Abstract: A modular manifold system is provided for interconnecting fluid components of a fluid system in a reduced area. The system is comprised of a one or more bridge fittings having an internal fluid passageway which has an inlet end in fluid communication with an outlet port of a first fluid component, and an outlet end in fluid communication with an inlet port of a second fluid component. The bridge fittings may additionally comprise two or more ports, which one of said ports may be in fluid communication with a manifold on another substrate level. The bridge fittings may be mounted within a channel of a backing plate for structural support or in channel blocks of varying sizes. An optional locator plate may be utilized which is mounted over the ends of the bridge fittings in order to align the inlet and outlet ports of the fluid components with the inlet and outlet ends of the bridge fittings. The bridge fittings may also be mounted to the locator plate in multiple directions forming multiple flow paths.

Abstract: A process for cracking a hydrocarbon feedstock containing salt and/or particulate matter, wherein said hydrocarbon feedstock containing salt and/or particulate matter is heated, then separated into a vapor phase and a liquid phase by flashing in a flash/separation vessel, separating and cracking the vapor phase which comprises less than about 98% of the hydrocarbon feedstock containing salt and/or particulate matter, and recovering cracked product. The salt and/or particulate matter are removed in the liquid bottoms stream from the flash/separation vessel.

Abstract: A modular manifold system is provided for interconnecting fluid components of a fluid system in a reduced area. The system is comprised of a one or more bridge fittings having an internal fluid passageway which has an inlet end in fluid communication with an outlet port of a first fluid component, and an outlet end in fluid communication with an inlet port of a second fluid component. The bridge fittings may additionally comprise two or more ports, which one of said ports may be in fluid communication with a manifold on another substrate level. The bridge fittings may be mounted within a channel of a backing plate for structural support or in channel blocks of varying sizes. The bridge fittings may also be mounted to the locator plate in multiple directions forming multiple flow paths. The bridge fittings may be stacked to form multiple layers.

Abstract: A process for cracking hydrocarbon feedstock containing resid comprising: heating the feedstock, mixing the heated feedstock with a fluid and/or a primary dilution steam stream to form a mixture, flashing the mixture to form a vapor phase and a liquid phase which collect as bottoms and removing the liquid phase, separating and cracking the vapor phase, and cooling the product effluent.

Abstract: A system and method for diagnosing ignition system performance of an internal combustion engine. The method operates an engine control unit to produce a sequence of spark ignition current pulses through primary windings of a plurality of ignition coils. The current pulses produce voltage pulses across electrodes of the spark plugs. The voltage pulses produce flyback voltages across the primary windings. Output pulses are produced in response to the flyback voltages having time durations related to the time durations of the sparks produced by the spark plugs. Digital signal are produced in response to each one of the output pulses representative of the spark time duration of a corresponding one of the sparks. A comparison of the digital signals determines whether the spark time duration of one of the spark plugs is substantially different from the spark time durations of the other ones of the plurality of spark plugs.

Abstract: A process for cracking a light hydrocarbon feedstock containing non-volatile components and/or coke precursors, wherein a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock is added to the contaminated light hydrocarbon feedstock to form a contaminated hydrocarbon feedstock blend which is thereafter separated into a vapor phase and a liquid phase by flashing in a flash/separation vessel, separating and cracking the vapor phase, and recovering cracked product. The heavy hydrocarbon feedstock allows operation of the flash/separation vessel at a higher temperature, within the operating temperature range of the separation vessel.

Abstract: A process for cracking hydrocarbon feedstock containing resid comprising: heating the feedstock, mixing the heated feedstock with a fluid and/or a primary dilution steam stream to form a mixture, flashing the mixture to form a vapor phase and a liquid phase which collect as bottoms and removing the liquid phase, separating and cracking the vapor phase, and cooling the product effluent, wherein the bottoms are maintained under conditions to effect at least partial visbreaking. The visbroken bottoms may be steam stripped to recover the visbroken molecules while avoiding entrainment of the bottoms liquid. An apparatus for carrying out the process is also provided.

Abstract: A process for cracking a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock containing non-volatile components and/or coke precursors, wherein a stripping agent is added to the feedstock to form an enhanced hydrocarbon blend which is thereafter separated into a vapor phase and a liquid phase by flashing in a flash/separation vessel, separating and cracking the vapor phase, and recovering cracked product. The stripping agent increases vaporization of the volatile fraction of the heavy hydrocarbon increasing the maximum feedrate capacity of the furnace.

Abstract: A process for cracking heavy hydrocarbon comprising heating the heavy hydrocarbon feedstock, mixing the heavy hydrocarbon feedstock with a fluid and/or a primary dilution steam stream to form a mixture, flashing the mixture to form a vapor phase and a liquid phase, separating and cracking the vapor phase, and cooling the product effluent in a transfer line exchanger, wherein the amount of the fluid and/or the primary dilution steam stream mixed with the heavy hydrocarbon feedstock is varied in accordance with at least one selected operating parameter of the process, such as the temperature of the flash stream before entering the flash/separator vessel.

Abstract: An enhanced police Doppler direction sensing radar detects possibly dangerous traffic conditions during certain vehicle maneuvers such as U-turns and returns to travel after roadside stops. By monitoring a host or primary vehicle speed, speed transitions, transmission state (e.g. gear selection), and the closing vehicle position, range and speed, a number of selectable conditions are detected, resulting in an alert indication to a primary vehicle operator. User preferences and thresholds allow the traffic alert function to be customized according to a primary vehicle operator's desire to suppress alerts in situations which the user does not deem dangerous. The traffic alert function may be automatically triggered under certain detected conditions, or manually initiated when the primary vehicle operator intends to make a driving maneuver.

Abstract: Abstract of the Disclosure A modular manifold system is provided for interconnecting fluid components of a fluid system in a reduced area. The system is comprised of a one or more bridge fittings having an internal fluid passageway which has an inlet end in fluid communication with an outlet port of a first fluid component, and an outlet end in fluid communication with an inlet port of a second fluid component. The bridge fittings may additionally comprise two or more ports, which one of said ports may be in fluid communication with a manifold on another substrate level. The bridge fittings may be mounted within a channel of a backing plate for structural support or in channel blocks of varying sizes. An optional locator plate may be utilized which is mounted over the ends of the bridge fittings in order to align the inlet and outlet ports of the fluid components with the inlet and outlet ends of the bridge fittings.

Abstract: A modular manifold system is provided for interconnecting fluid components of a fluid system in a reduced area. The system is comprised of a one or more bridge fittings having an internal fluid passageway which has an inlet end in fluid communication with an outlet port of a first fluid component, and an outlet end in fluid communication with an inlet port of a second fluid component. The bridge fittings may additionally comprise two or more ports, which one of said ports may be in fluid communication with a manifold on another substrate level. The bridge fittings may be mounted within a channel of a backing plate for structural support or in channel blocks of varying sizes. The bridge fittings may also be mounted to the locator plate in multiple directions forming multiple flow paths. The bridge fittings may be stacked to form multiple layers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transgenic non-human animal, in particular a transgenic mouse encoding the NOX and Duox family of proteins, which generate reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI). The present invention additionally comprises cells and cell lines containing transgenes encoding for members of the NOX and Duox family of proteins. The present invention further comprises methods and compositions for evaluating regulators of abnormal cell growth and in the development of compounds that effect ROI expression.

Abstract: A modular manifold system is provided for interconnecting fluid components of a fluid system in a reduced area. The system is comprised of a one or more bridge fittings having an internal fluid passageway which has an inlet end in fluid communication with an outlet port of a first fluid component, and an outlet end in fluid communication with an inlet port of a second fluid component. The bridge fittings may additionally comprise two or more ports, which one of said ports may be in fluid communication with a manifold on another substrate level. The bridge fittings may be mounted within a channel of a backing plate for structural support or in channel blocks of varying sizes. An optional locator plate may be utilized which is mounted over the ends of the bridge fittings in order to align the inlet and outlet ports of the fluid components with the inlet and outlet ends of the bridge fittings. The bridge fittings may also be mounted to the locator plate in multiple directions forming multiple flow paths.

Abstract: A modular manifold system is provided for interconnecting fluid components of a fluid system in a reduced area. The system is comprised of a one or more bridge fittings having an internal fluid passageway which has an inlet end in fluid communication with an outlet port of a first fluid component, and an outlet end in fluid communication with an inlet port of a second fluid component. The bridge fittings may additionally comprise two or more ports, which one of said ports may be in fluid communication with a manifold on another substrate level. The bridge fittings may be mounted within a channel of a backing plate for structural support or in channel blocks of varying sizes. An optional locator plate may be utilized which is mounted over the ends of the bridge fittings in order to align the inlet and outlet ports of the fluid components with the inlet and outlet ends of the bridge fittings. The bridge fittings may also be mounted to the locator plate in multiple directions forming multiple flow paths.

Abstract: A modular manifold system is provided for interconnecting fluid components of a fluid system in a reduced area. The system is comprised of a one or more bridge fittings having an internal fluid passageway which has an inlet end in fluid communication with an outlet port of a first fluid component, and an outlet end in fluid communication with an inlet port of a second fluid component. The bridge fittings may additionally comprise two or more ports, which one of said ports may be in fluid communication with a manifold on another substrate level. The bridge fittings may be mounted within a channel of a backing plate for structural support or in channel blocks of varying sizes. An optional locator plate may be utilized which is mounted over the ends of the bridge fittings in order to align the inlet and outlet ports of the fluid components with the inlet and outlet ends of the bridge fittings. The bridge fittings may also be mounted to the locator plate in multiple directions forming multiple flow paths.

Abstract: A modular manifold system is provided for interconnecting fluid components of a fluid system in a reduced area. The system is comprised of a one or more bridge fittings having an internal fluid passageway which has an inlet end in fluid communication with an outlet port of a first fluid component, and an outlet end in fluid communication with an inlet port of a second fluid component. The bridge fittings may additionally comprise two or more ports, which one of said ports may be in fluid communication with a manifold on another substrate level. The bridge fittings may be mounted within a channel of a backing plate for structural support or in channel blocks of varying sizes. An optional locator plate may be utilized which is mounted over the ends of the bridge fittings in order to align the inlet and outlet ports of the fluid components with the inlet and outlet ends of the bridge fittings. The bridge fittings may also be mounted to the locator plate in multiple directions forming multiple flow paths.

Abstract: A modular manifold system is provided for interconnecting fluid components of a fluid system in a reduced area. The system is comprised of a one or more bridge fittings having an internal fluid passageway which has an inlet end in fluid communication with an outlet port of a first fluid component, and an outlet end in fluid communication with an inlet port of a second fluid component. The bridge fittings may additionally comprise two or more ports, which one of said ports may be in fluid communication with a manifold on another substrate level. The bridge fittings may be mounted within a channel of a backing plate for structural support or in channel blocks of varying sizes. An optional locator plate may be utilized which is mounted over the ends of the bridge fittings in order to align the inlet and outlet ports of the fluid components with the inlet and outlet ends of the bridge fittings. The bridge fittings may also be mounted to the locator plate in multiple directions forming multiple flow paths.

Abstract: The invention provides a distributed architecture where each portion of published content may be divided into numerous (i.e., hundreds or thousands) of small fragments, and scattered amongst the peer systems in the network. Retrieval of data may be accomplished by downloading the contents in parallel, locating a replica of an original fragment if a particular peer system serving the original fragment becomes overloaded or disconnected from the network. This architecture allows the invention to take advantage of the asymmetric nature of most user connections to the Internet by utilizing a collection of small agent applications (agents) running in parallel to deliver content rapidly across the network. The distributed load balancing system used by the invention functions as an agoric resource allocation system, with agents trading favors with a bartering network.

Abstract: A display apparatus comprising a display medium and a gain reflector disposed behind the display medium for reflecting incident light. The display medium may comprise a liquid crystal material containing a dye that conforms to the structure of the liquid crystal material and a containment medium for inducing distorted alignment of the liquid crystal material which in response to such alignment scatters and absorbs light and which response to a prescribed input reduces the amount of such scattering and absorption.