Abstract: Devices and methods for reducing the specific energy required to reform or pyrolyze reactants in plasmas operating at high flow rates and high pressures are presented. These systems and methods include 1) introducing electrons and/or easily ionized materials to a plasma reactor, 2) increasing turbulence and swirl velocity of the flows of feed gases to have improved mixing in a plasma reactor, and 3) reducing slippage from a plasma reactor system. Such plasma systems may allow plasma reactors to operate at lower temperatures, higher pressure, with improved plasma ignition, increased throughput and improved energy efficiency. In preferred embodiments, the plasma reactors are used to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide, hydrogen and carbon, or carbon monoxide through reforming and pyrolysis reactions. Preferred feedstocks include methane, carbon dioxide, and other hydrocarbons.

Abstract: Chemical production systems which allow for an optimized carbon footprint are presented. Plasma-based reforming systems may provide a viable alternative to standard chemical production techniques, such systems can reduce the carbon footprint of the chemicals produced. Example systems include the production of synthesis gas (syngas), hydrogen, synthetic hydrocarbon fuels, ammonia, and urea. Reducing the carbon footprint of chemicals such as these is of vital importance to reducing the environmental impact of industries such as transportation and agriculture. In many of the embodiments a secondary product is produced, the sale of this secondary product may make the primary low-carbon footprint chemical more economical. In many cases the secondary product is carbon, methods of sequestering this carbon via reverse mining and enhanced oil and gas recovery are presented.

Abstract: A heat recovery system for plasma reformers is comprised of a cascade of regenerators and recuperators that are arranged to transfer in stages the heat at high temperatures for storage, transport, and recirculation. Recirculation of heat increases the efficiency of plasma reformers and heat exchanging reduces temperature of the product for downstream applications.

Abstract: Devices and methods for reducing the specific energy required to reform or pyrolyze reactants in plasmas operating at high flow rates and high pressures are presented. These systems and methods include 1) introducing electrons and/or easily ionized materials to a plasma reactor, 2) increasing turbulence and swirl velocity of the flows of feed gases to have improved mixing in a plasma reactor, and 3) reducing slippage from a plasma reactor system. Such plasma systems may allow plasma reactors to operate at lower temperatures, higher pressure, with improved plasma ignition, increased throughput and improved energy efficiency. In preferred embodiments, the plasma reactors are used to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide, hydrogen and carbon, or carbon monoxide through reforming and pyrolysis reactions. Preferred feedstocks include methane, carbon dioxide, and other hydrocarbons.

Abstract: Embodiments provided herein provide for customized previews of electronic documents. A template for a particular electronic document may be identified based on document attributes and/or usage parameters. The identified template may define pertinent data to be extracted from structured documents. Portions of documents, including unstructured documents can be provided as a preview such as by rendering an area of the document such as one defined in the template by coordinates or pixels. In this regard, individual users or user groups may configure what data is displayed in a document preview such as by selecting fields and/or by specifying locations of interest within the document. Users can view listings of documents and their respective previews such that the desired document may be identified without rendering complete documents.

Abstract: Embodiments provided herein provide for customized previews of electronic documents. A template for a particular electronic document may be identified based on document attributes and/or usage parameters. The identified template may define pertinent data to be extracted from structured documents. Portions of documents, including unstructured documents can be provided as a preview such as by rendering an area of the document such as one defined in the template by coordinates or pixels. In this regard, individual users or user groups may configure what data is displayed in a document preview such as by selecting fields and/or by specifying locations of interest within the document. Users can view listings of documents and their respective previews such that the desired document may be identified without rendering complete documents.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide dry gaseous fluid pump apparatus comprising: a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; at least one pump body having an internal wall defining an internal pump chamber thereof; a compression member provided within the pump chamber; and valve means being operable selectively to allow fluid to be drawn from the fluid inlet and into the pump chamber when at least a portion of the compression member is translated in a first direction and to be exhausted from the pump chamber through the fluid outlet when said at least a portion of the compression member is translated in a second direction opposite the first, the valve means being arranged to be actuated by actuator means under the control of control means to perform at least one selected from amongst the functions of allowing fluid to be drawn from the fluid inlet into the pump chamber and allowing fluid to be exhausted from the pump chamber through the fluid outlet, the apparatus comprising a linear drive assembly operable to drive t

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for determining a change in a level of care for a patient(s). The apparatus includes at least one memory and at least one processor configured to determine that at least one of an admission of a patient to a health care facility, a discharge of the patient from the health care facility, or a transfer of the patient within the health care facility triggered a level of care change event associated with the patient. The processor is also configured to identify a care event(s) for the patient in response to determining that the level of care change event was triggered. The processor is also configured to generate a notification(s) to perform a task(s) associated with the care event(s) for the patient and associate the care event(s) and a task(s) with the triggered level of care change event. Corresponding computer program products and methods are also provided.

Abstract: A luminal prosthesis comprises a plurality of axially arranged radially expandable stent segments 22,23 having coupling parts 20,21 for coupling of the segments 22,23. The segments 22,23 are movable between a collapsed delivery configuration in which the coupling parts 20,21 of the segments are interengaged and a deployed configuration in which the coupling parts 20,21 are disengaged. The stent segments 22,23 have means to delay the disengagement of the coupling parts 20,21 until the stent segments are close to the deployed configuration. A female coupling part 20 comprises an axially extending passageway having an entrance 30 to receive a corresponding axially extending male part 21 of an adjacent stent segment. The delay means may comprise first mating parts 40,41 and second mating parts 50,51 which are axially spaced-apart along the passageway. The second mating parts 50,51 may be located at an end of the passageway remote from the entrance to delay separation.

Abstract: A stent delivery balloon (1) is used to deploy a plurality of mini-stents (5) into a bodily lumen at a controlled spacing. The balloon (1) has formations (3) for retaining the stents in a designed position. The formations may comprise ridges (3), or retractable bridging elements, on the surface of the balloon (1) to control both the expansion of the multiple stents (5) from a single balloon (1) and also the coverage of the vessel wall following stenting.

Abstract: A sheet-like abrasive article includes a resilient backing sheet having opposed major surfaces and a continuous abrasive sheet affixed to the backing sheet. The abrasive sheet includes an abrasive support layer with abrasive particles arranged thereon, thereby defining an abrasive surface. A sanding tool assembly including such a sheet-like abrasive article is also disclosed.

Abstract: A hand-held, manually-operated, sanding tool for use with a replaceable sheet-like abrasive material, such as sandpaper, includes a base member, a molded interface pad provided on the base member to define a working face against which the sheet-like abrasive material is arranged, and a retaining mechanism arranged to maintain the sheet-like abrasive material in operative relation with the interface pad.

Abstract: Flexible abrasive article comprising a compressible backing having first and second opposed major surfaces; an elastic polyurethane film affixed to at least a portion of the first major surface of the compressible backing; an optional extensible tie layer affixed to at least a portion of the elastic polyurethane film; and an abrasive layer affixed to at least a portion of the optional extensible tie layer or elastic polyurethane film, the abrasive layer comprising abrasive particles and a binder. Methods of making and using the flexible abrasive article are also disclosed.

Abstract: A flexible hand-held abrasive article includes a conformable backup pad having opposed major surfaces, a backing layer affixed to one surface of the backup pad, the backing layer containing a plurality of biaxially oriented openings, and abrasive particles arranged on the backing layer, thereby defining an abrasive surface. A method of making such an abrasive article is also disclosed. The abrasive article may also comprise a backing layer containing a plurality of biaxially oriented slits with abrasive particles arranged at least one surface of the backing layer.

Abstract: A hand-held, manually-operated, sanding tool that can be used with conventional rectangular or square shaped sheet-like abrasive media to sand corners or other confined areas includes a base member having at least one tapered end and includes means for securing the sheet-like abrasive media to the tool.

Abstract: An abrasive article and methods of making and using the same are disclosed. The abrasive article includes a particle impermeable back-up pad attached to an abrasive disc. The abrasive disc includes a plurality of perforations therethrough. When the abrasive article is moved and contacted against a workpiece, debris from the workpiece is captured between the back-up pad and workpiece.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a breadcrumb continuous processing line and process capable of producing multiple types of breadcrumbs, namely American style breadcrumbs, Japanese style breadcrumbs and cracker meal crumbs. Each type of bread crumbs has different characteristics including the thickness of the dough sheet the different baking requirements. The breadcrumb processing line, and the oven therein is capable of being adjusted to process of the bread dough sheet in the manner necessary to produce the type of breadcrumb desired at any given time on a single processing line.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a breadcrumb continuous processing line and process capable of producing multiple types of breadcrumbs, namely American style breadcrumbs, Japanese style breadcrumbs and cracker meal crumbs. Each type of bread crumbs has different characteristics including the thickness of the dough sheet the different baking requirements. The breadcrumb processing line, and the oven therein is capable of being adjusted to process of the bread dough sheet in the manner necessary to produce the type of breadcrumb desired at any given time on a single processing line.