Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for storing or transporting spent nuclear fuel. In one embodiment, a container for storing spent nuclear fuel comprises a plurality of elongated tubes that receives spent nuclear fuel rods. Each tube has four sidewalls and four corners defining a rectangular cross section. The plurality of tubes is arranged in an alternating pattern. An attachment means attaches together the plurality of tubes at the corners so that two adjacent sidewalls of adjacent tubes are substantially aligned.

Abstract: An apparatus for the biological treatment of saltwater-based domestic wastewater, the apparatus having an inlet for the introduction of the saltwater-based domestic wastewater, an outlet for the removal of treated wastewater, means for monitoring the salinity level of the saltwater-based domestic wastewater entering or within the apparatus and means for controlling the salinity level of the saltwater-based domestic wastewater entering or within the apparatus such that fluctuations in the salinity level of the saltwater-based domestic wastewater are reduced and the biological treatment of the saltwater-based domestic wastewater is thereby maintained.

Abstract: An apparatus for the biological treatment of saltwater-based domestic wastewater, the apparatus having an inlet for the introduction of the saltwater-based domestic wastewater, an outlet for the removal of treated wastewater, means for monitoring the salinity level of the saltwater-based domestic wastewater entering or within the apparatus and means for controlling the salinity level of the saltwater-based domestic wastewater entering or within the apparatus such that fluctuations in the salinity level of the saltwater-based domestic wastewater are reduced and the biological treatment of the saltwater-based domestic wastewater is thereby maintained.

Abstract: A process for the large-scale chemoenzymatic production of (6S)-5-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrofolic acid, also known as (6S)-5-methylTHFA, the process comprising the steps of: (1) reducing folic acid (FA) so as to yield dihydrofolic acid (DHFA); (2) stereoselectively reducing DHFA with dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) in the presence of NADP/NADPH, glucose and GluDH so as to yield (6S)-THFA; (3) converting (6S)-THFA to (6S)-5-methylTHFA; and (4) isolating (6S)-5-methylTHFA.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel approach for the preparation of fatty alcohol esters of ?-hydroxy carboxylic acids. The present invention also provides a novel topical gel for the transdermal delivery of steroids using the fatty alcohol esters as permeation enhancers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel approach for the preparation of fatty alcohol esters of ?-hydroxy carboxylic acids. In one form of the invention, the target fatty alcohol ester of ?-hydroxy carboxylic acid is produced by converting a lower alkyl ester of ?-hydroxy carboxylic acid into a fatty alcohol ester of ?-hydroxy carboxylic acid via alcoholysis (i.e., transesterification). The transesterification process is an equilibrium reaction, catalyzed chemically (i.e., with acids or bases) or enzymatically, that is shifted in the desired direction to produce the desired product. One preferred way of shifting the reaction in the direction of the desired product is by reducing the concentration of one of the products (e.g., distillation of a lower-boiling alcohol as soon as it is formed). Another preferred way of shifting the reaction in-the direction of the desired product is by increasing the concentration of one of the reactants (e.q., adding more of the starting ester).

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for storing or transporting spent nuclear fuel. In one embodiment, a container for storing spent nuclear fuel comprises a plurality of elongated tubes that receives spent nuclear fuel rods. Each tube has four sidewalls and four corners defining a rectangular cross section. The plurality of tubes is arranged in an alternating pattern. An attachment means attaches together the plurality of tubes at the corners so that two adjacent sidewalls of adjacent tubes are substantially aligned.

Abstract: A method of determining a quality metric for a message. The method comprises receiving (500) a message, constructing (502) a trellis array associated with the message, and determining (512) a quality metric for the message based on the trellis array. In one embodiment, the quality metric is derived from state information obtained from selected columns in the trellis array. The state information may include target states defining correct and/or incorrect transitions in the selected columns. The quality metric comprises in one embodiment a cumulative number of the occurrences of the target states in the selected columns.

Abstract: A high-pressure, flexible, self-supportive piping assembly includes a jointed conduit formed by a plurality of ball and socket joint elements, a flexible internal conduit extending through the jointed conduit, an external sheath, and fittings at opposite ends which communicate with the internal conduit. The sheath is heat shrunk onto the jointed conduit. Each joint element has a ball at one end and a socket at an opposite end whereby the joint elements can be connected serially in end-to-end relationship to form the jointed conduit. The ball of one joint element frictionally engages the socket of the next joint element and, in combination with the stiffness of the external sheath, result in a piping assembly which can selectively configured in shape and which will tend to retain such a shape until subsequently configured.