated project requests are transmitted from the client portal to the management platform and made available, through the management platform, to a preselected group of contractors by way of the contractor portal. One or more contractors then commit to performing work on the work project. The management platform sets a timetable and other parameters relating to execution of the project and sends an email to the client informing the client of contractor acceptance of the project, and also sends an email to the contractor that contains the timetable. Upon completion of the project by the contractors, the end product is transmitted to the management platform for relay to the client for review and acceptance.

Abstract: A system, method, and software are provided that facilitate network-based evaluation of materials prepared by a contractor for a client. The method may be implemented in connection with a computer network that includes a management platform accessible by way of contractor, client and reviewer portals. Client initiated project requests are transmitted from the client portal to the management platform and made available, through the management platform, to a preselected group of contractors by way of the contractor portal. One of the contractors then prepares materials that are provided to a client for review. The client then identifies, and solicits input from, one or more third parties concerning the contractor prepared materials. The input received in response to such solicitation is then used to inform the decision of the client as to whether to accept, modify, or reject the materials prepared on behalf of the client by the contractor.

Abstract: A communication plug that generates crosstalk, at a predetermined level, that complements the compensating crosstalk in a legacy jack or connector. The communication plug includes an electrical connector assembly comprising a plurality of conductive blades. Each conductive blade is adapted to make electrical contact with an insulated conducting wire and with a jack spring contact. At least two of the conductive blades are configured so as to cross over each other without making electrical contact. Complementary crosstalk is generated between the conductive blades in the region where the blades engage the jack spring wires or terminals thus minimizing the propagation delay between the crosstalk signals generated in the plug and the crosstalk signals generated in the jack or connector.

Abstract: An electrical connector, comprising an insulating housing, a plurality of conductors mounted within the insulating housing in at least two rows of aligned pairs, a first compensation section which provides a first crosstalk compensation, and a second compensation section which provides a second crosstalk compensation. A first end portion of each conductor is adapted to electrically connect with contacts of another connector while a second end portion of each conductor is adapted to electrically connect with an electrical device such as a printed circuit board. The first compensation section is located within the insulating housing with the conductors being arranged therein in an orientation to provide the first crosstalk compensation. The second compensation section further is located within the connector and typically comprises a multi-layered circuit board.

Abstract: An aqueous developable photographic element for forming neutral images comprising balanced cyan, magenta, and yellow heat-diffusible-dye-forming couplers in one or more image forming layers, and further comprising sensitized silver halide, a thermal solvent for nonaqueous, thermal dye-diffusion transfer, and hydrophilic binder, each independently in one or more image forming layers, an integral receiver layer for dye mordanting during nonaqueous, thermal dye-diffusion transfer, and one and only one dimensionally stable support, where said receiver layer is intermediate said support and image forming layers, and wherein said receiver layer and said support may be mechanically separated from said image forming layers by opposing forces is disclosed. Processes for forming a neutral photographic image using such elements and using elements that are similar, but lacking an integral receiving layer, are also disclosed.

Abstract: In order to control the sodium oxalate level in the liquor employed in the Bayer process for the production of alumina, a part of the spent liquor recovered from alumina trihydrate precipitation stage is concentrated by evaporation to render it supersaturated with respect to sodium oxalate. The thus concentrated liquor is then sprayed onto a packing in an enclosed space under conditions such that the supersaturation of the droplets at impact on the packing exceeds a critical supersaturation. The sprayed liquor deposits sodium oxalate on the packing and is recovered for recirculation to the process circuit.

Abstract: In a photothermographic element, composition or process for producing developed images employing processing with heat, a combination comprising (a) photographic silver halide in association with (b) an oxidation-reduction image-forming combination comprising (i) a silver salt oxidizing agent and (ii) a reducing agent which is a 2,6-dichloro or 2,6-dibromo-4-sulfonamidophenol such as the corresponding benzenesulfonamidophenol, and (c) a four equivalent color-forming coupler, and (d) a polymeric binder, provides an image in color. After imagewise exposure of the photothermographic element or composition, a color image can be developed by heating the photothermographic element or composition containing this combination. The combination can be in a diffusion transfer, photothermographic element.